What do you think?
Rate this book
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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 440 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. 😊
May 27, 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.
August 16, 2026
A new friend of mine said
"It wasn't mindless enough to be a palette cleanser, but not serious enough to be an enjoyed as a real interesting enough novel"
and I feel the nail was smashed on the head with that statement.
If you go in with low expectations, you can have a great time.
The start of this book was a choice... but it's sweet enough in the end.
It's also very much what you'd expect from the title and the cover. 😂
I wish they'd spent a bit more time not understanding each other, because it feel like the language barrier came down awfully quickly and he just learnt a second language in a week. Be so fr.
Anyway.
Barbarian BIG.
Man SMOL.
Smol man cries a lot, barbarian do big protec, the end.
(ngl, I do love me a size diff)
3.5⭐
If you go in with low expectations, you can have a great time.
The start of this book was a choice... but it's sweet enough in the end.
It's also very much what you'd expect from the title and the cover. 😂
I wish they'd spent a bit more time not understanding each other, because it feel like the language barrier came down awfully quickly and he just learnt a second language in a week. Be so fr.
Anyway.
Barbarian BIG.
Man SMOL.
Smol man cries a lot, barbarian do big protec, the end.
(ngl, I do love me a size diff)
3.5⭐
![Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1626057011i/10717098._UX200_CR0,33,200,200_.jpg)
August 4, 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...
April 14, 2026
⭐️ 4/5 — Gentle giant barbarian who bathes, cuddles, and claims his tiny weepy tribute like it’s his full-time job? Chef’s kiss. My chaotic brain tried to downplay it, but these barbarians still stole my whole heart. 😭💖
🌶 1.5/5 — The spice was so polite and tender I felt like I needed to send it a thank-you card. One main scene and some frotting… my inner gremlin is still waiting for the barbarian to wreck the bed. 🤭🙈
💭 My Ramblings 💭
Okay besties, gather round because The Barbarian’s Tribute is literally my usual catnip on a silver platter. Tiny shy human gets yeeted to the barbarians as tribute? Check. Massive cinnamon-roll savage who bathes him, sews his clothes, cuddles him through nightmares, and growls “mine” like it’s a love language? DOUBLE CHECK. This should’ve been an automatic 4⭐️ slay from page one.
But my brain decided to be a dramatic little gremlin this week and tried to sabotage the vibe. It’s 100% a me problem, not the book 🙈😅 I was spiraling in my feelings while Finn had a full emotional breakdown every five pages and Rath was out here serving softest gentle giant realness in fantasy history. 😩😭🤧
The barbarians though?? ✨️Absolute icons✨️ Lovable, welcoming, zero toxic masculinity. Just a squad of big protective warriors ready to adopt traumatized humans and throw the ultimate found-family hug fest complete with yummy food and cuddles. I adored them so much I wanna pack my bags, move to the clan, and let them call me “little one” while feeding me dinner. 😍💞
So yeah… I’m locking it in at a full 4⭐️ because this book deserves the love, even when my indecisive ass was being extra. ♎️💭🍑💀
🥹🩷🤧 SOFT BARBARIAN WHO WOULD NEVER HURT YOU ENERGY 🫂😭✨️
-
Quote (Rath):
“You are safe,” I murmured, though I knew he couldn’t understand me. Hopefully my tone would be enough. “I won’t hurt you.”
-
💭 EXCUSE ME??? Sir??? You just met him and you’re already sounding like a whole damn emotional support system wrapped in fur??? 💞✨️ The way that line felt like a forehead kiss, a tight hug, and being tucked into bed all at once… Yeah, I’m NOT okay 🫠🫂 Finn doesn’t even understand the words, but you KNOW he feels it… because I FELT IT TOO??? What the hell?! 💗😭 Rath is not just a man, he is a walking safe space, and I would simply fold IMMEDIATELY!! 🙂↕️💘
---
⚠️ Detailed spoilers below ⛔️
RC and MCs:
🗡🌸 MM, strict roles
🗡🌸 Rath: Barbarian hunter
🗡🌸 Finn: Human tribute
🗡🌸 Rath: Top, dom, gay, long brown hair that is shaved on the sides, thick beard, arms and chest are covered in tattoos
🗡🌸 Finn: Bottom, sub, gay, twink, short-cropped curly hair, big pale blue eyes, pale complexion
Genre, tropes, and microtropes:
🗡🌸 MM light fantasy romance
🗡🌸 Light historical-ish
🗡🌸 Medieval towns
🗡🌸 Nomadic barbarian clans
🗡🌸 Unusual forest creatures
🗡🌸 Barbarian
🗡🌸 Dude in distress
🗡🌸 Tribute
🗡🌸 Gentle giant MC (Rath)
🗡🌸 Hurt/comfort
🗡🌸 Found family
🗡🌸 Initial language barrier (brief)
🗡🌸 Forced proximity
🗡🌸 Size difference
🗡🌸 Virgin, touch-starved MC (Finn)
🗡🌸 First times (everything, even kiss)
🗡🌸 Possessive MC (Rath)
🗡🌸 Protective, caretaker MC (Rath)
🗡🌸 He falls first and harder
🗡🌸 Only soft for him
🗡🌸 Touch him and die
🗡🌸 Who hurt you?
🗡🌸 Caretaking and intimate aftercare
🗡🌸 Rath hand-feeds Finn
🗡🌸 Rath bathes and sews clothes for Finn
🗡🌸 Calming cuddles after nightmares
🗡🌸 Forehead kisses and nose touches
🗡🌸 Carrying and lap-sitting
🗡🌸 Bondmate
🗡🌸 Bond ceremony/wedding
🗡🌸 Pet names: My Finn, Korvash (precious flower), kolrav (my love)
Safety info:
🗡🌸 Angst: Low
🗡🌸 OPD: No
🗡🌸 Cheating/sharing: No
🗡🌸 Third act breakup: No
🗡🌸 Ending: HEA
🗡🌸 Epilogue: No
🗡🌸 POV: Dual, 1st person
🗡🌸 Series structure: Interconnected standalone
Spice and kinks:
Dry humping to completion, frotting (off-page), blowjob (including brief somno wake-up bj (Rath was only pretending to sleep)), intergluteal sex (one scene), anal sex (one scene)
CW/TW:
Explicit sexual content, family rejection and abandonment, mild dubious consent, forced tribute, threats of and violence against the MC (on-page but not by love interest), past abuse, attempted assault, homophobia, familial abuse (emotional and physical, on-page), panic attacks, emotional distress, animal attack (minor), animal death (brief), bullying against the MC by a side character, violence and injury (moderate)
---
Quotes: ⚠️ Spoilers ⛔️
This time, when my eyes drifted closed, it was to hide the tears filling them. In my entire life, I’d never been treated so gently. Like I was something precious. I wanted to enjoy it while it lasted, before he finally figured out how useless I was and stopped being so kind.
-
Then he turned to his friend. “My Finn.”
My cheeks burned at the possessiveness in his tone. Not just Finn. His Finn.
-
“My Finn. No sorry,” he whispered back.
Oh, how I wanted to lean into that possessiveness. He made me feel wanted, and I craved that feeling so much, I felt close to tears.
-
Setting down his carving, he reached for me, pulling me into his lap. Like he could see right through me, he ignored my question, tucking my head under his chin as he repeated. “You’re safe.”
-
Outrage filled my chest and my voice was foreboding when I asked, “Who hurt you?”
-
I was never going to get a happy ending. All those books I read were a lie.
-
Crying until my eyes were swollen and my nose was stuffed up wasn’t pretty, but it was cathartic, in a way. It cleared my head enough to think clearly.
-
When he pressed his forehead against mine, my eyes slipped shut again, this time soaking in the moment. I loved when he did that. It made my heart skip, and I wished not for the first time that I could stay like that forever.
-
Cupping his cheek, I stroked at the dried tear tracks on his face. I hated so much to see him cry. It wasn’t something I could avoid, he was an emotional man, but I aimed to limit it as much as I could. He deserved to be always smiling.
-
“Kolrav is the term we use with the ones we want to spend our lives with. It is given only once, to our bondmate, and signifies in words that we have chosen to spend our future with the one gifted it. In your tongue, it means my love. I asked Zoya to translate it for me because I wanted to tell it to you when I asked you to bond with me in front of the clan.”
-
Lifting his tunic out of the way to expose his ass, I pulled the cheeks apart and guided my erection between them, rolling my hips once. The noise Finn made was both surprise and arousal, his moan breathy and loud. Using his saliva on my cock as lubrication, I rode the swell of his ass, the head of my cock bumping intermittently against his hole.
-
When Finn stepped forward, my hand tightened on his, drawing him back. I couldn’t stomach losing him. I’d fight the man if I had to.
-
“In our clan, when a man finds his bondmate, he offers them a gift. Something to show his claim to the world. It would honor me if you wore this, so everyone can see that you are mine and I am yours. And no force can tear us apart.”
-
“Do you promise?”
My smile broke free and I nodded. “I promise, kolrav. You are my Finn. I will protect our bond for the rest of my days.”
-
“You never have to go off alone anymore. It’s my job as your bondmate to take care of you. I want to take care of you. You are not a burden to me, Finn. You are my everything.”
-
Big tears filled his eyes and he closed his eyes when I leaned my forehead against his. I knew this was not about me but the way he was raised. It was hard for him to see himself as worthwhile after years being on his own. I would spend my life showing him he deserved to be cared for, until he finally believed me.
“I love you,” he murmured. He’d said that before, but I still didn’t know what it meant, as he always said it in his language. But then he repeated it in the clan tongue, and I finally understood.
“You are my other half.”
My chest felt tight as my heart filled to bursting. Dipping my head, I took his lips in a soft kiss, pouring every ounce of my love for him into it. When I lifted my head, his tears were accompanied by a smile. Happy tears. I could accept this.
“And you are mine, kolrav. You will always be mine.”
---
🌶 1.5/5 — The spice was so polite and tender I felt like I needed to send it a thank-you card. One main scene and some frotting… my inner gremlin is still waiting for the barbarian to wreck the bed. 🤭🙈
💭 My Ramblings 💭
Okay besties, gather round because The Barbarian’s Tribute is literally my usual catnip on a silver platter. Tiny shy human gets yeeted to the barbarians as tribute? Check. Massive cinnamon-roll savage who bathes him, sews his clothes, cuddles him through nightmares, and growls “mine” like it’s a love language? DOUBLE CHECK. This should’ve been an automatic 4⭐️ slay from page one.
But my brain decided to be a dramatic little gremlin this week and tried to sabotage the vibe. It’s 100% a me problem, not the book 🙈😅 I was spiraling in my feelings while Finn had a full emotional breakdown every five pages and Rath was out here serving softest gentle giant realness in fantasy history. 😩😭🤧
The barbarians though?? ✨️Absolute icons✨️ Lovable, welcoming, zero toxic masculinity. Just a squad of big protective warriors ready to adopt traumatized humans and throw the ultimate found-family hug fest complete with yummy food and cuddles. I adored them so much I wanna pack my bags, move to the clan, and let them call me “little one” while feeding me dinner. 😍💞
So yeah… I’m locking it in at a full 4⭐️ because this book deserves the love, even when my indecisive ass was being extra. ♎️💭🍑💀
🥹🩷🤧 SOFT BARBARIAN WHO WOULD NEVER HURT YOU ENERGY 🫂😭✨️
-
Quote (Rath):
“You are safe,” I murmured, though I knew he couldn’t understand me. Hopefully my tone would be enough. “I won’t hurt you.”
-
💭 EXCUSE ME??? Sir??? You just met him and you’re already sounding like a whole damn emotional support system wrapped in fur??? 💞✨️ The way that line felt like a forehead kiss, a tight hug, and being tucked into bed all at once… Yeah, I’m NOT okay 🫠🫂 Finn doesn’t even understand the words, but you KNOW he feels it… because I FELT IT TOO??? What the hell?! 💗😭 Rath is not just a man, he is a walking safe space, and I would simply fold IMMEDIATELY!! 🙂↕️💘
---
⚠️ Detailed spoilers below ⛔️
RC and MCs:
🗡🌸 MM, strict roles
🗡🌸 Rath: Barbarian hunter
🗡🌸 Finn: Human tribute
🗡🌸 Rath: Top, dom, gay, long brown hair that is shaved on the sides, thick beard, arms and chest are covered in tattoos
🗡🌸 Finn: Bottom, sub, gay, twink, short-cropped curly hair, big pale blue eyes, pale complexion
Genre, tropes, and microtropes:
🗡🌸 MM light fantasy romance
🗡🌸 Light historical-ish
🗡🌸 Medieval towns
🗡🌸 Nomadic barbarian clans
🗡🌸 Unusual forest creatures
🗡🌸 Barbarian
🗡🌸 Dude in distress
🗡🌸 Tribute
🗡🌸 Gentle giant MC (Rath)
🗡🌸 Hurt/comfort
🗡🌸 Found family
🗡🌸 Initial language barrier (brief)
🗡🌸 Forced proximity
🗡🌸 Size difference
🗡🌸 Virgin, touch-starved MC (Finn)
🗡🌸 First times (everything, even kiss)
🗡🌸 Possessive MC (Rath)
🗡🌸 Protective, caretaker MC (Rath)
🗡🌸 He falls first and harder
🗡🌸 Only soft for him
🗡🌸 Touch him and die
🗡🌸 Who hurt you?
🗡🌸 Caretaking and intimate aftercare
🗡🌸 Rath hand-feeds Finn
🗡🌸 Rath bathes and sews clothes for Finn
🗡🌸 Calming cuddles after nightmares
🗡🌸 Forehead kisses and nose touches
🗡🌸 Carrying and lap-sitting
🗡🌸 Bondmate
🗡🌸 Bond ceremony/wedding
🗡🌸 Pet names: My Finn, Korvash (precious flower), kolrav (my love)
Safety info:
🗡🌸 Angst: Low
🗡🌸 OPD: No
🗡🌸 Cheating/sharing: No
🗡🌸 Third act breakup: No
🗡🌸 Ending: HEA
🗡🌸 Epilogue: No
🗡🌸 POV: Dual, 1st person
🗡🌸 Series structure: Interconnected standalone
Spice and kinks:
Dry humping to completion, frotting (off-page), blowjob (including brief somno wake-up bj (Rath was only pretending to sleep)), intergluteal sex (one scene), anal sex (one scene)
CW/TW:
Explicit sexual content, family rejection and abandonment, mild dubious consent, forced tribute, threats of and violence against the MC (on-page but not by love interest), past abuse, attempted assault, homophobia, familial abuse (emotional and physical, on-page), panic attacks, emotional distress, animal attack (minor), animal death (brief), bullying against the MC by a side character, violence and injury (moderate)
---
Quotes: ⚠️ Spoilers ⛔️
This time, when my eyes drifted closed, it was to hide the tears filling them. In my entire life, I’d never been treated so gently. Like I was something precious. I wanted to enjoy it while it lasted, before he finally figured out how useless I was and stopped being so kind.
-
Then he turned to his friend. “My Finn.”
My cheeks burned at the possessiveness in his tone. Not just Finn. His Finn.
-
“My Finn. No sorry,” he whispered back.
Oh, how I wanted to lean into that possessiveness. He made me feel wanted, and I craved that feeling so much, I felt close to tears.
-
Setting down his carving, he reached for me, pulling me into his lap. Like he could see right through me, he ignored my question, tucking my head under his chin as he repeated. “You’re safe.”
-
Outrage filled my chest and my voice was foreboding when I asked, “Who hurt you?”
-
I was never going to get a happy ending. All those books I read were a lie.
-
Crying until my eyes were swollen and my nose was stuffed up wasn’t pretty, but it was cathartic, in a way. It cleared my head enough to think clearly.
-
When he pressed his forehead against mine, my eyes slipped shut again, this time soaking in the moment. I loved when he did that. It made my heart skip, and I wished not for the first time that I could stay like that forever.
-
Cupping his cheek, I stroked at the dried tear tracks on his face. I hated so much to see him cry. It wasn’t something I could avoid, he was an emotional man, but I aimed to limit it as much as I could. He deserved to be always smiling.
-
“Kolrav is the term we use with the ones we want to spend our lives with. It is given only once, to our bondmate, and signifies in words that we have chosen to spend our future with the one gifted it. In your tongue, it means my love. I asked Zoya to translate it for me because I wanted to tell it to you when I asked you to bond with me in front of the clan.”
-
Lifting his tunic out of the way to expose his ass, I pulled the cheeks apart and guided my erection between them, rolling my hips once. The noise Finn made was both surprise and arousal, his moan breathy and loud. Using his saliva on my cock as lubrication, I rode the swell of his ass, the head of my cock bumping intermittently against his hole.
-
When Finn stepped forward, my hand tightened on his, drawing him back. I couldn’t stomach losing him. I’d fight the man if I had to.
-
“In our clan, when a man finds his bondmate, he offers them a gift. Something to show his claim to the world. It would honor me if you wore this, so everyone can see that you are mine and I am yours. And no force can tear us apart.”
-
“Do you promise?”
My smile broke free and I nodded. “I promise, kolrav. You are my Finn. I will protect our bond for the rest of my days.”
-
“You never have to go off alone anymore. It’s my job as your bondmate to take care of you. I want to take care of you. You are not a burden to me, Finn. You are my everything.”
-
Big tears filled his eyes and he closed his eyes when I leaned my forehead against his. I knew this was not about me but the way he was raised. It was hard for him to see himself as worthwhile after years being on his own. I would spend my life showing him he deserved to be cared for, until he finally believed me.
“I love you,” he murmured. He’d said that before, but I still didn’t know what it meant, as he always said it in his language. But then he repeated it in the clan tongue, and I finally understood.
“You are my other half.”
My chest felt tight as my heart filled to bursting. Dipping my head, I took his lips in a soft kiss, pouring every ounce of my love for him into it. When I lifted my head, his tears were accompanied by a smile. Happy tears. I could accept this.
“And you are mine, kolrav. You will always be mine.”
---
Did Not Finish
July 5, 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 😀.
October 20, 2026
Cute. That’s it.
I admit, I only picked it up because it came recommended by Audible, and it was included in my subscription. Add to that that one of the narrators is Kirt Graves, and it wasn’t overly long - not much risk there, right?
After an admittedly rocky start (Finn is cast out by his evil father after his brother snitches that Finn prefers men to women - and not only that, he’s “volunteered” as a tribute to the barbarians 🙄), the book turned out to be… cute. Not what I expected.
It’s mostly Rath (the barbarian assigned to be Finn’s protector) being soft and… well…. protective towards Finn, and them falling in love.
Cute, especially if you don’t expect any historical accuracy- let’s just play pretend and go with the flow 😂 there’s only a little bit of drama, and a lot of steamy scenes towards the end. Nothing that will stay with you forever, but great if you’re looking for some escapism.
I admit, I only picked it up because it came recommended by Audible, and it was included in my subscription. Add to that that one of the narrators is Kirt Graves, and it wasn’t overly long - not much risk there, right?
After an admittedly rocky start (Finn is cast out by his evil father after his brother snitches that Finn prefers men to women - and not only that, he’s “volunteered” as a tribute to the barbarians 🙄), the book turned out to be… cute. Not what I expected.
It’s mostly Rath (the barbarian assigned to be Finn’s protector) being soft and… well…. protective towards Finn, and them falling in love.
Cute, especially if you don’t expect any historical accuracy- let’s just play pretend and go with the flow 😂 there’s only a little bit of drama, and a lot of steamy scenes towards the end. Nothing that will stay with you forever, but great if you’re looking for some escapism.
March 26, 2026
4**** stars
Finn & Rath
okay, the very beginning was bad. Like really bad. Which sure can happen when an author tries to set up the story too quickly in order to get the whole thing going. Here we have a homophobic father, the most cringe monologue ever and an evil brother who tattled on our MC. It was painful. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to tab out again immediately. *lmaooo
BUT! After that, I became addicted to the sweetness of the story. *huff *swoon I was basically smiling and awww’ing my whole way through this book even if the story wasn’t even that special and the drama felt fabricated for the sake of drama. I loved it. And Finn was such a cute and emotional little nugget. And don’t even get me started on the caring hunk that was Rath.
And now I want to read all these silly books in the series. Let’s see if they even all take place in the same village.
***************
Not-So-Savage Barbarians Series
Book 0.5 - The Unexpected Barbarian
Book 1 - The Barbarian's Tribute - 4.0 stars
Book 2 - Saved by a Barbarian - 3.5 stars
Book 3 - Seducing a Barbarian - 4.5 stars ♡
Book 4 - The Barbarian's Claim - 4.25
Book 5 - The Physician's Barbarian - 3.5 stars
Book 6 - Prince of the Barbarians - 4.0 stars
⇢ sequel series: Savagely Sweet Barbarians
Finn & Rath
okay, the very beginning was bad. Like really bad. Which sure can happen when an author tries to set up the story too quickly in order to get the whole thing going. Here we have a homophobic father, the most cringe monologue ever and an evil brother who tattled on our MC. It was painful. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to tab out again immediately. *lmaooo
BUT! After that, I became addicted to the sweetness of the story. *huff *swoon I was basically smiling and awww’ing my whole way through this book even if the story wasn’t even that special and the drama felt fabricated for the sake of drama. I loved it. And Finn was such a cute and emotional little nugget. And don’t even get me started on the caring hunk that was Rath.
And now I want to read all these silly books in the series. Let’s see if they even all take place in the same village.
***************
Not-So-Savage Barbarians Series
Book 0.5 - The Unexpected Barbarian
Book 1 - The Barbarian's Tribute - 4.0 stars
Book 2 - Saved by a Barbarian - 3.5 stars
Book 3 - Seducing a Barbarian - 4.5 stars ♡
Book 4 - The Barbarian's Claim - 4.25
Book 5 - The Physician's Barbarian - 3.5 stars
Book 6 - Prince of the Barbarians - 4.0 stars
⇢ sequel series: Savagely Sweet Barbarians
March 22, 2026
Знаєте, читаючи про якісь інші світи, ти не очікуєш на гомофобію, я напевно занадто очікую адекватності від якогось нового світу.
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.
October 22, 2026
This was a really sweet, adorable read about Finn, who is gay and forcibly made to be a "tribute" to the Barbarians by his father, as most townspeople are very homophobic. And to avoid war, the townspeople and the barbarians have a deal where the townspeople offer up women to the barbarians as they pass through towns, as for some unknown reasons the barbarian people only ever give birth to boys and not girls, so they need the women to have their people keep on surviving.
Rath is a gay man among the barbarians, and luckily the barbarians are much more accepting of gay men than the townspeople. Only a man has never been offered up as a tribute before, until Finn.
Finn is frightened at first, thinking he'll be hurt and such, but he quickly realizes how sweet and kind Rath is, how gentle and patient he is with him.
Finn is a gentle soul whose family - his father and older brothers - did not treat him well, especially whenever he did anything or expressed anything that wasn't "manly" and with Rath and the other barbarians he finds a man to love him for him and a real family with the others in the clan.
Not a whole lot happens in this, except another townswoman tribute is highly homophobic and targeting Finn (and Rath) because of it, although she only shows up to cause trouble 2 times before she's caught. And also a shadowstalker, a cat like creature that hunts it's prey until it or the shadowstalker is dead.
I don't know why this world had different animals than our world, but also some of the same such as horses. The world building was quite minimal in this and it all happens very quickly, this being well under 200 pages so this is more a novella than anything.
I think this could have been truly amazing with proper world building, a proper plot, and more time put into Rath and Finn's relationship buiilding, but what we got was sweet and cute.
Looking at this as a novella, it did enough to be an entertaining read, and Rath and Finn were good together and had good chemistry.
This does end a tad abruptly - I would have liked maybe an epilogue to round out their story and give a more complete feeling, but they at least are bonded by the end and starting to settle into their HEA at the end.
So I'll probably give the further installments in this a read in the future, but this just could have been expanded to truly be amazing, I think. Still overall a solid book with a solid main couple. I want me a Rath - big strong man whose a softy and sexy as hell? Yes please!
So until the next one 😘
Rath is a gay man among the barbarians, and luckily the barbarians are much more accepting of gay men than the townspeople. Only a man has never been offered up as a tribute before, until Finn.
Finn is frightened at first, thinking he'll be hurt and such, but he quickly realizes how sweet and kind Rath is, how gentle and patient he is with him.
Finn is a gentle soul whose family - his father and older brothers - did not treat him well, especially whenever he did anything or expressed anything that wasn't "manly" and with Rath and the other barbarians he finds a man to love him for him and a real family with the others in the clan.
Not a whole lot happens in this, except another townswoman tribute is highly homophobic and targeting Finn (and Rath) because of it, although she only shows up to cause trouble 2 times before she's caught. And also a shadowstalker, a cat like creature that hunts it's prey until it or the shadowstalker is dead.
I don't know why this world had different animals than our world, but also some of the same such as horses. The world building was quite minimal in this and it all happens very quickly, this being well under 200 pages so this is more a novella than anything.
I think this could have been truly amazing with proper world building, a proper plot, and more time put into Rath and Finn's relationship buiilding, but what we got was sweet and cute.
Looking at this as a novella, it did enough to be an entertaining read, and Rath and Finn were good together and had good chemistry.
This does end a tad abruptly - I would have liked maybe an epilogue to round out their story and give a more complete feeling, but they at least are bonded by the end and starting to settle into their HEA at the end.
So I'll probably give the further installments in this a read in the future, but this just could have been expanded to truly be amazing, I think. Still overall a solid book with a solid main couple. I want me a Rath - big strong man whose a softy and sexy as hell? Yes please!
So until the next one 😘
August 16, 2026
This was exactly what I thought it was going to be.
Small an dainty man who cries a lot ends up being the tribute of the big and gentle barbarian. The world-building is basically nonexistent, and the antagonist was weird, but I still enjoyed it for what it was.
It gave me Wed to the Barbarianvibes but without the good storytelling.
Small an dainty man who cries a lot ends up being the tribute of the big and gentle barbarian. The world-building is basically nonexistent, and the antagonist was weird, but I still enjoyed it for what it was.
It gave me Wed to the Barbarianvibes but without the good storytelling.
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.
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.
March 6, 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.
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
June 2, 2025
Total coochie moochie vibes but ngl, Finn was highkey whiny and I wanted to bonk him on the head
December 25, 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 25, 2026
4 stars — A compelling premise with real emotional weight, and honestly? I enjoyed it way more than I expected, even if I wanted just a little more depth in places.
This story starts strong — the whole “yearly tribute to the barbarian clans” setup is dramatic, tense, and dripping with dread. The rumours, the fear, the way the towns treat it like a death sentence… it all builds this heavy atmosphere right from the start.
And then we get the twist:
our protagonist becomes the first male tribute, not because fate chose him, but because his own family did.
That betrayal hits hard.
It sets the tone for everything that follows — fear, shame, survival, and the desperate hope that maybe the world isn’t as cruel as he’s been taught to believe.
The barbarian world is surprisingly rich for such a short book. There’s culture, structure, found‑family vibes, and a sense that the rumours from the towns are very, very wrong. Watching the protagonist slowly realise that everything he’s been told is a lie is one of the best parts of the story.
The emotional beats land.
The forced‑proximity tension works.
The found‑family elements are genuinely lovely.
But — and this is where the 4 stars comes in — it’s short.
Not bad short, just “I wanted more” short.
More world‑building.
More emotional development.
More time to sit with the characters and really feel their growth.
There’s so much potential here that a few extra chapters would’ve made it even stronger.
Still, it’s engaging, heartfelt, and unique — and the protagonist’s journey from betrayal to belonging is absolutely worth the read.
4 stars — a fast, compelling story with a great premise and strong emotional moments. I just wish it had been a little longer so I could fully sink into the world.
This story starts strong — the whole “yearly tribute to the barbarian clans” setup is dramatic, tense, and dripping with dread. The rumours, the fear, the way the towns treat it like a death sentence… it all builds this heavy atmosphere right from the start.
And then we get the twist:
our protagonist becomes the first male tribute, not because fate chose him, but because his own family did.
That betrayal hits hard.
It sets the tone for everything that follows — fear, shame, survival, and the desperate hope that maybe the world isn’t as cruel as he’s been taught to believe.
The barbarian world is surprisingly rich for such a short book. There’s culture, structure, found‑family vibes, and a sense that the rumours from the towns are very, very wrong. Watching the protagonist slowly realise that everything he’s been told is a lie is one of the best parts of the story.
The emotional beats land.
The forced‑proximity tension works.
The found‑family elements are genuinely lovely.
But — and this is where the 4 stars comes in — it’s short.
Not bad short, just “I wanted more” short.
More world‑building.
More emotional development.
More time to sit with the characters and really feel their growth.
There’s so much potential here that a few extra chapters would’ve made it even stronger.
Still, it’s engaging, heartfelt, and unique — and the protagonist’s journey from betrayal to belonging is absolutely worth the read.
4 stars — a fast, compelling story with a great premise and strong emotional moments. I just wish it had been a little longer so I could fully sink into the world.
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!
August 21, 2026
This book was so bad.
I almost DNF’d early on because I started with the audiobook, which I had seen highly recommended somewhere. Whoever recommended it can go straight to hell because I actually paid money for it.
To be fair, only half of the narration was catastrophic. The narrator who played Rath, the Barbarian, made the baffling choice to give him the most ridiculous, wildly over-the-top Spanish accent. First of all, why does a barbarian need an accent? Speak gruffly. Growl a little. Knock yourself out with the acting chops. But if we have decided barbarians require regional accents, I’m not entirely sure Spaniard was the obvious choice.
Every time one of Rath’s chapters started, all I could hear was:
“My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
The other narrator was fine, so naturally I did some investigative journalism to determine whom to blame for this catastrophe. Jonathan Lake. There. I have performed a public service. You have been warned.
I should have recognized the audiobook as the omen it was and thrown in the towel. Instead, I convinced myself that perhaps the written word would reveal a perfectly decent book being held hostage by an insane accent.
Alas and alack. The writing was also terrible.
It is anachronistic as hell. I can’t even begin to catalog the myriad ways this felt like a contemporary romance in which everyone happened to be wearing fur tunics and sleeping in tents, but one moment really crystallized it for me: somebody tosses the Barbarian a bar of soap while he’s bathing in the river.
Probably Irish Spring. Because it’s a manly scent.
And then there’s Finn. Ach, Finn.
Finn is essentially a full-time liability. He isn’t particularly good at anything, he keeps causing scenes, and somehow this man manages to get attacked by the forest beast twice. HOW? At a certain point even the forest beast has to be thinking, Oh, this guy again.
He is perpetually in peril and/or crying. He’s basically every too-stupid-to-live damsel-in-distress heroine from an old-school MF romance transplanted into an MM barbarian book.
And that whole Godr prank situation? Finn dragged that. He acted like Godr had murdered his entire family instead of pulling a stupid prank, and somehow the entire barbarian clan rallies around Finn with what can only be described as the emotional energy of a tribal production of Age of Aquarius. Please. These are supposed to be BARBARIANS.
I’m not demanding historical accuracy from my horny barbarian romance, but I do need the barbarians to exhibit at least a passing acquaintance with barbarism.
And Finn just kept crying. How much fluid can one human body possibly produce? Sir, hydrate.
By the time we got to the final confrontation with Finn’s family and the way they disposed of the villain, I had crossed over from irritation into genuine awe. It was so unbelievably stupid that I almost respected the commitment. Almost.
I don’t know how or why I persevered to the end. Perhaps I needed closure. Perhaps I had paid for the audiobook and was determined to extract my money’s worth. Perhaps Finn’s forest beast had gotten me too and I was delirious. Whatever the reason: I finished it.
One star.
And somewhere, Rath is still wandering through the forest looking for the six-fingered man.
I almost DNF’d early on because I started with the audiobook, which I had seen highly recommended somewhere. Whoever recommended it can go straight to hell because I actually paid money for it.
To be fair, only half of the narration was catastrophic. The narrator who played Rath, the Barbarian, made the baffling choice to give him the most ridiculous, wildly over-the-top Spanish accent. First of all, why does a barbarian need an accent? Speak gruffly. Growl a little. Knock yourself out with the acting chops. But if we have decided barbarians require regional accents, I’m not entirely sure Spaniard was the obvious choice.
Every time one of Rath’s chapters started, all I could hear was:
“My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
The other narrator was fine, so naturally I did some investigative journalism to determine whom to blame for this catastrophe. Jonathan Lake. There. I have performed a public service. You have been warned.
I should have recognized the audiobook as the omen it was and thrown in the towel. Instead, I convinced myself that perhaps the written word would reveal a perfectly decent book being held hostage by an insane accent.
Alas and alack. The writing was also terrible.
It is anachronistic as hell. I can’t even begin to catalog the myriad ways this felt like a contemporary romance in which everyone happened to be wearing fur tunics and sleeping in tents, but one moment really crystallized it for me: somebody tosses the Barbarian a bar of soap while he’s bathing in the river.
Probably Irish Spring. Because it’s a manly scent.
And then there’s Finn. Ach, Finn.
Finn is essentially a full-time liability. He isn’t particularly good at anything, he keeps causing scenes, and somehow this man manages to get attacked by the forest beast twice. HOW? At a certain point even the forest beast has to be thinking, Oh, this guy again.
He is perpetually in peril and/or crying. He’s basically every too-stupid-to-live damsel-in-distress heroine from an old-school MF romance transplanted into an MM barbarian book.
And that whole Godr prank situation? Finn dragged that. He acted like Godr had murdered his entire family instead of pulling a stupid prank, and somehow the entire barbarian clan rallies around Finn with what can only be described as the emotional energy of a tribal production of Age of Aquarius. Please. These are supposed to be BARBARIANS.
I’m not demanding historical accuracy from my horny barbarian romance, but I do need the barbarians to exhibit at least a passing acquaintance with barbarism.
And Finn just kept crying. How much fluid can one human body possibly produce? Sir, hydrate.
By the time we got to the final confrontation with Finn’s family and the way they disposed of the villain, I had crossed over from irritation into genuine awe. It was so unbelievably stupid that I almost respected the commitment. Almost.
I don’t know how or why I persevered to the end. Perhaps I needed closure. Perhaps I had paid for the audiobook and was determined to extract my money’s worth. Perhaps Finn’s forest beast had gotten me too and I was delirious. Whatever the reason: I finished it.
One star.
And somewhere, Rath is still wandering through the forest looking for the six-fingered man.
October 14, 2026
«My sweet barbarian had already shown me so much. Kindness, patience, acceptance. He showed me what it meant to be a true family. He showed me how to love. How to accept love in return. And each lesson only made me fall further in love with him.»
La historia es justo lo que esperaba: un bárbaro tierno y protector, un humano muy (MUUUUY) llorón, montones de melodrama, escenas spicy apasionadas y un final feliz con ellos siendo compañeros de vinculo.
El desarrollo del mundo es poco o básicamente nulo, y eso deja más preguntas que respuestas; hay muchas cosas convenientes o que se desarrollan gracias al poder del guión… En fin, esta serie no va a ganar ningún premio a la brevedad, pero estoy aquí por los bárbaros gay.
La historia es justo lo que esperaba: un bárbaro tierno y protector, un humano muy (MUUUUY) llorón, montones de melodrama, escenas spicy apasionadas y un final feliz con ellos siendo compañeros de vinculo.
El desarrollo del mundo es poco o básicamente nulo, y eso deja más preguntas que respuestas; hay muchas cosas convenientes o que se desarrollan gracias al poder del guión… En fin, esta serie no va a ganar ningún premio a la brevedad, pero estoy aquí por los bárbaros gay.
August 3, 2025
3.5 stars
Started off strong but I quickly lost interest and part of that is on me. I know good and well how I like these fictional barbarians: cutting, aloof, and ruthless. I mostly read this out of curiosity about all recommendations I’d seen.
I COULDN’T STAND Finn’s constant crying. Being attacked by a predator? Bursts into tears. Sir!!!! Do you have zero survival instincts?? How has someone like this survived so long??
I can forgive the crying when he’s bullied because that’s a natural response but then to SAY NOTHING when Rath asks for details? There’s zero indication that there will be consequences for speaking up (in fact, the bully is disliked and only appears on page twice… to do the bullying!) Wake up!!!! Rath just wants to take care of you. Nothing in his speech / behaviour has indicated this is some sort of hardship.
I think this book would’ve gone down better with me if it was better written. The dialogue and prose was uninteresting, the plot barely there, and the world building given little effort.
Started off strong but I quickly lost interest and part of that is on me. I know good and well how I like these fictional barbarians: cutting, aloof, and ruthless. I mostly read this out of curiosity about all recommendations I’d seen.
I COULDN’T STAND Finn’s constant crying. Being attacked by a predator? Bursts into tears. Sir!!!! Do you have zero survival instincts?? How has someone like this survived so long??
I can forgive the crying when he’s bullied because that’s a natural response but then to SAY NOTHING when Rath asks for details? There’s zero indication that there will be consequences for speaking up (in fact, the bully is disliked and only appears on page twice… to do the bullying!) Wake up!!!! Rath just wants to take care of you. Nothing in his speech / behaviour has indicated this is some sort of hardship.
I think this book would’ve gone down better with me if it was better written. The dialogue and prose was uninteresting, the plot barely there, and the world building given little effort.
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 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.
May 17, 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!
August 20, 2026
4-⭐
Ahh.. the noble savages. It's a bit silly and idealised trope but I can't help loving it anyway. The barbarian society here is perfection against the nasty "civilised" society, and I don't even mind. The whole story is just a bunch of gentle giants adopting a sweet, sensitive soul who has been bullied all his life, and embracing him until he feels better.
I usually don't love a sugary sweet story that plays out almost like a personal fantasy but this one did it for me. The plot could be better and there's some repetition but god, Rath can wrap those arms around me and give me some forehead kisses and I'll believe everything will be okay.
Ahh.. the noble savages. It's a bit silly and idealised trope but I can't help loving it anyway. The barbarian society here is perfection against the nasty "civilised" society, and I don't even mind. The whole story is just a bunch of gentle giants adopting a sweet, sensitive soul who has been bullied all his life, and embracing him until he feels better.
I usually don't love a sugary sweet story that plays out almost like a personal fantasy but this one did it for me. The plot could be better and there's some repetition but god, Rath can wrap those arms around me and give me some forehead kisses and I'll believe everything will be okay.
July 1, 2025
cute, but kinda boring. Finn was so whiny.
August 15, 2026
3.75 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 440 reviews