Aspeth is an heiress with nothing left to inherit.  Her father gambled away their valuable artefacts and now they have no money and no magic to defend the family's lands.  Out of options, she decides to run away and join the guild in charge of excavating new magical artefacts.  Hawk is a Taurian, a species of humanoid bull-like people.  Although he works for the guild, his people are treated as second class citizens.  He needs to train a successful group of applicants to the guild or he'll soon find himself out of a job. But the conquest moon is coming soon - a time when the Taurians go into a wild lustful state, and he must find a way to deal with the rising tide of lust while also doing his job.  Both finding themselves in a tough spot Hawk and Aspeth make a salacious agreement to help with the others' needs.  Told from alternating perspectives, this story has explicit and passionate romance and an interesting well thought out fantasy world created with enough restraint to have a broad appeal to romance lovers.  The fantasy setting allows the inclusion of a broad spectrum of fun and interesting characters which cover classic archetypes in a more interesting way.

3⭐️3.5🌶️

First person
Present tense
Romantic Fantasy
Grumpy/sunshine
Mythical creatures
Marriage of convenience
Forced proximity
Guilds
Patriarchy
Training


The book cover is beautiful!

I went in completely blind with this being my first Ruby Dixon book. I know, I know… how is that possible? I’m not too sure. But here I am.

The plot was decent. There aren’t many archeological rom coms out there, so it was definitely unique. But I found things a little too repetitive in descriptions and internal dialogue. But the world building was well done and I found the setting to be engaging. Interconnected standalones in this would will be interesting.

The main characters were fine, but nothing to write home about. Nerdy/Curvy woman (who refuses to wear her glasses) is attracted to big and burly/grumpy minotaur. She seemed a bit too naive and immature for her age. And he didn’t have much of a personality at all.

The discussion about this looming Minotaur mating moon, overshadowed the plot just by how often it was mentioned. The spicy scenes that were present were fine, but lacked a level of intimacy due to the lack of kissing… because Minotaurs don’t have lips/can’t kiss… which makes sense… but still. There was knotting, but meh. I guess I need the romantic lead to have lips. I learn something new about myself every day.

The secondary characters were fun and a good diverse group of personalities. It was a good found family trope.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Bull Moon Rising was an amazing start to Ruby Dixion’s new Royal Artifactual Guild series!

A minotaur and human… can’t say I have read that combo prior to this book, but Ruby makes it work. I loved the grumpy obsessed MMC and the determined quirky FMC.

The marriage of convenience trope is my new obsession and I loved seeing it in this books! The plot and smut were great and I can’t wait to see what’s next for this series!

When Lady Aspeth Honori, the bookish daughter of a Holder, discovers her father has gambled away all of the family’s artifacts she makes the decision to travel to Royal Artifactual Guild and enroll to become an artificer. The only problem is that the Guild doesn’t accept women into the program without a chaperone and Aspeth only has her maid as company.

Hawk, a Taurian and member of the Guild, must get a group of 5 recruits through training or else his mentor Magpie might lose her position, and he won’t have the funds to pay off what he owes. To complicate everything the Conquest Moon is soon to be upon him and his urge to rut will be uncontrollable. Enter in Aspeth, and a motley crew of misfits who want to join the Guild. In desperation he accepts an offer from Aspeth–he’ll marry her and become her chaperone which will enable her to become a recruit, and she’ll help him out during the Conquest Moon.

I never know what to expect when I open a Ruby Dixon romance, but I’m always pleasantly surprised. I haven’t read that many minotaur romances, and I’m not sure I’m going to start adding them to my TBR, but I should have known this author would make it work. This is a complex world with quite a bit of depth. I will admit that it started out slow for me, as I was taking in all the worldbuilding, even though I adored Aspeth almost immediately. She’s a thirty-year-old sheltered daughter of a Holder, who doesn’t have much physical strength, but once she finds out that her lands and people are being threatened by her father’s wastrel tendencies, she comes up with a solution.

The marriage of convenience aspect of the romance was believable, as well as the chemistry between the main characters. Being a Ruby Dixon book, there are quite a few sexy scenes. All open door and super steamy.

I think the thing that grabbed my attention the most was the lore of the underground city full of magical artifacts that are gathered by going into tunnels and digging. And while I do think the overall page count could have been cut down a bit, I did really enjoy seeing the recruits finally head down the tunnels to train. Each of the side characters are endearing and I hope there are plans for Ms. Dixon to spend more time in this world telling their stories.

By the way, make sure you read the author’s note at the end. I think you’ll find the way this story came about fascinating.

Bull Moon Rising is a fantastical blend of romance, high fantasy, and intrigue! This book follows Aspeth our main character who is looking for a quick way to gain fortune. Her plan is to join the artifact guild, but certain rules prohibit her from joining…unless she has a chaperone. This is where bull man Hawk comes in, he’s trying to save his butt by crossing a line of students into the guild to maintain his job, but he finds himself one person short. Are you following what I’m putting down??

Anyways add onto that, the fact that Hawk is gonna go into a sexual trance and needs someone to stay with him for the duration of his “rut” and we got ourselves a genuine marriage of convenience. This book was so entertaining. Dixon masterfully develops her characters, imbuing them with depth and complexity. The tension between the lead couple crackles with chemistry, showcasing not just the allure of their physical connection but also the emotional struggles they face. Dixon’s writing is immersive, drawing readers into the vivid details of the shifter culture and the challenges they encounter, while also maintaining narrative so as not to get lost in the details. Themes of loyalty, identity, and acceptance resonate throughout, making the narrative not just an entertaining read, but also a thought-provoking one.

Overall, Bull Moon Rising is a thrilling addition to the paranormal romance genre. Ruby Dixon has once again left me wanting more! Whether you’re a longtime fan of shifter tales or new to the genre, this book promises to deliver an unforgettable reading experience 🫶🏽

Adventurous, magical, enchanting and oh so spicy. I had the absolute best time while reading Bull Moon Rising. The intricate world building and magic system was so unique and the story line was so fun, it was like I was on an adventure. Never did I think Minotaur smut was going to be my thing but just as the giant blue aliens that came before him, Hawk stole my heart, knot and all!!!

If Ruby writes it, I will read it!

This book is really good and I loved the spice. I’m a big fan of monster romance and this does that really well I haven’t read very many Benatar books, but this one goes to the top of the list. The physical book is so beautiful. I will definitely be picking it up.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley/ Ace, and Ms. Dixon for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I asked for this because I enjoy Ms. Dixon's books. Tbh I was a little put off by the cover, which is like My Little Ponies + sparkly rainbows + SHINY, on steroids. So you can imagine my VERY PLEASANT SURPRISE to discover that this is absolutely a fantasy with a healthy dose of romance, as opposed to smut with a fading whisp of plot. I don't mind a romantasy, aka, a romance with fantasy elements, at all. I've been reading them since *before* it was cool. But it's nice to see a romantasy with the emphasis on the fantasy.

Aspeth is a Holder's daughter (sort of a ruling governor) who leaves her Hold to travel, alongside her friend/maid Gwenna, to the city of Vastwarren to join the Royal Artifactual Guild (sort of a tomb raider/Indiana Jones/archaeologist hybrid group) in hopes of finding valuable artifacts to restore her Hold's coffers and defenses. The Artificers are run by (human) men, who do not welcome applicants of other genders or species to their society. Out of other options, Aspeth and Gwenna join up with two other female applicants and a slitherskin (sort of a gecko with a snail shell?) with a grouchy Minotaur named Hawk for a teacher. Each applicant must have a chaperone and, since Aspeth does not, she offers to marry Hawk: he will stand as her chaperone and in return, she will see him through his "Conquest Moon": a several days-long period that happens once every five years, in which he goes into rut and spends days on end having sex.

With that sort of description I really expected some serious action but to be completely honest it was a very slow burn. There's quite a bit of training montages (both physical and mental) and world building and, while there is certainly an attraction between Hawk and Aspeth, they certainly don't fall straight into bed. It was fun to watch Aspeth show off her knowledge of Old Prellian language and facts, and honestly I appreciated her misery as she suffered through the physical parts of training. Doing that sort of work is *difficult* and physical and frankly she should have anticipated it. I loved the found-family aspect of the team of five, even Kipp the slitherskin, and Gwenna was my favorite by far. (Don't hate me but I could have done without the fat screaming fur ball, lol)

Looking forward to seeing what Ms. Dixon does with this series next.

This book is perfect! It is so spicy, but also has so much heart! Everything from the setting and the lore to the magic system and the characters were all done to perfection! Definitely one of my contenders for my favorite book of the year! I literally could not put this down once I started reading it!

Thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback!

2.5 rounded to 3

If you're into minotaurs, (and rutting and knotting) this book might be for you. Unfortunately, I'm really not, and the blurb stuff leaned into mythology rather than warning me about the real, *koff* thrust of the book. (I guess I ought to have clued into all the pink on the cover. My bad.)

The rest of the story is workmanlike: Aspeth, a spoiled rich girl, is forced into a marriage of convenience with Hawk, a nebbish who soon will Jekyll and Hyde into a super-horny minotaur. Her motivation is her desire to be a member of a special archaeological guild, which will enable her to find a Maguffin that will save her family. Kind of a generic setup for a book in which sex Must Happen. And it does. But their relationship, which I read for, was a trifle flat. I really think that these romances are sandwiches for the, er, hot dog, as it were. I that's your thing, you might really be into it.

Ruby Dixon pens us an elaborate tale of courage, sacrifice, purpose . . . and steamy minotaur nookie 😉

Do you like stories that are intricate?

Do you love strong and smart heroines that are underestimated?

Are you a fan of grumpy/stubborn MMCs?

Interested in slow burning chemistry that develops into fiery, all-consuming passion?

Supportive secondary characters?

True grit?

Self discovery?

Found family?

Humorous dialogue?

Have I got the read for you!

Bull Moon Rising is all of these things and so much more. I love how courageous Aspeth is and how much responsibility she takes on to save her home and keep their people employed and protected. Having been sheltered all her life, Aspeth gets several wake-up calls, including the one where some small-minded butthead mansplains why her apprenticeship application to the artifact guild is denied because of her gender–despite being more than qualified.

The story is relevant and relatable, the characters are expertly crafted and the dialogue is witty and oh so entertaining. I absolutely enjoyed it and I can’t wait for the next book!

This book is everything!

The second I finished this book I immediately wanted to start rereading it.

It's romance, combined with Laura croft, but make it monster romance with a minotaur that needs a wife before his rut starts.

Aspeth was such a refreshing heroine. She is not an epic badass. She would rather sit around reading and is not interested in fighting. Fate has other plans for her when her father gambles away their families fortune and Aspeth has to find a way to save herself, her family, and her people. The only way she can think of to do this is do join the artificers guild.

Hawke was such a man of patience and I love him so much. He was the perfect pairing to Aspeth. The tension and the banter were so perfect. I am usually not the biggest fan of "the woman who thinks the man isn't into her, meanwhile the man is obsessed" trope, but it was honestly perfect here. It worked so well and I ate it up.

Go read this book. Please. It is amazing

Thank you to the author and publisher for the advanced review copy.

How do I love Ruby Dixon? Let me count the ways. I am obsessed with the two main characters. They are both so real and relatable (even if one is a minotaur), and when real life problems are tackled by the two MCs, it's perfection. I can't wait to sell this book!

The story centers around Aspeth, the daughter of a nobleman whose estate has fallen on hard times. Desperate to bring in much-needed money without being forced into an unwanted marriage, Aspeth decides to pursue her lifelong dream—joining the Royal Artifactual Guild. However, the guild doesn’t welcome women without a chaperone, so she agrees to marry Hawk, a Taurian (think Minotaur) who also needs a wife for his own reasons (of the steamy variety).

Aspeth soon finds herself in a class filled with other misfits as she embarks on her journey at the guild, which becomes an architectural school adventure with some monster romance sprinkled in. Hawk, the classic cinnamon-roll hero, is a gentle giant who adores Aspeth's quirks and awkwardness. If you enjoy a solid plot mixed with a bit of spice, this book offers both in a fun and adventurous setting. I’d definitely be eager to explore more stories set in this unique universe!

It's an erotic romance between a "Taurean" (it's a minotaur, y'all) and a fat, bespectacled, nerdy human lady featuring the following tropes:

Marriage of convenience
Mating season
Teacher/student
Knotting

I liked this one, but honestly it was on the longer side than I prefer for my erotic monster romances IYKWIM.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

Happy release day and thank you berkley romance and netgalley for the arc!

I love a story with found family. Throw in an obsessed and sweet Minotaur mmc and a marriage of convenience and I was hooked!

This book was fun. There was action and some of Ruby’s beloved spice, but this book was a bit too long for me. I found myself getting slightly bored and wanting to skim.

But I’ll forever be down for some knotting.

Thank you to Ace Books, Berkley Pub and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝
After reading Ice Planet Barbarians, I honestly went into reading BMR expecting an Er
otica and minimal but enjoyable plot. Now don’t get me wrong, there was plenty of SPICE, but there was also a really good plot.
30-year-old Aspeth Honori has left home with her maid to try and join the Artifacts Guild. She plans to join to find enough artifacts to save her father’s hold and protect those who reside there. Despite never even bathing herself, she feels a lot of pressure to fix her father's mistakes. They hit many bumps along the way, but one she definitely wasn’t expecting was marrying the Taurian named Hawk.

“Now Aspeth just has to pass the guild tests, thwart a fortune hunter, and save her hold—oh, and survive a rut with her monstrous, horned husband, whom she might be falling in love with.”

Honestly, I just loved the characters in the book, they were just a misfit group of people. They were quirky and problematic, but that all made for some great found family moments. Hawk, our brooding minotaur, was the perfect balance of rude to all, but nice to her…sometimes. It was just an overall entertaining crew of people

There was so much misogyny, especially at the beginning, but it only made me root for Aspeth and crew extra hard. If you love the energy of archeology and are a fan of monster romances, seriously give this a read.

♡︎ Marriage of Convenience
♡︎ Monster Romance
♡︎ Artifact Hunting & Magic
♡︎ Student/Teacher
♡︎ Hidden Identity.

This story was so fun!
Found family ✅
Plus sized FMC ✅
Monster smut ✅✅
Rooting for the underdog ✅
Fantasy light ✅
Marriage of convenience ✅✅✅
The plot was so thought out and all parts had a reason! I loved the adventure and characters!
I laughed so many times and rooted for sparrow and hawk the whole time! The twist and turns got me!
The ending was great and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series

I had such a fun time with this book! I'm a monster lover through and through and Hawk was so swoony. I also really loved Aspeth, I think she was so fun and and funny and determined. I found the plot super intriguing, too. Once I pushed through not understanding what was going on in the first chapter, I realized how approachable Ruby Dixon made this fantasy world, I just had to get into it.

Ruby really is the master at her craft. She can create stories that are interesting, charming, spicy, and that have fabulous world-building. Now, a heads up for those new to Ruby's writing: Ruby's books are SPICY and very romantic. There is definitely a fantasy element to this story, but the growing relationship between Aspeth and Hawk really takes center stage in this story. I enjoyed the world that Ruby created. Ruby does a fabulous job weaving in all these world-building elements (its history, political system, magic, etc.) in an interesting and cohesive manner. I adored all the archaeology vibes this story was giving off. The story itself has a little bit of everything in it. There is humour, charm, adventure, unexpected twists and turns, and, of course, spice.

I've read a few of Ruby's books now, and the one thing I notice is that she knows how to write a female MC that is just so damn unforgettable. Aspeth is a force to be reckoned with when she wants something. She is bookish, smart, sassy, brave, and rash. At the beginning of this book, we meet Aspeth, who is determined to enter the Royal Artifactual Guild. She wants to live and save her family from ruin. The problem is the Guild won't let her join because she is a woman. It was entertaining watching as Aspeth tried and tried again to join the Guild. There was just something so great about Aspeth's character. Watching her spread her wings and learning about artifacts and the spicier things in life was wonderful. Hawk is a Minotaur who is in a sticky position. He knows that soon he is going to go into a rut, a.k.a in heat, and that he needs a willing partner to go into heat with, or things will get messy. Hawk is this delightful blend of broody, gruff hero, and a cinnamon roll. I loved watching him and Aspeth interact with each other. They constantly kept each other on their toes.

The romance is a real slow-burn spice. What I mean by that is there is a lot of foreplay… very risky, spicy foreplay. We don't get to the actual banging until near the end of the book. This is a monster romance, so this book has some knotting, but it's not overly crazy in the spice department. Besides all the spice in this story, there are a lot of quiet moments between Aspeth and Hawk. It blows me away how Ruby was able to make it feel like Aspeth and Hawk were in their own little world. It was interesting watching these two strangers enter this marriage of convincing with little trust for each other. The journey they go on is full of bumps and miscommunications but also full of physical and emotional exploration. It was surprisingly sweet at times.

Bull Moon Rising is a fun romance fantasy, perfect for those who want to add a little spice to their reading life.