Status Updates from All Editions of The Barbarian's Musician (Savagely Sweet Barbarians, #3)

M E is 53% done

— Jul 30, 2026 08:08PM Add a comment

The Barbarian's Musician (Savagely Sweet Barbarians, #3)

Mel is 90% done

Yngvar sword fighting blind irritated me, moving his overcoming disability into fantasy. Like, wrestling would be one thing, grappling by touch. But steel? Especially the, "You just gotta have guts and try," spiel felt invalidating.

After, with mention of using a walking stick, and markers on tents, and actually helpful adaptations, that was all great, but geez, way to blame him for lacking accommodations before.

— Jul 10, 2026 07:30PM Add a comment

Mel is 66% done

One annoying thing in the spinoff is how the original cast feel reduced to functional cameos. Finn is the teacher. Patrick the cook. And somehow my delicious chaos gremlin has been relegated to sex guru. I miss the antics. I miss Maman.

I guess there is the balancing act of keeping each book somewhat standalone, but their characters feel too carefully digestible.

— Jul 10, 2026 01:17PM Add a comment

Mel is 65% done

“Goddess, I like him,” someone said behind me. “He’s got sass.”

Exactly. That's what I was saying.
Also love that without looking we know it's Simon. There's my favorite chaos gremlin.

— Jul 10, 2026 12:59PM Add a comment

Mel is 50% done

A slow smile spread across my face, one he saw when his hand ran up my arm and neck to touch my face. He flushed, giving me a disgruntled look. "Shut up."

Haha, the delayed reaction on that smug smirk. I love the intimacy of face touching, and the fact Henry can still see Garrun's expressions this way. Also, more sass! I've been missing that playful energy.

— Jul 10, 2026 12:49PM Add a comment

Mel is 40% done

Like he’d been just as sure as I was that this experience was out of reach, and his heart ached like mine did to finally feel the kind of connection everyone always talked about but that neither of us had the pleasure of discovering ourselves.

I love the dynamic between Henry and Garrun, each able to see value in the other, where others shy away. Both a bit lonely and longing for companionship.

— Jul 10, 2026 12:31PM Add a comment

Mel is 22% done

Ekkar’s sturdy form bumped against my legs, and I looked down automatically, asking him, "Can you help me find Garrun? I should’ve asked him to stay close."

Eee! Seeing eye wolf! Don't talk to me about reality. This is the we're-doing-it-because-we-can attitude I'm here for. Totally acts like a Pyranees, herding people back to safety.

Loving the disabilty rep. First Matthew with selective mutism, and now Henry.

— Jul 10, 2026 12:10PM Add a comment