Scan barcode
ninahuynh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It is so easy to hate Asha. Don't get me wrong- she hasn't been the kindest Sa-khui to anyone. What we don't get is that she is a mother is grieving and has yet to overcome the grief of losing her child right after birth. We hear about it in earlier books, but never much beyond that the event made her bitter. It makes her actions understandable but not excusable, especially the way she treats Hemalo. I am glad they were able to talk out their feelings and work together on their relationship and their communication. No mother or parent should experience the loss of their child.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Infidelity
katiekeske's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is finally Asha and Hemalo's book. This one is sad and emotional, but I enjoyed it and was glad to see Asha and Hemalo work their issues out. Major trigger warning for grief and talk of child loss.
This one is a very slow burn. The couple has a lot of trauma to deal with before they can get back together in a healthy way, but they do get their HEA.
This one is a very slow burn. The couple has a lot of trauma to deal with before they can get back together in a healthy way, but they do get their HEA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Sexual content, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
robinwritesallthethings's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What It’s About: This book focuses on Asha, a rather surly character we’ve encountered in previous stories. It delves more into why she is the way she is and gives her a second chance at a happy ending.
Spice Level: There isn’t a huge amount of spice in this one, but it is between two aliens, which is something interesting that we’ve never really seen before in this series.
Realism: This is probably a more real volume than most for our big blue aliens. There’s a lot of grief here, but it makes sense, considering the situation, and it makes sense that this couple has drifted apart because of it.
Trope Alert: Second chance romance.
Trigger Warnings: Asha deals with the previous death of her child pretty explicitly in this book. The subject is handled very delicately, but it might still be too much for some readers. There are also some injuries to be had.
Final Thoughts: Once again, I’d like to say that Ruby made both a character and a topic I honestly didn’t want to read about palatable. I’ll always give anything she writes a chance because she has the ability to make anything appealing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
roorooreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I feel like this could have been half as long and still gotten the point across. It was very emotional though and I choked up a bit at times with the deep sadness out FMC felt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
philodora's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
tellmetomorrow's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
❤️❤️❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Pregnancy
lady_wallflower_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I'm so glad Asha and Hemalo grt their HEA. This was definitely a heavy book to read, but a necessary story for these two characters. HIGHLY suggest looking at CW prior to reading this book as it has some highly sensitive topics for some people. But overall it was very well done and a great addition to the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy
hellotheremaryrose's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I felt so frustrated with Asha’s POV at first, her depression was so real that it was hard to read at times. The accuracy made for a challenging story, but I really enjoyed it overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage
kb33's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
This isn't a spoiler because it's talked about in other books, but here's a TW/content description for those who wonder if they should skip this book: Asha and Hemalo had a baby who was born early and only survived a few hours. Their grief tore them apart, and they are separated at the beginning of this book. The death of the infant is not described on page, but it is frequently mentioned, and Asha's grief is described in detail. This is a spoiler: In the epilogue there is a detailed childbirth scene of their second child, who is born healthy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, and Violence
Minor: Toxic relationship and Injury/Injury detail
km_reads_and_edits's review against another edition
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
M/F sci-fi romance.
Alien/alien pairing this time around, not human/alien.
Quick, easy read that is still somewhat "light-hearted" despite dealing with grief and the loss of a child. The discussions between the FMC and MMC were occasionally repetitive, but fans of the Ice Planet Barbarians series will likely still enjoy this instalment overall.
I enjoyed reading Asha's POV and thought her budding friendship with Claire was cute.
Alien/alien pairing this time around, not human/alien.
Quick, easy read that is still somewhat "light-hearted" despite dealing with grief and the loss of a child. The discussions between the FMC and MMC were occasionally repetitive, but fans of the Ice Planet Barbarians series will likely still enjoy this instalment overall.
I enjoyed reading Asha's POV and thought her budding friendship with Claire was cute.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, Grief, and Pregnancy