This one wasn’t for me. I’ve been trying to start it for over a week and the opening is so chaotic that it makes me put it back down every time. I finally pushed through the first three chapters and found myself skimming a bunch of details because there’s just SO MUCH to take in. It could very easily just be me and the mood I’m in, but it’s a no for me.

Ruby Dixon is my number 1 monster romance author.
I love her so much!
This book was no exception.
If you like IPB or any of her work. Scoop this up!

*Monster Romance (Minotaur)
*Cute fmc
*World building
*Marriage of Convenience

I loved this book. I ate it up! Her characters and character development are always spot on!

This was so cute 😍

~Aspeth's only goal is to save her family from ruin. Marrying a minotaur is the least of her problems.. at least for now. Hawk knows this woman is up to something but he's not sure what. He has his own problems to worry about..~

I love how determined Aspeth is during this whole 'adventure'. She may be a bit naive but she doesn't let anyone or anything slow her down or change her mind. The friendships she makes are so sweet and wholesome too. I just wanted to wrap her in a big hug.

Hawk definitely starts as a question mark, especially with everything he has going on, but by the end I loved him so much. Where can I find my own minotaur?!

human/minotaur x marriage of convenience x teacher/student x forced proximity

*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review with my honest opinion.*

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for a copy of Bull Moon Rising!

Let me start off by saying this is one of the prettiest covers I've seen in a long time and it's right up my alley. Huge props to the cover artists.

I absolutely love Ruby Dixon. I inhale all of her books. This one just didn't hit the same. The plot felt like it was a great YA plot if it didn't have some smut sprinkled in. Ruby's writing had sucked me in as usual, day dreaming at work about what some of the plot points could be and I was excited to fall in love with the main characters. Instead I just felt like the ending felt flat and the entire book left me with something to be desired.

What I WILL say is that Ruby flexed her world building muscles and I loved it. I actually want to learn more of this world and the Prellians. (Will we get a book 2?) Also a 30 year old FMC who isn't conventionally attractive? I'll eat it right up everytime.

Spoilers:
I felt like the Conquering Moon was built up to be this big thing, and then it just kinda happened once on page and then the rest was an after thought. For something that comes around every five years, I would have expected so much more to come from it.

I also didn't like how the only female guild member ended up being a bad guy and was kicked out of the guild, thus leaving no females in the guild, even at the ending. For Aspeth to go through everything she did and with everything she wanted to stand for, it kinda sucks that this is how the guild was left. Not even Gwenna being let in. Just given the opportunity to try again next year.

All in all, this book was fine. Maybe I'm more of a Not Hoth girlie.

After her fathers irresponsibility left their family stronghold with no magic producing artifacts to supports their estate, Aspeth (Sparrow) Honori must join a group of misogynistic badasses called the Royal Artifactual Guild in search of artifacts to replenish her family’s holdings. She stumbles into the arms of a golden-eyed Taurian man called Hawk (he’s a Minotaur) who becomes her mentor and chaperone within the guild in exchange for marriage. Why does the Taurian want to marry a near stranger you ask?? WELL ILL TELL YA: the Conquest Moon is coming up and DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS??? during the entire month of the CM his species is driven insane with lust and the urge to mate (AND ENGAGE THEIR SACRED KNOT 💀💀)

Read this if you like these tropes:
•Master/Apprentice
•Marraige of Convenience
•Monster romance
•‼️ANKLE CARESS‼️

A few things to note:
-I thought the premise was unique, the characters are part of a guild that hunts magical artifacts, I love that!
-Though there was a conflict, it was FLIMSY and it is hard for me to accept a weak conflict no matter the content of the book, silly or serious.
-The FMC Aspeth is…dare I say, goofy? She aspires her whole life to become an artificer, Indiana Jones style, and was surprised by the physical nature of it? And the whole refusal to wear her glasses even though she’s blind as a bat bit? GIRL PUT ON YOUR SPECTACLES PLEASE IM BEGGING YOU.
-This book isn’t perfect, it’s got some pacing issues especially in the last 100 pages, and I didn’t fully connect with the characters, BUT, all these things being said I still read this book cover to cover with voracity so 🤷🏼‍♀️

I had such a fun time reading this. Never thought I’d read a Minotaur romance, but here we are. I will admit to the beautiful cover being a motivating factor (and yes, I’ve pre-ordered the book too). I’m a simple girl who likes shiny, sparkly things I guess.

This is for the girlies who love taurens on WoW. It felt like a giant quest in a fascinating world. I was honestly more invested in the plot and the world than I was the romance, and not because the romance was bad.. it was just a really cool premise.

It kinda felt like what it’d be like if Zootopia and Indiana Jones had a baby. So much spelunking, and spunking. 👀

The characters were okay. FMC was pretty annoying at times, and I can see that killing it for some people. She’s wholesome but incredibly sheltered and was used to being coddled her entire life. There’s quite a bit of character growth though, which I love to see.

The MMC is.. a Minotaur. That’s kind of his personality. No, really. I know - I’m the best at articulating things. He’s a wholesome, big, fluffy guy who just wants a woman to rut and a stable job where he’s respected. Relatable.

I have some fun quotes to add after the official release. For now I’ll leave it at this!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Ace) for providing me with the arc. ❤️

<strong> Ahhhhhhhhhhh!</strong>

I loved this book, but that’s no real surprise because it’s Ruby. I genuinely love her fantasy stories and the history and society in this one was spectacular. And that smut!! 👅👅👅
The romance was on point, the way the relationship progressed between the MCs with their secrets and motivations was truly spectacular.
However, what I loved the most was the intricate relationships between all of the characters. In true Ruby fashion each of the characters had depth, they weren’t devices but visceral beings.

🎙️ I did a tandem read and listen of this book and it was so worth it. There were a few differences between the text and the audio, but it was brilliant storytelling. It was a true dual line by line narration and the accents used were perfect. The snooty posh British accents and deep growly American accents were nailed perfectly.

<b> Fantasy Romance | Monster Love </b>
🐂 Minotaur
👅 With a memorable tongue
🇬🇧 A Proper British Lady diving into the dirt
💍 Marriage of convenience
🪨 Archeological digs of ancient magical societies
👑 Politics, power plays, and a bit of intrigue
🗝️ Several juicy secrets
🗡️ Ragtag group of friends / found family

3.5 stars

So if you’re expecting short and smutty like Ice Planet Barbarians, this isn’t that. This has a large cast of characters, magic, lots of world building, and lots of plot! Don’t get me wrong, there’s still a lot of very spicy open door scenes, but the plot is foremost I’d say.

We do have found family, a cinnamon roll Minotaur, a marriage of convenience, and some very dangerous situations with caves and scary rat monsters. To be quite honest, this book is too long, and it’s a bit repetitive at times. The misogyny in the guild is bad, as is the racism against Taurians. (And I could have used less *squelching*).

But overall it was a fun time. The audiobook is fantastic because it’s true duet narration, and the growly male narrator is perfect.

Many thanks to NetGalley and PRHAudio for the preview. All opinions are my own.

Bull Mood Rising is a fantastic fantasy romance novel from Ruby Dixon!

I loved the bravery and awkwardness of Aspeth, and how she never gives up! Her marriage to minotaur Hawk is a hilarious and spicy adventure they take on top of training to become a magical artifact hunter. I loved the story, the side characters, and the slow burn and then super spicy romance!

If you've never tried a Ruby Dixon novel, definitely try this one!

I enjoyed reading this book. It had some Indiana Jones/treasure hunting vibes to go along with the intrigue of training for acceptance in a secret society. I liked that we see the main character (Aspeth) being strong and resourceful but also vulnerable and naïve. This was my first time reading an interspecies romance, so I was not sure what to expect. I appreciated the explanations of things that were included due to one character explaining to another, as a result, the story did not get bogged down with extraneous explanations for the reader's benefit. I also liked being able to read sections from Hawk's POV and seeing how he viewed humans. I found some interesting parallels between Aspeth's journey and Hawk's. They both felt like they were stuck in their situations and they both experienced what it was to be treated like a second class citizen. The only (minor) issues I had with the book were a few small contradictions throughout the story. For example, in the beginning, Hawk claims he is not going to treat Aspeth differently than the other students, even though she is his wife. Then later, he apologizes to her for not being more gentle during the training because she is his wife, despite it being against Aspeth's wishes. Overall, I thought this was a fun adventure and I would definitely read another book in this series.

This was a very fun read! The start was a little slow for me, but as soon as the marriage of convenience clicked into place I was invested. I would definitely recommend this.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
🐂 He’s a minotaur
💍 marriage of convenience
💜 curvy fmc
🪢 knots & heat

Between this one and Morning Glory Milking Farm, I am for sure in my minotaur era 🤭🤭

This one took me a little bit to get into, mainly because I wasn’t expecting so much lore/world building. Ruby did an excellent job creating her own fantasy world and I really hope we get to see more of Aspeth and the gang.

Aspeth and Hawk’s relationship is a slow burn with great payoff. He is her teacher and I loved the dynamic between the two. The tension really built and made me giddy when they did finally get together.

With Bull Moon Rising, Ruby shines with her low angst and extra spicy spice. I didn’t want to put this one down and I think you won’t be able to put it down either.

Overall it was a good time. This was my first time reading a Minotaur romance. I received this book for free as an advanced reader copy and HIGHLY recommend it!

Special thanks to the publisher for an opportunity to read this advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

It has come to my attention that if Ruby’s name is on the project I’ll be locked in. This was written in typical Ruby fashion. I slew of world building and detail that is important to the story while also keeping it the reader absolutely engaged.

The FMC Aspeth is witty and knows the importance of a magical artifact. She knows that what her family has lost could very well be the end for them. This book was a perfect start to a series. I am not usually into the power dynamic of the student/teacher romance but this was done well as Hawk was a powerhouse so even with their age gap it was a lovely exchange of power.

This had more of a happy for now vibe which leads me to believe this won’t be a standalone. Which is very exciting because there was a lot of heat between some of our side characters. I can’t wait for the next installments ! Ruby always, always delivers.

What do you get when you cross archaeology adventure with romantic fantasy, toss in a marriage of convenience, and sprinkle it with regency drama? If your dowsing rod is pointing you in the direction of Ruby Dixon, then you're already on your way to discovering the treasure that is Bull Moon Rising.

There was so much to love about this book, starting with the friendship between Aspeth and Gwenna. They were such a great duo, both very much playing against society's expectations, and it's their loyalty to one another that makes the whole story possible. Their training as adventurers is fraught with challenges, undermined by sexism, and overshadowed by practical matters, but that's what makes it so satisfying to finally see them descend into the tunnels. Only Hawk, frustrated guild trainer and grumpy minotaur about to go into a rut, could possibly make something of them, but he is as swoon-worthy a mentor as he is a lover.

You'd expect a book like this to be, well, dirty - physically and sensually - but it's actually very sweet. Aspeth and Hawk have a lovely relationship arc, and as much as there are differences in size and experience, they work as a couple because their personalities fit so well. Even when they're voyeuristically watching orgies in the streets, talking about knotting (while dealing with cat hair), or dealing with the sexual madness of seasonal rutting, they're still fun and fabulous. There's compassion and consent at every step, and the feelings that develop are genuine.

I'd hoped we'd get into the tunnels sooner, and was kind of saddened by the way Magpie was portrayed, but that's more a failure of my wish-fulfillment than the story itself. The tension in the final part of the book is thick, full of danger and double-crossing, and I loved how seamlessly Dixon made the transition from creature-infested tomb to dark-and-dusty love nest. It sounds like there will be more stories in the Royal Artifactual Guild, and I'm up to be a repeater!

In Bull Moon Rising, Ruby Dixon blends romance, adventure, and magic in a steamy romantasy. The story follows Aspeth Honori, the daughter of a Holder who finds herself in a bind after her father gambles away all their magical artifacts. Determined to save her family, she devises a plan to join the Royal Artifactual Guild to retrieve arcane items from ancient ruins. However, the guild won't allow her to train because she’s a woman. To overcome this, Aspeth marries a gruff minotaur guild member who has his own set of problems, creating an arrangement that quickly becomes more complicated than either expected.

While the concept of a high-stakes magical adventure is intriguing, the execution sometimes falls short. As with many romantasy novels, Bull Moon Rising places heavy emphasis on the romance between Aspeth and her monstrous yet alluring partner. While the romance is well-written, steamy, and fun, it sometimes overshadows the broader plot. I would have liked to see more focus on the world-building and the magical artifacts that drive the story.

One of the book's strengths is its exploration of sexism. Aspeth's struggle to navigate a male-dominated guild and her use of her wit to bypass societal restrictions add depth to the story. It was refreshing to see these elements woven into the fantasy world, even if the plot could have done more with them.

On the downside, the "twist" near the end of the book felt out of place and didn’t fit smoothly with the rest of the narrative. It seemed like an attempt to raise the stakes but felt somewhat disconnected from the story's core themes.

Despite these flaws, the monster romance element delivers, and Dixon does a great job of making her minotaur hero both intimidating and endearing. The chemistry between Aspeth and her surly partner shines, and the intimate scenes are crafted with care.

Overall, Bull Moon Rising is an enjoyable read for fans of fantasy romance who don’t mind a story that prioritizes the romantic arc over intricate world-building. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel, as there are plenty of elements in the world and characters that could be expanded upon in future installments.

Despite its intriguing premise, Blue Moon Rising ultimately fell short of my expectations. From the outset, the world-building showed promise, but as the story progressed, I found myself struggling to connect with the characters and, consequently, the unfolding plot. The protagonists lacked depth, and their motivations often felt either unclear or underdeveloped, making it difficult to invest emotionally in their journey.

While some readers may find the pacing and structure engaging, I found the narrative flow to be disjointed, which detracted from the overall immersion.

⭐️: 3.5/5

I don’t normally read this kind of fantasy romance, so my review should probably be taken with a grain of salt for this reason, but I thought this one was just ok. The Victorian Era type vibes of this one were a little strange to me, and the plot moved pretty slow. This was kind of a long book, and I feel like it could have been half the length. There wasn’t much plot for large pieces of it, and honestly, I was more interested in the archaeological finds and the way the Guild operated than the 🌶️ scenes, but we didn’t get enough of the adventure aspect of the story in my opinion.

Although it presents as a longer book, it was a quicker read than I initially felt it would be, maybe because I quickly read a lot of the background chapters where it didn’t seem like anything was happening except for the FMC’s inner monologue. The overall story flow was structured well, but still, it just had too much fluff and not enough story. I don’t love spoiled and clueless FMCs either, so this was a bit of a miss for me in that regard as well. I don’t think I was the target reader audience for this one, but also, now I know, so I don’t regret reading this one to find that out 🤪

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for this eARC in exchange for my review!!

I just cannot get into this book and I've tried multiple times. I should not have requested this book. I'm sure it's a great read for some people but not me. I apologize.

This was an interesting novel. I feel like Dixon was trying to accomplish a lot and didn't nail any of it perfectly. In terms of a fantasy, this fell short -- the world building was confusing and not fleshed out. In terms of a romance, Aspeth and Hawk didn't have time to cultivate their relationship. The spent most of the book fighting, or disagreeing, or hiding things from each other. I found it unbelievable when Hawk said he loved Aspeth and she returned her affections. It felt like their romance wasn't given time to properly grow and mature. The ending too felt rushed; everything was magically solved in a way that felt extremely disingenuous. I wasn't a fan of this book, but I image other people would be less critical of it since it is a romantasy.