Ruby Dixon really went and did it again. If you were looking for a cozy, simple read where nothing happens except a few spicy scenes between a girl and a minotaur, well, you’re only half right. By the Horns is the sequel to the massive hit Bull Moon Rising, but honestly, it’s a whole different beast. It’s got that gritty, "I'm just trying to pay my bills" energy that hits a little too close to home.
Forget the blue aliens for a second. We’re in the world of the Royal Artifactual Guild now. It’s a place where if you aren’t useful, you’re invisible. Or worse, dead.
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The Secret Everyone is Terrified of in By the Horns
Our main girl, Gwenna, is a former servant. She isn't a chosen one. She isn't royalty. She’s just a woman who desperately wants a steady paycheck so she can send money home to her mother. It's refreshing. But there's a massive, terrifying catch. Gwenna is a necromancer.
In this world, "mancing" is a death sentence. Not a "slap on the wrist" or a fine. We’re talking execution.
Imagine trying to go to your 9-to-5 job as an apprentice (or "fledgling") while the literal dead won't stop whispering in your ear. It’s stressful. It’s messy. Dixon writes this anxiety so well that you feel Gwenna’s heart hammering in her chest every time someone looks at her too long. She’s trying to be a normal artificer, but her magic is rotting from the inside out because she’s suppressing it.
Enter Raptor: The Big, Flirty Problem
Then there’s Raptor. He’s a Taurian—basically a massive, horned, God-touched warrior who is way too observant for Gwenna’s comfort. They had a one-night stand before the book really kicks off, and Raptor isn't the type to just say "thanks for the memories."
He wants more.
But here is the twist that makes By the Horns by Ruby Dixon such a fun read: Raptor is actually working undercover for the Guild. His mission? Find a thief who’s stealing dangerous artifacts.
His prime suspect?
You guessed it. Gwenna.
Is By the Horns Ruby Dixon Just Smut?
Honestly, no.
Look, Ruby Dixon knows how to write "the spice." Nobody is denying that. The chemistry between a tiny, panicked human and a massive, protective Taurian is exactly what fans expect. But the mystery in this book actually has teeth.
The Guild is corrupt. The "Repeater" caste—the people who keep failing their trials and getting stuck in a cycle of debt—is a biting commentary on systemic poverty. Dixon doesn’t just give us a romance; she gives us a story about a woman trying to survive a system that is designed to make her fail.
You’ve got:
- A "whodunit" mystery involving stolen magical items.
- A slow-burn (yes, really!) emotional connection.
- High-stakes world-building that expands on what we saw in Bull Moon Rising.
- A cast of side characters, including the slitherskin Kipp, who actually feel like real people.
Why This Series Hits Different
If you’ve read the Ice Planet Barbarians series, you know Dixon is the queen of the "fated mates" trope. But the Royal Artifactual Guild series feels more mature. The stakes aren't just "will they get together?" It’s "will she be burned at the stake?"
It’s about the burden of secrets. Raptor has his own "God-touched" baggage, and Gwenna is literally carrying the voices of the deceased. They’re both outsiders trying to play a game they don't fully understand.
What You Need to Know Before Reading
You can technically read By the Horns as a standalone, but you probably shouldn't. Start with Bull Moon Rising. It sets up the hierarchy of the Guild and why becoming an artificer is such a big deal.
Release Date: September 2, 2025 (Hardcover/Ebook).
Page Count: About 368 pages of pure chaos.
Vibe: Grumpy/Sunshine, but the "Sunshine" is actually a necromancer on the verge of a breakdown.
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The pacing is a bit faster than the first book. Dixon leans into the "fledgling" training sequences, which feel a bit like a magical school but with much higher mortality rates. It’s fun, it’s sweaty, and it’s occasionally very dark.
Actionable Takeaways for Readers
If you're diving into this one, keep an eye on the side characters. Dixon is clearly planting seeds for future books in the series. The mystery of who is actually pulling the strings in the Guild doesn't fully wrap up, leaving plenty of room for more "Taurian love and mayhem," as some reviewers have put it.
Don't skip the "About the Author" sections either. Ruby Dixon is famously low-key, but her world-building in this series is some of her most complex work to date. She manages to balance the "monster" elements with very human problems like imposter syndrome and family loyalty.
Grab a copy if you want a romance that actually bothers to have a plot. Just don't expect Gwenna to have an easy time of it. She's earned her happy ending, but the Guild makes her bleed for it.
Check your local bookstore for the special editions—the sprayed edges on the first printings are usually gorgeous and tend to sell out fast because the Dixon fanbase is, well, intense. If you're a fan of the Aspect and Anchor series, you'll find the magic system here feels just as "heavy" and consequential. It's a great next step for readers who want something meatier than the shorter sci-fi novellas.