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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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Violence, and War
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Torture, and Sexual content
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, War, and Drug use
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Sexual content and Torture
kal517's review against another edition
adventurous
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, War, and Drug use
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Torture
imds's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Grief, Torture, War, Violence, Murder, Death of parent, Drug use, and Medical trauma
annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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
3.5
i really enjoyed Everina Maxwell's first book, Winter's Orbit, set in the same universe but entirely separate, so i was of course very excited for their next one. Ocean's Echo went even more for plot and even less for romance than its predecessor, which was already notable for how plot-heavy it was for a book billed as a romance; unfortunately, i enjoyed the plot much less this time around. the whole Power Rangers combine-into-one but with minds ("syncing") became monotonous and laborious. the book could have been 20% shorter, but even if it were, the amount of payoff at the end still wouldn't feel sufficient. basically, not my favorite journey and a very meager reward for my efforts. i still recommend Winter's Orbit though
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and War
Moderate: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Addiction, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Drug abuse, Grief, Medical content, Torture, Body horror, Murder, Vomit, Alcohol, Confinement, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Slavery, and Terminal illness
re: ableism: people have genetically-inherited mind-reading/commanding abilities, and mind-readers are stigmatized. re: slavery: discussions of aforementioned mind-readers being conscripted into the military and basically worked to death. re: terminal illness: mcs find themselves in an untenable, rapidly worsening mental statejupiterlee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
Everina Maxwell has done it again. Sci-fi and Romance. Characters that stole my heart. Normalising flexible gender roles. Her writing is exceptional.
It can be very Sci-fi at points so sometimes I did get a little lost, but the concept of Architects and Readers, and being one I loved. But if you are expecting romance to play a bit part in this, then lower your expectations. However, the level of romance I feel is appropriate for what is going on in the book and the plot does not get lost just to make the romance more prominent. I would have liked for more romance moments between Surit and Tennel, but i'll take another novel if that's what is needed.
Again I need more of Suirt and Tennal, and I need them and Kiem and Jainan to meet and go on double dates and just live their best lives together because they all deserve it.
It can be very Sci-fi at points so sometimes I did get a little lost, but the concept of Architects and Readers, and being one I loved. But if you are expecting romance to play a bit part in this, then lower your expectations. However, the level of romance I feel is appropriate for what is going on in the book and the plot does not get lost just to make the romance more prominent. I would have liked for more romance moments between Surit and Tennel, but i'll take another novel if that's what is needed.
Again I need more of Suirt and Tennal, and I need them and Kiem and Jainan to meet and go on double dates and just live their best lives together because they all deserve it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Slavery, Addiction, Genocide, Torture, Gun violence, War, and Hate crime
smasson13's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This one surprised me.
I loved Winter's Orbit and had been desperate for more of Everina Maxwell's work. While I was wary a sophomore novel wouldn't be as good, this one was really well done!
This novel is very much science fiction and the whole story is heavily focused on the plot, not the characters. You still had glimpses of them, but I felt you didn't get the full intensity of their characters. I missed more of the angst that I wanted from Tennal, or even the shock, conflicting, and turmoil of Surit. It just wasn't enough character depth for me to give it the full 5 stars. But, if you care less about that over a good plot, then this book would be perfect!
I may have liked it more than Winter's Orbit except for one minor issue:
They kiss like twice...that is it.
I loved Winter's Orbit and had been desperate for more of Everina Maxwell's work. While I was wary a sophomore novel wouldn't be as good, this one was really well done!
This novel is very much science fiction and the whole story is heavily focused on the plot, not the characters. You still had glimpses of them, but I felt you didn't get the full intensity of their characters. I missed more of the angst that I wanted from Tennal, or even the shock, conflicting, and turmoil of Surit. It just wasn't enough character depth for me to give it the full 5 stars. But, if you care less about that over a good plot, then this book would be perfect!
I may have liked it more than Winter's Orbit except for one minor issue:
They kiss like twice...that is it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: War
Minor: Murder, Torture, Violence, and Kidnapping
ailsaod's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
I was eagerly anticipating this book for the whole year after reading Winter's Orbit and it was certainly worth the wait! There are undeniable similarities between the two books - two guys get forced together by circumstances, end up in the middle of some kind of military plot and fall in love along the way. The basic character types of the two leads is even somewhat similar. However, despite having similar overall structures I would say that this book is much more complex in both the worldbuilding and the plot. The exact tropes in this book were not so much to my taste so Winter's Orbit remains my ultimate favourite but Maxwell has convinced me that I can enjoy a story heavily featuring weird telepathic bonds and a main character that in real life would be my worst nightmare!
I look forward to seeing what Maxwell writes next!
I look forward to seeing what Maxwell writes next!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Confinement, Grief, and War
Minor: Drug use, Addiction, Death of parent, and Torture
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