You know a series is going to be amazing if the phenomenal introduction to a series is topped by it’s sequel. At this point I have read almost every book in the ice planet barbarians and ice home series and have so far tried to convince anyone and everyone I feel comfortable talking about alien smut with why they should read these books.

Liz and Raahosh out of all the ipb books I have read so far still stick out as being my favorite couple in the series. Liz being light and playful while also such a strong and confident woman who knows her worth and that she is brave and fierce was just so unbelievably refreshing. I also love how she’s such a big nerd she told Raahosh the entirety of the Star Wars and spin off plots.

I felt the dynamic and pacing of this book had such amazing flow and it really was hard to put down once you start. The tension between Liz and Raahosh was also delicious and I was basically eating popcorn watching and waiting for them to realize they had feelings for each other😂

1000% my favorite installment in the series and it was wonderful to get a chance to go back to where everything started and revisit it.

Also I truly appreciate the new look of the books because I’m no longer embarrassed about owning physical copies for this series.

I have to confess, Ruby Dixon is my guilty pleasure. I first discovered her Fireblood Dragon series a few years ago and I’ve been hooked ever since. All of her titles are fun, steamy, and low-stress. They provide a great break from the high-stakes fantasy series I normally read, because I know there will always be a HAE. Barbarian Alien is no exception to this rule. I would recommend this book if you’re looking for something with equal parts sex and humor.

This is only the second book I've read in this series but I feel like Liz acted much more typically of a female trapped on an alien planet, especially a female mated to Raahosh. I enjoyed the banter even if it was mainly one sided at first. Can't wait to read more of these books!

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

This series is just so fun and enjoyable! I'm so excited that we got new covers that are more discreet, as well as bonus material! This is probably my favourite book of the series!

I can't believe how much I'm loving this fucking series.

I know you all told me I would, but I just couldn't imagine loving these blue horned aliens. But you were right, they are amazing and the 2nd book was so perfect.

Liz and her sarcastic mouth is by far my favorite so far. I want to be just like her if I'm ever kidnapped by aliens.

On to the next!!

This is the second book in the Ice Planet Barbarian series and stars Liz and Raahosh. She's a smart-mouthed, contrary sort of woman. He's a bit of a mystery. He's scarred and quiet and something of an outsider in his tribe.

When their symbionts resonate for each other, they have wildly different reactions. He is so happy to finally have someone of his own and to be able to make a family. She's completely against anyone or anything making decisions for her.

When he kidnaps her and decides to keep her until their mating bond is fixed, she is decidedly unhappy. But when they are found and returned to the clan, she is disturbed to find that Raahosh is to be exiled for his act of kidnapping her.

By this time, she's pregnant and has fallen in love with the big surly alien and she isn't going to let anyone separate them. She begins a successful campaign to irritate everyone in the clad until they exile her out of sheer frustration. Meanwhile, Raahosh hangs around their cave and brings gifts of food to Liz to show his devotion. And he neglects his own health and well-being.

This was another sexy romp with stranded human women and big blue aliens on a planet that is hostile to both species. Fans of erotic light science fiction will enjoy this story.

Not as good as the first one, I found these characters unlikeable compared to the first book.
Still like the idea and unique story of the series!

Okay… I was vibing with the first book but I’m just not a fan of Raashosh… at all! I talked to a few people who read the series and they pointed out the same thoughts as me towards him and his major unlikeliness! Other than that, I’m really excited to continue this series and get to know more of the blue aliens haha!

Barbarian Alien was another wild ride! This book focused on Liz and Raahosh and was an entertaining enemies to lovers, forced proximity, sci-fi romance. I didn’t love the two main characters at first, but I thought they were perfect for each other. Both were so grumpy and surly that it was hilarious to see them go head to head. I especially loved seeing the more gentle side of Raahosh and his loyalty and concern for his mate was A+ over the top. LOL There was great build up to the sexy times and they were absolutely scorching! Ruby Dixon really knows how to bring the heat!

I think going into this series with an open mind and suspending disbelief makes these stories much more enjoyable. The ultra alpha possessive fated mates trope isn’t for everyone, but the story kept me entertained and I’m curious enough to continue on with the series. The special edition includes a great bonus epilogue as well as a honeymoon short story. I also appreciated the author’s note at the end and the insight into the original versus special edition covers.

CW: lack of/dubious consent, death of parent, grief, violence/fighting, kidnapping, alien abduction (past), fear of abandonment

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

I think this book was honestly much better than the first. However, I think that is a little bias just because I like Liz a lot. I think the plot of this story was honestly really interesting especially with the exile aspect. I am intrigued to see how the whole story continues especially when it comes to these women having these alien babies. I also find the pop culture references to be really funny throughout these books!

With Liz, we get an entirely different story than in Ice Planet Barbarians. I was worried that it was going to be the same as in the first, but I ended up enjoying this one way more. Liz was more of my character: can't stop talking, sarcastic and a tinge bitter - can you blame her?? - and very upset about the khui. Because um, if this were me I would be SO upset about it. And for Liz the central issue is agency, a lack of being able to chose her own future. In Barbarian Alien, I feel like we get to see a much more realistic reaction to their situation.

To still processing their initial abduction, to being left in the cold to basically starve and die, and now to being forced to take the khui to survive. Can we blame Liz for being angry and a bit bitter? I'd be in her boat too. Which made me appreciate Liz's anger and her time to process her choices and what happened. It felt like a more natural progression as a reader and so I ended up resonating more with Liz.

I am an absolute FAN of these books. These special editions published by Berkley are seriously AMAZING. They just give so much more in the stories by including a brand new epilogue and the couple's novella. I really hope that these books receive the praise and compliments it deserves so we can get the other books in special edition formats. I mean, just look at the cover! It's stunning and so much better than the original ones (not to rag on those). Of course, this isn't genuine literature and the majority of people will say these books will rot your brains but reading is supposed to be fun and escapist. I'm not sure what could be more escapist than following a group of young women as they acclimate to a planet that is completely covered in ice while they become extra cozy with some blue aliens. Sign me up for all the rest of the books!

If I’m being honest, I was pleasantly surprised while reading this! The book starts out when the girls are rescued from the ship and continues on from there in Liz’s POV this time. I really do love a sarcastic a**hole and Liz delivered! In the real world do I think this would be a toxic start to a relationship? Absolutely. However, in this world and with these two, I was LOVING the banter and sass from them. Even after reading 2 books about 7 foot blue aliens, I’m still getting used to the idea of it, but I flew through this! It actually made me want to read the third and my curiosity will likely prevail. If you liked the first book, you’ll definitely like this one and it’s a quick read so win win.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an arc of the special edition of Barbarian Alien.

We continue our Not-Hoth barbarian love fest with Barbarian Alien. It improves on the first in the series in the way most sequels are better than the origin story: we don't have to read about the alien abduction and subsequent crash landing on an ice planet. Instead we start in medias res with a little forced symbiote implantation and fated mate kidnapping. We hate to say that kidnapping is the right answer, but it's true that once Liz and Raahosh are alone together, they are able to get to know each other without outside influences.

Raahosh is a super grump, and usually we see grumps paired with a sunshiny companion. Instead, Liz is just as grumpy as he is, and we liked it. He's also, as Liz says, "a bona fide alien virgin," so, y'know, keep that in mind too. We have a suspicion that the farther away from the origin story of the humans on Not-Hoth we get, the more we're going to enjoy the books. Also, don't worry: Raahosh's body has all of the requisite sa-khui accoutrements. (Dare we say that this book was hotter than the first?)

After reading several of the IPB books, this one is still my favorite. Liz and Raahosh are a top tier couple! We stan a scarred virgin grumpy hero and a sassy, strong heroine (Liz actually gave me Nesta vibes). Just like with book 1, I was pleasantly surprised by how good the world building is and Ruby Dixon is making me obsessed with alien smut lol!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: kidnapping, alien abduction (past), death of a love one (past), grief

This is the second book in the series and while I think they can be read as standalone I think you get more out of reading the series in order

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f fated mates
-SF romance
-kidnapping
-close-proximity
-frenemies to lovers
-a lot of sexual tension
-hurt/comfort
-just a hookup

I really enjoyed all of the banter, sooo much sexual tension, as two very stubborn people (well human and an alien lol) tried to fight in a lot of ways the fact that they were falling in love only to be pulled apart. Somehow I become a bigger and bigger fan of the kidnapping trope the more I read it. This was a reread for me and I think I enjoyed it even more this time with the addition of the new epilogue and the novella at the end. I loved the completed arc getting to see the couple fully in their HEA. I'm really enjoying these special editions.

Steam: 4

I honestly cannot get enough of this series. What it lacks in plot, it makes up for in sexy blue aliens and a whole lot of fun times. I will definitely be continuing on with the series.

Sexy times on an isolated planet with a super hunky barbarian alien, sign me up! I love Lizs' snarky sarcasm and humor and the silent and brooding Raahosh.

These are now my guilty pleasure reads when I need a break oops so enjoyable.

If you loved book one you’ll love this one even more!!! Liz is so sassy and fierce and I love her and rahoosh together. The plot in these books so fun and they’re a great happy read.

4 ⭐ What can I say? I had a good time 🛸👽

Summary:

Liz was one of twelve human women abducted and stranded on an ice planet. Luckily, they were able to get the help of tall, blue, horned alien males. But if the women want to survive, they need to take on a symbiont, khui or cootie, that will rewire their bodies to live in such a brutal environment.

At the last minute, Liz freaks out and refuses to take the symbiont but one of the aliens forces one into her body and steals her away. Liz wakes up in a cave, alone, with Raahosh realizing their khui's have claimed each other as mates, and once the khui decides, it's final.


My Thoughts:

If you love enemies-to-lovers / opposites attract / the sassy bitch and grumpy ass-hole pairing, you're in for a treat. Liz is spunky, strong-willed, sarcastic, and vulgar while Raahosh is quiet, possessive, and a loner. Together, they clash and are absolutely hysterical.

The world-building, banter, character development, and sex scenes are amazing! This plot is definitely more romance-focused than the first book, but I'm not complaining. That just means more sexual tension and smut for the reader. ✌🏼


Overall, a fantastic second book to the series! Can't wait to read the rest!