Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

88 reviews

exhumedprince's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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sahanasri's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense slow-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

3.75

This book takes place in the same universe as Ocean’s Echo, which I loved, but has a different setting, characters, and vibe overall. Once again, I think the author really nailed the dynamic between the two leads, although this relationship developed much slower, which I didn’t enjoy as much. The mystery and subsequent ending were both satisfying, but I found myself getting bored with the level of detail and could somewhat predict what was going to happen. Overall, I wish there was more of the main characters dynamic or interactions and less of the super sci fi political drama (although it was still interesting).
I also wanted to note how much I appreciated the twist of Jainan’s initial struggles and refusal to open up being a manifestation of his trauma from marital abuse in his past relationship. It worked really well for the character and I think felt realistic and emotional for him to overcome in forgiving himself and opening up to Kiem.
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bluejayreads's review against another edition

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emotional
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.5

Sometimes you get in the mood to read something absolutely emotionally devastating. The kind of book that will tear out your heart and crush it and leave you sobbing and grateful to have read it. And if you ever get into that mood, have I got a book for you! 

Winter’s Orbit will crush you in the best way. There were a few points where my chest physically hurt from the beautifully devastating feelings (or it could have been because my new medication was entirely fucking me over – but I choose to attribute it to the book). It’s an arranged-marriage mutual-pining romance between two scared and hurting and uncertain young royals against the backdrop of empire-ending scifi politics. It’s wonderful and it hurts so much. 

I loved Kiem. He was kind as an integral part of his existence, oblivious to anything that didn’t fit his experience until explicitly told (at which point he felt bad for not noticing), and very much trying his best. He knew how to handle his own life as a prince, for the most part, but had absolutely zero idea of how to handle being married. He was sweet and self-deprecating and I loved him. 

And, unusual for a book with dual narrators, I loved Jainan just as much. He was uncertain, terrified, and absolutely dedicated to duty even when it involved excessive and painful self-sacrifice, and he had no idea how to deal with a partner as genuinely kind as Kiem. I called the dynamic between him and his first partner immediately (considering I have personal experience with it, it seemed obvious to be, but I can see how often oblivious and never-thinks-bad-of-people Kiem would miss it), and I was very pleased to see how everything worked out in this second marriage. I adored Kiem because he was sweet and fun, but I adored Jainan because he was hurt and broken and I wanted to see him heal and be happy. 

The world itself was well sketched. It was done well enough that there were a few nice moments of culture clash, and I really enjoyed how Kiem’s and Jainan’s two cultures used clothing indicators like jewelry (Kiem’s people) and scarf knots (Jainan’s people) to indicate gender, rather than anything inherent in the physical body. There were definitely interesting parts, and it was detailed enough to support the story, but it took a back seat to the romance. 

In fact, everything took a back seat to the romance. That includes the plot, which includes desperate politics to get an important treaty signed before the deadline, murder and assassination, and a far-reaching conspiracy with plans to destroy the empire. It’s enough to make an entire book on its own, and yet it fades into the background behind the two protagonists and their pining, uncertain, tentative, adorably awkward relationship. And even though I usually prefer plot and roll my eyes at romance, I enjoyed it thoroughly. 

I’m still not fully clear on what was really so difficult about getting the treaty signed in the first place, which made the foundation of everything that happens feel very flimsy. But it was a solid book and a stellar romance. The plot was good, the characters were great, the emotions were intense and devastating in the best possible way. On the whole, it’s very good. 
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daffodilcherry's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious 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

5.0

I really found myself drawn into this world and wanting more! I was obsessed with the main characters and connected with them easily: I just wanted the best for them. I loved the overall plot but also the romantic subplot and overall diplomatic/court intrigue. It was hard to put this book down and not find every opportunity to just read it all at once.
Wheelhouse items: slowburn romance, mlm relationship, worldbuilding, galactic empires, arranged marriages (that develop into real love), emotional healing, murder mystery, space diplomacy, court intrigue, complimentary characters.
A note about the content warnings:
one of the main characters' previous relationship was physically, emotionally and sexually abusive. This is alluded to in the first half of the book and then made explicit in the second half through a few flashbacks. The sexual abuse is more in the vein of him not being into his ex-partner but pushing himself anyway. There is also a sci-fi bit where the bad guys attempt to effectively brainwash-gaslight him via memories (but they are unsuccessful). But the point of the overall story is about this character healing from their abuse and finding friendship and love that they deserve.

There is a scene where the characters fight against a bear.
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sarahlou79's review

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adventurous funny mysterious 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? No

3.5

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shelvesofivy's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious 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

5.0

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puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? Yes

5.0

In this sci-fi novel we’ve got political intrigue, a suspicious death, a hastily arranged political marriage, a queer romance and looming intergalactic conflict all wrapped up into one amazing story. I was afraid I wouldn’t finish it before the end of the year, but I went through it very quickly.

I loved the two main characters so much and I just wanted to keep reading to know they’d be okay. The world building is immersive; I’m always impressed when authors are able to draw the reader into a completely new world without a lot of exposition, just by references and natural scene dressing. We only see a little bit of this universe in the first book so I’m eager to learn more in the next one!

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kirkspockreads's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

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ollie_again's review against another edition

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3.5

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tinyjude's review

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adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

Setting, characters, world-building and the intrinsics between them were very interesting and well-developed. Despite what it may look like, it was easy to follow and engaging. I think it was well paced both in terms of political intrigue and personal relationships among the characters. I also appreciated Kiem and Jainan's relationship so much as they were mature, understanding and brilliant together. Also props for the representation of domestic abuse, gaslighting and trauma.
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