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Villains in Love
Worse Guy
Crulden the Ruiner is the most dangerous gladiator in the galaxy.
I’m his clone - equally ugly, equally dangerous, and just as feared. I’m also being held captive, since no one trusts a creature like me to be let loose.
A curvy, determined human named Bee doesn’t think I’m a creature, though. In fact, she thinks I just need a guide. She’s got half the males on this planet eating out of her hand, and she’s confident she can do the same with me.
The managing little female has no idea what she’s in for. I’m not some fool to be led around by my tail. But…the champion in me loves a challenge.
A champion also wants to win a prize. So I tell Bee I’ll go along with her plans if she kisses me…right on my tusk-filled mouth.
I never expected her to say yes…
I’m his clone - equally ugly, equally dangerous, and just as feared. I’m also being held captive, since no one trusts a creature like me to be let loose.
A curvy, determined human named Bee doesn’t think I’m a creature, though. In fact, she thinks I just need a guide. She’s got half the males on this planet eating out of her hand, and she’s confident she can do the same with me.
The managing little female has no idea what she’s in for. I’m not some fool to be led around by my tail. But…the champion in me loves a challenge.
A champion also wants to win a prize. So I tell Bee I’ll go along with her plans if she kisses me…right on my tusk-filled mouth.
I never expected her to say yes…
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2021
367 people are currently reading
2131 people want to read
About the author
Ruby Dixon
159 books20k 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 611 reviews
October 11, 2021
Everything she writes is freaking Gold!!
I loved this. I read it in just a couple hours. God I need a monster that will do anything just to share breath with me too.
I loved this. I read it in just a couple hours. God I need a monster that will do anything just to share breath with me too.
March 20, 2023
Bee and the beast!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚💜❤️🖤
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎🌏
Character development: 😤😠🙃😍😘
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Bee - she was kidnapped from Earth and was a slave for 5 years and now is living on Risda 3, the sanctuary for human females. Bee is a very short human woman and has a Masaka boyfriend named Riffin. She goes to Lord Varin’s worker, Novis to ask for a job being a liaison between the Masaka and the human women, though Novis tells her if she works with the Crulden clone who is feral, then she can have the job she wants.
The Heroes: Crulden the Ruiner (Clone) - the original Crulden was a gladiator slave, the best gladiator in the galaxy who was known for killing his opponents in the most gory ways, raping women and more. The Crulden clones have some vague memories of the original Crulden and they know how to fight, though they are their own men as well. This Crulden clone remembers past cruel owners before being sold and somehow ending up in stasis on a ship with human women. He remembers his old master who made him fight and kill, he is caged and lives to hunt his captors.
The Story: Riffin didn’t want Bee to work with Crulden, but decided to let her try, because he was sure she would fail. Bee didn’t like the way both Riffin and Novis treated her, so she gives him the silent treatment. Bee wasn’t really attracted to Riffin, but agreed to date him and every time she tried to break it off with him, he convinced her to give him another chance. She decided to focus on her job.
We know from previous books that none of the people rescued from that spaceship are technically prisoners, but they didn’t know what to do with the Crulden clone, since Crulden was known to be a vicious killer. So they keep him in a cage and the guards don’t view him as a person. He is treated like an animal, chained up in a filthy cage and hosed off once in a while. Bee doesn’t blame him for attacking the guards after seeing how he is treated and wants to help him.
The premise of the story is good, though I didn’t really like Bee at the for much of the book. She didn’t really like or have any attraction to Riffin, but kept leading him around by the private parts, telling him she wanted time, but really planning on never following through with what he wanted. Granted, Riffin was kind of using her as well, for the status of having a human mate, but two wrongs don’t make a right. I just don’t like how she acted.
I did like the way the relationship between Bee and Crulden grew at a natural pace and how he smart he was despite how he started out. There is a good reason for him looking like an animal at the start, based on how he was kept and treated, not to mention his fangs and tusks. Also with his memories from the original Crulden who wanted only to win at everything and was taught to be vicious and brutal.
This story is told in dual points of via dual narration and was narrated by Ja'air Bush and Alexander Cendese. I like Alexander Cendese’s voice, it is nice and deep. Though I didn’t really like Ja’air Bush all that much. She sounded more like she was reading than many narrators, with short pauses between words and at the end of sentences. Her voice was strong and loud. I like a softer, more feminine voice for the female POV, though I did get used to her voice quickly.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚💜❤️🖤
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎🌏
Character development: 😤😠🙃😍😘
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Bee - she was kidnapped from Earth and was a slave for 5 years and now is living on Risda 3, the sanctuary for human females. Bee is a very short human woman and has a Masaka boyfriend named Riffin. She goes to Lord Varin’s worker, Novis to ask for a job being a liaison between the Masaka and the human women, though Novis tells her if she works with the Crulden clone who is feral, then she can have the job she wants.
The Heroes: Crulden the Ruiner (Clone) - the original Crulden was a gladiator slave, the best gladiator in the galaxy who was known for killing his opponents in the most gory ways, raping women and more. The Crulden clones have some vague memories of the original Crulden and they know how to fight, though they are their own men as well. This Crulden clone remembers past cruel owners before being sold and somehow ending up in stasis on a ship with human women. He remembers his old master who made him fight and kill, he is caged and lives to hunt his captors.
The Story: Riffin didn’t want Bee to work with Crulden, but decided to let her try, because he was sure she would fail. Bee didn’t like the way both Riffin and Novis treated her, so she gives him the silent treatment. Bee wasn’t really attracted to Riffin, but agreed to date him and every time she tried to break it off with him, he convinced her to give him another chance. She decided to focus on her job.
We know from previous books that none of the people rescued from that spaceship are technically prisoners, but they didn’t know what to do with the Crulden clone, since Crulden was known to be a vicious killer. So they keep him in a cage and the guards don’t view him as a person. He is treated like an animal, chained up in a filthy cage and hosed off once in a while. Bee doesn’t blame him for attacking the guards after seeing how he is treated and wants to help him.
The premise of the story is good, though I didn’t really like Bee at the for much of the book. She didn’t really like or have any attraction to Riffin, but kept leading him around by the private parts, telling him she wanted time, but really planning on never following through with what he wanted. Granted, Riffin was kind of using her as well, for the status of having a human mate, but two wrongs don’t make a right. I just don’t like how she acted.
I did like the way the relationship between Bee and Crulden grew at a natural pace and how he smart he was despite how he started out. There is a good reason for him looking like an animal at the start, based on how he was kept and treated, not to mention his fangs and tusks. Also with his memories from the original Crulden who wanted only to win at everything and was taught to be vicious and brutal.
This story is told in dual points of via dual narration and was narrated by Ja'air Bush and Alexander Cendese. I like Alexander Cendese’s voice, it is nice and deep. Though I didn’t really like Ja’air Bush all that much. She sounded more like she was reading than many narrators, with short pauses between words and at the end of sentences. Her voice was strong and loud. I like a softer, more feminine voice for the female POV, though I did get used to her voice quickly.
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October 12, 2021
This was a more successful version of the alien monster story that we first got in BAD GUY - I felt like the pacing in this was much better, though perhaps I was also biased because I always love being back on Risda. Bee reminded me a lot of Josie from the IPB series, and I was just fully rooting for her. All in all, it just hit the spot for me as few books besides Ruby Dixon books can
CW: torture & imprisonment; SA; coercive romantic relationship
CW: torture & imprisonment; SA; coercive romantic relationship
November 7, 2024
⭐2.7
A reasonably entertaining read with an intriguing premise.
While open-door spice is a dominant feature of the book, themes of prejudice and acceptance form the heart of the story.
I must confess, the funny thing about this particular reading experience, is that I had no idea it was going to be spicy.
I didn't even twig when I looked at the cover, instead I naively thought, "well, the leading male is an imprisoned alien gladiator clone, why wouldn't he have a big metal dog-collar?!"
⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤
Genre:
⚛Science fiction romance
Tropes and Themes:
⚛ Aliens
⚛ Clones
⚛ Futuristic
⚛ Interspecies relationship
Spice:
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
A reasonably entertaining read with an intriguing premise.
While open-door spice is a dominant feature of the book, themes of prejudice and acceptance form the heart of the story.
I must confess, the funny thing about this particular reading experience, is that I had no idea it was going to be spicy.
I didn't even twig when I looked at the cover, instead I naively thought, "well, the leading male is an imprisoned alien gladiator clone, why wouldn't he have a big metal dog-collar?!"
⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤ ⚛ ⚤
Genre:
⚛Science fiction romance
Tropes and Themes:
⚛ Aliens
⚛ Clones
⚛ Futuristic
⚛ Interspecies relationship
Spice:
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
July 20, 2022
Full disclosure: Ruby Dixon is my SFR dealer. I have several authors I check for, but she's the only one who's an auto-borrow from KU. I loved this, and I'll tell you why -most of Dixon's heroines (and heroes) have suffered in different ways and it's about how they learn to survive and thrive in a universe that doesn't see them as more than an object is what keeps me turning the page.
This latest entry into the Risadverse tales continues to explore the "what if Crulden the Ruiner wasn't such an asshole?" story thread that she's explored before in Bad Guy. Victor is a splice. A clone of Crulden, a fabled gladiator, and generally unpleasantly evil bogeyman in this 'verse. So when he's sprung from stasis, the messakah on Risda III don't know what to do with him. So they keep him locked up like an animal, cage and all. And when you treat someone like an animal, they're more likely to act like one.
This is how Bee, a human living in Port, finds him. Bee's trying to find a purpose on Risda III, and is currently working as a laundress, but knows she wants to help other human females who find refuge on Risda. While Risda's a sanctuary, like any place inhabited by living beings, nothing's perfect. Bee has found the way to manage her surroundings is to lean into that smiling, sweet little lady vibe she gives off. When she pushes for a social worker job, the officer in charge of setting up the humans with a plot of land and startup farm gives Bee a challenge: help the Crulden splice not kill everyone in sight, and they won't put him down and she can have her social worker job. This has some vaguely reminiscent Beauty and the Beast tropey goodness, so I was hooked from the get, and yup, romance happens.
The fact that he's the only one to realize Bee's "sweet and weak female" act is exactly that, really allows their friendship to flourish because they're both underestimated and judged on their appearances. Their Firsts have some really good heat and tension, and the scene at the end was the perfect close to this little tale. This tale deals with alot of familiar themes in the Risdaverse - many of the refugees on this planet have suffered some sort of abuse, mental and physical, when they were stolen from their worlds and plopped into one where they are a pet, at best, or a sexual slave, more often than not.
Ms. Dixon brings her signature blend of heart and humor with a good dose of old fashioned dose of sex to really make this story roll right along. There weren't any big lulls and I was satisfied with the sweet little scene at the end. I do think there's some moments that felt obviously manipulated to get to the next emotional beat, and there were moments that didn't seem possible with Victor's physiology, but I was willing to go with it to get to their HEA.
So yeah, as long as Ms. Dixon keeps writing it, I'll keep reading them. If you're interested in SFR and ok with some darker themes, I would recommend it.
This latest entry into the Risadverse tales continues to explore the "what if Crulden the Ruiner wasn't such an asshole?" story thread that she's explored before in Bad Guy. Victor is a splice. A clone of Crulden, a fabled gladiator, and generally unpleasantly evil bogeyman in this 'verse. So when he's sprung from stasis, the messakah on Risda III don't know what to do with him. So they keep him locked up like an animal, cage and all. And when you treat someone like an animal, they're more likely to act like one.
This is how Bee, a human living in Port, finds him. Bee's trying to find a purpose on Risda III, and is currently working as a laundress, but knows she wants to help other human females who find refuge on Risda. While Risda's a sanctuary, like any place inhabited by living beings, nothing's perfect. Bee has found the way to manage her surroundings is to lean into that smiling, sweet little lady vibe she gives off. When she pushes for a social worker job, the officer in charge of setting up the humans with a plot of land and startup farm gives Bee a challenge: help the Crulden splice not kill everyone in sight, and they won't put him down and she can have her social worker job. This has some vaguely reminiscent Beauty and the Beast tropey goodness, so I was hooked from the get, and yup, romance happens.
The fact that he's the only one to realize Bee's "sweet and weak female" act is exactly that, really allows their friendship to flourish because they're both underestimated and judged on their appearances. Their Firsts have some really good heat and tension, and the scene at the end was the perfect close to this little tale. This tale deals with alot of familiar themes in the Risdaverse - many of the refugees on this planet have suffered some sort of abuse, mental and physical, when they were stolen from their worlds and plopped into one where they are a pet, at best, or a sexual slave, more often than not.
Ms. Dixon brings her signature blend of heart and humor with a good dose of old fashioned dose of sex to really make this story roll right along. There weren't any big lulls and I was satisfied with the sweet little scene at the end. I do think there's some moments that felt obviously manipulated to get to the next emotional beat, and there were moments that didn't seem possible with Victor's physiology, but I was willing to go with it to get to their HEA.
So yeah, as long as Ms. Dixon keeps writing it, I'll keep reading them. If you're interested in SFR and ok with some darker themes, I would recommend it.
January 18, 2023
4.5
I'd be perfectly okay with a couple more books with these Cruldens as the Hs - I've seen a review that said the exact same and I'm mentally sending them a high five 🙌
Could have done with atleast 5 more sex scenes please for the love of all that's filthy, PLEASE 🛐
Get you a man like this guy👆 he smort, he attac, he protec, he keep u safe and aroused 💓
Big recommend. This is a bit less dark compared to Bad Guy mainly because both MCs are not slaves in this, they're already on Risda III and it's only H who's in a cage for a while because of his memories that aren't his own and the resulting violent tendencies that makes him high risk for the general populace.
I have more to say, so 👉 RTC
I'd be perfectly okay with a couple more books with these Cruldens as the Hs - I've seen a review that said the exact same and I'm mentally sending them a high five 🙌
Could have done with atleast 5 more sex scenes please for the love of all that's filthy, PLEASE 🛐
Get you a man like this guy👆 he smort, he attac, he protec, he keep u safe and aroused 💓
Big recommend. This is a bit less dark compared to Bad Guy mainly because both MCs are not slaves in this, they're already on Risda III and it's only H who's in a cage for a while because of his memories that aren't his own and the resulting violent tendencies that makes him high risk for the general populace.
I have more to say, so 👉 RTC
November 16, 2021
This was better than the first bad guy book . . . and now I'm stuck waiting again for more Ruby Dixon content
August 3, 2022
3.5 ✨
So viel besser als Bad Guy! Und ich liebe Risda III ❤️
So viel besser als Bad Guy! Und ich liebe Risda III ❤️
August 2, 2024
Not as good as the first, but I'll still read anything Ruby Dixon writes
July 24, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐
4 stars.
➕ What I liked :
“Older” heroine. (33)👍
(It is rather unusual/rare for the heroine in Sci-fi romance to be older…. it is always appreciated and a very good thing when the author is or tries to be inclusive and diverse with their characters and books.)
Bipoc main character.
Curvy heroine.
A curvy heroine that is not self-deprecating about her body or defined by her size…. She is more or less written like any other heroine of any other size/shape which is always a positive thing.👏👍
Good romantic build up and chemistry.
That the main characters also build a friendship and trust before becoming more.
(Friends to lovers.)
Interesting concept in having the hero not be handsome.
No harping on about how handsome the hero is.
Interesting and misunderstood hero.
Interesting heroine.
How caring and protective both main characters were towards each other.
➖ What I disliked :
A tiny bit rushed in some parts of the story so it felt like some parts/issues were not properly resolved.
Just a little bit more of a description was needed when it comes to the universe/world they are in.
(More info about the planet etc. More world-building etc.)
Kind of formulaic in the character description/character choice: short/very short human and Huge hulking tall alien.
(Would have been really interesting to maybe see a character like Kate or Devi, Iolanthe, Leilani…or a combination of the four 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.)
I did not like that it took Bee so long to break off the other relationship she had in the beginning of the book.
4 stars.
➕ What I liked :
“Older” heroine. (33)👍
(It is rather unusual/rare for the heroine in Sci-fi romance to be older…. it is always appreciated and a very good thing when the author is or tries to be inclusive and diverse with their characters and books.)
Bipoc main character.
Curvy heroine.
A curvy heroine that is not self-deprecating about her body or defined by her size…. She is more or less written like any other heroine of any other size/shape which is always a positive thing.👏👍
Good romantic build up and chemistry.
That the main characters also build a friendship and trust before becoming more.
(Friends to lovers.)
Interesting concept in having the hero not be handsome.
No harping on about how handsome the hero is.
Interesting and misunderstood hero.
Interesting heroine.
How caring and protective both main characters were towards each other.
➖ What I disliked :
A tiny bit rushed in some parts of the story so it felt like some parts/issues were not properly resolved.
Just a little bit more of a description was needed when it comes to the universe/world they are in.
(More info about the planet etc. More world-building etc.)
Kind of formulaic in the character description/character choice: short/very short human and Huge hulking tall alien.
(Would have been really interesting to maybe see a character like Kate or Devi, Iolanthe, Leilani…or a combination of the four 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.)
I did not like that it took Bee so long to break off the other relationship she had in the beginning of the book.
October 24, 2021
4 stars for the entertainment factor alone. This book goes with the "Risdaverse" books and takes place on the same planet.
Bee is given the job to help the clone of Crulden the Ruiner acclimate to his new situation after being rescued. "Crulden" is a new clone of this violent and evil gladiator, and he has his memories. Bee was kidnapped from earth and spent many years as a sex slave to an evil alien and just wants to be left alone. She treats "Crulden" like a person instead of a prisoner and helps him sort through what is just a memory from a bad guy and who he truly is. I loved how she helped him choose a new name, Victor because he thought he was a champion.
This was a nice little alien smut sci-fi book. Ruby Dixon has cornered the market on these types of books, and she does a great job. The romance was sweet, and Victor was amazing.
I had a few little niggles that I'll mention in a spoiler, but all around, a great read.
Safety
Bee is given the job to help the clone of Crulden the Ruiner acclimate to his new situation after being rescued. "Crulden" is a new clone of this violent and evil gladiator, and he has his memories. Bee was kidnapped from earth and spent many years as a sex slave to an evil alien and just wants to be left alone. She treats "Crulden" like a person instead of a prisoner and helps him sort through what is just a memory from a bad guy and who he truly is. I loved how she helped him choose a new name, Victor because he thought he was a champion.
This was a nice little alien smut sci-fi book. Ruby Dixon has cornered the market on these types of books, and she does a great job. The romance was sweet, and Victor was amazing.
I had a few little niggles that I'll mention in a spoiler, but all around, a great read.
Safety
October 11, 2021
4.5
Didn’t give this completely five stars because his name is victor . Now this is ruby Dixon I thought she was going to give me an alien name but instead I got a human name . Yuck .
It’s wasn’t really gross but I went into this book trying to forget about human man . This was very good but i do prefer the first one over this one .
And that epilogue had me screaming . The hero meets mycrul one of his clone ( he is the hero of my bad guy the book I prefer than this one ) mycrul is soo perfect and ultimate husband material.
Ok can I get a book of victor and mycrul just forming their friendship . I love mycrul
Didn’t give this completely five stars because his name is victor . Now this is ruby Dixon I thought she was going to give me an alien name but instead I got a human name . Yuck .
It’s wasn’t really gross but I went into this book trying to forget about human man . This was very good but i do prefer the first one over this one .
And that epilogue had me screaming . The hero meets mycrul one of his clone ( he is the hero of my bad guy the book I prefer than this one ) mycrul is soo perfect and ultimate husband material.
Ok can I get a book of victor and mycrul just forming their friendship . I love mycrul
October 13, 2021
After being really MEH about Bad Guy (for many reasons, particularily the setting and te lack of movement in the plot), I was at an impasse regarding this book:
- Either I could read it at once, swiftly like ripping off a band aid
Or
- I could skip it completely (which I don't like doing, because I'm a completist)
First off, Worse Guy was a million times better than Bad Guy.
+ there was a plot
+ the setting wasn't static
+ I liked the heroine, Bee
BUT
Ruby's Risdaverse books (with the exception of When She Purrs and When She's Ready - these are awesome) are some of the most superficial and vapid ones she writes.
Bee was a sex slave for 5 years, which has left her sex-repulsed and unable to enjoy physical intimacy.
Victor is a clone of Crulden the ruiner (and all his implanted memories are of mauling people in the arena and raping female slaves. Remember, this aren't HIS real memories, since he's just a clone, but they are all he has to identify himself with, or rather to distance himself from).
At the beginning of the story, Bee has a boyfriend who wants a human mate for bragging rights and who grosses her out with his touchy-feeliness.
Victor, on the other hand, is in a cage, as a precaution (ostensibly), but also because he attacks anyone and everything that goes near him. His guards are jerks who don't respect him, true, but he regularily puts them in the hopital so I'd say that about evens the score.
When Bee is assigned to "Crulden" to gentle him, like some kind of tiger dompteur in a circus, they get to know each other and start a sweet romance.
I know, I know. It's fiction. A sex-repulsed former sex slave and a murdering rapist's clone who mindlessly attacks everyone around him can totally fall in love. They deserve some peace and quiet!
But is this a true story? Eh.
BECAUSE it is fiction I would have preferred a different set-up, if the playout is so saccharine and dramaless. Say, if you write a sweet romance with few obstacles, wouldn't it be better to pick two people who are ready for a relationship instead of two people in desperate need of therapy?
So yeah. It was much better than Bad Guy, plotwise. I really liked Bee. But I found Victor's confidence in his ability to make Bee come really off-putting. Someone with 5 years of sex slavery under their belt probably need a bit more time (or therapy) to recover from theur trauma than just some guy telling them she just hasn't been sexed the right way.
- Either I could read it at once, swiftly like ripping off a band aid
Or
- I could skip it completely (which I don't like doing, because I'm a completist)
First off, Worse Guy was a million times better than Bad Guy.
+ there was a plot
+ the setting wasn't static
+ I liked the heroine, Bee
BUT
Ruby's Risdaverse books (with the exception of When She Purrs and When She's Ready - these are awesome) are some of the most superficial and vapid ones she writes.
Bee was a sex slave for 5 years, which has left her sex-repulsed and unable to enjoy physical intimacy.
Victor is a clone of Crulden the ruiner (and all his implanted memories are of mauling people in the arena and raping female slaves. Remember, this aren't HIS real memories, since he's just a clone, but they are all he has to identify himself with, or rather to distance himself from).
At the beginning of the story, Bee has a boyfriend who wants a human mate for bragging rights and who grosses her out with his touchy-feeliness.
Victor, on the other hand, is in a cage, as a precaution (ostensibly), but also because he attacks anyone and everything that goes near him. His guards are jerks who don't respect him, true, but he regularily puts them in the hopital so I'd say that about evens the score.
When Bee is assigned to "Crulden" to gentle him, like some kind of tiger dompteur in a circus, they get to know each other and start a sweet romance.
I know, I know. It's fiction. A sex-repulsed former sex slave and a murdering rapist's clone who mindlessly attacks everyone around him can totally fall in love. They deserve some peace and quiet!
But is this a true story? Eh.
BECAUSE it is fiction I would have preferred a different set-up, if the playout is so saccharine and dramaless. Say, if you write a sweet romance with few obstacles, wouldn't it be better to pick two people who are ready for a relationship instead of two people in desperate need of therapy?
So yeah. It was much better than Bad Guy, plotwise. I really liked Bee. But I found Victor's confidence in his ability to make Bee come really off-putting. Someone with 5 years of sex slavery under their belt probably need a bit more time (or therapy) to recover from theur trauma than just some guy telling them she just hasn't been sexed the right way.
October 12, 2021
After bad guy and worse guy, i am ready for even worse guy 😂😂.
I want a whole family of Cruldens 😂😂😂
I want a whole family of Cruldens 😂😂😂
July 20, 2022
I have found that anything that Ruby Dixon writes that even mentions Risda III, I'm going to enjoy. She could legit have someone hang out a window and scream "Risda III" as they flew past and I'd probably eat it up.
I really liked Bad Guy so I was more than happy to follow yet another Crulden clone around until he found love. I will continue to consume any story that takes place on this damn backwater farming/human refuge planet as long as she keeps writing them.
This is my happy place and I'm staying damnit
I really liked Bad Guy so I was more than happy to follow yet another Crulden clone around until he found love. I will continue to consume any story that takes place on this damn backwater farming/human refuge planet as long as she keeps writing them.
This is my happy place and I'm staying damnit
August 21, 2024
Alien romances by Ruby just hit different 😍.
May 15, 2022
Worse Guy was 10X better than Bad Guy because it gave background. It answered those questions I needed answered in book one and I appreciated that. Book one gave me a sense of humor and whimsy because they both broke free of captivity. I appreciate everything that Ruby has to offer book wise. So I’ll keep coming back for more and if you are like me you can’t stop until you get enough. I am 67 books deep in this Ruby world and I can’t wait until I read more !!!
December 16, 2021
3.5 stars
Another solid read from Ruby. Exactly what I needed.
Another solid read from Ruby. Exactly what I needed.
February 22, 2022
Worse Guy was a fairly standard Ruby Dixon Risdaverse book. The main characters were likable and they were good together.
I'm now fully caught up on the Risdaverse/Corsair universe. I love the world that the author created and her writing flows really well. I'm excited to read what else she comes up with.
I'm now fully caught up on the Risdaverse/Corsair universe. I love the world that the author created and her writing flows really well. I'm excited to read what else she comes up with.
October 13, 2023
I can always count on Ruby Dixon to show me a good time. The ability to pick something up and know it'll be a little silly, smutty, and with a touch of heart? We love that reliability.
The story in this was much more engaging compared to Bad Guy, but I think I liked the characters of Bad Guy a smidge more.
"Asshole" (lmao) was darling. I didn't think I'd ever feel sad for a guy getting hurt while he's rubbing one out...but I did.
Bee was alright. Her tactics got her what she wanted, which is commendable. I would've liked to see some more character development on her part.
I did find the writing to pull a bit juvenile at times, but still an overall enjoyable read!
The story in this was much more engaging compared to Bad Guy, but I think I liked the characters of Bad Guy a smidge more.
"Asshole" (lmao) was darling. I didn't think I'd ever feel sad for a guy getting hurt while he's rubbing one out...but I did.
Bee was alright. Her tactics got her what she wanted, which is commendable. I would've liked to see some more character development on her part.
I did find the writing to pull a bit juvenile at times, but still an overall enjoyable read!
December 12, 2022
4.5 out of 5
Although more well known for her Ice Planet Barbarian books, I’ve been more into Ruby Dixon’s Risdaverse series lately. This particular book is the second book in miniseries in the Risdaverse universe. I really enjoyed the first book, Bad Guy (see review) so it was a given I’d be reading this book. Both these books are about two gladiators who are actually clones or ‘splices’ one of the most brutal, horrifying gladiators in this universe. He loved utterly destroying and torturing his opponents. His owner thought he could make a ton of money replicating this monster when the original is terminated. Bad Guy is the tale of the first clone and this is the story of the second.
Victor as has come to be known, comes into being fully complete. While he has many of the memories and abilities of the original, he doesn’t have the temperament or killing instinct. He was rescued before the book starts, it’s mentioned in the previous book, but he’s being held while not exactly a prisoner, under close observation in a cage until it’s proven he’s not a monster.
Bee, our heroine is living free on the planet a high born lord in the Risdaverse universe has created as a refuge for all the former slaves, mostly women stolen from Earth since they can’t return to their former lives on Earth. It’s mainly an agricultural environment they are now living on but farming just isn’t feasible for Bee. Instead, she wants to be a social worker, helping the newly arriving women to the planet, as well as those living in abusive situations. Since she herself was held as a slave, she understands their needs. She is told if she can “tame” Victor, the job will be hers.
Victor is an intelligent person, though he’s treated as an animal by those closely watching him. He doesn’t have a past so he really doesn’t know how to act except out of anger. But Bee treats him with respect, sensing he’s not what everyone thinks. And as a result, she “tames the beast". Of course because this is a romance, there is an attraction that grows as they come to know each other better.
I totally adored both Bee and Victor. Victor really is a pussy cat underneath his outer behaviour and is completely smitten with Bee. And Victor, in his tenderness and caring for Bee heals her and all the horrible things she went through in her past. Despite their differences, they are perfect for each other.
I think this book can be read without reading Bad Guy first though I’m glad I did. Ruby Dixon has written some great SciFi romances and I’m looking forward to more in the future.
Although more well known for her Ice Planet Barbarian books, I’ve been more into Ruby Dixon’s Risdaverse series lately. This particular book is the second book in miniseries in the Risdaverse universe. I really enjoyed the first book, Bad Guy (see review) so it was a given I’d be reading this book. Both these books are about two gladiators who are actually clones or ‘splices’ one of the most brutal, horrifying gladiators in this universe. He loved utterly destroying and torturing his opponents. His owner thought he could make a ton of money replicating this monster when the original is terminated. Bad Guy is the tale of the first clone and this is the story of the second.
Victor as has come to be known, comes into being fully complete. While he has many of the memories and abilities of the original, he doesn’t have the temperament or killing instinct. He was rescued before the book starts, it’s mentioned in the previous book, but he’s being held while not exactly a prisoner, under close observation in a cage until it’s proven he’s not a monster.
Bee, our heroine is living free on the planet a high born lord in the Risdaverse universe has created as a refuge for all the former slaves, mostly women stolen from Earth since they can’t return to their former lives on Earth. It’s mainly an agricultural environment they are now living on but farming just isn’t feasible for Bee. Instead, she wants to be a social worker, helping the newly arriving women to the planet, as well as those living in abusive situations. Since she herself was held as a slave, she understands their needs. She is told if she can “tame” Victor, the job will be hers.
Victor is an intelligent person, though he’s treated as an animal by those closely watching him. He doesn’t have a past so he really doesn’t know how to act except out of anger. But Bee treats him with respect, sensing he’s not what everyone thinks. And as a result, she “tames the beast". Of course because this is a romance, there is an attraction that grows as they come to know each other better.
I totally adored both Bee and Victor. Victor really is a pussy cat underneath his outer behaviour and is completely smitten with Bee. And Victor, in his tenderness and caring for Bee heals her and all the horrible things she went through in her past. Despite their differences, they are perfect for each other.
I think this book can be read without reading Bad Guy first though I’m glad I did. Ruby Dixon has written some great SciFi romances and I’m looking forward to more in the future.
February 16, 2023
*4.5 stars
Another one of Crulden the Ruiner's clones has been found. He has been taken to the planet Risda III, with the hope that he can be reacclimated into the planet's society. Enter Bee! She wants more of a job on this planet, and she would love to be a social worker. Crulden is her first client, and will do everything in her power to help him feel welcome and safe on this planet:)
This was so good!! Another Ruby Dixon that just slapped!! I love how the clones of this evil barbarian alien are just the sweetest beans ever!
TROPES: alien romance, brooding hero, caretaking scene (Crulden cuts himself with his spikes), kindle unlimited, never been kissed (Crulden)
Another one of Crulden the Ruiner's clones has been found. He has been taken to the planet Risda III, with the hope that he can be reacclimated into the planet's society. Enter Bee! She wants more of a job on this planet, and she would love to be a social worker. Crulden is her first client, and will do everything in her power to help him feel welcome and safe on this planet:)
This was so good!! Another Ruby Dixon that just slapped!! I love how the clones of this evil barbarian alien are just the sweetest beans ever!
TROPES: alien romance, brooding hero, caretaking scene (Crulden cuts himself with his spikes), kindle unlimited, never been kissed (Crulden)
February 2, 2025
⋆˚࿔ worse guy review 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
┆ ⤿ 💌 3.75 stars!
I’m a huge fan of alien romance and this was a great addition into the genre. Ruby Dixon continues to absolutely dominate in this field. I don’t read all of her books cause after a bit it’s the same thing everything, but I always like to pick up with a plot like worse guy.
We have a MMC who is big, violent and brutal but in actuality he’s a complete softie 😭 I love love love when we get a contrast in a character’s personality vs their appearance and how people view them. I also loved our FMC her narrator was amazing and added so much personality to the character!
It felt like not much happened during this book, with there really only being two main scenery changes. But their relationship was able to really keep your interest even with the lack of other plot lines and action. Overall a good read if you’re into monster/alien romance and the audiobook is great!
｡ﾟ• ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈ ┈ ┈ ┈• ｡ﾟ
⤿ follow me on instagram!
┆ ⤿ 💌 3.75 stars!
I’m a huge fan of alien romance and this was a great addition into the genre. Ruby Dixon continues to absolutely dominate in this field. I don’t read all of her books cause after a bit it’s the same thing everything, but I always like to pick up with a plot like worse guy.
We have a MMC who is big, violent and brutal but in actuality he’s a complete softie 😭 I love love love when we get a contrast in a character’s personality vs their appearance and how people view them. I also loved our FMC her narrator was amazing and added so much personality to the character!
It felt like not much happened during this book, with there really only being two main scenery changes. But their relationship was able to really keep your interest even with the lack of other plot lines and action. Overall a good read if you’re into monster/alien romance and the audiobook is great!
｡ﾟ• ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈ ┈ ┈ ┈• ｡ﾟ
⤿ follow me on instagram!
January 23, 2025
I think you have the capacity to be good. I just don't know if you want to be.
This is the story of Victor and Bee. He’s also a copy of Crulden and in this story thought his actual name was Asshole because that’s what the guards called him. Victor is rescued and Bee was also rescued. These two were perfect for each other. It was a great story of alien love and finding freedom. I wonder if there are more copies out there and what happened to the original. Is he really that evil?
This is the story of Victor and Bee. He’s also a copy of Crulden and in this story thought his actual name was Asshole because that’s what the guards called him. Victor is rescued and Bee was also rescued. These two were perfect for each other. It was a great story of alien love and finding freedom. I wonder if there are more copies out there and what happened to the original. Is he really that evil?
November 29, 2022
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
Worse Guy is the second book of one of the clones of Crulden the Ruiner that we met in the Corsair Brothers series. He was on the ship with all the other clones and slaves ready to be sent to market that they were able to rescue. Now he is on a farming planet and no one knows what to do with him so he has been locked in a cage until they can figure it out.
Bee has been on the farming planet for a little while but she hasn't really found her place yet. She wants to help some of the other women on the planet settle and find their paths, but first she is going to need to tame a beast to prove she has the necessary skills for even the most difficult cases.
Victor, the newly named Crulden Clone, is a champion and he will figure out how to win even this game. He has a lot of memories of arenas and fighting but he has never fought, the more he gets to know the little female that has all the guards wrapped around her finger, the more he is sure he will win this challenge and Bee is the prize he will win. She is going to figure out a way to get into that cage with him and then he is going to figure out how to play the game to make sure they come out of it together.
I love this world Ruby Dixon has created and all the stories in it so far. While most of the humans have some horrible experiences in their pasts, I love the perseverance they show and the alien mates they find. This story got hot and I loved Victor's determination to make sure he made Bee his and listened to what she really wanted. He sees the real Bee and not just the face she shows everyone else. Bee, on the other hand, always sees the potential in Victor and while she didn't expect to find love or passion ever, she is not afraid to embrace it when she does. Their growth as a couple seemed natural and I appreciated how each was so protective of the other.
Another really fun story in the Ruby Dixon universe.
Narration:
Jaair Bush and Alex Cendese both do a fantastic job portraying the different PoVs. They really have brought the story to life and *fans self* the smexy times are HOT HOT HOT. Another great audio performance in the series. I was able to listen to Worse Guy at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip HERE.
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
Worse Guy is the second book of one of the clones of Crulden the Ruiner that we met in the Corsair Brothers series. He was on the ship with all the other clones and slaves ready to be sent to market that they were able to rescue. Now he is on a farming planet and no one knows what to do with him so he has been locked in a cage until they can figure it out.
Bee has been on the farming planet for a little while but she hasn't really found her place yet. She wants to help some of the other women on the planet settle and find their paths, but first she is going to need to tame a beast to prove she has the necessary skills for even the most difficult cases.
Victor, the newly named Crulden Clone, is a champion and he will figure out how to win even this game. He has a lot of memories of arenas and fighting but he has never fought, the more he gets to know the little female that has all the guards wrapped around her finger, the more he is sure he will win this challenge and Bee is the prize he will win. She is going to figure out a way to get into that cage with him and then he is going to figure out how to play the game to make sure they come out of it together.
I love this world Ruby Dixon has created and all the stories in it so far. While most of the humans have some horrible experiences in their pasts, I love the perseverance they show and the alien mates they find. This story got hot and I loved Victor's determination to make sure he made Bee his and listened to what she really wanted. He sees the real Bee and not just the face she shows everyone else. Bee, on the other hand, always sees the potential in Victor and while she didn't expect to find love or passion ever, she is not afraid to embrace it when she does. Their growth as a couple seemed natural and I appreciated how each was so protective of the other.
Another really fun story in the Ruby Dixon universe.
“The female's smile grows broader but does not reach her eyes, and I bite back a laugh as I realize what her strange tone of voice is. She thinks they are idiots. She is humoring them. Mocking them quietly by giving them the words and actions they wish to hear, even if it is not what she believes.”
Narration:
Jaair Bush and Alex Cendese both do a fantastic job portraying the different PoVs. They really have brought the story to life and *fans self* the smexy times are HOT HOT HOT. Another great audio performance in the series. I was able to listen to Worse Guy at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip HERE.
January 3, 2022
I guess I'm the weird one for liking the first Crulden book better. I liked the salty Mina/Crulden's "us against the world" attitude in Bad Guy.
Riffen is too petty for my taste and the guards were obnoxious. It would have been interesting if more of them took Bee/Cruldens side while he was still prisoner. And what's the deal with First Rank Novice? It seemed like the story was leading up to reveal whether he was evil or just lazy, but it never went anywhere.
Riffen is too petty for my taste and the guards were obnoxious. It would have been interesting if more of them took Bee/Cruldens side while he was still prisoner. And what's the deal with First Rank Novice? It seemed like the story was leading up to reveal whether he was evil or just lazy, but it never went anywhere.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2025
I loved this book; the characters, the build up, the happily ever after, everything! I love everything Ruby Dixon writes. I don't know how she creates so many great stories so quickly, but I appreciate her magic.
If you read Bad Guy, this one is definitely not as violent, but I think that maybe made it work better because it helped highlight the differences between the two Crulden clones. Plus, they also are in two completely different environments at the start of the story, so it made sense. It also made me happy that Crulden/Victor didn't go through some of the hell that Crulden/Mycrul did.
Victor and Bee are so perfect together. Their similarities in shielding themselves from others and then being able to grow to be confident and happy as individuals and together was so well done.
I know she said at the end of this book she has no plans for another Crulden clone book, buuuut maybe a revisit? Especially after she teased the possibility of babies! Holiday baby special novella! *Sigh*
If you read Bad Guy, this one is definitely not as violent, but I think that maybe made it work better because it helped highlight the differences between the two Crulden clones. Plus, they also are in two completely different environments at the start of the story, so it made sense. It also made me happy that Crulden/Victor didn't go through some of the hell that Crulden/Mycrul did.
Victor and Bee are so perfect together. Their similarities in shielding themselves from others and then being able to grow to be confident and happy as individuals and together was so well done.
I know she said at the end of this book she has no plans for another Crulden clone book, buuuut maybe a revisit? Especially after she teased the possibility of babies! Holiday baby special novella! *Sigh*
May 11, 2023
I was quite enjoying this story, up until about 80%. Then the writing slipped into mediocrity and the FMC began acting way out of character. Bizarre.
5/2023 addendum:
Listened to the audiobook since I can, yay! Hated every word of it, boo. These are not the regular narrators. I get that Bee is black and should be narrated by a black woman. That is not the issue. The way she chose to read this book was all wrong. The intimate scenes sounded like a bad parody of erotica and I can't quite figure out why. Also, her voice for Crulden is laughable. He sounded drugged. And the male narrator was not better. There was no genuine emotion from either of them. And their reading speeds were too different from each other. Increasing the speed for Bee's sloooow drawl made the male parts sound like he was on meth. Or a chipmunk.
I cannot recommend this at all. Read it with your 👀
5/2023 addendum:
Listened to the audiobook since I can, yay! Hated every word of it, boo. These are not the regular narrators. I get that Bee is black and should be narrated by a black woman. That is not the issue. The way she chose to read this book was all wrong. The intimate scenes sounded like a bad parody of erotica and I can't quite figure out why. Also, her voice for Crulden is laughable. He sounded drugged. And the male narrator was not better. There was no genuine emotion from either of them. And their reading speeds were too different from each other. Increasing the speed for Bee's sloooow drawl made the male parts sound like he was on meth. Or a chipmunk.
I cannot recommend this at all. Read it with your 👀
October 13, 2021
3,5 Sterne
October 22, 2021
I like it but I don't see any point in this...still a fun read.
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