Could not stand the FMC from beginning to end. Plus it was just weird pacing and felt like it went on for way too long. Still love me some Ruby Dixon though. This just wasn’t for me.

Enemies to lovers, she’s beauty he’s beast (literally) Forced proximity? Check. Spice? Check. Adventure? Check.

I love Ruby Dixon and originally became a fan during the Ice Planet Barbarians TikTok era IYKYK. In Bound to the Shadow Prince we have our spoiled seemingly ill princess and our gruff nerdy prince from two different warring kingdoms. The character development was probably my favorite aspect of this story. Seeing both MC’s come into their own, overcome the obstacles thrown at them, and stand up against those they love for each other was *chefs kiss*

I have mixed emotions because I really enjoyed this story and I know that so much was necessary to the world building…. I just felt at times that there was a little too much filler. It felt drug out and then the end felt rushed.

I really hope that this is going to be a series as I just feel like there is so much more to this story. I need to know what happens *after* even if it’s from a different characters POV.

Why.

That's what I need to know - Why. Why on EARTH was this book as long as it was? There is no conceivable reason this book needed to take as long as it did. I literally almost starting skipping lines and whole chapters because it felt so redundant. At least...the first 75% of the book felt redundant. The last 25% was fantastic, and much more of what I expect from a Ruby Dixon book. I was the entire book had been that way, but here we are.

If you've got time, it wouldn't hurt to read it. But if you're looking for something quick? Keep looking.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Ruby Dixon for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Bound to the Shadow Prince by Ruby Dixon promises a steamy monster romance between two members of enemy lands. Steamy it was, however, the plot fell short for me. For most of the story the romance drags on and on and not much is happening but in the end it is filled with too much action and too many twists that could’ve been better dispersed throughout the novel. Overall, this book was definitely not for me.

I enjoyed this! I think it's very well written for the audience that it is intended for, and wouldn't be surprised to find it making the rounds on TikTok before too long (if it's not already!). It's Ruby Dixon, so there's a certain level of "plot sacrificed in favor of witty/flirting" banter that I expected from having read some of her other books, so I was prepared and didn't find it as off putting as other readers unfamiliar with Dixon's books might. I mean, it's all about that love story, right! Plot isn't 100% the reason that people read Ruby Dixon's books. But that doesn't mean that there wasn't any kind of plot to follow along with, and I really enjoyed the worldbuilding that we did get for this fantasy setting! (Even the parts that were clearly dedicated to fanservice. I see and respect what you do for your readers, Dixon.)


Yes it got a bit repetitive in the middle, it maybe could have been better served by dropping a 100 pages or so. But on the whole, Bound to the Shadow Prince was a great way to spend an afternoon! Romantasy fans flock hence, because this book is definitely for you

Bound to the Shadow Prince follows Princess Candra and Nemeth, a monstrous creature and an enemy to her people. Both are stuck together in a tower for seven years. This book is a slow-burn, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and is uncharacteristically long for a Ruby Dixon book, probably because it was a serial first.

I absolutely loved Ice Planet Barbarians, so I thought I would enjoy Bound to the Shadow Prince, but the story just didn't land for me. I think the pacing is off in general. I did enjoy the romance and the characters, and I will continue to read Ruby's books.

A consuming read with quite the world building - the concept of human versus Fellian (non-human) and their strife over the years. Complete with gods and creation tales, this is an easy read. Good for fans of Sarah J Maas.


Thank you to Netgalley and the published for providing me with an ARC of this title.

I was not a fan of the main character which really just stopped me from enjoying most of this book. This was very slow in the beginning as the first several chapters are just two characters who do not speak to each other but are locked in a tower together. I was intrigued by the dynamic of the princess and the prince from an enemy race, but it just lacked. Between how slow everything played out and the FMC I just was not a fan.

I received Bound to the Shadow Prince in return for an honest review from the publisher W by Wattpad Books.

For the next seven years Candra will be locked away in a dark tower to protect her people with a stranger who is also the enemy of her people. They deliver her to the tower with everything they think she will need to survive for a year. She ventures into the unknown determined to survive these seven years. Nemeth is everything she's been led to believe about the monsterous race of Felians. Or she thinks he is till she start to discover the cracks and they start to spend time together.

I loved Candra and Nemeth they are so perfect for each other when they finally accept the fact that they can't just avoid each other for the next 7 years. I love the sweet romance as they slowly formed a friendship that eventually blossomed into love. I love that they had to make a break from the tower as the world outside was forced to change. I felt I was really able to connect with them both and just loved them.

This isn't my first book by the author as I've been working my way through them all and had some high expectations and she nailed it. Bound to the Shadow Prince is a fast paced steamy monster romance that captures the heart as well as the imagination. I couldn't put it down and ended up devouring it over 2 long reading sessions because it's chunky. You wouldn't know it because you get sucked into the story and it just flows along.

The author has done a beautiful job creating a captivating story with engaging characters. I loved every moment of Candra and Nemeth's story and hated to see it end. I could use a few more from this world as it's very different from her typical alien romance. I highly recommend because every book by the author has been amazing but this is my favorite hands down.

I’ve never read anything by this author until now. This book was great and if you like smut I would definitely check this out because it’s super spicy. In this world the FMC is bound to a tower for 7 years and can’t leave to the outside world within this time. During this time she’s with the shadow prince in the same tower. This is a monster romance, fantasy. It was really good, I enjoyed it.

3.5-stars.

I have absolutely loved reading the Ice Planet Barbarians books by Ruby Dixon, so when I heard she was writing a standalone fantasy romance, I was excited to read it. Bound to the Shadow Prince is a forced proximity enemies to lovers story. Candra and Nemeth are locked away in a tower for seven years together. Alone. Candra was not the most likable at the beginning as we get to know her. She was a bit spoiled and self-centered, but we get to see her grow throughout the story. Nemeth is a bit reserved and quiet who was on the shy side, kind and inexperienced. Their journey was on the slow burn side and enjoyed watching them fall.

Happy reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me an eARc in exchange of an honest review.

I have read and loved Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon so I really thought it would be my cup of tea but it wasn’t. The pacing was strange! And I just couldn’t get into it, had to DNF.

As an Ice Planet Barbarians stan, I was thrilled to dive into a Ruby Dixon book that offered something different. The forced proximity, enemies to lovers story was interesting enough at first, but I did find it to be a bit too long-winded. I think I enjoy Dixon's shorter works better.

This novel was a binge read for me. Enemies-to-lovers, female main character with a sexual appetite, and solid world-building? It sells itself. I was thrilled to read a novel that had a main character who enjoyed sex, and despite moments of self-doubt, never allowed herself to feel ‘lesser than’ for it. It was refreshing to read about a woman who was a shameless flirt, spoiled and selfish at times who wasn’t also villainized for it. Candra was realistic. She didn’t want to be a martyr, she wasn’t a good princess or always a good sister, she was self serving for a long while and she didn’t trust Nemeth unconditionally. She tried her best and loved hard and that is what made her such an interesting narrator. As wild as the story became, as deep as the worldbuilding got, making Candra a realistically flawed human was the best thing Ruby Dixon could’ve done for this novel.

When Princess Candra is called upon to serve for seven years in an isolated tower to appease the gods, she is devastated. Not only will she be cut off from her life in the palace, but she will also be trapped with the heir to the monstrous kingdom next door. Over time, Candra is drawn to Nemeth, and discovers that the prejudices she was taught as a child don't hold up in the face of his kindness. When the two fall in love, they know the wrath of both of their kingdoms is likely to fall on them. Can they survive the consequences of not only their choices, but the developments in the world outside?

This dark romance is a perfect fit for readers who crave a dark, adventurous, and spicy romance. It's perfect for romantasy readers who are willing to immerse themselves in a world of forbidden love and forced proximity.

I just love Ruby Dixon and I am always surprised by the connections in her stories. I will continue to read more from this author. Thank you for the ARC

I always know when I pick up a Ruby Dixon title that I will enjoy it, and this book didn’t let me down!

Generally, a fine and fast read but not what I had hoped. This was full of smut with a sassy FMC but just wasn't enough. The plot is nice and unique but a lot happens off page and that made it a bit flat for me.

I took this ARC because of RD's prowess but was just disappointed I didn't get Shadow Daddy. Overall, if you're a fan of the author or genre this is probably a good fit for you. If you're just starting out with RD I don't think I'd start here.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and W by Wattpad Books for this ARC Copy!

A cursed princess and a price from a rival kingdom are sent to live in a tower to appease the a vengeful god. Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, betrayal, drama, and lots of spice.

Is this a lyrical masterpiece, no. Is it just a bit longer than necessary and drags at times, yes. Did I still enjoy ever minute of it and was truly invested in the ending and our characters the entire time, absolutely yes. Was the spice spicing, absolutely!

OH MY GOD I LOVED THIS ONE SO MUCH

We've got forced proximity, we've got Romeo & Juliet "My fam hates your fam" except with kingdoms type of stuff, we've got shy, lemme take care of you MMC and a flirty FMC.

This book was fun to read. I loved the storyline, I loved the characters and the banter and the worldbuilding. The spice was good. I did expect more of an enemies thing, but I was satisfied with what I got. I think it fit better with the characters anyone (especially Nemeth)

Overall, this book was badass and sexy and I definitely recommend it.