Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell

94 reviews

exhumedprince's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, and Sexual content

Minor: Death, Alcohol, Blood, and Medical content

bookdragon_sansan's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders

minervacerridwen's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful relaxing 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

I love how beautifully all facets of this story come together. It's an adventure: we get to visit different places in this world, which makes it feel vast and real. There's the characters, whom I loved so, so much. My favourite part is how Kiem's "superhero power" is the talent of talking to everyone in every situation - like Jainan, I can only admire that skill and love how cleverly Kiem's "big flaw" plays out. It takes a little longer before we get to know Jainan's strengths, but they, too, really matter to the high-stakes plot. Everything about this story is queer, with queerness casually fused into all of society. Winter's Orbit interweaves romance with political science fiction and a murder mystery, and does it brilliantly while still remaining easy to read and relaxing (even if it does touch on very heavy themes, and a past abusive relationship defines every event in this story, so be aware of that when you pick it up!). The story was rounded off in a satisfying way, and yet I definitely want to spend more time in this universe.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Gaslighting, and Colonisation

dl_gowan's review against another edition

emotional mysterious relaxing 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Gaslighting

indigoflorges's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Not a fan of the miscommunication trope but glad to see that there is nuance and reason for it. Excellent story 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse

Minor: Murder

daffodilcherry's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexual assault

Minor: Murder

ronyaa's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

boutofbibliophilia's review against another edition

adventurous 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 and Gaslighting

shelvesofivy's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual assault, Torture, Kidnapping, Rape, and Violence

Minor: Medical content and Colonisation

induced hallucinations

zed_dog's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

Betrothed space princes investigate a mystery, do a heist, avert political disaster, confront privilege and trauma, and fall in love. Incorporates all the tropes, but manages to add real depth to the characters: the result is simultaneously fun, sweet and affecting.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting and Domestic abuse