A review by ninahuynh
Barbarian's Mate by Ruby Dixon

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Ok. I know there are mixed feelings about Josie and her actions & reactions towards Haeden. For me, it's the whole not-communicating-leading-to-miscommunication trope, which I seldom enjoy. We get a lot of their respective side of the story, so we are able to understand their actions, but they both fear vulnerability and expressing their thoughts. It's times like this where I think to myself, maybe this is also me in real life to- being so in your own mind and not speaking your feelings and thoughts out of fear of judgement when really, the other person is feeling the same way and would accept you and understand you when you explain.

Josie did remind me a lot of Liz, though not so much a speaker cause of her hotheadedness as it is out of wanting to live for herself finally. She has gone through so much trauma- childhood and with the captor aliens- so it only makes sense that she is more steadfast about not being taken advantage of and looks out for her best interest and happiness now that she has the chance.
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