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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Stacy
Pashov's arms go around me and he nuzzles my neck, all affection. He's always very affectionate around breakfast. And lunch. And okay, dinner. The man's ruled by his stomach, and today is no change. He presses a kiss to my neck and then peers at my frying pan. "Are you making those for me?"
"No," I say, teasing in my voice. "This is for Josie. Are you hungry again?"
"I am always hungry, female." His hand slides to my butt and he gives it a squeeze. "Perhaps throw one of your cakes on there for your suffering mate?"
Suffering? I snort with amusement, but I get out a scoop of the mash I use for the not-potato cakes. "Sweet or meat?"
"Meat, of course."
Of course. He likes sweets about as much as the next sa-khui, which is to say not at all. I open my pouch of spices for the peppery flavoring he likes so much. "Oh, shoot. I'm out. I need more of the spicy stuff. Do you think your mother has more?"
"There is some in the storage cave," he tells me, pressing a kiss to my cheek. "I will go and get it for you."
"Leave Pacy with me," I tell him, setting my pan down. "He needs to eat, too."
He shrugs off the baby sling and sets my son down near my feet, touching his nose. "Do not eat all of the cakes. Save some for your father."
Pacy giggles and tries to catch his father's big finger with his tiny hands. My heart squeezes with affection at the sight. "Hurry up," I warn Pashov. "I need those spices if you want to eat." I'm not trying to nudge him too much, but my mate can get distracted at times, and if I leave my pan on for too long, it'll get too hot and scorch the cakes.
"I am going," he says, uncurling his big body and getting to his feet. He tugs on my braid, grabs my ass again as he leaves, and then jogs away into one of the back tunnels.
The ground shifts.
I drop my pan into the fire, ignoring the crash of sparks it makes, and grab Pacy instead. I don't understand what's happening. I look around, wondering if I'm imagining things, but then the ground shakes again.
"Out of the cave!" someone bellows, and then hands grab me and pull me blindly after them. I think it's Haeden, and he's got Josie in one arm and drags me with the other.
"Wait!" I cry out. "Pashov!" He's in the storage cave.
I look over . . . and then the ceiling collapses.
"PASHOV!"
I wake up in a cold sweat. Every inch of me is slick with it, and I rub my arms briskly to get rid of the dampness before it can crystallize to frost. Next to me in the nest of furs is Pacy. He's got one fist in his mouth, and as I watch, his little mouth works as if he's nursing in his sleep. Normally the sight of my son in sleep brings me immense joy, but today . . .
All I can see is the velvety pale blue skin, the dark lashes that frame his eyes, and the nose with the bump right in the middle of the bridge, just like his father's. He's the spitting image of him, and it hurts me.
I've lost my mate.
Even though Pacy's asleep, I pick him up and pull open my tunic, settling him to my breast. He latches on sleepily and then begins to nurse, pushing a small hand against my skin. The nursing's to comfort me more than him, I think. I need to hold him close. I need to feel the calm that motherhood brings with it.
I need to feel the touch of someone who loves me and whom I love.
Because right now, I'm losing control.
I glance across the small tent. Georgie's sleeping curled against her mate, Talie in a basket of furs nearby. They've been nice enough to let me stay with them for the last week and a half, but I know it can't be easy on them. It's not easy on me, either. Every time Vektal pulls Georgie close, I think of Pashov. Every time they exchange a look, I think of Pashov. Every time he steals a kiss from her, I think of Pashov.
And I hurt all over again.
Tears threaten, but I close my eyes and force myself to be calm. It does no good thinking about my mate right now. Right now, he is not my mate. He doesn't remember me. Doesn't remember the last two years we've spent together, or the baby we made together. Doesn't remember resonating to me.
Doesn't remember me at all.
To him, I'm just another faceless, puzzling human. He doesn't remember our crash here. He doesn't remember Vektal mating to Georgie, or me resonating to him the first day we met. He doesn't remember the birth of our son. He remembers his sister and his brothers. He remembers his family and the rest of the tribe.
Me? I'm just a big fucking blur.
No matter how many times I tell myself that it doesn't matter, that he's alive, that all I ever wanted was for him to be alive and whole, I'm lying to myself. He is alive. He is whole. I am grateful. I'm just . . . miserable. I feel like I lost him.
The moment those rocks came down, I lost everything. I didn't think I could feel worse than I did during those endless days wondering whether or not he would live, but back then, I had hope. I don't even have that now.
I stroke Pacy's brow as he nurses. It's been eleven long days. Eleven long days since Pashov woke up, and fifteen days since the cave fell to pieces. For the first few days, I had hope that Pashov's memory would come back. That he'd look at me and recognition would dawn. That he'd grab my ass the way he always used to, and he'd be himself again. I kept that hope up for well over a week.
And then as each day passed and he grew a little more distant, a little more uncomfortable each time I looked at him, I realized that I was hoping for too much. My mate is alive. My mate is healthy.
He's just not my mate anymore, and I have to figure out how to go on without him. I won't push him into a relationship-hell, a mating-when he doesn't feel a thing for me. How can he? All of our memories are gone. Me crying over him just makes it worse.
So I'm avoiding him. I'm doing my best not to make him uncomfortable. Maybe it's not the best way to handle it, but it's the only way I can. I'll break if he looks at me in that empty, polite way again.
”You lost your frying pan?” Josie asks me, aghast. “I thought you weren’t cooking because of . . . well, never mind.” The look on her face gets awkward.
I shrug and spread the leaves I'm trying to dry on a hot stone, then cover them with a second stone to flatten them. I don't have a closed-in, windless spot to dry more spices, so I'm hoping that squishing them between two hot rocks will do some of the trick. Mostly I'm just guessing and trying to stay busy. "When the cave shook, I think I threw it into the fire by accident. And then after that . . ."
The knot forms in my throat again and I can't speak. After that, my world was destroyed.
"Shit. I'm so sorry for bringing it up." Josie grabs my hand and rubs it. The expression on her face is concerned. "What are you going to do?"
"There's nothing to do." One of the leaves is sticking out from between the rocks and I absently tuck it in-and then jerk my hand, my fingers burning. Ouch. Hot already.
"This is bullshit!" she whispers at me. "I can't believe he's acting like nothing happened! He should be here with you, Stacy! I can't imagine what it'd feel like if I didn't have Haeden right now! Aren't you scared? We don't have a home and food to eat for the winter!"
I know Josie's trying to help. It's the only reason I don't take my hands and wrap them around her neck. She means well. She does. Her mouth just runs away with her. "I'm scared," I admit. "I think we all are."
"And you don't even have your mate to lean on!" She's outraged on my behalf. "Even right now, he's over there hanging with Bek and the other hunters like you're not here by the fire with his baby! What the ever-loving fuck already!"
"Shh," I tell her, because she's getting louder with her indignation. "Really, Josie, it's all right." I just feel defeated. Tired. I have for days. It feels like I haven't relaxed or slept in weeks, though I know that isn't true. And I just don't have the energy for Josie's outrage. "I chose to stay away from him, not the other way around."
"You what? Why?"
Why? How can she sit here and ask me that? Because my heart is breaking every time I look at him? Because he should be relaxing and recovering, and me shoving myself and my baby under his nose and demanding that he remember us will be stressful? Not just to him but to me? "I just can't right now, okay?"
From the look Josie gives me, it's clear she doesn't understand. How can she? Has anyone ever had to deal with their mate just not remembering them at all?
Pashov
On the outskirts of the encampment, I tie sinew to a new spearhead and try to keep my head down. I can feel eyes on me, watching me, waiting to see how I react. To see if I fall over, clutching my head.
It is all very strange. I do not feel like a hunter who has nearly died. I do not feel like a male who survived a cave-in. I feel . . . normal. I just do not remember anything that has happened. When they first told me, I thought it a joke. A cave-in? At the tribal caves? Everything lost? Old, peaceful Eklan dead?
Surely I would remember that.
But I search my mind and search my mind, and there is nothing there.
Yet the fact that there was a cave-in cannot be denied. My people are here in the snow before the elders' cave, homeless. I have seen many tears and much frustration since I awoke. I have seen people carefully doling out soup to make meat last. And I have seen the elders' cave, flung onto its side, resting in a gorge that was not in my memory, either.
It feels as if I closed my eyes and have woken to a strange new world, and it unsettles me.
Most unsettling of all?
The human females.
I can remember the first dvisti I killed, and the first time my father took me hunting. I remember my sister's birth and what a squalling, strange thing she was. I remember how my first taste of sah-sah burned the tongue. But I do not remember the humans.
I am told that they came to our world on a strange black cave, not unlike the elders' cave. That Vektal mated with the curly-haired one, and she brought him to the others. Now, everyone else in the tribe has mated with one. Several have young, and at all times, there is the sound of a kit wailing in distress.
And I am one of the ones that is mated.
The strangeness of it gnaws in my belly and makes me sick. Not that I am mated to a human, but that I cannot remember it at all. The humans have been here for three seasons-two bitter, one brutal. Long enough for the human that is "mine" to bear my kit. They are a welcome, happy part of the tribe.
How can I not know of this? How can my mind betray me so?
I scan the smaller forms huddled near the fire and see two humans talking. The one they say is my mate has a flat face with no bumps, a very tiny nose, and no horns. Her mane is a strange furry brown. Other than that, I remember nothing about her. Normally I recognize her amongst the tribe because she carries her kit-our kit-on her back in a strange pack. I do not see a human wearing that today, so I squint at the females by the fire. Not the small one-the other. It is Stay-see. The one that is my mate.
Was my mate.
She is pressing something between rocks and talking to the tiny one, who waves her hands and speaks angrily. They seem strange to me, with their pasty pale coloring, lack of horns, and small build. If I were to stand next to Stay-see, she would not come to my shoulder. She bends over to pick something up, and there is no tail, a sight I find unnerving.
The other female says something, and then they both look over at me.
I busy myself with my spear again, not wanting to be caught staring. I have tried talking to Stay-see a few times since I awoke in the healer's tent, but each time it goes badly. It always ends with her weeping and running away, and I do not wish that today. Perhaps her tears should upset me more than they do. They bother me, but only because when she cries, I feel confusion. I do not like to cause distress in another. I want to comfort her, but I have no words of comfort to give.
"Are you sure they will let you out of the camp with that, brother?" Salukh drops to the ground next to me, crossing his legs. He pulls out his favorite sharpening stone and his knife, and begins to scrape it. "If Mother sees it, I am sure she will come running."
I snort. My mother has been coddling me as if I were a fussy kit and not a grown hunter. "It is a spear. Surely they cannot stop me from making weapons if I am not allowed on the hunt."
"I suspect you will be allowed soon," my brother says. "All hands are needed to gather food." He scrapes his stone along his knife, unruffled. Salukh is always calm. Always possessed. He does not look as if worries over mates and the brutal season ever cross his mind, though I know he has a human mate now, too, and her belly is big with kit.
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars Such a beautiful story of rekindling romance after tragedy
I loved everything about Stacy and Pashov’s story. Ignoring that this story is an alien romance novel, the actual love story was damn near perfect. I found myself craving to read more about their story throughout the day because I was so invested. This is up there in one of the best in the series. It gave me everything I love about romance novels: good plot, slight comedy, strong connections between the main characters, relatable situations and obviously good ole spice . It was all there! Ruby, you did it again! Thank you for a great read to brighten up my week.
4.0 out of 5 stars Another installment in the ICP series - this is the one that’ll probably make you cry.
Barbarian’s Heart continues the ICP series immediately after the earthquake of the previous book and we see the story of Pashov and Stacey. Pashov takes a heavy blow to the head during the earthquake and ends up loosing all his memories of the humans, and most importantly Stacey and their son.Here is the thing, this one messed me up! I knew exactly what I was going in for but the melancholy, marriage in trouble, like some of these things hit close to home. I would put the book down and just go cuddle my husband because wow. Ruby can write funny and Ruby can write ‘make you so sad you need a cuddle’. Stacey struggles, even as Pashov tries to court her again and tries to remember and make their life over. She wants the old Pashov and she has a hard time coming to terms with what happens. But as this is a happy ending I think you can figure out what happens.I did really like the ending here, I like the teasing we’ve been getting about more of this world and I’m always excited to finish another ICP and wait for the next new reprint.4 out of 5 egg breakfasts
3.0 out of 5 stars Stacy and pashov
So not one of my favorites. But they were very cute together. Pashov has lost some of his memory so he doesn't recall the humans crashing there or his baby with Stacy. But Stacy says she understands and she will try because its hard for him too but then she's complaining about what he does. She says she doesn't want to share the furs with him until he gets his memory back Because its too confusing, but then gets mad when he sleeps across the room or with the hunters. I just wanted to slap her sometimes.I was glad they got their happy ending & that they are all safe in their new home. On to the next......
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't skip this book,
I Like this one, not crazy about it though!Still you can not skip it there is vital storyline in it.Ok this book pissed me off from the start.Stacy's mate (Pashov) and his family Stacy has his child and she is doing everything without their assistance.But it gets better, trust the process.Why the heck can't these people just ask each other for what they want.You're ok with sexing each other's brains out, but asking for the things your heart desires, oh no-no we can't do that.
4.0 out of 5 stars Another goodie
Stacy isn't my favorite human character but it was nice to get back to one of the somewhat more original crew after Maddie and Lyla. Pashov was great to read and I really would like to learn more about the civilization that made the village.I'm always hoping Ruby will write another ship crash along with an undiscovered Sakhui tribe of unmated hunters. We would see slight variations like how Rukh is just a bit different. It's just so fun the differences and Stacy mentioning wheels reminded me there is so much to explore still! Especially the friendships among the Sakhui men and how they compare their mates. It was so funny when Ruhk took Vectal and Raahosh hunting since he was so stressed about Liz's pregnancy. I know she's focused on other books but Ice Planet is just so good.
5.0 out of 5 stars Masterfully Written Story about Picking Up the Pieces Post-Trauma
I don't normally write reviews but I felt compelled to this time not just because Ruby Dixon is one of my favorite authors, but also because so many reviewers felt the need to complain about the way that Stacy was written. I did not find Stacy to be"whiny" as some other reviewers did. Rather, what I saw was her initial struggle to accept that their relationship was irrevocably changed followed by a steep learning curve that had to be negotiated in the middle of post-earthquake crisis management. Stacy was very open and honest about her weaknesses and self-criticisms as the story progresses and as a result acts maturely to take responsibility for them for the sake of the relationship. Pashov does the same. At the heart of this story, is the struggle that any trauma survivor and their loved ones has to reconcile. Trauma tends to make permanent changes and relationships with others cannot ever be completely the same as they were before. Both the survivor and their loved ones have to come to grips with the fact that things can never go totally back to what they were before despite how much all involved wish that it could . . . and there's a grieving process attached to letting go of all the dreams and hopes that were attached to the person you knew before (both for the survivor and their loved ones). This grieving process however makes room for new memories and a new, stronger relationship to be forged if one can stop expecting everything to revert to "normal" and instead create a new normal where the trauma experience is incorporated into the relationship's narrative. Ruby has managed to write the story of Stacy and Pashov in such a way that she masterfully captures this process right down to the unrealistic expectations of those around the trauma survivor and those that the survivor has for themselves. She also captured the spirit of frustration, guilt, and anger when it becomes clear that those expectations are unrealistic and the choices we have to make when we come that crossroad. Do we take the risk of loving this "new" person or stew in resentment that things didn't stay the same because that is what is comfortable. I love how Ruby's writings challenge us to look at our own perspectives on relationships. For those who complain about Stacy, I suspect they are uncomfortable with the emotions associated with the stages of grief that Stacy, the tribe, and Pashov himself go through before they all reach a place of healing, acceptance, and readiness for starting over.
5.0 out of 5 stars sad and then cute
Great book. Sad at first and then to an HEA. Great characters and development in the series. Over all would recommend but definitely read the previous ones first.
Such a good read
Love this series. Worth reading from the start. Although, be warned you'll be hooked. Pashov and Stacey's story is heart warming.
Stacy and Pashov
The human woman Stacy and the alien Sa-khui man Pashov are mated for three seasons and very happy in this time. Together they have a little son named Pacy when the main cave of the tribe is destroyed by an earthquake. Pashov is buried in the cave until Hassen rescues him. He suffers from severe brain injury and the healer needs a couple of days to save his life. Pashov can't remember that he is mated and has a child. Because the brutal season is near, the whole tribe has to move a long way to a new village, that Hassen had discovered. The way on the iceplanet is taxing and Stacy feels very lonely and worn out and misses "her" Pashov, which means the Pashov she knew before the brain injury. As soon as he gets some orientation, that he is mated and has a son, he helps Stacy, but there are a lot of misunderstandings and fears which hamper the understanding. Then Pashov gets the idea to stay with his family in a hunters cave alone, so they can get to know each other again.It is a beautiful lovestory. Pashov looses his memory but his heart tells him, where to go. He is also very patient and does not react aggressively, when there is one of the misunderstandings, which enables him to find a way to his mate. Stacy is more the nurturing type and reacts desperately and emotional until she realizes that she is not fair to Pashov and that she has to find new ways to be with him and show him her love. I highly recommend this book.
Like a second chance romance
Wow ..... This was perfect! 🧡 The emotional connection with the characters I was disappointed of not getting in the previous book, I got it here. I loved the tribe journey to their new home and the description of the canyon and the village was good. I wonder if we get to meet other creatures in this series.
Thank you Ruby for another fantastic storey!
Hopefully I will be able to do justice to Ruby and her wonderful storey Barbarians Heart with this review.I loved this book, Ruby does such a great job writing her characters emotions in a way that the reader can feel them too. Ruby let Stacy have her grief and Pashov his confusion and guilt and didn't rush the storey for the sex stuff. This obviously makes the storey more real and the characters more relate-able.Ruby also does and excellent job with world building, she does the hard work, giving us explanations of the day to day struggles, how they find food and stay warm even handle the bathroom issues etc. For me, this makes all her stories more realistic and lets the reader immerse themselves in these characters lives and the whole Not-Hoth experience.Another thing I love about the Barbarian stories is that all the heroines are different they have their own back stories and feelings and so do their mates, that the characters grow together and fall in love, not just because of resonance.It it probably better to read all these barbarian stories in order, just so you understand everything. like how the earth woman got there and the history of the aliens, but its totally been worth the investment to me. I have re-read and enjoyed them all several times. I cant remember the last time I waited so anxiously for a book to publish, and I can't wait for the next one in the series.And one wonderful thing about Ruby is that she never makes us wait too long. She has got the be the fastest author I have read who still maintains the quality of her writing and stories.Thanks Ruby for another great tale! (not tail, although that was also great ;) Cant wait for the next one!
Barbearia Heart
Ruby e maravilhosa, quando leio os livros dela realmente me identifico, com as dore e as alegrias, parabéns!E a terceira vez que lei a série e ainda assim me faz feliz😊
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Barbarian's Heart (Ice Planet Barbarians)
AED8778
Quantity:
Order today to get by 7-14 business days
Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.
Imported From: United States
At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.
BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.
Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.
While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.
Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Stacy
Pashov's arms go around me and he nuzzles my neck, all affection. He's always very affectionate around breakfast. And lunch. And okay, dinner. The man's ruled by his stomach, and today is no change. He presses a kiss to my neck and then peers at my frying pan. "Are you making those for me?"
"No," I say, teasing in my voice. "This is for Josie. Are you hungry again?"
"I am always hungry, female." His hand slides to my butt and he gives it a squeeze. "Perhaps throw one of your cakes on there for your suffering mate?"
Suffering? I snort with amusement, but I get out a scoop of the mash I use for the not-potato cakes. "Sweet or meat?"
"Meat, of course."
Of course. He likes sweets about as much as the next sa-khui, which is to say not at all. I open my pouch of spices for the peppery flavoring he likes so much. "Oh, shoot. I'm out. I need more of the spicy stuff. Do you think your mother has more?"
"There is some in the storage cave," he tells me, pressing a kiss to my cheek. "I will go and get it for you."
"Leave Pacy with me," I tell him, setting my pan down. "He needs to eat, too."
He shrugs off the baby sling and sets my son down near my feet, touching his nose. "Do not eat all of the cakes. Save some for your father."
Pacy giggles and tries to catch his father's big finger with his tiny hands. My heart squeezes with affection at the sight. "Hurry up," I warn Pashov. "I need those spices if you want to eat." I'm not trying to nudge him too much, but my mate can get distracted at times, and if I leave my pan on for too long, it'll get too hot and scorch the cakes.
"I am going," he says, uncurling his big body and getting to his feet. He tugs on my braid, grabs my ass again as he leaves, and then jogs away into one of the back tunnels.
The ground shifts.
I drop my pan into the fire, ignoring the crash of sparks it makes, and grab Pacy instead. I don't understand what's happening. I look around, wondering if I'm imagining things, but then the ground shakes again.
"Out of the cave!" someone bellows, and then hands grab me and pull me blindly after them. I think it's Haeden, and he's got Josie in one arm and drags me with the other.
"Wait!" I cry out. "Pashov!" He's in the storage cave.
I look over . . . and then the ceiling collapses.
"PASHOV!"
I wake up in a cold sweat. Every inch of me is slick with it, and I rub my arms briskly to get rid of the dampness before it can crystallize to frost. Next to me in the nest of furs is Pacy. He's got one fist in his mouth, and as I watch, his little mouth works as if he's nursing in his sleep. Normally the sight of my son in sleep brings me immense joy, but today . . .
All I can see is the velvety pale blue skin, the dark lashes that frame his eyes, and the nose with the bump right in the middle of the bridge, just like his father's. He's the spitting image of him, and it hurts me.
I've lost my mate.
Even though Pacy's asleep, I pick him up and pull open my tunic, settling him to my breast. He latches on sleepily and then begins to nurse, pushing a small hand against my skin. The nursing's to comfort me more than him, I think. I need to hold him close. I need to feel the calm that motherhood brings with it.
I need to feel the touch of someone who loves me and whom I love.
Because right now, I'm losing control.
I glance across the small tent. Georgie's sleeping curled against her mate, Talie in a basket of furs nearby. They've been nice enough to let me stay with them for the last week and a half, but I know it can't be easy on them. It's not easy on me, either. Every time Vektal pulls Georgie close, I think of Pashov. Every time they exchange a look, I think of Pashov. Every time he steals a kiss from her, I think of Pashov.
And I hurt all over again.
Tears threaten, but I close my eyes and force myself to be calm. It does no good thinking about my mate right now. Right now, he is not my mate. He doesn't remember me. Doesn't remember the last two years we've spent together, or the baby we made together. Doesn't remember resonating to me.
Doesn't remember me at all.
To him, I'm just another faceless, puzzling human. He doesn't remember our crash here. He doesn't remember Vektal mating to Georgie, or me resonating to him the first day we met. He doesn't remember the birth of our son. He remembers his sister and his brothers. He remembers his family and the rest of the tribe.
Me? I'm just a big fucking blur.
No matter how many times I tell myself that it doesn't matter, that he's alive, that all I ever wanted was for him to be alive and whole, I'm lying to myself. He is alive. He is whole. I am grateful. I'm just . . . miserable. I feel like I lost him.
The moment those rocks came down, I lost everything. I didn't think I could feel worse than I did during those endless days wondering whether or not he would live, but back then, I had hope. I don't even have that now.
I stroke Pacy's brow as he nurses. It's been eleven long days. Eleven long days since Pashov woke up, and fifteen days since the cave fell to pieces. For the first few days, I had hope that Pashov's memory would come back. That he'd look at me and recognition would dawn. That he'd grab my ass the way he always used to, and he'd be himself again. I kept that hope up for well over a week.
And then as each day passed and he grew a little more distant, a little more uncomfortable each time I looked at him, I realized that I was hoping for too much. My mate is alive. My mate is healthy.
He's just not my mate anymore, and I have to figure out how to go on without him. I won't push him into a relationship-hell, a mating-when he doesn't feel a thing for me. How can he? All of our memories are gone. Me crying over him just makes it worse.
So I'm avoiding him. I'm doing my best not to make him uncomfortable. Maybe it's not the best way to handle it, but it's the only way I can. I'll break if he looks at me in that empty, polite way again.
”You lost your frying pan?” Josie asks me, aghast. “I thought you weren’t cooking because of . . . well, never mind.” The look on her face gets awkward.
I shrug and spread the leaves I'm trying to dry on a hot stone, then cover them with a second stone to flatten them. I don't have a closed-in, windless spot to dry more spices, so I'm hoping that squishing them between two hot rocks will do some of the trick. Mostly I'm just guessing and trying to stay busy. "When the cave shook, I think I threw it into the fire by accident. And then after that . . ."
The knot forms in my throat again and I can't speak. After that, my world was destroyed.
"Shit. I'm so sorry for bringing it up." Josie grabs my hand and rubs it. The expression on her face is concerned. "What are you going to do?"
"There's nothing to do." One of the leaves is sticking out from between the rocks and I absently tuck it in-and then jerk my hand, my fingers burning. Ouch. Hot already.
"This is bullshit!" she whispers at me. "I can't believe he's acting like nothing happened! He should be here with you, Stacy! I can't imagine what it'd feel like if I didn't have Haeden right now! Aren't you scared? We don't have a home and food to eat for the winter!"
I know Josie's trying to help. It's the only reason I don't take my hands and wrap them around her neck. She means well. She does. Her mouth just runs away with her. "I'm scared," I admit. "I think we all are."
"And you don't even have your mate to lean on!" She's outraged on my behalf. "Even right now, he's over there hanging with Bek and the other hunters like you're not here by the fire with his baby! What the ever-loving fuck already!"
"Shh," I tell her, because she's getting louder with her indignation. "Really, Josie, it's all right." I just feel defeated. Tired. I have for days. It feels like I haven't relaxed or slept in weeks, though I know that isn't true. And I just don't have the energy for Josie's outrage. "I chose to stay away from him, not the other way around."
"You what? Why?"
Why? How can she sit here and ask me that? Because my heart is breaking every time I look at him? Because he should be relaxing and recovering, and me shoving myself and my baby under his nose and demanding that he remember us will be stressful? Not just to him but to me? "I just can't right now, okay?"
From the look Josie gives me, it's clear she doesn't understand. How can she? Has anyone ever had to deal with their mate just not remembering them at all?
Pashov
On the outskirts of the encampment, I tie sinew to a new spearhead and try to keep my head down. I can feel eyes on me, watching me, waiting to see how I react. To see if I fall over, clutching my head.
It is all very strange. I do not feel like a hunter who has nearly died. I do not feel like a male who survived a cave-in. I feel . . . normal. I just do not remember anything that has happened. When they first told me, I thought it a joke. A cave-in? At the tribal caves? Everything lost? Old, peaceful Eklan dead?
Surely I would remember that.
But I search my mind and search my mind, and there is nothing there.
Yet the fact that there was a cave-in cannot be denied. My people are here in the snow before the elders' cave, homeless. I have seen many tears and much frustration since I awoke. I have seen people carefully doling out soup to make meat last. And I have seen the elders' cave, flung onto its side, resting in a gorge that was not in my memory, either.
It feels as if I closed my eyes and have woken to a strange new world, and it unsettles me.
Most unsettling of all?
The human females.
I can remember the first dvisti I killed, and the first time my father took me hunting. I remember my sister's birth and what a squalling, strange thing she was. I remember how my first taste of sah-sah burned the tongue. But I do not remember the humans.
I am told that they came to our world on a strange black cave, not unlike the elders' cave. That Vektal mated with the curly-haired one, and she brought him to the others. Now, everyone else in the tribe has mated with one. Several have young, and at all times, there is the sound of a kit wailing in distress.
And I am one of the ones that is mated.
The strangeness of it gnaws in my belly and makes me sick. Not that I am mated to a human, but that I cannot remember it at all. The humans have been here for three seasons-two bitter, one brutal. Long enough for the human that is "mine" to bear my kit. They are a welcome, happy part of the tribe.
How can I not know of this? How can my mind betray me so?
I scan the smaller forms huddled near the fire and see two humans talking. The one they say is my mate has a flat face with no bumps, a very tiny nose, and no horns. Her mane is a strange furry brown. Other than that, I remember nothing about her. Normally I recognize her amongst the tribe because she carries her kit-our kit-on her back in a strange pack. I do not see a human wearing that today, so I squint at the females by the fire. Not the small one-the other. It is Stay-see. The one that is my mate.
Was my mate.
She is pressing something between rocks and talking to the tiny one, who waves her hands and speaks angrily. They seem strange to me, with their pasty pale coloring, lack of horns, and small build. If I were to stand next to Stay-see, she would not come to my shoulder. She bends over to pick something up, and there is no tail, a sight I find unnerving.
The other female says something, and then they both look over at me.
I busy myself with my spear again, not wanting to be caught staring. I have tried talking to Stay-see a few times since I awoke in the healer's tent, but each time it goes badly. It always ends with her weeping and running away, and I do not wish that today. Perhaps her tears should upset me more than they do. They bother me, but only because when she cries, I feel confusion. I do not like to cause distress in another. I want to comfort her, but I have no words of comfort to give.
"Are you sure they will let you out of the camp with that, brother?" Salukh drops to the ground next to me, crossing his legs. He pulls out his favorite sharpening stone and his knife, and begins to scrape it. "If Mother sees it, I am sure she will come running."
I snort. My mother has been coddling me as if I were a fussy kit and not a grown hunter. "It is a spear. Surely they cannot stop me from making weapons if I am not allowed on the hunt."
"I suspect you will be allowed soon," my brother says. "All hands are needed to gather food." He scrapes his stone along his knife, unruffled. Salukh is always calm. Always possessed. He does not look as if worries over mates and the brutal season ever cross his mind, though I know he has a human mate now, too, and her belly is big with kit.
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars Such a beautiful story of rekindling romance after tragedy
I loved everything about Stacy and Pashov’s story. Ignoring that this story is an alien romance novel, the actual love story was damn near perfect. I found myself craving to read more about their story throughout the day because I was so invested. This is up there in one of the best in the series. It gave me everything I love about romance novels: good plot, slight comedy, strong connections between the main characters, relatable situations and obviously good ole spice . It was all there! Ruby, you did it again! Thank you for a great read to brighten up my week.
4.0 out of 5 stars Another installment in the ICP series - this is the one that’ll probably make you cry.
Barbarian’s Heart continues the ICP series immediately after the earthquake of the previous book and we see the story of Pashov and Stacey. Pashov takes a heavy blow to the head during the earthquake and ends up loosing all his memories of the humans, and most importantly Stacey and their son.Here is the thing, this one messed me up! I knew exactly what I was going in for but the melancholy, marriage in trouble, like some of these things hit close to home. I would put the book down and just go cuddle my husband because wow. Ruby can write funny and Ruby can write ‘make you so sad you need a cuddle’. Stacey struggles, even as Pashov tries to court her again and tries to remember and make their life over. She wants the old Pashov and she has a hard time coming to terms with what happens. But as this is a happy ending I think you can figure out what happens.I did really like the ending here, I like the teasing we’ve been getting about more of this world and I’m always excited to finish another ICP and wait for the next new reprint.4 out of 5 egg breakfasts
3.0 out of 5 stars Stacy and pashov
So not one of my favorites. But they were very cute together. Pashov has lost some of his memory so he doesn't recall the humans crashing there or his baby with Stacy. But Stacy says she understands and she will try because its hard for him too but then she's complaining about what he does. She says she doesn't want to share the furs with him until he gets his memory back Because its too confusing, but then gets mad when he sleeps across the room or with the hunters. I just wanted to slap her sometimes.I was glad they got their happy ending & that they are all safe in their new home. On to the next......
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't skip this book,
I Like this one, not crazy about it though!Still you can not skip it there is vital storyline in it.Ok this book pissed me off from the start.Stacy's mate (Pashov) and his family Stacy has his child and she is doing everything without their assistance.But it gets better, trust the process.Why the heck can't these people just ask each other for what they want.You're ok with sexing each other's brains out, but asking for the things your heart desires, oh no-no we can't do that.
4.0 out of 5 stars Another goodie
Stacy isn't my favorite human character but it was nice to get back to one of the somewhat more original crew after Maddie and Lyla. Pashov was great to read and I really would like to learn more about the civilization that made the village.I'm always hoping Ruby will write another ship crash along with an undiscovered Sakhui tribe of unmated hunters. We would see slight variations like how Rukh is just a bit different. It's just so fun the differences and Stacy mentioning wheels reminded me there is so much to explore still! Especially the friendships among the Sakhui men and how they compare their mates. It was so funny when Ruhk took Vectal and Raahosh hunting since he was so stressed about Liz's pregnancy. I know she's focused on other books but Ice Planet is just so good.
5.0 out of 5 stars Masterfully Written Story about Picking Up the Pieces Post-Trauma
I don't normally write reviews but I felt compelled to this time not just because Ruby Dixon is one of my favorite authors, but also because so many reviewers felt the need to complain about the way that Stacy was written. I did not find Stacy to be"whiny" as some other reviewers did. Rather, what I saw was her initial struggle to accept that their relationship was irrevocably changed followed by a steep learning curve that had to be negotiated in the middle of post-earthquake crisis management. Stacy was very open and honest about her weaknesses and self-criticisms as the story progresses and as a result acts maturely to take responsibility for them for the sake of the relationship. Pashov does the same. At the heart of this story, is the struggle that any trauma survivor and their loved ones has to reconcile. Trauma tends to make permanent changes and relationships with others cannot ever be completely the same as they were before. Both the survivor and their loved ones have to come to grips with the fact that things can never go totally back to what they were before despite how much all involved wish that it could . . . and there's a grieving process attached to letting go of all the dreams and hopes that were attached to the person you knew before (both for the survivor and their loved ones). This grieving process however makes room for new memories and a new, stronger relationship to be forged if one can stop expecting everything to revert to "normal" and instead create a new normal where the trauma experience is incorporated into the relationship's narrative. Ruby has managed to write the story of Stacy and Pashov in such a way that she masterfully captures this process right down to the unrealistic expectations of those around the trauma survivor and those that the survivor has for themselves. She also captured the spirit of frustration, guilt, and anger when it becomes clear that those expectations are unrealistic and the choices we have to make when we come that crossroad. Do we take the risk of loving this "new" person or stew in resentment that things didn't stay the same because that is what is comfortable. I love how Ruby's writings challenge us to look at our own perspectives on relationships. For those who complain about Stacy, I suspect they are uncomfortable with the emotions associated with the stages of grief that Stacy, the tribe, and Pashov himself go through before they all reach a place of healing, acceptance, and readiness for starting over.
5.0 out of 5 stars sad and then cute
Great book. Sad at first and then to an HEA. Great characters and development in the series. Over all would recommend but definitely read the previous ones first.
Such a good read
Love this series. Worth reading from the start. Although, be warned you'll be hooked. Pashov and Stacey's story is heart warming.
Stacy and Pashov
The human woman Stacy and the alien Sa-khui man Pashov are mated for three seasons and very happy in this time. Together they have a little son named Pacy when the main cave of the tribe is destroyed by an earthquake. Pashov is buried in the cave until Hassen rescues him. He suffers from severe brain injury and the healer needs a couple of days to save his life. Pashov can't remember that he is mated and has a child. Because the brutal season is near, the whole tribe has to move a long way to a new village, that Hassen had discovered. The way on the iceplanet is taxing and Stacy feels very lonely and worn out and misses "her" Pashov, which means the Pashov she knew before the brain injury. As soon as he gets some orientation, that he is mated and has a son, he helps Stacy, but there are a lot of misunderstandings and fears which hamper the understanding. Then Pashov gets the idea to stay with his family in a hunters cave alone, so they can get to know each other again.It is a beautiful lovestory. Pashov looses his memory but his heart tells him, where to go. He is also very patient and does not react aggressively, when there is one of the misunderstandings, which enables him to find a way to his mate. Stacy is more the nurturing type and reacts desperately and emotional until she realizes that she is not fair to Pashov and that she has to find new ways to be with him and show him her love. I highly recommend this book.
Like a second chance romance
Wow ..... This was perfect! 🧡 The emotional connection with the characters I was disappointed of not getting in the previous book, I got it here. I loved the tribe journey to their new home and the description of the canyon and the village was good. I wonder if we get to meet other creatures in this series.
Thank you Ruby for another fantastic storey!
Hopefully I will be able to do justice to Ruby and her wonderful storey Barbarians Heart with this review.I loved this book, Ruby does such a great job writing her characters emotions in a way that the reader can feel them too. Ruby let Stacy have her grief and Pashov his confusion and guilt and didn't rush the storey for the sex stuff. This obviously makes the storey more real and the characters more relate-able.Ruby also does and excellent job with world building, she does the hard work, giving us explanations of the day to day struggles, how they find food and stay warm even handle the bathroom issues etc. For me, this makes all her stories more realistic and lets the reader immerse themselves in these characters lives and the whole Not-Hoth experience.Another thing I love about the Barbarian stories is that all the heroines are different they have their own back stories and feelings and so do their mates, that the characters grow together and fall in love, not just because of resonance.It it probably better to read all these barbarian stories in order, just so you understand everything. like how the earth woman got there and the history of the aliens, but its totally been worth the investment to me. I have re-read and enjoyed them all several times. I cant remember the last time I waited so anxiously for a book to publish, and I can't wait for the next one in the series.And one wonderful thing about Ruby is that she never makes us wait too long. She has got the be the fastest author I have read who still maintains the quality of her writing and stories.Thanks Ruby for another great tale! (not tail, although that was also great ;) Cant wait for the next one!
Barbearia Heart
Ruby e maravilhosa, quando leio os livros dela realmente me identifico, com as dore e as alegrias, parabéns!E a terceira vez que lei a série e ainda assim me faz feliz😊
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