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pastryghost's review against another edition
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
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
hanreadsbookself's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Kidnapping and Trafficking
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
ckt123's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
3.75
I’m yet again shocked at how good this series is. Our main character Tiffany was SA and it was handle with such care. Yes there is smut but more then that I love the building of trust between Tiffany and Salukh. Salukh was so patient, and their relationship is so sweet and tender.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
hellotheremaryrose's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really liked Salukh and Tiffany’s story. This book was darker than others, but I thought it was handled well. Salukh was very patient and I liked his POV chapters. Tiffany’s POV was really nice as well, although her backstory was very sad!
I could have done without thecompetition plot line, I don’t think it added much to the story.
I could have done without the
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Pregnancy and Trafficking
m43m43's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Barbarian books are the comfort food of books. This one was not as fun as others, but I'll keep reading them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence and Sexual assault
km_reads_and_edits's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.25
M/F sci-fi romance.
I thought Tiffany's trauma was handled quite well here, but proceed with caution and check triggers. I really liked the way the romance (and smut) developed overall.
I thought Tiffany's trauma was handled quite well here, but proceed with caution and check triggers. I really liked the way the romance (and smut) developed overall.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Tiffany was sexually assaulted in book 1. Her struggles with being intimate again are detailed in this book.jadedreader13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Grief, Rape, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
allynat's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Kidnapping