Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

18 reviews

imskylow's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This book was good! I enjoyed it. I liked the setting and the imagery, especial when the author described remnants (which human senses can't quite grasp or process). I liked the peeling back of layers for these two characters and the things that they've been through. The mystery of Jainan's past had me sucked in. The only qualm I have about this book is the romance. I understand that Everina Maxwell didn't want this story to be smutty or anything like what most books are about these days, and that's totally fair, I just think we needed a bit more than what is given here. There's so much emotional hesitation and timidness, you honestly can't get me to believe that fade to black sex scene went smoothly. I think it would have been awkward. I think Maxwell could have described that without being explicit about it. You can describe emotions rather than what they're physically doing. Even just a phrase like "Kiem and Jainan were awkward tangle of limbs and sputtering apologies as they grappled close. With the misunderstandings cleared away, nothing was left between them" would have left me feeling more satisfied. It would have gotten five stars if it wasn't for that.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Emotional abuse, Violence, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

fanboyriot's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-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? No

4.0

🔥 Slow Burn

🤝 Mutual Pinning

💍 Arranged Marriage

This book was great for people wanting to read sci-fi but get overwhelmed by the thought of it.  Besides few names I had to look up the pronunciation of, it was fairly easy to read.  I enjoyed how well the sci-fi and romance mixed with this book, there was also a bit of mystery to the plot as well.

Kiem was honestly such a lovable idiot and worked so well with Jainan.  I would have liked a little more romance but the plot was good too.  The romance itself is a bit of a slow burn, the main plot, focusing much more on the political scheming, and an alleged murder that might just be a cover-up, and in general dealing with diplomatic relations.

I got this book from Etsy in a Blind Date with a Book from @theannexlibrary and was so happy with it!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1366979807/

Spice Level: 🌶️ (1/5)

Release Date: 28, December 2021

POV: Duel, Third Person 

Rep: LGBTQIA+ characters, Domestic Abuse (past)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, Rape, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Death, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, and Torture

Minor: Blood, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Bullying, Mental illness, Cursing, Murder, Racism, Car accident, and Confinement

bookdragon_sansan's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders

mariebrunelm's review

funny lighthearted 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

 What fun!

This sci-fi book about an arranged marriage has an outrageous premice and very endearing characters. Jainan and Kiem are so well fleshed-out that I was ready to overlook the fact that I couldn't fathom why two men would be forced into a diplomatic arranged marriage, since arranged marriages are usually meant to produce offsprings. But you know what? It took barely a chapter for the banter and alchemy to convince me it was still a good idea. True, the total lack of communication in the first half of the book almost made me pull my own hair, but it's so satisfying to see the relationship evolve, and evolve healthily.

I'm not a fan of romance but this one was pleasant. It did start as insta-love, but took a long time to develop from there so it didn't feel that rushed.

Rep: brown queer MCs, diverse & queer characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Animal cruelty

ireadqueerbooks's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

quasinaut's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A fun mix of romance and political-intrigue-and-conspiracy-in-space! I appreciated how Kiem and Jainan's different personalities, and strengths, weaknesses, and fears, shaped their interactions together and with others. Beautifully crafted. 

There were a few times that things felt like they would have been "solved" societally -- or at least would be approached more progressively, perhaps -- considering other aspects of the worldbuilding with regards to gender, sexuality, technology, communication, etc. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

dolores_madil's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Cursing, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness

Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol

apworden's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

Great chemistry and interesting plot, the characters show growth in positive ways throughout

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Bullying, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Minor: War

jfreud's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

I really fell in love with the central characters and their relationship! Their developing intimacy feels so real and well-paced, full of major strides and setbacks and misunderstandings that feel like an organic consequence of one partner

recovering from an abusive relationship

. The only reason I docked it half a star is that I felt like it ended a bit abruptly after the climax - I would have really liked just few more scenes showing the characters settling into the next phase of their relationship.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Kidnapping and Violence

ruthiedr89's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Racism, and Gaslighting

Minor: Colonisation, Confinement, and Kidnapping