As I work through the books that I have on my shelf, I decided to listen to Barbarian's Prize via hoopla on my venture to the faire. I have had the physical copy for quite a while and as I was already working through the Barbarian series, I knew that this had to be next.

It’s hard being the most popular girl on the ice planet. The alien men are falling all over themselves to impress me in the hopes that I’ll take them to my furs. But they don’t know my secrets – none of them do. And they don’t realize that behind my smile, I just wish they’d go away.

I don’t want any of them. I want someone else – someone with a gorgeous blue body, big horns, and the most intense gaze ever. He’s the only one that knows the truth. Maybe with him, I can work through my fears of the past…. but I’m pretty sure he wants more than just friendship.

He wants forever, and I’m not sure I can give it.

Tiffany is our protagonist in this novel, and she starts the book off with heavy trauma. She was SA'd while on the alien ship and due to that trauma, the idea of her resonating with any of the blue aliens is frightening to her.

Of course, they all want her.

Salukh is our other protagonist, and he adores Tiffany. (And I adore him). He is kind, patient, and allows for their relationship to grow. His only issue is that he has not resonated with Tiffany and that is the only thing that will call the other males off. So Josie, one of the other females that are not mated and Tiffany's friend, thinks of a competition in which Tiffany's favor is the prize.

This goes about as well as it can...

Healing Journey

Each of the girls goes through their own trauma with what happened to them on the alien ship and the assault that they faced. One of the girls died early on in the series due to her guilt making her go insane, Josie redirects it into positivity in her search for her happily ever after. For Tiffany, she closes herself off. Unable to be touched without it devolving into a panic, she is also haunted by nightmares that make her lose sleep. She throws herself into work to keep herself occupied, trying to be helpful, but this also brings the attraction of the other men who long to resonate with her.

Salukh feels it in his bones that Tiffany is his mate. He meets her where she is at and allows her to make her healing journey, supporting her and giving his care and adoration. It is this patience as well as Tiffany finding the strength within herself that helps her cope, and grow more brave within herself.

Final Thoughts

This is the fifth book within the barbarian series, and I can honestly say it is probably one of my favorites. The dynamic between Tiffany and Salukh is so endearing as they both discover more about the other, maneuvering their growing relationship. I also want to RAVE about how much I love Salukh. A cinnamon roll who is strong and fierce and will do what it takes for his mate. Smart enough to adapt in the ways that aide her into finding the strength to love her, he is a GEM. And the chemistry when the spicy scenes did happen, I can say that Salukh had me blushing!

Dixon also does a great job of showing how different people deal with trauma. She created characters grow with grief and how it affects them in such a real and powerful way. This book was funny, heartfelt, and powerful and I loved every minute of it.