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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Spice 3/5đ¶ïž
Half 1 - 4âïž, Half 2 - 3âïž
Something from Ruby Dixon that wasnât ice planet barbarians, and I was not disappointed!!
This book is similar to a Rapunzel retelling but was largely based on the Trojan War according to Dixonâs author note.
The first half of the book, our 2 MCs are locked in a tower together, where they are supposed to stay locked up for 7 years. We watch their journey together & honestly for a human x bat boy moment, it was pretty đ„đ„đ„.
In the second half of the book, we follow our MCs as they enter a political war zone. This was the book started to lose a bit of my interest. I found the main conflict too easily resolved, and most of the book to be too lengthy for what it achieved. I also found that the FMC was much too forgiving throughout the second half, her man continuously disappears and lets her get captured. Bro, man up! He was sadly a wimp often, especially when it came to his homeland.
However with all of that said, it was still an easy and captivating read that I would recommend to fans of Dixonâs writing.
Spice 3/5đ¶ïž
Half 1 - 4âïž, Half 2 - 3âïž
Something from Ruby Dixon that wasnât ice planet barbarians, and I was not disappointed!!
This book is similar to a Rapunzel retelling but was largely based on the Trojan War according to Dixonâs author note.
The first half of the book, our 2 MCs are locked in a tower together, where they are supposed to stay locked up for 7 years. We watch their journey together & honestly for a human x bat boy moment, it was pretty đ„đ„đ„.
In the second half of the book, we follow our MCs as they enter a political war zone. This was the book started to lose a bit of my interest. I found the main conflict too easily resolved, and most of the book to be too lengthy for what it achieved. I also found that the FMC was much too forgiving throughout the second half, her man continuously disappears and lets her get captured. Bro, man up! He was sadly a wimp often, especially when it came to his homeland.
However with all of that said, it was still an easy and captivating read that I would recommend to fans of Dixonâs writing.
adventurous
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
Iâm beginning to wonder if Ruby Dixon can do no wrong. Bound to the Shadow Prince is quite different from Dixonâs other series, and I frankly loved that. It features Dixonâs beloved first-person perspective, but the world she creates here is startling, perhaps closest in tone to her Fireblood Dragons books. But while that series shows people living in the aftermath of a destructive time, Bound to the Shadow Prince depicts a period when the destruction is happening.
I loved how our narrator Chandra starts as one of the most self-serving characters you could imagine. She is a selfish princess to the max. Her evolution over the course of this book was one of my favorite things about it. Nemeth, her antagonist and hero, is more elusive because we see him entirely from Chandraâs perspective, but he is a wonderful character as well.
My other favorite things in Bound to the Shadow Prince? The worldbuilding is impressive, with its split, diametrically opposed populations and its cyclic storms that seem like a salute to McCaffreyâs Pern and its Threads. And Nemeth and Chandra never back away from their love from one another. So many times in romance, you see the protagonists pull back from loveâand Chandra and Nemeth have those opportunities. But they take a different path.
It's rare for me to be close to the end of a book and not be sure at all how itâs going to end. Bound to the Shadow Prince was one of those rarities, and itâs another smash hit out of the ballpark by Ruby Dixon.
thank you netgalley and wattpad books for giving me the opportunity to read this arc!
princess candra quickly became my favorite character in this book. sheâs a women who knows what she wants and get whatâs she wants. iâd call her a little selfish too, but who wouldnât be when her own family has forced her into the tower even though she is gravely ill. i love a good story that has enemies to lovers, forced proximity and family secrets! if youâre looking for a steamy read set in a fantasy world, this is the read for you!
princess candra quickly became my favorite character in this book. sheâs a women who knows what she wants and get whatâs she wants. iâd call her a little selfish too, but who wouldnât be when her own family has forced her into the tower even though she is gravely ill. i love a good story that has enemies to lovers, forced proximity and family secrets! if youâre looking for a steamy read set in a fantasy world, this is the read for you!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Bound to the Shadow Prince
Need another shadow daddy in your life? Ruby Dixon has got you covered!
This is an epic roller coaster of spice and rockstar world-building. Iâve always been interested in the basic structure of the Rapunzel story, specifically the locked-in-the-tower part. Mix that with the stuck-together trope and you get this gem of a book.
The female main character is zero percent self-sacrificing, and itâs honestly pretty refreshing. Itâs an area of growth we donât often see. Like all her heroes, the male main character is a cinnamon roll through and through (even if he looks a little scary with the backward knees and wings). Their communication is... messy, but it didnât drive me completely nuts.
I do feel the need to mention that this is a lengthy read. I kept thinking, âHow can there be more?! Oh! Wow! Okay, thatâs a new plot point!â But somehow it all makes sense and works.
â
Thank you Ruby Dixon, W by Wattpad Books, and NetGalley for my advanced review copy!
Out in July!
Plot - 4
Writing and Editing - 4
Character Development - 4
Personal Bias - 4
Final Score - 4
dark
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-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
As a fan of her "Ice Planet Barbarians" series, "Bound to the Shadow Prince" by Ruby Dixon was definitely a book I was ready to dive into. Right from the start, it was clear this story was different, with a more intricate plot and significantly longer length.
The entire story is told from Princess Candra's point of view. While this provided a deep dive into her character, I found myself missing the dual POV format that Iâve enjoyed in other romances. Seeing Nemethâs perspective would have added another layer of depth to their relationship and the overall narrative.
The idea of Candra and Nemeth being stuck together in a tower for seven years grabbed my attention, and the gradual shift from enemies to lovers kept me hooked. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I loved how their relationship developed over time. However, their time in the tower felt a little drawn out, which sometimes made the pacing feel slow. While I do relish the steamy scenes in this book, at times, they overshadowed other plot points I wish were explored further. Nonetheless, the supporting characters injected depth into the story, making the world Dixon created feel more alive. The twist near the end was a real surprise, which added an exciting layer to the story and kept me on my toes.
One thing that stood out was the detailed description of Nemeth. True to Dixon's talent for creating captivating monsters, Nemeth is portrayed with vivid detail, making him both fearsome and magnetic. His wings, claws, and fangs are described perfectly, staying true to Dixon's ability to craft intriguing, otherworldly characters that readers can't help but be drawn to.
Despite some of my reservations, I enjoyed the overall story. If you're into spicy fantasy monster romances and donât mind a longer read, this book is worth checking out. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
The entire story is told from Princess Candra's point of view. While this provided a deep dive into her character, I found myself missing the dual POV format that Iâve enjoyed in other romances. Seeing Nemethâs perspective would have added another layer of depth to their relationship and the overall narrative.
The idea of Candra and Nemeth being stuck together in a tower for seven years grabbed my attention, and the gradual shift from enemies to lovers kept me hooked. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I loved how their relationship developed over time. However, their time in the tower felt a little drawn out, which sometimes made the pacing feel slow. While I do relish the steamy scenes in this book, at times, they overshadowed other plot points I wish were explored further. Nonetheless, the supporting characters injected depth into the story, making the world Dixon created feel more alive. The twist near the end was a real surprise, which added an exciting layer to the story and kept me on my toes.
One thing that stood out was the detailed description of Nemeth. True to Dixon's talent for creating captivating monsters, Nemeth is portrayed with vivid detail, making him both fearsome and magnetic. His wings, claws, and fangs are described perfectly, staying true to Dixon's ability to craft intriguing, otherworldly characters that readers can't help but be drawn to.
Despite some of my reservations, I enjoyed the overall story. If you're into spicy fantasy monster romances and donât mind a longer read, this book is worth checking out. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
***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.***