Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

64 reviews

fanboyriot's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-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? No

4.0

🔥 Slow Burn

🤝 Mutual Pinning

💍 Arranged Marriage

This book was great for people wanting to read sci-fi but get overwhelmed by the thought of it.  Besides few names I had to look up the pronunciation of, it was fairly easy to read.  I enjoyed how well the sci-fi and romance mixed with this book, there was also a bit of mystery to the plot as well.

Kiem was honestly such a lovable idiot and worked so well with Jainan.  I would have liked a little more romance but the plot was good too.  The romance itself is a bit of a slow burn, the main plot, focusing much more on the political scheming, and an alleged murder that might just be a cover-up, and in general dealing with diplomatic relations.

I got this book from Etsy in a Blind Date with a Book from @theannexlibrary and was so happy with it!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1366979807/

Spice Level: 🌶️ (1/5)

Release Date: 28, December 2021

POV: Duel, Third Person 

Rep: LGBTQIA+ characters, Domestic Abuse (past)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racism, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Murder

dauntless's review against another edition

emotional inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

The first half was slower, not in a bad way but it didn’t really hit its full stride till the 50% mark. Will read the sequel. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Toxic relationship

myweirdnormal'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I don’t even know what a space opera is. But if this is IT??? Sign me the fuck up wow. 
I haven’t felt this way about a book since I read One Last Stop. It’s the perfect slowburn. Lovely characters. A very well down reveal, like I had a feeling Jainan was a bit unreliable as a narrator, but I didn’t realize the extent of it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Sexual assault

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, Alcohol, and War

Vehicle crash. Attack by animal. Abuse only briefly explicitly depicted in flashbacks, though the aftermath is present and discussed throughout. (Attempt at) memory modification.

rjbedell's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

A gripping, intimate, and profound romance plot line is weakened only slightly by incomplete world-building and repetitive language.  The sci-fi component drives the plot, but takes a back seat to the two emotionally embattled and haunted leading men.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Grief, and Colonisation

Minor: Medical content, Murder, and War

gbaty's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault

daffodilcherry's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

I really found myself drawn into this world and wanting more! I was obsessed with the main characters and connected with them easily: I just wanted the best for them. I loved the overall plot but also the romantic subplot and overall diplomatic/court intrigue. It was hard to put this book down and not find every opportunity to just read it all at once.
Wheelhouse items: slowburn romance, mlm relationship, worldbuilding, galactic empires, arranged marriages (that develop into real love), emotional healing, murder mystery, space diplomacy, court intrigue, complimentary characters.
A note about the content warnings:

one of the main characters' previous relationship was physically, emotionally and sexually abusive. This is alluded to in the first half of the book and then made explicit in the second half through a few flashbacks. The sexual abuse is more in the vein of him not being into his ex-partner but pushing himself anyway. There is also a sci-fi bit where the bad guys attempt to effectively brainwash-gaslight him via memories (but they are unsuccessful). But the point of the overall story is about this character healing from their abuse and finding friendship and love that they deserve.

There is a scene where the characters fight against a bear.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Torture

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, and Gaslighting

Minor: Murder

netflixismyroommate's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful mysterious tense 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Torture, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Xenophobia

Minor: Death of parent and War

shelvesofivy's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Alcohol

Minor: Medical content and Colonisation

induced hallucinations

tinyjude's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

Setting, characters, world-building and the intrinsics between them were very interesting and well-developed. Despite what it may look like, it was easy to follow and engaging. I think it was well paced both in terms of political intrigue and personal relationships among the characters. I also appreciated Kiem and Jainan's relationship so much as they were mature, understanding and brilliant together. Also props for the representation of domestic abuse, gaslighting and trauma.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Car accident, Murder, and Gaslighting