Content Warnings: sexual content, sexual harassment, and violence. Mention of: gaslighting, emotional abuse, murder, rape, and slavery.

12/14/2023
Just as fun reading it this time as I did a few years ago!

7/10/2021
An outcast Princess looking for a place to belong and a barbarian King who just wants someone to see him past his crown and the blood he's spilled.

When I say I'm a sucker for barbarian romances...I'm not kidding. My favorite part is that the barbarians are usually just misunderstood teddy bears who just need someone to see their hearts and love them...for them to turn into the squishy teddy bears they truly are. And The Midwinter Mail-Order Bride did not disappoint.

I stumbled across this book and was curious and intrigued. The first thing I did was message Janessa (Meemoreads on Tiktok) since she seems to be the leading expert on unknown barbarian romance novels...to see if she'd ever seen/read this book. Janessa had not heard or seen this book so I told her...I'd take one for the team and purchase it...and am I glad I did!

Kael fought his way out of slavery and took down truly evil people to ensure the safety of the four kingdoms he now oversees. Kael dislikes that his subjects still treat him like he's the tyrant that last ruled them...he hates that they shake in fear when he addresses them. All Kael really wants is someone to see and understand him for who he is.

Princess Anja has felt other her entire life and simply wants to find her place in the world...even if that means killing Kael and taking his throne. Anja has heard the stories about Kael and is prepared to meet a bloodthirsty barbarian. The more time she spends with Kael she starts to see the kind and caring man that he is.

This was such a fast read and I wish it had been longer. I look forward to getting my hands on more of Kati's work and diving into more of her fantastic worlds!