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In a world of magical artifacts and fantastical beings, a woman determined to save her family joins forces with an unlikely partner—a minotaur—in this steamy romantasy by USA Today bestselling author Ruby Dixon.
As a Holder’s daughter, Aspeth Honori knows the importance of magical artifacts . . . which is why it’s a disaster that her father has gambled all theirs away. Now that her family is in danger of losing their hold—and their heads—if anyone finds out the truth, Aspeth decides to do something about it. She’ll join the Royal Artifactual Guild and the adventurers who explore ancient underground ruins to retrieve the coveted arcane items.
It’s a great plan—with one big problem. The guild won’t let her train because she’s a woman. Aspeth needs a chaperone of some kind. The best way to get around this problem? Marry someone who will let her become an apprentice. Who better than a surly guild member who requires a favor of his own? He’s a minotaur (it’s fine) who is her teacher (also fine) . . . and he’s about to go into rut (which is where it gets tricky). He also has no idea she’s a noble (oops), and he’ll want nothing to do with her if he discovers her real identity.
Now Aspeth just has to pass the guild tests, thwart a fortune hunter, and save her hold—oh, and survive a rut with her monstrous, horned husband, whom she might be falling in love with.
It’s time to dig deep. Literally.
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Release date
October 15, 2024 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780593817032
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780593817032
- File size: 3533 KB
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Accessibility
Publisher statement (EPUB)
The publisher provides the following statement about the accessibility of the EPUB file supplied to OverDrive. Experiences may vary across reading systems. After borrowing the book, you may download the EPUB files to read in another reading system.
Summary
This ebook features mark-up that supports accessibility and enables compatibility with assistive technology. It has been designed to allow display properties to be modified by the reader. The file includes a table of contents, a defined reading order, and ARIA roles to identify key sections and improve the reading experience. A page list and page break locations help readers coordinate with the print edition. Headings allow readers to navigate the ebook quickly by level. Images are well described in conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Colors meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA contrast standards. There are no hazards.
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All content can be read as read aloud speech or dynamic braille.
Has alternative text descriptions for images.
Conformance
The publication contains a conformance statement that it meets the EPUB Accessibility and WCAG 2 Level AA standard.
This publication claims to meet EPUB Accessibility 1.1 WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
Navigation
Table of contents to all chapters of the text via links.
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Additional Information
Page breaks included
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Library Journal
August 1, 2024
Aspeth is a high noble low on cash. To save her hold (and fulfill her lifelong dream), she secretly enrolls in the Royal Artifactual Guild to find relics to power her hold's defenses. She's unprepared when the guild shuts her out until she can get a man guardian's permission. Hawk is a minotaur used to being ignored, even though the strength of his people is the only reason the guild survives the ruins. He just needs one more student to keep teaching, and he'd like someone to spend the upcoming month-long lunar rut with. Getting married seems a convenient option to solve both their problems--that is, until Aspeth's past comes calling and threatens to destroy everything they're building together. Dixon follows up her "Ice Planet Barbarians" novels with this first in a new searing romance series set in a well-crafted fantasy world. Problems layer the personal with economics and politics; tensions build up and are resolved in a naturalistically messy way; side characters are complex and memorable. VERDICT A patently silly premise develops into a sincerely crafted, explicit romantasy.--Katherine Sleyko
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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Publisher's Weekly
August 5, 2024
Bestseller Dixon (Barbarian’s Taming) leaves the sci-fi milieu of her Ice Planet Barbarians series behind and dives into historical fantasy in her raunchy Royal Artifactual Guild series launch. Lady Aspeth Honori, heiress to Honori Hold, sees the writing on the wall. Her father has gambled away what’s left of their family’s fortune. At 30, she’s unlikely to marry her way out of the problem, and the estate’s lack of funds makes the Honori family a target for their rivals. Her solution is to join the guild of magical artifact hunters and find enough ancient magical treasures to save her home. But as a woman, she’s laughed out of guild training by the other new fledglings and all the mentors except for Guildmember Hawk, one of the Taurian race of minotaurs, who is looked down on for his half-bull body. He and Aspeth strike a deal: he’ll mentor her and her friend at the guild if, in exchange, she’ll marry him in time for the upcoming Taurian rutting season. The result is a steamy marriage of convenience featuring all the unusual anatomy Dixon’s fans expect. The worldbuilding is well done and the love story convincing. Dixon should win a whole new set of readers with this. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary. -
Booklist
September 15, 2024
In this instant-classic from Dixon, Aspeth has fled her comfortable, if unloving, home and her snobby fianc� to apply at the famed Royal Artifactual Guild dressed as a commoner. Aspeth believes she can study and work hard enough to be allowed to search for precious items that would save her family home from being overrun by a neighboring greedy noble. The one problem (of many) is that the guild doesn't employ women, especially young, unchaperoned women who can't help but act like nobility. The only solution is for Aspeth to marry her teacher--a hot, yet nerdy minotaur who needs a companion for the coming months to get through his species' rut. Dixon weaves a fun tale of intrigue, conspiracy, warring families, a plucky heroine, and a found family that will warm the heart of readers. The new world Dixon creates is full of details but also has potential for further development of adventure and fun as the series continues. Fans of The Mummy, Dungeons & Dragons, and good old-fashioned spicy romance will adore this latest true-love monster tale from Dixon.COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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