Proceed With Caution:
This book contains mentions of rape, captivity, and forced abortion, and death.
The Basics:
Barbarian Lover picks up after the previous book and is narrated by Aehako and Kira.
My Thoughts:
Barbarian Lover is another fun installment to this series, and it seems to be getting better and better! This time we're following a couple who has not resonated, and Kira believes that she never will. Aehako wants her anyway and is going to prove it to her. However, other than believing that she can't resonate because of secrets, she's also worried that she's going to bring danger upon the tribe. She still has the translator installed in her ear, and she just heard a transmission from the little green aliens that originally abducted the girls. They're back and want their cargo.
I was pleasantly surprised that Barbarian Lover had a solid plot that was external to the relationship. Kira can still be tracked by the bad aliens and doesn't want anyone to get hurt because of her. She comes up with a plan to leave the tribe and figure out how to remove the earpiece so that they won't be found. Of course, she has to be discovered and there's a showdown with those evil little aliens. Kira really showed a whole new side to herself and saves the day!
At its heart, Barbarian Lover is still a romance, so of course Kira and Aehako get together for real. Their journey was very sweet, and they actually communicated with each other! Kira spills her heartbreaking secret and Aehako accepts her just as she is. Of course, we all know that things have to work out for the better, so in that regard this book was super predictable. I didn't mind though, because that just comes with the territory.