A "Horn-y" Slow Burn Monster Romance in a Historical Fantasy World—Legitimately Unputdownable
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Bull Moon Rising Book Cover Bull Moon Rising
Royal Artifactual Guild (Book 1)
Ruby Dixon
Monster Romance, Paranormal Romance, Historical Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy, Fantasy Romance
Ace
October 15, 2024
hardcover (special edition), ebook, audiobook
432

In a world of magical artifacts and fantastical beings, a woman determined to save her family joins forces with an unlikely partner, in this steamy romantasy by USA Today bestselling author Ruby Dixon.

As a Holder’s daughter, Aspeth Honori knows the importance of magical artifacts . . . which is why it’s a disaster that her father has gambled all theirs away. Now that her family is in danger of losing their hold—and their heads—if anyone finds out the truth, Aspeth decides to do something about it. She’ll join the Royal Artifactual Guild and the adventurers who explore ancient underground ruins to retrieve the coveted arcane items.

It’s a great plan—with one big problem. The guild won’t let her train because she’s a woman. Aspeth needs a chaperone of some kind. The best way to get around this problem? Marry someone who will let her become an apprentice. Who better than a surly guild member who requires a favor of his own? He’s a minotaur (it’s fine) who is her teacher (also fine) . . . and he’s about to go into rut (which is where it gets tricky). He also has no idea she’s a noble (oops), and he’ll want nothing to do with her if he discovers her real identity.

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.

It’s time to dig deep. Literally.

“How am I supposed to seduce someone? Sit on them and recite Old Prellian poetry until they give in? I don’t know the first thing about being appealing to men.”

You’re absolutely going to need this slow burn Minotaur romance by Ruby Dixon. Bull Moon Rising is set in a historical fantasy world where magical artifacts power strongholds, Taurians save the humans behinds daily, and a powerful rut season only happens once every 5 years on the rise of the Conquest Moon.

Aspeth is our plus-size heroine. Not only is she determined to salvage her home and father’s reputation by joining the Royal Artifactual Guild to obtain artifacts from Old Prell that will secure her family’s hold, Aspeth is also an obsessive scholar in her own right, knows how to read ancient runes, and can spot a fake artifact like a professional. I adore Aspeth. She’s intellectual, she’s got gumption in spades, and when her family has let her down countless times, her determination is stalwart.

The Mummy Rachel Weisz via Tenor

“You’re not seriously offering to have sex with me just to get into the guild school?”

After being laughed out of a male-dominated Guild meeting, Aspeth makes a bargain with Hawk, a Taurian who is currently attempting to help out his friend and Guild Master, Magpie, by teaching her class of fledglings. If you’re wondering what a Taurian might be: it’s a Minotaur descendant who hold just higher standing in the Guild than that of women. Every 5 years, a Conquest Moon rises and causes the Taurians to go into a red-eyed rut. If Hawk marries Aspeth, she can become a fledgling in the Guild and Hawk has himself a mate for the rut. Wins for everyone, right?

It’s not as easy as that. Aspeth’s fellow fledglings consist of a motley crew of misfits: A slitherskin, Magpie’s drunkard of a niece, Aspeth’s friend and maid in her household, and a woman who desperately doesn’t want to be sent to their world equivalent of a convent. Magpie, the actual guild master, is on the brink of being cast out due to her own drunken actions. Nearly all the other teams work against Aspeth’s team in order to better their own chances. Aspeth is also in danger of showing her cards to her husband whom she just can’t seem to stay away from.

Minotaur gif via Tenor

“I’d rather take an honest man with no kisses than a liar with a sweet tongue.”

I loved the storyline of Bull Moon Rising. I loved that I never knew what would happen as Aspeth and Hawk fell slowly for each other. While their relationship stems from convenience, both show each other equal amounts of tenderness and affection. These two idiots are my favorite kind of romance. While their horniness is apparent, the way Ruby Dixon approaches their inevitable coupling during the rut was both sweet and romantic. I wish I could describe it better, but I’m here for the vibes, and the vibes are immaculate.

With every wrong turn in Aspeth’s journey to helping her father, it only cements the bond with Hawk even further. Bull Moon Rising is a historical fantasy, it’s an ode to Victorian Archaeology, full of feminist themes (yes, Queen!), and it’s a slow burn romance that is so horny you’re not going to miss out on any of the spice while Aspeth and Hawk figure out their situation.

“Before leaving home, I had no friends. Now I have four of them, and it feels like I’m the richest person in all of Vastwarren.”

Bull Moon Rising is out soon, and if you haven’t seen the gorgeous hardcover special edition, then you better hippity hop over to your favorite retailer and get in on the action before the opportunity is over. Ruby Dixon, I cannot wait to experience more of this world with you! Aspeth and Hawk won me over (and Squeaker too), and I know they will win over other readers as well. Happy Release, Ruby!