Barbarian's Hope

Asha and Hemalo resonated years ago. They had a baby, but she was born very premature and sadly passed away. After losing their baby, they both retreated into their own separate grief. Neither of them talked about their thoughts and feelings with each other and it caused no end of troubles for them. Eventually they became so unhappy together that Hemalo decided to end the relationship, but he didn't explain his reasons to Asha, which left her feeling unwanted and abandoned. At the start of this book, a few years have gone by where they were both unhappily apart.

I really liked this book. Asha wasn't my favorite character in the previous books (which is putting it lightly), but this book made me see things from her perspective and I found show more myself sympathizing with her. I'm glad that Asha and Hemalo finally corrected their communication problems and are happy together at last. show less

Such a satisfying conclusion to a long story arc. I liked having more insight into Asha, and I found myself identifying with her a lot. Glad to see her and Hemalo work it out, glad to see her learn to live with her grief, and to find a friend in Claire.

After all the human woman have been mated who is left to read about in this series? We return to a sa-khui couple that broke up after their daughter died shortly after her birth. Asha and Hemalo had resonated but they weren't a love match (at least on Asha's side). Then after their baby died, Asha's heartbreak was so great that Hemalo moved out thinking that she wanted to be alone. She saw this as being abandoned.
Afterwards, while still processing her grief, the earth women show up and all of a sudden there are babies everywhere - adding to her depression. Every new kit reminds her of what she lost. While Hemalo seems to be doing well he is grieving too - he not only lost a child but his wife.
When Claire befriends Asha it helps give her show more a purpose and surprisingly, she and Hemalo resonate again. After the last pregnancy, Asha is afraid. The two find themselves out in a cave, alone and need to work out their issues to let their love overcome their fears.
This is a great change from the previous human/sa-khui relationships and we get to see a different side of several characters. show less

Asha, Hemalo
This book is amazing. Its part of a series and will make much more sense if you read it in order. Asha and Hemalo.
We know a little of Asha from previous books, we know she was a flirt before she resonated and she and Hemalo lost a kit. She is not particularly liked by the human females and she can be bitter and lash out, so much so her mate Hemalo left.
This story is so clever, the loss of a child could and has led to many couples, who have been together years struggling to the point of break up, but we learn that Asha and Hemalo didn't know each other very well so it is then not suprising that neither of them knew how to help each other deal with such a great loss.
This book is Multiple POV, Asha and Hemalo but also Claire. show more This is very, very clever, as humans we have dealt with loss more than our blue aliens and also the humans in this book have lost much and have had to adjust to massive changes in their lives. They also have had to get used to the idea of resonance and that at times it is not always wanted or timely so Claire's perspective helps us understand Asha.
There are some very funny moments that are caused by 'lost in translation' conversations, esp those about Santa. But also there are some very sad and emotional moments as Asha and Hemalo learn to deal with each other, their past loss and if they have a future.
We have some insights into other members of the tribe but i won't explain not to spoil anything.
This feels as though it is my favorite but i think that at the end of each new book.


Merged review:

This book is amazing. Its part of a series and will make much more sense if you read it in order. Asha and Hemalo.
We know a little of Asha from previous books, we know she was a flirt before she resonated and she and Hemalo lost a kit. She is not particularly liked by the human females and she can be bitter and lash out, so much so her mate Hemalo left.
This story is so clever, the loss of a child could and has led to many couples, who have been together years struggling to the point of break up, but we learn that Asha and Hemalo didn't know each other very well so it is then not suprising that neither of them knew how to help each other deal with such a great loss.
This book is Multiple POV, Asha and Hemalo but also Claire. This is very, very clever, as humans we have dealt with loss more than our blue aliens and also the humans in this book have lost much and have had to adjust to massive changes in their lives. They also have had to get used to the idea of resonance and that at times it is not always wanted or timely so Claire's perspective helps us understand Asha.
There are some very funny moments that are caused by 'lost in translation' conversations, esp those about Santa. But also there are some very sad and emotional moments as Asha and Hemalo learn to deal with each other, their past loss and if they have a future.
We have some insights into other members of the tribe but i won't explain not to spoil anything.
This feels as though it is my favorite but i think that at the end of each new book.
Well worth a read. show less

I love a book that gets my emotions all tied up. This one delivers! I cried... OMG....Ruby Dixon is gold!

Asha and Hemalo's story, with Claire's POV as well. Cute story, it was interesting to read in the POV of two sa-khui characters instead of one sa-khui and one human.

I love a book that gets my emotions all tied up. This one delivers! I cried... OMG....Ruby Dixon is gold!