Reviews - The Barbarian's Tribute

83 reviews for:

The Barbarian's Tribute

Amy Padilla

3.68 AVERAGE

peristome's review

3.0

lighthearted fast-paced

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

This is a cute little book, but nothing special on my eyes. I enjoyed Rath more than I did Finn. I don't tend to love super crybaby/clingy characters, so that's on me a little bit. I liked the side characters a lot too! I wish we'd learned more about the barbarian culture and gods and stuff, but hopefully that happens in future books.

bklvr81's review

3.25

adventurous emotional 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: Yes

solegatta's review

3.0

fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Boy lives in homophobic village and is selected as tribute to go live with the barbarians because of his disgusting proclivities. He finds love, a family and a home. HEA. MM

Content Warnings

alyssa_reads_to_escape's review

3.0

lighthearted

Content Warnings

restless_pages's review

4.0

emotional fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: Yes

A sweet little story about MC with abusive family who is sent to a barbarian clan as a tribute, where he's placed under the care of a gentle barbarian.

I have some complaints, but I still enjoyed it.

I wanted to know more about barbarians and their traditions. I found it unbelievable how Finn learned language within one week. The drama with a group of women tributes felt a little rushed and underdeveloped.

The barbarians are just giant marshmallows, but I liked that a lot. I liked how gentle and patient Rath was. I especially loved all those forehead touches. Finn cried way too much for my taste, but I liked how Rath was accepting of that. He was like "my bondmate is an emotional man". No judgement or attempting to change him, but instead striving to see tears of happiness, not sadness.

That being said, I think that Finn's trauma was well portrayed. His catastrophizing and trying to plan ahead (of the imagined bad outcome), blaming himself, constantly waiting for something bad to happen, crying when someone shows him love and affection, being afraid that the smallest mistake means that people will give up on him... It makes sense for someone whose family was abusive and, may I say, it made me believe that Finn possibly struggles with CPTSD.

Overall, the story is light and sweet, with focus on hurt/comfort.

°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*
*General Notes*
-hurt MC; touch & love starved MC; barbarian LI
-hurt/comfort, fluff, found family, caretaking...
-size difference; virgin MC...
-CW: domestic violence (by father); abandonment issues...

*Intimacy Notes*
-Top/bottom/verse:

strict; Rath tops, Finn bottoms.

-Kinks/sex notes:

dry humping; BJs; hotdogging(?); penetration...

-Other:
・protectiveness and some possessiveness
・lovely forehead touches and kisses
・Rath likes

to carry Finn around.

Finn likes

being pinned down by Rath.

・a cute (and protective) horse Vann
・Rath

humming a tone to comfort Finn and help him fall asleep

was so adorable.
・cuddling up at night for warmth; riding a horse together

niemue's review

3.75

adventurous lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

lilalaune's review

3.0

lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

noveltea88's review

3.5

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

nightlight9's review

4.0

adventurous emotional hopeful tense 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: Yes

shinysue's review

3.5

adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

cute story. a bit more angsty than I would have liked. and not, like, the plot is angsty. more like the character has trauma he hasn't unpacked... and the clan isn't asking him to engage in personal growth. which was kind of... meh. I am interested in reading the next book, but I hope it doesn't continue with the "woman are bad" trope.

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