Review: Untamed Barbarian (Visigoth Barbarians #2) by Jayla Jasso

In Untamed Barbarian, the second in the Visigoth Barbarians series from author Jayla Jasso, a time-traveling hunk from the 5^th century lands smack dab in the middle of a 21^st century murder investigation in southern California for a hot and gripping urban fantasy.

Andaric, the brutally handsome and physically brutal time-traveler, has come in search of his brother, who was similarly catapulted forward from ancient France, but he gets understandably distracted by the stunning Kaiya Martinez. She may be tasked with determining his mental state – and judging whether he is the serial killer the town has been searching for – but Kaiya can’t deny what flutters in her stomach when she looks into his eyes. Held in a confounding prison of the future, Andaric seeks to prove his sanity, and also find a way to be released so he can do what he does best: make love to the most beautiful woman in town.

The language of attraction may be universal, but communicating is more than a bit challenging for the suspect and investigator, leading to a number of charming scenes in the tight quarters of an interrogation rooms that build the tension between this unlikely pair. Kaiya’s crush turns into full-fledged love, and she must put her career on the line to free Andaric, and even help him find his time-traveled brother. This sex-fueled novel has plenty of steamy scenes for romance lovers to devour, but it’s far from pulp fiction. A real relationship buds between Andaric and Kaiya, one that is playfully narrated by Jasso, who has a delicate touch with her descriptions, but also knows how to put a blush in a reader’s cheeks.

While the majority of this romantic fantasy revolves around the unique premise of Andaric in Huntington Beach, the loose ends from the first novel in this series eventually join the storyline, when Andaric’s brother and wife appear, able to vouch for the bizarre presence of Andaric the barbarian in a supermax holding cell. This story plays out with sharp-tongued humor, character relationships readers will want to root for, and enough twists to hold anyone’s attention. Despite being a good length, the pages fly by, as the language is smooth and easy to follow throughout, and the story moves quickly.

On the technical side, there are a number of moments that feel brushed past or rushed through – a single scene may stretch for pages, and then be quickly resolved in only a few lines, giving some of the chapter transitions a jarring feel. The erotic elements are generally tasteful, but some moments seem forced, as though Jasso wanted to drop in another bit of steam to keep readers on the hook. From the very first chapter, when Andaric flees captivity in a “state of arousal,” some of the sporadic sexual references feel out of place. Suspension of disbelief is no doubt par for the course in a work of erotic time travel, but certain moments don’t flow seamlessly in the narrative.

That criticism aside, Untamed Barbarian is a deeply entertaining tale, penned by a writer who blurs the edge of fantasy and modern romance in an irresistibly charming way.