I mean, come on — if you’re reading romance in December with winter vibes, how do you not include at least one Ruby Dixon Ice Planet Barbarian book? It just feels right. Barbarian Mine ended up being my pick, and I’m glad I gave it another chance.
Giving a DNF a Second Life
The first time I tried reading this book was back in 2019, and I DNFed it quickly. The opening felt… questionable. The MMC hits the FMC over the head and drags her to his cave, and at the time it set off every “absolutely not” alarm in my head. This time, I pushed past the opening with the hope that the dynamic wouldn’t veer into Stockholm syndrome territory. Luckily, it didn’t.
If you stopped early for the same reason, it may be worth trying again — the relationship ultimately develops in a much healthier direction than the first chapter suggests.
Teacher–Student Vibes (But Make It Alien)
What I ended up enjoying most was the reversed “teacher–pupil” dynamic. The FMC actually has far more knowledge about the world — and even about parts of the alien culture — than the MMC.
Watching her guide, educate, and ground him was refreshing. It was especially nice having it in a genre where alien males often fill the dominant knowledge role. This dynamic added an unexpected sweetness to the story.
Uncomfortable Moment Worth Mentioning
There was one moment that made me uncomfortable. At one point, the MMC describes a baby’s … male anatomy… as being similar to his own. I understand the intention — to show how hybrid babies physically develop — but it felt unnecessary and a little icky. Not nearly on the level of the Colleen Hoover “kid with big balls” debacle, but definitely a moment that pulled me out of the story.
Final Thoughts
Despite the rocky start and that one uncomfortable detail, I enjoyed Barbarian Mine. The romance is fun, the world remains entertaining, and the overall vibe fits perfectly with cozy winter reading. I’ll keep picking up more books from the Ice Planet Barbarian series whenever the mood strikes — sometimes you just want a little blue-alien escapism in your life.
Have you read any of the Ice Planet Barbarian series?
Hazel Harbor Books 
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