Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

28 reviews

misszoe's review

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Confinement, Colonisation, Rape, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse

wilybooklover's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

5.0

This is a tough one to categorise. Ostensibly, it’s sci-fi romance, but it’s a lot heavier on the actual sci-fi than most sci-fi romance is. Or maybe space opera, but it’s a lot heavier on the romance than most space opera. In my opinion, it’s pretty equally space opera/romance/suspense (all three of which are interwoven), but whatever it is I loved it. 

The book starts off with our two heroes, Kiem and Jainan, marrying for political alliance reasons. Now, this is how you do a miscommunication trope. It makes sense that Kiem and Jainan would have trouble communicating properly. Not only are they complete strangers, with very different styles of communication, they’re from entirely different cultures and Jainan has been kept isolated and deliberately in the dark about a lot of things. They’re both so considerate of the other that they overthink and misinterpret and get in their own heads about it. It’s kind of endearing, actually, and the slow unfolding of their thoughts and feelings to each other was such a delight to read. They really complemented each other well, despite being charming-extrovert/anxious-introvert opposites. 

Besides the romance, which was lovely and gentle and soft, the worldbuilding and plot were complex and interesting. Kiem and Jainan get dragged into a murder conspiracy upon which the fate of the Empire hinges, and it soon becomes apparent that their lives are also at stake. On top of that, you have a potential rebellion brewing back on Jainan’s home world. It’s a lot, and I do think there was maybe a little too much going on at times (or, perhaps, not paced correctly). But I very much enjoyed this story of political intrigue. Once facet of the worldbuilding that I really enjoyed was the queernorm world. It was so refreshing to see queer people of all kinds just existing without being a statement or facing hardship because of it. The secondary characters were all fleshed out and interesting as well, although I did think that one of the antagonists was a bit obvious

(it’s always suspicious when someone is a bit too friendly and helpful).

 

Ultimately I think this was a well-balanced story of romance and space politics, and would recommend this to people who enjoy both of those things. There are some heavy topics in this, so do check content warnings first.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Confinement, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Colonisation, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Violence

Minor: Alcoholism

caseythereader's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious 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? No

4.5

 - WINTER'S ORBIT is a beautiful, rich fantasy romance filled with longing and intrigue and only-one-bed.
- I adored both our sweet blockhead main characters, who were both trying to do what they thought was best for the other one without, you know, actually asking what might be best.
- The universe Maxwell has built here is so detailed and the central mystery kept me guessing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Death, Blood, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual content

reviewsandreadathons's review against another edition

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Emotional abuse

skrulls's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Torture, Kidnapping, Car accident, and Confinement

Minor: Medical content, Sexual content, and Violence

booksbutmakeitgay's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Violence, Classism, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Torture

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

eamily's review

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Car accident

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Murder

Minor: Alcohol, Blood, War, Violence, Torture, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity

robin_reads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

(Unintelligible happy noises)

After a second read:

In my first read I saw Jainan's behavior and was wondering about it. In my second read, knowing what I knew..

I'm about to become a necromancer, climb into the book, bring Taam back from the dead and kill him. Then I'll repeat that four five more times, for good measure.

The mystery, the world-building, the political structures, how authentic the characters are.. these are just a few of the many things I loved about this book. There is nothing I don't like about the book.
The audiobook wasn't as enjoyable, I have to say. 

Definitely check CW and TW before reading! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Xenophobia, Grief, Gaslighting, Torture, Alcohol, Car accident, Colonisation, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Physical abuse

Minor: Medical content

orchidd's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Physical abuse

Minor: War, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, and Confinement