Barbarian King's Mate

Warriors of the Lost Planet

De: Ivy Sparks

Narrado por: Azalea Blau

I expected something to go wrong during this expedition but I didn't expect him.

This planet was supposed to be unpopulated. Well, someone needs to be fired, because there are freaking barbarians here! And they aren't exactly friendly.

But then there's Garath. He's different from the rest. There's something about his devilish horns, his striking tattoos, and his possessive stare that sets my body on fire.

Problem is, his people are a bit hostile toward outsiders, and who can blame them? They've been hunted across the galaxy for years. But until I find my radio, I'm stuck here at their mercy. That typically doesn't bode well for a single fertile female—Garath's saved me from certain death before, but can he protect me from his own tribe? There's only one way he can make sure nobody else touches me.

He has to claim me for himself.

He has to make me his queen.

Barbarian King's Mate is an alien sci-fi romance, from the new Warriors of the Lost Planet series of standalone books. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a very happily ever after is guaranteed.

©2021 Ivy Sparks (P)2024 Ivy Sparks

science

Two cultures clash as flora and fauna that exist on a planet fight for dominance and survival. Prejudice and traditions war with understanding and lust.

Good book

Garreth and Daphany. Daphany is one tough human woman that saved a village and race that was near extinction because of her bravery and intelligence. Garreth is a strong warrior king that protected to little human from all danger. Together these two brought peace to their village This story is full of action, adventure, danger, steamy, fated mates, and HEA.

The audiobook is done very well. The narrator does a wonderful job with the narration. Shecmakes each character come to life as she narrates.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Yummy Hero, Smart Heroine, Whoa Spicy!

If you like your heroes HUNKY (all caps on purpose!) this is going to work for you really well. If you like a smart heroine who doesn't 'dumb down' to get her man as well, this is so going to tick those boxes too. However, on a scale of sweet to sticky intimate scenes, this is very, very sticky! Not 100% my style, but if it's yours, you are going to be wildly happy with this novel. It will definitely keep it spiiiiicy.

I agree with everyone else who says this narrator does a great job bringing a larger cast to life. Extra star just for the narration here.

Loved the Story Except For …

I'll admit I don't read or listen to much sci-fi alien romance, but when one shows up at a book review site in audiobook format, I'll give it a go. I found everything in this story enjoyable except for one thing, and it is a pretty important thing for a romance. I found the characters fascinating and the situation they were in tricky and intriguing, wondering how they could triumph over incredible odds against a foe who seemed unbeatable. Smart heroine to the rescue! I love it when STEM heroines use their intelligence and technology to help entire civilizations triumph, thrive, and prosper.

The hero and heroine had genuine chemistry, and the hero is one of my favorite types, the cinnamon-roll hero. He's the warrior prince and heir of his near-tribal alien race, so he's a big, tough guy. But, the reader or listener figures out quickly that because of how his father has treated him for so long, his lack of self-worth is a huge problem. He can't quite believe he would be enough to make the heroine want to stay on his savage alien world. He was attracted to the heroine right away, when he saves her from a hideous band of giant scorpion creatures, who seem to like to either kill or sexually assault females. Our protective hero not only saves her from the ultimate villains of the book but also goes to his societal limits to do as much as he can to protect her from his own father, the king. The king has no love for any outsiders and has been known to either kill them or exile them, just putting them outside of the safety of their cavern so they are subject not only to the elements but also to the cruel race that shares the planet. I like how the author brought these elements around full circle in the end. The old king certainly had a lot of bluster and power, but he's not dumb. As things are revealed to him, he comes to appreciate the heroine … and even his own son better. A couple of very touching scenes show important people who have passed, spirits who show themselves to those they loved in life. Very sweet and moving.

So, what didn't I like? The intimate scenes! I'm not in any way a prude or opposed to a well-written steamy scene. But these ones, what can I say, they were just over the top and crude beyond belief. They didn't really actually seem to go with the characters, and I'm a firm believer that any intimate scenes between a couple in a romance need to not just reflect the bump-and-grind but should also reflect character. Some terminology the author used, oh my! I've never heard other authors use some of these terms in an intimate scene, and they just were not remotely sexy, like a woman referring to her interior nether regions as “tissues.” Much of the intimate scenes were more ewwww than yummm, at least in my book! But I liked the rest of the story and characters well enough that I can give this a cautious recommendation. But you've been warned about the mostly icky and OTT intimate scenes!

Enjoyable Exoplanet Romp

I loved this. I was a little worried the "oh no, I'm a human lost on a strange planet" would be too much for the story to handle, but it was dealt with gracefully (by author and voice artist both). Garath and Daphne butt heads from the moment of his rescuing her to the very end and its bonus epilogue. Science versus tribal civilization, blushing beauty versus horned and tattooed alien. I enjoyed the two sides of the narration, the perspective changing from a tech-minded human woman lost in a jungle she was ready to study but perhaps not quite so up close to the barbarian warrior prince with his desire to do the right thing by his mate, even if what he thinks that might be is thick-headed stupidity on his part. She has to catch up from being the brilliant protege safely in her mentor's shadow pretty darned quick, but with a massive muscled hunk to keep her safe, maybe it's not so bad? I liked their mixed messages, not so much as to be true miscommunication (which might have been a little much given how differing these two were), but rather trying to do their best and not really knowing how to bridge the gap between them. I enjoyed the story and I think anyone looking for a scifi romantic fling would enjoy Garath and Daphne's story.