After Dixon’s alien series, I’ve been intrigued to see where Dixon goes next. And it seems like we are going to Minotaurs! Bull Moon Rising is one of its kind and was definitely a fun read! Keep reading this book review of Bull Moon Rising for my full thoughts.
Summary
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.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I was so ready for minotaurs and archaeologists. There’s no denying that I really liked Aspeth’s character. She’s no muss, no fuss, and willing to do whatever it takes to be a Guild Member. In this heavily patriarchal society, she’s had to make some compromises to even be in the running – including a fake marriage to a Minotaur in some sort of spicy bargain. We admire a dedicated woman. And while there’s a definite sense of cross cultural – and in this instance cross species – navigating, I was definitely more intrigued by the archaeological vibes.
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It’s the underpinning of the plot impetus. While there were various elements of the plot which seemed a bit like were dropped and only picked up at the end, I enjoyed how Dixon explores a world of exploitation. The families and their Holds risk lives for power, to wage wars, and don’t ultimately care about knowledge. And for Aspeth, is this really a life she wants? For fans of “you should never meet your heroes” this is for you. Since it’s a Ruby Dixon novel, there is definitely spice! I would have to say the last 30% were my favorite in Bull Moon Rising mostly because these threads of societal injustice, their character dynamics, are really allowed to flourish.
It did feel a bit rushed, so I’m eager to see where it will go in the future. It took a bit to get into, but once I was, it’s a fun and entertaining ride. If you’re in the mood for a ‘monster’ romance – where the real monsters might not be the ones with horns – then this is for you. Find Bull Moon Rising on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.