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pbella3's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy and War
robinwritesallthethings's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What It’s About: Tiffany comes into focus as we learn about the secret trauma she endured during her captivity and her frustration with being the most desirable of the last eligible women left in the tribe.
Spice Level: This one is more of a slow burn in terms of sex, with a lot of playing and exploring before the deed is finally done. It’s smoking hot all the way through and well worth the wait.
Realism: It would be easy to not feel bad for Tiffany. She’s attractive and skilled and all of the alien guys want her for their mate. But a deeper dive into her history and personality make her an entirely sympathetic character. I found her reaction to her trauma heartbreaking, but also understandable. I also like that this volume really dove into the idea of how resonance and falling in love aren’t necessarily the same thing, and how that might make people reluctant to have extraneous relationships for fear of what might happen later.
Trope Alert: Friends to lovers, friends with benefits.
Trigger Warnings: Rape trauma. In particular, there are some flashback scenes.
Final Thoughts: I have to say that I loved the sweet way Salukh treated Tiffany, both from the beginning and after he realized why she was so reluctant to pursue any kind of relationship. He was a perfect gentleman, and it was so nice to see how he respected Tiffany’s feelings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
haley49's review against another edition
4.0
It’s criminal how much I love these.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Rape
roorooreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Dixon has such fun books! I just love the escapism of these. This book was more heavy then some of the others as Tiffany deals with the aftermath and fear cause by being taken and assulted. The love interest was so amazingly gentle and supportive, which was perfect!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Rape
pastryghost's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Tiffany and Saluhk are the absolute cutest, I love how their relationship evolved and was a sweet friendship with devotion and understanding.
Characters:
Saluhk's narration felt very distinct from the other male leads in the series, he is pensive and does not act rashly - something that Tiffany definitely needs in a partner. I liked the author's note that when Dixon was writing their story, she focused on Tiffany being the main character going through change, while Saluhk remained a constant, which put the focus on Tiffany's growth. The "courtship games" were also not a large element in the story, which is what I had expected from the synopsis. Instead, it facilitated a reason for Tiffany and Saluhk to get alone time without the other suitors constantly bothering her.
While a lot of Tiffany's narration is filled with anxiety, she also has a lot of interests that I really loved seeing. She likes crafting and tanning, and figuring out how to plant seeds in the ice wasteland. I really love her close friendship with Josie, those two in particular are the besties on the planet and I love that!
Story:
I enjoyed Tiffany and Saluhk's honeymoon bonus chapter as well. It's nice to see Dixon revisit her characters in these mini stories, and also see a little bit of how the characters have changed since she wrote the stories 5+ years ago. (The addition of sensitivity readers seemed apparent to me, since Tiffany is the only Black character - and the only character of color? - and we see her wearing a sleep bonnet and working oil into her hair. Makes me wish for more diversity in these books, though that's a longer subject.)
I also love Farli and I'm really curious to see her story. I love that she's artistic and the scenes with her and Chompy the dvisti foal were sooo cute.
I think this is my favorite of the series so far, at least on par with the first. I'm probably only gonna read a couple more of these, because I like Josie and I wanna see her story.
Connection to the Ice Planet Barbarian series:
The other books (especially book 4) have a big emphasis on pregnancy and the...breeding trope of the khui resonance. I appreciated that this book focused more on the emotional journey of overcoming trauma and embracing love.
In the other books in the series, I notice a lot of this pattern of writing: "Something something. Question? Obvious answer." Me? I don't love that kind of writing style. And when it appears more than a dozen times in a book? It kinda drives me crazy. 😂 Happy to report that Tiffany does not do that as much as the other protagonists. However, in the brief chapters of Josie that we get, it looks like she's back to that pattern of question-answer tics. Oh well.
Content TW for assault flashbacks and mentions of rape at the hands of the kidnapper aliens, not graphic but still upsetting. Tiffany has nightmares and a big fear of unwanted male attention. The bad aliens returning is NOT a subplot in this book, and the characters are physically safe throughout. It is foremost a book about dealing with past trauma. More character-driven over plot.
Characters:
Saluhk's narration felt very distinct from the other male leads in the series, he is pensive and does not act rashly - something that Tiffany definitely needs in a partner. I liked the author's note that when Dixon was writing their story, she focused on Tiffany being the main character going through change, while Saluhk remained a constant, which put the focus on Tiffany's growth. The "courtship games" were also not a large element in the story, which is what I had expected from the synopsis. Instead, it facilitated a reason for Tiffany and Saluhk to get alone time without the other suitors constantly bothering her.
While a lot of Tiffany's narration is filled with anxiety, she also has a lot of interests that I really loved seeing. She likes crafting and tanning, and figuring out how to plant seeds in the ice wasteland. I really love her close friendship with Josie, those two in particular are the besties on the planet and I love that!
Story:
I enjoyed Tiffany and Saluhk's honeymoon bonus chapter as well. It's nice to see Dixon revisit her characters in these mini stories, and also see a little bit of how the characters have changed since she wrote the stories 5+ years ago. (The addition of sensitivity readers seemed apparent to me, since Tiffany is the only Black character - and the only character of color? - and we see her wearing a sleep bonnet and working oil into her hair. Makes me wish for more diversity in these books, though that's a longer subject.)
I also love Farli and I'm really curious to see her story. I love that she's artistic and the scenes with her and Chompy the dvisti foal were sooo cute.
I think this is my favorite of the series so far, at least on par with the first. I'm probably only gonna read a couple more of these, because I like Josie and I wanna see her story.
Connection to the Ice Planet Barbarian series:
The other books (especially book 4) have a big emphasis on pregnancy and the...breeding trope of the khui resonance. I appreciated that this book focused more on the emotional journey of overcoming trauma and embracing love.
In the other books in the series, I notice a lot of this pattern of writing: "Something something. Question? Obvious answer." Me? I don't love that kind of writing style. And when it appears more than a dozen times in a book? It kinda drives me crazy. 😂 Happy to report that Tiffany does not do that as much as the other protagonists. However, in the brief chapters of Josie that we get, it looks like she's back to that pattern of question-answer tics. Oh well.
Content TW for assault flashbacks and mentions of rape at the hands of the kidnapper aliens, not graphic but still upsetting. Tiffany has nightmares and a big fear of unwanted male attention. The bad aliens returning is NOT a subplot in this book, and the characters are physically safe throughout. It is foremost a book about dealing with past trauma. More character-driven over plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
carmineslamp's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Best of the 2.5s, but still eh. It's decent, but I just didn't FW the couple, I don't think.
Tiffany spends a lot of time struggling with her trauma from being SA'd on the alien ship, and I honestly kind of like how she still kind of struggles with it even after falling in love with Saluhk, which might sound messed up, but. BUT ALSO I hate how it IS kind of cured after she gets that D. Idk, it makes sense but also it doesn't, but also this is a novella smut book so I shouldnt expect nuanced takes on mental illness/trauma.
I digress. It is pretty decent though, I must reiterate. I like how patient Saluhk is with her. These men being so respectful is the only thing keeping me sane,,
Tiffany spends a lot of time struggling with her trauma from being SA'd on the alien ship, and I honestly kind of like how she still kind of struggles with it even after falling in love with Saluhk, which might sound messed up, but. BUT ALSO I hate how it IS kind of cured after she gets that D. Idk, it makes sense but also it doesn't, but also this is a novella smut book so I shouldnt expect nuanced takes on mental illness/trauma.
I digress. It is pretty decent though, I must reiterate. I like how patient Saluhk is with her. These men being so respectful is the only thing keeping me sane,,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders
dollyboochky4books's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
c0urtn3yy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wasn't super excited for this one since Tiffany & Josie haven't really been mentioned a whole lot in previous books, but I really liked it!! A few things Tiffany did (or didn't do) bugged me, but I LOVED Salukh. I also laughed quite a bit reading this one too - the Miss America Pageant competition was fantastic. I'm looking forward to Josie's story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
missbliss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Finding Intimacy Through Fear and PTSD
This was a solid entry though not my favorite. The installment focuses on the couple of Tiffany/Salukh. I will say that this story felt more intense in that there are not in depth descriptions of the rape Tiffany experienced like there were in the first book which describes it happening but flashbacks of her fear and the experience of being trafficked that felt very first person POV. In many ways that felt more emotionally intense to listen to so a heads up that this story is depicting someone struggling deeply with PTSD after being trafficked and sexually assaulted. This is a predominate struggle for Tiffany and drives all of her decisions or fear of making decisions. Some folks might find her avoidance and terror of the sa-khui men annoying or forced I actually thought this was depicted in a realistic manner and how often PTSD responses and avoidances inevitably often creates more conflict. I think Ruby does an excellent job of making all of these characters feel very distinct and have very real personalities. Also the growing universe of how each human woman is adapting and what she focuses on in this new world. I find the continued world building keeps pulling me in and also appreciate how the sex scenes really are character building too, as the scenes are tailored to the personalities of the individuals involved and speak to aspects of them instead of being wash, rinse, repeat. I think the symbiont khui relationships with the individual is fascinating and I am curious how this will continue to be developed. Octavia Butler has a series known as Lilith's Brood that discusses what happens when an alien species couples with humans and the after effects that are different from what is depicted here but I keep thinking of it as I listen to these stories. The relationship Salukh had with his khui had me smiling and laughing and was very different than has been described with other characters and again I enjoyed it. I feel like the story telling is consistent and audiences will be drawn to some books more than others based on characters they prefer. But all the characters feel realistic. The narration continues to be good, I will say there was a brief bit where Hollie sounded almost like a Valley Girl and it really pulled me out but did not last long. I keep forgetting that I think the women here are early 20s because with the narration and stories I see them as older, which isn't a bad thing. So many stories folks are supposed to be much older but behave like high school children, I appreciate a story that does not feel like that at all. Overall still loving this series and meeting everyone in the town.
This was a solid entry though not my favorite. The installment focuses on the couple of Tiffany/Salukh. I will say that this story felt more intense in that there are not in depth descriptions of the rape Tiffany experienced like there were in the first book which describes it happening but flashbacks of her fear and the experience of being trafficked that felt very first person POV. In many ways that felt more emotionally intense to listen to so a heads up that this story is depicting someone struggling deeply with PTSD after being trafficked and sexually assaulted. This is a predominate struggle for Tiffany and drives all of her decisions or fear of making decisions. Some folks might find her avoidance and terror of the sa-khui men annoying or forced I actually thought this was depicted in a realistic manner and how often PTSD responses and avoidances inevitably often creates more conflict. I think Ruby does an excellent job of making all of these characters feel very distinct and have very real personalities. Also the growing universe of how each human woman is adapting and what she focuses on in this new world. I find the continued world building keeps pulling me in and also appreciate how the sex scenes really are character building too, as the scenes are tailored to the personalities of the individuals involved and speak to aspects of them instead of being wash, rinse, repeat. I think the symbiont khui relationships with the individual is fascinating and I am curious how this will continue to be developed. Octavia Butler has a series known as Lilith's Brood that discusses what happens when an alien species couples with humans and the after effects that are different from what is depicted here but I keep thinking of it as I listen to these stories. The relationship Salukh had with his khui had me smiling and laughing and was very different than has been described with other characters and again I enjoyed it. I feel like the story telling is consistent and audiences will be drawn to some books more than others based on characters they prefer. But all the characters feel realistic. The narration continues to be good, I will say there was a brief bit where Hollie sounded almost like a Valley Girl and it really pulled me out but did not last long. I keep forgetting that I think the women here are early 20s because with the narration and stories I see them as older, which isn't a bad thing. So many stories folks are supposed to be much older but behave like high school children, I appreciate a story that does not feel like that at all. Overall still loving this series and meeting everyone in the town.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Confinement, Trafficking, Slavery, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
rachelwa's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
omg this might be one of my favorites from the series! I really love tiffany and salukh being the most patient and kind and understanding partners is so :’)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
Minor: Death of parent