If you enjoyed Ruby Dixon’s big, blue, alien romance series Ice Planet Barbarians then you’ll love her new monster romance, BULL MOON RISING. Announced as the first book in the Royal Artifactual Guild series, the author builds a complex, fantasy world full of humans, Minotaurs, and other unique creatures. With the land divided among a few feudal lords called holders, the lords protect, defend, and enjoy their lives with enchanted objects from an extinct civilization.
After her father depletes or gambles away all their family artifacts, pampered heiress Aspeth travels to the capital city with a plan. She intends to join the elite society that excavates the ruins seeking magical artifacts for the highest bidder. When the guild doesn’t allow her in, Aspeth strikes a marriage bargain with guild member Hawk for him to be her chaperone as an apprentice in exchange for her being his bedmate when he goes into a mating frenzy during the upcoming Conquest Moon. What could go wrong? Aspeth and Hawk are well-developed and a joy to read with plenty of spicy scenes. The secondary characters are all complex and interesting as well. No idea who will be the main characters in the next book but I can't wait to read it.
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.