Books, Boots and Bakeries

I’ll admit it—I wasn’t expecting to read Ice Planet Barbarians. My father-in-law recommended it as a fun read for a long-haul flight to Europe (still not sure if he’d wanted to read it or if I was meant to or if the entire thing was a joke, but either way, guess what he is getting for Christmas!!!), and I’d been putting it off. I assumed the barbarians were the ones doing the abducting, and, well, that just didn’t sit right with me. Not to yuck anyone’s yum, but I didn’t think it was for me.

Turns out, I was wrong. The actual abductors? Generic, creepy aliens. The blue, horned barbarians? They’re the rescuers—sweet, protective cinnamon rolls who just happen to have extra equipment that guarantees their mates are very, very happy. (Trust me, you’ll get what I mean when you read it.) Once I got past my hesitation, I found myself hooked.

I won’t lie, I didn’t stop with just the first book. I read a few, and while I don’t see myself reviewing the entire series, I’ll say this: they’re a fun, spicy, and surprisingly sweet escape. The barbarians are wholesome in their devotion, there’s a huge focus on consent, and the books balance laugh-out-loud ridiculousness with some genuinely charming moments.

If you’re on the fence, give it a shot. These blue cinnamon rolls might just surprise you. And if someone asks how you got into the series? Just say it came from a very interesting recommendation