A dark, lush romantasy with tension, twists, and plenty of spice.

I received an ARC of Bound to the Shadow Prince in exchange for an honest review, and it’s safe to say Ruby Dixon delivers her signature mix of compelling romance and creative world-building in this enemies-to-lovers tale.

The premise—a forced proximity situation where two sworn enemies must live together in a tower for seven years to appease the gods—sets the stage for a slow-burn romance full of tension, grudging respect, and eventual passion. Candra is a fiery, headstrong princess, and Nemeth is a stoic, noble warrior who harbors hidden depths. Their dynamic feels electric, and as they uncover the truths about each other, their relationship blossoms in a way that feels both organic and emotional.

Dixon’s world-building is immersive, with vivid descriptions of both the characters and their surroundings that make it easy to picture the story as it unfolds. The pacing, while uneven at times, manages to pick up during key moments, especially in the last third of the book, where betrayals, twists, and emotional stakes are at their peak.

What I Loved:

The enemies-to-lovers tension was executed perfectly, with lots of simmering moments that made the payoff satisfying.
The forced proximity trope added layers of intimacy and intrigue, keeping the story compelling.
Nemeth’s protective nature paired with Candra’s fiery personality created a dynamic I couldn’t get enough of.
The inclusion of chronic medical condition representation was a thoughtful and unique touch.

What Could Be Better:
The middle section dragged slightly, with some parts feeling repetitive or overly drawn out.
Candra’s character, while entertaining, felt a bit one-dimensional at times—her motivations didn’t always extend beyond her immediate circumstances. The pacing was uneven, with a few slower sections that could have been tightened.

Final Thoughts:
Bound to the Shadow Prince is a dark, sensual romantasy that fans of Ruby Dixon or slow-burn enemies-to-lovers stories will thoroughly enjoy. It’s rich in tension and world-building, with just enough twists to keep you turning the pages. While the pacing isn’t perfect, the unique premise and engaging characters make it a memorable read. If you’re into forced proximity, forbidden love, or swoon-worthy winged warriors, this book is for you!

I feel like this story is a good intro for someone wanting to dip their toes into monster romance as it still leans more romantasy. I enjoyed the fact the FMC had a medical condition - this made for some great challenges and cute moments where he cares for her. Her people are absolutely brutal and I hated that for her. While I enjoyed this story, I absolutely felt like it was much too long. A natural stopping point would've been when they decided to leave the tower but at the same time, I understand the rest of the journey wouldn't have been sufficient for a full second book. But getting to where they needed to be next just took forever (at the same time, this was also realistic given the FMC's limitations haha). The twist didn't surprise me much, I'm intrigued to see where this will go.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Thank you Wattpad Webtoon book Group and Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Ruby Dixon can do no wrong in my eyes. This is a spicy, spicy story. If you are looking for more smut than plot, this is absolutely for you. Join the Rubyverse!

I’m a massive fan of Ruby Dixon and I’m not going to lie — I was curious when I requested this novel as I had read her Ice Planet Barbarian series before this.

I love a close proximity novel and here it is where our main characters are to spend a whopping 7 years together. 7 years! Locked away, two people from warring countries, to ensure that a goddess will bring good fortune to their people.

I LOVE the health rep with Chandra — who wasn’t even supposed to be locked up with the male main character. Delian swoops in and helps her with her medication when the supply begins to run dry and he is the absolute perfect cinnamon roll, golden retriever type.

Fans of monster romance with tons of spice will rejoice with this release. 10/10 stars for this one!

Ruby Dixon is a contentious author for me because I find her books can be a lot of fun if a bit formulaic and often very lacking in their sentence-level craft. I’m afraid to say I didn’t find this one as fun as some of her other works, and that made the other issues with her writing all the more prominent.

I found the main character and her love interest to have quite a boring dynamic in spite of what was some really great framing in the realm of “forced proximity.” The gargoyle-esque description of the love interest really wasn't my jam and I think ultimately this was a little out of my comfort zone in the realm of monster romance. Potentially I could’ve grown past that initial discomfort with more investment in the characters, but I found them alongside the world building really quite lacking.

I also had a lot of issues with the lieu of time jumps in the story, it gave the impression that I wasn’t actually experiencing the characters growing closer and rather provided snap insights telling rather than showing me their developing relationship.

Unfortunately, Dixon hasn’t impressed me with her fantasy novels, and I think I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m much more fond of her scifi romances as formulaic as they might be.

I first got into Rudy Dixon, as many did, through her “Ice Planet Barbarians” series. It was, in fact, my introduction to the entire genre of alien/monster romance, and her light touch, sense of humor, and plotting for her world had me quickly addicted.

I’ve been dipping my toes into her fantasy titles and “Bound to the Shadow Prince” has been my favorite so far. A prince and princess from warring countries are required to spend seven years locked together in a tower to ensure that a goddess will bring good fortune to their people. Fellian, who has wings and fangs, has been training for this for years. Chandra, a spoiled princess with a mysterious health problem, is forced to sub in at the last minute upon the death of her sister — and lacks enough supplies and medicine to last the first year.

The pair avoid each other until Chandra’s plight becomes obvious and the prince shares his food and helps restore her medical supply. They become companions, even as their counties war, and are forced to leave the tower early when it becomes clear everyone outside has forgotten about them.

Of course, this is Ruby Dixon. The prince is a monster, but the princess grows to find him attractive and… well, his equipment is decidedly interesting. Readers who prefer more chaste romances or mildly spicy may be horrified. Fans of “cinnamon roll” heroes and monster romance will happily hang on for the ride.

Fantastic read, and I’m looking forward to more in this genre!

Bound to the Shadow Prince was such a good romantasy. It was exactly what I expected from Rudy Dixon. We get the story of the kingdom and the why for our main characters troubles. Some of the twists are held until towards the end to make the story that much more enjoyable. Our Princess Candra is the spoiled sick princess. She has been locked in a castle given everything she could ever want. Since she has this sickness she is not allowed out or to even do most things for herself. She has so much growth in this story. Then we have Nemeth, our terrifying and cruel monster. But is he really all that mean. Candra is drawn to him and sees more than meets the eye. I thought their romance was so sweet and the spice was great! I loved that this was a standalone but I would definitely read another book set in this world. Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Ruby Dixon is the queen of smut x plot.
In this enemies to lovers, forced proximity story, Princess Candra is trapped alongside her sworn enemy. But when to two put their differences aside and instead work together, a new kind of fire is awoken in them both.
Perfect for fans of grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, virgin MMC, enemies > friends > lovers, and an HEA, this one is for you!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

When this book was announced, I knew I had to read it as soon as possible. For those that follow me, I am a massive Ice Planet Barbarian fan and have already over 40+ books by this author. Candra was a bit frustrating at times but once her and Nemeth actually started interacting, she became more likeable. Sometimes the pacing was a little off. Maybe because I am used to this author's shorter books. Either way, I had a great time and will always read Ruby Dixon's work.

Tropes:
Forced Proximity
Enemies to Lovers
Monster Romance
Caretaking

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I don't even know what to write about this book. It felt like a twist on a Disney story with them being in a tower. Then she falls for nementh and the whole world goes to crap.
But she of course has to deal with crazy families.
I honestly felt like this book was 50% to long. It dragged and then is everything happens at the end and was rushed.
Candra was the worst main character. So annoying and whiny. The mmc is a cinnamon roll.
I don't know if it's worth 500+ pages but the main story was good

I adored Dixon's Aspect and Anchor series so I was excited to check this one out! I love a good slow burn, enemies to lovers, and forced proximity. While I did enjoy parts of this book, I would've liked it more if it were shorter. I love long books when it helps the world and character building but I feel like this one started to drag. It started off very strong and I did not want to put it down. I had to keep reading to find out what happened next. However, after they went into the tower, the pace slowed down and I struggled to continue reading.

Overall, I did like this book but I think I would've liked it even more if it were shorter and less repetitive. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early!

as a concept it’s very interesting but it took me forever to trudge through and although filled with spice was honestly quite … dull

i did like the personalities of the two main characters but it was just them two interacting for almost the whole book and it grows tiring quickly

I was really entertained"Bound by the Shadow Prince" drew me in with its intriguing blend of dark fantasy and romance. The strong-willed protagonist finds herself caught in a tangled web of supernatural intrigue and political power plays. The world-building is immersive, richly detailed, and truly transports you to a realm filled with danger and allure.

I was captivated by the palpable chemistry between the main characters, which adds a compelling layer of tension to the story.

❤️❤️❤️❤️ out of 5
This book was a little different but I actually really enjoyed it and I struggled to put it down. It’s fantasy romance with slow burn, enemies to lovers, different species and forced proximity.

Our heroine and hero belong to warring people and both are offered up as a sacrifice to spend 7 years in a tower to appease a goddess’ wrath. These two have absolutely nothing in common and yet as time passes with only each other for company, a bond begins to form. When their supplies start to dwindle and it seems like the world has forgotten about them they need to decide what matters most- appeasing a goddess or survival.

While the pace definitely starts out slow (they are both in the same tower for years) I never felt like the story dragged. You really get to focus on their connection and watching it grow.

I love Ruby Dixon's writing, but this drug on forever. I barely made it through the entire book. The spice was great as usual, but the plotline made me feel like I was crawling to finale.

I was given access to this arc to read thanks to NetGalley. A fun romantasy Great read. Would read more by this author.

Ruby Dixon's Bound to the Shadow Prince is a captivating tale of forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, and forbidden passion. Set in a world where sacrifices are made to appease the gods, the story follows Princess Candra and Prince Nemeth, who are forced to live together in a darkened tower for seven years. Dixon's world-building is vivid and immersive, drawing readers into a realm of magic, intrigue, and political machinations. The characters are well-developed, with Candra and Nemeth's complex relationship evolving from animosity to a deep-rooted love. The author's descriptions of their interactions and the physical intimacy between them are both sensual and passionate. While the early parts of the book may feel slow-paced, the plot picks up significantly in the latter half. The tension and suspense build as Candra and Nemeth navigate the challenges of their confinement and the dangers that lurk outside. The author's skill at crafting emotionally charged scenes kept me engaged and invested in the characters' fates. The book's only downfall is the pacing, which could have been tighter in some areas.

I absolutely love all of Ruby Dixon's work, so Bound to the Shadow Prince was a must-read for me. Honestly, I don’t even bother with the book synopsis—I just dive right in! This one is a fun twist on Greek mythology, with a fantasy plot that’s unique and engaging. It’s a bit more fantastical compared to her other books, but Ruby’s world-building is always on point, and this story is no exception.

The plot follows Princess Candra, who’s sent to live in a tower for seven years to appease the gods, along with Nemeth, a bat-like humanoid from the Fellians. Being in such close quarters, the two are forced to learn and survive together, and there are some fun twists along the way. What really made the book for me was Ruby's author note at the end—it made me appreciate the story even more!

If you’re into fantasy romance, this one’s a must-read. It's not just a simple "stuck in a tower" tale—there’s so much more to it, and the surprises will keep you hooked!

Honestly, I love everything this human writes But I had such a good time with this book and it will definitely become a comfort read