By the Horns - (Royal Artifactual Guild) by Ruby Dixon - 1 of 1

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By the Horns - (Royal Artifactual Guild) by Ruby Dixon (Paperback)

5 out of 5 stars with 1 reviews

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Highlights

In a world of magical artifacts and fantastical beings, a woman with a deadly magic secret needs the help of the minotaur she's trying to forget in the sizzling sequel to Ruby Dixon's New York Times bestseller Bull Moon Rising.
About the Author: Ruby Dixon is an author of all things science fiction and fantasy romance.
384 Pages
Fiction + Literature Genres, Romance
Series Name: Royal Artifactual Guild

Description

Book Synopsis

In a world of magical artifacts and fantastical beings, a woman with a deadly magic secret needs the help of the minotaur she's trying to forget in the sizzling sequel to Ruby Dixon's New York Times bestseller Bull Moon Rising.

Gwenna has always considered herself a normal person. A former servant, she wants nothing more than to land a steady job with the Royal Artifactual Guild so she can make some steady coin to send home to her mother. She's not special. She's certainly not a necromancer. That would be impossible, given how necromancing (or any 'mancing) is forbidden upon penalty of death. So if the dead keep talking to her? Well, she's going to keep on ignoring them. They're not going to stand in the way of her dreams.

Also standing in her way? One big, arrogant, far-too-flirty Taurian named Raptor. They slept together once, and now he wants more . . . but she doesn't have time for that. Her focus is on being a fledgling, a trainee for the Royal Artifactual Guild. But Raptor won't go away. He's on a secret mission for the guild to find an artifact thief.

Problem is, he thinks the thief is Gwenna.

How can she convince Raptor that he's got the wrong girl when all the signs point to her? And how do you tell a Taurian you can't date him because you hear dead people and it might cost you your life?

Review Quotes

"Dixon writes a steamy whodunit with fleshed-out characters in a broadening fantasy world."--Library Journal

"Dixon scorches the pages with intense and frequent erotic scenes but still finds time for ample character development and intrigue. Overflowing with both heart and heat, this is sure to please series fans."--Publishers Weekly

"Part murder mystery, part fantastical world lore, and all romance, Dixon's fans will be thrilled to follow Gwenna on her adventure, while also swooning for the rogueish Raptor as he falls for Gwenna."--Booklist

About the Author

Ruby Dixon is an author of all things science fiction and fantasy romance. She is a Sagittarius and a Reylo shipper, and loves farming sims (but not actual housework). She lives in the South with her husband and a couple of goofy cats, and can't think of anything else to put in her biography. Truly, she is boring.

Specifications

Dimensions (Overall): 8.25 Inches (H) x 5.5 Inches (W) x .78 Inches (D)

Weight: .7 Pounds

Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up

Number of Pages: 384

Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres

Sub-Genre: Romance

Series Title: Royal Artifactual Guild

Publisher: Ace Books

Theme: Fantasy

Format: Paperback

Author: Ruby Dixon

Language: English

Street Date: August 4, 2026

TCIN: 1011179406

UPC: 9780593817070

Item Number (DPCI): 247-46-3342

Origin: Made in the USA or Imported

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Estimated ship dimensions: 0.78 inches length x 5.5 inches width x 8.25 inches height

Estimated ship weight: 0.704 pounds

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100% would recommend

1 recommendations

5 out of 5 stars

4 September, 2025

Fun time

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ I’m so excited I got the chance to review this ARC! I actually read Bull Moon Rising first so I’d have an idea of what to expect, and this was my very first Ruby Dixon book. While these books can be read as standalones, I loved starting with book one because it gave me a deeper understanding of the world. This story follows Gwenna, who’s determined to become an artificer after failing the previous year. She’s motivated by the chance to earn more money for herself and her family. But just as she’s preparing to start the challenges again, a strange set of powers start tormenting her. This is right before she meets Raptor, a Taurian warrior who’s blinded, injured, and dealing with some very intense needs. Their first encounter is impulsive, unexpected, and sparks something neither of them can ignore. I was honestly surprised in the best way. I went in expecting a lot of smut, but the story had such a great balance of plot, romance, and strong female characters. I loved how the women in this world are pushing boundaries in a society where artificers have always been men. The mix of mystery, spice, and fast-paced storytelling kept me hooked from start to finish.

Kelly

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