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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
ARC review through NetGalley
WOW.
This was a masterpiece of intrigue, passion, and growth. Candra was such a selfish woman at the beginning of the book, but had fair reasons to be the way she was. Her court was awful and chronic illness took most of her choices away from her. Nemeth had his reasons to be who he was as well.
This is the slowest burn I’ve seen from Ruby Dixon, and it fit the overarching plot so well. The forced proximity and enemies to lovers tropes fit in organically. It was high stakes and packed with difficult choices that both characters had to make. I LOVE being surprised by plot twists, and there were several that caught me off guard.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Spice: 4.5/5
SOME TRIGGERS ARE SPOILERS
Triggers: starvation, severe illness, murder, genocide, war, poison, SA (MC, limited description, groping), SA (off page, side character), slavery, pregnancy, captivity, murder of child (off page), gore, violence, pet death
WOW.
This was a masterpiece of intrigue, passion, and growth. Candra was such a selfish woman at the beginning of the book, but had fair reasons to be the way she was. Her court was awful and chronic illness took most of her choices away from her. Nemeth had his reasons to be who he was as well.
This is the slowest burn I’ve seen from Ruby Dixon, and it fit the overarching plot so well. The forced proximity and enemies to lovers tropes fit in organically. It was high stakes and packed with difficult choices that both characters had to make. I LOVE being surprised by plot twists, and there were several that caught me off guard.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Spice: 4.5/5
SOME TRIGGERS ARE SPOILERS
Triggers: starvation, severe illness, murder, genocide, war, poison, SA (MC, limited description, groping), SA (off page, side character), slavery, pregnancy, captivity, murder of child (off page), gore, violence, pet death
C’était mignon, pas une histoire palpitante mais c’était sympa
J’ai pas trop aimé la manière dont est écrit le smut, ou quand ils en parlent, un peu trop cru ça n’allait pas avec le côté mignon de la romance
J’ai pas trop aimé la manière dont est écrit le smut, ou quand ils en parlent, un peu trop cru ça n’allait pas avec le côté mignon de la romance
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This was good. I enjoyed the story even tho I liked ice planet barbarians better. This was a good love story. With some secrets and magic. A shadow daddy with wings and claws. Ummm yes please.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Ice Planet Barbarians meets A Court of Mist and Fury.
You'll love this book if you love:
🏰 Romantasy
🏰 Monster Romance
🏰 Bat Boys
🏰 Forced Proximity
🏰 Sassy FMCs
🏰 Enemies to Lovers
Ruby Dixon always nails the effortless worldbuilding for me. The history and lore behind the Liosians and Fellians had me intrigued and invested in the story. I loved how she brought these worlds to life.
Now, there was a bit of a hyperfixation on a specific aspect of the MMC's... ahem... anatomy that wasn't particularly my cup of tea, but honestly, it didn’t ruin the story for me. I still loved the dynamic between Candra and Nemeth. Their relationship is a fascinating blend of tension and attraction.
Overall, this story of survival will keep you hooked from start to finish!
You'll love this book if you love:
🏰 Romantasy
🏰 Monster Romance
🏰 Bat Boys
🏰 Forced Proximity
🏰 Sassy FMCs
🏰 Enemies to Lovers
Ruby Dixon always nails the effortless worldbuilding for me. The history and lore behind the Liosians and Fellians had me intrigued and invested in the story. I loved how she brought these worlds to life.
Now, there was a bit of a hyperfixation on a specific aspect of the MMC's... ahem... anatomy that wasn't particularly my cup of tea, but honestly, it didn’t ruin the story for me. I still loved the dynamic between Candra and Nemeth. Their relationship is a fascinating blend of tension and attraction.
Overall, this story of survival will keep you hooked from start to finish!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh Ruby, I can always count on you to deliver steamy, literal out of this world content, and this was no exception.
Candra & Nemeth are stuck paying for a curse that has been plaguing their world by sheltering in a tower of darkness for 7 years. During this time these enemies discover common ground and are forced to take matters into their own hands when things don’t go as planned.
On premise alone I was very eager to read this, but had a hard time staying invested in the story. When it’s good, it’s really good, but I did find myself wishing that there was more. I wanted a deeper connection between the characters full of yearning, and more substantial developments within the world. It was hard for me to believe that these mortal enemies were really soulmates or if being forced together for such a long time was what really bound them. Either way, I had a good time reading and think any Ruby Dixon fan will enjoy!
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 7/2/24
Candra & Nemeth are stuck paying for a curse that has been plaguing their world by sheltering in a tower of darkness for 7 years. During this time these enemies discover common ground and are forced to take matters into their own hands when things don’t go as planned.
On premise alone I was very eager to read this, but had a hard time staying invested in the story. When it’s good, it’s really good, but I did find myself wishing that there was more. I wanted a deeper connection between the characters full of yearning, and more substantial developments within the world. It was hard for me to believe that these mortal enemies were really soulmates or if being forced together for such a long time was what really bound them. Either way, I had a good time reading and think any Ruby Dixon fan will enjoy!
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 7/2/24
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I absolutely adored this book!!! If you loved ACOTAR you will love this!! It’s fantasy, it’s a power women, it’s got a bat boy, it’s great. This book brought out so many emotions and it was so much fun to read!! I couldn’t put it down!
this might be the first monster romance i've read that felt more like monster romantasy, with a fleshed out world, kingdoms at war, kings, queens, and vengeful gods and goddesses.
bound to the shadow prince — not to be confused with ruby’s other series, bound to the battle god, sworn to the shadow god, etc etc, this one stands entirely on its own — is lengthy, but seeing as how it was originally published as a serial and was compiled and published as book, the length is to be expected.
and despite its length — every chapter is fun.
the story focuses on candra, a hedonist, spare-heir princess with a chronic illness: a blood curse that requires an injection every night, and can kill her if she misses her dose. also, part of this blood curse? infertility, making her ineligible as the queen and heir responsible for continuing the royal line.
after her younger sister dies in a shipwreck, candra inherits the role of designated sacrifice to the gods, in which she’s sent to a windowless tower to live for seven years with the other kingdom’s sacrifice. the catch: the door is bricked up behind them, and they're not able to step even one foot outside for the duration of those seven years, otherwise a terrible curse befalls their kingdoms, bringing tempests to the seas and droughts to the farmlands.
LOCKED IN A TOWER FOR SEVEN YEARS WITH AN ENEMY? a HOT, MONSTER ENEMY? sign me all the way up. (except not really, because i’m not even remotely claustrophobic, but i would need at least a window of sunlight to avoid clawing my way through the brick to freedom.)
over the course of the first year, candra and nemeth — prince of the fellian kingdom — have to cohabitate, share food and resources, and navigate the darkness and loneliness together. like the one bed trope, but one tower — a recipe for falling in love with your enemy. it’s kind of giving love island, except it’s a dark, crumbly tower, and you’ve only got one romantic option. but you're lucky because he's hot, kind, and 8 feet tall with a c*ck to match.
this was honestly a delight to read, both in terms of grade A-spicy monster smut and interesting, complex romantasy, but it’s definitely one you need to be in the mood to commit to, because she’s girthy (much like a certain scholarly virgin prince’s appendage). bound to the shadow prince is fun, but it requires a fair bit of patience while the story itself unravels over 500 pages.
note that there are a few TW/CWs to be aware of before jumping in: animal death (for food/survival), infertility and surprise pregnancies, and the death of a child (off page, recounted by a side character). and also, if the idea of being stuck in a bricked-up dark tower for seven years terrifies you, best to skip this one.
otherwise, if you’re on the hunt for monster smut that fills the romantasy hole in your heart, this delivers warring kingdoms, winged and fanged monsters, and a dash of dystopian, apocalyptic survival.
3.5/5 stars, and many, many thanks to netgalley and wattpad books for the ARC!
bound to the shadow prince — not to be confused with ruby’s other series, bound to the battle god, sworn to the shadow god, etc etc, this one stands entirely on its own — is lengthy, but seeing as how it was originally published as a serial and was compiled and published as book, the length is to be expected.
and despite its length — every chapter is fun.
the story focuses on candra, a hedonist, spare-heir princess with a chronic illness: a blood curse that requires an injection every night, and can kill her if she misses her dose. also, part of this blood curse? infertility, making her ineligible as the queen and heir responsible for continuing the royal line.
after her younger sister dies in a shipwreck, candra inherits the role of designated sacrifice to the gods, in which she’s sent to a windowless tower to live for seven years with the other kingdom’s sacrifice. the catch: the door is bricked up behind them, and they're not able to step even one foot outside for the duration of those seven years, otherwise a terrible curse befalls their kingdoms, bringing tempests to the seas and droughts to the farmlands.
LOCKED IN A TOWER FOR SEVEN YEARS WITH AN ENEMY? a HOT, MONSTER ENEMY? sign me all the way up. (except not really, because i’m not even remotely claustrophobic, but i would need at least a window of sunlight to avoid clawing my way through the brick to freedom.)
over the course of the first year, candra and nemeth — prince of the fellian kingdom — have to cohabitate, share food and resources, and navigate the darkness and loneliness together. like the one bed trope, but one tower — a recipe for falling in love with your enemy. it’s kind of giving love island, except it’s a dark, crumbly tower, and you’ve only got one romantic option. but you're lucky because he's hot, kind, and 8 feet tall with a c*ck to match.
this was honestly a delight to read, both in terms of grade A-spicy monster smut and interesting, complex romantasy, but it’s definitely one you need to be in the mood to commit to, because she’s girthy (much like a certain scholarly virgin prince’s appendage). bound to the shadow prince is fun, but it requires a fair bit of patience while the story itself unravels over 500 pages.
note that there are a few TW/CWs to be aware of before jumping in: animal death (for food/survival), infertility and surprise pregnancies, and the death of a child (off page, recounted by a side character). and also, if the idea of being stuck in a bricked-up dark tower for seven years terrifies you, best to skip this one.
otherwise, if you’re on the hunt for monster smut that fills the romantasy hole in your heart, this delivers warring kingdoms, winged and fanged monsters, and a dash of dystopian, apocalyptic survival.
3.5/5 stars, and many, many thanks to netgalley and wattpad books for the ARC!