Huge thank you to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley, and Ruby Dixon for the e-ARC! Bull Moon Rising was one of my top books of last year and my first booktok review, so being able to early read By the Horns was literally a dream come true!!

This was everything I had hoped for in a sequel and more. Gwenna is such a fun and sassy character and I love that we got to see her learn her skills and show them off! And of course that she found her mate in the Taurian tasked with watching her (a job he took very seriously 😉).

By the Horns follows Gwenna, who is completing her second year as a fledgling, hoping to get into the Royal Artifactual Guild so she can make coin to send home to her mom. But things get complicated when she starts hearing the voices of the dead, which makes her a completely illegal necromancer.
So she does her best to ignore this, as well as the big and flirty Taurian, Raptor, who is on a mission to find a thief in their midst. Of course, with Gwenna trying to hide her own secrets, it paints a different picture in Raptor’s eyes, and she’s his number one suspect. Tied in with his growing obsession with her, we’re in for an interesting adventure!

I absolutely love this world so much. We got some more world building and character background that was so impactful on the overall story. Gwenna’s character arc was beautifully done. Watching her learn to trust and seeing her fall for Raptor was so heartwarming.
Speaking of Raptor, holy flirtatious! I don’t know how Gwenna kept it together. But also just incredibly caring, picking up on her subtle mood changes and knowing how to get her back to herself.
I think my favourite part about this series is that while it is at times a high stakes fantasy, it’s also such a cozy world, with unique characters and so much love and fun, that you can’t help but have an amazing time reading it.
I’m so glad we got to see glimpses of Hawk and Sparrow again, as well as Kipps little romantic moments. Love all these characters so much!

Absolutely loved this sequel!
We have the same world with a repeater main character but nothing felt repetitive in this story! I loved seeing Hawk and Aspeth in scenes and ADORED Raptor and Gwenna together!
The spice was spicy, the banter was impeccable, and the found family made my heart so happy!

Having Kipp around for this adventure was completely glorious. Just glorious.

I absolutely loved this book. Gwenna and Raptor are probably my favorite fictional couple at the moment. They both push each other, they love each other, they support each other in their pursuits and Raptor is just the perfect MMC. Especially if you enjoy the "touch her and die" trope.

Bull Moon Rising was a lot of fun with it's plot and the introduction into the Royal Artifactual Guild, but this book was maybe even better. I loved the mystery premise, it really had me guessing the whole way through. I did guess one tiny aspect of it pretty early on, but it didn't detract from the overall mystery and the people involved at all.

The portrayal of sexism and bits of racism in this book are really well done. I love how strongly Gwenna stands up for herself in a world that is very much against her as a woman, and I love that Raptor is right there standing up for her as well. He protects her without being overbearing and overstepping, as if she couldn't take care of herself. And the way that they both stand up for and promote Kipp, I loved it. Kipp is so lovable and I want every good thing to happen for him.

The ending was perfect, I loved the epilogue so much. And I may have immediately gone and preordered this book to have next to Bull Moon Rising. It's a must for the shelf!

Goodness knows I love a Ruby Dixon title, and this one was good, too, though the pacing was a little bit slower at points than I felt like it merited. Dixon does best with fast pace imo.

Gwenna is back for a second year of attempting to become a fully-fledged artifact hunter, but once again her journey is complicated by nefarious players at the guild. I barely remember the intrigue from the first book of the series, but between the references to the previous installment and the self-contained story of this book, it wasn't really necessary. Gwenna meets her match in Taurian Raptor, and I enjoyed having two protagonists that felt evenly paired, despite very different backgrounds and skill sets. A fin mix of mystery, romance, and adventure that you'll read in one weekend!

Thank you Berkley for the ARC. I will sell my soul every time to get ARCs of what Ruby writes.
If Ruby writes it, I will read it in 24 hours and then be sad it’s over.

I started Ruby’s Ice Planet series as a comfort read, and the moment she started Royal Artifact Guild, I dove headfirst. I’m so happy we get Gwenna’s story now, after Aspeth dragged her into the Guild.

This story went nowhere I was expecting. We get adventure, romance, and murder mystery as Repeaters start showing up dead and worse, they’re talking to Gwenna. After a certain *cough* encounter with Raptor while his eyes were wrapped and healing, they’re forced into the same Fledgling group, training and living together while she tries to pass. I also loved getting Kipp again, secretly my favorite, don’t tell Hawk or Raptor.

Raptor is sent to figure out who’s stealing artifacts, so we have Gwenna, who cannot let anyone know she talks to the dead, and Raptor, who’s convinced she’s the thief… all while they fall in love.

I read this book so fast, and I totally did not expect who the thief and murderer were. I loved the mix of mystery, romance, and seeing Gwenna and Raptor get their happily ever after.

Grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, and “knotty” (LOL)

Pro: I enjoy the mystery plot and the way that Dixon writes intimacy.
Con: I felt like the romance/passion came a little out of nowhere, there wasn't a whole lot of buildup, and I'm still not too sure that the protagonists make sense together.

If Ruby Dixon writes it, I’m going to read it. This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and it did not disappoint!

Gwenna and Raptor were the breath of fresh air I needed! This couples meet cute was so wild and yet so ruby dixon and I will not elaborate further. But it was my favorite thing about this book. We don’t need hellos, she plunges you right into it and for this it just works!

If you haven’t read a book by this author…don’t start here.

4.25 stars, all based on vibes.

Thanks NetGalley and Berkley for the e-arc!

I loved book one, Bull Moon Rising, so I was so excited and surprised to be approved for an ARC from NetGalley. I love the cozy fantasy setting and there's plenty of spice. The main thing that sort of disappointed me about the book was the lack of research/discovery about Gwenna's powers - what's the history of her power, where did it come from, and how does it work? It just seemed like she was blindly fumbling her way through most of the book and the focus was more on the misunderstanding/lack of trust with her love interest. Considering her best friend is a scholar and literally works in the archives, I was expecting more of a revelation about her abilities. All in all, I did love the book and am hoping for more from this world!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7604546905

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I’m so excited I got the chance to review this ARC! I actually read Bull Moon Rising first so I’d have an idea of what to expect, and this was my very first Ruby Dixon book.

While these books can be read as standalones, I loved starting with book one because it gave me a deeper understanding of the world. This story follows Gwenna, who’s determined to become an artificer after failing the previous year. She’s motivated by the chance to earn more money for herself and her family. But just as she’s preparing to start the challenges again, a strange set of powers start tormenting her. This is right before she meets Raptor, a Taurian warrior who’s blinded, injured, and dealing with some very intense needs. Their first encounter is impulsive, unexpected, and sparks something neither of them can ignore.

I was honestly surprised in the best way. I went in expecting a lot of smut, but the story had such a great balance of plot, romance, and strong female characters. I loved how the women in this world are pushing boundaries in a society where artificers have always been men.

The mix of mystery, spice, and fast-paced storytelling kept me hooked from start to finish.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with this complimentary ARC.

Ruby puhlease!

I have been in a bit of an arc rut (lol), and wasn't sure if this was the book for me. Well, without spoilers, I got to the end of chapter one and immediately knew that this was the one.

By the Horns follows Gwenna, a repeater and Raptor, a Taurian, as they attempt to become artificers. I haven't (yet) read the first book in this series, and I still felt as though I understood what was happening. Which is a credit to the worldbuilding because trust me, a lot was happening. I appreciated the blend of romance and mystery. I was very invested in solving who was behind the deaths to the point that I had to actively stop myself from skipping paragraphs. My only "con" was that there was a bit of a lull where I struggled to keep going, but it very quickly ramped back up.

10/10 recommend! (also, he has a knot)

I'm absolutely thrilled to be back in this world! I loved the first one but this one was even better! I'm so glad Gwenna was transformed from side to main character because she's so relatable in her loyal and steadfastness and a desire to do good.

The insta love in this book was amazing - and I'm not normally a huge fan of that trope unless it's done right and it was DONE RIGHT!! Raptor is such a sweetheart and I loved watching him crush on Gwenna in the cutest ways. This is definitely spice meets sweet romance and it was adorable.

I love the Indiana Jones meets Morning Glory Milking Farm vibes and the world building is perfection! Dixon does an amazing job creating fantasy worlds that aren't confusing to understand and are warm and interesting and she does it again with this series!

I will read every Ruby Dixon book out there and at the end of every single one I will have a huge smile on my face. Forever the best.

Treasure hunting and big bulls always gets my vote. Book 2 was even better than book 1 and I LOVED the feistiness of the FMC.
I’ve always had such an interest with cities built on top of ancient cities and this series makes that interest an adventure. And now adding in necromancing to talk to all of the people who lived in the ancient city- icing on the cake. I’ve never wanted to talk to dead people this much before.
Oh and the insatiable bull MMC doesn’t hurt the book either.

Ruby Dixon delivers another captivating adventure in "By the Horns," the highly anticipated second installment in her Royal Artifactual Guild series. Having thoroughly enjoyed "Bull Moon Rising," I was eager to dive back into this world, and "By the Horns" did not disappoint. In fact, it truly shines, benefiting from the solid foundation of world-building and the intricate magic system established in the first book, allowing for a much faster, more immersive pace right from the start.

One of the most engaging aspects of this novel was the expertly crafted hidden identity trope. It created a delightful tension as the reader was privy to knowledge that the MMC, Raptor, lacked. There were moments where I found myself internally cheering him on, frustrated that he couldn't see the clues that were so clear to me! His persistent search for "Sayra" while grappling with an undeniable and growing attraction to Gwenna was genuinely enjoyable to read.

The romance between Raptor and Gwenna was incredibly well-developed. While his initial connection was rooted in physical attraction, it was Gwenna's personality that truly captivated him. Dixon beautifully illustrates how Raptor falls deeply in love with her wit, her biting humor, and her unique spirit, frequently noting these as his favorite qualities. This focus on their emotional connection and shared laughter made their bond feel incredibly authentic.

The drama and intrigue surrounding the discovery of the mole within the Guild kept me on the edge of my seat. The narrative expertly framed Gwenna as the suspected thief, leading to moments where my heart genuinely ached for her. Knowing her innocence, yet seeing all the evidence stacked against her, fueled my desire to read faster and faster, hoping to see her vindicated. Her personal struggle, hiding her "mancer" powers, added a palpable layer of fear to her character; her secret was not what Raptor suspected, yet it weighed heavily on her. The payoff was immensely satisfying. Once Raptor finally uncovered the truth about her, his immediate belief and unwavering support were incredibly refreshing, especially after a significant portion of the book saw him wrestling with his suspicions.

This love story truly thrived on the evolution of their friendship and mutual trust. We witness their growing reliance on each other, which in turn strengthens their romantic connection. Raptor's profound faith in Gwenna's character is a guiding force, influencing his actions as he tirelessly seeks out the true perpetrators. Even in the story's climax, when they believed the initial culprits were apprehended, his trust in her never wavered. When Gwenna revealed the true mastermind operating behind the scenes, Raptor immediately took action, leading to their swift arrest by Master Guild Leader Rooster.

Overall, "By the Horns" was a thoroughly enjoyable read that exceeded expectations. It's a testament to Ruby Dixon's storytelling prowess, combining thrilling suspense with a deeply moving romance. I eagerly await more adventures from the Royal Artifactual Guild!

First off, Raptor has to be the worst name I've ever seen for an MMC. In the Artificer's Guild, when one becomes an artificer, you take the name of a bird, but for whatever reason Raptor takes the name for essentially a category of birds? It's not even a bird name and it sucks. Just needed to get that off my chest before I start the review.

Like with Bull Moon Rising, there were things I liked and didn't like about this book, and ultimately it ended up right in the middle. I'm going to break it up into good and bad just like I did in my review of the first one.

The good:
- I liked Gwenna in book 1, and I still like her here. I wish her personality shined a bit more though, I felt I knew her more in the first book.

- I still really like this world! It has a cozy fantasy feel and I love the town and the weird onion tavern. I do wish we could see more of it though.

- Aspeth having a bevy of cats was amusing.

- I'm glad there wasn't the Bull Moon countdown like in the first one.

- The initial premise and how the mains have sex right away is novel.

- Gwenna's ability is very cool.

The bad:
- The romance between Raptor and Gwenna just feels meh (much like Aspeth and Hawk did in Book 1). I didn't get a lot of chemistry between the two besides the initial scene of them interacting with each other.

- Raptor is constantly ogling and harassing Gwenna before there's any relationship between them. Gwenna establishes multiple times that she's not taken as seriously as a woman and desperately wants to be an artificer, and how men ogle and harass her and Raptor does the same thing. At a certain point he begins to get angry at other men for doing exactly what he's doing to her. I don't understand how this is supposed to be flirty or cute when this is the opposite of what Gwenna says she wants.

- The crew just didn't hit like the one in the first book. Kipp is still charming, but the other two new guys don't have enough personality.

- I wanted Gwenna to have more agency and determination, and not have to rely on Raptor so much. I know right at the end we get her powers helping out, but I would have liked that earlier on. Also having to use her powers in secrecy kinda sucks.

- I missed the cool artifacts!

It's an easy read and even if I have qualms, Dixon still writes an interesting world. I'm glad to see her branching out from IPB and I think she has a lot of good ideas in this series. I just want a better romance in it!

Equal parts steamy, witty, and tender. The world-building expands beautifully from the first book, with death magic, forbidden love, and enough mystery to keep me flipping pages way past bedtime. It’s spicy in all the best ways (yes, including the monster-romance details we all came for), but it also delivers heart, humor, and a solid whodunit vibe. If you loved Bull Moon Rising, this sequel gives you everything you wanted and then some.

4.5 Stars - This was everything I enjoyed in the first book plus a better placed plot due to the internal conflict for the heroine trying to keep her secret. I bought the romance more (though once again, this feels more like HFN than HEA) and hey... if you've been waiting for a book comparable to Morning Glory Milking Farm's level of effluvia, the opening scene gives it a run for its money

Funny and witty book two of the series, follows the maid and her story. Some fun Indian Jones vibes to this story and lots of humor and quick whit to make you smile. Of course lots of steam and spice to make you want for more!

4.75 stars

Miss Ruby Dixon you have outdone yourself once again.

The second book in the Royal Artifactual Guild series follows Gwenna who is repeating her year as a fledgling after her antics in the last book. Determined to become an artificer and not go back to her life as a maid, she's working harder than ever. Until there's a murderer on the loo0se and she's once again under suspicions from the Guild.

Raptor is an artificer who is going undercover as a fledgling in order to sus out who might be behind the thefts and murders happening at the Guild. When he stumbles on to Gwenna , who catches his attention in more way than one, he's stuck to her like glue.

I think this is a great second installment and I love4d seeing their story. I would say there were a lot of elements that were repetitive from the first book, but the world building and magic system are just so unique and I loved seeing a whole new side to it with this book.