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A review by torilovesheas
Bound to the Battle God by Ruby Dixon
adventurous
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It’s not a secret that epic romantasy is really hard for me to focus on. It’s my least read romance niche, but I figured if anyone was going to get me to enjoy it, it would be Ruby Dixon. How right I was.
I sorta hate comparing an author’s worldbuilding to an established fantasy world, but this was like a Witcher world portal fantasy if Jaskier was a human plunged into a fantasy world and Gerralt was an asshole battle god sent to the mortal realm to learn a lesson. And then they fall in love and bang along the way. Shut up it made sense to me.
I knew Ruby knows how to do some cool worldbuilding stuff but this really cemented just how creative she is. Aron is the god of battle and he’s been sent to the mortal realm, divided into 4 incarnations of himself (“Aspects”) that represent the 4 fatal flaws, and tasked with being the last Aspect standing in order to reascend to the godly plain. But….every aspect needs a mortal anchor to help guide them on their journey. Faith, unfortunately for her, volunteers. As an anchor. To Arrogance Aron. It’s bonkers. It’s dangerous. There’s death and magic and rising zombies and Aaron being a giant arrogant baby dum dum.
And like…war on the horizon but who’s keeping count.
If I’m going to sit through a 650 page fantasy, I want it to be like this. Faith and Aaron bicker and argue and very slowly fall in love while they traipse across this fantasy world trying to defeat the other three Arons. And once they FINALLY cave into their feelings it’s delicious and sweet and possessive. Ugh. I loved them. Plus all of the other gods and goddesses are fascinating and I’m dying for their stories.
I think would made me love this is that’s it’s different enough from RD’s blue dude blueprint because…Aron is really a morally grey character and Faith is the only thing tying him to any sort of humanity. He’d burn the world down for her (and nearly does). What a man what a man what a man what a really good mannnnnn.
I sorta hate comparing an author’s worldbuilding to an established fantasy world, but this was like a Witcher world portal fantasy if Jaskier was a human plunged into a fantasy world and Gerralt was an asshole battle god sent to the mortal realm to learn a lesson. And then they fall in love and bang along the way. Shut up it made sense to me.
I knew Ruby knows how to do some cool worldbuilding stuff but this really cemented just how creative she is. Aron is the god of battle and he’s been sent to the mortal realm, divided into 4 incarnations of himself (“Aspects”) that represent the 4 fatal flaws, and tasked with being the last Aspect standing in order to reascend to the godly plain. But….every aspect needs a mortal anchor to help guide them on their journey. Faith, unfortunately for her, volunteers. As an anchor. To Arrogance Aron. It’s bonkers. It’s dangerous. There’s death and magic and rising zombies and Aaron being a giant arrogant baby dum dum.
And like…war on the horizon but who’s keeping count.
If I’m going to sit through a 650 page fantasy, I want it to be like this. Faith and Aaron bicker and argue and very slowly fall in love while they traipse across this fantasy world trying to defeat the other three Arons. And once they FINALLY cave into their feelings it’s delicious and sweet and possessive. Ugh. I loved them. Plus all of the other gods and goddesses are fascinating and I’m dying for their stories.
I think would made me love this is that’s it’s different enough from RD’s blue dude blueprint because…Aron is really a morally grey character and Faith is the only thing tying him to any sort of humanity. He’d burn the world down for her (and nearly does). What a man what a man what a man what a really good mannnnnn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use and Rape