Bound to The Shadow Prince was another great read by Ruby Dixon! This book is perfect for readers that like enemies to lovers, knotting, twists and turns, chronic illness representation, size differences, and wingspan.

This was a really good book! It was well thought out, with twists you won't see coming. I had a hunch there was something strange going on early into the book, but I never would have guessed the who, how, and why! In addition to the unexpected plot, we get a true enemies-to-lover romance and plenty of spice! I mean, there is not much to do in a tower for several years after all!

If you are looking for a monster romance that has romance, spice, and twists to keep you on your toes, here you go!!!

I had decent hopes for this going in, the concept sounded neat. But about 35% of the way in my interest was lost on the MFC. She was just too much of all the bad tropes for these kinds of books.

After the death of her sister, Princess Candra is forced to act as sacrifice for her kingdom and stay in a tower for seven years as penance to an angry goddess. The rivalry kingdom must also send a tribute, a shadow daddy named Nemeth, who happens to be Candra's biggest enemy. But when the tower is attacked and new supplies stop being delivered, Candra and Nemeth are forced to choose whether they want to leave the tower and curse their kingdom, or stay without food or medicine and become true sacrifices.

Rating: 5/5
Spice: 2/5

Tropes:
Sacrifice for the Greater Good
Enemies to Lovers
Rival Kingdoms

Triggers:
Chronic Illness
Attempted SA
Murder
Starvation
War
Slavery
Death of Sibling

My Thoughts:
This book is absolutely amazing! This is an original enemies to lovers story that has the characters relying on one another to survive. The author does a great job of representing a chronic illness and
the stress/problem solving that is involved in the day to day of working to survive. The character growth of Princess Candra is very well written and the pacing of the book is solid. I found myself dreading that the book was going to end. Five stars all around.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance copy in return for my honest opinion.

Let me start by saying I love Ruby Dixon so I knew going in that this would be a book I would enjoy. It was different from her more scifi romance series. This falls more in the fantasy romance category. The world has three gods one of which the humans and Fellian offended generations ago. To appease the god when her moon is in the sky a descendant from both the humans and Fellians who started the conflict must enter a tower for seven years. Nemeth the Fellian to enter the tower is a prince of his people and has trained to go to the tower since he was young. Candra's sister dies 3 days before someone from her family must enter the tower and she is the replacement. She has no training and can't take care of herself. She also has a blood sickness that will kill her if she doesn't get treatment daily.

Candra and Nemeth spend most of the first year ignoring each other as their families are enemies. Candra is a bit of a spoiled princess and she was very free with herself before the tower. This leads to some tension as she is a tease and loves flirting. Nemeth is more scholarly and he doesn't know what to do. Once they begin working together after Nemeth saves Candra when she runs out of medicine and doesn't have more firewood, they become friends. Yes, the attraction is there but they are friends first and I enjoyed that. The spice was just right as to be expected with a Dixon novel.

For me this is a 4.5 star read. I felt there were times it was a little slow or the tension caused by secrets being kept felt a bit contrived. Overall though this is a strong novel and I'll be recommending it. I will note just because you like Ice Planet Barbarians does not mean you would like this. They are very very different. This feels a lot more like her series Aspect and Anchor so don't go into this thinking it is IPB.

Genre: Fantasy Romance

I loved Ice Planet Barbarians so when I was able to get my hands on this ARC I was so excited. This isn't the typical monster romance you are used to reading from this author.

The FMC is a princess who got blindsided into believing she must go to a tower so a curse wouldn't eat everyone up. She is used to everyone waiting on her hand and foot. She has an all-knowing-knife and wouldn't use it. She also has an illness that requires medicine everyday. She is stuck with the MMC who is grumpy and dangerous.

This is a very explicit book so know this going in. Very spicy!

I do however feel this book is very wordy. I feel like there are unnecessary descriptions and inner dialogue in the book.

Overall I give it a 2.5

What can I say, except I loved Cantra and Nemeth's story. Their story together was full of ups and downs and was put through trials and hardships. I can tell you reading this story was immersing; it really did yank you in. It was a slow-burn romance, but the storyline was written beautifully, the world building included. I really felt like I was there and could clearly picture the places easily within my mind. The storyline also had a bit of mystery splashed in there, with a dash of banter and intrigue. It was a good read, and this Darkfell place seemed interesting enough. The character growth for both MCs was great to witness. I really enjoyed reading this book. Now comes the questions: Do I recommend it? Yes, I do!

Another great book from Ruby Dixon - honestly, at this point I'll read anything she writes. Loved the plot, loved the characters, loved the world she created. This isn't tied to any of her other series, so if you haven't read anything by her before and want to start, this is a good book to trying (without potentially committing to a long series).

I absolutely LOVE Ruby Dixon!! The way she writes is fast paced to keep me intrigued throughout the story. Her books always have the best banter and situations that make me giggle out loud. I can never stop recommending any of her books regardless if she has some monster romance. 10/10

Thank you to @author.ruby.dixon, @wattpadbooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

Y'all. I don't know what I was expecting from this book, but it surprised me! (That is said as a giant compliment!) If you, like me, are familiar with Ruby's most well known work, the Ice Planet Barbarians series, you know to expect a witty FMC and some A+ spice. She took what I knew and loved about her writing and leveled it up in this book!

The evolution of this book was a beautiful, epic journey. The character development was wonderful. It came naturally and was not forced or implied in any way. The world building was low brain power and easy to follow. There's so many things about this story that got my brain thinking about real life things. I found myself stopping and wondering about our actual history, actual stories, how we treat people who are different than ourselves. The pace of the book was actually pretty slow. Normally I am not a fan of a slower paced fantasy, but I didn't even notice until after I finished reading it. I realized that all the emotional and personal growth of the FMC really carries the story... and does it well.

I will be recommending this book to anyone looking for a fantasy, romantasy, or paranormal romance read.

I love Ruby Dixon, and am especially a fan of her fantasy stuff, so this was a win for me. It did feel like the second half dragged out a little, but there was enough spice to keep it entertaining!

Candromeda is a princess - a spoiled, spare princess, a middle child with a medical condition specific to her family that requires daily injections of medication, a treatment at odds with the apparently low technological level of her society. Her sisters are free of the medical condition - an older sister is the heir to the throne, whose husband is now king; her younger sister was dedicated at an early age to a religious institution in anticipation of being locked in the Goddess's Tower for seven years with an heir to the Fellian throne, a pact that requires such a sacrifice from each royal line once every generation, lest the Goddess's wrath destroy the land if a person from each side does not enter the Tower on the designated day and stay there for the entire seven years. But then Candromeda's younger sister dies on her way to the Tower, and suddenly, with only three days notice, Candromeda must take her place, with no idea how to care for herself, having always been cared for by servants.

This novel started off well, with interesting characters and a fairly unique setting - a sealed, windowless tower in which two people from opposite sides of a generations-long war must spend a protracted period of time. As could be expected, Candromeda and Nemeth - the Fellian prince - are very wary of each other at the start, each assuming the other is untrustworthy and wants the other dead, so the remaining hostage can live out the seven years in peace. Oddly, for peoples who have been at war for generations, Candromeda is startled by Nemeth's appearance, apparently having no idea that Fellians are larger than humans, with wings, horns, and claws, and grey in color. After that, the story takes a fairly predictable turn: Candromeda falls ill because she prepares her potion incorrectly and passes out on Nemeth's doorstep, leaving Nemeth to either save her or let her die there. He saves her, and they slowly become friends; after all, they have no one but each other to talk to for a very long time. The story remained rather predictable, with plot twists intended to be startling, but which had so little foreshadowing that it felt more like the author couldn't find a way out without suddenly bringing in another character. One character after another betrays someone who trusts them, and after the final betrayal, the novel just... ends. It felt incomplete.

This is a fun fantasy romp if you can get past the predictability and the holes in the plot; the first half is better than the second half. Due to multiple explicit sex scenes, it is recommended only for adults.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I appreciated the plot line and found this to be a very fun read. Cassandra is a little obnoxious to me and the 3rd quarter of the book dragged on a bit. Feel like maybe it could have been edited down. But outside of that a very pleasant read.

In this epic fantasy romance, Princess Candra's seven-year confinement in a tower to appease a vengeful goddess is transformed by her unlikely companion, Nemeth, a warrior from the enemy Fellian race. Initially hostile, their relationship blossoms into love, set against the backdrop of political intrigue and war. The story's rich world-building and suspenseful twists kept me captivated. Candra's evolution from a spoiled princess to a resilient woman and Nemeth's noble character added depth to their romance. With its blend of mystery, emotional growth, and intense romance, this story was an enchanting and passionate escape. Ruby Dixon masterfully uses the enemies-to-lovers trope, making this a compelling read that I couldn't put down.

“I would have waited a thousand years for you.”

What happens when a spoiled princess and an enemy prince are forced to live in a tower for seven years to appease the gods?

This book was so good, yall!! It took me a few chapters to really get into it. But once things got rolling, I couldn’t stop reading! This isn’t a super quick and easy read like Ruby’s IPB series, but I loved the build and the pay off.

Nemeth is such a sweetheart. I’m a sucker for a grumpy MMC who turns into a cinnamon roll for his lady. I had a bit of a hard time with Candra at first, but I really enjoyed her character growth and her feisty personality. They’re both so protective of each other, and I love their persistence.

If you’re looking for a Ruby Dixon story with more world building and more of a slow burn than IPB, give this one a try!

Read this if you like:
Monster Romance
Virgin MMC/Experienced FMC
Forced Proximity
Enemies to Lovers
Forbidden Love
Slow Burn
Kn🪢tting

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Ruby Dixon for providing an arc for an honest review. 💕

The Vestalin family has always had someone in the family dedicated to the gods and they are also curse with tainted blood that is passed down.

Lady Candromeda is the only one of her siblings who has the tainted blood and must administer daily potions, or she will die.

One day, a messenger comes with a missive for Candromeda advising her that the ship bringing her youngest sister Meryliese to the Tower of Balance crashed and there were no survivors.

Now, someone must take her place dedicating their life to the gods. And that someone is Candromeda.

Now, Candromeda is stuck living in a tower for seven years with a prince from the Darkfell line, who happens to be her enemy and the people her brother in law will be declaring war against.

This was an enjoyable romance! This is definitely an enemies to lovers romance, but how can you stay away from someone who you’re literally locked inside a small tower with 😅

When Candra is describing the Darkfell people, she describes them with grey skin and monster-like. Well, I just thought it was a play on words or what the parents say to scare their kids…well, they definitely look like that and this turned into a monster romance, which thrilled me 🤣 I didn’t know it was one, so I of course enjoyed it!

Candra is a very stubborn gal 😂 She was determined to make it through the year on her own to the point that she almost dies, and it was impressive her tenacity and determination, but also a bit stupid since it was clear she needed help. It did allow them to work together and get to know each other more and I just loved how their relationship developed 🥰 and I just love Candra. She always tried to look for a better and positive way out of a situation. She never thought 🗡️ someone was the answer, and I admired her for it.

Nemeth is also not what you expect. He’s more of a scholarly bookworm cinnamon roll with a feral side. He was enjoyable to read when his feral side came out unexpectedly 😏

It’s very steamy, which I loved, it was done in a delicious way that did not take away from the story, but allows you to enjoy the story and plot, while also enjoying the romance.

Now this is no small book and so I was very surprised with the turn of events as the story progressed. This did NOT go the way I thought it would and made for a thrilling and enjoyable story with a steamy romance added into it.

The twists in here are just 👌🏻

If you enjoy steamy monster romances, and well, Ruby Dixon, then you should definitely check this one out!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the gifted e-arc to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Webtoon Book Group for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

2.5 Stars!

Let me start my review by saying that I love fantasy and romance. Romantasy is actually my most read genre. I loved the description of this book, and it sounded like something I would enjoy. The plot for this book fell flat for me. A princess is sent away to live in a tower for 7 years with a monstrous prince. The tower doesn't have any windows or doors, and they are stuck in there. I was so intrigued by that, but this is when the book died down for me. Literally nothing happens plot wise once we reach the tower. Once the princess is in the tower, all we pretty much get is the spicy scenes with the grumpy prince. Don't get me wrong I do love a good spicy book. But I need there to be something else happening within the plot as well. This is a very long book, and when its being dragged out by only spicy scenes I tend to lose any interest. If the book had cut half of the middle out, I think I would've stayed interested longer.

Overall, this just wasn't one that stuck with me.

Bound to the Shadow Prince by Ruby Dixon is a romantic fantasy novel. I was very excited to read a book by Ruby Dixon because I heard delightful things about her stories. I picked this one because the title sounded good and boy am I glad I did!

The story line was original. I literally could not put this book down it was so intriguing. I really liked the characters. Well the two characters. The entire book was about two characters for the most part. So yes you get some strong character development

This pampered princess Candra is locked in a tower in the dark for several closed off from the outside world. There is only one other being with her and that is Nemeth. They have a long time to get to know each other and as readers we do too.

Trust me you are in for a slow burn ride reading this but it’s worth it! Great job. I can not wait to read another book by Ruby Dixon!

4.5 ⭐️/5
3.5 🌶️/5

Bound to the Shadow Prince from Ruby is available for the first time in print. Originally this was a 3x a week serial on the Yonder app that I read it in real time. It was the good kind of torture to read each chapter one at a time as it was released from October 2022 - March 2023. Ruby’s writing draws me in from start to finish for each book, and it is a delight to absorb this story in one continuous read.

We get:
▪️Single POV
▪️Knotting
▪️Mates
▪️Wings, tail, fangs
▪️Forced proximity
▪️Enemies to lovers
▪️Touch her and die
▪️Virgin MMC
▪️Effects of war and the aftermath

Although it is not in the same series of Aspect and Anchor, if you like that series or the fantasy romance vibe in general you will love Bound to the Shadow God.

Because of ✨reasons✨ Candra and Nemeth, Princess and Prince of their respective kingdoms, have to spend 7 years locked in a tower together to appease the Golden Moon Goddess as Royal Offerings. Candra is humorous and bold and playful, she’s full of personality, she’s pampered, has a chronic illness, and wasn’t initially expected to be the Royal Offering. Nemeth is used to the shadows, he’s scholarly and quiet and has wings and horns and a tail, and has trained his whole life for his role; although his appearance is fearsome he turns out to be quite the cinnamon roll whenever Candra is involved.

There is humorous banter between Candra and Nemeth. Some of the sweetest bits are the quiet moments between two Royal Offerings traveling on the path from enemies to friends. There are darker and serious times in this book and it is also hot & steamy with doors thrown wide open! We get to see what happens when two individuals who are taught to hate each other are locked in a tower and are forced to get to know each other. When does your enemy stop being the big bad monster and start being your friend and confidant?

Thank you to W by Wattpad Books and NetGalley for my ARC. My thoughts/opinions are my own and my review is voluntary.

I love Ruby Dixon (seriously, if you haven't read Ice Planet Barbarians, you are missing out). I was excited for Bound to the Shadow Prince. It has the whole forced proximity vibe! I loved that. Candra and Nemeth are suppose to spend 7 years locked together in the tower. What could go wrong? If you are currently in your Romantasy era, you might want to check this one out!

The plot and the world of this story were good! I was really interested in what was going on and what would happen. The entire story is told from Candra's POV, so we know her thoughts and feelings. The problem-I kind of hated her more than I liked her. We never get out of her head, so I never got a break. Maybe if it was told in 3rd person or dual 1st I wouldn't be so annoyed with her, but I just wanted to throw her out of the tower. I liked Nemeth, but since we never get his POV, he felt kind of flat. I wanted to like this book more than I did-it was kind of long which made the pacing off and that didn't help either. But, like I said, the premise and the plot were solid-there was some real potential there!

If you want mostly smut with a tentative storyline, this may be a solid book. It was a weird premise, with the only Rapunzel-esque thing happening was them being stuck in a tower. The two main characters quickly fall for each other and the main point of the story from then on is the smut. Didn't hate it, didn't love. Gave 3 stars.