A review by silentcat7135
Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

adventurous 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? Yes

4.0

Enjoyable novel that is about 85% political sci-fi and adventure, 15% romance. For those who hate this trope in a romance, there is a lot of miscommunication between the two leads, but there is at least a believable reason for the miscommunication in that it is an arranged marriage for diplomatic reasons between two men who do not know each other well enough initially to read the other's intentions. Plus, one of the main character's behaviour is affected by past trauma, which is not initially known to his partner. The first half of the book may be a little slow, but it definitely picks up as it goes on. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture and Gaslighting

Minor: Domestic abuse

One main character is dealing with the aftereffects of domestic violence and gaslighting in his past marriage. He is later tortured with a device intended to alter his memories. Some of those memories involve descriptions of his past mental and physical abuse.