Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

178 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

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

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

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

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

chainingbooks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Sexual content and Torture

myweirdnormal'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I don’t even know what a space opera is. But if this is IT??? Sign me the fuck up wow. 
I haven’t felt this way about a book since I read One Last Stop. It’s the perfect slowburn. Lovely characters. A very well down reveal, like I had a feeling Jainan was a bit unreliable as a narrator, but I didn’t realize the extent of it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Death, Gun violence, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Confinement

Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Sexual content, and War

Vehicle crash. Attack by animal. Abuse only briefly explicitly depicted in flashbacks, though the aftermath is present and discussed throughout. (Attempt at) memory modification.

reginacattus's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Physical abuse, Colonisation, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Kidnapping, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, War, Violence, Sexual violence, and Confinement