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A review by jeyjeyyy
Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I don’t really know what I think about this book. I really liked the beginning and thought it would end up something I loved, but then in the middle it kind of fell flat for me.
I liked the science fiction elements and the plot was definitely interesting, even though it felt a bit confusing at times (but that’s probably because I’m not a big science-fiction writer).
I was a very much disappointed with the romance in this;, it wasn’t awful by any means, but it just didn’t really make me feel anything. There was zero to no tension between the characters, and instead of a slow burn, the book kind of felt like a switch had turned on at some point and all of a sudden they loved each other with barely any evolution. So not the biggest fan of that.
I will say the characters were very endearing and I did like them a lot, and the ending definitely picked it up. The middle part was definitely what I found lacking in he story. I was also a bit mad that Jainan’s previous relationship, which obviously had a huge impact on him, did not really have an impact on his relationship with Kiem in the end. The ending to that sort of character arc he had just felt a bit too neat and proper to actually feel realistic. I would’ve liked more angst between the characters I guess and also a bit more in depth look at the impacts of the Empire in this world. I thought for a while that this would have more commentary on the issues of Empire and colonisation, which would’ve been really interesting, but again it was just perhaps a bit too lighthearted.
This was a fun and entertaining read and I liked it, I just feel like a couple of changes and it could’ve been great.
I liked the science fiction elements and the plot was definitely interesting, even though it felt a bit confusing at times (but that’s probably because I’m not a big science-fiction writer).
I was a very much disappointed with the romance in this;, it wasn’t awful by any means, but it just didn’t really make me feel anything. There was zero to no tension between the characters, and instead of a slow burn, the book kind of felt like a switch had turned on at some point and all of a sudden they loved each other with barely any evolution. So not the biggest fan of that.
I will say the characters were very endearing and I did like them a lot, and the ending definitely picked it up. The middle part was definitely what I found lacking in he story. I was also a bit mad that Jainan’s previous relationship, which obviously had a huge impact on him, did not really have an impact on his relationship with Kiem in the end. The ending to that sort of character arc he had just felt a bit too neat and proper to actually feel realistic. I would’ve liked more angst between the characters I guess and also a bit more in depth look at the impacts of the Empire in this world. I thought for a while that this would have more commentary on the issues of Empire and colonisation, which would’ve been really interesting, but again it was just perhaps a bit too lighthearted.
This was a fun and entertaining read and I liked it, I just feel like a couple of changes and it could’ve been great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting