The Gist: This viral sci-fi erotica series follows a group of women abducted by aliens who crash land on a planet stuck in an ice age as they learn to survive in their new circumstances and fall in love with their ice planet barbarians.
About the Series
Most of the books in Ruby Dixon’s Ice Planet Barbarians series centre on a human woman, her fated alien mate, and their trials of becoming a couple while surviving on a planet colder than the arctic tundra.
Each of the books concludes with a happy-for-now (HFN) ending. Because the series follows a tight-knit group, the reader gets casual updates on the lives of couples from previous books. When a review (below) mentions “[the couple’s] story continues in:” it means those books are told (at least in part) from the perspective of that couple.
The series review includes reviews on the following books (listed in order of release). Each book listed as a sub-bullet point (e.g. Book 7.1) must be read after the book it’s listed under. To read books 7.1 and 7.2, you’re supposed to read Book 7 first.
Books with a 🌟 beside them are some of my favourites in the series! Important to note is that in each book review, I note where the book and couple rank in the 20-book series (with 1st being the best). Since the series follows a close-knit community, many couples are prominently featured in later books. This may explain why a lower-ranked book’s couple is higher-ranked (see Barbarian’s Alien, for example).
| Order | Title | Couple(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Book #11 | Barbarian’s Hope | Asha & Hemalo |
| Book #12 | Barbarian’s Choice | Farli & Mardok 🌟 |
| Book #13 | Barbarian’s Redemption | Elly & Bek 🌟 |
| Book #14 | Barbarian’s Lady | Kate & Harrec |
| Book #15 | Barbarian’s Rescue | Summer & Warrek |
| Book #16 | Barbarian’s Tease | Brooke & Taushen |
| Book #16.5 | The Barbarian Before Christmas | Elly & Bek |
| Book #17 | Barbarian’s Beloved | Ariana & Zolaya 🌟 |
| Book #17.1 | A Gift for Drenol | |
| Book #17.5 | Barbarian’s Valentine | Maddie & Hassen, Josie & Haeden |
| Book #18 | Barbarian’s Seduction | Marlene & Zennek 🌟 |
| Book #19 | Barbarian’s Treasure | Megan & Cashol |
| Book #20 | Barbarian’s Bride | Nora & Dagesh |
Note: Each book in the series is Standalone unless otherwise stated.
Barbarian’s Hope (Ice Planet Barbarians, #11)
Release Date: November 18, 2016
But then a terrible thing happened…and my world was never the same again.
Now resonance is giving us a second chance, but…I’m afraid. What if what I have with my mate is too broken to be fixed? What if there’s no hope left for us at all?
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• Heroine and Hero are grieving the death of their child (on-page)
• Heroine is struggling with depression
• No OW/OM drama
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing each other away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
– They were broken up for ~1 year but both were celibate
– However, while grieving the loss of her child, the Heroine hit on other men to lash out at her mate
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: Kindle
Rating: 4.5-stars
Couple: Asha & Hemalo
I normally hate second chance romances, I’m of the mind that people break up for a reason and very few authors have the ability to change my mind. However, I really enjoyed Barbarian’s Hope.
The book follows the story of Asha and Hemalo, who’ve been separated for the whole series at the point of this book. Asha is widely disliked in the Ice Planet Barbarians series; she’s antagonistic, is not friendly with the human women and spent most of her page-time hitting on the single men of the tribe (she also heavily pursued Aehako in his and Kira’s book, Barbarian Lover). Barbarian’s Hope accomplishes what I thought was impossible, it made me love Asha and depicted a convincing second chance romance.
To be honest, prickly Heroines are a favourite of mine because they refuse to compromise their feelings to make others comfortable (i.e. there’s no “polite” grieving here). Asha’s grief from the loss of her child is the main focus of Barbarian’s Hope, and as the story develops, it becomes evident Asha is struggling with depression. Both her grief and depression manifest through anger, self-hate, convincing herself none of the human women want to be her friend and the belief that Hemalo hates her.
What made Barbarian’s Hope shine, though, was Asha and Claire’s friendship. I loved how Claire’s perspective was added to deepen the slow development of their friendship, especially considering their personalities are so different (Asha is very blunt, whereas Claire is quite shy).
Ranking of Book: 4th of 20
Ranking of Couple: 11th of 20
Barbarian’s Choice (Ice Planet Barbarian, #12)
Release Date: December 11, 2016
But when an alien ship lands and a handsome stranger steps out, I know he’s the one. His name’s Mardok and he’s fascinatingly different – and distractingly appealing. But Mardok can’t stay on the ice planet, and he says he can take me with him.
Now, I must make a choice. Do I stay and lose my mate forever? Or do I follow him to the stars and leave behind everything I know?
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• C@ncer
• Slavery
• Heroine is a virgin
• No OW/OM drama
• Does have the Hero pushing the Heroine away
• No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: Kindle
Rating: 4.25-stars
Couple: Farli & Mardok
Farli’s has always been a ray of sunshine in the Ice Planet Barbarians series, but her kindness and innocence radiated off the pages of Barbarian’s Choice. The cultural misunderstandings between Farli and Mardok (she can’t understand Mardok for the first portion of the book) create some hilarious blunders between them.
The novel’s premise – Mardok and his crew are stuck on the Ice Planet until he can fix their ship – forces Mardok to confront his worst fears while gifting him with his deepest desire: someone to love and call his mate. There’s a lot of angst about whether Mardok can bring himself to stay on the planet, given his severe PTSD about being left behind. To be honest, Mardok’s reluctance to stay and his mercenary crew dragged the rating. of Barbarian’s Choice down; the crew specifically had too much page time. Although, I enjoyed how Mardok’s captain posed a shocking question to the tribe: the opportunity to leave the planet and for the human women to be returned to Earth!
Since Mardok is the same species as the Sa-khui, the reader understands some of the intergalactic histories that resulted in the tribe being stranded on their planet. I love how each book in the series further develops the world-building and brings interesting facts to light about their world.
Ranking of Book: 5th of 20
Ranking of Couple: 7th of 20
Barbarian’s Redemption (Ice Planet Barbarian, #13)
Release Date: February 6, 2017
In a tribe full of happy couples, I am alone. But I am not content to remain this way. There are no eligible unmated females left, so I will do whatever it takes to bring females back to our tribe…even if it means doing something wrong. Even if it means I must purchase my mate on the intergalactic black market. I will do anything to possess her, to claim her as my own
.
But will my ruthless move turn my female against me before we ever meet? Can she ever forgive a male that bought her freedom?
• Allusion to psychological torture and sexual assault in the Heroine’s past
• Desperate for a mate, the Hero asks a space-crew to bring back humans not realizing he’s purchasing slaves
• No OM drama
• Does have slight OW drama
– The Hero is still close friends with his ex-girlfriend, to whom he gave his virginity
• Does have the Heroine pushing the Hero away
• No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: Kindle
Rating: 4-stars
Couple: Elly & Bek
Bek was not well-liked leading up to Barbarian’s Redemption, and considering his actions in Barbarian’s Choice—he paid for Mardok’s crew to bring back enslaved human women unbeknownst to his tribe—there was a lot he had to make up for.
After reading Claire and Ereven’s story in Ice Planet Holiday, I can assuredly say that Elly is 100% the person for Bek. Both need their significant others’ whole world to be the other. Yes, I know that’s not healthy, but that’s why the book is a piece of fiction 😉.
Elly has been enslaved and kept as a pet since she was a pre-teen. Her life has been a series of traumatic events that leave her mute and untrusting once she arrives on Ice Planet. A tactic she’s used to stop people from touching her is refusing to wash herself. What I appreciated about Bek was that he accepted Elly at face value and didn’t try to change her. He wanted her even covered in an inch of grime. I think part of why I loved Elly and Bek’s romance so much was how Ruby gave them time to breathe, for Elly to come to terms with her new reality and for Bek to realize the harm he unknowingly did by purchasing people.
However, I didn’t rate Barbarian’s Redemption higher because of the significant role Claire played in the book. Her son loves Bek, which was cute, but yielded a uncomfortable dynamic that placed Bek in almost a paternalistic role (rather than the kid’s actual father and Claire’s mate, Ereven). There is one scene where Claire thanks Bek for saving her son’s life and throws herself at Bek, hugging him, despite Elly clinging to Bek’s arm. I probably would’ve brushed it off as a thankful mother if Claire hadn’t told Elly, don’t worry, I’m not trying to steal your man (or something along that vein). This suggests Claire knows how it came across and infers that she could steal him if she wanted to (which is categorically untrue). The scene just put a really bad taste in my mouth partly because for how significant a role Claire and her son play in the book, neither Bek or Elly discuss his past relationship with Claire. There’s no assurance that Bek’s feelings are purely friendship.
Ranking of Book: 6th of 20
Ranking of Couple: 5th of 20
Elly & Bek’s story continues in:
The Barbarian Before Christmas (Ice Planet Barbarians, #16.5)
102 pages
Barbarian’s Lady (Ice Planet Barbarian, #14)
Release Date: November 3, 2015
One guy in particular – the alien Harrec – is determined to embarrass me by pretending he’s interested. He’s a jokester that flirts like mad and hits on me constantly just to make me feel foolish. He gets under my skin. He makes me so frustrated I want to scream.
When a side-trip to a glacier turns into a nightmare and the two of us are forced to survive alone, I see another side to the enticing blue alien. Even with no one else around, his compliments keep coming and I start wondering if the attraction between us… is real.
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• Gore (MCs fight two starving snow leopards)
• Animal deaths (The adult snow leopards are killed by the MCs but they adopt the baby snow leopard)
• Medical trauma
• Both the Hero and Heroine are virgins
• No OW/OM drama
• Does have the Heroine pushing the Hero away
• No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: Kindle
Rating: 3.5-stars
Couple: Kate & Harrec
Barbarian’s Lady was a cute, fun and flirty book. Despite his prowess as a hunter, Harrec is a clumsy disaster of a man and is constantly getting into trouble. As a result, Kate automatically typecasts him as the jokester, not realizing his over-profusive attention for her is genuine. In fact, Harrec has had a crush on Kate since she arrived at the tribe. Quite a few cultural misunderstandings get in the way of Kat and Harrec’s romance. For instance, Harrec constantly compliments Kate on her height (she’s around 6 feet, whereas most human women are under 5’5″). To Kate, he’s embarrassing her, as her height back on Earth is seen as masculine. But, to Harrec, her build emulates that of the Sa-khui women he grew up with.
In an effort to whoo Kate and hopefully spark resonance between them, Harrec concocts a wild plan that results in him being wounded. They are stranded just when they need the help of their tribe the most. While the situation is grave, the banter between the couple makes for quite a few funny scenes.
However, the number of misunderstandings kind of dragged the story down. Also, I didn’t really connect with Kate and Herrac as a couple. Barbarian’s Lady was enjoyable but didn’t stand out in the series.
Ranking of Book: 18th of 20
Ranking of Couple: 15th of 20
Barbarian’s Rescue (Ice Planet Barbarian, #15)
Release Date: June 11, 2017
Rogue slavers have landed on the ice planet and captured the tribe. The only ones not snatched? Me, a walking human motormouth with no skill except that of incoherent babbling, and Warrek, who’s as silent as he is attractive. Two more unlikely people have never been paired together.
And now we’re supposed to form a rescue team.
Saving the others is either going to bring us closer together – or drive us completely apart. I’m pretty sure the feelings I’m having for my alien companion are as unrequited as they are inappropriate, but since we aren’t going to make it out alive, what harm is one teeny, tiny kiss?
Who knew that one kiss could change everything?
• Gun (laser?) violence
• Blood and gore
• Reference to slavery
• No OW/OM drama
• No pushing away
• No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: Kindle Unlimited
Rating: 3.75-stars
Couple: Summer & Warrek
Barbarian’s Rescue had such a good, action-filled plot. I had such high expectations for the book since the Hero’s characterization is one of my favourites: the strong, silent type (I know I’m basic 😂). However, I didn’t think there was enough development in Warrek’s character to make me care about him. Don’t get me wrong, he was nice and sweet and complimented Summer well. But the oomph was missing.
I knew starting the book Summer’s characterization would annoy me—she’s a nervous talker who blathers on and on about the most inane things. I liked how Warrek didn’t mind this, but as a fellow introvert, I got exhausted from just reading the dialogue. I can’t imagine having a friend or significant other who doesn’t stop talking 💀.
The characterizations of the main characters are why Barbarian’s Rescue wasn’t a 4-star read. However, the action, suspense, and ingenious rescue mission – led by Summer! – made this book really entertaining.
Ranking of Book: 12th of 20
Ranking of Couple: 16th of 20
Barbarian’s Tease (Ice Planet Barbarian, #16)
Release Date: July 8, 2017
I never intended to seduce Taushen, but things happened. I don’t dwell on the past and while it was great, I’m not looking for a relationship. Of course, try telling that to Taushen. The big blue alien’s in love after one night, and it’s making things darn awkward. We’ve got bigger problems than whether or not I’m his woman, like the ‘cargo’ of the space ship that landed here.
But Taushen’s not giving up. He thinks I’m his mate.
And he’ll do anything to keep me.
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• Heroine is roofied and given an aphrodisiac. Not realizing what happened to the Heroine, the Hero sleeps with her, thinking she wants to be his mate.
• Gun violence
• Allusion to r@pe
• No OW/OM drama
– Although, the MCs are worried the other will resonate to someone else
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and heroine pushing each oter away
• No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: Kindle Unlimited
Rating: 3.75-stars
Couple: Brooke & Taushen
Brooke seemed really wishy-washy, which I didn’t appreciate. Normally, I always take the Heroine’s “side” (Team Asha!), yet even in Barbarian’s Tease I didn’t sympathize with Brooke; she would get frustrated or hurt by Taushen… yet, she’s the one – in his eyes (from his cultural perspective) – saying she wants to mate with him (essentially marry him), to just being friends, and then wanting more. I was getting whiplash, attempting to keep up with her decisions. I also found it frustrating how she fell into this stereotypical “modern woman” idea that freedom means being unattached. Freedom is different for everyone, but the way Brooke was attempting to convince Taushen he had it made by being able to play the field felt icky. (It goes against his culture.)
However, once Brooke and Taushen became friends, I really enjoyed the book. They’re cute together, and it was nice to see Taushen become the carefree and joyful self he was at the beginning of the series.
Barbarian’s Tease also teases at the new spin-off series, Icehome! I love how we get even more books in this world, but with 20+ new additions (and not all of them human), it’ll be really fun to see what the future dynamics are like in Icehome.
Ranking of Book: 13th of 20
Ranking of Couple: 13th of 20
Barbarian’s Beloved (Ice Planet Barbarian, #17)
Release Date: February 7, 2018
But can I convince her that she can be happy in this strange new world with me?
This story explores the long-awaited romance of Ariana and Zolaya. Even though it is a ‘flashback’ to the beginning of the Ice Planet Barbarians series, it can be read out of order.
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• Heroine has anxiety; she cries a lot as a result
• No OW/OM
– Heroine has been celibate for the past year
– Hero is a virgin
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• No pushing away
• No separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: Kindle
Rating: 3.5-stars
Couple: Ariana & Zolaya
I really appreciated how Ruby decided to address Ariana’s anxiety. It helped transform the earlier characterizations of Ariana in other books (and by other characters) as simply weepy.
In Barbarian’s Beloved, it becomes evident quite early on how strong Ariana is. I also loved how supportive and understanding her mate is.
Ranking of Book: 7th of 20
Ranking of Couple: 8th of couple
Barbarian’s Seduction (Ice Planet Barbarian, #18)
Release Date: March 15, 2019
But resonance chooses, and it has chosen her for me. And Marlene is quite determined to seduce me…and who can say no to such a woman?
This story explores the long-awaited romance of Marlene and Zennek. Even though it is a ‘flashback’ to the beginning of the Ice Planet Barbarians series, it can be read out of order. Enjoy!
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• No OW/OM drama
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• No pushing away
• No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: Kindle Unlimited
Rating: 5-stars
Couple: Marlene & Zennek
Barbarian’s Seduction is my favourite book in the Ice Planet Barbarians series! I have a sweet spot for couples where the Heroine is the main pursuer – and super confident in her sexuality – and the Hero is beta and very shy. I think it’s partly because such a dynamic is still rare in romance novels, and I love how confident the Heroine is about the Hero.
Barbarian’s Seduction starts in the present, with Marlene and Zennek having been mated for ~8 years and have a darling ~6-year-old daughter. Zennek and their daughter are preparing to go out hunting for the day. While waiting for them to get back, Marlene is confronted by a thought that sparks her memory of how she and Zennek got together. And, so the book flashes back to 8 years ago.
Marlene and Zenneck were one of the first couples to resonate. Not only was their romance swoon-worthy – they were the perfect mix of opposites attract – but I loved reading about the first landing of human women through the eyes of fearless Marlene. Her approach to life epitomizes joie de vivre. However, a significant portion of Barbarian’s Seduction is about family. Zenneck’s family is one of the few that remained after the khui sickness – his antics with his brothers, his sister, Farli and his doting parents were so fun. I especially enjoyed how Marlene, who’s been alone ever since her mother passed, gets to experience the joy and support of a loving family.
Ranking of Book: 1st of 20
Ranking of Couple: 2nd of 20
Barbarian’s Treasure (Ice Planet Barbarian, #19)
Release Date: May 1, 2020
But also…just because it’s an instant bond doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Sometimes it’s very, very right.
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• No OW/OM drama
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• No pushing away
• No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: Kindle Unlimited
Rating: 3.5-stars
Couple: Meghan & Cashol
Barbarian’s Treasure was not a fun read; it’s filled with misunderstandings, and both the Hero and Heroine jumping to conclusions. What frustrated me the most is how Meghan has convinced herself that the only way she’s valuable to the tribe is if she’s pregnant, so she approaches resonance with a practical mindset, which is heartbreaking for Cashol, who thought their resonance was more happily ever after. I kind of understood where Meghan is coming from – she’s still reeling from the shock of being abducted and the aliens nonconsensually aborting her baby (she was pregnant when she was abducted) – but I wanted her to set boundaries for herself. Instead, she was a yes-man, agreeing to do everything because she thought it would please them, and then was surprised to find herself unhappy 🤦🏻♀️.
“… do you want [to mate] because you can thinnk of nothing but Cashol and his strong limbs? That you are beside yourself with desire? Or do you want it because you feel it will secure your place in the tribe better because I have given you my heart?”
Meghan & Cashol in Barbarian’s Treasure
That makes me stop. For all that Cashol is a laughing tease, sometimes he sees to the heart of the matter. Do I really want him, or do I just want to have sex because it’s expected of resonance mates and I want so desperately to please everyone? “I…I don’t know,” I whisper. “I’m kind of ashamed I don’t know.”
After Cashol realizes Meghan isn’t happy, he, too, starts jumping to conclusions. I really just wanted the two MCs to sit down and talk to one another.
What saved the book from being less than 3-stars is Cashol and Meghan in the present day. I loved catching up with Josie and Haeden. Also, Cashol and Meghan’s son was really cute.
Ranking of Book: 16th of 20
Ranking of Couple: 18th of 20
Barbarian’s Bride (Ice Planet Barbarian, #20)
Release Date: February 12, 2020
Dagesh isn’t so sure. He loves his pretty human mate and wants nothing more than to bring a smile to her face…so she’ll go running into his arms. When he asks the tribe what she’s missing, someone suggests a wedding.
All right, then. He’ll throw the best barbarian wedding ever.
So how does Nora tell her determined, thoughtful mate that what she wanted wasn’t a wedding…but something a little different in bed?
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• No abuse
• No OW/OM drama
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• No pushing away
• No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: Kindle Unlimited
Rating: 4-stars
Couple: Nora & Dagesh
Barbarian’s Bride was cute but didn’t feel “wow.” In this book, we finally get the story of Nora and Dagesh, one of the first couples to resonate when the human women first landed on the Ice Planet.
The most interesting part of the novel was how Nora grappled with her desire for her and Dagesh to explore BDSM-lite in their sex life with the reality such practices are taboo in her mate’s culture. The book explores the topic well and adds some angst and tension with Dagesh’s reluctance. I also appreciated how Nora ensured Dagesh understood they both needed to be comfortable and that she wouldn’t force him to do something he wouldn’t like. Dagesh and Nora’s experimentation with BDSM-lite was sweet and sexy, where Dagesh learned light consent play and about safe words.
I loved all the cameos from the rest of the tribe and thought it was so romantic how Dagesh gave Nora a Jewish wedding 😊. Their children are also adorable.
I can’t believe Barbarian’s Bride is the last book in the series! However, I’m hoping Ruby will revisit the tribe to give the children their own spin-off series.
Ranking of Book: 10th of 20
Ranking of Couple: 10th of 20
Curious about the first ten books in the series?
Read my series review of Ice Planet Barbarians, #1-10!
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Thank you for these reviews! I feel like we’re on the same page about the characters and favorite books hehe. I like Liz and Raahosh and I just finished Maddie and Hassen’s book (they’re my favorite couple). I think I’m going to skip all the way to Barbarian’s seduction because all the wishy washy crap is annoying haha Excited to see the human pursuing her “mate”