Hay libros de ciencia ficción que tienen cierto componente de romance y hay libros centrados en el romance que tienen cierto componente de ciencia ficción. Winter’s Orbit es uno de los de la segunda categoría, aprovechando un pequeño imperio con distintos planetas y la necesidad de diplomacia entre ellos para contarnos una historia de amor. La historia podría ser fácilmente transportable a otro entorno salvo ligeros detalles, pero no por ello perdería su fuerza.


Estando sobre aviso de esta característica, lo cierto es que Winter’s Orbit es un libro maravillosamente disfrutable, con unos personajes de esos que te dan ganas de achuchar. La muerte de Taan, marido de Jainan (representante diplomático de Thea), hace que su viudo tenga que casarse aprisa y corriendo con otro príncipe del imperio para mantener el tratado de paz. El elegido para esta tarea es Kiem, que no tiene lo que se puede decir un historial intachable. Sobre este matrimonio girará todo el libro, ya que los personajes estarán condenados a entenderse a pesar de los muchos impedimentos iniciales.

La relación entre ambos está tratada con gusto exquisito, desde los titubeantes comienzos hasta el desarrollo pleno, pasando por esos momentos tan de comedia romántica que dan ganas de coger a los protagonistas y obligarles a hablar a las claras para que al fin se digan la verdad. No podían faltar las confusiones, las malas interpretaciones y los arrepentimientos que constituyen la salsa de este tipo de historias.

Pero, a pesar de ser bastante típica, no deja de tener detalles interesantes. Me gusta mucho por ejemplo cómo para evitar errores existen distintos tipos de adornos que permiten definir el género de cada persona, sea masculino, femenino o no binario. El hecho de que la relación homosexual no de siquiera lugar a comentario también es importante en cuanto a la normalización de estos matrimonios. El papel de la mujer en el imperio es igual al del hombre, otro triunfo si me permitís que lo llame así.

Un tema muy pero que muy importante en el desarrollo de la historia y que quizá se debería advertir antes de leer el libro es la presencia de violencia y maltrato dentro de alguna de las relaciones mencionadas. Me parece que está tratado con gran sensibilidad, pero no por ello deja de hablarse sobre el estado mental de la víctima, que no cesa de justificar el maltrato por pensar que es culpa suya. Sin ser experta en el tema, creo que es una representación fidedigna del sentimiento que genera en algunas víctimas el maltrato de pareja.

Como digo, la parte de ciencia ficción es ambiental en su mayoría, aunque también aparece una sección en la que se utiliza una tecnología avanzada para acceder a las memorias de los implicados, pero nada más.

Un libro con el que he disfrutado y que me gustaría recomendar, sabiendo de qué se trata, claro.

Things are changing in sf writing, and (to paraphrase Doctor Who) some would say that it’s about time. Many of you reading this will know that the last few years have seen a greater prominence of stories that gender-flip or deal with gender-fluid characters in sf-nal situations, which have been greeted either with a collective sigh or just a feeling that the genre is growing up and dealing with issues that have tended to be underrepresented or just ignored in the past.

Watching from the sidelines (as I usually do), I am aware that these things often happen in cycles, become noticeable for a while and then either blend into the mainstream or disappear. Some may see this current trend as ‘a phase’, whilst others will welcome it. Personally, I think that such issues of race and sexuality have been part of the sf field since the New Wave of the 1960s with authors such as Samuel Delany, Octavia Butler and Ursula K le Guin, and whilst undeniably less noticeable in recent years, for lots of reasons for a long while, the new writers of today have been aware of their under-representation and grasped the issues with both hands.

Winter’s Orbit is one of those books of the new generation. It takes fairly traditional sf tropes but uses them in a way that will be greeted with pleasure by those who have accepted the new.

It is basically a planetary romance, in more than one sense of the word, for it not only shows the development of a new relationship but also shows us the landscape and culture of the planet of Iskat. It nails its colours firmly to the mast of this new ship. At the beginning of the book Prince Kiem, Prince Royal of Iskat, and Count Jainan of Feria are to be married, and indeed are expected to be so as part of a planetary alliance that is political as well as cultural. Even whilst Jainan is grieving for his previous male partner, Prince Taam, he is expected to do the right thing and remarry in about one month after Taam’s death.

What we also have here is a political drama set against these characters. The Iskat Empire and Thea are due to renew their alliance by the signing of a treaty on Unification Day in just over a month’s time. Kiem, and Count Jainan are the designated representatives of the two factions and their marriage is meant to reflect the successful signing of the treaties. Continued trade with the other Galaxies is dependent upon this agreement and so this is overseen by the mysterious Adjudicator who has the final say-so on behalf of the Resolution, who run the rest of the Galaxies and whose role is to decide whether the treaty has been successfully renewed or not.

It is a strangely harsh environment. Thea is clearly a subjugated planet dependent on the Iskat Empire for its continued well-being, something which both planets clearly know. Jainan is forced to remarry on behalf of the planet Thea even though it is only a month since Taam’s death.  Much of the early part of the book is about how the two main characters deal with that, having to start a new yet forced relationship, whilst Jainan is clearly still in mourning. Despite Kiem’s reputation as a flighty and rather disreputable playboy, he is quite keen to make the relationship work at a personal level as well as a practical one.  In contrast Jainan is traumatised, and clearly reticent about the situation, afraid to do anything wrong and both upset his new partner and halt the political process. The reasons for this become clearer through the novel.

As if this didn’t give it away, the book’s strongest point is that it is, for all of its political trappings, a character-based Space Opera. We see how the characters, put in a difficult situation, learn to live with the state of affairs, learn and even love. By the end you may care about them and what happens to them.

And I guess that leads to the “elephant in the room” for some readers, in that the relationship is a homosexual one. Does it matter? Not really. One of the refreshing aspects of the story is actually about how much it actually doesn’t matter that they are the same sex. No big deal is made of the situation, and although there are sex scenes, they are not gratuitous – as it should be in any novel in my opinion.

The book very much reminds me of Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan series, with the same level of respect and character development. It is no big surprise that Everina points out in her Acknowledgements that she is a fan of Bujold’s work.

On the negative side, it is not perfect. There’s some too-convenient conveniences along the way and one too many jeopardy plot devices being juggled for me near the end. The reticence of both characters to communicate with each other may be a little over-done at the start. But overall this was a gripping read of how lovers can overcome challenges together, written with heart and a lot of affection. I think it will do very well and I am sure that there will be more books after this one – the ending is deliberately open for them.

In short, Winter’s Orbit is a definite crowd-pleaser that breaks the traditional genre stereotypes and shows those (who didn’t know already) how the genre is changing. We've come a long way from a time when, as Douglas Adams described, "Men were men, women were women and furry creatures from Alpha Centauri were furry creatures from Alpha Centauri". Here you can revel in how much things have changed.

I don't think I really got what I was expecting with this book but I enjoyed reading it a lot. It was a fun book with really great characters, I was expecting more romance but it has a good amount. The plot was good but nothing fantastic, it was quite predictable but it was really well written.

I really enjoyed both of the main characters and for me they really made the book! Jainan and Kiem are really sweet together. I did really like their relationship, it took a while for it to really get going and communication would have really helped. But they are both aware that they were forced to marry each other and this really does have an impact. There is enough awkwardness in a new relationship that you choose to be in. Kiem was also thinking a lot about Jainans feelings and how he must be grieving. They do waste a lot of time trying to tiptoe around each other feelings. Kiem was definitely my favourite character, he has the personality of a puppy, he is very social and charming and just genuinely a nice person. Jainan is kind of the opposite of him, he is very reserved and private. He is also very smart and loves doing the academic work. They both complement each other very well!

I did enjoy the plot of this book but it was very predictable and easy to figure out where it was going. I think more world building would have also been beneficial, we didn't really learn much about all the other planets and their people. I would also have liked more politics but I understand that both Jainan and Kiem were thrown into a situation that they knew nothing about.

Gender was expressed in an interesting way, you displayed your gender by wearing beads and the material they were made out of communicates your gender. This was interesting and allows people to express their gender identity in a subtle way!

Overall this was a very enjoyable book, I think it would be a good choice for those wishing to branch out into sci-fi but not knowing where to start. It is not a heavy sci-fi and the politics are not that intricate. I'm really interested to see what the author does next!

*Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!*

Okay, how do I write this review without just screaming, “READ THIS BOOK”...

So, the story of a GAY arranged marriage in space. Amazing, showstopping, everything you’ve ever needed.

The beauty of this book is in the characters. I would fully die for Kiem and Jainan. If I was on fire, and had a glass of water, I’d offer it to them before using it to save my life.

Kiem is a cinnamon roll. He is someone who has lived his wild days, and isn’t sure where he’s going next. He is clever (but doesn’t think so), caring, generous, kind, polite, warm and charming. He gets along with everyone and only wants the best for the people he meets. Although the grandson of the Emperor, he is in his bubble of the things he cares about - schools, outreach programmes and doing good for the communities he is surrounded by. He is lost without knowing it, a quality I more than related to.

Jainan. My beautiful, anxious Jainan. The character development of this man throughout the book brought tears to my eyes. He is consumed with duty, doing what is expected of him, and always puts himself last. Being inside his brain is exhausting, as anyone with anxiety and trauma can relate to. He cares so deeply about being the man he thinks he’s supposed to be that he doesn’t consider who he actually wants to be. He doesn’t trust himself, and always thinks the worst of himself. Reading his inner monologues broke my heart, because I have had those exact thoughts myself.

In terms of side characters, there are some absolute sweethearts (Bel) and some characters you just love to hate. They all are so fleshed out, bringing themes of family, finding yourself, trauma and more.

Now, moving on to other aspects of the book...

The world building in this book was immaculate. The empire as it relates to Kiem and Jainan refers mostly to their home states, and the culture differences are so interesting to read about. I would love a short story collection, following characters from every country to see what their lives are like. Some of my favourite cultural signifiers were the way people indicate their gender; some wear certain materials in their hair or as jewellery to indicate what their gender is, and the characters note that they check these indicators before using any particular pronouns. non-binary people are accepted without hesitation, queerness and polyamory are second nature and there wasn’t a single instance of homophobia etc.

The main storyline, that being Jainan’s husband was killed in an accident, and he is considered a suspect, took twists and turns I truly couldn’t see coming. The technology in this world was so otherworldly (funnily enough) that it meant there were so many avenues the plot could go down. I had so many theories, and every single one was wrong, but in my reread, I can’t wait to pick up on all the hints that were left.

I had no idea I needed this story as much I did, and I desperately need to reread it. I’ve ordered a physical copy already, and I can’t wait to push it into the hands of everyone I know. If you take any of my book recommendations, let it be this one.

*Thank you again to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!*

4 stars

I really enjoyed the book and the character developments. Kiem and Jainan, at first, completely awkward with each other, with a huge miscommunication deal between them. However, they grew past it into more developed and mature characters. It might have been just me, but I only figured out who was really behind most things, just before it was revealed in the book. Some events portrayed in the book, that hadn't completely happened in the present, broke my heart as no one deserved the way Jainan was by his so called husband, Taam.

However, on the other hand, there were some downsides. The first one was the amount of important characters in the book. There were so many names to remember that sometimes, I got confused as to what character this was and their relevance in the situation. There were the primary main characters whose names I remembered but I got some secondary characters' names mixed up.
Furthermore, the ending. After the whole climax was finished and everything was done and dusted, the last part took a little too long. Or it was at least for me. I felt like it was a little dragged out in order to point how every.single.point was resolved.

In conclusion, I quite liked the book and for once, I wasn't unsatisfied with the ending, as often I am with standalones.

Now, I don’t know how many of you read fanfiction or how many of you wish for all the tropes you love to feature in one book that is just as great to read as you might hope for. Such a book came to life and was given to me, and I couldn’t be happier. Gosh, this book is so good and gives me all the tropes that I love and wrap them with a good solid story to back it up. The characters are so lovable and it’s just a great book, okay?

I think I needed something like this to come my way and it made me fall in love with the characters and the world (although the corruption I could live without). Someone who reviewed the book on Goodreads said that this book could cater to the audience of MDZS/ The Untamed and I read that review just as I was in the middle of the book. It makes sense. There’s bubbly, chatterbox/silent and strong dynamics that works so well here. Of course, there’s more to the story than that but that’s like one of my all time favourite tropes, if done well. A sunny one is with the grumpy one. Ah. The best of times could be had.

It is not hardcore science fiction, it’s a love story set in space with interplanetary/galactic politics and intrigue sprinkled in, as a treat. I think the author had a very clear idea as to what she wanted from this story and she set out to write it. It worked incredibly well because we can see some glimpses of the world and how the solar system works and how there are tensions between the planets and how the auditor of the galactic committee could make or break the situation. In the midst of this audit, there comes Kiem and Jainan’s marriage. It is set up to be the ‘all is well’ front of the planets in front of the audits. Jainan being recently widowed does not come under consideration when being married off to Prince Kiem because Jainan is a diplomat first and a normal human first.

I am sure you have seen this trope before and so have I. Marriage of convenience and political tensions, repressed and frustrated people on one side of the solar system and the other side flourishing and trying to show how much in control everything is. Every chapter brought us to the growth in their marriage along with news of how messed up things might be. There’s a deadline of sorts to commemorate the unity of the planets and Kiem and Jainan have to play a huge part in it, so of course, they get tangled in web of lies and conspiracies. I loved the progression of Kiem and Jainan’s relationship because both of them were fairly useless as far as understanding each other was concerned, each wrapped up in their own worry of offending the other and being uncertain as to how to behave around each other. I loved how each of them slowly came to understand that there’s more than just being a spouse, that they need to put in the effort and truly get to know each other. It was fun to read and the tropes just fell in like they were hailstones, they worked beautifully though! So, don’t be worried about that.

This is probably a space opera, I can’t be sure. I can never be sure on what is and isn’t a space opera to be perfectly honest but it progresses like a soap opera and it’s in space! So, space opera? Yes? Yes. I think while it’s all a great adventure, there’s a need for content warning. There’s mention of domestic abuse on page about a previous relationship, it’s nothing explicit but it is enough to make anyone uncomfortable.

Overall, I loved this book and part of the reason could be that I read it at the right time. I needed something like this in between the fantasy trilogies I have been trying to finish for a while. So, that’s great. If you like romance set in space where it’s more about the characters and their relationships instead of world building and deep political intrigue then you will definitely like this book. Even if you do like the world building and political aspects of a book then you can still enjoy it because there’s enough of it sprinkled around throughout the book. Although the fact that you are just thrown in the midst of chaos might not appeal to some readers. So, keep that in mind if you are picking up the book.

Winters Orbit, the debut from Everina Maxwell, is a lot of things. First and foremost, it’s queer SF romance. I saw it described as a story of “disaster husbands”, and it’s that, too. But it’s also a story of two men investigating conspiracy and murder, a story of challenging cultural attitudes, a story of resistance, and reshaping oneself to not only survive, but thrive. It’s a story which looks at people, and who we are, through a future lens, using the shape of the future to tell us something about ourselves. And, you know what, it’s also a story of a relationship, one which we can see grow from difficult beginnings into something real and true.

So, you know, something for everyone.


The heart of the story is the relationship between Prince Kiem, the somewhat lackadaisical, social butterfly minor royal whom all the others try to forget about, and Jainan, the recently widowed husband of one of Kiem’s many relatives. The two men are pushed into a rapidly arranged marriage in order to satisfy the terms of a galactic treaty, which isn’t exactly a great starting point for any relationship. Kiem is cheerful, gregarious, and blithely unaware of his own significance, or the power that his family wields over the other worlds in his system. Jainan is withdrawn, introspective, and very, very conscious of the personal and institutional power dynamics in play. The interplay between the two men is wonderfully done; the story switches between their viewpoints often, and seeing how each looks from behind the eyes of the other is a revelation. Each is, of course, convinced of only the worst in themselves, and, in the finest dramatic tradition, manages to misunderstand the other man at every turn. It works because we can see each of them genuinely trying to make the best of their situation, trying to make it work, and being tripped up by their own preconceptions of what the other thinks and says and does. As Jainan and Kiem grow closer, this sort of thing happens...I want to say less, but instead I’m going to say differently. They start to talk at each other, rather than past each other, and shape their relationship through warmth and grounded truths, rather than their own preconceived cultural expectations.


Also, they fight a lizard bear.


But yes. The contrast between the two men, one of whom is living within the shackles of duty, and the other of whom can’t be convinced to even put them on for the weekend, is a joy; both their voices are so different from each other, but both have a heart and soul that comes right off the page and seeps into your bones. It’s a relationship which, in its peaks and troughs, made me sigh with frustration, laugh, and occasionally choke back a sob. They’re a great pair, and if one wouldn’t work as well without the other, maybe that’s the point. Maybe that warmth and connection is what makes the story work. In any event, this is a story of two men bound by duty and expectation, trying to find their way forward, trying to find something more. And it shows us both men, all their flaws and foibles, and old mistakes and past horrors, their charming banter and their growing affection, and asks us to come along for the ride as they try and find each other, and themselves. And that works, and it’ll keep you turning the pages, just to see what happens next - how Jainan is going to teach Kiem about the responsibilities and pressures of power, or how Kiem is going to tell that one story about how he fell into a canal in front of a camera crew again. They’re a mismatched pair of smart, dumb people, and by the en dof the book, I loved them for that.


(I wanted to put a content warning somewhere, so it’s going to be here: there’s some mention of past domestic abuse in this story, and it comes up as part of the flow of Kiem and Jainan’s relationship.)


Anyway. Then there’s the story itself, the narrative wrapped around the relationship at its heart.And you know what, it’s a pretty fun story. There’s the question of whether the Galactic superpower that demands these links between worlds in the first place will accept Jainan and Kiem’s marriage, or whether their worlds will be left cut off and vulnerable. There’s the question of exactly why Jainan’s first husband suddenly died in a mysterious vehicle accident whilst working on a secret government project. The two new and unexpected husbands start looking into the death of Jainan’s husband, and very quickly find themselves getting on the wrong side of all sorts of people - the military, the press, internal palace security, political dissidents, intergalactic auditors, and the aforementioned lizard-bear. The relationship is the core, but the plot wrapped around it is fast-paced, compelling, and as full of twists and turns as a...twisty, turny thing. Trying to work out who was doing what and why was a delight. The book plays fair, too. What the protagonists know, we know, and I have to say, much like them, I still didn’t expect most of the stuff that falls onto them from a great height. The investigation is intriguing, and the tension that it evokes as the pair dig further into some rather dark secrets is, well, by the end, it’s taut as a wire. Because the relationship between Kiem and Jainan feels so real, its easy to empathise and sympathise with them, to care, to be drawn into their concerns - and when those concerns rapidly escalate to world-spanning conspiracies, well, I was left on the edge of my seat.


I have a lot to say about the world that got built here too, incidentally. How it feels organically realised and real. How there's so much in play with the power dynamics between the central Imperial power and the worlds it chooses not to always entirely call its vassals. How a system which is slowly shifting away from an implied military past toward a more collaborative model is struggling to deal with the consequences of that past. How that imperial power is resisted, quietly and otherwise, and how it chooses to assert itself. But I’m running out of words, so I’ll just say that the world building is rock solid, and makes the stage on which Jainan, Kiem and their friends and enemies exist feel as real and alive as the characters themselves.


In the end, this is a moving story of two men finding each other and themselves, and also a cracking work of science fiction that was so compelling I was literally up reading it until 3am to see how it finished. You really ought to give it a whirl.

Great story. Began in a typical mismatched couples scenario, but very quickly developed into something much more interesting. Great characters great use of gender terms. really hope there will be more from this saga.

This book is one of my immediate favorites and even though I read it early in January, I'm already certain that it will be in my highlights from this year. Many thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for the eARC!

The protagonist of Winter's Orbit is chaotic Prince Kiem who is suddenly thrust into a political marriage for the sake of his Empire's stability. His new partner Jainan just lost his previous husband but will carry out his duty to the Empire with a replacement. Both of them are pretty much opposites - Kiem is a charming social butterfly, while Jainan is mostly a quiet introvert. Even though neither of them have a solid grip on the basics of communication, they find a balance when it is revealed that the death of Jainan's first husband might not have been an accident after all. If they don't figure out what has happened, their Empire will find itself on the brink of a devastating intergalactic war.

Right from the beginning, I was drawn in by the characters. Both of the protagonists grew on me very quickly, which made it so easy to fly though the book. Their relationship starts off difficult and there are oh so many misunderstandings. This usually puts me off, but in this book, I actually really felt with them and it didn't bother me at all. Even more, I found myself deeply involved in their relationship after just a few chapters!

Something positive I also immediately noticed is the great writing style. It is easy and at the same time full of humor - I ended up grinning almost all the time while reading Kiem's chapters. His direct and slightly depreciating comments and comebacks are hilarious! This made the first half of the book, that is basically just mutual pining, very enjoyable! (Even though, again, I usually don't really dig stories with a romance that barely progresses past the first stage in the center.)

It did surprise me just how much the romance took the main stage, especially in the first half of the book. Since I love both the characters, though, I was happy with that, too. It's even more fun to watch their dynamics when the political intrigues and murder investigation kick off! Also noteworthy are the great secondary characters and the awesome worldbuilding that I did not, in fact, get enough of.

Despite me raving about this book, I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone. This book deserves a content warning for domestic abuse. For me, it didn't feel very explicit, but people who are sensitive about this topic should be careful.

Before I started this book, I already knew about its past as a popular work on a fanfiction website, and I had heard about some tropes that would play a role. Therefore, it's no surprise that I noticed how similar - in the best way - this book feels to good fanfiction. It might be the mixture of suspense and romantic moments, and the dramatic climax. I am a huge sucker for some of those tropes and actually stayed up late reading because I couldn't stop and just really, really wanted to see it! The ending is also very satisfying (although it might be a tad cliche, which I didn't mind at all).

All in all, Winter's Orbit is now a new favorite book of mine. The pacing isn't at all what I expected, and it's true that the protagonists' inability to talk to each other can become infuriating, but both of those flaws are easily forgiven. This story and its lovable characters are absolutely fantastic!

It's fun read, entertaining and engrossing. It's a book which is hard to categorize, I would define it a romance with a sci-fi setting.
There's plenty of humour, good world building and the MCs are interesting and well thought.
I had a lot of fun and would be happy to read other stories set in this universe.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Ahh, I loved this one! It's been so long since I couldn't stop reading a book and, my goodness, THE FEELS. I'm an absolute sucker for hurt/comfort trope and that's basically what we have here: slow, slow burn and two poor idiots, sure that the other couldn't possibly be in love with them and who can't communicate. Loved it to pieces.

I'm also here for all the sci-fi politics stuff! I can definitely see the RWRB comparison (I STILL haven't read Ancillary Justice.... Oops) but I'd say you can enjoy this one even if sci-fi normally isn't your genre.

I really don't know how to say anything more coherent, I gave it a week on hopes that I'll put my emotions more together so just READ IT, PLEASE.

"Winter's Orbit" manages to perfectly balance its romance elements with larger sci-fi and court politics, making it an exceptionally well-structured novel. I admit that upon receiving an advance copy, this was not what I was expecting. Maxwell successfully avoids the pitfalls of cliché or leaning too heavily on the romance, and thus turning the novel into erotica with a space opera backdrop.
Early on she establishes clear character voice for both of her protagonists, and thus manages to both invest the reader and make the miscommunications between the two endlessly deliciously frustrating. Reading was a delight and the pages just kept turning! As mentioned the two protagonists are distinct in their voices and points of view. I particularly enjoyed the effective way Maxwell demonstrates their different approaches to life and problem-solving,
One cannot speak of this novel without mentioning the topic of gender. It is refreshing and exciting to see a diverse and multifaceted cast, representing a variety of gender and sexual orientations. In the Empire, gender is displayed with wardrobe and through behavioural ques in a true Butlerian fashion, as opposed to prescribed gender roles. The society seems to operate on a 'bi/pan/omni-sexual unless stated otherwise' policy, which is always a joy to read.
A must read for sci-fi fans, and LGBTQ readers.

“Winter’s Orbit“ by Everina Maxwell [3.75/5]

Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Make no mistake – this book is, in my opinion, much more a Romance book than it is a Science Fiction book. The setting where the romance plot between the two main characters takes place is a Science Fiction setting and there are aspects to the mystery that only work in a SciFi Setting. But at the end of the day this novel has a heavy focus on the romance and I do not think someone who dislikes romance will like this book.



Kiem, Jainan, and the Court



As mentioned above I think this book focuses heavily on the romance and I think in a romance the characters are really, really important. Both Jainan and Kiem are likeable characters and their POVs are distinctive enough that a change in POV is always welcome. I really enjoyed being able to learn the thoughts of both of them, but maybe I like Jainan a bit more than Kiem. Both do not appear to be really happy in the situation they are now in – the result of Jainan’s former husband’s death is a forced marriage between Kiem and Jainan to secure a political alliance. Kiem is an extrovert while Jainan is more of an introvert and their personalities seem to clash in the beginning. It does not help that Jainan has to live with a trauma that is reflected in his behavior. What this trauma is would probably be a spoiler.


I really liked their interactions in the beginning but because it takes such a long time for them to become more involved with each other it can become frustrating to see the romance plot between them to rely that heavily on miscommunication or no communication at all. If you are into this trope this book will probably be a book you like.

None of the other characters in this book are as vivid or well-developed as Kiem and Jainan are. This might be due to the number of secondary characters – I think there are a lot of them and the book is not very long so a lot of them are only characterized by two or three main character traits; this is also true for the characters who are more important to the plot than others. And while the blurb suggests a more political plot there are not a lot of politicians we meet in the book and those we meet are not fascinating. This is also true about the antagonists – they are neither very interesting nor are they well-developed in my opinion.



A Murder Mystery



The main plot besides the romance is mainly a murder mystery. The driving force behind everything the characters do is trying to find out who is responsible for Taam’s (Jainan’s dead husband) death. The mystery is engaging enough and there is a much larger plot behind the murder mystery than simply who murdered Taam. But I also have to say that I was not as invested in finding out who killed the man than I hoped I would be. I do not think it is easy to guess who killed Taam or why he was killed – I was surprised to find out. But there was no connection here and the only reason I was at all interested in the murder mystery was because I wanted to know if, and if yes how, Jainan was involved in all of this.

The romance plot was a lot more interesting to me even though I am really not that big of a romance reader to begin with. I sometimes enjoy it and besides the overall heavy use of the miscommunication trope I really liked the development of Kiem and Jainan’s relationship.



Fanfiction and World-building



Maybe you already know, but I think it has to be mentioned here. This book was formerly posted on the fanfiction side AO3 – not as a fanfiction but as original work. But I think if you read a lot of fanfiction (as I do) you see how fanfiction might have influenced the book.

First things first: there are a lot of the more common fanfiction romance tropes in this book. I already mentioned the miscommunication trope. But I on’t think this is the aspect where I noticed the similarity to a lot of fanfiction I read the most. For me, it was the world building. Do not get me wrong, the world building is there and the author thought of a lot of elements but to me, it felt like a lot of the aspects of the world building were there to make the romance more interesting. The world building aspects we get to see mostly revolve around Kiem and Jainan’s forced marriage and I think this is very reminiscent of fanfictions who focus on those parts of the fandom’s world building that are in some way relevant for their main couple.

This is by no way a condemnation. I enjoy fanfiction and I enjoyed this book. But I think one needs to be aware that there seems to be this influence. On the other hand it might be the case that the only reason I see this connection is that I read a lot of fanfiction. I do not know if this book would feel fanfictiony if you do not read them regularly or at all.

When I saw this book compared to Red, White & Royal Blue, I knew I needed to read it as RWRB is my go-to pick-me-up. Sometimes comparisons to huge books can be a disadvantage as they create such hype that it’s impossible for the book to live up to it. However, I’m so pleased that Winter’s Orbit definitely had RWRB vibes whilst also creating a world that’s completely it's own.

The main plot involves an arranged marriage between Prince Kiem and Count Jainan, set against a backdrop of interplanetary politics. The world-building is more of a sketch in broad strokes and I would have loved further information about it as what we were given was really intriguing. The author also explores colonialism and assimilation in a nuanced manner through the portrayal of the Iskat Empire. Most of the action takes place in the second half and, when it does, it’s engaging and well-paced. There are raiders, sabotage, betrayal and brainwashing, and it works so well.

This is a very character-driven story though with a super slow-burn m|m romance. Kiem is Prince Royal of Iskat, extroverted, chatty and with no filter. He’s definitely a bit of a himbo and I adored him. In contrast, Count Jainan is introverted, controlled and clever. He was previously married to Prince Taam (Kiem’s cousin) and is dealing with residuary issues from that relationship. Abuse is a central theme and the road to recovery is a long one but the story ends on a positive note for the future.

Winter’s Orbit is a book to lose yourself in. It’s witty, romantic, and engaging, with two wonderful central characters. It’s the arranged marriage, sci-fi romance you never knew you needed!

It was an easy and fun! Its main selling point is Red, White & Royal Blue-style gay romance with a soft sci-fi backdrop setting. The world building took longer than I’d like, yet it still felt shallow and unrefined. I’d personally prefer to have the novel to be edited for 50-100 pages less.The sci-if drama reminded me of Star Wars which is juicy but tension-less. For a hard sci-if fan like me, naturally I can’t help but feel a little disappointed by its underdeveloped world. This book is best suited for anyone who wants some Bridgestone-style romance as main with some galactic actions as side dishes.

Such a hard book to categorise, it is certainly more than a romance novel with sci-fi elements, but it's not quite a plot driven sci-fi...

Either way it is a wonderfully enjoyable read. Kiem and Jainan, were a delight to follow through their relationship journey, with added political intrigue, and a fascinating world backdrop.

The representation is this book is also top notch, diversity not just in relationship but race and gender equality.

Well, this is great fun! I was immediately drawn into the story by the immersive writing, and my sympathy for happy-go-lucky Kiem went up several notches at his evident horror in being married off to someone so recently bereaved. Jainan, the Thean representative is far more difficult to get to know, but again, is likeable and sympathetic. Given the romance strand in this story runs alongside the wider ramifications of what will happen if the coming Treaty isn’t successfully ratified, it is very important that we bond with the two main protagonists.

I’ve read several other reviews that regard this story as mostly about the romance, with the rest of the storyline dealing with the tangle over the Treaty and growing suspicions regarding Taam’s death providing a convenient backdrop. I disagree. While I thoroughly enjoyed the unfolding romance, which is of the slow-burn variety fraught with misunderstandings all around, my attention was mostly drawn to the political situation developing within the Court. If it was written merely as a cardboard setting for the romance, I would have spotted it in a heartbeat and while I wouldn’t have necessarily DNF’d the book – the overall dynamic between them worked far too well for that – I certainly wouldn’t be giving it a nine.

I was impressed at the depth of the worldbuilding and how much I enjoyed the dynamic of the Iskat Empire, though in control of a solar system of seven planets, needing wider protection from bigger, more rapacious neighbours. I also liked the plurality on display – some Theans want to break away from Iskat, while others are clearly loyal to the Empire, such as Jainan, and within the Court there are also a number of factions. I also like the way same-sex relationships are treated. Not so much as an eyebrow is raised, demonstrating that it is clearly completely normalised within both Thean and Iskat societies.

I loved the actions scenes and the way the tension grew, making it all but impossible to put this one down until the end – and then I crashed quite hard once I finished it. All in all, this has been a wonderful start to my science fiction reads of 2021, and Everina Maxwell is clearly One To Watch. While I obtained an arc of Winter’s Orbit from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10

What a cute and enjoyable tale.

This debut is a story in two parts. The first third is quite fluffy in its writing and focuses heavily on Prince Kiam and Count Jainin as they are suddenly told they are to be married the next day. They spend the first part of the book full of awkward interactions as they try to get to know each other and worry that the other isn't interested in them.

As their relationship develops, so does a murder mystery element about the death of Jainin's previous husband. As they get more involved in this, they explore more places and the writing really develops to have much more world building and depth to it.

Overall, this was a good debut and an enjoyable quick read. Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for the review copy.

The short way of describing this book is absolutely stunning, and a contender for "best reads of 2021" list. I've been slowly getting back into sci-fi these past few years, and it's books like this that make me reach for another sci-fi.

Let's start with the politics. No surprises here that I picked up this book because it was described as "political sci-fi". There's a treaty in need of signing (treaties are always a weak spot for me - I will buy any book that has politics around a treaty), but obstacle after obstacle are thrown in the way of it. Jainan and Kiem must finding who is obstructing it, and why - then stop them. It was a layered story of intrigue, and I loved how twisty it was, with brilliant information control.

I'm not usually someone who cares much about the romance side of books, but this one was <em>good</em>. Slow build, so much tension, and desire that wasn't being accurately communicated, leading to much pining. Plus, the communication blockages felt very appropriate to the situation, rather than feeling like it was there for "drama". I was wanting them to get over it not because I was annoyed they weren't talking (as it felt right for them to struggle), but because I knew it would be very satisfying when they were able to talk.

Plus there's a whole sequence where you can feel it building towards a specific trope, and it is <em>very</em> rewarding when that trope plays out (NOT going to spoil the trope - you'll know when you get there). And, once more, I am not a person who usually cares about romance tropes as they're not the thing I read for typically.

This book does deal with the fallout of a previous abusive relationship. There's not much of the actual abuse on page, but I loved that we saw someone processing it, and how it affected life. It's not something I've seen in SFF before, but it was so sensitively handled and made the book stand out. It deals with consent and desire, and the very subtle, but insidious, behavioural patterns that can be markers of abuse.

I will be eagerly awaiting Everina Maxwell's next book!

Winter's Orbit is several things. It's a well-imagined space opera, with a tense military situation, political intrigue - and a hard deadline. It has a mystery at its core: a death which hasn't been satisfactorily explained. It's the story of a relationship, beginning in very difficult circumstances and whose direction will shape the course of wider events.

And it's a well-written and absorbing, character-led SF novel.

Prince Kiem and Count Jainan are very different men. Kiem is sociable, impulsive and used to being in the public eye. One of many minor members of the Imperial family, he has too little to do and is prone to landing in scrapes that bring unwelcome publicity in the newslogs. Kiem says what he thinks - and repents at leisure.

Jainan, an engineer by profession, is a widower whose husband, Taam, recently died in an accident. Jainan's a very private man, driven by duty, and finds it hard to express his feelings. It's a surprise when the Emperor decrees that the two will be married - in haste, to satisfy urgent political expediency. Neither of them is very happy, but in these circles you don't say "no" to the Emperor, you make the best of it.

The first third of the book follows the consequences of this match, seen from both mens' points of view but not revealing too much about their backgrounds. (And neither will I, because there are things there that need to come out in their own good time). Politics dictates that the marriage must prosper - the two can't go through a token ceremony and then live their separate lives. So here they are, right from the start, coping with the emotional baggage of their earlier lives and knowing that one misstep could bring disaster.

It's a forced (in every sense) and stumbling relationship, a difficult time for both. This arc - a mismatched pair forced to endure one another, to find common ground, to discover how to be together - may be a familiar trope but there is a reason for that. Done well it can provide the beating emotional heart for a story. Done badly, of course, it can leave the reader cosy so it's a high-stakes way for a debut author to open her first book, but Winter's Orbit is written with such aplomb and such a depth of human insight that the choice in fully justified. Knowing what both Kiem and Jainan are thinking, we can sympathise with both (what a dilemma they are in!) while at times also feeling frustrated with their attempts to find a way through. For me, sympathy with them didn't, at first, translate into liking the two - although as the story developed (and I learned more about them) that came too.

Jainan and Kiem are not helped by there being an ongoing mystery about what happened to Taam, something Kiem takes it upon himself to investigate, leading us into a world of diplomacy (Jainan is, effectively, a hostage provided by a vassal planet), radical student unrest, classified military projects - and secrets. This is an absorbing web, set against the background of treaty negotiations with a powerful alien civilisation. Kiem's and Jainan's status is central to the validity of all this, so they don't have the option of sitting it out, yet if the talks break down, the Empire is doomed so they can't afford any mistakes.

I think the balance between these two themes - the politicking and the evolving relationship between Jainan and Kiem - was just about right. I suspect most readers will care more about the latter, and less about the precise details of the balance of power which are important is setting up the whole situation. Yet the two strands can't be separated so easily. There are others here, too, with interests in the treaty outcome, and unless they get what they want, Jainan and Kiem may suffer.

Overall, I felt this was an assured and readable debut novel. Jainan and Kiem really step off the page and their world is fascinating. I will be interested to see what Maxwell comes up with next - whether that is more in this universe (there is a lot to be explored) or something different.