Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

86 reviews

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

ggcd1981's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful 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

3.5

Eu tinha expectativas altas para Winter’s Orbit porque a sinopse me interessou bastante, e eu gostei da obra, mas ela não realmente atendeu minhas expectativas. A principal razão para isso foi que esperava que haveria mais tempo de livro dedicado a recuperação de Jainan junto a Kiem, e também que haveria mais momentos emocionais entre o casal. Contudo esses aspectos não foram tratados de forma profunda como gostaria. Outro ponto que não me agradou muito, mas isso é mais uma questão de gosto pessoal, foi a voz que o narrador do audiobook fez para Jainan, dando a ele uma voz grave e alpha que não me permitia enxergar a vulnerabilidade do personagem que passou por traumas e ainda assim tentava navegar uma situação política tão delicada com tantas pressões e responsabilidades. Não consegui sentir muita proximidade a Jainan por causa da narração, mas como disse, isso foi uma questão de gosto. A construção do mundo e cenário político foi, em algumas partes, um pouco confusa. Isso dificultou um pouco a imersão nesses aspectos do livro, que foram mais proeminentes do que esperava. No entanto gostei dos personagens (Kiem era um cinnamon roll como marido), apesar de sentir essa certa distância de Jainan. Gostei da história do casal, apesar de achar que poderiam ter havido momentos mais profundos de cura de trauma e discussões mais vulneráveis e significativas. Neste momento não decidi se vou continuar com a série de companion novels, pois o universo e política da obra não capturaram minha imaginação por serem um pouco confusos. Contudo gostei de ter lido Winter’s Orbit e no geral foi uma experiência positiva. Dou 3.5 estrelas. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Death, Car accident, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, and Violence

barrettcmyk's review

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.5

I’m not generally a sci-fi fan, so this was definitely not my usual fare. But it was well written and interesting, and I enjoyed the world building. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Violence

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

xennial_reader's review

adventurous medium-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Sexual violence and Sexual content

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

rjbedell's review

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

A gripping, intimate, and profound romance plot line is weakened only slightly by incomplete world-building and repetitive language.  The sci-fi component drives the plot, but takes a back seat to the two emotionally embattled and haunted leading men.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, Stalking, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Grief, Colonisation, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Torture

Minor: Murder, Medical content, and War

geekmom's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Very absorbing and hard to put down. A perfect escapist read for a busy and stressful week - except for the part where I got less work done because I couldn’t stop reading. Looking forward to the sequel!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Domestic abuse