This one took me a bit to get into, but I ended up really loving it!

The world building was so unique. It was also fairly complex which is why I was slower to become really invested, but ultimately I was HOOKED.

The characters are where this book really excels though. I truly enjoyed all of them and all their stories. This was overall a really fun read and I want more from this world.

Loved this book so much, it was genuinely such a good time. The writing style was unique and fun and I couldn’t put it down.

So this was a freaking spicy delight - Bull Moon Rising is my first foray into Ruby Dixon's oeuvre and I will absolutely be going in for more. Aspeth Honori, an aristocrat's daughter, has been obsessed with Royal Artifactual Guild and artifacts for as long as she's been able to read. After she finds out her father and her hold is essentially broke, she escapes to the Guild with her best friend and servant, Gwenna and they both attempt to join, only to be foiled by the fact that they're women. To get around this, Aspeth desperately tries to find a sponsor and enters a marriage of convenience (great trope) with a Taurian, Hawk, who is an instructor (her instructor) and needs a wife to get through the upcoming moon that will send him into rut.

I loved that we got both some great adventures while the crew is trying to get through Guild school, rife with corrupt guild members and politicians, while also getting some absolutely great steamy scenes between Aspeth and Hawk. We see some great development from both of them both on a personal and sexual level. Highly recommend if you're looking to dip your toes into the monster romance side of cliterature while enjoying a great story to boot.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Berkeley for the advanced copy.

Thank you so much to @berkleypub @berkleyromance for the free NetGalley Uncorrected ePub (accessed on March 26, 2025) to enjoy for review!
"Bull Moon Rising" is the first book in the Royal Artifactual Guild series (duology). This was my first Ruby Dixon book (I know, how can I not have read the "Ice Planet Barbarians" series yet...), but she has my whole heart now, as most Berkley authors do. "Bull Moon Rising" follows (Lady) Aspeth Honori, a Holder's daughter attempting to be a female guild artificer, and Hawk, an overqualified minotaur Guild Master's assistant. Through an utterly steamy, slightly chaotic marriage of convenience, Aspeth and Hawk work together so that Aspeth can join the guild's fledgling training program with Hawk as her chaperone, and Hawk can have a partner for the Conquest Moon (an every-five-year mating period). Aspeth also befriends the other four guild artificer fledglings (recruits) who form a "Five"- your assigned training team during cave ruin explorations to find artifacts. Ruby Dixon crafted an intriguing, rich feudal fantasy world using delicious, descriptive prose. I loved reading about the evolution of Aspeth and Hawk's romantic relationship. The steam was definitely steaming *blushes*. I also found myself rooting for Aspeth and Hawk individually as they independently navigated and overcame prejudice (Aspeth, for being a woman; Hawk, for being a minotaur).
My appetite for this world was whetted after reading "Bull Moon Rising"; the sequel "By The Horns" is now one of my most-anticipated reads this year. Side Note: The Author's Note at the end enriched my reading experience even more. I really appreciated it!

The side characters reminded me of standby me or the goonies. The romance was bleh.
The pacing, plot, writing was definitely Ruby Dixon. It was fast paced and straight to the point.

Perfect if you like:
Who hurt you? Followed by I might hurt you.
Slowburn Enemies to Lovers
Animals loving animals
Elemental Magic
Dark Adventures

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this arc!

This was a great lighthearted escape. Silly and silty and easy to read. The kind of book meant for folks who don’t take themselves too seriously and enjoy a story just for the sake of entertainment

I believe I saw a quote, "I came for the monster $ex, but what really drew me in is a beautifully poignant story." That line couldn't have summed up this book better, but, since it was that quote that drew me in to read this book, I'll put my own thoughts into how I felt while reading it.

Aspeth is what I'd call nobility, or rich within this fantastical world. She is headstrong, determined and she has set out to be part of an organization that finds relics, or magical artifacts buried within caves and tunnels. Considering she is a rich woman this type of job is well beneath her, not to mention the fact that she is also a woman. Aspeth is facing insurmountable odds, but she never lets anything stand in her way. So while her character alone makes this story interesting, it isn't only her character within this organization that makes this book worth reading. This book also contains Minotaurs, and other monster-like creatures who get some serious page time. This world is also mixed with Ancient Egypt vibes that are also splashed with celestial lore all it has the feel of being set back at least a hundred years or more. Overall, it's a great mesh of genres and tropes that I never would have thought up, but all in all it totally works and it works well.

The leading man, Hawk, is a Taurian, or Minotaur, who is a bit grumpy, but he’s also kind and extremely patient. His race is, oftentimes, treated as a second class citizen even though they are a strong and an intelligent people. His race is not the only one to be treated this way. The other monsters, women, basically anyone who is not a human male is just beneath and even though Aspeth comes from nobility, she still lacks power and choices and understands Hawk more than he realizes. So when Aspeth barrels her way into his life, she treats him with the respect he's earned as a teacher and certainly as a person. A good decent person. They have great chemistry for all kinds of reasons, but even with his grumpiness, mutual respect is built quite easily between them even before chemistry begins.

The entire ragtag group, Aspeth's friends and nest-mates, are quirky and fun and really add a lot of great color and depth to the overall plot. They are just as important to the entire story as Aspeth and Hawk are and each one is quite unique and I found myself rooting for them just as much as I was rooting for Hawk and Aspeth. 

If there was any complaint, it would be...Hawk promised that his rut instincts would make him a bit crazed leading up to the Conquest Moon day, but he was pretty controlled, with all things considered. Shame, I do love a man on the edge 😏. And Aspeth knowing Hawk would need her on one specific day, literally had one job in their agreement, was a bit obsessed on her own quest, but truthfully she still had everyone's best interests at heart, so she is still super sweet. I truly did love this entire world and would love to return.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing/Ace for the advance review copy and all opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
🐂x 👩🏻‍🏫

This book fed so many parts of my soul! I loved experiencing Aspeth’s journey from touch-starved, isolated noblewoman with a heart of gold to beloved friend and wife with a future.

Aspeth is determined to save her family home despite the neglect she’s suffered her whole life at the hand’s of her father. She journeys with her former maid-turned friend to join the Guild, discover magical artifacts and launch the career of her dreams. But when she arrives, she discovers the Guild isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, her idol is an unreliable drunk and she needs a chaperone to even begin training. Enter Hawk, a Tauren in need of a mate before his rut strikes. They enter a marriage of convenience that quickly becomes so much more.

Equal parts sexy love story and treasure hunt, this book was everything!
Found family? ✅
Romance? ✅
Archival research for this wannabe librarian? ✅
Danger and suspense? ✅
Betrayal and justice? ✅

I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

4.5 🌟
This was such an entertaining read. Marriage of convenience turned 😍😍

Hawk and Alspeth's characters were so fitting. He's the exact level of grumpy I'd imagine a minotaur would be and she's sunshine with a backbone.

The characters were easy to fall in love with. Even the side characters. And I never realized how interesting I would find the actual artifact hunting.

I really like Ruby Dixon's writing style. It's catchy and can have the perfect mix of lighthearted and deeply connecting.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group, and Ruby Dixon for a copy of this book! Per usual, my review and opinions are 100% my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This was so surprising in the best ways! This is one of those where you should not judge the book by its cover (good or bad)! I wasn’t sure what I’d walk into but this was a cozy adventure story mixed with some monster (bull) romance and an interesting “magic” system!

I loved the way Aspeth knew she was a sheltered noble and yet also sooo naive on certain things in the most endearing of ways. She’s smart and resourceful despite being pretty helpless when it comes to actual artifact hunting. Hawk is just… solid? I can’t think of a better word right now to describe him. So gentle and sensible and caring. He is a bit grumpy mind you, especially when he realizes he’s stuck training a group of 4 women and a lizard, but he always does what is best for them to give them the best chance at success. And the way he goes all in at some point on his feelings for Aspeth is sweet.

This was both less and more spice than I thought it would be? There wasn’t as much by way of total pages/content, but where it happened it was a lot. That Hawk has a mouth on him 😏.

Overall, this was such an enjoyable book! I can’t wait to read book two in September! (Please approve me for this arc 🙏 lol)

I've seen this book around and heard nothing but good things about it, so it's safe to say I went into reading this book blind. And I'm happy to say I enjoyed this read

my first ruby dixon book and definitely not my last! this took me on such a wild ride and it was highly entertaining and fun to read.
i was kind of intimidated because i've never read monster romance or anything similar but ruby dixon has sold me! someone described this as indiana jones meets minotaur smut and that's exactly what it felt like.
i really liked aspeth as a character. she’s a bit naive due to her sheltered background, but it was so brave of her to take control of her life and make her own choices. at times i kept forgetting hawk was a minotaur! even though their relationship starts as a marriage of convenience, he is really patient and dedicated to aspeth which is why i liked him.
the concept of the artifactual guild and treasure hunting was really cool and i loved the dynamics between the fledglings! you know what else i loved? aspeth's cat squeaker! their interactions were so cute, i'll never get tired of cats in books.
some of the word choices during the spicy scenes took me out of the story and had me cackling but honestly that is all about personal preference! i think this is one of those books where once you embrace the silliness you have a lot of fun reading. i'm looking forward to the sequel!
～thank you to berkley publishing group (ace) and netgalley for the arc!

Who can explain why it’s so hard to write reviews for books you loved? This isn’t my first Ruby Dixon book; I’ve already read her Ice Planet Barbarians series, which I love. So when I saw this one, I couldn’t pass it up.

It was fun, funny, and steamy (in the best possible way).

Aspeth Honori’s noble family is on the verge of ruin after her father gambles away their fortune and magical artifacts. To save them, she secretly joins the Royal Artifactual Guild—where women aren’t allowed to train. Her only option? Marry a grumpy minotaur who needs a favor and agrees to take her on as his apprentice.

He doesn’t know she’s noble. She doesn’t know if she can survive his rut—or the dangers of the Guild’s trials. But with her family’s future on the line, Aspeth is ready to risk everything…

I totally fell for Hawk. He’s like a grumpy cinnamon bun—warm, a little soft, and definitely something you’ll want to cuddle (but maybe only if you’re brave enough). I loved Aspeth’s kind heart and her sharp mind. She gave off Jane from Tarzan vibes, with a little bit of Evelyn Carnahan from The Mummy thrown in. The book’s atmosphere was fantastic, and Aspeth’s quirky crew was the perfect mix of oddball and lovable. Plus, the themes of sexism, disability, and responsibility were handled with just the right amount of seriousness... and the perfect dash of humor.

The funniest thing? Squeaker reminded me so much of my own cat.

Tropes:
— monster romance
— human & minotaur
— marriage of convenience
— grumpy & sunshine
— found family
— minotaurs
— curvy heroine
— knotting
— voyurism/exhibitionism

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Did I have minotaur romance on my bingo card for this year? No, but I really had a good time with this read!

Aspeth is a noble whose family has fallen on hard times. In order to save their lives, Aspeth must join the guild and find artifacts that will restore their fortune and protection. But in order to do that she has to have a guardian. Enter Hawk, a minotaur, who will marry her and give her the sponsor she needs in exchange for her help during his rutting season. Things are about to get interesting!

This book was an adventure. There was a lot more plot surrounding the search for artifacts than I was expecting. It also had a great found family element. Hawk and Aspeth were cute together as they learned about the other's backstory and coming struggles. I also liked the looming Crescent Moon where Hawk was going to become a rutting bull. It added a lot of tension to know that event was coming. If anything this book could have used a bit more spice and a little less artifact history. I will happily read the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ace Publishing for the e-book in exchange for my honest review.

Bull Moon Rising is an epic romantasy by Ruby Dixon. Aspeth runs away from her holder family home in order to join the artifact guild and hopefully find a strong magical artifact for her father as he has gambled away all of theirs, and now their lives are in danger as another family may try to take over their holdings if they ever find out. However, a woman must have a chaperone, so she marries the Minotaur Hawk, who is also her teacher as he needs a partner for his upcoming rut. As their work lives and personal lives mix, will Aspeth and Hawk fall in love or be torn apart by secrets?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I felt the world building was great. There were a few characters I wish were more fleshed out, and I would have liked to learn more about her team members. 4.5 stars out of five!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for access to a copy in exchange for my honest review.

3,75 ⭐️

I had never read a monster romance book before, so I had no idea what to expect—but I can confidently say that my first experience was a great one!

Aspeth is a noble, but after her father loses all their money and magical artifacts to gambling, her family is in danger of losing their hold. Determined to save them, Aspeth secretly joins the Royal Guild in search of new artifacts. Her loyal servant Gwenna follows her into this adventure. The only problem? The Guild doesn’t allow women to train. The only way around that? Marry a minotaur who’s already a member.

I really enjoyed the characters and how their relationship developed gradually over time. Aspeth, though a noble by birth and at times seemingly frivolous, proves herself brave, hard-working, and deeply loyal.

Hawk may come off as gruff and commanding at first, but deep down he’s sweet and caring. The way he looks after Aspeth completely melted my heart—I kept forgetting he was a minotaur! And don’t even get me started on his hilarious reactions to Squeaker, Aspeth’s cat—they had me giggling every time.

As for the side characters, Gwenna was my favorite. She was not only a great companion but also a true friend to Aspeth, so I’m really excited that the next book will be about her. I’m definitely continuing with this series!

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓romantasy
✓curvy heroine
✓marriage of convenience
✓found family
✓minotaurs
✓grumpy / sunshine

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Ace) for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This wasn’t my usual kind of read, but I did enjoy reading it. Plus, the book is absolutely stunning.

My Selling Pitch:
A formulaic, cozy fantasy romance that’s just a little bit smutty.

Pre-reading:
What do we pick up after a life changing book? A silly goofy time. I haven't read Dixon yet, but I've heard great things about her alien smut, and Holton, Lemming, and Nascosta have all been delivering for me.

(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
Why is the cow red? But yay, character art. (Because he’s like red-brown, but the saturation was really turned up on that art lol.)

Immediately reminds me of India Horton.

HA. I would manage to pick up another Wren book.

We’re info dumping, but it’s digestible enough.

I like how the book is “I’m a librarian” energy! And then like ps cows be fuckin’ haha.

I love dual audio.

Not her saying he smells like leather lmao

…I’m having a good time.

I'm sorry WHAT.

I really hope Magpie didn't get raped or something and is only holding on with alcohol.
Or is she Tommy Shelby tunnel PTSD?

I hate that this works for me haha.

This is just like Bride. I love these silly, smutty little books.

Turtle boy keeps sending me.

Over a man??? A man???

This is well-written and well-structured for what it is.

Is this a Shrek onion joke? Because it feels like one.

The dungeon crawling reminds me of Stardew Valley.

I'm a little checked out now. Like the book is fine. I've just read so many that follow the exact formula, and le gasp, I might be smutted out.

Post-reading:
This is solid. It does exactly what it tells you it will do. It’s formulaic but satisfying. All these cozy fantasy romances kinda feel the same. They work just enough. They’re good palette cleansers, but they’re nothing life changing or all that memorable.

This book had quite a few anachronisms but didn’t lean into its campiness. It took itself relatively seriously. Y’all know by now that I’m always an advocate for camp. If you’re gonna write something absurd and smutty, just own it. I needed more humor from the book. If it had some witty banter or jokes that made me laugh out loud, we’d probably be creeping into four star territory.

The sex scenes were pretty average for the genre. They felt a little repetitive. The dirty talk felt a little fetishy because it constantly emphasized how he was an uncontrollable beast, and she was his wife so that’s a tacit agreement to sex. I didn’t love that, but it’s also pretty expected for the genre.

It’s good but not great. I think you’ll have fun with it if you enjoy the genre, but you’re not missing out on something amazing if you skip this.

Who should read this:
Smut for the lols readers
Cozy fantasy romance readers
Stardew Valley fans

Ideal reading time:
Anytime

Do I want to reread this:
No, but I’d continue the series.

Would I buy this:
No, I don’t need it.

Similar books:
* Bride by Ali Hazelwood-urban fantasy romance, marriage of convenience, alternative anatomy
* That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming-cozy fantasy romance, satire, smut
* I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming-campy sci-fi smut, alternative anatomy
* The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Romance by India Holton-cozy fantasy romance
* Morning Glory Milking Farm by C. M. Nascosta-urban fantasy smut, alternative anatomy
* Emily Wilde’s Encylopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett-light academia, cozy fantasy romance
* Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis-cozy fantasy romance

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had so much fun with this! I loved the archeological aspect to the story and the romance! The spicy scenes were so good, but the two of them falling in love slowly was just so sweet to read. I also kept forgetting he was a minotaur until the story would bring it up again 😅. Also that cover! It's gorgeous! I can't wait to read the second one!! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital copy!

3.5 stars rounded down to 3

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest opinions!

I am a big Ruby Dixon fan, and with the gorgeous special editions and it being sold separate and not being on KU, my hopes were high. I was a little letdown though. I think I would of enjoyed it more if it was like 75 pages shorter. It got really slow in the middle and towards the end, and very repetitive. I feel like she re-explained the same things so many times. The characters just didn't have that Ruby Dixon charm I love so much.

I did overall enjoy this. I was rooting for Aspeth, I thought she was brave and strong willed. The grumpy MMC was likable but bland and I felt their connection was lacking. I know the second one is coming out soon and I'm not sure that I will read it. I wish there was more of the actual treasure hunting, the plot wasn't really plotting. I think there was a lot of potential here that just fell flat.