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Aspect and Anchor #5
Vowed to the Vulture God
The Vulture God of Aos needs a partner.
Or more accurately, a watchdog. It's my job to escort him through the phenomenon called the Anticipation. If I make sure he stays alive until the very end, the fates will save my brother's life.
Of course I say yes. Who wouldn't?
I expected Kalos to be repugnant, not an elegant, world-weary man with silvery hair and tired green eyes. I expected him to be cruel and uncaring. As we get to know each other, I find that his caustic commentary shields a soft heart that's been betrayed too many times before.
He's used to everyone hating him. He doesn't know how to handle love, or understanding. He doesn't know what to do when I don't turn away from him, and kiss him instead.
Most of all, Kalos doesn't know that I'm doomed to leave his side, no matter how this ends.
Or more accurately, a watchdog. It's my job to escort him through the phenomenon called the Anticipation. If I make sure he stays alive until the very end, the fates will save my brother's life.
Of course I say yes. Who wouldn't?
I expected Kalos to be repugnant, not an elegant, world-weary man with silvery hair and tired green eyes. I expected him to be cruel and uncaring. As we get to know each other, I find that his caustic commentary shields a soft heart that's been betrayed too many times before.
He's used to everyone hating him. He doesn't know how to handle love, or understanding. He doesn't know what to do when I don't turn away from him, and kiss him instead.
Most of all, Kalos doesn't know that I'm doomed to leave his side, no matter how this ends.
512 pages, Paperback
First published February 20, 2026
400 people are currently reading
386 people want to read
About the author
Ruby Dixon
160 books20.1k followersRuby Dixon is an author of Science Fiction Romance. She likes fated mates, baby-filled epilogues, and cinnamon roll heroes. She also likes to write biographies of herself in the third person, because it feels more important that way.
Ruby also loves coffee and dirty books and will probably be a cat lady at some point. :)
Ruby also loves coffee and dirty books and will probably be a cat lady at some point. :)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
February 22, 2026
4.5 stars.
February 28, 2026
“Vowed to the Vulture God” by Ruby Dixon
5⭐/5⭐
3🌶/5🌶
“My heart, ask for anything, and I will grant it. Ask me to destroy the world in your name, and I will. Ask me to raze cities in your honor. Ask me anything.”
To say I enjoyed this book doesn’t really convey how much I loved this story. I’ve read many romance books, particularly with the ‘sad boi’ character archetype; it’s one of my favorites. However, every so often I’ll read a book, and the characters, their journey, their struggles and triumphs, it stays with me. It makes it hard to move on to a new book, because all I want to do is stay in their world and keep repeating the plot on a loop. This is how I feel about “Vowed to the Vulture God”.
If you follow me on bookstagram, or have noticed how many times I reread my favorite books, then you know “Sworn to the Shadow God” is among my favorites of all time. It’s the second book in the Aspect and Anchor series, and the MMC is the brother of Kalos, the MMC in this book. Ever since I read Rhagos and Max’s book, I figured Kalos’s story would be fun, and I always held out hope Ruby would write his story.
This book checked every box and exceeded all expectations. In fact, it kind of feels like it was written for me, lol.
Elsie is a hardworking young woman, trying to stay afloat while supporting her ailing brother. No matter how many jobs she works, how much she personally sacrifices, it never seems to make a dent. All along the way, she’s chipped away at who she is as a person, and when readers meet her for the first time, she’s a husk of who she used to be. She has no hobbies, no friends, no life outside of working and supporting her brother. She’s made a deal by one of the fates: you come to Aos and babysit an apathetic god’s aspect during the Anticipation, and your brother will live a healthy and fulfilling life; but make sure he’s the last aspect standing. The catch? She won’t be around to see it; once the god she’s assigned to ascends, she dies. With no hesitation, Elsie accepts, and is instantly brought to a swampy landscape and told to meet the god of disease and medicine, Kalos.
When I heard Kalos would be the aspect of apathy in this book, I was super intrigued. How does one write a compelling romantic lead when he’s apathetic? Ruby had the brilliant idea to write apathy as depression. For some reason my mind thought Kalos would be mean as apathy, but he’s actually incredibly sweet. The apathy weighs down his personality and energy, so even if he *wanted* to be more active or more outgoing, the apathy gets in the way.
Kalos is an incredibly soft-hearted MMC towards Elsie. He yearns for her touch, her comfort, her happiness; if you want to read about a man who yearns, look no further. With all others, he is quite selfish and self-serving, but with her she’s the center of his world. Everything he does is with Elsie in mind.
Elsie, meanwhile, jumps right into taking care of Kalos, who often falls in depressive states. She’s very good at taking the lead and problem-solving, even if she doubts herself. She knows what it’s like to be the only person who can make important decisions, and even when she’s uncomfortable, she never gives up. She radiates positive, but not in a toxic way, it’s more like a determination. She truly believes Kalos isn’t as bad as everyone else makes him out to be, and that he *can* change his ways. She’s his number one supporter.
There are some parallels to Rhagos and Max’s story, but they’re not so similar that it will feel repetitive to read Elsie and Kalos’ book. This book is more like a complimentary story, one that will be especially enjoyable if you liked the second book.
If this is the end of the series, I’ll be sad, I’m not going to lie. The Aspect and Anchor series is my favorite Ruby Dixon series, and it’s one I’m always trying to get people to read. Please, people, read these books! Every single one of them is so special, and so wonderfully written.
5⭐/5⭐
3🌶/5🌶
“My heart, ask for anything, and I will grant it. Ask me to destroy the world in your name, and I will. Ask me to raze cities in your honor. Ask me anything.”
To say I enjoyed this book doesn’t really convey how much I loved this story. I’ve read many romance books, particularly with the ‘sad boi’ character archetype; it’s one of my favorites. However, every so often I’ll read a book, and the characters, their journey, their struggles and triumphs, it stays with me. It makes it hard to move on to a new book, because all I want to do is stay in their world and keep repeating the plot on a loop. This is how I feel about “Vowed to the Vulture God”.
If you follow me on bookstagram, or have noticed how many times I reread my favorite books, then you know “Sworn to the Shadow God” is among my favorites of all time. It’s the second book in the Aspect and Anchor series, and the MMC is the brother of Kalos, the MMC in this book. Ever since I read Rhagos and Max’s book, I figured Kalos’s story would be fun, and I always held out hope Ruby would write his story.
This book checked every box and exceeded all expectations. In fact, it kind of feels like it was written for me, lol.
Elsie is a hardworking young woman, trying to stay afloat while supporting her ailing brother. No matter how many jobs she works, how much she personally sacrifices, it never seems to make a dent. All along the way, she’s chipped away at who she is as a person, and when readers meet her for the first time, she’s a husk of who she used to be. She has no hobbies, no friends, no life outside of working and supporting her brother. She’s made a deal by one of the fates: you come to Aos and babysit an apathetic god’s aspect during the Anticipation, and your brother will live a healthy and fulfilling life; but make sure he’s the last aspect standing. The catch? She won’t be around to see it; once the god she’s assigned to ascends, she dies. With no hesitation, Elsie accepts, and is instantly brought to a swampy landscape and told to meet the god of disease and medicine, Kalos.
When I heard Kalos would be the aspect of apathy in this book, I was super intrigued. How does one write a compelling romantic lead when he’s apathetic? Ruby had the brilliant idea to write apathy as depression. For some reason my mind thought Kalos would be mean as apathy, but he’s actually incredibly sweet. The apathy weighs down his personality and energy, so even if he *wanted* to be more active or more outgoing, the apathy gets in the way.
Kalos is an incredibly soft-hearted MMC towards Elsie. He yearns for her touch, her comfort, her happiness; if you want to read about a man who yearns, look no further. With all others, he is quite selfish and self-serving, but with her she’s the center of his world. Everything he does is with Elsie in mind.
Elsie, meanwhile, jumps right into taking care of Kalos, who often falls in depressive states. She’s very good at taking the lead and problem-solving, even if she doubts herself. She knows what it’s like to be the only person who can make important decisions, and even when she’s uncomfortable, she never gives up. She radiates positive, but not in a toxic way, it’s more like a determination. She truly believes Kalos isn’t as bad as everyone else makes him out to be, and that he *can* change his ways. She’s his number one supporter.
There are some parallels to Rhagos and Max’s story, but they’re not so similar that it will feel repetitive to read Elsie and Kalos’ book. This book is more like a complimentary story, one that will be especially enjoyable if you liked the second book.
If this is the end of the series, I’ll be sad, I’m not going to lie. The Aspect and Anchor series is my favorite Ruby Dixon series, and it’s one I’m always trying to get people to read. Please, people, read these books! Every single one of them is so special, and so wonderfully written.
February 23, 2026
Just like Kalos I’m meh.
The Aspect and Anchor series is prob my favorite romantasy series ever. Bound to the Battle God is in my top 10 reads This one was just so boring. And not because Kalos is so apathetic it’s just so boring. Nothing happens. There’s no killing other anchors. 30% of book is Elsie writing a fucking medical dictionary! I really hope this isn’t the end cuz I want to see what asshole Seth gets up to.
The Aspect and Anchor series is prob my favorite romantasy series ever. Bound to the Battle God is in my top 10 reads This one was just so boring. And not because Kalos is so apathetic it’s just so boring. Nothing happens. There’s no killing other anchors. 30% of book is Elsie writing a fucking medical dictionary! I really hope this isn’t the end cuz I want to see what asshole Seth gets up to.
February 22, 2026
3.5 stars
I was torn between 3 and 4 stars.
I thought having a book centred around the Apathy aspect seen through the lens of depression was a genius move on Ruby’s part.
And I really liked Elise.
Overall I did enjoy this. I just thought the actual plot was a bit… lacking?
I don’t know. The Seth storyline I found decidedly dull.
Also, I feel like the ending dragged a little.
Basically compared to the prior books, this one wasn’t that different or unique. The setting was all a bit meh, even though I loved the characters.
I was torn between 3 and 4 stars.
I thought having a book centred around the Apathy aspect seen through the lens of depression was a genius move on Ruby’s part.
And I really liked Elise.
Overall I did enjoy this. I just thought the actual plot was a bit… lacking?
I don’t know. The Seth storyline I found decidedly dull.
Also, I feel like the ending dragged a little.
Basically compared to the prior books, this one wasn’t that different or unique. The setting was all a bit meh, even though I loved the characters.
February 23, 2026
I really loved this. I think it was my favourite of the series, followed by Bound to the Battle God. I haven't had a lot of luck with Ruby Dixon’s books of late so I was really happy that this was a return to form: forced proximity, lots of on-page time together, cute goats…
There were some points where it dragged a little bit - I reckon that 550 page count could have been cut a bit. And there were some interesting leaps in character/personality which weren't super well explained, but also it's a fantasy world so never mind!
I almost didn't read this because the trigger warnings make it sound really dark. IMO it was not any darker than the other books in the series
There were some points where it dragged a little bit - I reckon that 550 page count could have been cut a bit. And there were some interesting leaps in character/personality which weren't super well explained, but also it's a fantasy world so never mind!
I almost didn't read this because the trigger warnings make it sound really dark. IMO it was not any darker than the other books in the series
February 26, 2026
So I know this is apathy. I know that’s not easy to write given how she set up the aspect of apathy.
But that was the most boring ruby dixon book I ever did read.
But that was the most boring ruby dixon book I ever did read.
February 27, 2026
I love how Ruby Dixon asks the real questions, like how much of a go-getter do you have to be to successfully serve as the cruise director for an apathetic god of illness?
Vowed to the Vulture God is the fifth book in the Aspects & Anchor series, and is the story of Elise (a human woman from Chicago) and Kalos, the god of illness. Oh, and Dingle the goat!
When fate visits Elise and offers her a chance to literally change her brother‘s fate by becoming an Anchor, we find ourselves back in Aos for the Anticipation.
The fates of both worlds are interested in seeing Apathy-Kalos outlast his other Aspects, learn his lesson, and ascend as an enlightened god. But when you’re the least popular God and the living embodiment of apathy, do you really have any motivation?
I have enjoyed this series since the first book and was ecstatic to see Ruby tackle apathy. Throughout the series, we are told that the apathy aspect typically dies first, often because they don’t bother to move from where they arrive in the mortal realm. I thought Ruby did a good job of finding ways to make the plot interesting without going beyond the constraints she had already set for this aspect, even with Elise’s can-do spirit.
I loved Elise’s character. From the first few pages, we see that her life is busyness and caretaking. She had really given up her very existence for someone else before being transported to AOS. Seeing her push for Kalos’s survival while finally dealing with the question of whether she’d really been living was a great contrast.
This novel was everything I love about Ruby Dixon: ridiculous situations, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and, of course, a beautiful man who absolutely simps over the woman he falls in love with. While there are the normal issues one would expect in a mortal/god relationship, I love that Kalos learns that some can truly love him, and Elise learned it’s OK to love herself. Their love story develops slowly and meanderingly, feeling incredibly honest for two people struggling to put themselves first.
Vowed to the Vulture God is perfect for fans of forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine, and touch-her-and-die tropes (but only after I find my motivation).
The Aspect & Anchor series starts with Bound to the Battle God, and is perfect for anyone who has ever thought what it would really be like if they were dumped into a fantasy world.
Vowed to the Vulture God is the fifth book in the Aspects & Anchor series, and is the story of Elise (a human woman from Chicago) and Kalos, the god of illness. Oh, and Dingle the goat!
When fate visits Elise and offers her a chance to literally change her brother‘s fate by becoming an Anchor, we find ourselves back in Aos for the Anticipation.
The fates of both worlds are interested in seeing Apathy-Kalos outlast his other Aspects, learn his lesson, and ascend as an enlightened god. But when you’re the least popular God and the living embodiment of apathy, do you really have any motivation?
I have enjoyed this series since the first book and was ecstatic to see Ruby tackle apathy. Throughout the series, we are told that the apathy aspect typically dies first, often because they don’t bother to move from where they arrive in the mortal realm. I thought Ruby did a good job of finding ways to make the plot interesting without going beyond the constraints she had already set for this aspect, even with Elise’s can-do spirit.
I loved Elise’s character. From the first few pages, we see that her life is busyness and caretaking. She had really given up her very existence for someone else before being transported to AOS. Seeing her push for Kalos’s survival while finally dealing with the question of whether she’d really been living was a great contrast.
I do get overwhelmed and apathetic, but I’m so used to being productive despite things, to swimming for the shore even when I’m drowning, that I haven’t thought too much about it. I just shove all my feelings aside and get moving again, because that’s the only thing I know how to do.
This novel was everything I love about Ruby Dixon: ridiculous situations, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and, of course, a beautiful man who absolutely simps over the woman he falls in love with. While there are the normal issues one would expect in a mortal/god relationship, I love that Kalos learns that some can truly love him, and Elise learned it’s OK to love herself. Their love story develops slowly and meanderingly, feeling incredibly honest for two people struggling to put themselves first.
Vowed to the Vulture God is perfect for fans of forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine, and touch-her-and-die tropes (but only after I find my motivation).
The Aspect & Anchor series starts with Bound to the Battle God, and is perfect for anyone who has ever thought what it would really be like if they were dumped into a fantasy world.
February 25, 2026
“You think I do not care about anyone? I care about you. I care about you enough that I made an enemy of another god. I care about you enough that it concerns me, because I shouldn’t give a shit about a mortal, and all I can think about is how I can make you smile.” (210)
“My sweet Elsie,” he whispers against my mouth, his thumbs stroking my cheeks. “I don’t care if you save everyone. It’s who you are. But I wish you could save me.” (344)
Hi, yeah, so if you see me binging books like there is no tomorrow, my mental health is either in peak, tip top shape or in the depths of hell. No, don't ask me to explain it because I find it baffling as well. Just keep it in mind if you see I've read an obscene number of books in a month, we are either cheering or concerned. It is a gamble for which one applies.
Ruby Dixon remains my eternal delight. I have read so many of her books and end up feeling happy and content after each one. While I acknowledge she isn't for everyone, her books remind me of waffles. You know the exact shape and texture going in but none of them are quite identitcal. They each have little differences and looks but they are all still waffles. You get roughly the same thing each time. Sometimes my romantic, blackened heart just craves some optimism and familiarity. Whoever or whatever - whether it is divinity or chance - let me exist at the same time as her has my eternal appreciation.
Her Aspect and Anchor series is where I would recommend starting. In my opinion, they're some of her strongest, most unique works. I mean don't get me wrong, all of her Barbarian and space books are amazing and interconnected. She remains my ride and die author. But her Anchor and Aspect series has about five books and a neatly contained world. It is layered enough to be really intriguing but also simple enough to not give you a headache.
Basically, a girl gets pulled from our world. They then get paired with a god. The gods are punished by the High Father during Anticipation basically for being terrible divinities. It is kind of like a reset. A reminder to tune back into humanity and to do better. They are stripped of their power and cast to their world. The gods are then split into four aspects of their worst flaws - lies, hedonism, apathy, and arrogance - then tied to a mortal. The mortal has to eat and sleep for both of them. Each aspect is pitted against each other and the divine can only ascend once one flaw remains supreme. Oh, did I mention, the anchor is the only weak point of the aspects? So yeah you have to kill an anchor to kill an aspect.
Isn't that mythology insane? I have never encountered anything like it. The idea of an immortal constantly being split into four versions of themselves embodying a specific flaw fascinates me. Also an entire society only encountering their divine in the flesh as a flaw? What? It boggles my mind. Also as you can gather, it isn't exactly effective in humbling or changing the gods. But it is the system in place.
Our story starts when our fates and Aos's fates collude which is frankly terrifying but fascinating. They decide that Kalos should have his fault of apathy win. His previous anticipation, arrogance won and caused quite a few annoying problems. They aren't keen to repeat it. The problem with apathy is apathy. So they need someone stubborn and cheerful and desperate who can make an apathetic aspect survive. "Perfect," our fates go, "We have Elsie. She works three jobs. Her brother has cancer again. She is a caretaker to her core. Oh and bonus nothing actually happens if she vanishes from our timeline. Isn't that fun? Even better, we can tweak the timeline and her brother helps a lot of people in the medical field. Oh? Why is she going to agree? The girl is a martyr and will sacrifice anything to save her brother, even her own future and happiness."
Yeah so Elsie ends up in Aos after agreeing to all of this for those exact reasons above. To add insult to injury, Kalos is the god of disease. Just peachy right? The story goes from there with her annoying Kalos into surviving, bribing him that she will leave him alone once he does what she needs since that's all he wants. Honestly all of it sounds so sad. Elsie is kind to her bones. She actually tries to see Kalos, to care, because that is who she is. And once Kalos decides to care back, don't mind me just casually screaming over here.
Ruby Dixon had previously indicated she wouldn't write a book from an aspect of apathy because it's apathy. You're writing from the perspective of a character that just doesn't care. It makes it hard to move a story forward if your main male interest can literally sit and stare a wall until dust covers him. So to find one of the truest representations of how depression feels actually is shattering just a little.
Kalos is bitchy and irritating. He says mean shit when he is fighting to care and then regrets it. The fungue states of just getting lost in his mind felt like legitimate representation to me. Like someone had climbed into my mind and understood how a part of you is just gone. How you hate it. You blink and discover a week is gone. Then you're quietly cursing trying to make your mind not feel grey, or flat, or nothingness because if you can't pull back, it will just consume you. It makes you angry to be at war constantly. Sometimes you lash out at yourself or at others and hope they know you're screaming at yourself. That you hate how the anger is better in some ways than the blankness. Watching Kalos experience that over and over again, watching a romantic relationship not magically fix it, felt cathartic for me. It felt like being seen and acknowledged. Like someone took my hands and went yeah I get it. I get it.
Elsie just meets him where he is. She sits with him. She talks to him. It made me want to cry inside a little at how she took his mental health at face value. She didn't expect to change it. She just knew presence mattered the most. She knew even if he said hurtful things he would own them and try to do better. And he did do better. Watching two broken complicated people fall in love was moving beyond words. Seeing their slow dance into more was intoxicating. I feel ruined ever so slightly but also fixed a little too. I am glad Kalos got someone who is just there for him no matter what. And I am glad Elsie got someone who can care for her and bring lightness and rest into her life since she previously had only responsibility and persistence.
Equally the ending may piss a lot of people off but it made sense to me. It made sense with how she deflected and handled trauma. It also proved to me how she could want, desire, finally make a life for herself. She was finally allowed to have mistakes. It may seem small but to caretakers a mistake can be seen detrimental. Sometimes people who caretake always chose everyone else's needs over theirs. And sometimes they deserve to do that and then change their mind. They deserve to be human with mistakes made. It doesn't mean they failed or are bad. It means they're letting themselves be human and exist. So I found it a really powerful statement that she could hurt someone by doing what she thought was right. I found it moving she realized it wasn't right for her and changed her mind. She allowed herself to be inconvenient and advocate for herself and I loved it.
Anyway that's my whole sappy review. To end on less sentimental gushy note, here are the vibes of Ruby Dixon's other series from yours truly if you're wondering where to start.
Ice Planet Barbarians - Basically like eating bags and bags of chips. Kind of a fevered dream but don't lie. You'd do it again.
Anchor and Aspect - Fried rice with protein of choice. Mine is tofu. It is solid and dependable and delicious.
Risdaverse - Grilled Cheese. It can be a layered gourmet one or one that is a little flatter with the ends of a bread loaf. Side note, I haven't met a grilled cheese I hate yet. *knock on wood* I might cry if I eat a bad grilled cheese now.
Fireblood Dragons - Loaded baked potato. It starts out greasy and kind of expected. But it is a loaded baked potato. Who can complain? Slowly each book though adds layers and depth of flavor.
I think I'm hungry actually. I am going to go eat ramen. You should go read Ruby Dixon though. She is my soap box I fear.
“My sweet Elsie,” he whispers against my mouth, his thumbs stroking my cheeks. “I don’t care if you save everyone. It’s who you are. But I wish you could save me.” (344)
Hi, yeah, so if you see me binging books like there is no tomorrow, my mental health is either in peak, tip top shape or in the depths of hell. No, don't ask me to explain it because I find it baffling as well. Just keep it in mind if you see I've read an obscene number of books in a month, we are either cheering or concerned. It is a gamble for which one applies.
Ruby Dixon remains my eternal delight. I have read so many of her books and end up feeling happy and content after each one. While I acknowledge she isn't for everyone, her books remind me of waffles. You know the exact shape and texture going in but none of them are quite identitcal. They each have little differences and looks but they are all still waffles. You get roughly the same thing each time. Sometimes my romantic, blackened heart just craves some optimism and familiarity. Whoever or whatever - whether it is divinity or chance - let me exist at the same time as her has my eternal appreciation.
Her Aspect and Anchor series is where I would recommend starting. In my opinion, they're some of her strongest, most unique works. I mean don't get me wrong, all of her Barbarian and space books are amazing and interconnected. She remains my ride and die author. But her Anchor and Aspect series has about five books and a neatly contained world. It is layered enough to be really intriguing but also simple enough to not give you a headache.
Basically, a girl gets pulled from our world. They then get paired with a god. The gods are punished by the High Father during Anticipation basically for being terrible divinities. It is kind of like a reset. A reminder to tune back into humanity and to do better. They are stripped of their power and cast to their world. The gods are then split into four aspects of their worst flaws - lies, hedonism, apathy, and arrogance - then tied to a mortal. The mortal has to eat and sleep for both of them. Each aspect is pitted against each other and the divine can only ascend once one flaw remains supreme. Oh, did I mention, the anchor is the only weak point of the aspects? So yeah you have to kill an anchor to kill an aspect.
Isn't that mythology insane? I have never encountered anything like it. The idea of an immortal constantly being split into four versions of themselves embodying a specific flaw fascinates me. Also an entire society only encountering their divine in the flesh as a flaw? What? It boggles my mind. Also as you can gather, it isn't exactly effective in humbling or changing the gods. But it is the system in place.
Our story starts when our fates and Aos's fates collude which is frankly terrifying but fascinating. They decide that Kalos should have his fault of apathy win. His previous anticipation, arrogance won and caused quite a few annoying problems. They aren't keen to repeat it. The problem with apathy is apathy. So they need someone stubborn and cheerful and desperate who can make an apathetic aspect survive. "Perfect," our fates go, "We have Elsie. She works three jobs. Her brother has cancer again. She is a caretaker to her core. Oh and bonus nothing actually happens if she vanishes from our timeline. Isn't that fun? Even better, we can tweak the timeline and her brother helps a lot of people in the medical field. Oh? Why is she going to agree? The girl is a martyr and will sacrifice anything to save her brother, even her own future and happiness."
Yeah so Elsie ends up in Aos after agreeing to all of this for those exact reasons above. To add insult to injury, Kalos is the god of disease. Just peachy right? The story goes from there with her annoying Kalos into surviving, bribing him that she will leave him alone once he does what she needs since that's all he wants. Honestly all of it sounds so sad. Elsie is kind to her bones. She actually tries to see Kalos, to care, because that is who she is. And once Kalos decides to care back, don't mind me just casually screaming over here.
Ruby Dixon had previously indicated she wouldn't write a book from an aspect of apathy because it's apathy. You're writing from the perspective of a character that just doesn't care. It makes it hard to move a story forward if your main male interest can literally sit and stare a wall until dust covers him. So to find one of the truest representations of how depression feels actually is shattering just a little.
Kalos is bitchy and irritating. He says mean shit when he is fighting to care and then regrets it. The fungue states of just getting lost in his mind felt like legitimate representation to me. Like someone had climbed into my mind and understood how a part of you is just gone. How you hate it. You blink and discover a week is gone. Then you're quietly cursing trying to make your mind not feel grey, or flat, or nothingness because if you can't pull back, it will just consume you. It makes you angry to be at war constantly. Sometimes you lash out at yourself or at others and hope they know you're screaming at yourself. That you hate how the anger is better in some ways than the blankness. Watching Kalos experience that over and over again, watching a romantic relationship not magically fix it, felt cathartic for me. It felt like being seen and acknowledged. Like someone took my hands and went yeah I get it. I get it.
Elsie just meets him where he is. She sits with him. She talks to him. It made me want to cry inside a little at how she took his mental health at face value. She didn't expect to change it. She just knew presence mattered the most. She knew even if he said hurtful things he would own them and try to do better. And he did do better. Watching two broken complicated people fall in love was moving beyond words. Seeing their slow dance into more was intoxicating. I feel ruined ever so slightly but also fixed a little too. I am glad Kalos got someone who is just there for him no matter what. And I am glad Elsie got someone who can care for her and bring lightness and rest into her life since she previously had only responsibility and persistence.
Equally the ending may piss a lot of people off but it made sense to me. It made sense with how she deflected and handled trauma. It also proved to me how she could want, desire, finally make a life for herself. She was finally allowed to have mistakes. It may seem small but to caretakers a mistake can be seen detrimental. Sometimes people who caretake always chose everyone else's needs over theirs. And sometimes they deserve to do that and then change their mind. They deserve to be human with mistakes made. It doesn't mean they failed or are bad. It means they're letting themselves be human and exist. So I found it a really powerful statement that she could hurt someone by doing what she thought was right. I found it moving she realized it wasn't right for her and changed her mind. She allowed herself to be inconvenient and advocate for herself and I loved it.
Anyway that's my whole sappy review. To end on less sentimental gushy note, here are the vibes of Ruby Dixon's other series from yours truly if you're wondering where to start.
Ice Planet Barbarians - Basically like eating bags and bags of chips. Kind of a fevered dream but don't lie. You'd do it again.
Anchor and Aspect - Fried rice with protein of choice. Mine is tofu. It is solid and dependable and delicious.
Risdaverse - Grilled Cheese. It can be a layered gourmet one or one that is a little flatter with the ends of a bread loaf. Side note, I haven't met a grilled cheese I hate yet. *knock on wood* I might cry if I eat a bad grilled cheese now.
Fireblood Dragons - Loaded baked potato. It starts out greasy and kind of expected. But it is a loaded baked potato. Who can complain? Slowly each book though adds layers and depth of flavor.
I think I'm hungry actually. I am going to go eat ramen. You should go read Ruby Dixon though. She is my soap box I fear.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2026
For a change, I'm actually ahead of the ball and read this right as it came out. It's a rather heady feeling knowing I'm one of the first to review this book. I just wish I wasn't feeling sick while writing this review.
I love these books. I was so excited for this one that I finished it in only two days. This one is about Kalos, the god of disease and Elsie, normal woman from Chicago. And this time we pal around with Apathy, which is fun. It's interesting to see someone afflicted with what is basically an extreme form of depression and having Elsie try to keep him in line and motivated.
Kalos is depressed and Elsie is used to ignoring her own depression. She's a caretaker through and through and uses that as a coping mechanism for her own unresolved trauma. So when she's given the task to keep Apathy Kalos alive in exchange for her brothers' life, she jumps at the chance. Besides, how hard can it be to keep one person alive? During the Anticipation, the answer is very, especially since Kalos just wants things to end.
Honestly their dynamic is so fun and interesting. Kalos' dry, sardonic wit works well against Elsie's determined, optimistic drive. And for a second I thought they would live a long life together, but then it's revealed that Elsie has cancer and knowing first hand what it would be like to suffer through it, elects to cut her life off early which was terribly sad.
"It was the best day."
Omos comes back from the first book! I loved him and was so happy to have him return and we got confirmation that the Anticipation has been going on for years now and that Faith and Aron were there to visit almost two years ago is a little wild. Like Elsie, I thought everything was happening more or less at once.
Dingle is a good goat. I completely understand why Kalos prefers the company of goats to people. And I like that Elsie tries to help him reclaim his position of god of medicine, not just disease, but in doing so she ends up being the Maiden of Medicine. That's pretty funny.
The ending was a little bit sudden. Seth (Loki/Hermes/Mercury) is amassing an army and targeting goddesses. Belara (Goddess of love and beauty) is afraid she's next and both sides are appealing to Kalos for his support.
But Elsie gets sick and dies.
So the larger plot is cut off. I know Ruby Dixon doesn't want to write these anymore but I hope she does one more at least to wrap up the plot. I don't know who it would follow but I'm not eager for Seth to have his own book. There's Vor and Gental, or we could follow a mortal man and a goddess. I wouldn't mind that.
I just love these books and I want to see more stories from the world of Aos, is that too much to ask for?
I love these books. I was so excited for this one that I finished it in only two days. This one is about Kalos, the god of disease and Elsie, normal woman from Chicago. And this time we pal around with Apathy, which is fun. It's interesting to see someone afflicted with what is basically an extreme form of depression and having Elsie try to keep him in line and motivated.
Kalos is depressed and Elsie is used to ignoring her own depression. She's a caretaker through and through and uses that as a coping mechanism for her own unresolved trauma. So when she's given the task to keep Apathy Kalos alive in exchange for her brothers' life, she jumps at the chance. Besides, how hard can it be to keep one person alive? During the Anticipation, the answer is very, especially since Kalos just wants things to end.
Honestly their dynamic is so fun and interesting. Kalos' dry, sardonic wit works well against Elsie's determined, optimistic drive. And for a second I thought they would live a long life together, but then it's revealed that Elsie has cancer and knowing first hand what it would be like to suffer through it, elects to cut her life off early which was terribly sad.
"It was the best day."
Omos comes back from the first book! I loved him and was so happy to have him return and we got confirmation that the Anticipation has been going on for years now and that Faith and Aron were there to visit almost two years ago is a little wild. Like Elsie, I thought everything was happening more or less at once.
Dingle is a good goat. I completely understand why Kalos prefers the company of goats to people. And I like that Elsie tries to help him reclaim his position of god of medicine, not just disease, but in doing so she ends up being the Maiden of Medicine. That's pretty funny.
The ending was a little bit sudden. Seth (Loki/Hermes/Mercury) is amassing an army and targeting goddesses. Belara (Goddess of love and beauty) is afraid she's next and both sides are appealing to Kalos for his support.
But Elsie gets sick and dies.
So the larger plot is cut off. I know Ruby Dixon doesn't want to write these anymore but I hope she does one more at least to wrap up the plot. I don't know who it would follow but I'm not eager for Seth to have his own book. There's Vor and Gental, or we could follow a mortal man and a goddess. I wouldn't mind that.
I just love these books and I want to see more stories from the world of Aos, is that too much to ask for?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2026
worth a read but not a page turner
The first two books in this series are so good I’ve read them a 5+ times each. I love the odysseys the characters go on but books 3 and 4 have lost some of the luster. This one was surprisingly boring. Mostly because of the chapter after chapter about her book solution and writing the book. So long and tedious to read about. Plus the actual development of Kalos was really non-existent. I ended the book and still felt like we know so little about kalos where we learned so much about the other gods in the books. The actual romance and steam in this book was also a let down. Each time the excitement or drama surrounding their chemistry is diluted or killed by how prolonged the build up to it was. Especially when we finally get to the actual spicy seen… it took so long to get there and then we do and it’s almost glossed over and kind of boring because of how it’s diminished because of the extensive foreplay for weeks instead. Idk just in general, it was good and enjoyable but a bit repetitive. I really hope Ruby keeps going with this series. Maybe the god of the Seas? His redemption story could be interesting.
The first two books in this series are so good I’ve read them a 5+ times each. I love the odysseys the characters go on but books 3 and 4 have lost some of the luster. This one was surprisingly boring. Mostly because of the chapter after chapter about her book solution and writing the book. So long and tedious to read about. Plus the actual development of Kalos was really non-existent. I ended the book and still felt like we know so little about kalos where we learned so much about the other gods in the books. The actual romance and steam in this book was also a let down. Each time the excitement or drama surrounding their chemistry is diluted or killed by how prolonged the build up to it was. Especially when we finally get to the actual spicy seen… it took so long to get there and then we do and it’s almost glossed over and kind of boring because of how it’s diminished because of the extensive foreplay for weeks instead. Idk just in general, it was good and enjoyable but a bit repetitive. I really hope Ruby keeps going with this series. Maybe the god of the Seas? His redemption story could be interesting.
February 24, 2026
Thoughts:
I think this series is kind of interesting with unusual world-building, and ideas. But the books themselves are all too long and turn into a slog to finish. Cut them back by 25% and I think they'd be improved.
Qualified kudos:
Having Apathy personified (embodied?) be depressive makes a lot of sense within the scope of this series. IRL, I don't think the romance works where one person is always the giver, and the other is always the taker. Having to be a constantly giving martyr is not in any way a happy ever after. Ultimately, the depressed person needs to get help/get better, or that is not going to be a happy or fulfilling romantic relationship...rather more of a tragedy for the martyr/care giver partner.
YMMV. Feel free to comment if you disagree re depressed partners not being HEAs IRL.
I think this series is kind of interesting with unusual world-building, and ideas. But the books themselves are all too long and turn into a slog to finish. Cut them back by 25% and I think they'd be improved.
Qualified kudos:
Having Apathy personified (embodied?) be depressive makes a lot of sense within the scope of this series. IRL, I don't think the romance works where one person is always the giver, and the other is always the taker. Having to be a constantly giving martyr is not in any way a happy ever after. Ultimately, the depressed person needs to get help/get better, or that is not going to be a happy or fulfilling romantic relationship...rather more of a tragedy for the martyr/care giver partner.
YMMV. Feel free to comment if you disagree re depressed partners not being HEAs IRL.
February 27, 2026
Nothing will ever beat bound to the battle god for me, nothing. The fmc of this one was very annoyingly stupid at lots of points, it’s like she lost brain cells at times or sth. Like she would hear a conversation, then forget the info she learnt, then have to relearn it a bit later. And I really hated how she kept the mmc in the dark about her eventual return to our world, it was awful. The mmc was interesting as to how the author handled his apathy, I had truly thought we would never get an apathy aspect mmc, but glad we did. Overall, not my favorite in the series, but okay enough. Felt a bit more anticlimactic than the other books tbh, more boring at times (understandably).
February 21, 2026
love this series
I’ve been so excited for another book in this series, and now I’m ready for more. I was really hesitant about an apathetic aspect, but I loved the way Ruby wrote Kalos and the background for Elsie. I think Elsie’s experience as a caretaker for her brother really made her the perfect companion for Kalos, and also helped provide realistic motivation at the start. I really enjoyed the way their story progressed, I’m glad they got their happy ending and I hope I get more of them in the future.
I’ve been so excited for another book in this series, and now I’m ready for more. I was really hesitant about an apathetic aspect, but I loved the way Ruby wrote Kalos and the background for Elsie. I think Elsie’s experience as a caretaker for her brother really made her the perfect companion for Kalos, and also helped provide realistic motivation at the start. I really enjoyed the way their story progressed, I’m glad they got their happy ending and I hope I get more of them in the future.
February 21, 2026
An absolutely fabulous read! Kalos’ apathy is depicted realistically and dealt with respect and compassion by Elsie. Elsie’s busyness and caretaking is her way of coping with her own traumas and loss and shown genuinely. I’m not a crier in books but there were parts in this story that moved me to tears - the tenderness and love and compassion were done beautifully.
There were great humorous moments and fantastic spice, which is quintessential Ruby.
Highly recommend.
There were great humorous moments and fantastic spice, which is quintessential Ruby.
Highly recommend.
February 27, 2026
Perhaps it’s because I’ve dealt with similar losses and find the MC’s endless cheer (“…because no one else can shoulder this”) to be painfully relatable, but I found this installment to be a little poignant, in addition to having a realistic depiction of depression I didn’t expect in my silly junk food romance novel.
Deepest apologies, Ruby. I wasn’t aware of your game. 🥲
Deepest apologies, Ruby. I wasn’t aware of your game. 🥲
February 25, 2026
4.5 stars
February 25, 2026
Can this series never end?
February 25, 2026
or, two naive sad sacks running around Aos
February 21, 2026
To be completely honest, I really enjoyed the first half and trudged through the second half. And I pretty much hated once hedonism was integrated - all that had made him interesting and relatable disappeared. The apathy suddenly didn't matter or exist, which was so much different from the other books and the way it all happened.
February 21, 2026
I have to admit, I had lot of doubts about this book due to it being about the god of diseases who is stuck with the aspect of apathy (depression). I kept thinking it sounded boring and wasn’t too excited to read it. Especially because the FMC was the sunshine to the grumpy sunshine trope. I usually find “sunshine” fmc’s annoying. But once I started reading I was hooked. I started listening around noon while working, then turned off Alexa at 5pm when I got off work. Then switched to physically reading on KU. Now it’s 1:39am and I just finished. 😮💨🤌 This was my favorite of the series so far. I loved both characters and only wanted to throttle them a few times. 😂
When I read Rhagos story - I felt like he was so desperate for affection he would’ve fallen in love with any person or thing they shoved in front of him. Which honestly is the only thing that made that love story make sense since the FMC Max was so fkn annoying the majority of the book. It would have to be someone desperate to want to spend eternity with her. (IMO)
With Kalos - you could feel how he slowly started to open up and enjoy her company little by little throughout the book. Her affection was more shocking/confusing to him at first. It didn’t have that insta-love vibe Rhagos story had. I’ve never wanted to read the males pov more then this book. The love and affection felt more earned which is probably why I liked it more. Elsie was a breath of fresh air after Max as well. She still had the same “oh my god dont kill people” reaction Max had. 🙄 even though they are literally the god of death and the other the god of diseases🙄. Elsie just has a more mature way of explaining her feelings to him verses just yelling and crying about it like max did. Not to mention Max was literally banging the god of the underworld and was crying the whole book that she was scared to die lol like who do you thinks realm you are going to go to sweety?? Use your brain. ✊🏽✊🏽knock knock✊🏽✊🏽
Anyway, I loved both characters and I was so happy to see Omos again! I do hope we get to see the brothers reconcile in future books. And that someone will punch Seth in his damn face already 😤
When I read Rhagos story - I felt like he was so desperate for affection he would’ve fallen in love with any person or thing they shoved in front of him. Which honestly is the only thing that made that love story make sense since the FMC Max was so fkn annoying the majority of the book. It would have to be someone desperate to want to spend eternity with her. (IMO)
With Kalos - you could feel how he slowly started to open up and enjoy her company little by little throughout the book. Her affection was more shocking/confusing to him at first. It didn’t have that insta-love vibe Rhagos story had. I’ve never wanted to read the males pov more then this book. The love and affection felt more earned which is probably why I liked it more. Elsie was a breath of fresh air after Max as well. She still had the same “oh my god dont kill people” reaction Max had. 🙄 even though they are literally the god of death and the other the god of diseases🙄. Elsie just has a more mature way of explaining her feelings to him verses just yelling and crying about it like max did. Not to mention Max was literally banging the god of the underworld and was crying the whole book that she was scared to die lol like who do you thinks realm you are going to go to sweety?? Use your brain. ✊🏽✊🏽knock knock✊🏽✊🏽
Anyway, I loved both characters and I was so happy to see Omos again! I do hope we get to see the brothers reconcile in future books. And that someone will punch Seth in his damn face already 😤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2026
Errors and errors and errors. Oh my!
So I LOVE this author and I LOVE this series specifically— however— there is a lot of bad editing :/
For example Elsie goes from having sandals to boots to sandals again in the swamp.
There are a lot of conversational errors and circular dialogue (characters repeating themselves and or not knowing something they have already been told)
A lot of bad editing happens when they are with Osmos— Elsie says how big his dwelling is (and he mentions having fellow monks who have left) only for there to not be a spare bedroom and Elsie observes his “tiny kitchen”—- sooo is the dwelling big or no?
Even still when Elsie is at Osmos’ and wakes the next morning— she mentions eating at one of the tables in the “enormous room” when the night before she ate at a chair by the fire.
Osmos goes from having very long hair, in two braids, to short hair when one of Elsie’s night terrors wakes him up (the same night Elsie and Kalos get together).
Also, while this is something I can forgive, the timeline is janky. Osmos tells us it’s been 2 years since he saw Aron. Elsie’s swamp temple farmers didn’t even know an Anticipation had started but the Butcher God would have been planet-side for over a year at that point according to Osmos. Also if Aron visited Osmos 2 yrs ago— why are Elsie and Kalos only now seeing refugees from the city he wages war in at the end of his book? Idk— it’s not really lining up.
Aside from the plentiful errors there is also very little spice for a decently long book. While there is definitely a sliding spice scale for these books— this felt especially lacking in the spice. Also, and this is just probably par for the course when writing an apathetic MMC— Kalos is never really the dream-boat hunk you get from this author. He never really grows that much— and frankly our FMC is too good for him lol.
Overall— the narrative is sort of sloppy— which is not something I am used to from this author at all. It’s saddening as not only are her books fewer— but the quality of them has majorly tanked :(
So I LOVE this author and I LOVE this series specifically— however— there is a lot of bad editing :/
For example Elsie goes from having sandals to boots to sandals again in the swamp.
There are a lot of conversational errors and circular dialogue (characters repeating themselves and or not knowing something they have already been told)
A lot of bad editing happens when they are with Osmos— Elsie says how big his dwelling is (and he mentions having fellow monks who have left) only for there to not be a spare bedroom and Elsie observes his “tiny kitchen”—- sooo is the dwelling big or no?
Even still when Elsie is at Osmos’ and wakes the next morning— she mentions eating at one of the tables in the “enormous room” when the night before she ate at a chair by the fire.
Osmos goes from having very long hair, in two braids, to short hair when one of Elsie’s night terrors wakes him up (the same night Elsie and Kalos get together).
Also, while this is something I can forgive, the timeline is janky. Osmos tells us it’s been 2 years since he saw Aron. Elsie’s swamp temple farmers didn’t even know an Anticipation had started but the Butcher God would have been planet-side for over a year at that point according to Osmos. Also if Aron visited Osmos 2 yrs ago— why are Elsie and Kalos only now seeing refugees from the city he wages war in at the end of his book? Idk— it’s not really lining up.
Aside from the plentiful errors there is also very little spice for a decently long book. While there is definitely a sliding spice scale for these books— this felt especially lacking in the spice. Also, and this is just probably par for the course when writing an apathetic MMC— Kalos is never really the dream-boat hunk you get from this author. He never really grows that much— and frankly our FMC is too good for him lol.
Overall— the narrative is sort of sloppy— which is not something I am used to from this author at all. It’s saddening as not only are her books fewer— but the quality of them has majorly tanked :(
February 27, 2026
I can't decide if I enjoy this book more than Shadow God, but I certainly find it more thought-provoking and touching, heartbreaking. It's very very obvious that this book, these characters, have a special place in the author's heart. Yes, this book made me cry.
Now that I've done this sappy stuff I want to talk about how Ruby Dixon always hits the little details. It's not just about the aspect or God in this series learning to find his humanity. Her world building in storytelling is just spectacular in such an understated and fun way.
When I dived into her ice planet series, you know it was for the monster effing, but I was astounded at how she built the hunter, gather societies to such detail. I thought to myself is this author an anthropologist?
She does the same thing in this series, describing how much labor it takes just to take a bath, the labor it takes to feed yourself, how quickly food goes bad, and even different kinds of cheeses. She succinctly does this to even include her small detail of what the bread looks like. It is done in such an entertaining way, immersed seamlessly into the actual dialogue, scene progression, that you might not even notice it. You're not dealing with pages and pages of world building as is done in many books. She integrates everything beautifully.
I might not love every RD book. I really enjoyed this one, and the sea ogre spinoff in this world is stellar in my opinion. All in all, I am a big huge fan of Ruby Dixon. And it has little to do with the spicy times 😉😂
I feel like this really poor attempt at a review and rather is a love letter to Ruby Dixon instead 😅
Now back to this book specifically. If you enjoy wonderful world building, a thought provoking love story, and you don't mind that this is a series about death and rebirth, and this particular book looks at terminal illness, and stress related psychological illness, this book might be for you.
.
Now that I've done this sappy stuff I want to talk about how Ruby Dixon always hits the little details. It's not just about the aspect or God in this series learning to find his humanity. Her world building in storytelling is just spectacular in such an understated and fun way.
When I dived into her ice planet series, you know it was for the monster effing, but I was astounded at how she built the hunter, gather societies to such detail. I thought to myself is this author an anthropologist?
She does the same thing in this series, describing how much labor it takes just to take a bath, the labor it takes to feed yourself, how quickly food goes bad, and even different kinds of cheeses. She succinctly does this to even include her small detail of what the bread looks like. It is done in such an entertaining way, immersed seamlessly into the actual dialogue, scene progression, that you might not even notice it. You're not dealing with pages and pages of world building as is done in many books. She integrates everything beautifully.
I might not love every RD book. I really enjoyed this one, and the sea ogre spinoff in this world is stellar in my opinion. All in all, I am a big huge fan of Ruby Dixon. And it has little to do with the spicy times 😉😂
I feel like this really poor attempt at a review and rather is a love letter to Ruby Dixon instead 😅
Now back to this book specifically. If you enjoy wonderful world building, a thought provoking love story, and you don't mind that this is a series about death and rebirth, and this particular book looks at terminal illness, and stress related psychological illness, this book might be for you.
.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
This is another epic installment in Ruby Dixon’s Aspect and Anchor romantasy series. The books are all technically interconnected standalones and could be read out of order, but personally, I wouldn’t start with this one. It’s a little different from the others, and the first book, Bound to the Battle God, sets up the series.
Human FMC Elsie is doing her best to juggle several jobs and keep things going for herself and her brother. Then a strange woman comes into the coffee shop and gives her an ominous warning. When the events come true, Elsie takes a deal to save her brother by agreeing to tie herself to a god in another realm. That god is MMC Kalos, who rules over disease and sickness. But it’s the Anticipation, so the gods are divided into different Aspects and his is Apathy. Elsie has to do her best to be the optimistic anchor for the apathetic version of Kalos, which is a struggle. Luckily, he’s hot and not as evil or gross as everyone makes him out to be.
I really enjoyed this book. It was more serious and somber, dealing with difficult topics like depression, sickness, and death. To be honest, when I read the trigger warnings, I wasn’t sure if I was in the mood for it, but I trust Dixon, and this book did not disappoint, handling these darker themes with levity. The FMC was a delightful ray of sunshine without being annoying and came off as approachable. The author’s notes mentioned that Dixon wasn’t sure if she could write a book with apathy as the MMC, which does seem really hard, but she did a great job of making him relatable and sympathetic.
Another great read. This book added some side characters who stir up trouble, so I can’t wait to see what Dixon has in store next for the series.
Spice 4/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
My Enjoyment: 4.5/5
This is another epic installment in Ruby Dixon’s Aspect and Anchor romantasy series. The books are all technically interconnected standalones and could be read out of order, but personally, I wouldn’t start with this one. It’s a little different from the others, and the first book, Bound to the Battle God, sets up the series.
Human FMC Elsie is doing her best to juggle several jobs and keep things going for herself and her brother. Then a strange woman comes into the coffee shop and gives her an ominous warning. When the events come true, Elsie takes a deal to save her brother by agreeing to tie herself to a god in another realm. That god is MMC Kalos, who rules over disease and sickness. But it’s the Anticipation, so the gods are divided into different Aspects and his is Apathy. Elsie has to do her best to be the optimistic anchor for the apathetic version of Kalos, which is a struggle. Luckily, he’s hot and not as evil or gross as everyone makes him out to be.
I really enjoyed this book. It was more serious and somber, dealing with difficult topics like depression, sickness, and death. To be honest, when I read the trigger warnings, I wasn’t sure if I was in the mood for it, but I trust Dixon, and this book did not disappoint, handling these darker themes with levity. The FMC was a delightful ray of sunshine without being annoying and came off as approachable. The author’s notes mentioned that Dixon wasn’t sure if she could write a book with apathy as the MMC, which does seem really hard, but she did a great job of making him relatable and sympathetic.
Another great read. This book added some side characters who stir up trouble, so I can’t wait to see what Dixon has in store next for the series.
Spice 4/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
My Enjoyment: 4.5/5
February 26, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ *sighs happily* Ruby Dixon you really never miss.
ok, i will admit that some reviews i saw worried me a tiny bit, but i had a great time with this one, i essentially devoured it in two days. i will also admit that i forgot a lot of details about this series (whoops) but after reading this, i do kinda want to reread a few (or at least skim my highlights and bookmarks)
this was SUCH a lovely depiction of “Apathy” (aka, depression) in an MMC, and such a beautiful, supportive relationship. Kalos and Elsie were so sweet — seeing her relentless optimism and compassion in the face of a truly heavy situation was moving & i appreciated that it was valued by Kalos, but we did not lose sight of the fact that she too endured a lot of trauma from her experience. it felt very “sam and frodo” coded with the supporting the other on a journey in the face of insurmountable odds, & i think that is why i just could not put it down.
the MVPs of this book were the power of friendship, Dingle the goat (BABY I LOVE HIM), Osmos the kindest old man you could ever hope to encounter on your hellish roadtrip, & the incredible power of a true “hold my hand bitch, we’re buddies for the rest of our lives :D” relationship. impeccable.
side note: i am very intrigued about the seth storyline — i really hope we do get another book in this world with them as a big part/main character!
another side note: i do think this is probably in my top three ranking of this series, including the side stories. Aron & Faith’s book (book 1) will probably still be my top one, but Kassam & Carly (book 3) are tied for second place with Kalos & Elsie now
ok, i will admit that some reviews i saw worried me a tiny bit, but i had a great time with this one, i essentially devoured it in two days. i will also admit that i forgot a lot of details about this series (whoops) but after reading this, i do kinda want to reread a few (or at least skim my highlights and bookmarks)
this was SUCH a lovely depiction of “Apathy” (aka, depression) in an MMC, and such a beautiful, supportive relationship. Kalos and Elsie were so sweet — seeing her relentless optimism and compassion in the face of a truly heavy situation was moving & i appreciated that it was valued by Kalos, but we did not lose sight of the fact that she too endured a lot of trauma from her experience. it felt very “sam and frodo” coded with the supporting the other on a journey in the face of insurmountable odds, & i think that is why i just could not put it down.
the MVPs of this book were the power of friendship, Dingle the goat (BABY I LOVE HIM), Osmos the kindest old man you could ever hope to encounter on your hellish roadtrip, & the incredible power of a true “hold my hand bitch, we’re buddies for the rest of our lives :D” relationship. impeccable.
side note: i am very intrigued about the seth storyline — i really hope we do get another book in this world with them as a big part/main character!
another side note: i do think this is probably in my top three ranking of this series, including the side stories. Aron & Faith’s book (book 1) will probably still be my top one, but Kassam & Carly (book 3) are tied for second place with Kalos & Elsie now
February 22, 2026
My second favorite book of the year! Can I even be surprised it's a Ruby book? (Obviously not. It was bound for Ruby to release another beautiful book that I will postpone everything for in order to binge on it. This weekend was absolutely amazing. I couldn't stop reading it!!!)
Was I very, very interested when Riby first announced she was writing the God of Disease's book? Yes, yes, I was. Was I overly excited when she announced it last month? Yes, I was. Was I counting down the days until I could read this? You can already guess the answer to that.
Thing is, I love this book, and that is not only because I love stories featuring gods and patheons (and books written by Ruby), but because I loved both our heroes. Elsie, with her 'martyr' complex (which I find hits close to home, because I, too, am a caretaker, and I sacrifice for those I love), is easily one of my favorite protagonists that Ruby ever wrote, and the romance in this one was so very worth it. I also like Ruby's take on apathy, and how it was shown in the book, and how our hero wasn't blamed for dealing it, and how Elsie was at his side even when he was in his fugue states.
Safe to say, I love this book too much. 6 stars!!!
(I also know Ruby is going to 100% pull an Azar on Seth. I know I'm right. I know he'll get his redemption. Although Azar was better than Seth, the latter still has potential to not be the antagonist of this series through and through.)
Was I very, very interested when Riby first announced she was writing the God of Disease's book? Yes, yes, I was. Was I overly excited when she announced it last month? Yes, I was. Was I counting down the days until I could read this? You can already guess the answer to that.
Thing is, I love this book, and that is not only because I love stories featuring gods and patheons (and books written by Ruby), but because I loved both our heroes. Elsie, with her 'martyr' complex (which I find hits close to home, because I, too, am a caretaker, and I sacrifice for those I love), is easily one of my favorite protagonists that Ruby ever wrote, and the romance in this one was so very worth it. I also like Ruby's take on apathy, and how it was shown in the book, and how our hero wasn't blamed for dealing it, and how Elsie was at his side even when he was in his fugue states.
Safe to say, I love this book too much. 6 stars!!!
(I also know Ruby is going to 100% pull an Azar on Seth. I know I'm right. I know he'll get his redemption. Although Azar was better than Seth, the latter still has potential to not be the antagonist of this series through and through.)
February 22, 2026
A mortal woman agrees to escort a lonely, misunderstood god through a deadly trial, never expecting to fall for him along the way.
I was so excited to return to the world of Aos, and Ruby Dixon absolutely did not disappoint in bringing us another story set in this fascinating universe. There’s something so immersive about this world, and getting to explore it through Kalos and his companion made it feel both familiar and refreshingly new.
What really stood out in this installment was how deeply the story touched on heavy emotional themes, including depression and emotional self-harm. Kalos is such a layered character, guarded, and burdened by a lifetime of rejection and pain. Watching him slowly open up and confront both his internal struggles and the physical dangers around him made the story incredibly emotional and meaningful.
The intimacy between them was fun, sexy, and filled with emotional depth, balancing vulnerability with undeniable chemistry. This was an emotional and satisfying read, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves emotionally rich fantasy romance set in a beautifully developed world.
I was so excited to return to the world of Aos, and Ruby Dixon absolutely did not disappoint in bringing us another story set in this fascinating universe. There’s something so immersive about this world, and getting to explore it through Kalos and his companion made it feel both familiar and refreshingly new.
What really stood out in this installment was how deeply the story touched on heavy emotional themes, including depression and emotional self-harm. Kalos is such a layered character, guarded, and burdened by a lifetime of rejection and pain. Watching him slowly open up and confront both his internal struggles and the physical dangers around him made the story incredibly emotional and meaningful.
The intimacy between them was fun, sexy, and filled with emotional depth, balancing vulnerability with undeniable chemistry. This was an emotional and satisfying read, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves emotionally rich fantasy romance set in a beautifully developed world.
March 3, 2026
I absolutely loved this book. I even pre-ordered it because I trust Ruby Dixon that much. This is one of my favorite series she’s written.
One of the reasons I respect her so much as an author is her strong grasp of story structure and character arcs. I wouldn’t call it a formula, because each book feels different, but you can tell she deeply understands craft. That foundation makes all of her books consistently strong.
Going into Vow to the Vulture, I was especially curious how she would handle the aspect of apathy. The premise of the series is that a modern woman from our world is transported to a parallel fantasy universe, where she becomes the companion to an Aspect of a god, each cursed with a fatal flaw: lies, hedonism, arrogance, or apathy.
Apathy seemed like the hardest flaw to write convincingly. I worried it would just feel like emotional emptiness. Instead, Dixon portrayed it as a struggle with depression rather than a lack of feelings, which made the character nuanced and believable.
What makes these books especially enjoyable for me—despite not typically reading romantasy—is the modern heroines. Seeing the fantasy world through the eyes of someone from our everyday reality makes everything more grounded and relatable.
The concept feels unique, and the plots are tight and well-structured. I usually prefer dual POV in romance and tend to dislike grumpy/sunshine dynamics, but Dixon writes such strong characters that I didn’t mind at all. She consistently creates heroines who feel competent and never annoying—something I really appreciate.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and sincerely hope she continues the Anchor and Aspect series.
One of the reasons I respect her so much as an author is her strong grasp of story structure and character arcs. I wouldn’t call it a formula, because each book feels different, but you can tell she deeply understands craft. That foundation makes all of her books consistently strong.
Going into Vow to the Vulture, I was especially curious how she would handle the aspect of apathy. The premise of the series is that a modern woman from our world is transported to a parallel fantasy universe, where she becomes the companion to an Aspect of a god, each cursed with a fatal flaw: lies, hedonism, arrogance, or apathy.
Apathy seemed like the hardest flaw to write convincingly. I worried it would just feel like emotional emptiness. Instead, Dixon portrayed it as a struggle with depression rather than a lack of feelings, which made the character nuanced and believable.
What makes these books especially enjoyable for me—despite not typically reading romantasy—is the modern heroines. Seeing the fantasy world through the eyes of someone from our everyday reality makes everything more grounded and relatable.
The concept feels unique, and the plots are tight and well-structured. I usually prefer dual POV in romance and tend to dislike grumpy/sunshine dynamics, but Dixon writes such strong characters that I didn’t mind at all. She consistently creates heroines who feel competent and never annoying—something I really appreciate.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and sincerely hope she continues the Anchor and Aspect series.
February 24, 2026
This was an interesting and sad read. In general, I loved it, but it had a lingering sadness to it. The book has a lot of trigger warnings, so read them. Is it worth reading? Yes. It deals with depression and sickness, so if you are looking for a happy and fun book, this is not for you. Ruby usually has a fun side to her dialogues, and most of the time I laugh a lot, but this is not the case. I loved the main characters, and she did a great job of convincing me in how things develop when people suffer from depression. The plot was fine, but it could have had a bit less of the FMC writing her medicine book... It was a different read. I had the same lingering sadness when I read Peaches and Honey. I am used to Ruby's fun reads, but this was fine. I appreciate her addressing this problem, because so many people suffer from it, and so many do not know how to handle it. For that reason, 5 stars from me. It's a standalone with a different HEA.
February 24, 2026
Love! Love! Love! I wasn't sure how the Aspect of Apathy was going to work going in, but in style with the first two books in the series (which are some of my all-time favorites), the story and characters were fantastic!! I don't feel like depression gets nearly enough representation in fiction, and I cannot stress just how well it was done in this book. Was it high in action? No, but that fit the characters and the story. Compared to the initial standalone books in this series, this one is much more character based vs plot. What I think I really enjoyed this round is that the story wasn't about killing off other anchors like it was in previous books. It was instead about the connection between the characters and side characters: compassion, love, overcoming adversity, and mind over matter. Beautifully written!
February 26, 2026
4.5 rounded up. Another delight from Ruby!! For all that this series has been a relatively light-hearted fantasy romance, this book takes a darker tone in its focus on depression and mental health. Ruby absolutely crushed not only the representation in Kalos, but also the perfect responses Elsie had when he was struggling. It’s so great seeing someone just show up and be present for a loved one who is depressed, rather than trying to cure them.
I’ll read anything Ruby writes; can’t wait for what’s next!
POV: single first person
You can expect: touch her and die, storm cloud/ray of sunshine, forced proximity, opposites attract, god/mortal, journey
Rep: side character with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, depression, night terrors, depressive episode, assisted suicide, PTSD
Spice: 3/5
CW: discussion of illness, sibling with cancer, death of parents (past)
I’ll read anything Ruby writes; can’t wait for what’s next!
POV: single first person
You can expect: touch her and die, storm cloud/ray of sunshine, forced proximity, opposites attract, god/mortal, journey
Rep: side character with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, depression, night terrors, depressive episode, assisted suicide, PTSD
Spice: 3/5
CW: discussion of illness, sibling with cancer, death of parents (past)
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