It's no secret that I've loved every book in the Ice Plant Barbarian's series and Barbarian's Taming is the perfect fun, steamy, and emotional addition to it. Maddie and Hassen’s story brings a fresh dynamic with a mix of tension, redemption, and slow-burning trust. Their struggle for acceptance make their romance feel earned, and I loved them!

This was so fun and such a great addition to a crazy but yet addictive series. It was an interesting couple/dynamic, but they did win me over at the end!

Fun! Love a good paranormal romance that's low pressure and fun. I think the series is great altogether

Barbarian’s Taming is the eighth (yes, you read that right, we’re about halfway through!) book in Ruby Dixon’s Ice Planet Barbarians series. You’d think that by now the plot would have become stale or the sex routine, but truthfully it’s moving along quite nicely, and there are some significant plot developments that will have implications for future books.

One can’t read book eight without a brief recap of book seven. In Barbarian’s Touch (the review for which has a general series overview), sisters Lila and Maddie have been woken from stasis on their crash-landed ship on Not-Hoth (the human name for the ice planet) and have joined the tribe in their large ice-cave home. Hassen, a lonely sa-khui male, kidnapped Lila hoping to force a resonance with her. However it didn’t work; he just came off as scary and Lila escaped and was eventually rescued and resonated to Rokan. Hassen was exiled from the tribe, and while he still hunts for their food, he isn’t welcome at their fires and will remain in exile for as long as their leader Vektal decides. Meanwhile, Maddie is also isolated, for the first time not being the one her deaf sister relies on. That’s where the last book left off.

So Maddie is lonely, and Hassen is lonely – a perfect setup for a new romance. Except that Hassen kidnapped Maddie’s sister so she isn’t particularly keen on him, though his intense gazes do make her feel a little… something. When Lila goes off on a hunting trip with her mate and several other tribe members, leaving Maddie behind, Maddie decides she is tired of being a layabout and not having any of the skills the other ladies have developed (and she’s also tired of being with her depressed female sa-khui roommate). She decides that she wants to become a hunter and ventures out into the cold snowy tundra, only to end up being rescued by Hassen from a metlak (a creature Lila described as an abominable snowman). He can’t believe she ventured out by herself (silly human!) while she exerts her bossy personality and tells him to fuck off. Hassen interprets this as Maddie asking him for sex, and in the moment, he decides that yeah, he’d be into that. But when the misunderstanding is cleared up (no sex happens – yet) and they talk more, they realize they are both bored and lonely. Maddie suggests to Hassen that he teach her how to hunt. Although he is exiled, Hassen decides he would like to do that, even just for some company, so they agree to meet secretly in the storage cave the next day so he can help her pick out the right hunting tools for her size.

Maddie finds she can’t stop thinking about having sex with Hassen, and when they meet up the next day and she proposes a roll in the hay, Hassen eagerly agrees. Except he thinks she’s asking him to be her pleasure-mate (a more permanent status) when she’s really only interested in scratching the itch one time, and he’s disappointed Maddie doesn’t want to take him permanently into her bed. Yet after that one time, and with their regular outings for Hassen to teach her hunting, neither can get the other out of their minds (at least, once Maddie is assured that Hassen absolutely doesn’t have any feelings towards her sister). Will their close proximity, developing friendship, and sexy times lead to the resonance that ensures their happy ending?

Each book is an opportunity for the reader to learn more about the home lives of the sa-khui and their human pairings, the importance of their main cave and of the discoveries of the various ships that have crash-landed on the planet. I really enjoy learning about this fictional world and its inhabitants, and also having both the sa-khui and human perspectives on things, as the story is told from both main characters viewpoints. It was also nice to see Hassen redeemed as a character, and to learn why he acted the way he did when he went against the tribe and kidnapped Lila. Maddie is able to forgive him, which is needed before she can consider a relationship with him (however short or long-haul it might be).

It’s also nice to see Maddie grow as a character. She starts off being very down on herself as she is ‘fat’ (her description of herself) and sees herself as being a burden to the tribe. But Hassen sees her figure as sturdy and strong, needed for the tough environment outside of the caves, and her large breasts definitely don’t turn him off. As Maddie learns the skills to survive (making fires, hunting, cooking etc.), she begins to believe in herself as a valued contributor. Knowing Hassen sees her as beautiful is an added boost to her self-esteem.

The second half of the story includes a devastating occurrence that changes the lives of everyone on the planet, and Hassen and Maddie play an integral role in supporting the tribe as they come to grips with the changes. I’m being deliberately vague to encourage readers to pick this one up even if they haven’t read any others, as there is always a good introduction to bring new readers up to speed. And subsequent books will be dealing with the fallout from this one, so it will be interesting to see how the tribe copes with their new reality. Barbarian’s Touch and Barbarian’s Taming are my favourites of the series to date, and I look forward to continuing it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Barbarians Taming by Ruby Dixon!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were in no way influenced by receiving this copy.

4.5 stars. Of all the girls that crash landed on this planet I think Maddie is the most reasonable. Because what do you mean I just need to sit down, shut up, and be glad that I'm alive when suddenly it below freezing constantly, there's no running water, everyone is blue, and there's no more fast food. Like yeah idc either I'm gonna be pissed and you're not going to set me up with a big blue boyfriend either.

My biggest complaint with Maddie's story is that there's not really any reason given to why her and Haasan didn't resonate sooner. It wasn't because she wanted to make sure things were okay between him and her sister, because if that was the case they would've resonated either the first time they hooked up when she made sure Haasan didn't have feelings for Lilah or when Lilah got back and she cleared it up then (because Lilah was never on board until after they fully resonated so...?). It's just one of those things that makes me scratch my head, since everyone else has a nice neat resonance story/ reason.

The earthquake was a great plot shake up and I am really looking forward to seeing what their new home means and looks like. Though I am slightly going to miss the public bathing pool.

Another icy hot romp on our favorite Ice Planet with our favorite furry, blue, horned barbarians. What's not to like?

Another fantastic alien romance filled with blue aliens from author Ruby Dixon!

These more light-hearted romance novels are fantastic when you're in the mood for females being treasured and aliens with tails, jump into this book today! You can read them stand alone, but you really get more out of it by reading them in order, as you will see old characters pop up in these new stories, as the women are all part of the same blue alien tribe now.

Hassan and Maddie's story is full of banter, sneaking around, and some very steamy moments. They are so different, but definitely fit together best.

If you haven't read the Ice Planet Barbarian series you need to!

3.5 stars - there's great, but getting a little same-same...

In this eighth book in the Ice Planet Barbarian series, Lila's sister Maddie connects with Hassen, the remorseful warrior still in an time-out exile of sorts for kidnapping Lila in Barbarian's Touch, which resulted in her mating. Maddie is a lonely, unskinny heroine struggling to fit in to a new and , and also feisty/maybe a little bratty, and is the perfect challenge and mate for Hassen. Only... she's interested in a friends with benefits situation while he longs for a pleasure-mate. Their connection is real, their navigations around consent and desire sexy, and their longing to belong and to be loved is human and heart-wrenching.

If you need to catch up: the icy cold planet known as non-Hoth (a nice Star Wars allusion) is populated by a velvety blue-skinned, horned and tailed race compatible with humans--they also just happen to have massive ridged phalluses and a special spur that rubs a lover in all the right places. Interspecies mating is a necessity to making homes and hearths thrive again, so long as potential partners agree to a implantation of a local parasite to assist their foreign species habituate to the climate; side benefit that the procedure will also allow humans to feel the resonance that marks a potential mate by manifesting as a vibrating song in one’s chest, not unlike the trope of finding one's soulmates or bershert.

Alongside Dixon's excellent worldbuilding are complex characters and warm relationships and a strong sense of community. The series doesn't take itself too seriously--plenty of chuckle-worthy moments and playfulness. Maddie's narrative flows in her native English, while Hassen's is more abrupt, clipped, and direct, indicating translation--a clever and subtle device to convey his alien nature.

This is another great series that Berkley scooped up, edited, added bonus content to, and redesigned appealing covers for. While this series does appeal more narrowly to certain audience unless we all secretly love monster erotica and just aren't admitting it), the writing is stellar, and readers looking for something outside of their comfort zone will find richly detailed setting, a typical romance novel structure/plot, feisty three-dimensional characters, and lushly detailed intimate scenes. Stand-alone, but the entire series IS available for Kindle Unlimited subscribers - what are you waiting for?

I received a free advance reader's copy of #BarbariansTaming via #NetGalley courtesy of Berkley.

I'm always ready for another Ice Planet Barbarian's book. While this one wasn't my favourite, I still enjoyed it. The world is just so fascinating and there are so many different ways that these characters behave and interact. You'd think with so many books they would be more repetitive but these really are so different each time!

I first read these books years ago so it's been really fun doing a re-read as they are republished.

These books are so much fun! Definitely one of those guilty pleasure reads and not something I would go and tell just anyone to read. But if you're looking for something insanely fun, funny, and a little on the silly side then this will definitely hit the spot.

Maybe it's because I'm a Madd(y), but I loved Maddie. As an older sister myself, I found her relatable. Her struggle to belong on an alien world, and look for a good time, were understandable. It being with the guy who kidnapped her sister...well, no one is perfect.

Maddie and Hassan have quite a ~fiery~ relationship, so you'll have plenty to look forward to. These enemies to lovers to continued enemies but also lovers to (unsurprisingly-because-it's-a-Ruby-Dixon-book) mates will be lots of fun to read.

They began as two kindred souls who were more similar than they realized, but still had to adjust to each other, especially their differences. By the time they resonate, they've overcome and are ready for that final step. Seeing their relationship evolve was fun and interesting with the humor and adventure they embark on.

What I really loved about the book was the world development Ruby put in. I am so excited for the next ones (prehistoric toilets *side eye*)!

In the new edition, we get a bonus epilogue that was so cute and showed Maddie and Hassen missing each other and their reunion and how much they love each other.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for an arc of the new edition (so pretty!) in exchange for an honest review!

Feat: start with a bang (get it girl), possessive MMC, he falls first, virgin MMC

4 stars
3 spice

Another quick and easy read from Not Hoth, where resonance is happening among the chaos that found family and building community naturally brings. I appreciated the fat rep (although from the cover, is she fat or just not thin? lol). Anyway, I did like that Maddie was discombobulated and also unwilling to just fall in line because that's certainly how I think I'd respond to that situation. It made sense as a response to such a new, stressful and overwhelming life change. Hassen and her have a friends-with-benefits situation which was also enjoyable because apart from the spicy smut, we also got to see a friendship grow before resonance. I'm just here for the vibes and they were fine.

Had no clue how I’d feel about this one/Hassen specifically but wow loved it. Two outcasts finding solace in a friends with benefits situation. There was a lot of drama in this one! From Hassen being exiled to the tribe encountering issues just before the brutal season?! Not to mention extremely spicy right off the bat. Honestly can’t complain about any of it.

Our Ice Planet Barbarians really went through it in this book. I really enjoyed Hassen and Maddie together as they were two lonely souls who should not have worked due to earlier situations but ended up being kindred spirits. I also felt like the plot got moved along in this book as things had been relatively smooth on this planet, I'm intrigued to see where they go next.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

Something about Ruby's books is so addictive - I swear time just moves differently when I read them. I'm so invested in the characters on Not Hoth now - and I love how often we as readers get to see previous leading characters living through their happily ever after. Overall, this was a fun time. It wasn't my favorite in the series - I actually found myself thinking a little less of a few characters because of how they were treating Maddie. Her and Hassen's vibes definitely made up for that though. I can't wait for the next book!

Ruby Dixon is pure romance comfort reading. I liked the romance and I also liked that this one had some big events that impacted the whole group and the world they know. And as always, look at that fabulous cover!

<i>ARC Provided by NetGalley<i>

This was really great. I mean at this point in the IPB series you're either into it or you're not. However, I have to say that Dixon does a great job of not only writing characters but also plot and world building. Yes, these are blue alien smut books, but they are also true Sci-fi romances where there's always at least one great action scene, some sort of political/tribal issue at hand and survivalist moments. There are some macro-plot and/or world building reveals in here that are really interesting!

I love Maddie as the strong, mothering independent older sister who feels untethered because all of a sudden, her little sister doesn't need her anymore. She really struggled with change and finding her place. She isn't naturally good at something useful like Josie or Harlow, so she has to work at it. She's also fat and has a moment of having her self-confidence waver, but Hassen loves her just as she is! Enter Hassen, who in a fit of wanting to resonate and find a mate (and family) took her little sister Lila in the last book. Hassen regrets this and just wanted a family after losing his to the khui-sickness years earlier. Maddie asks Hassen to teach her how to hunt (and survive) and what begins as friends with benefits turns into love. I appreciate too that 8 entries into this series that asks you to believe in fated mates and at times "love at first sight" that Dixon plays with the formula. Maddie and Hassen go from FWB to resonating. Other entries have seen dislike to love, slow burn and other tropes at play within this framework of finding your fated mate.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

This was just pure fun. I honestly had such a great time reading this! I didn't know what to expect, but that made it even better ahahah. just pure chaotic fun that was a quick and easy read.