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Not-So-Savage Barbarians #1
The Barbarian's Tribute
Every year, a woman from each town is chosen as a tribute to the barbarian clans to keep the peace, never to be seen or heard from again. The rumors about the barbarian clans were horrific. It was a sentence worse than death. I never thought they’d choose me. But when my brother betrays me by telling my father about my interest in men, he decides to throw me to the wolves to spare our family the shame. Making me the first male tribute.
159 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2025
640 people are currently reading
753 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 309 reviews
May 8, 2025
A very sweet, sappy romance between a barbarian and a boy who was rejected from his town. Now barbarian and sweet/sappy don’t really go together but I knew what I was getting myself into because this series is literally called “not-so-savage barbarians.” And I think it worked out, I enjoyed it at least. I thought Finn was alright, a little too emotional for me but alright nonetheless. I wish we got more on his family though, I mean his brother is awful. He is the one that had Finn thrown out of his town because Finn decided to trust him with the secret of his sexuality. But that’s about it, I wish we got to know their relationship more, like was his brother always this horrible? It didn’t sound like it at first, so what changed? Rath is the barbarian and I liked him too, he’s very caring and careful with Finn. Their relationship progressed throughout the book, I wouldn’t call it a slow-burn but they were always learning from or about each other. There are hints of fantasy elements, like the creatures that live in the woods aren’t exactly normal creatures. I wish we got more on those too. Just a bit more world-building in general. But overall I was happy with this book and I think Rath and Finn are both very sweet. 😊
June 5, 2025
Exactly what I expected: a protective barbarian, a very weepy human (good grief but Finn was annoying with the constant waterworks), mountains of melodrama, plenty of steamy action, and a "bondmating" HEA.
Almost no world building, but the connection between Finn and Rath felt true.
I couldn't stop the eye rolls when Finn became fluent in the barbarian language in the span of two weeks, but whatever.
This series isn't winning any awards anytime soon, but I'm here for the gay barbarians.
Almost no world building, but the connection between Finn and Rath felt true.
I couldn't stop the eye rolls when Finn became fluent in the barbarian language in the span of two weeks, but whatever.
This series isn't winning any awards anytime soon, but I'm here for the gay barbarians.
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August 8, 2025
The Barbarian’s Tribute is book one in the Not-So-Savage Barbarians series by Amy Padilla. This is my very first book by this author. The cover is what first drew me. I mean, just look at it! How could I not want to read his story?!
Phineas or Finn as we get to know him as, is a small, emotional, very timid, soft spoken man. He lives in a town where it is illegal for a man to prefer another man instead of a woman. The crime is punishable by death if you are caught. Finn has always been ridiculed by his brothers and father for not being tough enough. And his father was constantly pressuring him to choose a wife. When one of his brothers fools him into admitting his truth, he betrays Finn to his father who forces him to be the first male tribute to the Barbarians.
In this world, the Barbarians that are nomads, living far outside of the town, are only able to produce male offspring. So they have a treaty with the town’s people. They will keep the peace if the town will provide female tributes. The Barbarians are thought to be wild heathens. But in truth, this clan anyway, is peaceful and kind. The tributes are honored. It is also accepted if a man prefers another man. All bonds are accepted. But, they’ve never had a male tribute before!
As soon as Rath saw Finn, he felt the need to protect him, nurture him. Slowly, as Finn grew accustomed to his new surroundings, he began to feel safe and a tentative bond began to form. Could he grow to care for Rath? Would he want to stay and be his bond mate? In a very short amount of time, though, Finn is faced with several dangerous challenges to overcome but Rath stays by his side and keeps him safe.
This was so sweet. I love this world, this group of Barbarians! At times, I thought that Finn’s emotional state was a bit overdone. But, with that being said, I loved his emotional growth as he became more confident. He’s never been treated well and it will take time for the past to fade and for him to realize that his life is so much better now. I’m going right on to book two, Saved by a Barbarian. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Phineas or Finn as we get to know him as, is a small, emotional, very timid, soft spoken man. He lives in a town where it is illegal for a man to prefer another man instead of a woman. The crime is punishable by death if you are caught. Finn has always been ridiculed by his brothers and father for not being tough enough. And his father was constantly pressuring him to choose a wife. When one of his brothers fools him into admitting his truth, he betrays Finn to his father who forces him to be the first male tribute to the Barbarians.
In this world, the Barbarians that are nomads, living far outside of the town, are only able to produce male offspring. So they have a treaty with the town’s people. They will keep the peace if the town will provide female tributes. The Barbarians are thought to be wild heathens. But in truth, this clan anyway, is peaceful and kind. The tributes are honored. It is also accepted if a man prefers another man. All bonds are accepted. But, they’ve never had a male tribute before!
As soon as Rath saw Finn, he felt the need to protect him, nurture him. Slowly, as Finn grew accustomed to his new surroundings, he began to feel safe and a tentative bond began to form. Could he grow to care for Rath? Would he want to stay and be his bond mate? In a very short amount of time, though, Finn is faced with several dangerous challenges to overcome but Rath stays by his side and keeps him safe.
This was so sweet. I love this world, this group of Barbarians! At times, I thought that Finn’s emotional state was a bit overdone. But, with that being said, I loved his emotional growth as he became more confident. He’s never been treated well and it will take time for the past to fade and for him to realize that his life is so much better now. I’m going right on to book two, Saved by a Barbarian. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
dnf
July 29, 2025dnf @ 73%
i can’t stand whiny, gullible characters. finn, who’s a grown ass man btw, gets angry after being “tricked” to think that biting rath’s dick would be enjoyable 😐. idc how inexperienced he is, he’s not that damn dumb to not know that it wouldn’t be pleasurable. plus, he has the same anatomy so it wouldn’t be hard to think “hm, having someone bite my dick would probably freaking hurt.” and then the whole clan babies him and scolds rath’s brother for trying to play a prank. idk i personally thought it was pretty funny but ofc finn took it seriously (he didn’t actually do it but was thinking about it 🙄). to top it off, he’s crying in every chapter so yeah imma put it down now 😀.
i can’t stand whiny, gullible characters. finn, who’s a grown ass man btw, gets angry after being “tricked” to think that biting rath’s dick would be enjoyable 😐. idc how inexperienced he is, he’s not that damn dumb to not know that it wouldn’t be pleasurable. plus, he has the same anatomy so it wouldn’t be hard to think “hm, having someone bite my dick would probably freaking hurt.” and then the whole clan babies him and scolds rath’s brother for trying to play a prank. idk i personally thought it was pretty funny but ofc finn took it seriously (he didn’t actually do it but was thinking about it 🙄). to top it off, he’s crying in every chapter so yeah imma put it down now 😀.
April 6, 2025
I absolutely loved this! Finn and Rath are a great couple and the light fantasy elements worked well with this plot. Well written and believable characters, this was a fast paced read that I picked up randomly from kindle unlimited and I'm glad I did. Light cozy fantasy with kind gentle protective barbarians.
January 28, 2026
This was one of those simple, cute, quick reads that felt like a little comfort snack between books. I was reading this alongside other things, so it took me a bit to finish, but that’s honestly not on the book it’s very much the kind of story you can fly through when you want something fast, sweet, and easy on the brain.
I really liked the whole barbarian clan setup. They’re feared by surrounding communities, seen as savages, when in reality they’re gentle, respectful, and soft. The tribute system is dark in concept especially with how Finn is sent there in such a cruel way but the story doesn’t focus on brutality for shock value. Instead, it leans into care, protection, and emotional safety, which worked really well for the tone this book was going for.
Finn being the first male tribute added an interesting layer, and I liked how the clan treated tributes as something precious, not disposable. They’re respected, protected, and handled with gentleness, and that contrast really stood out to me.
Now let’s talk about Rath, because he was hands down my favorite part of this book. Rath is a giant soft protector, and I am absolutely weak for that archetype. He’s gentle, attentive, nurturing, patient, and so naturally caring with Finn. The way he pampers him, protects him, teaches him, and just… takes care of him made this such a comforting read. If there’s ever a character that screams belonging without ownership, it’s Rath. We all need a Rath in our lives, honestly.
Also, completely unrelated (but not really): can someone PLEASE tell me where this barbarian clan is located? Because if there exists a place where tributes are treated like precious beings, pampered, protected, respected, gently cared for, and literally expected to just sit there and look pretty… I would like to apply immediately. This whole “you are valuable, we will take care of you, please exist softly” energy felt like a mini vacation for my brain cells, and I loved it.
Overall, this wasn’t meant to be intense or life-changing it was just fun. Sweet, comforting, fast-paced, and perfect for when your TBR feels overwhelming and you want something soft and easy to sink into. I can totally see myself coming back to the rest of the series someday when I’m in the mood for something quick, cozy, and gentle.
I really liked the whole barbarian clan setup. They’re feared by surrounding communities, seen as savages, when in reality they’re gentle, respectful, and soft. The tribute system is dark in concept especially with how Finn is sent there in such a cruel way but the story doesn’t focus on brutality for shock value. Instead, it leans into care, protection, and emotional safety, which worked really well for the tone this book was going for.
Finn being the first male tribute added an interesting layer, and I liked how the clan treated tributes as something precious, not disposable. They’re respected, protected, and handled with gentleness, and that contrast really stood out to me.
Now let’s talk about Rath, because he was hands down my favorite part of this book. Rath is a giant soft protector, and I am absolutely weak for that archetype. He’s gentle, attentive, nurturing, patient, and so naturally caring with Finn. The way he pampers him, protects him, teaches him, and just… takes care of him made this such a comforting read. If there’s ever a character that screams belonging without ownership, it’s Rath. We all need a Rath in our lives, honestly.
Also, completely unrelated (but not really): can someone PLEASE tell me where this barbarian clan is located? Because if there exists a place where tributes are treated like precious beings, pampered, protected, respected, gently cared for, and literally expected to just sit there and look pretty… I would like to apply immediately. This whole “you are valuable, we will take care of you, please exist softly” energy felt like a mini vacation for my brain cells, and I loved it.
Overall, this wasn’t meant to be intense or life-changing it was just fun. Sweet, comforting, fast-paced, and perfect for when your TBR feels overwhelming and you want something soft and easy to sink into. I can totally see myself coming back to the rest of the series someday when I’m in the mood for something quick, cozy, and gentle.
March 7, 2025
3 stars. I normally like my barbarians ruthless and terrifying but true to its name (not-so-savage) this was a sweet story of a very kind barbarian, Rath and his little village boy, Finn who is rejected by his family for being gay and is offered as a tribute to Rath's clan.
Rath was hot, dominant, brave and kind. Finn was sweet and earnest enough, but a tad too damsel in distress, blushing virgin for my liking but I think that was the dynamic that the author was aiming for. I would've liked more spice but I was happy to go along for the ride.
Under 200 pages, it was the perfect read while I'm reading a much longer, darker, and heavier book.
Rath was hot, dominant, brave and kind. Finn was sweet and earnest enough, but a tad too damsel in distress, blushing virgin for my liking but I think that was the dynamic that the author was aiming for. I would've liked more spice but I was happy to go along for the ride.
Under 200 pages, it was the perfect read while I'm reading a much longer, darker, and heavier book.
January 11, 2026
2⭐️ This had potential with the plot. I do love a barbarian meets human, they don’t speak the same language dynamic.
But this leaned way too heavily into the “damsel in distress” trope.
I hate when helplessness replaces character development. It’s just lazy writing. The MC can’t do anything on his own, and instead of being given actual skills, opinions, or growth, his entire personality is just crying and depending on the other MC to save him.
And that’s the inherent problem with this trope—outdated, stereotypical gender roles aside. When one MC is constantly sniveling, passive, and incapable, it’s hard to believe the other MC would fall in love instead of just feeling exhausted or weirdly parental. At that point, the relationship stops feeling romantic and starts feeling like caretaker/child.
This is partially why I don’t read much MF anymore so it’s even more frustrating to find it in MM.
But this leaned way too heavily into the “damsel in distress” trope.
I hate when helplessness replaces character development. It’s just lazy writing. The MC can’t do anything on his own, and instead of being given actual skills, opinions, or growth, his entire personality is just crying and depending on the other MC to save him.
And that’s the inherent problem with this trope—outdated, stereotypical gender roles aside. When one MC is constantly sniveling, passive, and incapable, it’s hard to believe the other MC would fall in love instead of just feeling exhausted or weirdly parental. At that point, the relationship stops feeling romantic and starts feeling like caretaker/child.
This is partially why I don’t read much MF anymore so it’s even more frustrating to find it in MM.
December 31, 2025
Rath + Finn 🖤
Barbarian | Caretaking | Forehead kisses | Found family
This was precious. Sweet, traumatized Finn and his big, gentle, protective barbarian, Rath.
Finn was terrified when they met. They couldn't understand each others language and he only knew of barbarians to be scary people. But Rath worked hard to earn Finn's trust through actions. He even hand sewed him clothes since all of his were huge. Like come on. 🫠🫠🫠
"The gods blessed me when they sent you to me."
⚠️ potential spoilers below in detailed tropes, content and warning lists
Tropes/content:
Barbarian + his bondmate
Hunting
Caretaking
Gentleness
Language barrier at first
Virgin
Size difference
Bathes him
Sews him clothes
Protector
Calming cuddles after nightmares
"My Finn"
"Korvash" = precious flower, Rath calls Finn that starting day one
Dry hump to completion
Lots of forehead kisses
Lots of foreheads touching and breathing each other in
Lots of carrying and lap sitting
Who did this to you?
Found family
Touch starved
Tributes and bondmates are held in higher regard and respected more than the barbarians themselves
Bond ceremony/wedding
Rath's family is supportive
Strict roles
Warnings:
Finn was betrayed by his brother who told their dad that he was gay knowing he'd hurt and disown Finn
Finn was tossed aside by his father for being gay and thrown to the barbarians
Finn's dad punches him and drags him around by his hair after finding out he is gay
Finn is scratched and pushed into a sewage trench by a jealous townswoman
Finn is attacked by an animal/creature, not seriously harmed.
Finn was so innocent that Rath's brother told him that Rath liked to have his dick bitten during blow jobs and Finn was just like "okay, thanks for the tip". When he learned the truth though he was horrified and mad at Godr because it reminded him of his own brothers betrayal. He never actually hurts Rath.
Their tent is broken into and a bitch tries to light it on fire, Finn tackles her right as she tries to throw the lantern. Same bitch who pushed him into the trench
Mentions about how crying is weak, men cant be soft, etc. These are ideas Finn has because his old life.
Barbarian | Caretaking | Forehead kisses | Found family
This was precious. Sweet, traumatized Finn and his big, gentle, protective barbarian, Rath.
Finn was terrified when they met. They couldn't understand each others language and he only knew of barbarians to be scary people. But Rath worked hard to earn Finn's trust through actions. He even hand sewed him clothes since all of his were huge. Like come on. 🫠🫠🫠
"The gods blessed me when they sent you to me."
⚠️ potential spoilers below in detailed tropes, content and warning lists
Tropes/content:
Barbarian + his bondmate
Hunting
Caretaking
Gentleness
Language barrier at first
Virgin
Size difference
Bathes him
Sews him clothes
Protector
Calming cuddles after nightmares
"My Finn"
"Korvash" = precious flower, Rath calls Finn that starting day one
Dry hump to completion
Lots of forehead kisses
Lots of foreheads touching and breathing each other in
Lots of carrying and lap sitting
Who did this to you?
Found family
Touch starved
Tributes and bondmates are held in higher regard and respected more than the barbarians themselves
Bond ceremony/wedding
Rath's family is supportive
Strict roles
Warnings:
Finn was betrayed by his brother who told their dad that he was gay knowing he'd hurt and disown Finn
Finn was tossed aside by his father for being gay and thrown to the barbarians
Finn's dad punches him and drags him around by his hair after finding out he is gay
Finn is scratched and pushed into a sewage trench by a jealous townswoman
Finn is attacked by an animal/creature, not seriously harmed.
Finn was so innocent that Rath's brother told him that Rath liked to have his dick bitten during blow jobs and Finn was just like "okay, thanks for the tip". When he learned the truth though he was horrified and mad at Godr because it reminded him of his own brothers betrayal. He never actually hurts Rath.
Their tent is broken into and a bitch tries to light it on fire, Finn tackles her right as she tries to throw the lantern. Same bitch who pushed him into the trench
Mentions about how crying is weak, men cant be soft, etc. These are ideas Finn has because his old life.
April 15, 2025
Omg this was exactly what I was looking for! It was so sweet and romantic. It really hit the spot.
I have 2 complaints though. One, I think Finn’s family and his town deserved some kind of comeuppance for how they treated him. It pissed me off there wasn’t something done. I’d have loved to see Rath burn it to the ground 😂.
Two, there seemed to be little slips of modern terms sprinkled in and it seemed the setting was supposed to be more historical or fantasy like. It kind of threw me off a bit reading but I loved the story anyway 🥰.
I can’t wait for the next one!
I have 2 complaints though. One, I think Finn’s family and his town deserved some kind of comeuppance for how they treated him. It pissed me off there wasn’t something done. I’d have loved to see Rath burn it to the ground 😂.
Two, there seemed to be little slips of modern terms sprinkled in and it seemed the setting was supposed to be more historical or fantasy like. It kind of threw me off a bit reading but I loved the story anyway 🥰.
I can’t wait for the next one!
June 2, 2025
Total coochie moochie vibes but ngl, Finn was highkey whiny and I wanted to bonk him on the head
April 17, 2025
I loved this.
it was exacwhat I expected.
Finn and Rath were adorable.
A bit of suspended belief is needed for him picking up their language in a ridiculously short amount of time, but that aside, it was perfect.
it was exacwhat I expected.
Finn and Rath were adorable.
A bit of suspended belief is needed for him picking up their language in a ridiculously short amount of time, but that aside, it was perfect.
October 12, 2025
3.5⭐️
December 10, 2025
This was cute and super sweet, but honestly he cried all. the. time. It got a little annoying.
I'm definitely going to continue!
I'm definitely going to continue!
October 14, 2025
2.5–2.75⭐ and I’m not rounding it up this time, I already did that with the prequel.
I expected more from this one. It’s not badly written, but it’s really slow-paced, a bunch of things never get wrapped up and I was just tremendously bored.
🔵 The tribe hunter / another bookworm
🟣 Size difference (apparently all pairs here are big barbarians and dainty little twinks)
🟡 A very slow burn
🟠 Both gay (humans don't accept it, barbarians do)
🟢 Plot not as developed, some things aren't brought to conclusion
🌶️ Intimacy not as descriptive, some scenes ftb, very short and skimmed over except for the one penetrative scene; all in the late second half; some frotting; some oral; penetrative; t/b
You’d expect these novellas to be spicy and interesting, but they’re not.
I now have a vague idea of where we are. It seems like these are some kind of medieval-style towns
“After coming home from another ball empty-handed, without any women to court, Father had lost his temper with me and called me useless.”
and for the barbarians
“We were nomads, we moved often, but during the colder seasons, we settled near the forest for easier hunting.”
but that’s about all we get. There’s absolutely no world building and from what I’ve read, it stays that way through the rest of the series.
Yet another guy gets taken as a tribute. Finn is a whiny little thing, he's constantly crying and acting more like a child than anything else, so I didn’t really like him. Rath, the clan’s most successful hunter, takes Finn under his protection. They live together and Rath doesn't impose himself on Finn in any way, offers consolation, comfort and conversation which was all good, but still something needed to be happening in the meantime.
Do these guys even do anything substantial in the tribe? For a second I thought Finn would become Rath’s hunting partner, but nope. Then there’s some drama with the women, then the animals and in the end, Finn basically just stays a trophy husband and nothing else gets resolved. He’s not a fleshed-out character beyond all the crying, so it’s hard for me to care about their love story.
By the time you get to the end, the author then rewards you with a couple of quick sex scenes and that’s it. It's not even steamy enough to read the books just for the smut.
Apparently, all the rest follow the same formula, so I’m calling it quits. It's just not interesting enough to keep me going further.
I expected more from this one. It’s not badly written, but it’s really slow-paced, a bunch of things never get wrapped up and I was just tremendously bored.
🔵 The tribe hunter / another bookworm
🟣 Size difference (apparently all pairs here are big barbarians and dainty little twinks)
🟡 A very slow burn
🟠 Both gay (humans don't accept it, barbarians do)
🟢 Plot not as developed, some things aren't brought to conclusion
🌶️ Intimacy not as descriptive, some scenes ftb, very short and skimmed over except for the one penetrative scene; all in the late second half; some frotting; some oral; penetrative; t/b
You’d expect these novellas to be spicy and interesting, but they’re not.
I now have a vague idea of where we are. It seems like these are some kind of medieval-style towns
“After coming home from another ball empty-handed, without any women to court, Father had lost his temper with me and called me useless.”
and for the barbarians
“We were nomads, we moved often, but during the colder seasons, we settled near the forest for easier hunting.”
but that’s about all we get. There’s absolutely no world building and from what I’ve read, it stays that way through the rest of the series.
Yet another guy gets taken as a tribute. Finn is a whiny little thing, he's constantly crying and acting more like a child than anything else, so I didn’t really like him. Rath, the clan’s most successful hunter, takes Finn under his protection. They live together and Rath doesn't impose himself on Finn in any way, offers consolation, comfort and conversation which was all good, but still something needed to be happening in the meantime.
Do these guys even do anything substantial in the tribe? For a second I thought Finn would become Rath’s hunting partner, but nope. Then there’s some drama with the women, then the animals and in the end, Finn basically just stays a trophy husband and nothing else gets resolved. He’s not a fleshed-out character beyond all the crying, so it’s hard for me to care about their love story.
By the time you get to the end, the author then rewards you with a couple of quick sex scenes and that’s it. It's not even steamy enough to read the books just for the smut.
Apparently, all the rest follow the same formula, so I’m calling it quits. It's just not interesting enough to keep me going further.
July 19, 2025
This was sooo bad and it had potential but why the hell was the other guy always crying or whimpering or moaning or whatever the hell, like I'm not kidding, the sentence "tears welled up in his eyes" was used 51 times in this ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY page book. What a waste of time, I couldn't even finish the last couple chapters, my only thought was that if the twink cries again I will throw my phone at the wall
July 1, 2025
cute, but kinda boring. Finn was so whiny.
August 3, 2025
3.5 stars
RTC
RTC
April 14, 2025
You know what? This was so good. No notes. I had a blast and I want to read it again. This is one of those books that I’ll accept zero criticism on. I don’t know why but I loved it.
I went to buy a physical copy of it at 56%. There aren’t any and that should be a crime but it’s the first time I wanted to buy a copy before I was finished.
I went to buy a physical copy of it at 56%. There aren’t any and that should be a crime but it’s the first time I wanted to buy a copy before I was finished.
October 31, 2025
that's the good shit
April 7, 2025
One of the characters would cry literally every other page. It was just too much.
November 25, 2025
Book Club Read.
I too would cling to that man.
I too would cling to that man.
January 19, 2026
Para un libro sobre bárbaros y tributos y de la forma en que pintaban al clan, esperaba mucha más violencia y situaciones incómodas (para mí como lectora), sin embargo resultó ser una sorpresa muy grata y me dejó con ganas de más.
Rath y Finn me parecieron muy tiernos, y es que hay algo en un gigante sin problemas con la violencia que se vuelve todo dulce con su pareja que me deja derretida cada vez, y entre estos dos hubo mucho de eso.
Fue un libro relativamente tranquilo, si se puede llamar así, esperaba más altibajos, pero de nuevo, me encantó que me sorprendiera.
Y hay algo que quiero resaltar porque me pareció a la vez curioso y un poco acertado: los humanos estaba aterrados de los "bárbaros" y sin embargo, resultaron ser más crueles que ellos, de hecho, la mayor dosis de violencia y crueldad vino de las supuestas "víctimas".
Me dio algo en qué pensar.
Rath y Finn me parecieron muy tiernos, y es que hay algo en un gigante sin problemas con la violencia que se vuelve todo dulce con su pareja que me deja derretida cada vez, y entre estos dos hubo mucho de eso.
Fue un libro relativamente tranquilo, si se puede llamar así, esperaba más altibajos, pero de nuevo, me encantó que me sorprendiera.
Y hay algo que quiero resaltar porque me pareció a la vez curioso y un poco acertado: los humanos estaba aterrados de los "bárbaros" y sin embargo, resultaron ser más crueles que ellos, de hecho, la mayor dosis de violencia y crueldad vino de las supuestas "víctimas".
Me dio algo en qué pensar.
November 12, 2025
Five stars for the barbarian, one star for one of the most whiny characters I've read (I should have counted the number of times he cried). But, I like the world set up so will be continuing with the series. A+ for the audio.
January 8, 2026
Loved the book.
Rath was such a sweetheart. He was so patient and just adored Finn. He would do anything for him, the only thing that mattered to him was Finn's happiness, everything else was horse sh*t.
Finn had a terrible family but the family he found was fantastic. He grew as a person and was more confident, he wasn't afraid to show who he really was anymore
Rath was such a sweetheart. He was so patient and just adored Finn. He would do anything for him, the only thing that mattered to him was Finn's happiness, everything else was horse sh*t.
Finn had a terrible family but the family he found was fantastic. He grew as a person and was more confident, he wasn't afraid to show who he really was anymore
Read
June 14, 2025+ Cultural expectations and misunderstandings being overcome by learning language and culture
- why in a week?
NSFW infos
MC comes from place where being queer means to be hung or exiled (virgin, bottoms)
Barbarian immediately falls for him (tops)
Frotting
Intercrural
Somno (being woken with blowjob/sitting on penis)
- why in a week?
NSFW infos
MC comes from place where being queer means to be hung or exiled (virgin, bottoms)
Barbarian immediately falls for him (tops)
Frotting
Intercrural
Somno (being woken with blowjob/sitting on penis)
March 5, 2025
Finn was a mess. He was really sensitive and became embarrassed a lot, same as the crying. I'm not against sensitive men, not at all, but this was a bit much, the constantly crying and the embarrassment, it got old really quickly. I liked Rath, same with the story, which reminded me of Kristen Ashley book Golden Dynasty. So overall ok read.
April 25, 2025
Basically what I expected. Really overwrought, meh writing, meh characters. Really not worth the time.
March 8, 2025
Not so savage? It's actually very civilised barbarians. Marshmallows who can fight (not that we see that part). The tribute is not just a guy, he is a fountain. I don't think I saw a book with more crying than this, and when you consider the length? It's almost impressive. And that should be fine but it also wasn't.
The first chapter was rough but I feel I've been promised to and they under-delivered. Language barrier? Evaporated in a week. Romance? Slow burn. Barbarian? The nicest, caring, understanding, patient guy. The only consistent feature was the size difference. I would NOT want to see couples like this in IRL - the description makes it sounds like the sensitive bookish guy is child size and the barbarian is a giant. Now have sex cause obviously it sounds better when the characters (and readers) feel like it shouldn't fit, if you catch my drift.
I have tried to read some true barbarian stories and yes, some of them were not to my taste, there's a difference between rough & manly and a jerk. But this book veered too much in the other direction.
Conclusion: a very nice book with very nice characters and nice feelings.
The first chapter was rough but I feel I've been promised to and they under-delivered. Language barrier? Evaporated in a week. Romance? Slow burn. Barbarian? The nicest, caring, understanding, patient guy. The only consistent feature was the size difference. I would NOT want to see couples like this in IRL - the description makes it sounds like the sensitive bookish guy is child size and the barbarian is a giant. Now have sex cause obviously it sounds better when the characters (and readers) feel like it shouldn't fit, if you catch my drift.
I have tried to read some true barbarian stories and yes, some of them were not to my taste, there's a difference between rough & manly and a jerk. But this book veered too much in the other direction.
Conclusion: a very nice book with very nice characters and nice feelings.
June 29, 2025
i read this novella in between taking care of my cat after surgery — not exactly ideal timing, but it gave me something to do. it was a decent enough distraction, but honestly, it left me pretty underwhelmed. the story had potential, sure, but the execution fell flat — the world-building didn’t draw me in, and the characters (or their stories) never really felt convincing. there were also lots of moments that felt oddly naive and empty, almost clumsy in how earnestly they tried to land, but just missed the mark.
i didn’t hate it by any means, but i also didn’t find much to love here. in the end, it was just... fine. not terrible, not memorable. just one of those reads you forget a week later.
i didn’t hate it by any means, but i also didn’t find much to love here. in the end, it was just... fine. not terrible, not memorable. just one of those reads you forget a week later.
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