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A review by katiekeske
Barbarian's Mate by Ruby Dixon
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was nervous starting this book about these two because there had been such buildup in the previous books. I do not like it when characters are mean to each other and have miscommunication, which these two had a lot of. I am giving it a four because there is character growth and more adventure with some more world-building in this one (instead of just being stuck in a cave resonating the whole book).
Once I got to read Haeden's POV and get his background and feelings, I was totally smitten with him. His story is so sad, and his actions make sense once you understand him. I wished he had shared more of his feelings out loud. Of course, that's part of the angsty drama.
I personally had a hard time connecting to Josie. I like that she's supposed to be a sunshine character, but her strong and constant desire to have a baby, especially after all the trauma she's gone through, just doesn't make sense to me. It was a little jarring to go from Tiffany's book, which I thought handled her trauma really well, to Josie's book where she doesn't seem affected by her past at all. She briefly mentions things, but then just gets over it...? (Good for her, I guess. Are there people out there like that? I don't know any myself...) I know every woman is different, so there are women out there who will feel a connection with her. I'm just not one of them. I wished she treated Haeden better sooner.
Once I got to read Haeden's POV and get his background and feelings, I was totally smitten with him. His story is so sad, and his actions make sense once you understand him. I wished he had shared more of his feelings out loud. Of course, that's part of the angsty drama.
I personally had a hard time connecting to Josie. I like that she's supposed to be a sunshine character, but her strong and constant desire to have a baby, especially after all the trauma she's gone through, just doesn't make sense to me. It was a little jarring to go from Tiffany's book, which I thought handled her trauma really well, to Josie's book where she doesn't seem affected by her past at all. She briefly mentions things, but then just gets over it...? (Good for her, I guess. Are there people out there like that? I don't know any myself...) I know every woman is different, so there are women out there who will feel a connection with her. I'm just not one of them. I wished she treated Haeden better sooner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy, Blood, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Abandonment
Minor: Vomit, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
Josie mentions being sexually abused when she was in foster care . She does not go into great detail. Haeden very briefly attempts suicide in a moment when he thinks he's lost Josie.