Barbarian King's Mate

Warriors of the Lost Planet

By: Ivy Sparks

Narrated by: Azalea Blau

I expected something to go wrong during this expedition but I didn't expect him.

This planet was supposed to be unpopulated. Well, someone needs to be fired, because there are freaking barbarians here! And they aren't exactly friendly.

But then there's Garath. He's different from the rest. There's something about his devilish horns, his striking tattoos, and his possessive stare that sets my body on fire.

Problem is, his people are a bit hostile toward outsiders, and who can blame them? They've been hunted across the galaxy for years. But until I find my radio, I'm stuck here at their mercy. That typically doesn't bode well for a single fertile female—Garath's saved me from certain death before, but can he protect me from his own tribe? There's only one way he can make sure nobody else touches me.

He has to claim me for himself.

He has to make me his queen.

Barbarian King's Mate is an alien sci-fi romance, from the new Warriors of the Lost Planet series of standalone books. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a very happily ever after is guaranteed.

©2021 Ivy Sparks (P)2024 Ivy Sparks

science

Two cultures clash as flora and fauna that exist on a planet fight for dominance and survival. Prejudice and traditions war with understanding and lust.

Loved the Story Except For …

I'll admit I don't read or listen to much sci-fi alien romance, but when one shows up at a book review site in audiobook format, I'll give it a go. I found everything in this story enjoyable except for one thing, and it is a pretty important thing for a romance. I found the characters fascinating and the situation they were in tricky and intriguing, wondering how they could triumph over incredible odds against a foe who seemed unbeatable. Smart heroine to the rescue! I love it when STEM heroines use their intelligence and technology to help entire civilizations triumph, thrive, and prosper.

The hero and heroine had genuine chemistry, and the hero is one of my favorite types, the cinnamon-roll hero. He's the warrior prince and heir of his near-tribal alien race, so he's a big, tough guy. But, the reader or listener figures out quickly that because of how his father has treated him for so long, his lack of self-worth is a huge problem. He can't quite believe he would be enough to make the heroine want to stay on his savage alien world. He was attracted to the heroine right away, when he saves her from a hideous band of giant scorpion creatures, who seem to like to either kill or sexually assault females. Our protective hero not only saves her from the ultimate villains of the book but also goes to his societal limits to do as much as he can to protect her from his own father, the king. The king has no love for any outsiders and has been known to either kill them or exile them, just putting them outside of the safety of their cavern so they are subject not only to the elements but also to the cruel race that shares the planet. I like how the author brought these elements around full circle in the end. The old king certainly had a lot of bluster and power, but he's not dumb. As things are revealed to him, he comes to appreciate the heroine … and even his own son better. A couple of very touching scenes show important people who have passed, spirits who show themselves to those they loved in life. Very sweet and moving.

So, what didn't I like? The intimate scenes! I'm not in any way a prude or opposed to a well-written steamy scene. But these ones, what can I say, they were just over the top and crude beyond belief. They didn't really actually seem to go with the characters, and I'm a firm believer that any intimate scenes between a couple in a romance need to not just reflect the bump-and-grind but should also reflect character. Some terminology the author used, oh my! I've never heard other authors use some of these terms in an intimate scene, and they just were not remotely sexy, like a woman referring to her interior nether regions as “tissues.” Much of the intimate scenes were more ewwww than yummm, at least in my book! But I liked the rest of the story and characters well enough that I can give this a cautious recommendation. But you've been warned about the mostly icky and OTT intimate scenes!

Good book

Garreth and Daphany. Daphany is one tough human woman that saved a village and race that was near extinction because of her bravery and intelligence. Garreth is a strong warrior king that protected to little human from all danger. Together these two brought peace to their village This story is full of action, adventure, danger, steamy, fated mates, and HEA.

The audiobook is done very well. The narrator does a wonderful job with the narration. Shecmakes each character come to life as she narrates.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Adventurous!

The FMC isn't the only one far from home! I love how they're all stranded on this planet that's not yet home to any of them but they'll make it home in the end!

I Enjoyed It

While I've read other books by Ivy Sparks, I haven't listened to any on audiobook, so I was excited to give this one a listen (and I hadn't read it before, either).

I enjoyed this story. After losing her parents on a space expedition, Daphne never thought she would meet the same fate until doing some research on a planet that turns out to not be as uninhabited as stated. Rescued by alien prince Garath doesn't make her much safer against the cold edict of his father and king who executes outsiders after the genocide that happened to their people. It was an interesting story that riveted me. I like both Garath and Daphne- though I found she could be very stubborn. As much as I liked how the ceremony they were forced to do was handled and loved the connection that rose up between them, I felt- as least in audiobook- that it went on way too long. I mean, I got bored during a powerful intimate scene and am just waiting for them to finally finish and get on with it lol

I listened to this audiobook narrated by Azalea Blau and thought she did a good job. I liked that I could tell the difference in the female characters' voices between Daphne, Garath's sister, and even Dr. Philippa. I also really liked her 'male' voices for Garath and even Zigsir. Usually when a female narrator is doing a male voice, it just sounds like a woman speaking in a deep voice or mimicking a male voice. I didn't feel that way here, so it didn't draw me out of the story.

Overall: 4 stars
Performance: 4 stars
Story: 4 stars

Enjoyable Exoplanet Romp

I loved this. I was a little worried the "oh no, I'm a human lost on a strange planet" would be too much for the story to handle, but it was dealt with gracefully (by author and voice artist both). Garath and Daphne butt heads from the moment of his rescuing her to the very end and its bonus epilogue. Science versus tribal civilization, blushing beauty versus horned and tattooed alien. I enjoyed the two sides of the narration, the perspective changing from a tech-minded human woman lost in a jungle she was ready to study but perhaps not quite so up close to the barbarian warrior prince with his desire to do the right thing by his mate, even if what he thinks that might be is thick-headed stupidity on his part. She has to catch up from being the brilliant protege safely in her mentor's shadow pretty darned quick, but with a massive muscled hunk to keep her safe, maybe it's not so bad? I liked their mixed messages, not so much as to be true miscommunication (which might have been a little much given how differing these two were), but rather trying to do their best and not really knowing how to bridge the gap between them. I enjoyed the story and I think anyone looking for a scifi romantic fling would enjoy Garath and Daphne's story.

Daphne and Garath

The first book in the Warriors of the Lost Planet series a well written sci-fi story. Human botanist Daphne and Kavian Garath’s story of suspense, drama, danger, evil, twists, turns, Vorlax villains, and romance. I want to listen the next book I enjoyed listening to Azalea Blau narrate this story.

🌶️

Loved it! I enjoyed the plot. I appreciated that the narrator changed the tone of her voice for various characters and of course I enjoyed the 🌶️ scenes ☺️😉

Colonizing the alien planet

I enjoyed the story. It held my attention for page 1. Daphne and her mentor are on an alien planet to assess if the planet is viable for colonization when they are captured. Garrett is a prince among his people on this planet and all he knows is he must save Daphne. What’s a girl to do when her savior is an alien but she thinks he is cute?

Rescued by the barbarian

Daphne was already cautious about investigating the uninhabited planet when scorpion-like creatures attacked her and her mentor. Thankfully, someone screwed up. This planet wasn't uninhabited. In fact, it's inhabited by a displaced tribe of barbarian cave dwellers. When Garath rescues her, Daphne feels immense relief. By the time they join his brethren, she has to wonder if she hasn't jumped from the frying pan to the fire. Garath, though, won't let anything befall his true mate. An enjoyable storyline and excellent narration.