Ladies, Theydies, and Gent Le Mans, I present to you my tier list of the first 72 books of the Ice Planet Barbarians extended universe. This is apart of my (currently) 108 slide powerpoint presentation that started as something my friends asked for and has become like a scientific quest to me.
So I've read all the Risdaverse books and about half of the original Ice Planet Books (except for some of the short stories) I'm up to Farli's book- though I don't know if I'll read that because it feels weird thinking of Farli having sex (when we started she was 13-14 and a kid) These rankings might change. These opinions will be somewhat unpopular as well...
Here are my bottom four then I'll do my top ten: (1 is the worse couple- 4 is the best of the bottom)
1) Georgie and Vektal- The more I read about this couple the more I dislike them. They are the first couple you meet, but, to me, they are the most annoying. Vektal is supposed to be a leader- but all his decisions are horrible and I will never quite forgive him for thinking since Raahosh was banished, Liz should jump on another tribe member like it's no big deal- when he KNOWS that being a mate means a lot. Yes Georgie talked him out of it, but the fact he thought it was a good idea to begin with... just mind blowing. Georgie just irks me. Could be because of the audiobook reader insisting on giving her a country accent- which she's from ORLANDO Florida- the girl would not have a country accent! Liz would, not Georgie.
2) Kira and Aehako- They were cute, until they got boring. Aehako and Kira could have been good, but towards the middle part of the book, I was just ready for them to mate and go away. Aehako acting like a dick about Harlow didn't help and I still don't understand why Vektal made him the leader of the second set of caves. Kira had very little personality but I did feel for her at first- her interactions with the kidnappers was well done, but yeah- not my favorite couple at all.
3) Lila and Rokan- Another couple that had potential, but Lila was so boring at the beginning that I instantly wanted the book to end. I think the kidnapping plot was not the best way to go and frankly I was tired of Lila pretty quickly. I think a better story would have been for Maddie (Lila's sister) to be kidnapped instead. This girl annoyed me so much, I didn't finish this book because I didn't care about her getting rescued. Such a waste. The only reason they aren't the bottom couple is because they didn't make me hate them, I just didn't care. I was invested in Kira and Georgie so their stories were frustrating and disappointing.
4) Lucy and Rektar- (When She's Bold- Risdaverse) This couple just didn't move the needle for me. It wasn't bad. It was cute and Lucy was bubbly. The story itself is short and that might have had something to do with it. My favorites from this series are the longer ones. But yeah- cute, but not one that I remember in great detail.
Here are my Top Ten:
10) Asha and Hemalo- This couple took me by surprise. I really didn't think I would enjoy them as much as I did, but honestly- their story was heartbreaking. Asha's deep sadness and Hemalo's unwavering love was so sweet to read. If anything it made me not like Aekaho and Kira even more because of how they treated her in their book- yes I understand it was their book and she was trying to creep on Aekaho- but still seeing what she was going through and knowing that she was just needing comfort- well I get that. I was so pleased by the end of Asha and Hemalo's book. I'm happy for how it all turned out.
9) Nicola and Emvor- (The Alien's Mail-Order Bride- linked to Risdaverse) This is the story of my trope I think. From here on out most of the couples will have similar themes. Emvor is broken from war and scarred and a loner, Nicola is a human that needs to find someone to protect her and she lies about how she looks to get a male order husband. It's cute and sweet and I loved how protective he got right away. This one is a short story, but it made me smile.
8) Maddie and Hassen- Everything wrong with Lila and Rokan is made right with this book for me. I loved Hassen (and really didn't hate him from his kidnapping of Lila- I got where he was coming from and even though it was wrong, I felt his desire for a family) Maddie is sassy and can be cruel, but under all that beat the heart of a woman that wants to be needed. She spent her whole life caring for her (undeserving) sister and suddenly she's thrust into a world where she isn't needed any longer. She also has a lot of insecurities that a lot of females feel. Hassen and her are hot together, and real as well. They go into their union without expectations (or Maddie does anyway- one taste of Maddie and Hassen is hooked). It felt like together they made each other whole and I loved that.
7) Claire and Ereven- They haven't been featured by themselves yet (or maybe never now) but I like them. Claire is sweet and her first "relationship" with Bek was not great, but when she started flirting and falling for Ereven- it was so sweet. I love how kind and gentle he is with her and how he encourages her. Her friendship with Asha was made possible because Ereven knew how special Claire was and how she could reach Asha by being herself. Such a sweet couple.
6) Harlow and Rukh- This book was a bit of a mix between Georgie/Vektal and Liz/Raahosh because he kidnapped her (Raahosh) and they couldn't communicate (Georgie/Vektal) but it was made sweeter because of Rukh's almost childlike nature. He had been on his own for so long and once he found Harlow- he couldn't understand what was happening. I loved how she taught him how to speak and he took such good care of her. This couple was both innocent and hot and I love their little baby Rukhar
5) Sophie and Jerrok- (When She Belongs) Grumpy loner and traumatized human meet and bicker. The slow burn of this duo made it so worthwhile when they finally got together. Jerrok had so many issues with how he looked and his own trauma, but at the core of him was a man that had just been through so much and just wanted to be left alone. Sophie was the same. She was a slave and still had a lot of anger and fear to work through. Together they found a home and hope... with the help of a very protective spider/cat pet named Sleipnir.
4-a) Stacy and Pashov- I don't have much to say about them, other than I just melted reading their book. I felt so bad for Stacy as she struggled with having a mate that didn't remember her or their baby and poor Pashov just wanted to love her. Their story was really a sweet tale of rediscovering love. And Pacy being a part of it was just adorable.
4-b) Josie and Haeden- Grumpy and bubbly strikes again. I can't help that I have a type. This couple were hilarious and awkward and adorable. Poor Haeden had a long journey to get his mate, but once he got her- pure cuteness and heat. I have reread their story at least three times and smile and giggle and sigh each time. I loved their "bedtime" story short with their son as well.
3) Tessa and Zokoar- (When She Dances) So much goodness with this story- both were introduced (sort of) in Sophie and Jerrok's story. You see Tessa and meet Zokoar and I was intrigued right away. Zokoar is another broken male, both physically and emotionally. He thinks himself hideous and that no one could ever want him because he is scarred up and has metal plating. Tessa does want him though. She thinks about him while stuck as a slave and hopes one day he will rescue her. When it happens that's when the real story starts. While this story isn't a "slow burn" (they have sex right away) it's still a beautiful story. Zokoar finds peace with Tessa and Tessa finds love with him.
2) Kim and Nassakth- (When She Purrs) Full disclosure... this was the first book I read. Nassakth is also the only non-Mesakkah/Sa-Khui alien. He is a cat-like creature called Praxiian and can be ferocious. In the other books the Praxiian are not seen as heroic characters and are often placed in the role of villain- but Nassakth is protective and loving- especially to Kim. The premise of this story is straight up romcom. Kim hires a bounty hunter to get her a husband to protect her from her neighbor who she's convinced is going to kill her, her neighbor is Nassakth who is really trying to court her in this most feline of ways. The bounty hunter wraps her up a husband and to her shock it's the very male she was trying to avoid. Their love story is a slow burn but its sweet as well. Nassakth understands Kim's trauma about being a freshly freed slave, having been one himself and he gives her confidence to take control of her life again. I just love them!
Liz and Raahosh- Hands down my favorite couple! From start to finish I adored this book. Liz is quite possibly the best character in the series. Her observations and thoughts were down right hilarious, especially when she was talking to Raahosh when she didn't know he could understand her. Raahosh is the most patient of males when it comes to her. I could not help but adore them together. Raahosh's back story was so heartbreaking and once again, I fell for his silent/grumpy nature. I enjoyed how strong and smart Liz was. She wasn't some shrinking damsel. She taught Raahosh how to use a bow and when he was injured she nursed him back to health. They were just so great together and each time they show up in another story it fills me with glee. This story was the start of my dislike for Vektal and Georgie (it has since grown). I loved Liz outsmarting them to get back with her mate.
