30something_reads's Reviews (820)

 3.75⭐

Alright, alright… I forgive you, Bek. How can I stay mad at this seemingly grumpy/impatient guy who turns out to be adored by all the children in the tribe and lights up at the sight of them? Impossible.

Okay, the thing where he secretly made a deal with the Homeworlders to have them bring back women for the unmated men of his tribe? That was a bit yikes. (But he does learn why that was wrong in the long run despite his good intentions.)

He finds his mate in the most unexpected of humans. Elly, who chooses not to speak, is the least trusting and slowest to acclimate of all the five women. She has a very traumatic back story having been abducted when she was a child and spending 10 years in the alien slave trade market. But she hasn’t lost her spirit and will to survive. Bek admires that about her immediately.

Elly teaches Bek patience and we get to see a softer side to him as he teaches her new skills and shows her their world. Over time he becomes her “safe place” and their slow burn relationship was very sweet.

Also enjoyed: The new ladies in the tribe- and Vaza loving on Gail. She is so funny.
Continuous love for my girl, Liz. She is still one of the best.

TWs: mentions of past physical and emotional abuse, slavery

Series Rankings:
Book 1: Ice Planet Barbarians - (Georgie/Vektal) 3 ⭐
Book 2: Barbarian Alien - (Liz/Raahosh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 3: Barbarian Lover - (Kira/Aehako) 3.75 ⭐
Book 4: Barbarian Mine - (Harlow/Rukh) 4 ⭐
Book 5: Ice Planet Holiday - 3 ⭐
Book 6: Barbarian's Prize- (Tiffany/Salukh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 7: Barbarian's Mate - (Josie/Haeden) 4 ⭐
Book 8: Barbarian's Touch - (Lilah/Rokan) 4.5 ⭐
Book 9: Barbarian's Taming - (Maddie/Hassen) 4.5 ⭐
Book 10: Barbarian's Heart - (Stacey/Pashov) 3⭐ (begrudgingly)
Book 11: Barbarian's Hope - (Asha/Hemalo) 3.75-4 ⭐
Book 12: Barbarian's Choice - (Farli/Mardok) 3.5 ⭐
Book 13: Barbarian's Redemption - (Elly/Bek) 3.75 ⭐ 

 3.5⭐

BRO, WTF BEK!?!?!? 😧🫣 OMGGGGG.

Also. Is this just the plot of Avatar? ...Only less violence and intolerance. Pretty sure but I liked it.

We’ve time-hopped a bit. There are a lot more babies now. (Thank god for the family trees Ruby includes in the back of her books 😵‍💫😆.) Farli is roughly 25 yrs old and the only eligible female in her tribe and happily willing to wait for Resonance.

Mardok, an ex-military Messakah mechanic on a small ship, finds himself on Not-Hoth (aka Kopan VI) after they must land for repairs. They are expecting a quick stop until they run into one particular local – Farli. Resonance happens for Farli and now things get complicated because Mardok doesn't know what resonance is but he also can't explain the fierce possessiveness he immediately feels upon meeting this beautiful and mysterious woman.

As a lover of the Corsairs- this book was just SO MUCH FUN! I loved seeing the Messakah introduced to the Sa-khui and seeing those worlds collide.

Series Rankings:
Book 1: Ice Planet Barbarians - (Georgie/Vektal) 3 ⭐
Book 2: Barbarian Alien - (Liz/Raahosh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 3: Barbarian Lover - (Kira/Aehako) 3.75 ⭐
Book 4: Barbarian Mine - (Harlow/Rukh) 4 ⭐
Book 5: Ice Planet Holiday - 3 ⭐
Book 6: Barbarian's Prize- (Tiffany/Salukh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 7: Barbarian's Mate - (Josie/Haeden) 4 ⭐
Book 8: Barbarian's Touch - (Lilah/Rokan) 4.5 ⭐
Book 9: Barbarian's Taming - (Maddie/Hassen) 4.5 ⭐
Book 10: Barbarian's Heart - (Stacey/Pashov) 3⭐ (begrudgingly)
Book 11: Barbarian's Hope - (Asha/Hemalo) 3.75-4 ⭐
Book 12: Barbarian's Choice - (Farli/Mardok) 3.5⭐ 

 3.75 - 4⭐

Wow. I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. This is a second chance romance for Asha and Hemalo.

I ended up keeping track of how many times this story made me cry and the grand total is 8. Eight times. WTF Ruby.

Asha is heavily depressed after the loss of her kit and, still grieving, is now dealing with the fact that her mate has left her. Meanwhile, Hemalo thinks him leaving is what she wanted and will help her move forward. They are total opposites and never learned how to communicate their grief with one another. Asha raged and Hemalo internalized everything. But they’re given a second chance when resonance happens again, and they must decide if they can move forward together.

So happy for their happy ending. That epilogue made my heart melt.

I also enjoyed the perspective of Claire as she plans the holiday celebration and asks Asha for help. Asha’s joy at being included was… ☹ a sweet friendship ensues… also hilarious … “below jabs”. Ifykyk.

TWs: heavy grief after the loss of a child

Series Rankings:
Book 1: Ice Planet Barbarians - (Georgie/Vektal) 3 ⭐
Book 2: Barbarian Alien - (Liz/Raahosh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 3: Barbarian Lover - (Kira/Aehako) 3.75 ⭐
Book 4: Barbarian Mine - (Harlow/Rukh) 4 ⭐
Book 5: Ice Planet Holiday - 3 ⭐
Book 6: Barbarian's Prize- (Tiffany/Salukh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 7: Barbarian's Mate - (Josie/Haeden) 4 ⭐
Book 8: Barbarian's Touch - (Lilah/Rokan) 4.5 ⭐
Book 9: Barbarian's Taming - (Maddie/Hassen) 4.5 ⭐
Book 10: Barbarian's Heart - (Stacey/Pashov) 3⭐ (begrudgingly)
Book 11: Barbarian's Hope - (Asha/Hemalo) 3.75-4 ⭐ 

 3⭐

I guess after 3 back-to-back bangers, it was expected that I’d get to a couple that I did not enjoy.

Amnesia plot. Pashov is injured in the earthquake, nearly dying. When he wakes, he has forgotten that past 2 years of his life – including all of his memories of the humans, his mate Stacey, and their kit.

I do like this concept, in theory. It was cute to see them reconnect and fall in love again. But Stacey was the absolute worst. So self-centered and whiny. So annoying. I really wanted her to have a growth arc and become more independent and less complacent… but that really didn’t happen.

Pashov was so damn sweet though. I really liked him, and it was cute to watch him with his family and slowly remember things. Too bad he fell in love with a big dummy.


Series Rankings:
Book 1: Ice Planet Barbarians - (Georgie/Vektal) 3 ⭐
Book 2: Barbarian Alien - (Liz/Raahosh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 3: Barbarian Lover - (Kira/Aehako) 3.75 ⭐
Book 4: Barbarian Mine - (Harlow/Rukh) 4 ⭐
Book 5: Ice Planet Holiday - 3 ⭐
Book 6: Barbarian's Prize- (Tiffany/Salukh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 7: Barbarian's Mate - (Josie/Haeden) 4 ⭐
Book 8: Barbarian's Touch - (Lilah/Rokan) 4.5 ⭐
Book 9: Barbarian's Taming - (Maddie/Hassen) 4.5 ⭐
Book 10: Barbarian's Heart - (Stacey/Pashov) 3⭐ 

 

THIS. This is the chaotic energy I’ve been missing since Liz and Raahosh lol.

Maddie gave me strong Nesta Archeron vibes. And the more I think about Maddie as Nesta-like, the more I see her sister, Lila, as the Feyre in this situation. I don’t know if that’s crazy…. But it makes sense in my head. And, on principle, that means I actually love Maddie more.

Maddie is kind of an outcast in the tribe. Her initial introduction was… not pleasant and she left a bad first impression. With her sister returned home and happily mated, Maddie feels even more like she is not needed, and she must cope with everything that has changed. (And she goes through a very internalized growth arc with this.)

I love that Maddie is so fierce and open with her sexuality. Her “I’m here for a good time, not a long time” mentality in the beginning was so refreshing lol. Also love that Hassen doesn’t quite understand that and plans to bone her into submission (aka woo her into becoming his “pleasure mate”) And because Hassen has been exiled, she feels a kinship with him. They are both alone. Both isolated. A sweet friendship (with benefits) blossoms. Which of course leads to them catching feelings. And these two outcasts find happiness together.

Maddie is chaotic, willful, and a bit abrasive…. And I love how Hassen sees all these things and thinks she is strong, fierce, and utterly perfect for him.

Don’t get me started on all of the things that happen in the overall storyline because I WAS CRUSHED. MY HEART WAS BRUTALIZED. I WAS SHEDDING REAL TEARS FOR THESE BIG BLUE ALIENS. But it is also very exciting to see what happens next.

Series Rankings:
Book 1: Ice Planet Barbarians - (Georgie/Vektal) 3 ⭐
Book 2: Barbarian Alien - (Liz/Raahosh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 3: Barbarian Lover - (Kira/Aehako) 3.75 ⭐
Book 4: Barbarian Mine - (Harlow/Rukh) 4 ⭐
Book 5: Ice Planet Holiday - 3 ⭐
Book 6: Barbarian's Prize- (Tiffany/Salukh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 7: Barbarian's Mate - (Josie/Haeden) 4 ⭐
Book 8: Barbarian's Touch - (Lila/Rokan) 4.5 ⭐
Book 9: Barbarian's Taming - (Maddie/Hassen) 4.5 ⭐
 

 4.5⭐

It was so fun to see the introduction of two new women in this story and I love that we have a hearing-impaired FMC! When she is abducted, her cochlear implants are removed by the little green men so when she wakes up, she is back to not being able to hear. It’s scary (and the second abduction doesn’t help) but Lilah really gets to grow into her strength throughout this story and I love that journey for her.

And I think everyone deserves a Rokan. He is so freaking sweet!

Love love LOVE that his focuses are 1. Learn how to speak with Lilah and 2. Teach Lilah how to fend for herself in the wild. Everything else takes a backseat and he is so patient and thoughtful and honestly puts so many of the other guys to shame.

AND THE FIRST THING HE SAYS TO HER IN ASL IS “You are perfect.” AHHHH. He is also perfect. And I love the fact that “fixing” her hearing impairment is not the focus of this story.


Series Rankings:
Book 1: Ice Planet Barbarians - (Georgie/Vektal) 3 ⭐
Book 2: Barbarian Alien - (Liz/Raahosh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 3: Barbarian Lover - (Kira/Aehako) 3.75 ⭐
Book 4: Barbarian Mine - (Harlow/Rukh) 4 ⭐
Book 5: Ice Planet Holiday - 3 ⭐
Book 6: Barbarian's Prize- (Tiffany/Salukh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 7: Barbarian's Mate - (Josie/Haeden) 4 ⭐
Book 8: Barbarian's Touch - (Lilah/Rokan) 4.5 ⭐ 

 4⭐

Okay, okay. So you mean to tell me that there were 11 other women – ELEVEN – but not a single one of them looked at Josie and Haeden’s bickering and thought to say, “Hey, maybe you two just need to bang one out. Release some of that tension.” NOT A SINGLE ONE??

That’s the most unbelievable thing about this whole series so far. 😆

Poor Haeden. Such a grumpy and misunderstood sad boy. I was really kind of peeved at Josie during the first portion of this book. And I guess maybe because their previous animosity was more tell rather than show but I could not fathom the desperation to not be attached to Haeden. She would have taken anyone over Haeden… like Bek? BEK, Josie? Ew.

But, overall, I really enjoyed their dynamics. The stubbornness. The refusal. The possessiveness. And then the absolute sweetness that came after.

Also really loved how the story has expanded. And did we get a sneak peak of the Ice Home series in there?

Series Rankings:
Book 1: Ice Planet Barbarians - (Georgie/Vektal) 3 ⭐
Book 2: Barbarian Alien - (Liz/Raahosh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 3: Barbarian Lover - (Kira/Aehako) 3.75 ⭐
Book 4: Barbarian Mine - (Harlow/Rukh) 4 ⭐
Book 5: Ice Planet Holiday - 3 ⭐
Book 6: Barbarian's Prize- (Tiffany/Salukh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 7: Barbarian's Mate - (Josie/Haeden) 4 ⭐ 

 4.25 ⭐

Oh, Tiffany and Salukh were just delightful! There are a lot of great things going on with their story.

It is a little bit darker as it deals with Tiffany’s past sexual trauma and her fear of resonating with anyone.

Ugh! And Salukh recognizing this fear and helping her through it- Never demanding anything and letting Tiffany lead all of their encounters.

And I ended up bumping this rating up just a smidge solely based on the spice. There were a lot of things I really loved – the interaction where they talked each other through masturbation, her talking him through receiving oral, him being kind of a dirty talker, and the face sitting. Like, DAMN. All good things.

But as I’m sitting here typing this, I realize it all boils down to FANTASTIC COMMUNICATION between them as their physical relationship progressed. So much TALKING and CONFIRMATION and CONSENT!!! Love that.

TWs: past mentions of SA (multiple characters)

Series Rankings:

Book 1: Ice Planet Barbarians - (Georgie/Vektal) 3 ⭐
Book 2: Barbarian Alien - (Liz/Raahosh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 3: Barbarian Lover - (Kira/Aehako) 3.75 ⭐
Book 4: Barbarian Mine - (Harlow/Rukh) 4 ⭐
Book 5: Ice Planet Holiday - 3 ⭐
Book 6: Barbarian's Prize- (Tiffany/Salukh) 4.25 ⭐ 

3 ⭐

How were there 3 babies born in this little novella? 😆

Very cute... A little Ice Planet interlude on my journey to read the whole series.

And the sweet little story of Claire and Everen? Precious 💖

Happy No Poison Day 🌿

 4 ⭐

YESSS. These are the (mild) captor/captive meets Tarzan & Jane vibes that I didn’t know I loved.

I adore how patient and sweet Harlow is with Rukh despite their…. barbaric(?) first encounter. And UGHH!!! His confusion and wonder when he meets her and comes to understand who she is to him?? It was so sweet when he realizes he would never have to be alone again. 🥹 🥹

Love the additional backstory we get regarding Rukh’s past and connections to the tribe.

And surprisingly, I really enjoyed the time hop, and everything that happens that makes them return to the tribe. (I say surprising, because there is a LOT of pregnancy stuff in this book.)

And sidenote: I freaking love how Liz and Raahosh just pop back up in these books- they are so great! Love Liz’s insistence on making Rukh feel like family. The dynamics between Raahosh and Rukh are so sweet, and I am so happy they found one another. 🥹

Series Rankings:
Book 1: Ice Planet Barbarians - (Georgie/Vektal) 3 ⭐
Book 2: Barbarian Alien - (Liz/Raahosh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 3: Barbarian Lover - (Kira/Aehako) 3.75 ⭐
Book 4: Barbarian Mine - (Harlow/Rukh) 4 ⭐