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sarahhbeth_reads's review against another edition
emotional
slow-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
1.0
You know those old school romances where someone has amnesia and no one communicates? Barbarian’s Heart was very that.
I don’t have anything against that type of novel in general; if it was written in the 80’s or 90’s, that’s one thing. However, for a book published in 2016 and by an author who has proved herself capable of greater originality, Barbarian’s Heart was a big letdown. After a streak of excellent, creative books, I am really disappointed with the series’ last two novels.
Fatphobia
In both Barbarian’s Heart and Barbarian’s Taming, Stacy and Maddie’s deeply internalized fatphobia reinforces (even if unintentionally) the idea that fatness is shameful and something to justifiably be self-conscious about. It’s not until their non-human lovers (who, by the way, have no concept of and dgaf about Earth beauty standards) tell them that they are beautiful and attractive as they are that these characters come to accept their bodies. Yuck. As someone who has had to overcome a lot of internalized fatphobia myself, I really disliked seeing these characters hate their bodies so much and put so much value on beauty ideals that do not exist on this alien planet.
One of the things I used to think was really unique about Dixon’s earlier IPB books was that the heroines did not obsess over their appearance in comparison to the other women; they understood that physical appearance did not determine value or attract a mate in this setting. Like, girls, the sa-khui dudes think you look kind of strange no matter what because you are a completely different, unfamiliar species; they do not give a shit if you have stretch marks. Plus, with resonance pairing couples together, physical appearance was truly unimportant. That is not to say the characters shouldn’t care how they look or know they look good—just that feeling inadequate based on Earth beauty standards is pointless here. I would really like the self-consciousness/self-loathing trend in these last two books to die. Also the ‘needing a man to tell you you are pretty to finally accept it as truth’ thing. Come on.
Stacy Sucks
Stacy was completely unlikable as a heroine. I am usually the queen of character forgiveness but even I couldn’t wring out any compassion for this woman. Throughout the entire book, Stacy treats Pashov like he’s broken because he lost his memories. Instead of treasuring the opportunity to create new memories, she constantly mopes and guilts Pashov for not having his memories back. Yeah, yeah, she talks a lot about how she should be grateful he’s alive and cherish their relationship as it is, but she doesn’t actually do that until the end and her thoughts show that she deep down she feels he needs to be ‘fixed.’
“Maybe instead of resenting the changes, I need to remind myself that he’s alive and healthy. I have a mate. He didn’t die in the cave-in. Pacy will have a father. Surely I can be grateful for that.
A father that doesn’t remember him, my horrible brain whispers.”
Bitch, what??? You think your son will care that his father doesn’t remember his birth, or will he be glad that he has a caring, involved father who is there for his childhood? #*%&!*&!
On top of that, Stacy keeps giving Pashov mixed signals and then is hurt when he does what she told him instead of reading her mind and doing what she actually wanted. The flakiness and communication are so bad that it takes another character’s intervention to finally bring these idiots together.
BTW, the “important things” Stacy kept wanting Pashov to remember were really stupid, like an unfunny running joke they had about how she doesn’t have a tail. Honestly, take a drink for every time Stacy asks Pashov, “Did you remember?”
Conclusions
Stacy and Pashov were pretty unremarkable as background characters and are no different as protagonists. I don’t even have anything to say about poor, bland Pashov other than that this whole ordeal sucks for him.
There is very little action in this book, mostly walking through the snow or sitting in a cave.
I’m still open to reading on in the series, but if the next book is as terrible as Barbarian’s Taming and Barbarian’s Heart I might have to call it quits.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
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