These three books in the Icehome series really cemented the dynamics of this tribe and the different personalities. They have me excited to get to know everyone better in future books.
Clicking on the title of the book will take you to a synopsis of the story.
Angie’s Gladiator
by Ruby Dixon
Narrators: Felicity Munroe & Sean Crisden
Release Date: December 3, 2018
Book #4 in the Icehome series
(part of the Ice Planet Barbarians universe)
Number of Pages: 272
Sci-Fi Romance
Ages 15 and up
CW: forced pregnancy, slavery
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has been curious about Angie since she came out of stasis on the Ice Planet. The story of her pregnancy and who/what her child ended up being was not what I expected, but I was satisfied with the explanation. The real story here, in my mind, is the story of Vordis and his struggles with being a clone, a slave, and a warrior. There is so much that has been embedded in his psyche from years of being told what to do and when to do it, how to feel, and how to act. It’s no wonder he, and his clone/brother Thrand, have a hard time figuring things out when it comes to their individuality and what that individuality means for their relationship to each other.
Don’t get me wrong, this story is a romance between Angie and Vordis. He is infatuated with her but doesn’t see that she is also smitten with him. The chip on his shoulder from all the years of being interchangeable with his clone has put his self-worth in the gutter so he often thinks he is insulting Angie when his personality comes through in his time with her. Vordis is so thoughtful and sweet, it’s no wonder Angie falls for him.
I love the constant world-building that is going on in this series. You can see threads of stories already read that overlap, as well as the beginnings of other stories yet to be told.
4 stars
Hannah’s Hero
by Ruby Dixon
Narrators: Felicity Munroe & Sean Crisden
Release Date: April 4, 2019
Book #5 in the Icehome series
(part of the Ice Planet Barbarians universe)
Number of Pages: 308
Sci-Fi Romance
Ages 15 and up
CW: grief, fatphobia
My feelings about Hannah at first were steeped in annoyance. Not in the way she is viewed by a lot of the others at Icehome, but because she is so blocked when it comes to the reality of her situation. The way some of the other people treated her angered me and I understood her feelings of being left out. But when it becomes clear as to why she’s holding back when it comes to her resonance with J’shel, I’m annoyed. Please hang in there with her. It turns out Hannah is not as daft as it seems. She just needs to have control, and if that means lying to herself for a while then so be it.
I wasn’t fully on board with J’shel and Hannah until they went on their trip with Brooke and Taushen. That’s when their chemistry came out in full force and I was hooked on these two. They definitely have a connection in the beginning, but it’s not super fiery until they spend more one-on-one time together.
More and more about the Ice Planet and the creatures that inhabit this world are coming to light. Some threads that have been weaving throughout previous books were explained in this story and it presents a new challenge for all the residents of the planet. Speaking of the residents, I love that there are inventors and scientists and mechanics, right along with the teachers and hairstylists and administrators. Each has a function in this new society and I enjoy watching them all find their niche.
3.5 stars
Devi’s Distraction
by Ruby Dixon
Narrators: Felicity Munroe & Sean Crisden
Release Date: April 29, 2019
Book #6 in the Icehome series
(part of the Ice Planet Barbarians universe)
Number of Pages: 254
Sci-Fi Romance
Ages 15 and up
CW: grief, kidnapping
N’Dek has held my curiosity since he was introduced a few books ago. I so desperately wanted him to find something that would help him work through the despair he felt after losing his leg. A spark of hope ignites in N’Dek’s mind when he watches Devi as she explores their new land and he sees how brilliant she is.
Although Devi and N’Dek feel a bit of a spark with each other, they start as friends and co-conspirators of a sort. As their friendship deepens, Devi tries to pull away a bit. She’s afraid N’Dek will resonate with another (to be fair to her, that’s because he said as much to her at the beginning) and she will be too invested in their relationship. Before long, neither of them can deny their chemistry and it’s sweet while also being super hot.
I adore this couple. As much as N’Dek has been a grump for quite some time and Devi doesn’t always know how to relate to the others, they are both very aware of how those around them react to them and both are committed to making their tribe a safe and comfortable place for everyone.
On top of this lovely couple finding their HEA, we finally see a side of Bridget that isn’t full-on annoying. Her book is still a ways away, but I was beginning to wonder if I’d be able to sympathize with the character once we get to her story. There is a peek of what she’s going through in this book and I was very glad for it.
4.5 stars
All In Good Time 