A review by just_one_more_paige
Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

adventurous 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? It's complicated

5.0

 
Anything advertised as romance in space is likely to get an immediate add onto my "TBR" list. And this spectacular mix of my two favorite escapist genres was the perfect addition to my "vacay reads" packing stack. So, one binge-read experience later (because once I picked this one up, I absolutely was not able to put it back down), here we are. 
 
For years, the Iskat Empire has held power in its region of space through political alliances and treaties. But with an upcoming treaty renewal on the horizon, the time is ripe for anyone chafing under Iskat's rule to bring the unrest, with the planet Thea at the forefront. When the untimely death of Prince Taam leaves his Thean partner, Jainan, a widower (and the planet of Thea without an Iskan representative), a marriage between Jaianan and Iskan Prince Kiem (a bit of a disreputable minor noble) is rushed through in order to keep stability in the region during the tense treaty-signing process. Although they only met each other about ten minutes before their marriage, Jainan and Kiem find themselves in ever more complex situations as evidence comes to light that Taam's death may not have been an accident. Facing bureaucratic red tape, false accusations, secrets coming to the surface, conspiracies, and the potential for an interplanetary war, the two band together to represent their countries competing interests and joint safety, while also coming to terms with their own pasts, inner strengths, and ever deepening real feelings for each other. 
 
Oh my goodness did this book give me life! I'm calling it now: it's going to make my 2022 favorite books of the year list. I read a few reviews before picking it up, which was good, because it tempered (a bit) my expectations regarding the romance - I think the comparison to RWARB had people expecting a bit more heat than is actually in these pages, which could be a letdown, I totally agree. However, while not the same kind of bright burning-young love, high heat romance, it is a spectacular example of what it is: the most excruciatingly perfect, incredibly sweet, mature slow burn romance ever. OMG, my feels. Kiem and Jainan are the perfect opposites: Kiem is all outgoing and talking-too-much and messy and friends with everyone (one of my fav types of characters to read on page - so fun, so much snort laughing), while Jainan is all self-contained and detail oriented and quietly intense. But their personalities and sense of humor and strengths/weaknesses played off each other to perfection in furthering both the plot and their relationship throughout this novel. I loved the way Kiem and Jainan both got each other to realize they were more than they thought they were/could be. And their final interaction at the end...I turned the last page and literally just hugged the book. Swoon. So yea, maybe slightly misadvertised romance-wise, but it sure was everything I wanted it to be. 
 
Alright, other than Kiem and Jainan's romance, there was a lot of other stuff to love about this book too, so let me work on getting all those reactions out as well. Let's talk about the world-building. Primarily, the universal (though different culture to culture, so props for that) gender communication signals/signifiers are fantastic. Love, love, love. Past that, dang but it was detailed and complex for a standalone. In fact, I would maybe caution people who aren't used to intense sci fi/fantasy world-building when starting this, because there are a few gaps one has to fill in for themselves and some feeling lost that happens, and doesn't all get explained away, just due to the fact that there isn't enough time/space for it all. I loved it, honestly, because it made everything feel more legit, to know how much more of the world was behind it (kind of like the iceberg being so much bigger under the surface, as compared to what you can actually see). This is especially true because (and I loved this too), Kiem and Jainan are not chosen ones or “great destinies” but just two people trying to do their best for themselves and their peoples, which means their understanding and exposure to the world (which are the POVs we get it through) is limited by their own place in it. However, there is some "just go with it" that this requires from the reader, and not everyone is comfortable with that. And it means I would totally be here for a follow-up standalone - I definitely want more from this world and these characters! But yea, I loved the "we're just normal people trying to live our lives and we don't really have any power" vibe Kiem and Jainan give off (similar to The Long way to a Small, Angry Planet). It's a character type in sci-fi/fantasy that doesn't always happen and it's one of my favorites. The way they fought for themselves and each other was awesome, and did have some far-reaching consequences, but afterwards they returned to their previous lives, albeit with slightly more self-confidence, love and friendship, grudging respect from the Emperor and the bureaucracy, and slight job-based promotions. "Normal" characters FTW! 
 
Speaking of characters, this book had some great supporting ones. Bel was awesome - I am a sucker for a grey-shaded strong female character. Honestly, I kinda loved the Emperor for similar reasons; she was sarcastic and strong willed AF, with no fucks to give but a clear willingness to take advantage when a convenient option presents itself and she can do it with no political backlash to herself. And Taam...I spent the first half knowing something was super off about him, and then when we realized what it was...UGH the anger (strong CW for an abusive and unhealthy relationship). Which made Kiem's good-natured protectiveness all the sweeter. And I'm personifying General Fenrik, all his supporters, and the bureaucracy into one major "bad guy" that really stands in as a representation of individual political ambition at the expense of less powerful populations. Sadly, always a timely and applicable commentary. And finally, if you like elaborate political intrigue and international governmental drama, with just enough action scenes to keep things moving (think An Empire Called Memory and A Desolation Called Peace), then I can promise you will want to read this. There's also a very similar understated, but clear, romance in each (one that plays a central role and is deliberately paced in perfect time with the plot, but never overtakes the political aspects).   
 
Basically, this was a wholesome (with some steam, for sure) slow burn romance deeply intertwined with a sci-fi political drama of the highest order, and I couldn't stop turning the pages! 
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