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werewolvesnotswearwolves's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse
blewballoon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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
One of the books responsible for getting me back into reading after being in a reading slump for about 10 years. I don't normally even like a sci-fi space setting, but I found the world building easy enough to slip into and understand, I liked the political intrigue, I enjoyed our main characters and several of the side characters, and I really enjoyed the arranged marriage romance. I thought the writing quality was excellent, which felt like icing on the cake since the characters and plot were captivating enough for me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
michellewalsh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Colonisation
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Torture, and Alcohol
Such an incredible read. The tagged triggering content is handled gracefully and not particularly graphic.a_libra_library'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? It's complicated
4.0
If you want a sci-fi mystery this one is perfect. A political arranged marriage, who did-it, casual queerness and a intergalactic world.
It was rough to read through Jainan and his character arc, recovering from an abusive relationship and being used and forced into a new one. Kiem however is the best cinnamon roll, awkward and open to understanding character though all of this. This spoiler is related to later chapters and Jainan's past abuse.
There is a point where the story takes a dark turn and you see Jainan's past abusive from his late husband during a sexual scene, public humiliations, silent punishments and gaslighting.
It was rough to read through Jainan and his character arc, recovering from an abusive relationship and being used and forced into a new one. Kiem however is the best cinnamon roll, awkward and open to understanding character though all of this. This spoiler is related to later chapters and Jainan's past abuse.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Colonisation, and Classism
kp_writ's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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
4.25
Winter's Orbit was gearing up to be a 5 star read until the 3/4 mark, but then what was clearly intended as the tense climax where all the plot threads and intrigue came together kinda fell apart for me. The last quarter of this hefty novel was a bit of a drag (that's roughly 120 pages of slogging through) and I think that's because up to this point there was too much intrigue and world building for me to keep up with, and I was skating along with the enjoyment of watching the romance develop. Ended up a 4.25 because I have a feeling a reread would provide a much more satisfying experience, but I really can't get past how difficult it was for me to get through that last quarter.
Overall the story was interesting (if complicated), and the author does a decent job introducing the world through a protag who clearly hasn't paid enough to politics as he should've been (read a bit like the first play through of an RPG when a character born and raised in the universe definitely shouldn't be gathering codex entries to understand the world around them). There is interesting world building around presenting gender, but even though the same point on accessory choices is hammered into the first hundred or so pages, not much was truly done with it. Still nice to have nonbinary characters, though.
One bit of politics I did want to point out was that this book does fall under the trope of "white sci fi doesn't wish to dismantle [dangerous] institutions but reform them," especially with the ending around the Internal Security and its leadership (cops, it's just space cops) and the ending around political structures like the Empire. Not something I'd necessarily mark against the book, but definitely something to consider in analysis.
Overall the story was interesting (if complicated), and the author does a decent job introducing the world through a protag who clearly hasn't paid enough to politics as he should've been (read a bit like the first play through of an RPG when a character born and raised in the universe definitely shouldn't be gathering codex entries to understand the world around them). There is interesting world building around presenting gender, but even though the same point on accessory choices is hammered into the first hundred or so pages, not much was truly done with it. Still nice to have nonbinary characters, though.
One bit of politics I did want to point out was that this book does fall under the trope of "white sci fi doesn't wish to dismantle [dangerous] institutions but reform them," especially with the ending around the Internal Security and its leadership (cops, it's just space cops) and the ending around political structures like the Empire. Not something I'd necessarily mark against the book, but definitely something to consider in analysis.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual content, Xenophobia, Grief, and Colonisation
irlchaosdemon'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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Death of parent
bi_n_large's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
achillea's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
Edit: I've sat on this book long enough to finally be able to put into words that I did not like this book (I read the excerpt before the book came out and liked that well enough, so go figure, I don't know what happened with the rest of the book) and I was desperately trying to come up with excuses for it not being bad because I didn't want to admit to myself that I was disappointed by one of my more anticipated new releases for 2021. It is not particularly bad, it has an audience that will and does enjoy it immensiley, I am just not among them and that's fine. For me this definitely ended up being an overhyped book. I really have to give one up for the marketing team with this one, because oh boy did the manage to sell it! (Part of me is still convinced that I didn't like it because I went in with certain expectations, but even generally, this just really wasn't ... my cup of tea. Fun, but in a once-in-a-lifetime-slash-I'm-not-going-to-repeat-this way)
Original thoughts below:
________________________________________________
*gesturing vaguely* what am I supposed to do with you? Gods I have no clue how to rate this book or how to feel about it. I don't write reviews, I don't like writing reviews, so this is as close to one as I will ever get because I have Thoughts and I need to write them down somewhere.
Okay. I am bitter. This is one of those unfortunate books where it's the marketing's fault that I ended up not liking a book as much as I could have. Every time I see a book marketed by being compared to some other book that I have read, I tell myself to ignore it, and then I don't, and have some kind of expectations and none of the books ever live up to those expectations. This book was very hyped - I ended up very excited for it - but that doesn't bother me that much, because I'm used to hyped books not living up to my expectations. That's fine! Everyone reads books differently, we all have different tastes. This is about this book being compared to Ancillary justice eeeverywhere I've seen it mentioned.
I can see why it was compared to RWRB, and I think that these two books can have an overlapping fanbase, which is great, and I do hope it will reach more readers because of that, and I love it when fans of contemp lit enjoy sci-fi and vice versa.
I can also see why it was compared to Ancillary justice, I can, but - obviously, obviously everyone reads books differently, but this left me thinking that Imperial Radch was something very different to me than it was to some other readers. But whatever it meant to me (and it was a whole lot), I don't think it's fair to either of these to books to compare them. They're - too different. Can fans of one enjoy the other? Absolutely. And I'm left bitter because I think I would definitely have enjoyed this book a lot more if I didn't have my own certain Imperial Radch related expectations of it. And it feels unfair to try and rate or review this book in any way because I can't detach myself from that.
Other than that, I really don't know. Some things I liked:
- they are both so incredibly stupid (fondly)
- very minor detail but the fact that one side character's name means horseraddish in my language just really rounded up that character
-character: *falls down a cliff, points thumbs up out of pile of snow* i'm ok!!! 10/10
- this was genuinely a fun read, and it didn't require a lot of brainpower and it ended up being a nice read. Despite everything I've said and will say, it was definitely engaging enough that I finished reading
Something I'm neutral about: somehow this read as a fanfic which is a con for me, since I don't particularly like fanfiction (for my own reasons; I am well aware that there is a huge amount of great fanfiction out there and I've read fics that were way better than some published works I've read) and it's a pro for everyone who does enjoy fanfics and has a difficulty reading books that don't have that Vibe. (I realise this is very specific and that anyone reading this probably doesn't know what I mean)
Some things that I disliked:
- it felt rushed, especially toward the end and the end itself. Things got resolved, and not in a bad way, but it feels like there was something lacking
- as much as it's fun to read two characters being oblivious about how much they like the other, I didn't see the chemistry. They absolutely do like each other, that much was clear, but - I felt like the way it was written, the book was trying more to convince me of that rather than just, I don't know, letting the chemistry and their dynamic unfold itself.(I do think that they're a good duo, they have a lot of chaotic vibes as a couple which is just 10/10 *chef's kiss*, but, again - it came out of nowhere and while it makes sense, I miss reading all the build up towards that dynamic as they finally establish themselves as a couple.)
- it also felt like it couldn't decide if it wants to be a romance or a sci-fi novel with complicated intergalactic politics and, I don't know, maybe this really just wasn't a book for me, but I feel like there wasn't a balance between these two.
One thing that I hated:This is minor, and I haven't read any other reviews to see if anyone else had the same interpretation, but. This book works hard to point out on several ocassion how gender works in this world and how people mark it, both on Iskat and on Thea. We are continuosly reminded about how the material of accessories on Iskat let's you know about someone's gender. Both POV characters mention it. So the very brief misgendering of Gairad left an incredibly bitter taste in my mouth. There's such a focus in this book put on how you'd look for whether someone is wearing flint or wood etc. - and it was never mentioned, if I recall correctly, whether Gairad was wearing any or none - why did they suddenly assume her gender based on how she looked? I might have misread this, or misinterpreted, but it seemed like that's what happened. It felt - wrong. Is this character trans? I don't know. But if she is, there are better ways to show it than working hard on a worldbuilding, including nonbinary identities, creating and reminding us of a specific system used for gender, and then just ... throwing it out the window like that. It happened once, it was brief, I doubt many people will even notice it, but it just rubbed me the wrong way. (I also feel like I should state, for any potential reader of this comment, that I am speaking as a trans person)
This is definitely the longest ... review ... I've ever written, and it probably sounds way more negative than I actually feel about this book. I'll need to steep my thoughts for a few more days.
All in all. Is this a good book? Sure. Is it worth a read? Yeah, why not. Can we agree that I would have a completely different opinion about it if the blurb didn't compare it to Ancillary justice? Absolutely 100 %.
Original thoughts below:
________________________________________________
*gesturing vaguely* what am I supposed to do with you? Gods I have no clue how to rate this book or how to feel about it. I don't write reviews, I don't like writing reviews, so this is as close to one as I will ever get because I have Thoughts and I need to write them down somewhere.
Okay. I am bitter. This is one of those unfortunate books where it's the marketing's fault that I ended up not liking a book as much as I could have. Every time I see a book marketed by being compared to some other book that I have read, I tell myself to ignore it, and then I don't, and have some kind of expectations and none of the books ever live up to those expectations. This book was very hyped - I ended up very excited for it - but that doesn't bother me that much, because I'm used to hyped books not living up to my expectations. That's fine! Everyone reads books differently, we all have different tastes. This is about this book being compared to Ancillary justice eeeverywhere I've seen it mentioned.
I can see why it was compared to RWRB, and I think that these two books can have an overlapping fanbase, which is great, and I do hope it will reach more readers because of that, and I love it when fans of contemp lit enjoy sci-fi and vice versa.
I can also see why it was compared to Ancillary justice, I can, but - obviously, obviously everyone reads books differently, but this left me thinking that Imperial Radch was something very different to me than it was to some other readers. But whatever it meant to me (and it was a whole lot), I don't think it's fair to either of these to books to compare them. They're - too different. Can fans of one enjoy the other? Absolutely. And I'm left bitter because I think I would definitely have enjoyed this book a lot more if I didn't have my own certain Imperial Radch related expectations of it. And it feels unfair to try and rate or review this book in any way because I can't detach myself from that.
Other than that, I really don't know. Some things I liked:
- they are both so incredibly stupid (fondly)
- very minor detail but the fact that one side character's name means horseraddish in my language just really rounded up that character
-
- this was genuinely a fun read, and it didn't require a lot of brainpower and it ended up being a nice read. Despite everything I've said and will say, it was definitely engaging enough that I finished reading
Something I'm neutral about: somehow this read as a fanfic which is a con for me, since I don't particularly like fanfiction (for my own reasons; I am well aware that there is a huge amount of great fanfiction out there and I've read fics that were way better than some published works I've read) and it's a pro for everyone who does enjoy fanfics and has a difficulty reading books that don't have that Vibe. (I realise this is very specific and that anyone reading this probably doesn't know what I mean)
Some things that I disliked:
- it felt rushed, especially toward the end and the end itself. Things got resolved, and not in a bad way, but it feels like there was something lacking
- as much as it's fun to read two characters being oblivious about how much they like the other, I didn't see the chemistry. They absolutely do like each other, that much was clear, but - I felt like the way it was written, the book was trying more to convince me of that rather than just, I don't know, letting the chemistry and their dynamic unfold itself.
- it also felt like it couldn't decide if it wants to be a romance or a sci-fi novel with complicated intergalactic politics and, I don't know, maybe this really just wasn't a book for me, but I feel like there wasn't a balance between these two.
One thing that I hated:
This is definitely the longest ... review ... I've ever written, and it probably sounds way more negative than I actually feel about this book. I'll need to steep my thoughts for a few more days.
All in all. Is this a good book? Sure. Is it worth a read? Yeah, why not. Can we agree that I would have a completely different opinion about it if the blurb didn't compare it to Ancillary justice? Absolutely 100 %.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, and Torture
water_violin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Whew. Check the trigger warnings for this one, folks, but it was really engaging! I was very drawn into the characters and the political intrigue and the mystery of the whole story, but I also appreciated the little things like the banter between the characters and the fascinating ideas about gender and political titles. I would definitely recommend this book, but again... check the warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, and Car accident
Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, and Kidnapping
dragontomes2000's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-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
3.0
3.5
Winter's Orbit is going to be a tricky one for me to review. While I enjoyed my reading experience, I am still left feeling a little unsatisfied in the end. For being a debut, I will say that Winter's Orbit is very promising and I see great potential in Everina Maxwell. I found myself completely immersed in the story and plot, but felt a need for more from the world.
Winter's Orbit takes place in a galaxy that is not our own. It is ruled by an Emperor and she reigns over it all. The most compelling part of the world is that sexuality is very fluid. Actually everything is pretty fluid from sexuality, to royal titles, etc. I enjoyed that very much, while also wanting to dive more into the history of this world. That is where this book falls flat for me. While the plot is very politically and character driven, the political aspect kind of gets bogged down because you never get the sense that you totally understand how the world works. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of promise and potential in the world and I do believe if we were given more time in the sandbox then this could have been a stellar debut.
Now the characters are what sold this story for me. Kiem and Jainan are two very compelling characters who couldn't be more opposites. It is for that same reason though that their dynamic works. This book does start off with the two of them being forced into an arranged marriage. The journey these two go on though is just everything I could have wanted. At the heart it is about these two learning and growing. I would say it is a slow burn romance, kind of, sort of, but it does lean instalove also. I should also mention that this is a M/M romance.
All in all, I think Everina Maxwell's debut is very well done, however I did see room for potential. I will still recommend this book though because it is just an easy, light-hearted read.
Winter's Orbit is going to be a tricky one for me to review. While I enjoyed my reading experience, I am still left feeling a little unsatisfied in the end. For being a debut, I will say that Winter's Orbit is very promising and I see great potential in Everina Maxwell. I found myself completely immersed in the story and plot, but felt a need for more from the world.
Winter's Orbit takes place in a galaxy that is not our own. It is ruled by an Emperor and she reigns over it all. The most compelling part of the world is that sexuality is very fluid. Actually everything is pretty fluid from sexuality, to royal titles, etc. I enjoyed that very much, while also wanting to dive more into the history of this world. That is where this book falls flat for me. While the plot is very politically and character driven, the political aspect kind of gets bogged down because you never get the sense that you totally understand how the world works. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of promise and potential in the world and I do believe if we were given more time in the sandbox then this could have been a stellar debut.
Now the characters are what sold this story for me. Kiem and Jainan are two very compelling characters who couldn't be more opposites. It is for that same reason though that their dynamic works. This book does start off with the two of them being forced into an arranged marriage. The journey these two go on though is just everything I could have wanted. At the heart it is about these two learning and growing. I would say it is a slow burn romance, kind of, sort of, but it does lean instalove also. I should also mention that this is a M/M romance.
All in all, I think Everina Maxwell's debut is very well done, however I did see room for potential. I will still recommend this book though because it is just an easy, light-hearted read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing, Death, and Murder