ARC Review: Barbarian Alien by Ruby Dixon

Barbarian Alien
Author: Ruby Dixon
Series: Ice Planet Barbarians (Book 2)
Publication: Berkley (January 25, 2022)

Description: The second novel in the Ice Planet Barbarians series, the international publishing phenomenon—now in a special print edition with bonus materials and an exclusive epilogue!

Liz Cramer swears she’ll find a way off of this alien planet she’s stuck on—then she meets Raahosh, the surliest and stubbornest alien, who won’t leave her alone, and she just might be okay with that...

Twelve humans are left stranded on a wintry alien planet. I’m one of them. Yay, me.

In order to survive, we have to take on a symbiont that wants to rewire our bodies to live in this brutal place. I like to call it a “cootie.” And my cootie’s a jerk, because it also thinks I’m the mate to the biggest, grumpiest alien of the bunch. Raahosh believes the cootie’s right, so he steals me away from the group, determined to make me fall for him—or else.

He has no idea who he’s up against.

And if I didn’t want his insufferable self so much (thanks, cootie), I’d let him know exactly what I’m thinking. As it is, I’m doing my best to fight this instant attraction. Just because the symbiont thinks we’re supposed to be together doesn’t mean I have to go along with it. And if we fool around a little, it’s merely biology. It doesn’t mean I’m in love—or that I’m destined to be his.

My Thoughts: This is the second book in the Ice Planet Barbarian series and stars Liz and Raahosh. She's a smart-mouthed, contrary sort of woman. He's a bit of a mystery. He's scarred and quiet and something of an outsider in his tribe.

When their symbionts resonate for each other, they have wildly different reactions. He is so happy to finally have someone of his own and to be able to make a family. She's completely against anyone or anything making decisions for her.

When he kidnaps her and decides to keep her until their mating bond is fixed, she is decidedly unhappy. But when they are found and returned to the clan, she is disturbed to find that Raahosh is to be exiled for his act of kidnapping her.

By this time, she's pregnant and has fallen in love with the big surly alien and she isn't going to let anyone separate them. She begins a successful campaign to irritate everyone in the clad until they exile her out of sheer frustration. Meanwhile, Raahosh hangs around their cave and brings gifts of food to Liz to show his devotion. And he neglects his own health and well-being. 

This was another sexy romp with stranded human women and big blue aliens on a planet that is hostile to both species. Fans of erotic light science fiction will enjoy this story.

Favorite Quote:

It's true. I am having a bad day. To think that despite being kidnapped by aliens and living in a smelly, freezing, broken cargo hold for the last week wearing nothing but a short nightgown...I can have a day worse than that? Why yes, yes I can.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here. 

ARC Review: The Pioneer by Bridget Tyler

The Pioneer
Author: Bridget Tyler
Publication: HarperTeen (March 5, 2019)

Description: Packed with action and unexpected twists, this addictive page-turner is perfect for fans of Illuminae and Defy the Stars!

When Jo steps onto planet Tau Ceti e for the first time, she’s ready to put the past behind her and begin again. After all, as a pioneer, she has the job of helping build a new home away from Earth.

But underneath the idyllic surface of their new home, there’s something very wrong. And when Jo accidentally uncovers a devastating secret that could destroy everything they’ve worked for, suddenly the future doesn’t seem so bright.

With the fate of the pioneers in her hands, Jo must decide how far she’s willing to go to expose the truth—before the truth destroys them all.

My Thoughts: This excellent space adventure introduces readers to Joanna Watson. Jo has been training to be a pioneer for all of her life. Her parents are involved in the program to resettle on a newly discovered planet as are her sister and brother. Jo is a cadet pilot when the story begins. Of course the story also begins with a near tragedy on their spaceship which results in the death of her brother Teddy and enough damage to Jo's heart and lungs that she can never be a pilot again.

Jo has to readjust her plans when she can no longer do the job she has trained for. She is still excited about the beauty of their new home on Tau Ceti e. She's fascinated with the flora and fauna. But things are not as Jo believed them to be. According to their charter, they are not supposed to settle on a planet that already has sentient life.

When Jo goes off exploring with her sister Beth, young Marine Jay Lim, and Chris, she doesn't expect to find the remainders of the first group to explore the planet. She believed, and was told, that they were off exploring further after okaying the planet for settlement.

Finding a flex (wrist computer) left by the first explorers, Jo is determined to explore it to find out what happened to them. Following the clues lead to a clearing with three graves, leaving questions only about what happened to Dr. Lucille Brown. While at the gravesite, they are attacked by heavily camouflaged predators and rescued by another group of aliens.

Dr. Brown was also rescued by the same group and has sworn allegiance to the leader of these underground dwellers who use sound and echolocation to navigate their dark underground world. The leader Ord has a plan. Dr. Brown knows that Jo's sister Beth has developed a genetically tailored bacteria to make the planet more ready for earth-based plants. What none of the new arrivals knows is that the Stage Three bacteria will kill the phytoraptors who are the enemy of Ord and his people. Of course, then it will likely go on and kill the trees Ord's people depend on but Ord won't see that part.

Jo has to prevent the Stage Three bacteria from getting into Ord's hands, save the phytoraptors, and save her fellow pioneers. She doesn't know why her mother agreed to carry on with the settlement when she must have known about the intelligent life already on the planet. There's a reason that changes everything.

This was exciting and filled with action. It even has a little romance. It also has a lot of growing up for Jo and her friends. I enjoyed it very much.

Favorite Quote:

"Walk in the present, Joey. That's the only way we get to see the future."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from Edelweiss. You can buy your copy here.