Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell

93 reviews

silentcat7135's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

4.0

Enjoyable novel that is about 85% political sci-fi and adventure, 15% romance. For those who hate this trope in a romance, there is a lot of miscommunication between the two leads, but there is at least a believable reason for the miscommunication in that it is an arranged marriage for diplomatic reasons between two men who do not know each other well enough initially to read the other's intentions. Plus, one of the main character's behaviour is affected by past trauma, which is not initially known to his partner. The first half of the book may be a little slow, but it definitely picks up as it goes on. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture and Gaslighting

Minor: Domestic abuse

One main character is dealing with the aftereffects of domestic violence and gaslighting in his past marriage. He is later tortured with a device intended to alter his memories. Some of those memories involve descriptions of his past mental and physical abuse.

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

---

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.

emmastrange's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted 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

This book is everything you could want in a sci fi romance! The characters are perfect, the world building and plot are just enough, and the romance is really believable. Cozy, healing, and romantic! With political intrigue! Super cheesy and with some cliches but it just comes across as this book knowing exactly what it is and being that without shame.

Didn’t give five stars just because at certain points the politics felt shallow and not very nuanced. I love themes of imperialism so when you introduce them, i expect them to be more fully fleshed out. BUT i can’t dock too many points bc that just isn’t what the book is focused. Still, prevents it from being a five star for me

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Gaslighting and Emotional abuse

rjbedell's review against another edition

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.

---

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

frantic_vampire'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? It's complicated

5.0

This was such a good book! I don’t really have the words for all the feelings that this book gave me. It was comforting, it was adventurous, it was political, and so many other things. I just loved this so, so much.

I loved the dynamic between Kiem and Jainan once they got past all the awkward miscommunications (and lack of communication). I loved that Kiem was so bubbly and talked with literally everyone, and that Jainan was almost the complete opposite. I loved all the political drama, the murder mystery, and everything else that this had going for it! Somehow this world felt familiar and yet not at all, if that makes sense. Winter’s Orbit was just so good and I’m giving it five stars.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Car accident, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

All tags are in relation to Taam and Aren and the shitty things they did before/during the story.

lunarexorcist'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

5.0

This book was so obviously written by someone who grew up on AO3. That has so much potential to be an embarrassing mess for everyone involved. But it works, and I want to read more of it yesterday. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Car accident, Xenophobia, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Gun violence and Rape

d0lly's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Domestic abuse

stinkologist's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: War, Kidnapping, Xenophobia, and Violence

bkwrm1317's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful 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

Political intrigue, arranged marriage that becomes love between our two protags, sabotage, a galactic empire that needs to renew its treaties, mysterious death of a royal, and what becomes this sweet supportive love 💜

Not my usual five star read, and maybe it was timing but who cares. I loved this book, and Kiem and Jainan and Bel et al. 

Been waiting to read this one for far too long 💜

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting

Minor: Physical abuse

Includes flashbacks to an emotionally abusive relationship, and regular internal thoughts by the victim of that relationship regarding their self worth.

fool_ofabook's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

This book portrays a realistic perspective of coming out of an abusive relationship and finding freedom and healing. It moved me very deeply. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Domestic abuse