Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

264 reviews

jazznichole's review

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual assault

madjaz217's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Death

honeydew7's review

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Strong political plot

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse

literatehedgehog's review

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

4.0

A bit of a slow start, where I worried it was going to have an incredible world of diverse cultures, but stay set in the political intrigue of the palace. But then there is an survival adventure, conspiracy investigation, and adorable gay romance (forced proximity trope played well). 
Reads like Ann Leckie and Arkady Martine for sci fi world building, but genre blended with sweet gay romance and a pinch of mystery adventure.

HUGE content warning for emotional and physical abuse. One main character seems to be aloof in the beginning but actually is traumatized. I think it is handled delicately, but still, read with care.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse

kestrelfire's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Rape, and Sexual assault

starlitpage's review

adventurous 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? It's complicated

5.0

I love this book! The political intrigue and mystery grew me in quickly; I've learned I really like that sort of thing! The characters are great and I loved watching the romance grow in this arranged marriage trope. Plus there's some alien gender norms, which more sci-fi should have. Definitely 5 stars from me!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Torture, Violence, War, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Medical content, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Drug use

Previous abusive relationship; deals a lot with thought patterns due to that, and some scenes of the abuse, but specifically is about moving on from it

napthenknit's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Injury/Injury detail

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

alyssa_simard's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Emotional abuse and Sexual assault

katievallin's review against another edition

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

4.0

Enjoyed this and glad it had a good ending. Liked Jainan’s character development especially. Thought the book was wrapped up a bit too neatly, though.

Trauma from a 5-year abusive marriage doesn’t just go away because you’re now in a healthier marriage.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse and Torture

Minor: Cursing