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Villains in Love
Bad Guy
Crulden the Ruiner is the name of a fierce gladiator who’s broken the rules…and broken anyone that approaches.
It’s *my* name.
It’s a name that strikes fear into the hearts of all….all except the small human female who comes to clean my cell and glares at me the entire time.
My new owners want things from me. They want me to play in their games. They want me to win battles for them.
Well, I know what I want in return.
I want her.
And I don’t care who I have to destroy to get her.
But Mina doesn't want to be owned...and certainly not by one as terrible as me. How does a bad guy woo the girl when all he knows is death and destruction?
It’s *my* name.
It’s a name that strikes fear into the hearts of all….all except the small human female who comes to clean my cell and glares at me the entire time.
My new owners want things from me. They want me to play in their games. They want me to win battles for them.
Well, I know what I want in return.
I want her.
And I don’t care who I have to destroy to get her.
But Mina doesn't want to be owned...and certainly not by one as terrible as me. How does a bad guy woo the girl when all he knows is death and destruction?
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2021
928 people are currently reading
3948 people want to read
About the author
Ruby Dixon
161 books19.8k 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 1,027 reviews
May 23, 2021
Solid 4 stars from a reader who is not into science-fiction romance at all!
*********************************************
The thing is I was sick of "not-good-enough" books in the romance genre lately so I wanted to try this "science-fiction romance" for a change although I am not a fan of it. Still, I hoped that the romance between an alien fierce gladiator and a sassy human female would be a refreshing plot for me. However, when I got to 10% of the book, I considered dropping it because it got weird when I read the description of the hero. It was not what I expected.
Here it is:
I don't know what race he is, or if he's anything at all. They called him a “splice,” which sounds like a lot of things mixed into one. He's the turducken of gladiators, I guess, probably bred to be mean and nasty and rip his opponents apart.
His eyes have a vertical pupil, just like a cat’s. Predator eyes, I think. His face is somewhat human, though his nose is ridged and blunted and doesn't quite look like mine. He's got two short horns curving back from his brow, large, pointed ears, and a mouth that hangs open wetly, showing far too many sharp teeth and a huge set of tusks. His hair is like a lion's mane, more of a “ruff” than actual hair, and it continues down his neck and then tapers to a chest that's plated like the mesakkah, broad and full of muscle.
He's got a tail, too, like they do, but the skin color's all wrong. His is a strange purplish gray, nowhere near the pleasant-seeming blue of the predominant space-faring alien race. His hands are tipped in claws, but he's got three fingers and a thumb like the other aliens, and he's wearing pants that barely seem to fit his bulging-with-muscle body. He’s built thicker and stronger than anything I’ve ever seen.
See? I was shocked to learn what he looked like.
I wasn’t expecting a hero with horns, tusks, claws, 3 fingers and a tail. And as if all that is not enough, he is purplish gray.
I stopped and thought for a while if this science-fiction romance thing was too much for me. I considered dropping the book. However, it was kinda funny and emotional. And also interesting.
For example, when this alien gladiator sees the human female, he thinks she is "ugly". And because it is the first time he sees a human, he asks her this question:"What are you?" And she says: "I am a human." That was weird but funny...
Apart from the weird way the hero looked like, I was also bothered by how they both found each other ugly. I wondered how their romance would be like if they both found each other unattractive.
She's ugly, this female. She's small, for starters. I don't think she would even come to the top of my chest. Her limbs are small and a pale yellowish-white with traces of blue veins underneath. Her hair is an odd golden-brown color and held back from a pointy little face. She's impossibly fine-boned, this female, and everything about her is small and delicate—except for her eyebrows. They are two dark slashes that dominate that pointy little face and frame a pair of gray eyes that glare up at me with irritation.
Whatever this ugly female is, she's not scared of me. Perhaps that's why she smells so sweet. There's no fear-scent covering her, no acrid terror tingeing her natural smell. Too bad she's so keffing ugly and small. I'd crush her the moment I got her under me.
*********************************************
For the reasons I stated above, I stopped reading it for a few hours, but then my curiosity won and I went on reading the book and I am glad I did. I was both surprised and happy that this beast of an alien turned out to be very sweet and lovable. The more I got to know him, the less his appearance mattered to me.
Hence, horns, claws, tusks, tail and all, I decided that I would happily cuddle him, too.
Ha ha, I am surprised even at myself... That was unexpected!
*********************************************
As a matter of fact, our hero, Crulden the Ruiner, is the clone of a really cruel and savage gladiator. Although he knows how to fight, it is not how he wants to live his life. But he is a slave and he has to do what is expected from him. Our heroine Mina is kidnapped from Earth and she is also a slave on the same planet. They meet when she is sent to clean his cell because he makes a real mess when they piss him.
When he sees her, he finds her ugly but the way she carries herself, and also the fact that she is not afraid of him attract his attention. He also likes her scent.
No incentives they sent his way were of use. He was never interested in training and becoming the killer they wanted but when he becomes obsessed with Mina, it becomes his incentive. He says he will do what they want if they give him Mina. That’s how their story begins.
*********************************************
It was really endearing. I loved the slow development of their relationship. The way they first become friends, the way they build trust between each other, the way they start to find each other attractive after getting to know each other’s character are all realistic and later, when they start to get physical, I didn’t bother to stop and think if they fit one another, it just felt right, it just felt good.
I suppose this is the success of the writer because I am not easily convinced. However, I believed in their feelings and I believed in their relationship despite their mismatched appearance. They even made me cry, for God’s sake! This is being a talented writer. I was appalled at the beginning of the novel and considered stopping to read it because I thought I would never be OK with them being together as a couple but the way the writer builds their story makes you want to yearn for their happy end together.
If you want to try something different, I can recommend this book to you. This is fantasy and doesn’t feel like our usual romance books but still their story touched my heart. It kinda felt like a new version of The Beast and The Beauty.
Even if you are not OK with the idea of a hero who looks weird, you may still enjoy their story, as well. It is so heart-warming.
Safety:
As for safety, there is the threat of rape but no actual rape in the book. There is a lot of violence. The hero is always kind and gentle to the heroine although he tears apart other people when he is angry or when he is training at the arena.
The hero is a virgin but she is not. She teaches him human physiology and all the ways he can pleasure her. He learns so very quickly 😊
As for safe sex, nope, they don’t use protection.
*********************************************
The book is written in dual point of view. It is 305 pages. It doesn't drag. Its pacing is good.
*********************************************
Here are some QUOTES from the book.
There's four of them, and the moment Crulden notices them, his eyes flood with red again. He turns and stands protectively in front of me.
Oh, this isn't going to go well at all. He launches himself at them the moment they enter the cell. As I watch in horror, one guard raises his shock-stick and slams it into Crulden's chest. It barely fazes the big guy. If anything, it makes him angrier. He growls low in his throat, and spikes burst through the skin of his back and stud along his arms. Holy shit. Crulden grabs the shock-stick and uses it to drag the guard forward. He leans in, bites down on the man, and rips his throat out with his teeth. Blood sprays everywhere. The other guards pile on, slamming their shock-sticks into him, but I think he's too charged up to notice. Limbs go flying as he tears another guard apart, ripping him into pieces as if he's made of paper.
***
"Your pain sticks won't motivate me. Your food doesn't motivate me. If you send anyone else into this cell to clean it, I'll kill them. If you send in more guards, I'll kill them, too. Nothing you do or say is going to make me want to be your pet gladiator…but if you give me the female, I'll play along. I'll be your obedient little fighter. But you know what I want."
They exchange another look. The scientist frowns, but the lord looks thoughtful, and I know I'm going to win this particular fight. The lord leans in, his finger on the intercom.
"How do we know you don't plan on killing her? Human slaves are valuable."
Kill her? Why do they think I'd harm Mina? Why does Mina think that? I wish I had my memories, but they're all still a blank. Maybe they'll come back with time, but until then, I'll just have to cope. I'm not asking these fools for more information. "I want her alive. She's not a very good companion if she's dead."
***
Mina is the only thing I have that is good and right. I like her more than soft blankets, more than the best meals. I like her more than the fresh breeze on my face when we're outside. I would choose her over all of that. But I do not know if she would choose me, and the thought makes my gut clench.
I want her to put her hand on me again. I want her to touch me on places other than scars that have no sensation. I want to know what it would feel like if those light fingers brushed me ... elsewhere. I am a bad guy, I realize, because I do want more from her than just companionship. I want touches. I want her smiles. I want her scent full of something other than fear.
I need to learn how to get these things.
***
"You won't look at me?"
"I wanted to know what you wanted with me," she says. "You said you didn't know. I guess you figured it out, huh?"
Her tone is odd, bitter. "I want you in here, with me."
"A slave for the slave?"
***
"Are you going to kill me?" she asks.
I frown. "Why does everyone keep asking me that? Why would I ask for you if I just intended to kill you? I don't want you dead."
"You want a slave," she repeats bluntly. "If all you want is someone to swing by and pick up your socks, I don't have to sleep here. I can come by daily and tidy things for you."
I scowl. "But then you will leave. This way, you stay with me. You will stay in my bed. You will talk to me and share meals with me."
This doesn't reassure her. She hitches the blanket higher around her shoulders and gives me another fierce look. "So you're going to rape me, then?"
Am I? I consider this. It would be nothing to overpower her. To shove her down and push her thighs open and do what I like with her. Her fear-scent would be unending, then. And… she would not like me. She would be angry. Permanently. I imagine what it would be like for her to hate me. She laughed once, the sound soft and sweet. I want that again. I do not want to destroy her for a moment's pleasure. I want… I don't know what I want. More of her everything.
"No rape," I say gruffly. "I didn't push for you to be here just for you to hate me."
***
"It's not a great plan. Just… more of a goalpost. The less noticeable I am, the easier it'd be for me to eventually escape."
"I noticed you right away," he states again. "You are strange and ugly, for starters."
"You're no dream prince yourself!"
That makes him bare his teeth, and for a bizarre moment, I think he's snarling. It takes a heartbeat for me to realize this is his version of a smile.
"When we leave, we'll escape together. I'm not leaving you behind."
I stare at her in surprise. She's changing her plans to include me? The cause of all her problems?
I… think I would do anything for this female.
***
"I am a splice. They made me in a lab out of a little bit of everything." His teeth flash bright in the darkness. "Everything frightening and cruel, they threw into a test tube and out came me."
"You're not cruel," I correct him. "Don't say that about yourself."
"How do you know? Just because I'm not cruel to you does not mean I'm not cruel to others."
***
"I like touching you far too much."
I like it, too, but in my eyes, there is no such thing as too much. However much I get of her is the perfect amount.
***
"Leave him alone," I hear distantly. "Let him find her."
Find her.
The words drill through my mind.
Find her.
Bring her home safe.
Kill anyone that gets in my way.
*********************************************
You can follow my Instagram page from here
*********************************************
The thing is I was sick of "not-good-enough" books in the romance genre lately so I wanted to try this "science-fiction romance" for a change although I am not a fan of it. Still, I hoped that the romance between an alien fierce gladiator and a sassy human female would be a refreshing plot for me. However, when I got to 10% of the book, I considered dropping it because it got weird when I read the description of the hero. It was not what I expected.
Here it is:
I don't know what race he is, or if he's anything at all. They called him a “splice,” which sounds like a lot of things mixed into one. He's the turducken of gladiators, I guess, probably bred to be mean and nasty and rip his opponents apart.
His eyes have a vertical pupil, just like a cat’s. Predator eyes, I think. His face is somewhat human, though his nose is ridged and blunted and doesn't quite look like mine. He's got two short horns curving back from his brow, large, pointed ears, and a mouth that hangs open wetly, showing far too many sharp teeth and a huge set of tusks. His hair is like a lion's mane, more of a “ruff” than actual hair, and it continues down his neck and then tapers to a chest that's plated like the mesakkah, broad and full of muscle.
He's got a tail, too, like they do, but the skin color's all wrong. His is a strange purplish gray, nowhere near the pleasant-seeming blue of the predominant space-faring alien race. His hands are tipped in claws, but he's got three fingers and a thumb like the other aliens, and he's wearing pants that barely seem to fit his bulging-with-muscle body. He’s built thicker and stronger than anything I’ve ever seen.
See? I was shocked to learn what he looked like.
I wasn’t expecting a hero with horns, tusks, claws, 3 fingers and a tail. And as if all that is not enough, he is purplish gray.
I stopped and thought for a while if this science-fiction romance thing was too much for me. I considered dropping the book. However, it was kinda funny and emotional. And also interesting.
For example, when this alien gladiator sees the human female, he thinks she is "ugly". And because it is the first time he sees a human, he asks her this question:"What are you?" And she says: "I am a human." That was weird but funny...
Apart from the weird way the hero looked like, I was also bothered by how they both found each other ugly. I wondered how their romance would be like if they both found each other unattractive.
She's ugly, this female. She's small, for starters. I don't think she would even come to the top of my chest. Her limbs are small and a pale yellowish-white with traces of blue veins underneath. Her hair is an odd golden-brown color and held back from a pointy little face. She's impossibly fine-boned, this female, and everything about her is small and delicate—except for her eyebrows. They are two dark slashes that dominate that pointy little face and frame a pair of gray eyes that glare up at me with irritation.
Whatever this ugly female is, she's not scared of me. Perhaps that's why she smells so sweet. There's no fear-scent covering her, no acrid terror tingeing her natural smell. Too bad she's so keffing ugly and small. I'd crush her the moment I got her under me.
*********************************************
For the reasons I stated above, I stopped reading it for a few hours, but then my curiosity won and I went on reading the book and I am glad I did. I was both surprised and happy that this beast of an alien turned out to be very sweet and lovable. The more I got to know him, the less his appearance mattered to me.
Hence, horns, claws, tusks, tail and all, I decided that I would happily cuddle him, too.
Ha ha, I am surprised even at myself... That was unexpected!
*********************************************
As a matter of fact, our hero, Crulden the Ruiner, is the clone of a really cruel and savage gladiator. Although he knows how to fight, it is not how he wants to live his life. But he is a slave and he has to do what is expected from him. Our heroine Mina is kidnapped from Earth and she is also a slave on the same planet. They meet when she is sent to clean his cell because he makes a real mess when they piss him.
When he sees her, he finds her ugly but the way she carries herself, and also the fact that she is not afraid of him attract his attention. He also likes her scent.
No incentives they sent his way were of use. He was never interested in training and becoming the killer they wanted but when he becomes obsessed with Mina, it becomes his incentive. He says he will do what they want if they give him Mina. That’s how their story begins.
*********************************************
It was really endearing. I loved the slow development of their relationship. The way they first become friends, the way they build trust between each other, the way they start to find each other attractive after getting to know each other’s character are all realistic and later, when they start to get physical, I didn’t bother to stop and think if they fit one another, it just felt right, it just felt good.
I suppose this is the success of the writer because I am not easily convinced. However, I believed in their feelings and I believed in their relationship despite their mismatched appearance. They even made me cry, for God’s sake! This is being a talented writer. I was appalled at the beginning of the novel and considered stopping to read it because I thought I would never be OK with them being together as a couple but the way the writer builds their story makes you want to yearn for their happy end together.
If you want to try something different, I can recommend this book to you. This is fantasy and doesn’t feel like our usual romance books but still their story touched my heart. It kinda felt like a new version of The Beast and The Beauty.
Even if you are not OK with the idea of a hero who looks weird, you may still enjoy their story, as well. It is so heart-warming.
Safety:
As for safety, there is the threat of rape but no actual rape in the book. There is a lot of violence. The hero is always kind and gentle to the heroine although he tears apart other people when he is angry or when he is training at the arena.
The hero is a virgin but she is not. She teaches him human physiology and all the ways he can pleasure her. He learns so very quickly 😊
As for safe sex, nope, they don’t use protection.
*********************************************
The book is written in dual point of view. It is 305 pages. It doesn't drag. Its pacing is good.
*********************************************
Here are some QUOTES from the book.
There's four of them, and the moment Crulden notices them, his eyes flood with red again. He turns and stands protectively in front of me.
Oh, this isn't going to go well at all. He launches himself at them the moment they enter the cell. As I watch in horror, one guard raises his shock-stick and slams it into Crulden's chest. It barely fazes the big guy. If anything, it makes him angrier. He growls low in his throat, and spikes burst through the skin of his back and stud along his arms. Holy shit. Crulden grabs the shock-stick and uses it to drag the guard forward. He leans in, bites down on the man, and rips his throat out with his teeth. Blood sprays everywhere. The other guards pile on, slamming their shock-sticks into him, but I think he's too charged up to notice. Limbs go flying as he tears another guard apart, ripping him into pieces as if he's made of paper.
***
"Your pain sticks won't motivate me. Your food doesn't motivate me. If you send anyone else into this cell to clean it, I'll kill them. If you send in more guards, I'll kill them, too. Nothing you do or say is going to make me want to be your pet gladiator…but if you give me the female, I'll play along. I'll be your obedient little fighter. But you know what I want."
They exchange another look. The scientist frowns, but the lord looks thoughtful, and I know I'm going to win this particular fight. The lord leans in, his finger on the intercom.
"How do we know you don't plan on killing her? Human slaves are valuable."
Kill her? Why do they think I'd harm Mina? Why does Mina think that? I wish I had my memories, but they're all still a blank. Maybe they'll come back with time, but until then, I'll just have to cope. I'm not asking these fools for more information. "I want her alive. She's not a very good companion if she's dead."
***
Mina is the only thing I have that is good and right. I like her more than soft blankets, more than the best meals. I like her more than the fresh breeze on my face when we're outside. I would choose her over all of that. But I do not know if she would choose me, and the thought makes my gut clench.
I want her to put her hand on me again. I want her to touch me on places other than scars that have no sensation. I want to know what it would feel like if those light fingers brushed me ... elsewhere. I am a bad guy, I realize, because I do want more from her than just companionship. I want touches. I want her smiles. I want her scent full of something other than fear.
I need to learn how to get these things.
***
"You won't look at me?"
"I wanted to know what you wanted with me," she says. "You said you didn't know. I guess you figured it out, huh?"
Her tone is odd, bitter. "I want you in here, with me."
"A slave for the slave?"
***
"Are you going to kill me?" she asks.
I frown. "Why does everyone keep asking me that? Why would I ask for you if I just intended to kill you? I don't want you dead."
"You want a slave," she repeats bluntly. "If all you want is someone to swing by and pick up your socks, I don't have to sleep here. I can come by daily and tidy things for you."
I scowl. "But then you will leave. This way, you stay with me. You will stay in my bed. You will talk to me and share meals with me."
This doesn't reassure her. She hitches the blanket higher around her shoulders and gives me another fierce look. "So you're going to rape me, then?"
Am I? I consider this. It would be nothing to overpower her. To shove her down and push her thighs open and do what I like with her. Her fear-scent would be unending, then. And… she would not like me. She would be angry. Permanently. I imagine what it would be like for her to hate me. She laughed once, the sound soft and sweet. I want that again. I do not want to destroy her for a moment's pleasure. I want… I don't know what I want. More of her everything.
"No rape," I say gruffly. "I didn't push for you to be here just for you to hate me."
***
"It's not a great plan. Just… more of a goalpost. The less noticeable I am, the easier it'd be for me to eventually escape."
"I noticed you right away," he states again. "You are strange and ugly, for starters."
"You're no dream prince yourself!"
That makes him bare his teeth, and for a bizarre moment, I think he's snarling. It takes a heartbeat for me to realize this is his version of a smile.
"When we leave, we'll escape together. I'm not leaving you behind."
I stare at her in surprise. She's changing her plans to include me? The cause of all her problems?
I… think I would do anything for this female.
***
"I am a splice. They made me in a lab out of a little bit of everything." His teeth flash bright in the darkness. "Everything frightening and cruel, they threw into a test tube and out came me."
"You're not cruel," I correct him. "Don't say that about yourself."
"How do you know? Just because I'm not cruel to you does not mean I'm not cruel to others."
***
"I like touching you far too much."
I like it, too, but in my eyes, there is no such thing as too much. However much I get of her is the perfect amount.
***
"Leave him alone," I hear distantly. "Let him find her."
Find her.
The words drill through my mind.
Find her.
Bring her home safe.
Kill anyone that gets in my way.
*********************************************
You can follow my Instagram page from here
February 13, 2023
The Gladiator!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚🖤💙❤️💜
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: ☺️😮🙂😍🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
The Hero: Crulden the Ruiner - we have heard of Crulden the Ruiner a few times in previous Ruby Dixon books. We know from them that he is the fiercest gladiator alive and that he has been cloned, so from the start of this book it isn’t known if this Crulden is the original or a clone, though it doesn’t really matter. We also know that the gladiators are slaves and owned by rich men who use them in fights to the death. Whether original or clone, none of them are free.
The heroine: Mina - she is a human slave who is not afraid of Crulden the Ruiner. She glares at him when she is forced to clean up the mess he has made of his cage. Though there are cleaning bots to clean his area but female captives are cheaper, so their captor “Lord Hsir” requires her to do the cleaning for Cell block C, where Crulden is the only occupant.
The Story: Crulden is probably a clone, but he doesn’t know that, all he knows is that his memories are fuzzy. At first he thinks Mina is very ugly, since he has never seen a human before. They are too small and fragile. Though he really liked her scent and he refuses to eat or fight for them until they give him the girl.
This was told in dual points of view via dual narration and was narrated by Mason Lloyd and Felicity Munroe. These are not my all time favorite narrators, but they do a lot of Ruby Dixon books, and I really like the way they narrate these books. Mason has a deep voice and speaks in a perfect tempo for these alien romance books. Felicity has a nice feminine voice and so the book was an enjoyable listen.
I liked this story, it was a whole new world for Ruby Dixon, away from the Ice Planet but part of that whole alien world including the Ice Planet and the Risdaverse, which I really liked. I loved the fact that Mina was not afraid of Crulden even though everybody else was, including Lord Hsir and his faithful scientist.
Things get dicey for the two main characters and the story kept me hanging on the edge of my seat. There is a throwback to another of Ruby’s book at one point, I can’t remember which one, but I remember the scenario from their point of view. This was definitely one of the best stories and I can’t wait for the next one.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚🖤💙❤️💜
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: ☺️😮🙂😍🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
The Hero: Crulden the Ruiner - we have heard of Crulden the Ruiner a few times in previous Ruby Dixon books. We know from them that he is the fiercest gladiator alive and that he has been cloned, so from the start of this book it isn’t known if this Crulden is the original or a clone, though it doesn’t really matter. We also know that the gladiators are slaves and owned by rich men who use them in fights to the death. Whether original or clone, none of them are free.
The heroine: Mina - she is a human slave who is not afraid of Crulden the Ruiner. She glares at him when she is forced to clean up the mess he has made of his cage. Though there are cleaning bots to clean his area but female captives are cheaper, so their captor “Lord Hsir” requires her to do the cleaning for Cell block C, where Crulden is the only occupant.
The Story: Crulden is probably a clone, but he doesn’t know that, all he knows is that his memories are fuzzy. At first he thinks Mina is very ugly, since he has never seen a human before. They are too small and fragile. Though he really liked her scent and he refuses to eat or fight for them until they give him the girl.
This was told in dual points of view via dual narration and was narrated by Mason Lloyd and Felicity Munroe. These are not my all time favorite narrators, but they do a lot of Ruby Dixon books, and I really like the way they narrate these books. Mason has a deep voice and speaks in a perfect tempo for these alien romance books. Felicity has a nice feminine voice and so the book was an enjoyable listen.
I liked this story, it was a whole new world for Ruby Dixon, away from the Ice Planet but part of that whole alien world including the Ice Planet and the Risdaverse, which I really liked. I loved the fact that Mina was not afraid of Crulden even though everybody else was, including Lord Hsir and his faithful scientist.
Things get dicey for the two main characters and the story kept me hanging on the edge of my seat. There is a throwback to another of Ruby’s book at one point, I can’t remember which one, but I remember the scenario from their point of view. This was definitely one of the best stories and I can’t wait for the next one.
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July 22, 2025
bad guy >>> ice planet barbarians
WHAT TO EXPECT
﴾⫘﴿ sci-fi romance (such an underrated genre)
﴾⫘﴿ monster x human romance
﴾⫘﴿ protective & possessive gladiator mmc
﴾⫘﴿ virgin hero
﴾⫘﴿ he hates everyone but her
﴾⫘﴿ only one bed
CONTENT WARNING: drug use, blood, violence, slavery, torture & mentions of rape
CHARACTERS
﴾⫘﴿ Crulden/Mycrul. The sweetest monster!!! It made me want to cry how insecure he was because he is SO CUTE dhakshfb I adore him with everything in me <33 he’s sweet, caring and protective of Mina, but will not hesitate to kill anyone else in his vicinity. He hates everyone but her aww. He’s also 7.5 feet tall 😳 To this day, I don’t know how he managed to fit inside her lmao
﴾⫘﴿ Mina. She’s so brave and thoughtful and strong-willed ughh I love her!!! She’s also got a bit of sass in her, which was v entertaining. 10/10
LIKES:
﴾⫘﴿ He makes sure she’s fed, even when he’s pissed at her aww he’s so motherly & cutesy 🥰🥰
﴾⫘﴿ It’s adorable how obsessed he is with making her laugh and smile :)
﴾⫘﴿ Them calling each other ugly 💀
Literally had me cackling lmaoo A+ for honesty! It’s kind of beautiful in a weird way that they found each other ugly at first though because as they got to know each other, they became attracted to each other. They fell for each other’s personality instead of their bodies and I love that.
﴾⫘﴿ The FMC looks and acts like a normal human woman and doesn’t fit society’s unrealistic ideal standards of beauty the way most fictional women do. She doesn’t have a big butt, big boobs, perfect skin or a thin waist, which is so rare in the romance genre. I feel like every female character I read about looks like a supermodel and I’m over it. Petition to have more heroines look like normal people and to stop pushing unrealistic body expectations on women 🫶
﴾⫘﴿ The way the alien bodies were described was so cool!! I somehow lost the quote I had saved, but just trust me, the descriptions were so creative and interesting. Like Crulden is a furry, gigantic monster with a tail, mane and claws. It made the book feel so much more immersive and unique with these descriptions. Some of the other aliens were red and blue, one resembled a bird, one was similar to a centipede (gross . . . but cool), one looked like a frog, etc. etc. There was so much going on appearance-wise and picturing it in my head was so fun!
﴾⫘﴿ I love Crulden’s name. It’s very unique and fitting for a gladiator.
DISLIKES:
﴾⫘﴿ This was SO CLOSE to being a five star, but unfortunately, the ending was disappointing.
WHAT TO EXPECT
﴾⫘﴿ sci-fi romance (such an underrated genre)
﴾⫘﴿ monster x human romance
﴾⫘﴿ protective & possessive gladiator mmc
﴾⫘﴿ virgin hero
﴾⫘﴿ he hates everyone but her
﴾⫘﴿ only one bed
CONTENT WARNING: drug use, blood, violence, slavery, torture & mentions of rape
CHARACTERS
﴾⫘﴿ Crulden/Mycrul. The sweetest monster!!! It made me want to cry how insecure he was because he is SO CUTE dhakshfb I adore him with everything in me <33 he’s sweet, caring and protective of Mina, but will not hesitate to kill anyone else in his vicinity. He hates everyone but her aww. He’s also 7.5 feet tall 😳 To this day, I don’t know how he managed to fit inside her lmao
﴾⫘﴿ Mina. She’s so brave and thoughtful and strong-willed ughh I love her!!! She’s also got a bit of sass in her, which was v entertaining. 10/10
LIKES:
﴾⫘﴿ He makes sure she’s fed, even when he’s pissed at her aww he’s so motherly & cutesy 🥰🥰
When I continue to ignore him, something hits at my skirts. I look up, outraged, and his tail flicks through the air nearby. I glance down and it’s a bit of protein bar—he must have held onto it and used his tail to flick it at me.
﴾⫘﴿ It’s adorable how obsessed he is with making her laugh and smile :)
A startled laugh escapes her, and the sound sends a ripple of pleasure through my system. I want to hear that again. My claws flex with hunger and need.
“I like your laugh,” I admit, my voice a low, throaty growl of pleasure. “Do it again.”
﴾⫘﴿ Them calling each other ugly 💀
“All aliens are ugly to human eyes.”
“I find you ugly, too,” I admit.
Literally had me cackling lmaoo A+ for honesty! It’s kind of beautiful in a weird way that they found each other ugly at first though because as they got to know each other, they became attracted to each other. They fell for each other’s personality instead of their bodies and I love that.
﴾⫘﴿ The FMC looks and acts like a normal human woman and doesn’t fit society’s unrealistic ideal standards of beauty the way most fictional women do. She doesn’t have a big butt, big boobs, perfect skin or a thin waist, which is so rare in the romance genre. I feel like every female character I read about looks like a supermodel and I’m over it. Petition to have more heroines look like normal people and to stop pushing unrealistic body expectations on women 🫶
﴾⫘﴿ The way the alien bodies were described was so cool!! I somehow lost the quote I had saved, but just trust me, the descriptions were so creative and interesting. Like Crulden is a furry, gigantic monster with a tail, mane and claws. It made the book feel so much more immersive and unique with these descriptions. Some of the other aliens were red and blue, one resembled a bird, one was similar to a centipede (gross . . . but cool), one looked like a frog, etc. etc. There was so much going on appearance-wise and picturing it in my head was so fun!
﴾⫘﴿ I love Crulden’s name. It’s very unique and fitting for a gladiator.
DISLIKES:
﴾⫘﴿ This was SO CLOSE to being a five star, but unfortunately, the ending was disappointing.
May 8, 2021
4.5 Stars
I just loved Crulden. I also really loved sassy and strong Mina, who didn't put up with any sh*t. I just love how Ruby can write so well, stories where the unlovable, fight for redemption, and earn that unconditional love. This is a story about how love can prevail in even the darkest situations, and against the harshest odds. I devoured this in one sitting. So good!
(I do want to briefly say, pay attention to the warnings, in this book the characters are slaves. They are not treated well. There is also a lot of violence and killing because this story revolves around gladiator fights to the death. So if you get upset by such things, don't read this.)
I just loved Crulden. I also really loved sassy and strong Mina, who didn't put up with any sh*t. I just love how Ruby can write so well, stories where the unlovable, fight for redemption, and earn that unconditional love. This is a story about how love can prevail in even the darkest situations, and against the harshest odds. I devoured this in one sitting. So good!
(I do want to briefly say, pay attention to the warnings, in this book the characters are slaves. They are not treated well. There is also a lot of violence and killing because this story revolves around gladiator fights to the death. So if you get upset by such things, don't read this.)
May 17, 2021
3.5 stars! This is a sci-fi gladiator romance that was pretty fun. It’s your typical Ruby Dixon book with instalove (on the hero’s side), instalust, and a supposedly bad guy hero who’s actually a nice guy. I liked the gladiator aspect but we sadly never explored much of it besides the hero just training. I wanted an actual gladiator romance!
September 14, 2023
**First read:** 1️⃣
August 28, 2022
⭐⭐⭐💫
3 ½ stars.
**Re-read:** 2️⃣
September 14, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐
4 stars.
A little bit better this time.
➕ What I liked :
Good chemistry.
Good banter.
Somewhat interesting characters.
Sassy heroine that also was sweet and protective.
Strong and protective hero.
Very interesting and innovative idea/concept about what the main characters thought about each others appearance/looks at first glance.
➖ What I disliked :
Anticlimactic and somewhat abrupt ending.
Some things were left unsolved.
The heroine was kind of naive even though she had been a slave for several years.
Repetitive.
The main characters needed a little more depth.
Kind of formulaic in the character description/character choice: Teeny-tiny delicate human and Huge hulking alien.
(Would have been really interesting to maybe see a character like Kate or Devi, Iolanthe…or a combination of the three as the heroine/FMC in this story…. Someone that was tall+sturdy or athletic+statuesque that could hold their own in a different way and not seem almost fragile/frail.)
May 1, 2021
Okay, so ...
That was not what I expected. I was super stoked for this story because the main characters make a brief appearance in Corsairs: Kaspar, and a gladiator main character who is also a bit of a villain seemed like a pretty good idea, but!
Unfortunately, this was one of the worst books Ruby Dixon has ever written.
This was supposed to be a novella, and it had enough plot and tension for a shorter work, but not for a full-size book.
The pacing was disastrous.
Mina is a human slave for an arrogant mesakkah lord who has his own stable of gladiators that he trains on the jungly moon in the V'Tarr system.
Crulden is the clone of Crulden the Ruiner, a famous and horribly savage gladiator, who has awakened in the same mesakkah lord's facility, where he sees Mina cleaning his room and becomes enamored with her scent and fearless attitude.
Mina wants to escape and tries to stay under the radar, but when Crulden notices her she is brought to him as his pet whore, which she resents.
That's the gist of the plot, and unfortunately not much more happens. Ruby Dixon decided to write this novel about two captives who have nearly zero agency in their own lives. Mina is a weak human, but Crulden is not much better, as he is a clueless clone and doesn't know anything except how to kill opponents in the arena. Neither are particularly suited to hatch (and execute) an escapte plan.
So they don't. And don't some more. And also don't have sex. Or really grow closer emotionally. Or meet other people.
Half-way through, I was willing to pay just for one i teresting side character to be introduced. There were opportunities to give another character more screen time and plot: the corrupt scientist, the evil mesakkah lord, one of the a'ani guards, or even an ooli slave woman. ANY additional person and subplot would have been interesting at some point.
Instead, nothing much happened.
In my opinion, this was a complete disaster from beginning to end, in terms of lack of plot, snail-like pacing, lack of characters and lack of romance and lack of heat.
Not really worse the read unless you are a super die hard Risdaverse fan.
That was not what I expected. I was super stoked for this story because the main characters make a brief appearance in Corsairs: Kaspar, and a gladiator main character who is also a bit of a villain seemed like a pretty good idea, but!
Unfortunately, this was one of the worst books Ruby Dixon has ever written.
This was supposed to be a novella, and it had enough plot and tension for a shorter work, but not for a full-size book.
The pacing was disastrous.
Mina is a human slave for an arrogant mesakkah lord who has his own stable of gladiators that he trains on the jungly moon in the V'Tarr system.
Crulden is the clone of Crulden the Ruiner, a famous and horribly savage gladiator, who has awakened in the same mesakkah lord's facility, where he sees Mina cleaning his room and becomes enamored with her scent and fearless attitude.
Mina wants to escape and tries to stay under the radar, but when Crulden notices her she is brought to him as his pet whore, which she resents.
That's the gist of the plot, and unfortunately not much more happens. Ruby Dixon decided to write this novel about two captives who have nearly zero agency in their own lives. Mina is a weak human, but Crulden is not much better, as he is a clueless clone and doesn't know anything except how to kill opponents in the arena. Neither are particularly suited to hatch (and execute) an escapte plan.
So they don't. And don't some more. And also don't have sex. Or really grow closer emotionally. Or meet other people.
Half-way through, I was willing to pay just for one i teresting side character to be introduced. There were opportunities to give another character more screen time and plot: the corrupt scientist, the evil mesakkah lord, one of the a'ani guards, or even an ooli slave woman. ANY additional person and subplot would have been interesting at some point.
Instead, nothing much happened.
In my opinion, this was a complete disaster from beginning to end, in terms of lack of plot, snail-like pacing, lack of characters and lack of romance and lack of heat.
Not really worse the read unless you are a super die hard Risdaverse fan.
August 2, 2024
Ruby Dixon has my heart
January 27, 2023
Fucking loved it.
The problem with reviewing books after reading 50 others is I forget so many details. I'm going to do my best to convey whatever I felt and thought while reading this book.
We first meet Crulden (H) at the beginning of the book (double POV) - he's a gladiator-slave (not to be confused with "gladiator's slave") who wakes up in a transparent prison like cell with no memories of how he got there and what came before, while being observed by some mesakkah he doesn't know who seems to be in charge of keeping him fed, drugged up and alive despite the fact that he's absolutely murderous with rage, threatens and maims anyone who comes in contact with him and destroys his room pretty thoroughly as much as he can.
Enter Mina (h) - a human slave-maid who gets the fun (😒) job of cleaning up Crulden's mess after he trashes his room. Her pissed off demeanor is an instant hook for Crulden. He's fascinated by her clean scent (yes, he can smell emotions) devoid of fear and wants do whatever he can to get her back in his cell. They both think the other is quite ugly and alien, and there's nothing more fun than seeing where such a story goes.
I loved this book, it's one of Ruby's best ones. It's got better writing (well.. better than the others she's written anyway), better plot, it's a longer book, the H is endearing as helllll and I wish could put this in bold letters (my app is basic af and doesn't allow for such luxuries) but seriously Crulden is so fucking adorable and endearing that he WILL make you cry, the h is someone whose plight is super unfair and you feel for her easily, plus their slow burn is delicious and I won't be surprised if you're begging them to please just fuck and fuck hard for the love of God by the halfway mark (spoiler: while there's some good heavy petting in this book in several places, there's just one sex scene towards the end of the book - I know I know.. wipe your tears, it's still worth the wait I promise).
We also see a brief visit from 2 characters - Lord va'Rin and Milly (forgive me if my spellings are fucked up) from the risdaverse! As a friend pointed out recently, they definitely make for better side characters (in this book and in others) than main characters, no doubt. Loved their role in this book.
Please do read the TWs - Ruby also has a page of them at the beginning of the book and they stand true to what she's written. My next paragraph is going to contain some small TWs and spoilers as a result.
Absolutely recommend.
‼️‼️‼️
There is a brief description of past gladiator matches where there's brutal dismemberment of the gladiator's opponents and r*pe of his "prizes" (females) that he wins in the tournaments - these aren't too graphic when it comes to r*pe but the implications are disturbing to say the least and I would caution sensitive readers to be prepared for it. Don't let this stop you from reading this book if you're turned off by said gladiator, because I promise it's not what you think.
Plus, the slavery angle can be a bit heavy. There is a sword always hanging over Mina's head, she's always stressed that she's one suggestion or decision away from being r*ped by anyone stronger than her or by her owner. Her owner has no interest in her though (thank fuck) but she's pushed towards Crulden who's a slave himself - Mina is made to be a slave's slave which can make a reader very sad and very mad (I know I was). If I had 2 words to describe this book it would be awwwww and tense.
I also want to add one thing, because I need to get this off my chest - the mesakkah called Lord Sir who owns Crulden and Mina deserves nothing less than eternal hellfire and slow dismemberment for what he does towards the last bit of the book. I'm very unhappy that no one tore him limb from limb. Nothing major to worry about though - the MCs absolutely get their blissful HEAs but I'm bloodthirsty and I want to see him get his skin peeled off of him slowly and roasted over a raging bonfire. Bitch.
The problem with reviewing books after reading 50 others is I forget so many details. I'm going to do my best to convey whatever I felt and thought while reading this book.
We first meet Crulden (H) at the beginning of the book (double POV) - he's a gladiator-slave (not to be confused with "gladiator's slave") who wakes up in a transparent prison like cell with no memories of how he got there and what came before, while being observed by some mesakkah he doesn't know who seems to be in charge of keeping him fed, drugged up and alive despite the fact that he's absolutely murderous with rage, threatens and maims anyone who comes in contact with him and destroys his room pretty thoroughly as much as he can.
Enter Mina (h) - a human slave-maid who gets the fun (😒) job of cleaning up Crulden's mess after he trashes his room. Her pissed off demeanor is an instant hook for Crulden. He's fascinated by her clean scent (yes, he can smell emotions) devoid of fear and wants do whatever he can to get her back in his cell. They both think the other is quite ugly and alien, and there's nothing more fun than seeing where such a story goes.
I loved this book, it's one of Ruby's best ones. It's got better writing (well.. better than the others she's written anyway), better plot, it's a longer book, the H is endearing as helllll and I wish could put this in bold letters (my app is basic af and doesn't allow for such luxuries) but seriously Crulden is so fucking adorable and endearing that he WILL make you cry, the h is someone whose plight is super unfair and you feel for her easily, plus their slow burn is delicious and I won't be surprised if you're begging them to please just fuck and fuck hard for the love of God by the halfway mark (spoiler: while there's some good heavy petting in this book in several places, there's just one sex scene towards the end of the book - I know I know.. wipe your tears, it's still worth the wait I promise).
We also see a brief visit from 2 characters - Lord va'Rin and Milly (forgive me if my spellings are fucked up) from the risdaverse! As a friend pointed out recently, they definitely make for better side characters (in this book and in others) than main characters, no doubt. Loved their role in this book.
Please do read the TWs - Ruby also has a page of them at the beginning of the book and they stand true to what she's written. My next paragraph is going to contain some small TWs and spoilers as a result.
Absolutely recommend.
‼️‼️‼️
There is a brief description of past gladiator matches where there's brutal dismemberment of the gladiator's opponents and r*pe of his "prizes" (females) that he wins in the tournaments - these aren't too graphic when it comes to r*pe but the implications are disturbing to say the least and I would caution sensitive readers to be prepared for it. Don't let this stop you from reading this book if you're turned off by said gladiator, because I promise it's not what you think.
Plus, the slavery angle can be a bit heavy. There is a sword always hanging over Mina's head, she's always stressed that she's one suggestion or decision away from being r*ped by anyone stronger than her or by her owner. Her owner has no interest in her though (thank fuck) but she's pushed towards Crulden who's a slave himself - Mina is made to be a slave's slave which can make a reader very sad and very mad (I know I was). If I had 2 words to describe this book it would be awwwww and tense.
I also want to add one thing, because I need to get this off my chest - the mesakkah called Lord Sir who owns Crulden and Mina deserves nothing less than eternal hellfire and slow dismemberment for what he does towards the last bit of the book. I'm very unhappy that no one tore him limb from limb. Nothing major to worry about though - the MCs absolutely get their blissful HEAs but I'm bloodthirsty and I want to see him get his skin peeled off of him slowly and roasted over a raging bonfire. Bitch.
March 1, 2024
I enjoyed this book as much as it disturbed me. The setting is very dark and some of the scenes are fairly grotesque, but there is an underlying sweetness to this story that shines even more in juxtaposition with the background. This is set mostly in a gladiator compound where both the hero and heroine are held prisoner. The heroine is a house slave for a high class alien and the hero is a gladiator fighter. He is half beast and described as very hairy and with tusks. Not my usual fare, and at some points it almost had a zoophilia vibe to it, as Mina kind of treated him a bit like a pet but I am a pet person so I went with it.
It’s weird that this felt like a light read even though both characters were held captive at the whim of a narcissistic master, there wasn’t a whole lot more to the plot than their day to day activities and their nightly sexcapades. If you can read and put aside descriptions of dismemberment, rape and savage murder, this is a sweet love story with a HEA.
Side note: even though this is set on another planet and the heroine is a slave, the author still managed to make her a kindergarten teacher, so there is no way to get away from these ‘standard’ heroine jobs, even in science fiction. 🙄
It’s weird that this felt like a light read even though both characters were held captive at the whim of a narcissistic master, there wasn’t a whole lot more to the plot than their day to day activities and their nightly sexcapades. If you can read and put aside descriptions of dismemberment, rape and savage murder, this is a sweet love story with a HEA.
Side note: even though this is set on another planet and the heroine is a slave, the author still managed to make her a kindergarten teacher, so there is no way to get away from these ‘standard’ heroine jobs, even in science fiction. 🙄
August 16, 2021
3 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was just alright for me. I liked the premise, but everything else just fell a little flat for me. I borderline didn’t like the h a lot of the times even though I think I was supposed to appreciate her sass and take it as strength. I did like the H, but that could only go so far because his character didn’t have a lot of depth (literally). I thought it was wrapped up a little too easily and quickly in the end, and I was left with too many questions about their future to be satisfied. It was alright 🤷🏻♀️
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Mina and Crulden’s story. Crulden is a gladiator that was genetically made of all the fiercest gladiator traits to bring glory to his owner. He just doesn’t remember before his ~5 year stasis state and he is not happy with his existence until he encounters the feisty, ugly alien that cleans up his messes, Mina. Mina is a human slave that tries to just get by without being noticed and is pretty successful until the big gladiator throwing tantrums notices her and claims her as his own. Mina is given to Crulden to keep him compliant in his training for the upcoming championship and they form a friendship that turns into more. There are some suspenseful scenes, some sexy times, and some sweet moments…and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Mina and Crulden’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Mostly good. I never skimmed even though it felt a little slow at times.
Instalove: Kind of, not much development of feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Crulden. I liked him more than the h because how he was protective of her and how he ended up.
h (heroine) rating: 2.5-3 stars. Mina. I liked her but she also had a chip on her shoulder a lot of the time and acted stupid (imo) considering she was a “slave” majority of the book
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Not really
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends abruptly with what I would call a HFN ending. I had too many unanswered questions about their future to call it a HEA.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion: This was just alright for me. I liked the premise, but everything else just fell a little flat for me. I borderline didn’t like the h a lot of the times even though I think I was supposed to appreciate her sass and take it as strength. I did like the H, but that could only go so far because his character didn’t have a lot of depth (literally). I thought it was wrapped up a little too easily and quickly in the end, and I was left with too many questions about their future to be satisfied. It was alright 🤷🏻♀️
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Mina and Crulden’s story. Crulden is a gladiator that was genetically made of all the fiercest gladiator traits to bring glory to his owner. He just doesn’t remember before his ~5 year stasis state and he is not happy with his existence until he encounters the feisty, ugly alien that cleans up his messes, Mina. Mina is a human slave that tries to just get by without being noticed and is pretty successful until the big gladiator throwing tantrums notices her and claims her as his own. Mina is given to Crulden to keep him compliant in his training for the upcoming championship and they form a friendship that turns into more. There are some suspenseful scenes, some sexy times, and some sweet moments…and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Mina and Crulden’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Mostly good. I never skimmed even though it felt a little slow at times.
Instalove: Kind of, not much development of feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Crulden. I liked him more than the h because how he was protective of her and how he ended up.
h (heroine) rating: 2.5-3 stars. Mina. I liked her but she also had a chip on her shoulder a lot of the time and acted stupid (imo) considering she was a “slave” majority of the book
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Not really
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends abruptly with what I would call a HFN ending. I had too many unanswered questions about their future to call it a HEA.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
May 11, 2021
3.5 stars - Not one of my all time favs from Queen Ruby, but as always a fun and thoughtful exploration of a high premise... in this case, how do you find love in a circumstance when you are both enslaved. I think this was a little too long for my tastes, but I particularly liked how the book ended. It didn't go where I thought it would
May 5, 2021
Conflict and resolution got weird at the end 🥴
I now need the next Corsairs book!
I now need the next Corsairs book!
June 18, 2021
4 stars
August 18, 2021
3 stars.
This book took me FOREVER to finish… and it really wasn’t bad. Once I got about 15% into the story, I was much more invested in the story. Sadly, it just didn’t blow me away at all.
This is the story of Mina, a human slave, and Crulden, a gladiator. Crulden is one of the most brutal gladiators who ever fought, being overly brutal and vicious in attacking/killing anyone brought near him. After five years in stasis, he is sold to a new master and awoken with the intention of training him to once again be the ultimate killing machine. Crulden wakes confused and has lost all of his memories... he fights all around him until he sees Mina, who catches his interest. Since his master wants him to be a good slave, Crulden is allowed to have Mina as his “companion” in exchange for his cooperation. They quickly bond, but circumstances work against them quite a bit. They have some tough times and a separation, but eventually get a HEA.
So one of my issues with this book was how random a few of the events seemed. Like Mina was always super careful about how she acts until she just isn’t? Her out-of-character actions end up severely impacting the hero. I felt like the outcome of what happens to Crulden makes sense, but did it have to be Mina who forces the issue? I’m trying to not he too spoilery, so sorry if this sounds cryptic. There are also a few parts that felt overly brutal and didn’t quite match the tone of what I typically expect from Ruby Dixon.
BUT worst of all, I hated that the bad guys didn’t get punished. Like wtf… kill the assholes please! Simply getting a few of their slaves away isn’t enough for my sense of justice. Ultimately, this is what lost the book a star from me.
Safety was good, heroine not a virgin, hero was a virgin, no others for either of them
This book took me FOREVER to finish… and it really wasn’t bad. Once I got about 15% into the story, I was much more invested in the story. Sadly, it just didn’t blow me away at all.
This is the story of Mina, a human slave, and Crulden, a gladiator. Crulden is one of the most brutal gladiators who ever fought, being overly brutal and vicious in attacking/killing anyone brought near him. After five years in stasis, he is sold to a new master and awoken with the intention of training him to once again be the ultimate killing machine. Crulden wakes confused and has lost all of his memories... he fights all around him until he sees Mina, who catches his interest. Since his master wants him to be a good slave, Crulden is allowed to have Mina as his “companion” in exchange for his cooperation. They quickly bond, but circumstances work against them quite a bit. They have some tough times and a separation, but eventually get a HEA.
So one of my issues with this book was how random a few of the events seemed. Like Mina was always super careful about how she acts until she just isn’t? Her out-of-character actions end up severely impacting the hero. I felt like the outcome of what happens to Crulden makes sense, but did it have to be Mina who forces the issue? I’m trying to not he too spoilery, so sorry if this sounds cryptic. There are also a few parts that felt overly brutal and didn’t quite match the tone of what I typically expect from Ruby Dixon.
BUT worst of all, I hated that the bad guys didn’t get punished. Like wtf… kill the assholes please! Simply getting a few of their slaves away isn’t enough for my sense of justice. Ultimately, this is what lost the book a star from me.
Safety was good, heroine not a virgin, hero was a virgin, no others for either of them
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2021
3.75 stars ⭐️.
Safe, enjoyable and recommended.
Safe, enjoyable and recommended.
May 10, 2021
Another Ruby classic. I was supposed to work this morning, and I sat down to eat breakfast and was like, "I'll just read the first couple chapters while I eat." A few hours later, I finished the book. Work did not happen.
FYI, this is solidly sci-fi romance, just like Ruby's other books. It is not a 'sweet contemporary romantic comedy with a dash of bdsm,' as the cover suggests! Or is it just me that thought that?
I will definitely check out the sequel to this one when it comes out! :)
FYI, this is solidly sci-fi romance, just like Ruby's other books. It is not a 'sweet contemporary romantic comedy with a dash of bdsm,' as the cover suggests! Or is it just me that thought that?
I will definitely check out the sequel to this one when it comes out! :)
May 4, 2021
Quick(ish) Review
Excuse me while I sing Billie Eilish's Bad Guy on a loop, because that's all I can hear when I see this title. Anytorture, let me tell you about this entry in the Risdaverse books by Ms. Dixon. I've confessed in the past that she is my crack dealer. When she releases a new book, I am in line, just waiting for my fix. Now, it may be formulaic, but it's a formula I deeply enjoy.
Here, Ms. Dixon has decided to remix Beauty & The Beast with Crulden the Ruiner, a splice (mix of every bit of deadly predator alien, basically) and Mina, human, are essentially slaves to Lord Sir, their master and all around twatwaffle. Crulden is big and bad, yet strangely innocent and Mina is your scrappy survivalist who's just trying to stay under the radar until she can GTFO out that mess. When Crulden becomes obsessed with Mina, a strange yet sweet love blooms, and yep, romance happens.
This is a relatively isolated, character-driven romance with lots o' interaction between Crulden and Mina, which I do enjoy. Their Firsts are strange, because let's face it, I've never had the fantasy of banging the Beast before he changes into the prince. I mean, yes I'm an 80s gal, but this Ron Perlman doppelgänger (80s tv show look it up), doesn't tickle my fancy pants. Just sayin'. BUT, there's some dark moments, especially when Ms. Dixon really reminds the reader of the precariousness of Crul and Mina's situation and there is several violent scenes involving fighting, since he's a gladiator.
If I had to quibble, and generally speaking, yes I do, then I'd say that there's not much going on other than these two growing closer and there's a repetitiveness to their inner thoughts. Basically it's like other books by Ms. Dixon where she'll have a good idea, it'll start with some interest, meander for the middle and then drop some good scenes towards the end.
So did this fix blow my mind and nether regions? Nope, but I didn't hate it, hence the middle of the road rating. But guess what? Next time she releases a book, I'll be back in line, waiting for it, so there's that.
Excuse me while I sing Billie Eilish's Bad Guy on a loop, because that's all I can hear when I see this title. Anytorture, let me tell you about this entry in the Risdaverse books by Ms. Dixon. I've confessed in the past that she is my crack dealer. When she releases a new book, I am in line, just waiting for my fix. Now, it may be formulaic, but it's a formula I deeply enjoy.
Here, Ms. Dixon has decided to remix Beauty & The Beast with Crulden the Ruiner, a splice (mix of every bit of deadly predator alien, basically) and Mina, human, are essentially slaves to Lord Sir, their master and all around twatwaffle. Crulden is big and bad, yet strangely innocent and Mina is your scrappy survivalist who's just trying to stay under the radar until she can GTFO out that mess. When Crulden becomes obsessed with Mina, a strange yet sweet love blooms, and yep, romance happens.
This is a relatively isolated, character-driven romance with lots o' interaction between Crulden and Mina, which I do enjoy. Their Firsts are strange, because let's face it, I've never had the fantasy of banging the Beast before he changes into the prince. I mean, yes I'm an 80s gal, but this Ron Perlman doppelgänger (80s tv show look it up), doesn't tickle my fancy pants. Just sayin'. BUT, there's some dark moments, especially when Ms. Dixon really reminds the reader of the precariousness of Crul and Mina's situation and there is several violent scenes involving fighting, since he's a gladiator.
If I had to quibble, and generally speaking, yes I do, then I'd say that there's not much going on other than these two growing closer and there's a repetitiveness to their inner thoughts. Basically it's like other books by Ms. Dixon where she'll have a good idea, it'll start with some interest, meander for the middle and then drop some good scenes towards the end.
So did this fix blow my mind and nether regions? Nope, but I didn't hate it, hence the middle of the road rating. But guess what? Next time she releases a book, I'll be back in line, waiting for it, so there's that.
April 26, 2024
Reread 2024
These 2 are so sweet together and I love them. Crulden is all morally grey sexiness and Mina is all fierceness and they protect each other the best they can. I loved seeing them fall in love again in their horrific circumstances. I’m a bit of a sucker for a captivity romance, so it’s 0% surprising this one hits just right for me.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: captivity, slavery, forced fighting, maiming, dismemberment, rape (brief mention, side character), sexual harassment, drugging, survival situation, malnutrition
These 2 are so sweet together and I love them. Crulden is all morally grey sexiness and Mina is all fierceness and they protect each other the best they can. I loved seeing them fall in love again in their horrific circumstances. I’m a bit of a sucker for a captivity romance, so it’s 0% surprising this one hits just right for me.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: captivity, slavery, forced fighting, maiming, dismemberment, rape (brief mention, side character), sexual harassment, drugging, survival situation, malnutrition
July 6, 2021
Favorite book by Dixon yet. AND I'VE READ ALMOST ALL OF THEM.
November 27, 2021
Now it has been a while since I've read an Alien/Human romance. So, I was kind of intrigued to see what Bad Guy would be like. Luckily for me, it was pretty interesting and entertaining from start to finish. It gave me people to hate and people to root for - what more can a girl ask for?
Oh yeah, romance. Which, yes, it was sort of a slow burn but it ended up being pretty addicting. I honestly snorted so hard when they first met one another and called them ugly. Mostly because I just got this inkling that things were going to work out between them. Soon touches turned into something else and feelings bloomed.
It all came crumbling down due to the Lord Douche Canoe though. He just had to mess things up and be greedy. Well, look at how the tables have turned buddy. Now they are both free and living their best lives. Suck it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was cute and easy to fly through.
Oh yeah, romance. Which, yes, it was sort of a slow burn but it ended up being pretty addicting. I honestly snorted so hard when they first met one another and called them ugly. Mostly because I just got this inkling that things were going to work out between them. Soon touches turned into something else and feelings bloomed.
It all came crumbling down due to the Lord Douche Canoe though. He just had to mess things up and be greedy. Well, look at how the tables have turned buddy. Now they are both free and living their best lives. Suck it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was cute and easy to fly through.
July 21, 2021
Tenia mucho de no leer un libro de Ruby Dixon, hasta ahora no me a vuelto a dar fiebre alienígena como la primera vez que me devore su serie Ice planent barbarians, pero si que extrañaba leer de sus romances paranormales que escribe. Este es standalone, así que también es mas largo, el romance también es mas lento, pero igual de lindo y apasionado como los suele escribir.
July 1, 2021
This was a lot of fun by a favorite author. No blue guys or dragons, just a bad-ass gladiator and a small woman who shows him how to live and love.
I'm intrigued by the arrangement of two more books by different authors. I'll be reading them when they come out.
I'm intrigued by the arrangement of two more books by different authors. I'll be reading them when they come out.
May 28, 2021
I started this yesterday after work. I stayed up until midnight reading it last night - until I was done.
That really says it all, doesn't it?
That really says it all, doesn't it?
July 27, 2022
Felt kinda anticlimactic at the end. I loved the chemistry and everything but there were several moments that were left unresolved at the end. Plus I found myself skimming the second half.
May 3, 2021
I love Ruby Dixon and I'll read anything she writes. This one was just okay to me, not a favorite... but definitely had more to do with the set up of the story. When a story takes place entirely within what's basically a prison, and the two main characters are slaves without agency... it leads to things that are uncomfortable or just a boxed in plot.
Mina is a human slave for Lord Sir, she was gifted to him by another mesakkah. She is forced to be the "pet" to his newest acquisition, a gladiator named Crulden - extremely violent and dangerous but with a wiped memory. Neither Mina or Crulden has agency. Mina is forced to live with him because otherwise she'll be killed, and while she gets "perks" like better food, her life is being threatened. If she doesn't keep him happy, she dies. If he acts out to anyone else, she dies.
Crulden is a pretty shapeless hero. He's a spliced together clone monster, and there's the capacity for him to be so interesting. (I'm reminded of Vordis, the cloned a'ani from the Icehome book Angie's Gladiator.) But because he has no chance to freely explore concepts or freedom or free will, it's a bit wasted.
I'm happy they got their HEA but I think prison type romances just aren't for me.
Mina is a human slave for Lord Sir, she was gifted to him by another mesakkah. She is forced to be the "pet" to his newest acquisition, a gladiator named Crulden - extremely violent and dangerous but with a wiped memory. Neither Mina or Crulden has agency. Mina is forced to live with him because otherwise she'll be killed, and while she gets "perks" like better food, her life is being threatened. If she doesn't keep him happy, she dies. If he acts out to anyone else, she dies.
Crulden is a pretty shapeless hero. He's a spliced together clone monster, and there's the capacity for him to be so interesting. (I'm reminded of Vordis, the cloned a'ani from the Icehome book Angie's Gladiator.) But because he has no chance to freely explore concepts or freedom or free will, it's a bit wasted.
I'm happy they got their HEA but I think prison type romances just aren't for me.
November 2, 2021
I liked you because you were not afraid of me. Everyone is always afraid. It makes me wonder what kind of monster I am.
Crulden and Mina are slaves. And this is the story of how they find each other. It was very lovey dovey. He’s a gladiator and kills so many guards at a time. He is dangerous and angry. Very angry. The only thing that calms him is Mina. And man did I enjoy these two. Like really, really enjoy them. I’m so happy I found this series now and can read the next book.
If you’re looking for abducted human slaves being forced to clean after scary alien gladiators who fall in love this story is for you. It was so good.
Crulden and Mina are slaves. And this is the story of how they find each other. It was very lovey dovey. He’s a gladiator and kills so many guards at a time. He is dangerous and angry. Very angry. The only thing that calms him is Mina. And man did I enjoy these two. Like really, really enjoy them. I’m so happy I found this series now and can read the next book.
If you’re looking for abducted human slaves being forced to clean after scary alien gladiators who fall in love this story is for you. It was so good.
April 26, 2022
Love this bad guy!
Good story of a bad guy gladiator and female human slave. Both are imprisoned and need each other to survive. Really good story, though I would liked to have learned more about how the human slave got taken from Earth and how she ended up where she is currently. I did like the ending and how some characters of the Risdaverse series appear in this book.
Good story of a bad guy gladiator and female human slave. Both are imprisoned and need each other to survive. Really good story, though I would liked to have learned more about how the human slave got taken from Earth and how she ended up where she is currently. I did like the ending and how some characters of the Risdaverse series appear in this book.
July 20, 2021
This book cements the fact that Ruby Dixon is one of my top 5 favorite authors. This book has it all: humor, romance and a smart plot with an unexpected twist. Did I mention romance? Dixon crafts the most scrumptious male heroes.
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