A review by allingoodtime
Barbarian's Mate by Ruby Dixon

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

4.0

This is the first book in this series I have read as an audiobook and it was great. I was really able to fall into this world without worrying about new words and pronunciations.

While I found Haeden to be overbearing in previous books, I knew his heart was always in the right place. Since he had lost his whole family to illness and barely survived himself, you just know there is a lot that motivates his grim looks and scowls. Josie could never seem to cut him a break, and still doesn’t once they resonate. Once Josie’s backstory is told, I understand her reactions to Haeden a bit more but it still took me a bit to settle into her character.

Although I wasn’t crazy about Josie at first, I still felt there was amazing chemistry between her and Haeden. They couldn’t help but be drawn to each other and it was almost heartbreaking the way they couldn’t get past the chips on their shoulders to see that. Every time it seemed they would finally give into their true feelings there would be a misstep to pull them back again. The way Josie and Haeden both thought they were unwanted broke my heart over and over. Yet in the end they are perfect for each other, the only ones who can understand those feelings and make sure they’re never felt again.

Of course, with Josie being the last of the humans and this book isn’t even halfway through the series, there is a discovery made and some intrigue at the end of the story that will keep things moving along. 
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