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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Complicated
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
One thing bothered me throughout this book. The man has wings like a bat, and is described as having legs that bend backwards, like a bird’s. But then they specifically say it’s his KNEES that bend backwards. Bird knees actually bend the same way as human knees, their ankles just are just much higher up on their legs, which is why their legs bend that way. So if his actual knees bend backwards this raises a lot of questions for me about the rest of his anatomy. Because you need strong muscles connecting to the inside of your knee and attaching to the torso in order to stand. This is how your hamstrings and glutes work. So if his knees bend backwards does this mean his ass is on the front? He probably would still need some strong muscles on the back to push him forwards when he runs. So probably he has an ass on the back as well. I’m saying this man has two asses. His actual ass is never described in this book (why not? Does Ruby Dixon believe that straight women don’t love a good ass?) so I am free to imagine whatever I like.
Anyway, it was just okay.
Anyway, it was just okay.
This was a book of two halves for me. I found the first half to be too slow and I struggled to get through it. It felt like certain points and conversations were repeated, sometimes within only a couple of pages of each other.
I thought the second half was really fun. The plot moved much quicker and this was where a lot of character development came through. And where it felt like the first half dragged on, the 2nd half and especially ending felt incredibly rushed. Would have loved for the politics, infighting and scheming to be more fleshed out.
I enjoyed having flawed main characters. And was so refreshing to have a FMC that was not a sassy assassin and an MMC that was broody with no character. Thought the spicy scenes were fun.
Overall, I think this book would really benefit with some changes to the pacing issues; but is an enjoyable spicy romantasy!
I thought the second half was really fun. The plot moved much quicker and this was where a lot of character development came through. And where it felt like the first half dragged on, the 2nd half and especially ending felt incredibly rushed. Would have loved for the politics, infighting and scheming to be more fleshed out.
I enjoyed having flawed main characters. And was so refreshing to have a FMC that was not a sassy assassin and an MMC that was broody with no character. Thought the spicy scenes were fun.
Overall, I think this book would really benefit with some changes to the pacing issues; but is an enjoyable spicy romantasy!
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I feel as though their adventure out of the tower was rushed, especially once they arrived in Darkfell.
I want to start off saying that I love Ruby Dixon’s writing…usually. This one just wasn’t a hit for me. I’m not sure if it was the branching into fantasy over her typical sci-fi romance, or if there is something else that is factoring into it., but it didn’t seem up to her typical standards. There are good parts of the story! In fact, the second half of the book was incredibly entertaining. But you had to push through the first half to get there. I can completely understand why some readers decided to set it aside.
The book is centered around Candra, one of three princess of the kingdom of Lios. She is, unfortunately, a pretty bratty and unlikeable main lead. I don’t mind leads that have some unlikeable traits, but there a has to be someway to connect to them that gives you a hint of a “good person” inside. I think we were supposed to feel some sympathy because of a blood disorder that can kill her if she doesn’t receive constant care, but the lack of gratitude for those who keep her healthy negates it for me.
The inciting incident of the story is that she’s suddenly thrust into an centuries old tradition that requires one of the princesses of Lios to be locked into a tower for seven years to appease a goddess and bring prosperity to the nation. Her younger sister was supposed to be that sacrifice, but when she dies in an accident, Candra is expected to step in. She initially refuses but eventually relents when it becomes clear that the only other option is her heavily pregnant older sister.
She won’t be alone, though. There is another sacrifice from a rival nation who will be stuck with her for seven years: Nemeth. They are initially antagonistic towards one another, but you can imagine what eventually happens when a girl and guy are stuck together all alone in a romance novel.
Like Dixon’s other novels, the spice was on point. There were also some of my favorite tropes in here, including forced proximity and “nurse them back to health.” However, there was also a whole bunch of back and forth with the “do you actually like me?” sort of thing that became tiring.
I don’t want to give much more of the story away, but if you’re willing to trudge through the first half and deal with an unlikable heroine who eventually learns empathy and selflessness, then things really pick up in the second half. There’s more action, character development, and plenty of plot twists to keep you hooked. I just really wish that the story was either a) shorter or b) had a better balance of excitement spread throughout.
Overall, I’d say if you are expecting something akin to Ice Planet Barbarians or some of Ruby Dixon’s other works, you aren’t going to find it here. If you’re looking for a change of pace and are patient, then feel free to give it a try. Personally, I’ll stick to her other series.
Thank you to NetGalley and W by Webtoon/Wattpad Books for providing an ARC of Bound to the Shadow Prince by Ruby Dixon. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The book is centered around Candra, one of three princess of the kingdom of Lios. She is, unfortunately, a pretty bratty and unlikeable main lead. I don’t mind leads that have some unlikeable traits, but there a has to be someway to connect to them that gives you a hint of a “good person” inside. I think we were supposed to feel some sympathy because of a blood disorder that can kill her if she doesn’t receive constant care, but the lack of gratitude for those who keep her healthy negates it for me.
The inciting incident of the story is that she’s suddenly thrust into an centuries old tradition that requires one of the princesses of Lios to be locked into a tower for seven years to appease a goddess and bring prosperity to the nation. Her younger sister was supposed to be that sacrifice, but when she dies in an accident, Candra is expected to step in. She initially refuses but eventually relents when it becomes clear that the only other option is her heavily pregnant older sister.
She won’t be alone, though. There is another sacrifice from a rival nation who will be stuck with her for seven years: Nemeth. They are initially antagonistic towards one another, but you can imagine what eventually happens when a girl and guy are stuck together all alone in a romance novel.
Like Dixon’s other novels, the spice was on point. There were also some of my favorite tropes in here, including forced proximity and “nurse them back to health.” However, there was also a whole bunch of back and forth with the “do you actually like me?” sort of thing that became tiring.
I don’t want to give much more of the story away, but if you’re willing to trudge through the first half and deal with an unlikable heroine who eventually learns empathy and selflessness, then things really pick up in the second half. There’s more action, character development, and plenty of plot twists to keep you hooked. I just really wish that the story was either a) shorter or b) had a better balance of excitement spread throughout.
Overall, I’d say if you are expecting something akin to Ice Planet Barbarians or some of Ruby Dixon’s other works, you aren’t going to find it here. If you’re looking for a change of pace and are patient, then feel free to give it a try. Personally, I’ll stick to her other series.
Thank you to NetGalley and W by Webtoon/Wattpad Books for providing an ARC of Bound to the Shadow Prince by Ruby Dixon. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book was a fun escape- but it was long. So, so long. The world building was easy to swallow, and the main characters were interesting. It's Trojan-horse inspired, which was different (but well executed).
Enemies-to-lovers with a twist- this was another enjoyable book by Ruby Dixon. It's a wonderful standalone, and the story wraps up nicely.
Enemies-to-lovers with a twist- this was another enjoyable book by Ruby Dixon. It's a wonderful standalone, and the story wraps up nicely.