Thank you Wattpad for the review copy, my opinions are my own.

This was a fun departure from the Ruby Dixon alien series, and I wasn't disappointed by the change to fantasy. Candra is an admitted flirt and spoiled princess who is one of the last of the Vestalin bloodline and when her sister that was destined to be the sacrifice to the Tower of Balance is killed in a shipwreck, is voluntold to be the new sacrifice. Given only 3 days to get to the Tower, she is NOT HAPPY about this change, especially since she has a chronic illness that she deals with and has to inject a potion daily to prevent her body from killing her from the inside. She has to figure out everything, including how to deal with her Tower mate, Nemeth, the Fellian sacrifice. They are locked into this tower for seven years to appease a very angry goddess.

Nemeth is not quite what Candra expected, she wasn't certain what she was expecting but a large grey winged scholar wasn't it. When two years pass, and there's no delivery of supplies, Nemeth and Candra must work together to find out what's going on, but the world is very changed from when they went into the Tower.

Candra deals with what appears to be a fantasy version of diabetes, but she's also a plus sized main character and very sex positive. Nemeth is a scholar and obsessed with books (man after my own heart), but also he's got secrets. Reminds me of Gargoyles (the TV show), and he's much bigger than Candra.

The story is spicy and fun, just like the Ice Planet series. If you like the IPB series, then give this one a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Webtoon for an advanced reader copy of this book!

Overall, I feel this was about twice as long as it needed to be and dragged along the whole time. The pacing by which the plot was unraveled to the audience felt so slow that I just was not interested by the end and was dragging along to finish. I also feel that somehow the ending was rushed for how insanely long the rest of the book was. I did not like that they made light of slavery and just kind of had a forgive and forget approach by the end. I did enjoy the relationship between the two main characters, but find a naive, out of touch, and spoiled FMC not to be so much my speed. I enjoyed ice planet barbarians, but really found this book lacking a lot of the same charm

This is a book that follows Candromeda and Nemeth as they are from two separate feuding blood lines that are forced to reside in a castle for seven years to appease the gods. With tropes of enemies to lovers and close proximity, this book is an interesting read if you like both. There's also 'monster' love (male character is not human) and knotting which wasn't something I was personally expecting.


The writing style made the book interesting to read, but I feel like the author couldn't decide between more 'medieval' language versus modern day. It wasn't a deal breaker, but sometimes it just felt like it didn't fit. The book felt long, which I guess was okay since I believe it will be a standalone, but I feel like it could have been plotted/paced a little better with more interesting time skips. There were a few interesting twists in the book which kept me wanting to read more.


This was my first book written by Ruby Dixon, and it made me interested to read more of her works.

3.5 stars

While I have read all of this author’s Ice Planet Barbarians series and almost all of her Icehome series, I haven’t read any of her books that don’t involve blue aliens. It was a no-brainer for me to give a different genre from her a try. I’m glad I did. Although the story started slowly for me, once Princess Candra was locked in the tower I was fully invested.

Candra had a bit of a Scarlett O’Hara thing going on. Every time things got tough and she felt like giving up and crying her eyes out, she would tell herself she could cry about it “tomorrow” or “later”. She has basically been told she is useless her whole life. She may be a Princess and have the blood of her nation’s founder running through her veins, but she also has a blood-sickness and is not the firstborn. Since nobody thought she was worth much, she did what she wanted when she wanted. Her actions gave her quite a reputation. She was thought of as loose, frivolous, and spoiled. To be fair, she kind of was those things. She was also loyal, loving, and persistent. Candra grows up in many ways while in the tower. She digs deep and finds things out about herself she didn’t know. She’s one tough cookie.

Nemeth may start out as a scary presence, but it turns out he’s just a big teddy bear. Especially when it comes to Candra. There is a lot of mistrust and preconceived notions on both sides, but these two can’t stay apart forever. The more they talk, the more they wonder about all they learned while growing up.

As much as I loved staying in the bubble of the tower with Candra and Nemeth, it becomes obvious huge changes are going on outside the tower. Eventually, the pair cannot ignore the outside world and have to make some tough decisions. But they decide that whatever is happening, they are committed to being together.

Many eye-opening things happen on their journey outside of the tower, and that part of the story did drag a bit. The pacing wasn’t consistent throughout this story, and this was one of the slow parts for me. Once they rejoin society (I’m wording this in a way to avoid spoilers) I felt Nemeth’s secret-keeping became too much. Both Nemeth and Candra kept things from each other, which was understandable with the situation they were in. Yet when Nemeth continued to keep things from Candra I got annoyed.

This was a great story. It could have been so much better if the pacing issues were resolved.

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.