Barbarian’s Prize

Dixon’s emotional fifth Ice Planet Barbarians romance (after Barbarian Mine) is more than just a love story; it’s also a sci-fi drama focused on a heroine working through PTSD. That’s an ambitious order for a series that is often seen as erotic escapism, but Dixon pulls it off. Tiffany is one of many human women kidnapped from Earth by aliens intent on selling them on the planet Not-Hoth. In addition to other traumas the group suffered during their space voyage, Tiffany survived sexual assault aboard the alien craft. So when a group of blue, horned aliens unrelated to the kidnappers rescue the women and offer them refuge, Tiffany struggles to feel safe around them. One of these aliens, Salukh, knows from the start that Tiffany is his fated mate, but their bond has yet to be confirmed. When she asks him to help her work through her trauma by gradually practicing intimacy, he’s delighted. Soon the inexperienced alien man is learning how to please Tiffany while dodging the resentments of other aliens hoping to court her. Along the way, Dixon delivers fantastical set dressing, grand scale adventure, and steamy sex scenes. Series fans will be happy to revisit Not-Hoth for this slightly more serious but just as sensual installment. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary. (Mar.)