Ice Planet Barbarians #2
by Ruby Dixon
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, surliest alien of the group.
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, surliest alien of the group.
The Plot
This book picks up where the girls getting the symbiont and Liz freaks out and decides she doesn’t want it anymore, so she slowly backs away from the group. Raahosh is an alien who resonates with Liz and he refuses to let her die, so he kind of forces the symbiont on her. Then he steals her away to a cave to keep her until they have mated so no one can take her away from him. Raahosh has never mated with anyone and he lost his family a long time ago. He is lonely and longs for Liz to be his mate. Raahosh pretends he doesn’t understand English and she is furious when she finds out. Liz is angry that she is not giving any choices…abducted, crash landed, given a symbiont, mated with Raahosh, not allowed to hunt. She just wants a choice in anything, so she is mad and grumpy. And kind of rude to Raahosh. But he slowly works away at her resolve, especially when her Khui is strong to mate with him. When Raahosh is fatally injured, she realizes she doesn’t want to lose him and gives into the Khui and her own feelings. When they are tracked down by members of the tribe, they are forced to return. But, no sooner do they return, does Raahosh get exiled because he broke a major rule by abducted a woman. It kills Liz and Raahosh to be apart but Liz comes up with a plan and eventually are reunited, only to be temporarily exiled together, which is what they both prefer over being in the crowded cave.
When he speaks, Raahosh’s voice is low and serious. “Before you arrived here in this world, I had nothing to live for. I hunted. I existed. I did not look forward to anything. But now you are here, and you might be carrying my child even now.” His jaw flexes. “I know you are more than capable. The problem is not with you. It is with me. This world is dangerous, and I think of you, alone, out in the wild, and it is more than I can bear.” He stares at me for so long and so hard that I think his jaw is going to snap from grinding his teeth. “If I lose you,” he finally says gruffly, “I have nothing.
I loved this book, but not much as the first one. Liz was super bitchy and made me mad for Raahosh. But it got a lot better with Raahosh’s injury and the the drama of the exile.
The Steam
Of course lots of steam. I mean, more big, blue, horned aliens!
Tropes
Paranormal Romance, Alien Hero
I shake my head. “Do you not understand, Raahosh? You’re my life. You’re my reason for living. When those aliens took us away from everything, I felt…lost. I’m not lost when I’m with you. I’m happy.” I touch his cheek. “I’m complete.”
