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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
It's frustrating. My brain refuses to understand the politics and mecanics in this universe. The romance is nice, slow burn, sweet, angsty, and very cordinated with the plot although there was not a lot of chemistry. However, since Ifound the plot hard to understand, I feel that I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have.
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first one was definitely better in both the SF and romance. The worldbuilding in this book was a bit of a mess, and the action scenes were a little disorganized. I really needed more structure on the powers because it felt like it was being made up on the fly. The romance was fine but I didn't find myself as engaged as I was with Jainan and Kiem.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Satisfying and delving into relationship dynamics that are alien yet somehow human, this book tells a compelling story that wanders a bit, but always manages to keep its characters first with a plot that unfolds in ways that are surprising and yet understandable. 4.5/5
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a standalone in the same universe as Winter's Orbit, with a new cast of characters. I'm a sucker for loveable rogues and the banter and yearning in this book hits me in all the feels. This forced partnership between Readers and Architects is a great twist on the arranged marriage/fake dating trope. I absolutely love this universe that Maxwell is creating.
4.5 stars
i liked this more than the first one!! a little mind melting, but nothing beyond comprehension.
“I don’t care about orders. It’s always been you.”
i am foaming at the mouth
i liked this more than the first one!! a little mind melting, but nothing beyond comprehension.
“I don’t care about orders. It’s always been you.”
i am foaming at the mouth
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The first half had promise, but once you hit the 50% mark, it's all downhill from there.
The tone and pacing are all over the place, sometimes the romance feels like it might be written for adults, sometimes for 13 year olds. It zigzag back and forth from a story about two people finding each other while trying to survive as side characters, to a chosen one drama about saving the world, and does not stick the landing.
There are so many chances to do interesting character work, all squandered as the romance is put completely on pause so the book can deal with strange newly introduced plot elements.
Along with a large helping of cringe melodrama, the insanely unrealistic depiction of addiction (which is promptly dropped and never spoken of again) make this book a flop.
The tone and pacing are all over the place, sometimes the romance feels like it might be written for adults, sometimes for 13 year olds. It zigzag back and forth from a story about two people finding each other while trying to survive as side characters, to a chosen one drama about saving the world, and does not stick the landing.
There are so many chances to do interesting character work, all squandered as the romance is put completely on pause so the book can deal with strange newly introduced plot elements.
Along with a large helping of cringe melodrama, the insanely unrealistic depiction of addiction (which is promptly dropped and never spoken of again) make this book a flop.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Okay, so objectively this could easily be a five star book and it is ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT. I would read it again. I highly recommend it, especially if you are someone who likes space political machinations and mindlink/telepathic power sets. The main ship has pretty strong spock/kirk vibes which I am absolutely here for. The plot is compelling and every bit of it pays off. The main characters Surit and Tennal are multifacited and interesting and have a great dynamic. I love a charismatic nightmare person paired with a honor driven rule follower who somehow still matches their partner's insanity level.
So! Why 4.5 stars for me? Personal preference mostly. I'm a romance reader, and the romance is Very Good but often much more backseat to the plot and that's okay! It's well done! I just wish we got to see more of them post-getting together! Here are also some spoiler heavy endgame things that made sense narratively and were SO well executed but didn't suit my particular Romance Reader Tastes:okay, so I just really love a permanent mindlink (refer back to me being a lover of spock/kirk) and I was really disappointed that they didn't end up with some sort of lingering stable sync in the endgame. Also, I was sad about Surit losing his architect powers even though it made sense for him. My primary reason for this is because they do not fuck AT ALL while synced / while Surit is an architect and Tennal has an ESTABLISHED KINK for being written! His boyfriend is strong enough to do that without enhancers even if they AREN'T synced! I love freaky mind sex and dynamics (tm) and this was just a huge letdown for me in combo with the other stuff even though again I totally don't blame the book for that. Also, I loved the epilogue but I wish we'd gotten something post the 6 month Tennal absence rather than before.
Anyway, still one of the best books I've read all year even though my romance/smut reader heart wanted a lil more. Please go read this book!
So! Why 4.5 stars for me? Personal preference mostly. I'm a romance reader, and the romance is Very Good but often much more backseat to the plot and that's okay! It's well done! I just wish we got to see more of them post-getting together! Here are also some spoiler heavy endgame things that made sense narratively and were SO well executed but didn't suit my particular Romance Reader Tastes:
Anyway, still one of the best books I've read all year even though my romance/smut reader heart wanted a lil more. Please go read this book!