Thank you to my public library for a free copy of this book in exchange for literally nothing (except the expectation that the book would be returned in the same physical state it was checked out in). 

If you’re even remotely in the bookish sphere, particularly romance, there is no doubt in my mind that you’ve heard the name Ruby Dixon and heard about those blue aliens. While I haven’t been transported into those books yet, I was so pleasantly surprised to find her latest novel while browsing my library. I went in expecting this book to be nothing more than monster smut, and came out of this book with a timely reminder that all books are in fact political. Even, or perhaps especially, the monster romances.
 

This story, while at its core is a smutty monster romance, was heavily propelled forward by the plot. Our FMC is a noblewoman and heir to a penniless, and magical artifact-less, house. In order to keep rival houses from discovering their peril she travels unchaperoned into the seedy city to become an artifact hunter, and enroll in their school (or guild). I was so invested in whether our FMC and her new band of friends would be able to save her family from peril that there were a few points when I felt genuine anxiety about what might happen on the next page. 

This novel deftly tackled so many political talking points by weaving them seamlessly into the story. Some of the major themes highlighted in this novel was the importance of found family, what it means to be a woman in a male dominated field and male dominated society, the importance of sex workers, wealth and how hard it is for someone not born of the right family to achieve wealthy or noble status, the untenable margin of status between a noble person and a member of their staff, as well as racism between humans, the bull like creatures called Taurians, and the slitherskins. 

It boggles my mind that anyone can read a novel like this and claim that smut, or monster romances, or any book for that matter, are not political. You’d have to be purposefully missing the point, when page after page our FMC describes how the man of her house, her father, has ruined them and her only way out is through marriage. And even through marriage she fears she’ll be murdered once her husband realizes they’re broke, so he can go on to marry someone younger, prettier, and wealthier. 
How do you miss all the times our MMC is looked over, talked down to, or dismissed despite being a complete and utter asset to his field and profession, simply because he is not human? 

How do you miss the fact that the boys club has gone left unchallenged and unchecked for years, and does nothing to prevent the male students from sexually and physically harassing the female and slitherskin students? Page after page this novel is rife with commentary on sexism, feminism, patriarchy, classism, racism, addiction, and I’m sure some other isms I’ve overlooked myself. 

This book is so much more than a romance. And, oh, by the way. The romance was incredibly sincere, adorable, and downright seductive. Watching the MMC seduce and educate his new wife on the finer pleasures of life was sinfully sweet. Watching the FMC finally find comfort and a companion, someone who cares where she is, what she’s doing, and if she’s safe was like taking a breath after staying underwater for too long. 

I came for the romance, but I stayed for everything. I genuinely was not expecting any of this when I picked up this book, which once again proves that you can’t judge a book by its cover or reputation. You just need to turn your brain on, and read it for yourself.