*May Contain Spoilers*

Barbarian's Taming is a delightful story that takes us back into this wonderful world of these blue aliens on the ice planet. This is a story that I was nervous about, I wasn't sure what the tone of the story would tone out to be especially since I wasn't in the mood for a super angst romance and this book....was wonderful. *sigh* It was simply so beautiful and I just felt such a kinship to the heroine and this book is pretty vital to the series since there is an event (talked about below) that changes EVERYTHING for this small community.
The last thing I need is to get involved with the bad boy of the ice planet

Our tale begins with the story taking off right after the previous book "Barbarian's Mate" where Maddie is the last of the human women left unmated. Her sister is happily mated and Maddie is feeling more alone than ever. She knows that she was pretty difficult when her sister was kidnapped....she admits that she was HORRID to practically everyone. And she is really bored and she is shocked that she is starting to feel an attraction to the one alien she wants to avoid at all costs....the one that kidnapped her sister and is now considered to be an outcast until he can earn the right to be accepted again.

When Maddie goes out looking to hunt on her own, Hassen interrupts her and starts teaching her the best ways to hunt and to be safe about it. Maddie has a lot to resolve about her own issues, her body image, her jealous and bitterness. Hassen has to resolve his mistakes he has made in the past including kidnapping Maddie's sister. But just when Maddie thinks life isn't so bad, she is learning to survive and finding a connection with Hassen more than anyone else on the planet, the world shifts and their world changes forever when there isn't a safe place for them with a series of earthshakes brings down their home.

Hunt parties are sent out in hopes of finding a safe haven for them all....and Hassen and Maddie are sent to go out hunting and search for a safe haven of caves that can house all of their people before the brutal season sets in. Maddie and Hassen will encounter dangers, enemies and secrets they uncover including a haven for their people and will discover a true mating and love they never imagined neither of them would ever hope to discover....

What a delightful story, I think this might be one of my favorites so far and wow I didn't know how Ruby Dixon would redeem Hassen to be honest...but she did it and so well too. We see a hero that you come to respect and love and I had a blast getting to see another side to Hassen that we haven't seen in previous books. Then we have Maddie, now in the previous book she is a SHREW....she can be pretty horrid especially when you see how jealous she is of her sister and the happiness she has found with her mate. But we see another side to Maddie, the vulnerable and flawed side of her character. I really didn't know how I would feel with this heroine, but honestly, I think Dixon can make you fall in love with each character completely and she did this for Maddie. We see how lonely she is, how she doesn't feel like she fits in with the crowd, her struggles with her image and her weight and not believing she is good enough. How many of us have struggled with this ourselves right? And we see her journey to overcoming her struggles and believing in herself, being proactive and learning to love.

I really admired the way that Ruby Dixon handled the crisis that this group of people are faced with...the trauma, the emotion and the fear and how she handled the way that they overcome it and also the discovery of a new home was phenomenal. There is so much mystery, adventure, and intrigue in the story here that doesn't take away from the romance....only enhances it. I loved the intimacy that develops between Hassen and Maddie....its simply a beautifully woven love story that I didn't want to put down. I adored seeing them come together in the ways that they do.

The third print (re-print) in the Barbarian's series had me hooked from the moment I opened the book. It was SO good. I liked reading it a bit slower so I could imagine these characters faces. I hope this world on the ice planet continues on. I know there are 21 books in the series and I am SO excited to continue these reads. I have not opened this one yet but I know for a fact it will be JUST as good as the others. LOVE this series!

Dang. I appreciate the fat rep, but I am not keen on this portrayal. All Maddie thinks about is McDonald's and eating and how she doesn't want to do or learn anything. Her main concerns are not being accepted because she is lazy and eats more than anyone else. So disappointingly stereotypical and fatphobic.

One element I did like was the pairing between a more sexually experienced human and a less experienced alien, especially reading it from Hassan's perspective.

This is part of a series and would be best enjoyed as part of the series. "Barbarian's Taming" did feel like half a story - cliffhanger-ish. I was surprised when I turned the page, and suddenly, the epilogue came out of nowhere! We end on a bit of a shake-up, which could be interesting for future books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

This one is one of the more emotional entries in the series. We have fiesty main characters that butt heads, but their chemistry is off the charts once they get out of their own way! Their sex scenes were high steam, with a little bit of voyeurism thrown in for good measure. The fact that them being together is also a bit on the taboo side because of what happened in the previous book, just fuels the fire between them, and it worked really well for me. These books are candy to me, and I just adore the series!

Thank you for this ARC!

I am obsessed with the series! Maddie and Hassen are just so perfect for each other! Maddie’s determination and push back attitude was everything and Hassen’s love for her and his tribe! Ahhh, I wish this book was longer! I can’t wait to read the next one!

So the whole cave in was intense. I'm glad things got shook up a little, literally. I was a tad concerned these would get repetitive if they didn't find something new around camp. But they have a new home eventually and with toilets!
Asha and Maddie as roomies was everything. The two most bitter women in the books and they didn't disappoint. Love that Asha just tries to kick her out and Maddie doesn't even care.
This was a mental health journey for them as individuals and mates and I'm glad they have each other. Seeing her as fierce insteas of pushy is so nice. In so many ways he gives her the benefit of the doubt. Of course she had a lot to forgive Hassen for as well but I'm glad he was able to see how he took the wrong sister.

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

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

-m/f scifi romance
-opposites attract
-plus size romance
-forbidden romance
-just a hookup

Hassen and Maddie's story was so entirely reltable. It can be incredibly lonely as everyone around you is finding love and you are just alone. Both Hassen and Maddie were lonely and just kind of fell into each other, relating with each other in a way they never did with anyone else. I enjoyed watching them also jsut care for the other. Hassen definitely redeems himself from the previous book and gets his much deserved HEA.

Of all the IPB books I've read so far, this one was my favorite. I love unexpected relationships, and Maddie and Hassen's felt special. Both outcasts from the tribe in the own way, they found each other at their lowest points and their relationship was built on friendship and a begrudging mutual respect. The plus-size rep really hit for me—I love how she was allowed to be less physically fit and insecure about it without it completely overwhelming her character. And I loved Hassen for helping show her how she could find a place in the tribe <3

"Barbarian's Taming" by Ruby Dixon earns a solid 5 stars from me. Initially, I found the writing style and tone a bit off-putting, but as I delved deeper into the story, I realized that it perfectly encapsulated the dynamic between Maddie and Hassen. Maddie's stubbornness clashes wonderfully with Hassen's brashness, creating a captivating and surprisingly harmonious relationship dynamic.

One aspect I particularly appreciated was the representation of Maddie as plus-size. It's refreshing to see diverse body types represented in literature, and Dixon handles it with authenticity and sensitivity.

Ruby Dixon's Barbarian series has become a comforting escape for me, and this book was no exception. Despite my initial reservations, I found myself fully immersed in Maddie and Hassen's world, eagerly turning pages to see how their story unfolded. A big thank you to Berkley for providing the ARC! I am holding off reading the rest of the series until Berkley publishes them. I love the cartoon covers so much!

I love anything that Ruby Dixon puts out! These books are, for me, a great pallet cleanser from the fantasy books. I will continue reading all her books!

This, the 8th in the Ice Planet Barbarian series, had all the elements you expect in a smutty alien romantasy, and a good Enemies to Lovers trope gives me Front Bottom Shivers.

I loved the fat representation – ’cause big girls deserve Os, too – but I was disappointed in all her self-flagellation.

Instead of all the self-hatred, I’d love to see fat characters just EXIST in stories.

Zero apologies.

That said, you know I’ll be the first in line for #9…and #10…and #27.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for this true blue ARC.

I always love the Ice Planet Barbarian books and this one was no different! Hassen and Maddie's spicy enemies to lovers romance was very engaging and I really related to how they bounded over their feelings of loneliness and isolation. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

In the last book–Barbarian’s Touch–Hassen is left exiled after kidnapping the new human, Lila and trying to force resonance (the mating instinct). Lila’s mate was not Hassen, but there are rules in the tribe to prevent this sort of thing from happening and he broke them. So now Hassen must pay the price. This price however, is almost too high.

You see, Hassen lost all of his family members in the khui sickness several years back. All he wants is a mate and family to love and care for. Hassen’s loneliness is too much to bear and in a state of desperation, he does the unthinkable. And taking away the rest of the tribe from Hassen as punishment just exacerbates his loneliness and despair.

Maddie is the second new human in Not-Hoth and older sister of Lila. She’s furious with Hassen for his actions and glad he’s gone. Well, sort of. Maddie is feeling lost and out of place here in this strange new world. Now that her sister is mated and doesn’t need her help anymore, she’s feeling lonely too. Maddie didn’t make a great first impression on the tribe with the events transpiring with her sister and Hassen, which leaves her friendless and bereft..

As days go by, Maddie starts to realize that she sees in Hassen a kindred spirit. Both lonely and desperate, Maddie befriends Hassen. Yes, it’s complicated. Yes, he kidnapped her sister and yes, he’s in exile. But there’s just something about him. Could be his die hard dedication to the tribe, out-hunting all the hunters. Could be his penetrating stare that makes Maddie all tingly. Or it could be that magic blue baseball bat in his loincloth 😏

Barbarian’s Taming is a great story with a relatable storyline. I enjoyed the colorful way in which Ms. Dixon addressed Hassen and Maddie’s struggles in the book. There’s also some pretty intense surprises and a whole lot of hot barbarian loving. Definitely recommend this and the entire series!

I've read the first Ice Planet Barbarians book a while ago and liked it enough. The romance is well-written and the humor has its moments that hit. Maddie and Hassen are very cute but I wish that there was more of a general discussion about what happened with Lila before anything physical happened.

I am always ready for another in this series, and Barbarian's Taming did not disappoint! If anything, it was the opposite-- I wasn't sure what to think about Maddie or Hassen after the last book, and this one really did a good job picking up that thread and giving us their perspectives. And, of course, their love story.

Maddie is a pariah among these strange people on this strange planet, while her sister is doing so well-- she found a mate, found fruit for everyone-- and now Maddie's purpose of protecting her sister is basically defunct. Meanwhile, Hassen is exiled for having kidnapped Maddie's sister, hoping she would be his mate.

Since they're both outcasts, Maddie and Hassen have something in common. He can also take all of Maddie's snark in stride, even if there's that whole kidnapping-your-sister issue between them. How they fall in love and navigate family, as well as catastrophe among the tribe, is well done. I love how Hassen reacts to Maddie, and seeing her soften toward the tribe was joyful. The best part was her allowing herself to be vulnerable with Hassen-- I really enjoyed them, and am looking forward to seeing how the tribe is doing in the next book!

I highly recommend this. Don't miss it!

Maddie and Hassen are just perfection. Both are completely insufferable at some point and fully needed redemption stories and Ruby delivers all of that perfectly.

Maddie has just landed on Not-Hoth with her sister Lila in the 2nd wave of lady Not-Hoth ice settlers. This book picks up right where Barbarian's Touch leaves off. Maddie is jelly that Lila has resonated and doesn't need her anymore and she's also getting the hots for her sister's previous kidnapper. Hassen is the Ice Planet Himbo and we love him for it. Both he and Maddie are outcasts is some way and throughout the story the two get ultra spicy but they also realize they can be massive supports for one another.

I love a redemption story and this one totally pulls through. This particular book is a big moment in the series and sort of shakes things up on Not-Hoth.

I would absolutely recommend this book. I would say to read Barbarian's Touch first and can be read as a duo. But I also super recommend to start at the beginning too.

I cannot stop reading these stories and I am full on obsessed. Seriously, who knew the blue men of NotHoth would be some of the best book boyfriends/resonate mates ever?

I particularly enjoyed this book because our heroine is not the teeny tiny human the others are. She confidently embraces herself as a thick and fat woman (she proudly calls herself these). But while also being comfortable in her skin, she also isn’t perfect and we experience the mental repercussions of trying to love the skin we are in. She finds herself equal parts empowering and critical of herself and I feel like this is a very very real mindset for those of us who aren’t tiny and deal with body confidence.

Can’t wait to read the next book and won’t stop recommending these to everyone!

4 ⭐ Maddie is hands down the funniest humans on Not-Hoth


Is it . . . wrong to want to tap the ass of a man that kidnapped my sister? Probably. Am I thinking about it anyhow? Oh, yeah.


WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ alien romance
✨ mars needs women trope
✨ fated mates
✨ grumpy x grumpy
✨ stubborn MCs
✨ friends with benefits
✨ he falls first
✨ Virgin MMC
✨ Plus size FMC
✨ size difference
✨ 3/5 spice 🌶️
✨ exhibitionism 😉
✨ series plot drama
✨ HEA for the couple
✨ TW: loss of loved one, depression, traumatic wounds (not the MCs)


My Thoughts:

Maddie is an absolute riot! So many people love Liz, and she's a hoot, but for some reason, Maddie just had me cracking up every chapter! She's not even trying to be funny. Here's just one example:

"Everyone in the tribe adores her and they can barely tolerate me. I’m like a stinky fart that’s lingering in the cave and everyone tries to ignore." 😂

Even though Hassen was portrayed as a brute in the previous book, he really is just such a misunderstood sweetheart. All he wants is someone to love, cherish, and adore. Hassen was so desperate that he tried to force resonance like others before, but it had been a mistake and, now, he feels like a monster. After reading his POV, I felt bad for the guy and wanted him to be happy. He's such a softie, and I would die for him. When he calls Maddie, "my heart." 🥹 So sweet!

Maddie and Hassen have such great chemistry. Their banter is hilarious and the sex is off the charts! 🔥🔥🔥 Hassen is a virgin, and Maddie, one of the more sexually adventurous women, can't wait to rock his world. While she's a great teacher, Hassen is an even better student and quickly learns just how to make her wild. Let's just say they are very entertaining. 😉

I also really enjoyed that Maddie and Hassen are similar in a lot of ways. They’re incredibly stubborn. They struggle with feeling lonely and out of place. And they both have such big hearts and value family. It was a pairing I didn’t expect but it totally worked!

Damn, that ending!!! Kudos to Ruby Dixon because I did not expect something like that to happen! I was terrified for the tribe, especially Hassen and Pashov. But I’m excited to see what’s next for everyone!

The only thing I didn’t like was that the MC’s inner thoughts were very repetitive. So, after a while, I skimmed those sections.


Overall, Barbarian's Taming was a great addition to the IPB series. There's drama, humor, a smidge of angst, and the characters are lovable.

Ohhhh my god this plot line!! Shit is getting real!! I LOVE where this series is going and I am so here for it. Maddie was a badass, the only thing that wasn’t the best is she seemed to be a little self depreciating about her weight, but I did like how her mate communicated his feelings about her.

I will always always always love Ruby Dixon's work. Especially the ice planet barbarian series! Barbarian's Taming is no different! Hassan and Maddie's story is and always will be one of my favorites!! This book is so very fun!