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greystory's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I have mixed feelings about this one. It's a solid story but there were times when it felt like it was jumping the shark a little within the universe that had been established and some other stuff I'll mention. Nevertheless, if I let that go and ignore pieces that just weren't for me (i.e., the voyeurism and some of the possibly toxic parts of their sex life), I liked it!
There was adventure! There was lore! There was mystery! Friendships! Quests! Badass moments! Sad, quiet moments! Spooky moments! This one had it all, folks.
Doesn't hurt that the guy on the front is giving Winter Soldier vibes, haha!
Vienne and her gift was an interesting character and I enjoyed reading about her for the most part. I appreciated that she had some balance between "delicate little scared waif" and "bravely staring your horde king down because she has got shit to do and you're in her way." I also appreciated that, in the end, she was the one that kicked ass and took names when it came to the Ghertun. Hell yeah!
I appreciated that she was intended to balance the rage/violence of Rath Drokka but I have to admit it was also one of those things that I have mixed feelings about. Too often in reality women are expected to be the quiet, gentle peacekeepers that keep their cool and calm their men, who are allowed to explode in the full range of emotions and throw temper tantrums and for whom physical violence is somehow accepted. Nah. Fuck that nonsense. So it was iffy for me having it in my fantasy, too, you know? Rath Drokka didn't need a quiet gentle mouse to calm him down and give his life purpose and meaning, he needed to chill the fuck out, grow some empathy, and get some therapy.
There are some heavy trigger warnings needed for this one, though, especially around kidnapping, enslavement, sexual assault, sexual abuse, grooming, and rape. Minor warnings on vomit and pregnancy at the end, which is a running theme for this series.
There was adventure! There was lore! There was mystery! Friendships! Quests! Badass moments! Sad, quiet moments! Spooky moments! This one had it all, folks.
Doesn't hurt that the guy on the front is giving Winter Soldier vibes, haha!
Vienne and her gift was an interesting character and I enjoyed reading about her for the most part. I appreciated that she had some balance between "delicate little scared waif" and "bravely staring your horde king down because she has got shit to do and you're in her way." I also appreciated that, in the end, she was the one that kicked ass and took names when it came to the Ghertun. Hell yeah!
I appreciated that she was intended to balance the rage/violence of Rath Drokka but I have to admit it was also one of those things that I have mixed feelings about. Too often in reality women are expected to be the quiet, gentle peacekeepers that keep their cool and calm their men, who are allowed to explode in the full range of emotions and throw temper tantrums and for whom physical violence is somehow accepted. Nah. Fuck that nonsense. So it was iffy for me having it in my fantasy, too, you know? Rath Drokka didn't need a quiet gentle mouse to calm him down and give his life purpose and meaning, he needed to chill the fuck out, grow some empathy, and get some therapy.
There are some heavy trigger warnings needed for this one, though, especially around kidnapping, enslavement, sexual assault, sexual abuse, grooming, and rape. Minor warnings on vomit and pregnancy at the end, which is a running theme for this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Murder, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Terminal illness and Mental illness
Minor: Torture and Pregnancy
noellelovesbooks's review
4.25
Content Warnings: Death [human and animal], slavery, murder, violence, explicit sexual scenes, and mention of rape and sexual assault.
Vienne is a human whose family was taken as slaves, by the Ghertun. Forced to serve a Ghertun master, below the mountain the Ghertun’s call home, Vienne hasn’t seen the sky in over a year. When tasked with a seemingly impossible mission, to not only get into the capital of Dakkar but meet the leader with a message, Vienne knows she needs to succeed if she ever wishes to see her family again.
Davik, along with all the other Horde Kings, is called to the capital by their leader in order to discuss the growing threat of the Ghertun. For years Davik has lived knowing others call him the Mad King, thinking he’s unstable with a thirst for blood. Returning to the capital, and being away from his Horde, brings back bad memories which makes it hard for Davik to control his emotions.
So far I’ve been enjoying this series and have loved, and empathized with, each couple that’s been introduced. So far we’ve had three humans who become the wives, and mates, of Dakkari men…I’m interested to see if we get any non-human makes for any of the Horde Kings, which I would love.
I enjoy how each book teaches us more about the Dakkari culture without any mass info dumps. Even though I have other books I need to get to…I’m tempted to just jump right into book four.
If you’re looking for a fun barbarian romance series, that features alien men…look no further!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Slavery, Murder, Animal death, Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
emfass's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
3.5 stars rounded up.
Loooooved the emotions between these two and the way they grew to care for/need each other.
Did not likeboth of the main characters' sisters having been raped as fuel for their own stories, especially Davik's sister Devina. It's the basis of his origin story and once that was revealed (it's at the very end of the book) I was so incredibly disappointed, and it reduced my enjoyment a lot.
Loooooved the emotions between these two and the way they grew to care for/need each other.
Did not like
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery, Rape, and Sexual assault
now_booking's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really like this series and this book in particular, I found particularly page-turning. If not that I wished that the conflict wasn’t based around secrets the hero and heroine were keeping from each other, this would have been a 5-star read for me. But even not being a huge fan of the “secret-that-a-single-conversation-would-solve conflict” trope, this was a stellar romance read.
The premise is that Vienne is a human slave of the much-detested Ghertuns who is sent to the Dakkari king to win some concessions for her masters because it’s believed she has the power of persuasion. There she is mocked but she meets Davik, a horde king, who takes her seriously and sees her as a tool to get an inside track on Ghertun secrets in order to defeat them. Meanwhile, Vienne, is on her own secret timeline to find what the Ghertuns want and go back to save herself and her family.
I think this had a lot of great themes around grief and vulnerability and loss and bravery. I adored all the characters including the side ones- no internal saboteurs here. I also liked how with this addition to the series, there’s the beginning of a multi-species collaboration on the planet. This stands alone well but is much better when read in order as a series. Love this series and can’t wait to read the next one and more of this author’s work.
The premise is that Vienne is a human slave of the much-detested Ghertuns who is sent to the Dakkari king to win some concessions for her masters because it’s believed she has the power of persuasion. There she is mocked but she meets Davik, a horde king, who takes her seriously and sees her as a tool to get an inside track on Ghertun secrets in order to defeat them. Meanwhile, Vienne, is on her own secret timeline to find what the Ghertuns want and go back to save herself and her family.
I think this had a lot of great themes around grief and vulnerability and loss and bravery. I adored all the characters including the side ones- no internal saboteurs here. I also liked how with this addition to the series, there’s the beginning of a multi-species collaboration on the planet. This stands alone well but is much better when read in order as a series. Love this series and can’t wait to read the next one and more of this author’s work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Xenophobia
bagel_cm's review
adventurous
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
3.5
Best of the Horde King series so far. The fMC and mMC are both really well developed with interesting and surprising back stories. The conflict between them feels more natural and realistic than most romances. It didn’t feel overly angsty or dramatic, and the contrast between their personalities was well done.
All of the mMC in these series fall into the “alpha” category but not into the “asshole” category.
The continuing plot of the Dakkar kingdom and the growing tensions with the ghertun is engaging. I liked the addition of the fMC having kind of witchy, empath powers.
All of the mMC in these series fall into the “alpha” category but not into the “asshole” category.
The continuing plot of the Dakkar kingdom and the growing tensions with the ghertun is engaging. I liked the addition of the fMC having kind of witchy, empath powers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Sexual coercion of male main character
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