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yaren_98's review
adventurous
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Pregnancy, Trafficking, and Vomit
kb33's review
dark
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
This one was so full of problems. The mfc has so many issues stemming from spending all of her teen and adult years as a slave, and no knowledge of how being an adult or being in an adult relationship works, but sure, she should get knocked up realllly soon. Totally ready to be a parent. Good idea. Because the love of a good man cures all trauma, right?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Slavery, Trafficking, Eating disorder, Animal death, Blood, and Confinement
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Rape, Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Kidnapping
fishreads's review
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
3.25
(Initial rating 3 stars) I never managed to write a review after initial reading so what follows is a review after rereading the story two years later.
Bek, feeling lonely and resentful that all the available human females have already resonated to his tribe mates does the unthinkable. He makes a deal with Mardok's former crew mates and asks them to bring five human females, for him and the other unpaired males, back to the Ice Planet. They do as agreed by buying five human slaves off of the first available slave trader.
When the five new females, Gail, Brooke, Kate, Summer and Elly, are deposited off to their "new home", most of the tribe (apart from the aforementioned unpaired male tribe members) is horrified by Beck's actions. Beck is unrepentant, as in his mind, he did nothing wrong.
Beck starts of as an unlikable character, he's gruff and brutish, and he feels so entitled to having a mate of his own that he will not consider possible consequences of his actions in order to achieve his goal. I assume that at the same time, Bek's apparent loneliness and deep yearning for a mate, is supposed to make him more sympathetic in reader's eyes. As this was a random reread, after reading Surving Skarr (where Elly and Bek make an appearance), I didn't remember much of Bek from the previous books in the series (he was an asshole to Claire, who was his pleasure mate initially, but I can't even remember if Claire got her own book and if she did which one it was?) I can only say that I didn't hate Bek's character.
Out of the five females, Elly was the one who, after being abducted from her home as only a teenager, suffered the longest being a slave and was resold a couple of times during the years. As a result she has a huge amount of trauma and also developed various defense mechanisms in order to survive. Despite of her frail appearance she turns out to be brave and gutsy heroine who can go toe to toe with Bek.
Bek doesn't make a good first or second impression on any of the new females and his and Elly's relationship starts from a place of hate. But after they resonate to each other and Bek tries being patient while at the same time not being too far away from Elly, Elly not having the easiest time of integrating with the rest of the tribe starts seeing Bek as somebody familiar and safe. While the two take their time getting to know each other I couldn't help the feeling that Elly's change of heart towards Bek came a bit too soon.
Barbarian's Redemption was one of the books in the series that I would put in the more enjoyable column as both Bek and Elly were interesting and ultimately likable characters. Out of the five new females, Elly, together with Gail, was one of the more likable heroines as, if my memory serves correctly, I had more issues with Kate, Summer and Brooke's stories.
Themes: dual POV, slavery, past trauma, "fated" mates, forced proximity, virginity, pregnancy
Bek, feeling lonely and resentful that all the available human females have already resonated to his tribe mates does the unthinkable. He makes a deal with Mardok's former crew mates and asks them to bring five human females, for him and the other unpaired males, back to the Ice Planet. They do as agreed by buying five human slaves off of the first available slave trader.
When the five new females, Gail, Brooke, Kate, Summer and Elly, are deposited off to their "new home", most of the tribe (apart from the aforementioned unpaired male tribe members) is horrified by Beck's actions. Beck is unrepentant, as in his mind, he did nothing wrong.
Beck starts of as an unlikable character, he's gruff and brutish, and he feels so entitled to having a mate of his own that he will not consider possible consequences of his actions in order to achieve his goal. I assume that at the same time, Bek's apparent loneliness and deep yearning for a mate, is supposed to make him more sympathetic in reader's eyes. As this was a random reread, after reading Surving Skarr (where Elly and Bek make an appearance), I didn't remember much of Bek from the previous books in the series (he was an asshole to Claire, who was his pleasure mate initially, but I can't even remember if Claire got her own book and if she did which one it was?) I can only say that I didn't hate Bek's character.
Out of the five females, Elly was the one who, after being abducted from her home as only a teenager, suffered the longest being a slave and was resold a couple of times during the years. As a result she has a huge amount of trauma and also developed various defense mechanisms in order to survive. Despite of her frail appearance she turns out to be brave and gutsy heroine who can go toe to toe with Bek.
Bek doesn't make a good first or second impression on any of the new females and his and Elly's relationship starts from a place of hate. But after they resonate to each other and Bek tries being patient while at the same time not being too far away from Elly, Elly not having the easiest time of integrating with the rest of the tribe starts seeing Bek as somebody familiar and safe. While the two take their time getting to know each other I couldn't help the feeling that Elly's change of heart towards Bek came a bit too soon.
Barbarian's Redemption was one of the books in the series that I would put in the more enjoyable column as both Bek and Elly were interesting and ultimately likable characters. Out of the five new females, Elly, together with Gail, was one of the more likable heroines as, if my memory serves correctly, I had more issues with Kate, Summer and Brooke's stories.
Themes: dual POV, slavery, past trauma, "fated" mates, forced proximity, virginity, pregnancy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Animal death, Confinement, Eating disorder, Slavery, and Trafficking
Moderate: Vomit and Kidnapping
shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Physical abuse, Slavery, Emotional abuse, and Trafficking
Minor: Confinement
sdemo08's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
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
5.0
This one was a hard one for me initially because I wasn't sure if there was a way to redeem the MMC. Well, Ruby not only manages but knocks it out of the park. Immediate home run. The relationship between the MCs progresses naturally. We see a more patient side of our MMC while playing a supportive role for our FMC to grow and work through past trauma. The ending is a perfect wrap-up.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Confinement, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Slavery, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Rape, Eating disorder, and Sexual assault
30something_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
3.75
3.75⭐
Alright, alright… I forgive you, Bek. How can I stay mad at this seemingly grumpy/impatient guy who turns out to be adored by all the children in the tribe and lights up at the sight of them? Impossible.
Okay, the thing where he secretly made a deal with the Homeworlders to have them bring back women for the unmated men of his tribe? That was a bit yikes. (But he does learn why that was wrong in the long run despite his good intentions.)
He finds his mate in the most unexpected of humans. Elly, who chooses not to speak, is the least trusting and slowest to acclimate of all the five women. She has a very traumatic back story having been abducted when she was a child and spending 10 years in the alien slave trade market. But she hasn’t lost her spirit and will to survive. Bek admires that about her immediately.
Elly teaches Bek patience and we get to see a softer side to him as he teaches her new skills and shows her their world. Over time he becomes her “safe place” and their slow burn relationship was very sweet.
Also enjoyed: The new ladies in the tribe- and Vaza loving on Gail. She is so funny.
Continuous love for my girl, Liz. She is still one of the best.
TWs: mentions of past physical and emotional abuse, slavery
Series Rankings:
Book 1: Ice Planet Barbarians - (Georgie/Vektal) 3 ⭐
Book 2: Barbarian Alien - (Liz/Raahosh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 3: Barbarian Lover - (Kira/Aehako) 3.75 ⭐
Book 4: Barbarian Mine - (Harlow/Rukh) 4 ⭐
Book 5: Ice Planet Holiday - 3 ⭐
Book 6: Barbarian's Prize- (Tiffany/Salukh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 7: Barbarian's Mate - (Josie/Haeden) 4 ⭐
Book 8: Barbarian's Touch - (Lilah/Rokan) 4.5 ⭐
Book 9: Barbarian's Taming - (Maddie/Hassen) 4.5 ⭐
Book 10: Barbarian's Heart - (Stacey/Pashov) 3⭐ (begrudgingly)
Book 11: Barbarian's Hope - (Asha/Hemalo) 3.75-4 ⭐
Book 12: Barbarian's Choice - (Farli/Mardok) 3.5 ⭐
Book 13: Barbarian's Redemption - (Elly/Bek) 3.75 ⭐
Alright, alright… I forgive you, Bek. How can I stay mad at this seemingly grumpy/impatient guy who turns out to be adored by all the children in the tribe and lights up at the sight of them? Impossible.
Okay, the thing where he secretly made a deal with the Homeworlders to have them bring back women for the unmated men of his tribe? That was a bit yikes. (But he does learn why that was wrong in the long run despite his good intentions.)
He finds his mate in the most unexpected of humans. Elly, who chooses not to speak, is the least trusting and slowest to acclimate of all the five women. She has a very traumatic back story having been abducted when she was a child and spending 10 years in the alien slave trade market. But she hasn’t lost her spirit and will to survive. Bek admires that about her immediately.
Elly teaches Bek patience and we get to see a softer side to him as he teaches her new skills and shows her their world. Over time he becomes her “safe place” and their slow burn relationship was very sweet.
Also enjoyed: The new ladies in the tribe- and Vaza loving on Gail. She is so funny.
Continuous love for my girl, Liz. She is still one of the best.
TWs: mentions of past physical and emotional abuse, slavery
Series Rankings:
Book 1: Ice Planet Barbarians - (Georgie/Vektal) 3 ⭐
Book 2: Barbarian Alien - (Liz/Raahosh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 3: Barbarian Lover - (Kira/Aehako) 3.75 ⭐
Book 4: Barbarian Mine - (Harlow/Rukh) 4 ⭐
Book 5: Ice Planet Holiday - 3 ⭐
Book 6: Barbarian's Prize- (Tiffany/Salukh) 4.25 ⭐
Book 7: Barbarian's Mate - (Josie/Haeden) 4 ⭐
Book 8: Barbarian's Touch - (Lilah/Rokan) 4.5 ⭐
Book 9: Barbarian's Taming - (Maddie/Hassen) 4.5 ⭐
Book 10: Barbarian's Heart - (Stacey/Pashov) 3⭐ (begrudgingly)
Book 11: Barbarian's Hope - (Asha/Hemalo) 3.75-4 ⭐
Book 12: Barbarian's Choice - (Farli/Mardok) 3.5 ⭐
Book 13: Barbarian's Redemption - (Elly/Bek) 3.75 ⭐
Content Warnings
Minor: Trafficking, Slavery, Confinement, and Kidnapping
hazelgirl21's review
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Trafficking
Moderate: Confinement and Kidnapping
Minor: Rape
robinsong's review
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Colonisation, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Grief, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, and Trafficking
alisoun's review
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Physical abuse, Slavery, Trafficking, and Vomit
kbairbooks's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
3.25
This book really explored Beck learning how to be less selfish and more patient and nurturing and Ellie working through some of her trauma to accept love and restart her life. The kui really pushed them together despite her issues and it gave me more of an insta-lovey feeling than the others. But I did like the personal growth and stuff.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, Confinement, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Bullying, and Child abuse
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Vomit
Minor: Blood, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Rape