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Galactic Gladiators #6
Barbarian
Abducted by alien slavers, experimented on, and left blind, the last thing doctor Winter Ashworth needs is a big barbarian gladiator in her life, especially an annoying one who thinks she’s small and weak.
Rescued by gladiators on the desert world of Carthago, Winter is doggedly working to embrace her new life. But two of her friends are still missing and she’ll do anything to help get them back…even if she has to work alongside Nero Krahn: hunter, barbarian, gladiator. The scowly, brooding man is too big, has too many muscles, and pushes all her buttons.
Nero is the House of Galen’s best hunter and tracker. Raised on a barbarian world, where strength and might are prized, he was bred to hunt and fight. Now the arena is his home and his loyalty is to his imperator. He knows he can use his skills to find the two lost women, even if that means protecting a small blind woman who takes every chance to misjudge his words and lash him with her sharp tongue.
But as they follow a dangerous trail to save their friends, a new enemy emerges—one who wants Winter. The pair find themselves reluctantly attracted to each other, uncovering a scorching desire that shocks them both. As Nero fights to protect Winter, the barbarian gladiator will discover the true meaning of strength from the small Earth woman he wants to claim as his.
Note to readers: This sci fi romance contains a lot of action (think wild gladiatorial fights and daring rescues), tough gladiators (the warriors of the House of Galen) and a steamy romance (between a scowly barbarian gladiator and a determined doctor). So if you like it fast, and gritty, and sexy, this is for you!
Includes a preview of Marcus, Book 1 of Hell Squad.
Rescued by gladiators on the desert world of Carthago, Winter is doggedly working to embrace her new life. But two of her friends are still missing and she’ll do anything to help get them back…even if she has to work alongside Nero Krahn: hunter, barbarian, gladiator. The scowly, brooding man is too big, has too many muscles, and pushes all her buttons.
Nero is the House of Galen’s best hunter and tracker. Raised on a barbarian world, where strength and might are prized, he was bred to hunt and fight. Now the arena is his home and his loyalty is to his imperator. He knows he can use his skills to find the two lost women, even if that means protecting a small blind woman who takes every chance to misjudge his words and lash him with her sharp tongue.
But as they follow a dangerous trail to save their friends, a new enemy emerges—one who wants Winter. The pair find themselves reluctantly attracted to each other, uncovering a scorching desire that shocks them both. As Nero fights to protect Winter, the barbarian gladiator will discover the true meaning of strength from the small Earth woman he wants to claim as his.
Note to readers: This sci fi romance contains a lot of action (think wild gladiatorial fights and daring rescues), tough gladiators (the warriors of the House of Galen) and a steamy romance (between a scowly barbarian gladiator and a determined doctor). So if you like it fast, and gritty, and sexy, this is for you!
Includes a preview of Marcus, Book 1 of Hell Squad.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2017
542 people are currently reading
517 people want to read
About the author
Anna Hackett
162 books2,914 followersI’m a USA Today bestselling romance author who’s passionate about fast-paced, emotion-filled romantic suspense and science-fiction romance. I love writing about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals. I like to believe it’s possible for all of us to do the same.
I love hearing from readers and you can find me on Facebook, Instagram and my website: www.annahackett.com
I love hearing from readers and you can find me on Facebook, Instagram and my website: www.annahackett.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
January 22, 2020
Barbarian is book six in the Galactic Gladiators series by Anna Hackett.
I love this series so much that I devoured it. Book bing!
Barbarian is another remarkable read in the Galactic Gladiators series.
Winter was abducted by alien slavers, experimented on, and left blind. She’s a doctor who can no longer do what she was trained to do. Now she’s been rescued by Nero and The House of Galen gladiators. She’s trying to adjust to her new life. What I love about her is that she doesn’t let her impaired sight affect who is is and what she can do. She’s strong willed and a strong women in general.
Nero was raised on a barbarian world where strength and might are prized. Where the strongest survive. This has made him be blunt in his speaking and he’s not doing it to be cruel it’s just how he is. He’s the best hunter and tracker in The House of Galen and will use his skills to find the other human women still out there.
Winter and Nero, but heads. These two where great together. Nero makes a blunt remark and Winter would fling it right back with a smart assed comment. Winter made remarkable strides in proving her worth to herself and to Nero. She acknowledger her limitations and weakness and in doing so made them her strengths. Their romance was fantastic.
The action this time takes us far away from the arena and deep into the uncharted and inhospitable desert. The author lets her imagination have free-reign and introduces new creatures and situations that are incredible. I liked how she explored having someone physical impaired. This impairment let the author explore other avenues and introduces some alien technology, but it didn't overshadow how hard and difficult being impaired can be.
The world and characters keep expanding and evolving. We are introduced to a new Importer who runs the House of Ron, Cyborg clan. Each novel we keep finding and discovering new human women as the search goes on to rescue them all.
Barbarian is a captivating read. If you love science fiction romance then you should pick up the Galactic Gladiators series.
Rated: 4.5 Stars
I love this series so much that I devoured it. Book bing!
Barbarian is another remarkable read in the Galactic Gladiators series.
Winter was abducted by alien slavers, experimented on, and left blind. She’s a doctor who can no longer do what she was trained to do. Now she’s been rescued by Nero and The House of Galen gladiators. She’s trying to adjust to her new life. What I love about her is that she doesn’t let her impaired sight affect who is is and what she can do. She’s strong willed and a strong women in general.
Nero was raised on a barbarian world where strength and might are prized. Where the strongest survive. This has made him be blunt in his speaking and he’s not doing it to be cruel it’s just how he is. He’s the best hunter and tracker in The House of Galen and will use his skills to find the other human women still out there.
Winter and Nero, but heads. These two where great together. Nero makes a blunt remark and Winter would fling it right back with a smart assed comment. Winter made remarkable strides in proving her worth to herself and to Nero. She acknowledger her limitations and weakness and in doing so made them her strengths. Their romance was fantastic.
The action this time takes us far away from the arena and deep into the uncharted and inhospitable desert. The author lets her imagination have free-reign and introduces new creatures and situations that are incredible. I liked how she explored having someone physical impaired. This impairment let the author explore other avenues and introduces some alien technology, but it didn't overshadow how hard and difficult being impaired can be.
The world and characters keep expanding and evolving. We are introduced to a new Importer who runs the House of Ron, Cyborg clan. Each novel we keep finding and discovering new human women as the search goes on to rescue them all.
Barbarian is a captivating read. If you love science fiction romance then you should pick up the Galactic Gladiators series.
Rated: 4.5 Stars
October 1, 2019
I love a sexy barbarian and Nero does not disappoint! On his planet they viewed love and compassion as a weakness. His planet was so harsh only the strong survived. This caused Nero not to be cruel but extremely blunt. He thinks it he says it. So, when he butts heads with Winter, who is blind, and tells her she is weak and a liability well that was not such a good impression.
Winter was great! She took Nero's blunt remarks and slung some smart assed comments right back at him. Loved that about her! Winter made strides in proving her worth not to Nero but to herself. Acknowledging her weakness and making them her strengths.
The progression of Nero and Winters love story was fantastically written. Great MC and FMC in book 6! They lived up to their full potential and the storyline was suspenseful, action packed, and incredibly sexy.
I have to say Blue aka Vek stole my heart in this one! Can not wait to read his and Mia's story!
Happy reading ! DD
Winter was great! She took Nero's blunt remarks and slung some smart assed comments right back at him. Loved that about her! Winter made strides in proving her worth not to Nero but to herself. Acknowledging her weakness and making them her strengths.
The progression of Nero and Winters love story was fantastically written. Great MC and FMC in book 6! They lived up to their full potential and the storyline was suspenseful, action packed, and incredibly sexy.
I have to say Blue aka Vek stole my heart in this one! Can not wait to read his and Mia's story!
Happy reading ! DD
June 28, 2025
3✨
1.25🌶️
⚔️human doctor fmc x alien gladiator mmc
⚔️fmc’s sight damaged by prior alien abductors
⚔️dislike-to-friends-to-lovers
⚔️got off on the wrong foot
⚔️what does strength mean?
⚔️rescue mission
⚔️”it’s just sex”
⚔️mmc gets turned on by stabby fmc
⚔️found family
Maybe it’s because I read a REALLY good Anna Hackett book right before this one too, but this one just didn’t totally hit for me.
I really liked the message here that strength can come in all forms, not only in muscle but in overcoming adversity as well. Both main characters, Winter and Nero, battled with the idea of what strength truly means, especially in light of their respective pasts.
I appreciated Winter’s determination to prove herself even with her limited sight, but there were definitely a couple times she came across too strong. She would put words in Nero’s mouth or misinterpret what he said without giving him a chance to explain. But once the pair started to really communicate, this lessened.
The romance was a little lacking to me. It seemed like they went from “this is just sex” to “I’m in love with you” in what seemed like a short amount of time, even for a shorter book like this. I think it was because there actually was a scene where Winter and Nero were caught together by their friends and said it was just sex, not love, and then so quickly after having their love realizations. It could’ve just used a little padding overall.
1.25🌶️
⚔️human doctor fmc x alien gladiator mmc
⚔️fmc’s sight damaged by prior alien abductors
⚔️dislike-to-friends-to-lovers
⚔️got off on the wrong foot
⚔️what does strength mean?
⚔️rescue mission
⚔️”it’s just sex”
⚔️mmc gets turned on by stabby fmc
⚔️found family
Maybe it’s because I read a REALLY good Anna Hackett book right before this one too, but this one just didn’t totally hit for me.
I really liked the message here that strength can come in all forms, not only in muscle but in overcoming adversity as well. Both main characters, Winter and Nero, battled with the idea of what strength truly means, especially in light of their respective pasts.
I appreciated Winter’s determination to prove herself even with her limited sight, but there were definitely a couple times she came across too strong. She would put words in Nero’s mouth or misinterpret what he said without giving him a chance to explain. But once the pair started to really communicate, this lessened.
The romance was a little lacking to me. It seemed like they went from “this is just sex” to “I’m in love with you” in what seemed like a short amount of time, even for a shorter book like this. I think it was because there actually was a scene where Winter and Nero were caught together by their friends and said it was just sex, not love, and then so quickly after having their love realizations. It could’ve just used a little padding overall.
July 24, 2017
Another good one!
All these books are very light and easy to read. There's nothing very dark or tormented and every situation is solved in similar fashion: man is feeling he's nothing to offer and the heroine shows him that she's not a weakling.
Still I like them and will continue reading them!
All these books are very light and easy to read. There's nothing very dark or tormented and every situation is solved in similar fashion: man is feeling he's nothing to offer and the heroine shows him that she's not a weakling.
Still I like them and will continue reading them!
June 29, 2017
This was another exciting instalment of the Galactic Gladiators series and this time the action takes us far away from the arena and deep into the uncharted and inhospitable desert. Winter is one of the human women abducted from the Fortuna space station by the Thraxians. Left blinded by their inhumane experiments she has escaped the underground fight rings only to be separated from her two friends. Luckily those of the House of Galen are determined to help her rescue the others but one gladiator in particular is pushing all of Winters buttons! Nero is not exactly tactful and his barbaric attitude and taciturn ways have earned him no favours. Winter knows he considers her weak and as a doctor is determined to prove she's not the piece of useless fluff he imagines. Oh yes there's tension between this couple but as Nero has mad tracking skills perhaps it's time to work together?
This is sci fi romance that knows no boundaries. I particularly enjoy that the author lets her imagination have free reign and introduces creatures and situations that are truly fantastical. Having a character visually impaired meant the author could introduce intriguing alien technology but she's also written it in such a way that as a reader I could empathise with Winters plight. Plus she might be small compared to Nero but this gal has real backbone and I loved that she took no nonsense from him.
The overall arc expands in this book with new characters and situations introduced. I'm particularly interested in a new Imperator who got some page time as it offers up all kinds of possibilities. I know many readers want Galen to get a book and as this instalment ends we discover the whereabouts of another woman held prisoner so who knows what is planned. Like many I'm hoping Blue and Mia are next up and perhaps he isn't quite the animal he thinks he is? For now though it's all about Nero and Winter as the barbarian finally finds his heart!
This voluntary take is of a advance copy and my thoughts and feelings are honest and I believe fair
This is sci fi romance that knows no boundaries. I particularly enjoy that the author lets her imagination have free reign and introduces creatures and situations that are truly fantastical. Having a character visually impaired meant the author could introduce intriguing alien technology but she's also written it in such a way that as a reader I could empathise with Winters plight. Plus she might be small compared to Nero but this gal has real backbone and I loved that she took no nonsense from him.
The overall arc expands in this book with new characters and situations introduced. I'm particularly interested in a new Imperator who got some page time as it offers up all kinds of possibilities. I know many readers want Galen to get a book and as this instalment ends we discover the whereabouts of another woman held prisoner so who knows what is planned. Like many I'm hoping Blue and Mia are next up and perhaps he isn't quite the animal he thinks he is? For now though it's all about Nero and Winter as the barbarian finally finds his heart!
This voluntary take is of a advance copy and my thoughts and feelings are honest and I believe fair
February 20, 2025
Неро (гладиатор) и Уинтър (човек)
📣🚨🛑РЕВЮ СЪДЪРЖАЩО СПОЙЛЕРИ🛑🚨📣
Уинтър работи като лекар, на космическата станция Фортуна, когато се отваря тунел през който преминават корабите на враждебна извънземна раса, която отвлича, голям брой от обитателите на Фортуна, отвеждайки ги на другият край на галактиката. Подложена на ужасни експерименти, Уинтър е напълно ослепена, но това не може да й попречи да се бори с похитителите си, и когато група гладиатори се появява да спаси един от пленниците Блейн, те спасяват и Уинтър, заедно с други две жени от земята Мия и Дейна и един син извънземен.
Както си е рефрена на тази поредица, скоро Уинтър, Мия и Дейна са отвлечени. Уинтър бива спасена, но Мия и Дейна ги няма, и сега гладиаторите трябва да открият двете жени, за които се носи слухове, че се намират в една пустинна арена, за която до сега са се носели само легенди. В опита си да открие приятелите си, Уинтър ще се сблъска с могъщи врагове и само подкрепата на гладиаторите от дома на Гейлан ще успеят да й помогнат в мисията й.
Неро е от варварска планета. Син на краля, след като планетата му е нападната от робовладелци и брата и сестра му са убити, без да успее да ги спаси, баща му решава да спаси хората си, като продаде сина си на робовладелците, обвинявайки го, че не е опазил по-младите си роднини. Така Неро живее като роб, биейки се ежедневно, докато не става част от елитните гладиатори на дома на Гейлан. Заедно със своите братя по оръжие, Неро е решен да спаси нежните, беззащитни човешки жени, които сякаш са най0желаната плячка на гладиаторската планета Картаго.
Свикнал да не си позволява да изпитва чувства към който и да е, Неро се бори със страстта, която изпитва към дребната сляпа Уинтър, но скоро научава, че във вените на дребната жена има повече плам, сила и кураж отколкото в много от гладиаторите на арената.
Заедно с останалите гладиатори Неро и Уинтър се изправят пред враг, по-страшен от всичко с което някога са се сблъсквали, и макар да се борят с чувствата си, скоро Неро и Уинтър приемат, че живота е кратък и трябва да приемат чувствата си и да им се отдадат, тъй като не знаят кой ден ще им бъде последен.
Беше доста интересно и динамично четиво. Романса бе избутан сякаш леко встрани, но това не пречеше да е супер интересно. Мислех, че Уинтър през цялата книга ще е сляпа и ще има нужда от подкрепа и закрила, но още в самото начало й измислиха някакво устройство и тя беше много яка и борбена, не се налагаше да се крие зад някой, а като изригнеше беше зрелищно. Още се сещам за сцената в която разцентрова робота, който опитваше да я отвлече, само защото се ядоса, задето е нападнал Неро. Двамата бяха сладка двойка и докато опитваха да си устоят беше забавно и интересно.
Следващата книга ще е за Мая и Век, нашия синеок дивак. Мисля, че ще е много интересна, а в нея ще търсим да спасим малката хакерка, която изскочи от нищото. Какво се случва обаче с Дейна си е загадка и ще остане така и в следващите 2 книги, доколкото разбрах от резюметата. Подозирам, че авторката гласи Дейна, за нашият силен водач, Гейлан, тъй, че чакам с нетърпение продължението.
📣🚨🛑РЕВЮ СЪДЪРЖАЩО СПОЙЛЕРИ🛑🚨📣
Уинтър работи като лекар, на космическата станция Фортуна, когато се отваря тунел през който преминават корабите на враждебна извънземна раса, която отвлича, голям брой от обитателите на Фортуна, отвеждайки ги на другият край на галактиката. Подложена на ужасни експерименти, Уинтър е напълно ослепена, но това не може да й попречи да се бори с похитителите си, и когато група гладиатори се появява да спаси един от пленниците Блейн, те спасяват и Уинтър, заедно с други две жени от земята Мия и Дейна и един син извънземен.
Както си е рефрена на тази поредица, скоро Уинтър, Мия и Дейна са отвлечени. Уинтър бива спасена, но Мия и Дейна ги няма, и сега гладиаторите трябва да открият двете жени, за които се носи слухове, че се намират в една пустинна арена, за която до сега са се носели само легенди. В опита си да открие приятелите си, Уинтър ще се сблъска с могъщи врагове и само подкрепата на гладиаторите от дома на Гейлан ще успеят да й помогнат в мисията й.
Неро е от варварска планета. Син на краля, след като планетата му е нападната от робовладелци и брата и сестра му са убити, без да успее да ги спаси, баща му решава да спаси хората си, като продаде сина си на робовладелците, обвинявайки го, че не е опазил по-младите си роднини. Така Неро живее като роб, биейки се ежедневно, докато не става част от елитните гладиатори на дома на Гейлан. Заедно със своите братя по оръжие, Неро е решен да спаси нежните, беззащитни човешки жени, които сякаш са най0желаната плячка на гладиаторската планета Картаго.
Свикнал да не си позволява да изпитва чувства към който и да е, Неро се бори със страстта, която изпитва към дребната сляпа Уинтър, но скоро научава, че във вените на дребната жена има повече плам, сила и кураж отколкото в много от гладиаторите на арената.
Заедно с останалите гладиатори Неро и Уинтър се изправят пред враг, по-страшен от всичко с което някога са се сблъсквали, и макар да се борят с чувствата си, скоро Неро и Уинтър приемат, че живота е кратък и трябва да приемат чувствата си и да им се отдадат, тъй като не знаят кой ден ще им бъде последен.
Беше доста интересно и динамично четиво. Романса бе избутан сякаш леко встрани, но това не пречеше да е супер интересно. Мислех, че Уинтър през цялата книга ще е сляпа и ще има нужда от подкрепа и закрила, но още в самото начало й измислиха някакво устройство и тя беше много яка и борбена, не се налагаше да се крие зад някой, а като изригнеше беше зрелищно. Още се сещам за сцената в която разцентрова робота, който опитваше да я отвлече, само защото се ядоса, задето е нападнал Неро. Двамата бяха сладка двойка и докато опитваха да си устоят беше забавно и интересно.
Следващата книга ще е за Мая и Век, нашия синеок дивак. Мисля, че ще е много интересна, а в нея ще търсим да спасим малката хакерка, която изскочи от нищото. Какво се случва обаче с Дейна си е загадка и ще остане така и в следващите 2 книги, доколкото разбрах от резюметата. Подозирам, че авторката гласи Дейна, за нашият силен водач, Гейлан, тъй, че чакам с нетърпение продължението.
June 15, 2023
Barbarian is the 6th installment from the Galactic Gladiators. I was really excited for this one, as the previous book teased at these two and all the angst and drama between these two. I absolutely loved this one. It was just so delightful. I also really was endeared in seeing how this one developed. While this was not my favorite book of the series, it was still a lot of fun and this book is pretty important for the aspects of the serial plot development. These two end up being rivals, to be honest, them hating each other was odd. The heroine gets so offended and I am not sure why to be honest. I mean much of what the hero implies is probably just how he views women in general or treats them because I am sorry hun but a big muscled man who has been fighting since he was four is more powerful physically than you. haha She just seemed so naive to the differences between men and women physically and she is a doctor. It just felt like it was used so that there was a conflict but didn't really make sense for their relationship. Maybe the author was looking for some angst between these two, I am not really sure, eventually they get over their issues though. And I really am more wanting the beast's story haha him and Mia I want to be together so badly! I am really interested in seeing them together when I read their book next. Very intrigued to see where the author is taking this series and having such a fun time with these books here.
June 29, 2017
Dr. Winter Ashworth may have been rescued by the House Of Galen from slavers but she can't forget her two friends who are still missing and presumed still in the slavers hands somewhere on the desert world of Carthago.
Winter's options to find her friends are limited though as during her captivity she was extensively experimented on leaving her blind. She'll need to rely on the gladiators and their Imperator Galen to find Mia & Dayna though being blind doesn't mean she is useless to the cause.
Nero Krahn had been ripped from his home world Symeria by slavers and sold to live or die as a gladiator. Now one of the premier gladiators on the planet, he still stays true to the teachings of his home world where only the strong survive and weakness of any kind eliminated.
Winter is blind and therefore weak though his Imperator has instilled in his gladiators that it is their role to safeguard and protect the weak. If only she would acknowledge her limitations and let him do his duty instead of demanding things that she shouldn't, life would be good.
When word reaches the House Of Galen regarding a sighting of the missing females, a rescue mission is coordinated. As expected Winter demands to be part of the mission, even after it's found out that whoever has Mia and Dayna also wants Winter.
* * *
This is the 6th installment in the Galactic Gladiators series that features Nero & Winter. A classic opposites attract premise or even brains vs brawn sort of thing. Can be read as a stand alone as long as any new to series readers are ok with previous installments characters as secondary characters who you wouldn't know their back stories.
As a series fan, the idea that an advanced SciFi civilization adheres to modified gladiator arena games as a popular sporting event has a certain attraction that appeals to me. All those alpha male and female warriors pitted against each other just as the Roman's did while the masses cheer their champions on. Sigh.
The main characters Nero & Winter. Nero is a barbarian who was always judged on his strength and ability to win. He has little tolerance for distractions, especially the female variety EXCEPT to meet a biological need. Winter. She was a surgeon who has now lost her sight and will never be able to return home to Earth. It's been her knowledge, skill, and ability to practice medicine that's been her driving force all her life. Now gone. It's pretty obvious that these two are polar opposites who just can't seem to keep their hands off each other. lol. The crazy thing is that I could really see this sort of relationship working with the author keeping it real and believable as she did.
My issues with this book is that the overall mystery-suspense-action/adventure scenes didn't work. One of the few times that I feel the whole find the missing girls and the reason they were abducted scenario was forced, awkward, and a stretch of the imagination to believe while the new bad guy element in this story was like putting a square peg into a circle. Did he really serve a purpose other than to exist to be the bad guy for this story?
Personally, this wasn't one of the better installments in the series for me though Nero & Winter themselves did shine. I'm looking forward to future installments thinking Mia & Vex are next .... but .... am crossing every single hair follicle and all my toes and fingers that Ms. Hackett's muse is shouting in her ear to bump up Ryan and maybe... Zhim's story. Here's hoping anyway.
:D
Winter's options to find her friends are limited though as during her captivity she was extensively experimented on leaving her blind. She'll need to rely on the gladiators and their Imperator Galen to find Mia & Dayna though being blind doesn't mean she is useless to the cause.
Nero Krahn had been ripped from his home world Symeria by slavers and sold to live or die as a gladiator. Now one of the premier gladiators on the planet, he still stays true to the teachings of his home world where only the strong survive and weakness of any kind eliminated.
Winter is blind and therefore weak though his Imperator has instilled in his gladiators that it is their role to safeguard and protect the weak. If only she would acknowledge her limitations and let him do his duty instead of demanding things that she shouldn't, life would be good.
When word reaches the House Of Galen regarding a sighting of the missing females, a rescue mission is coordinated. As expected Winter demands to be part of the mission, even after it's found out that whoever has Mia and Dayna also wants Winter.
* * *
This is the 6th installment in the Galactic Gladiators series that features Nero & Winter. A classic opposites attract premise or even brains vs brawn sort of thing. Can be read as a stand alone as long as any new to series readers are ok with previous installments characters as secondary characters who you wouldn't know their back stories.
As a series fan, the idea that an advanced SciFi civilization adheres to modified gladiator arena games as a popular sporting event has a certain attraction that appeals to me. All those alpha male and female warriors pitted against each other just as the Roman's did while the masses cheer their champions on. Sigh.
The main characters Nero & Winter. Nero is a barbarian who was always judged on his strength and ability to win. He has little tolerance for distractions, especially the female variety EXCEPT to meet a biological need. Winter. She was a surgeon who has now lost her sight and will never be able to return home to Earth. It's been her knowledge, skill, and ability to practice medicine that's been her driving force all her life. Now gone. It's pretty obvious that these two are polar opposites who just can't seem to keep their hands off each other. lol. The crazy thing is that I could really see this sort of relationship working with the author keeping it real and believable as she did.
My issues with this book is that the overall mystery-suspense-action/adventure scenes didn't work. One of the few times that I feel the whole find the missing girls and the reason they were abducted scenario was forced, awkward, and a stretch of the imagination to believe while the new bad guy element in this story was like putting a square peg into a circle. Did he really serve a purpose other than to exist to be the bad guy for this story?
Personally, this wasn't one of the better installments in the series for me though Nero & Winter themselves did shine. I'm looking forward to future installments thinking Mia & Vex are next .... but .... am crossing every single hair follicle and all my toes and fingers that Ms. Hackett's muse is shouting in her ear to bump up Ryan and maybe... Zhim's story. Here's hoping anyway.
:D
November 24, 2017
Addicted
I just can't get enough of these sexy brooding gladiators. Winter might be my favorite heroine yet. The author really knows how to create something special. I'm amazed that the storyline keeps getting better. Usually after this many books it starts to get boring but it just keeps getting more exciting.
I just can't get enough of these sexy brooding gladiators. Winter might be my favorite heroine yet. The author really knows how to create something special. I'm amazed that the storyline keeps getting better. Usually after this many books it starts to get boring but it just keeps getting more exciting.
July 3, 2017
‘Barbarian’ is Nero’s story and he’s the latest to fall and stumble over Winter, a woman from the second ‘group’ of personnel taken from Fortuna Space Station. Nero and Winter are as different as night and day and lust, much less love, takes a while to develop especially when they both have a prickly start.
This has to be a whispered confession: Anna Hackett’s Galactic Gladiator series isn’t exactly my favourite of the lot though I definitely like how much more depth and layered this desert universe has become since the first book. The breadth and the depth of Hackett’s imagination never fail to impress nonetheless and every new book is as always, a deeper uncovering of what lies beneath the surface of every world that exists in that particular universe.
In this case though, I found myself more interested in the developing plot than the pairing itself, not just because I wasn’t entirely convinced of Winter and Nero as a couple, but also because with the ‘sameness’ of the rote pairings thus far. The barbaric gladiators are typically alike and Nero slots into this mould too easily: rough and tumble with gleaming bodies and way more physical (both in size and strength) than the normal human male. The constant references to their hugeness and Earth’s women being smaller do tend to get a little old and the pairings are formulaic in the way gladiator after gladiator gets paired with a human woman from earth. I would like to see the secondary characters who have had passing appearances in the book given their own story or at least, a story with a move away from the gladiator/earth woman kind of couple that Hackett has been doing up until now.
Yet with all Hackett books, the teaser of the next pairing—plus the build-up of the next couple from previous stories—is such a strong pull and that’s keeping me reeled in still.
*ARC by the author
(always grateful, mind)
This has to be a whispered confession: Anna Hackett’s Galactic Gladiator series isn’t exactly my favourite of the lot though I definitely like how much more depth and layered this desert universe has become since the first book. The breadth and the depth of Hackett’s imagination never fail to impress nonetheless and every new book is as always, a deeper uncovering of what lies beneath the surface of every world that exists in that particular universe.
In this case though, I found myself more interested in the developing plot than the pairing itself, not just because I wasn’t entirely convinced of Winter and Nero as a couple, but also because with the ‘sameness’ of the rote pairings thus far. The barbaric gladiators are typically alike and Nero slots into this mould too easily: rough and tumble with gleaming bodies and way more physical (both in size and strength) than the normal human male. The constant references to their hugeness and Earth’s women being smaller do tend to get a little old and the pairings are formulaic in the way gladiator after gladiator gets paired with a human woman from earth. I would like to see the secondary characters who have had passing appearances in the book given their own story or at least, a story with a move away from the gladiator/earth woman kind of couple that Hackett has been doing up until now.
Yet with all Hackett books, the teaser of the next pairing—plus the build-up of the next couple from previous stories—is such a strong pull and that’s keeping me reeled in still.
*ARC by the author
(always grateful, mind)
July 30, 2017
Okay, so I said I was in an 'alien-alpha' mood and was binge reading the series. That, of course, has a down side. If I read one more cookie-cutter story about the alpha-ueber-testosterone-laden male falling for the looks-so-innocent-so small-ish on the outside yet (shock & amazement) sporting spine-of-steel wonder-woman-in-sheep's-clothing female, I'm going to beat my head against the wall. Vary the individual stories in a series please. Don't just change names and hair color. Let one be meek and vulnerable and see where the story goes. Let another be that brave fearless one and see where the story goes....don't let every woman be a cookie cutter because 1. the men already are and more importantly 2. there's really no need to read any further is there....and I already skipped two.
June 27, 2017
Highly recommend this book. It is action packed, tender yet full of heart. The world building is first class. I could "see" the aliens, the animals, the people. A vivid descriptive romance.
June 30, 2017
Originally published at Reading Reality
I always have a good time with Anna Hackett’s series, and Barbarian was no exception. This was a perfect airplane book. The plane may have been flying over the American Heartland, but I was exploring the deserts of Kor Magna and loving every minute of it.
The Galactic Gladiators series is a kind of sun and sandals meet spaceships series. Kor Magna is basically Vegas on steroids, and the gladiatorial fights are just a part of the entertainment on offer. All of the galaxy’s sins, temptations and degradations seem to be available on Kor Magna – for a price.
But it isn’t all fun and games. Kor Magna may be where the rich come to play, but it has a seamy side. Someone has to be providing all the fun, all that tempting sin, and not all of the providers are willing.
There’s an unfortunately thriving slave trade that feeds the fleshpots of Kor Magna, and an ever expanding number of humans have found themselves under its thumb. Slavers exploited a temporary wormhole from Kor Magna to Jupiter, and kidnapped or killed an entire space station.
But that wormhole was a temporary fluke. Our solar system is too far away to get to, over 600 years away at the fastest sublight speeds currently available. So the humans that were captured are exotic and rare, therefore valuable in the wrong hands. And none of them can get home.
Over the course of the series, the captive humans have been rescued, one by one, by gladiators from the successful and honorable House of Galen. Galen and his gladiators have made it their mission to rescue slaves, especially those who just aren’t suited for the life of a gladiator.
And one by one, as each human is rescued, another gladiator falls into the arms of love. At this point, the remaining unmated gladiators are getting a bit sick of all the mushy stuff, and worried about when it will be their turn to fall. (This reader is really looking forward to Galen’s fall, but that’s probably a couple of books away at least. Damn)
The story in Barbarian is the romance between blind Winter and warrior Nero. Winter is a doctor who was blinded in an experiment after she was captured by the slavers. She has a lot of fears and insecurities about how she will make a life and a place for herself now that she is blind. A surgeon can’t operate if they can’t see what they are operating on.
The warrior Nero pushes all of Winter’s buttons, both the good ones and the insecure ones. A warrior from a savage planet, Nero was taught to believe that the weak were a drain on resources, and that protecting them only drains the tribe. He’s learned better in the House of Galen, but Winter’s presence makes him even more tongue-tied, and more blunt, than usual. And she takes all of his comments and runs with them, generally in the wrong direction.
There is more than one kind of strength, and more than one version of bravery. As the gladiators trek out into the harsh desert to rescue more humans from extremely inhumane conditions, Winter and Nero finally figure out that all of their arguments mask a whole lot of deeper emotions that neither of them is ready to deal with.
But life on Kor Magna, even under the best of circumstances (something the gladiators never seem to find) is too harsh to put off loving the person who makes your heart sing.
Escape Rating B+: I really liked Nero and Winter. In the end, they made a great team. And it was good to see Winter take her new life by the horns, in spite of her handicap. She’s scared, she’s uncertain, but she never retreats and she never gives up.
Not even when an evil robot is dragging her to its leader.
That leader is what keeps this book, for me at least, from rising into the A grades.
The slave traders, as awful as they are, make a bad kind of sense. They’re in it for the money. It’s a disgusting motive, and their tactics are brutal, but we understand why they do what they do, even as we abhor it.
The villain of this piece, the Catalyst, is just plain nuckin’ futz. Crazy as a loon. A few parsecs short of a quadrant. You get the picture. He’s doing what he’s doing just because he can, and because he believes he’s so intelligent that he’s entitled, and that no one will be able to stop him. He was terrible and awful and dangerous, but he just didn’t make enough sense. At least not for me.
The gladiators, on the other hand, are terrific. And they are all very much individuals, just as are the humans they fall for. So far, it’s been one male human and five females, but there is nothing in the structure of the series that says that couldn’t change. One of the things that I like about the series is that each of the humans, upon recognizing that they literally can’t go home again, buckles down and finds work and hope and purpose as well as love. And the work varies – only two so far have become gladiators. In addition to Winter finding a way to continue as a healer, one has become an engineer, another an inventor, and one has taken on the sometimes thankless task of business manager for the House of Galen.
One thing that makes this series so much fun is that the pattern can be stretched indefinitely without feeling too stretched. The Hell Squad series has hit that point for me, even though I still enjoy the individual entries in it. And you don’t have to read the entire series to get in on the action (but probably the first one (Gladiator) just to introduce the scene, setting and players) But the Galactic Gladiators only has to stop when the plausible number of captives from the Jupiter station has been reached, and that’s a LONG way off.
Thank goodness!
I always have a good time with Anna Hackett’s series, and Barbarian was no exception. This was a perfect airplane book. The plane may have been flying over the American Heartland, but I was exploring the deserts of Kor Magna and loving every minute of it.
The Galactic Gladiators series is a kind of sun and sandals meet spaceships series. Kor Magna is basically Vegas on steroids, and the gladiatorial fights are just a part of the entertainment on offer. All of the galaxy’s sins, temptations and degradations seem to be available on Kor Magna – for a price.
But it isn’t all fun and games. Kor Magna may be where the rich come to play, but it has a seamy side. Someone has to be providing all the fun, all that tempting sin, and not all of the providers are willing.
There’s an unfortunately thriving slave trade that feeds the fleshpots of Kor Magna, and an ever expanding number of humans have found themselves under its thumb. Slavers exploited a temporary wormhole from Kor Magna to Jupiter, and kidnapped or killed an entire space station.
But that wormhole was a temporary fluke. Our solar system is too far away to get to, over 600 years away at the fastest sublight speeds currently available. So the humans that were captured are exotic and rare, therefore valuable in the wrong hands. And none of them can get home.
Over the course of the series, the captive humans have been rescued, one by one, by gladiators from the successful and honorable House of Galen. Galen and his gladiators have made it their mission to rescue slaves, especially those who just aren’t suited for the life of a gladiator.
And one by one, as each human is rescued, another gladiator falls into the arms of love. At this point, the remaining unmated gladiators are getting a bit sick of all the mushy stuff, and worried about when it will be their turn to fall. (This reader is really looking forward to Galen’s fall, but that’s probably a couple of books away at least. Damn)
The story in Barbarian is the romance between blind Winter and warrior Nero. Winter is a doctor who was blinded in an experiment after she was captured by the slavers. She has a lot of fears and insecurities about how she will make a life and a place for herself now that she is blind. A surgeon can’t operate if they can’t see what they are operating on.
The warrior Nero pushes all of Winter’s buttons, both the good ones and the insecure ones. A warrior from a savage planet, Nero was taught to believe that the weak were a drain on resources, and that protecting them only drains the tribe. He’s learned better in the House of Galen, but Winter’s presence makes him even more tongue-tied, and more blunt, than usual. And she takes all of his comments and runs with them, generally in the wrong direction.
There is more than one kind of strength, and more than one version of bravery. As the gladiators trek out into the harsh desert to rescue more humans from extremely inhumane conditions, Winter and Nero finally figure out that all of their arguments mask a whole lot of deeper emotions that neither of them is ready to deal with.
But life on Kor Magna, even under the best of circumstances (something the gladiators never seem to find) is too harsh to put off loving the person who makes your heart sing.
Escape Rating B+: I really liked Nero and Winter. In the end, they made a great team. And it was good to see Winter take her new life by the horns, in spite of her handicap. She’s scared, she’s uncertain, but she never retreats and she never gives up.
Not even when an evil robot is dragging her to its leader.
That leader is what keeps this book, for me at least, from rising into the A grades.
The slave traders, as awful as they are, make a bad kind of sense. They’re in it for the money. It’s a disgusting motive, and their tactics are brutal, but we understand why they do what they do, even as we abhor it.
The villain of this piece, the Catalyst, is just plain nuckin’ futz. Crazy as a loon. A few parsecs short of a quadrant. You get the picture. He’s doing what he’s doing just because he can, and because he believes he’s so intelligent that he’s entitled, and that no one will be able to stop him. He was terrible and awful and dangerous, but he just didn’t make enough sense. At least not for me.
The gladiators, on the other hand, are terrific. And they are all very much individuals, just as are the humans they fall for. So far, it’s been one male human and five females, but there is nothing in the structure of the series that says that couldn’t change. One of the things that I like about the series is that each of the humans, upon recognizing that they literally can’t go home again, buckles down and finds work and hope and purpose as well as love. And the work varies – only two so far have become gladiators. In addition to Winter finding a way to continue as a healer, one has become an engineer, another an inventor, and one has taken on the sometimes thankless task of business manager for the House of Galen.
One thing that makes this series so much fun is that the pattern can be stretched indefinitely without feeling too stretched. The Hell Squad series has hit that point for me, even though I still enjoy the individual entries in it. And you don’t have to read the entire series to get in on the action (but probably the first one (Gladiator) just to introduce the scene, setting and players) But the Galactic Gladiators only has to stop when the plausible number of captives from the Jupiter station has been reached, and that’s a LONG way off.
Thank goodness!
June 5, 2025
After being abducted by aliens she may be damaged, but she is strong and takes no prisoners. All she wants is freedom
Barbarian has captured all the elements of a great SciFi story, creatures of all sorts, gladiators, deadly trials, secret agendas, mystery, action, frustrations, pain, suffering, romance, and much, much more.
The story is told in multiple POV which I think makes or breaks a story as you get inside their thoughts, feelings etc that make the story feel more rounded.
The life of a gladiator is a dark and dangerous place full of secrets and lies and is brutal and deadly it will either make or break them.
I recommend this if you are looking for an enjoyable read.
Barbarian has captured all the elements of a great SciFi story, creatures of all sorts, gladiators, deadly trials, secret agendas, mystery, action, frustrations, pain, suffering, romance, and much, much more.
The story is told in multiple POV which I think makes or breaks a story as you get inside their thoughts, feelings etc that make the story feel more rounded.
The life of a gladiator is a dark and dangerous place full of secrets and lies and is brutal and deadly it will either make or break them.
I recommend this if you are looking for an enjoyable read.
October 10, 2017
I skipped past a couple books in this series and I don't know what I was thinking. I mean, this series is goooood. Sexy, muscled gladiators who fall for the humans they rescue? These books are begging me to read them. BEGGING.
(For all I haven't read all the books in the series, I had no issue following along with what what happening. We were given enough hints as to what came before to keep everything moving nicely without any confusion.)
This time around, we have Winter and Nero. To say they didn't necessarily get off on the right foot might be an understatement. Nero's gruff attitude had him implying Winter was weak because of her blindness. This, quite naturally, put Winter's back up and they two of them have been at odds since. Sort of at odds. More like, Nero isn't looking for any emotional entanglements and he doesn't like that he's taking a second (and third) look in Winter's direction. Winter's too consumed with finding her friends to consider getting involved with a barbarian man who thinks she's worthless.
Well, at least she thinks he thinks she's worthless.
You know what? Let's just say they don't hit it off at first and leave it at that.
A little sizzle, a lot of steam, danger, potential allies, and a bad guy doing bad things. Yeah, this series is begging me to read it from start to finish.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
(For all I haven't read all the books in the series, I had no issue following along with what what happening. We were given enough hints as to what came before to keep everything moving nicely without any confusion.)
This time around, we have Winter and Nero. To say they didn't necessarily get off on the right foot might be an understatement. Nero's gruff attitude had him implying Winter was weak because of her blindness. This, quite naturally, put Winter's back up and they two of them have been at odds since. Sort of at odds. More like, Nero isn't looking for any emotional entanglements and he doesn't like that he's taking a second (and third) look in Winter's direction. Winter's too consumed with finding her friends to consider getting involved with a barbarian man who thinks she's worthless.
Well, at least she thinks he thinks she's worthless.
You know what? Let's just say they don't hit it off at first and leave it at that.
A little sizzle, a lot of steam, danger, potential allies, and a bad guy doing bad things. Yeah, this series is begging me to read it from start to finish.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
March 25, 2018
I have a question for the author - aren't you tired of writing the same stories all over again? From book to book a hero is a man-whore, a heroine is "self-sufficient and independent". Well I have breaking news. You're not that independent if you scream about how strong you're from every corner and meet every word thrown in your way with hostility, feeling the need to prove you're tenacious. Heroes are dumb pricks without any emotional intelligence. It's okay when you're 16,not in your thirties. I've read 4 books and not planning on buying anything else. The flow is at best okay, the MCs are flat. You seriously will not be able to tell who's who if you read extracts from different books without knowing the names of the MCs. That's how dull and repetitive they're. Overall I don't think it's worth your time.
May 19, 2019
Nero just opens his mouth and inserts his foot every time he talked to Winter. He sees her as weak because of her size and because she is blind. It was great fun seeing how his perception changes as the story progresses. Turns out Winter is not weak at all and she is a perfect match for Hero. The Galactic Gladiators are still looking for and rescuing the women from Earth. They find one, add another and still have one lost as the story ends. The next book is already scheduled for release. I don't know who will get their HEA next but I keep hoping for Galen,
April 22, 2018
Never say a human woman is weak
Nero is a huge barbarian who thinks only the stronger survive. He doesn't realize that sometimes there's more to survival that just mere brute strength. Winter, one of the human women captured from the Fortuna, teaches him that strength can be found in a small, blind human woman. I borrowed this book through the Kindle Unlimited program.
Nero is a huge barbarian who thinks only the stronger survive. He doesn't realize that sometimes there's more to survival that just mere brute strength. Winter, one of the human women captured from the Fortuna, teaches him that strength can be found in a small, blind human woman. I borrowed this book through the Kindle Unlimited program.
August 5, 2017
This was a pretty good read. It had science fiction vibe with all the robots and cyborgs keeping the reader invested in the action. It was good up until the end and then it got cheesy and sappy. ugh. The cheese spoiled it for me a bit. But all in all, I don’t hate myself for buying the book.
October 6, 2017
I think that Winter and Nero's story is the best in this series. I love their interaction and banter. Their story just really seemed to flow nicely. I really love this series and can't wait until the next book. I truly cannot wait until Galen meets his match!!!
January 10, 2018
Another sweet story by Anna Hackett. I really liked both Winter and Nero and their story was fun and exciting!
May 14, 2019
I didn't care much for the MC , but I enjoyed the story , it was a nice change :)
July 14, 2017
4 stars.
Another good installment to the series.
Nero is the last unpaired Gladiator from the House of Galen. Together with the blind Doctor Winter who was rescued again from the previous book, they are looking for Winter's fellow captives in the deserts of Kor Magna. Although I did find the finale with the villain Catalyst a bit too easy.
Now that all of the Gladiators, except Galen, have been matched off, it's good to see some of the secondary characters being fleshed out. Hopefully the world will continue to expand beyond the Gladiator Arena. I think Rillian (the mysterious casino owner), Zhim (the information merchant) and Rone (the cyborg imperator of the House of Rone), are quite interesting characters and warrant their own book.
I have great hopes for the next book with Blue/Vek and Mia and am looking forward to finding out what actually happened to Blue.
Another good installment to the series.
Nero is the last unpaired Gladiator from the House of Galen. Together with the blind Doctor Winter who was rescued again from the previous book, they are looking for Winter's fellow captives in the deserts of Kor Magna. Although I did find the finale with the villain Catalyst a bit too easy.
Now that all of the Gladiators, except Galen, have been matched off, it's good to see some of the secondary characters being fleshed out. Hopefully the world will continue to expand beyond the Gladiator Arena. I think Rillian (the mysterious casino owner), Zhim (the information merchant) and Rone (the cyborg imperator of the House of Rone), are quite interesting characters and warrant their own book.
I have great hopes for the next book with Blue/Vek and Mia and am looking forward to finding out what actually happened to Blue.
November 14, 2018
While I’ve been quite enjoying these books, I have to be honest and confess I didn’t remember reading this book until I was checking details on another book when I clued in. Of course I remember once my memory was jogged but obviously I didn’t this one in the cream of the series though I did enjoy it enough to keep going. Winter, our heroine, was the doctor on the space ship and she suffered quite a bit at the hands of her captures. They did horrific experiments on her leading to her going blind. This is devastating to her but when she is rescued by the gladiators, she works hard to overcome and contribute to the gladiator growing community.
The hero is Nero but I found too much like a couple of other heroes in this series and he doesn’t stand out much at all. Alas, this is an OK book.
The hero is Nero but I found too much like a couple of other heroes in this series and he doesn’t stand out much at all. Alas, this is an OK book.
July 13, 2018
I absolutely loved this GG book! I can't wait to read it again soon! Will be geting the audio version as well!
July 14, 2017
Great read
Great addition to the series looking forward to the next ones, big thumbs up for an imaginative and compelling series.
Great addition to the series looking forward to the next ones, big thumbs up for an imaginative and compelling series.
July 4, 2017
Really enjoy this series...love the House of Galen...ready for Veks story. I also love the Hell Squad series and all Anna Hacketts book
June 28, 2017
This series keeps getting better and better. I couldn't put it down because I HAD to find out what happened next. I can't wait until the next one.
February 4, 2025
Series: Galactic Gladiators #6
Rating:4 stars - It was really good
Abducted by alien slavers, Winter Ashworth has been experimented on, blinded, and is struggling to deal with everything that has happened. The last thing she needs is a big hunky barbarian telling her she is weak. But the more time she spends with Nero the more she realizes he is actually very sweet. While dealing with their developing feelings Winter and Nero help search for the missing women.
Nero and Winter start off on the wrong foot but Winter quickly realizes that Nero is just bad at communication. Nero is a big grumpy barbarian who has a sweet side. I loved him and the contrast between strength and sensitivity. He is probably one of my favorite gladiators so far.
“Watching you has taught me that true strength has very little to do with muscles.”
Winter was a successful surgeon before she was blinded. She is struggling to deal with her lack of sight but she isn’t letting that stop her from living her life. I loved that she was determined to live her life to the fullest even if she never regained her vision completely. Winter was just a beautiful and caring woman who could kick asss if she needed to. I adored her!
“My imperfections are a part of me. My vision doesn’t make me better or worse than someone else, or more or less useful. I’m just me and I’m fine the way I am.”
This book was nonstop action from the beginning and I loved it. The new enemy was fascinating and disturbing. What he did to his slaves really creeped me out and is now part of my nightmare scenarios. With each book we get closer to finding the hidden fight rings and I cannot wait until we find the mysterious Zaabha. Also I can’t wait for Zhim and Galen to fall. Those two cranky men need some happiness in their lives.
This review was originally posted at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
Rating:4 stars - It was really good
Abducted by alien slavers, Winter Ashworth has been experimented on, blinded, and is struggling to deal with everything that has happened. The last thing she needs is a big hunky barbarian telling her she is weak. But the more time she spends with Nero the more she realizes he is actually very sweet. While dealing with their developing feelings Winter and Nero help search for the missing women.
Nero and Winter start off on the wrong foot but Winter quickly realizes that Nero is just bad at communication. Nero is a big grumpy barbarian who has a sweet side. I loved him and the contrast between strength and sensitivity. He is probably one of my favorite gladiators so far.
“Watching you has taught me that true strength has very little to do with muscles.”
Winter was a successful surgeon before she was blinded. She is struggling to deal with her lack of sight but she isn’t letting that stop her from living her life. I loved that she was determined to live her life to the fullest even if she never regained her vision completely. Winter was just a beautiful and caring woman who could kick asss if she needed to. I adored her!
“My imperfections are a part of me. My vision doesn’t make me better or worse than someone else, or more or less useful. I’m just me and I’m fine the way I am.”
This book was nonstop action from the beginning and I loved it. The new enemy was fascinating and disturbing. What he did to his slaves really creeped me out and is now part of my nightmare scenarios. With each book we get closer to finding the hidden fight rings and I cannot wait until we find the mysterious Zaabha. Also I can’t wait for Zhim and Galen to fall. Those two cranky men need some happiness in their lives.
This review was originally posted at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
June 27, 2017
Barbarian
This great addition to the Gladiator series and KU Library read features Nero, a barbarian gladiator who fights for the House of Galen. He was raised as a Hunter and was sold into slavery at a young age, ending up in the Kor Magna arena. Winter, a human doctor, was stolen by Thraxian slavers, blinded by their experiments, and rescued by the House of Galen. She now works in Galen's clinic, where healers have been working without success to restore her sight, until a new device is acquired that gives her partial vision. When Intel is received about two of her friends who were recently taken from Galen's compound, she talks Galen into letting her join the team that is sent to take them back. But a new enemy has been identified as the person behind the attack. Nero appoints himself as Winter's protector on what promises to be a very dangerous mission, while Winter is determined to show him she can take care of herself. But Catalyst has a bag full of new tricks and advanced technology, which he brings to bear on the gladiators, while redoubling his efforts to steal Winter away from them.
This exciting, action packed romantic adventure set on an alien planet kept me completely captivated. I can't wait for the next book.
This great addition to the Gladiator series and KU Library read features Nero, a barbarian gladiator who fights for the House of Galen. He was raised as a Hunter and was sold into slavery at a young age, ending up in the Kor Magna arena. Winter, a human doctor, was stolen by Thraxian slavers, blinded by their experiments, and rescued by the House of Galen. She now works in Galen's clinic, where healers have been working without success to restore her sight, until a new device is acquired that gives her partial vision. When Intel is received about two of her friends who were recently taken from Galen's compound, she talks Galen into letting her join the team that is sent to take them back. But a new enemy has been identified as the person behind the attack. Nero appoints himself as Winter's protector on what promises to be a very dangerous mission, while Winter is determined to show him she can take care of herself. But Catalyst has a bag full of new tricks and advanced technology, which he brings to bear on the gladiators, while redoubling his efforts to steal Winter away from them.
This exciting, action packed romantic adventure set on an alien planet kept me completely captivated. I can't wait for the next book.
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