Reviews tagging 'War'

Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell

42 reviews

spaghettii's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

Space gays ftw

why was the only sex scene in the epilogue smh

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Gun violence, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Suicide, Death, Drug use, Medical trauma, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, and War

starlitpage's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Death, War, Mental illness, Violence, Alcohol, Body horror, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Death of parent

themelodyofspring's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Confinement, War, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

blewballoon's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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 didn't know how this book would compare to Winter's Orbit. What got me most interested in that book was the arranged marriage plot, and then I found myself more and more invested in the political intrigue and found family aspects. Here we have the concept of a forced mental link rather than a forced marriage, which plays out a bit differently. Also like in Winter's Orbit, we have a character who is more rambunctious paired with a character who is more steadfast, and yet they also feel different. I think either story could be read as a standalone, but perhaps the world building might feel more steep if you jumped in at this book. The author has stated that there is no overlap in characters or locations, and that's an accurate statement from my recollection of the first book. 

I love Everina Maxwell's writing. It is focused and conveys the plot and characters clearly, while also leaving room for some beautiful flourishes that immerse you further into the story rather than taking you out of it. I loved getting to know these new characters and watching them get to know each other. There were some bits towards the end that I think were meant to be big reveals, but I had sort of assumed those things already and I wasn't as shocked as the characters were, although their shock did make sense in context. Even though I saw things coming, there is still a nice web of political drama to flow along with the slow burn romance. Slow burn romances are my favorite and I appreciate that the author worked with the pacing of the story to pace the romance so you can see it growing and developing at each stage, and it never diverts the main plot or feels forced.

I listened on audiobook (at 1.4 speed) and I think the narrator was great.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Violence, and War

Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Torture, and Sexual content

cleot's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: War, Medical trauma, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Drug abuse

acorn192k'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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Kidnapping and War

Minor: Suicide attempt

relin's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I found myself highlighting different lines because they hit so hard emotionally. Facisniating to see a world that is altered in this way and how it impacts the main characters (Tennal and Serit) think and understand the world. The picture it paints is beautiful in the middle of a ton of intergalactic politics of people trying their best. Also has an amazing structure of gender. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Grief, War, Addiction, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Medical trauma, Sexual content, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Minor: Gun violence

There are power dynamics built into the ways that 'magic' (scifi magic anyway) is seen in their world. This includes ideas about people being able to overwrite commands on other people.

avacadosocks's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, War, and Drug use

Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, and Death

Minor: Sexual content and Torture

nillech's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-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

4.25

Minds bend, collide, and shred. An enthralling galactic whirlwind stabilized between a polarizing duo with strikingly aligned morality despite their division by duty and noncompliance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, and War

Moderate: Violence and Death

Minor: Sexual content

athenian_frog's review against another edition

adventurous funny 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

4.25

Would have liked the hear a bit more about the supporting cast, they were pretty interesting and had fun interactions with the two leads.

Would have ALSO liked to see a bit more of the relationship the lead characters had with their guardians/family.

The political intrigue was at times hard to follow, but it got a bit more engaging around the halfway point. The religion was left a bit under explained. Much of my enjoyment came from seeing the leads work together, along with their crew, to make the best out of the military screwing them over. 

Romance is slow burn but it works for the story, and the lead characters work well together! Overall a fun read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content, Emotional abuse, Murder, and War

Minor: Sexual content

The world includes people who can mind control (“Architects”) and people who can read minds (“Readers”). Reading someone being compelled into saying or doing something may be emotionally distressing. A main character is given suppressive drugs while under medical care without their consent or knowledge. This makes it easier to mind control them. This may be distressing to those with anxieties surrounding medical treatment. Sexual content is sparse, nondescript, and consensual. Mainly just kissing described passionately.