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aglittercobra's review against another edition
3.5
***3.5 Stars***
Overall,
I mean its Ruby Dixon? If you are one of the many readers who has fallen down the IPB to IPH Rabbit hole in recent years then you know that his author always comes through. Is it the best writing ever? No. Is the Pace and setting of the book fantastic? Yes. If you know going into this that this is a Ruby Dixon book then you will enjoy it. It is one of her rarer long form books at over 500 pages long, vice the IPB books which hover around 200. If that scares you then maybe this isn't for you because there are a couple points where it felt a bit stretched out. But It was still very enjoyable and I am still Ruby Fan.
*** I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my Free and Honest review.***
Overall,
I mean its Ruby Dixon? If you are one of the many readers who has fallen down the IPB to IPH Rabbit hole in recent years then you know that his author always comes through. Is it the best writing ever? No. Is the Pace and setting of the book fantastic? Yes. If you know going into this that this is a Ruby Dixon book then you will enjoy it. It is one of her rarer long form books at over 500 pages long, vice the IPB books which hover around 200. If that scares you then maybe this isn't for you because there are a couple points where it felt a bit stretched out. But It was still very enjoyable and I am still Ruby Fan.
*** I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my Free and Honest review.***
headcanonheadcase's review against another edition
4.0
Candra has just been locked inside a tower, where she must stay for seven years, otherwise the Moon Goddess will curse her kingdom. And she's not alone. A Fellian, the winged race of monsters her kingdom is at war with, is living in the tower with her. When Candra struggles to administer her daily dose of life-saving medicine, Nemeth takes pity of her, and the two become wary allies. But as days become weeks, weeks become months, and months become years, feelings grown Candra and Nemeth. Feelings that could jepordize life outside the tower.
I loved this book. At first, I was a little condemned about the set up and page count, but I quickly found that this book was perfectly paced. Yes, there were time jumps--that's to be expected when the main characters are facing years of confinement in a remote tower. But Ruby Dixon provided pivotal scenes for relationship development. I really enjoyed the way the intrigue built to the big reveal.
The forced proximity and forbidden love tropes are absolutely delicious. I don't want to give any big spoilers, but I think it's safe to say that the entire book does not take place inside the tower. The tower is an important place, but Candra and Nemeth also get the chance to exist outside of it. It was so satisfying to have a look at both sides of their relationship, both inside their happy little bubble and in the larger world.
If you've read anything from Ruby Dixon before, or are looking to give her a try, this book definitely belongs on your TBR.
I loved this book. At first, I was a little condemned about the set up and page count, but I quickly found that this book was perfectly paced. Yes, there were time jumps--that's to be expected when the main characters are facing years of confinement in a remote tower. But Ruby Dixon provided pivotal scenes for relationship development. I really enjoyed the way the intrigue built to the big reveal.
The forced proximity and forbidden love tropes are absolutely delicious. I don't want to give any big spoilers, but I think it's safe to say that the entire book does not take place inside the tower. The tower is an important place, but Candra and Nemeth also get the chance to exist outside of it. It was so satisfying to have a look at both sides of their relationship, both inside their happy little bubble and in the larger world.
If you've read anything from Ruby Dixon before, or are looking to give her a try, this book definitely belongs on your TBR.
readwitray's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Ruby Dixon can write a amazing Romantsy with some good spice.
This was such a good story. Giving Beauty and the Beast vibes but both are basically prisoners. We get a good plot of two fighting kingdoms. The only way to keep peace is my royal from each kingdom must live in a remote tower for 7 years.
I loved watching the two main characters chemistry build and change while they are living within the tower. This is a slow burn as they are enemies who have to live together for years.
When the spice comes it’s 👩🏼🍳💋 so good! These scenes will leave you needing a cold shower
If you love:
🔺Enemies to Lovers
🔺Forced Proximity
🔺Curvy FMC
🔺Slow Burn
🔺Touch Her You Die
Genre:
APK: Ebook
Pages: 536
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone
Content Warnings: War, Murder, talk of attempted rape, and murder of a child.
This was such a good story. Giving Beauty and the Beast vibes but both are basically prisoners. We get a good plot of two fighting kingdoms. The only way to keep peace is my royal from each kingdom must live in a remote tower for 7 years.
I loved watching the two main characters chemistry build and change while they are living within the tower. This is a slow burn as they are enemies who have to live together for years.
When the spice comes it’s 👩🏼🍳💋 so good! These scenes will leave you needing a cold shower
If you love:
🔺Enemies to Lovers
🔺Forced Proximity
🔺Curvy FMC
🔺Slow Burn
🔺Touch Her You Die
Genre:
APK: Ebook
Pages: 536
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone
Content Warnings: War, Murder, talk of attempted rape, and murder of a child.
prettyflyforascienceguy's review against another edition
3.5
I was absolutely obsessed with this book in the first half. I literally couldn't put it down. I was avoiding work and responsibilities because all I could think about was this book. The tension and yearning between Candra and Nemeth was *chef's kiss* However, I think the pacing gets off around 40% - 50% of the way through the book. I would have enjoyed this better as two separate books because the two halves do feel really different. I also personally do not like the accidental pregnancy trope, and I feel like when Nemeth and Candra got married, the tension was gone and I didn't really care about the story as much. Overall, a very well-done smutty book, but a little too long for my liking. The second half did not grip me as much as the first half did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
jasmine144's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.5
This was long!!!!! But o so good!!!!! I guess the twist from the beginning but I was so engrossed In this listen I couldn’t stop!
_christinacreads's review against another edition
4.0
Ruby Dixon sure knows how to craft an intricate spicy romantasy featuring star-crossed lovers (a broody Gargoyle Prince x spare to a royal sacrificial offering), forced proximity (7 years locked in a castle in the dark), and a highly immersive wold full of secrets, court politics, royal intrigue, stunning plot twists, and morally grey characters. Loved the chronic illness rep that took the form of a magical blood curse. I do think the avalanche that was the ending was a bit rushed considering just how high the stakes were and the gravity of the moral dilemmas the characters faced. While I feel like the book did redeem itself at the end, I wished there was far *more* rumination at the ending than what I got. Nonetheless, I had so much fun reading this and really enjoyed reading this.
sidhewitch's review against another edition
2.0
Infuriating. Each of the two main characters took turns in being the one I hated, but at about 80% I nearly DNF'd when the male lead told his wife how it was NBD that his people were enslaving and raping her people, including her sister. "That's just war" he says, and then suggests these wives are somehow at fault for not stopping their husbands from going to a war ordered by their King.
Somehow I pushed through the last bit just to roll my eyes at the dumb as hell twist. I love Ruby, but these full-length books or the ones where she tries to weave in actually sensitive topics rarely go well. This was time I will never get back. I'm going to go re-read some Icehome books now and try to forget this exists.
Somehow I pushed through the last bit just to roll my eyes at the dumb as hell twist. I love Ruby, but these full-length books or the ones where she tries to weave in actually sensitive topics rarely go well. This was time I will never get back. I'm going to go re-read some Icehome books now and try to forget this exists.
allivenger's review against another edition
5.0
I am absolutely feral for anything Ruby Dixon. So not only did this book hit all the right Ruby notes but it introduced an entirely different world for her readers. Candra is an amazing MFC and her tenacity and humor in a less than ideal situation were a perfect addition to this. Add in cinnamon roll Nameth and you have a match in Ruby heaven. It was so good!
ckd1's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Candra is the broken princess, so she has always just enjoyed herself around court and loves all of the attention. She sister dies unexpectedly and now Candra must go to the goddess' tower for seven years with her enemy. She only catches glimpses of Nemeth at first but then circumstances push them together.
Candra and Nemeth figure out how to live and work together in the tower but everything on the outside is not as expected.
I did not figure out everything that was going on and the twist kept the story interesting. If you like the Aspect and Anchor series, you will like this one too.
Candra and Nemeth figure out how to live and work together in the tower but everything on the outside is not as expected.
I did not figure out everything that was going on and the twist kept the story interesting. If you like the Aspect and Anchor series, you will like this one too.
nelliereadsalot's review against another edition
3.0
Having only read Ruby's IPB series, I wasn't sure what to expect from a longer book that didn't include our favorite blue guys. What we get is an enemies to lovers situation between a feisty FMC who has to figure out what is important to her and a shadowy man with knees that bend backward (this is mentioned frequently). It still has a lot of what we expect from Ruby (read: monster smut), but also humor, plot, action, and a total simp of an MMC. I was definitely not expecting the twist at the end!
That being said, there were definitely parts that felt a bit longer than absolutely necessary. When I read the author note at the end and learned that it was originally released as a serial, they pacing made more sense, though. I was also left with some lingering questions that I didn't feel were totally answered. This also is not a quick read; don't expect it to go as quickly as an IPB read.
Overall, it was an interesting read set in a dynamic world (gods, court intrigue, curses, war).
Note: There were some slightly darker elements that might not be for everyone (scroll down for TWs).
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book for an honest review.
TW: infant death, slavery, implied SA (not on page and not main characters)
That being said, there were definitely parts that felt a bit longer than absolutely necessary. When I read the author note at the end and learned that it was originally released as a serial, they pacing made more sense, though. I was also left with some lingering questions that I didn't feel were totally answered. This also is not a quick read; don't expect it to go as quickly as an IPB read.
Overall, it was an interesting read set in a dynamic world (gods, court intrigue, curses, war).
Note: There were some slightly darker elements that might not be for everyone (scroll down for TWs).
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book for an honest review.
TW: infant death, slavery, implied SA (not on page and not main characters)