'Winter's Orbit' is a sci-fi romance advertised as 'Red White and Royal Blue' meets 'Ancillary Justice'. It's brilliantly written with adorable characters and intriguing, complex worldbuilding - but it's also got a darker side, and I feel like readers should be aware this isn't quite the fun, lighthearted read they might expect.

Every twenty years, the treaty between the seven planets of the Iskat Empire must be redrawn. As the deadline approaches, the unexpected death of Prince Taam - the husband of Count Jainan, a representative of Thea - threatens hostilities between Thea and Iskat, casting doubt over the treaty. To solve this, an arranged marriage is hastily arranged between Jainan and Prince Kiem, a minor royal with a reputation as an irresponsible playboy. However, it quickly comes to light that Taam's death was no mere accident - and Jainan is the prime suspect. With the treaty on the line, Kiem and Jainan must learn to trust one another and figure out the truth before the Empire comes crashing down around them.

Kiem is one of my absolute favourite characters. He's a social butterfly, a man who loves a good party and an adrenaline rush - but he has a heart of gold, throwing his soul into charity work and trying to make everyone happy. He knows his reputation and wields it like a shield, taking the blame for everything so others can live their lives in peace. He's not particularly smart, constantly missing obvious signs - especially about Jainan - but he's a real people person with an exceptional ability to network. He's also hilariously clumsy, which leads to some truly brilliant scenes whenever he attempts to do anything practical. (I love the bear scene so much).

Jainan is initially a hard character to warm up to. He's stiff, cold, and formal, and constantly falling over himself to apologise for every menial slight - but it quickly becomes apparent that he's scarred beyond imagining. Many of Jainan's scenes are very difficult to read. His thought patterns are exceptionally accurate of someone who's suffered prolonged abuse, and the way it affects his self-worth and demeanour is heartbreaking. Jainan is the main reason why this isn't the light-hearted romance that some advertising makes this book out to be - for anyone with sensitivities around domestic abuse, this makes a powerful but harrowing read.

The worldbuilding is incredibly complex, and even after finishing the book some aspects are hard to fully understand. The story primarily focuses on Iskat, a planet with a monarchy which controls a seven-planet empire - but there are allusions to other empires and organisations, and the overall hierarchy is hard to parse out. That being said, the worldbuilding is still exceptional. Iskat itself is beautifully portrayed, and the complex politics between the monarchy, the military, and the intelligence service are intricately described. Everything feels real and plausible. The futuristic technology is neatly slotted in, and overall there's incredible potential for future books to expand on the universe.

The plot has several threads - the slow-burn romance between Kiem and Jainan, the mystery of Prince Taam's murder, the politics of trying to organise the treaty - all of which slot together very neatly at the end. The complexity and scope means the start is very slow, with a good third of the book passing before things kick into gear - but it's worth it to have a backdrop and understanding as the action ramps up. At times, it can be a challenge to keep track of each thread, but it's worth it for how clever the denouement is. There are many twists and turns, and whilst by the end some things are obvious, others come completely out of the blue. Maxwell's writing is clever with lots of red herrings, but also plenty of foreshadowing of the brutal climax.

Perhaps the most impressive part is how truly fifty-fifty this is a romance novel and a science fiction novel. The two threads compliment each other beautifully, neither detracting from the other, and primary readers of either genre will likely find something to enjoy.

Overall, this isn't always a lighthearted read, with graphic mentions of domestic abuse and torture - but it's an exceptional debut, so with prior warning it makes an enjoyable read. I look forward to seeing what Everina Maxwell does next.

2.5 rounded down

Not bad but I never found myself connecting to anything the book presented. A lot of the beginning is confusing due to how much this book’s plot relies on diplomacy and fictional, sci-fi diplomacy at that. It’s filled with interesting characters but Jainan was the only one I felt was given depth and the plot is definitely consistently competing with the romance aspect of this book so it feels half hearted in the first 200 pages and then is packed to the brim in the second half.

The romance was fine but I didn’t dislike them or love them as a couple; they have sweet moments but miscommunication is their biggest obstacle and the book’s. The first couple of times they’re interrupted before they can have a meaningful conversation is just classic romance trope-iness. The fact that for the first 250 pages, <i>every</i> time they get close to having a realisation that they’re misunderstanding each other’s intentions, there’s an irrelevant side character interrupting is frustrating to say the least. This makes so much of their development stagnant and like a fanfiction, there is A Moment where they’re forced to finally reveal their feelings to each other instead of more natural development.

Objectively it isn’t bad, but I did find myself skimming and struggling to pick it back up. Just wasn’t for me at the end of the day, which is a shame because gay political space marriages should have been right up my alley.

This full review will be published online in January closer to the book’s release date.

I’m torn on this one. There are things I really liked and others things that didn’t captivate me as much. I will say that I truly did like Kiem and Jainan as characters. Unfortunately, I think the larger story as a whole didn’t work for me. It’s one of those “it’s not you, it’s me” situations. That being said I still see this as being something that would be well loved by others and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for this reason.

This space opera begins within the heart of the Iskat Empire. Preparations are underway for Unification Day in which the signing of the Resolution will take place. The Resolution renewal occurs once every twenty years and serves as an intergalactic non-aggression pact between Iskat and other galactic powers. To ratify this treaty, an Auditor is sent to evaluate how legitimate the alliances are between Iskat and their seven vassal planets. If the Auditor is not reassured of the empire’s stability and refuses to confirm the pact, then there’s nothing to hold back opportunistic expansionists in the galaxy beyond from swooping in to take their territories for themselves. Failure could prove fatal to all planets involved.

In a ploy to prove the strength of Iskat’s ties to one of their more resentful vassal planets, Thea, the Emperor arranges a marriage between the Imperial Prince Kiem and Jainan, the Thean diplomatic representative. Jainan is the widow of another Imperial Prince, Kiem’s cousin Taam, who died only a month prior to this arrangement. But as alliances are often upheld by the strength of marriages between diplomatic representatives and a member of the imperial family the wedding is considered a necessity with the Resolution looming so near. Kiem is initially shocked and apprehensive about the sudden wedding – while Jainan is resigned and determined to make it work for the sake of his planet.

But when the Auditor fails to be impressed by the marriage and suspicions arise that Jainan’s previous husband was murdered, things get far more complicated. The couple quickly find themselves entangled in a political nightmare and a murder mystery both.

As I mentioned previously, I do really like both Kiem and Jainan! Kiem won me over with his charming social graces and the way he treated those around him with empathy. I was amused by the way he would enter a room and make ten new friends before leaving. And like Jainan, I’d be upset with him when he devalued his own smarts because he obviously has a great deal of emotional intelligence. Then there’s Jainan himself. I wanted the world for him. I admired his competence and brilliance while also relating to his reserve and anxiety. It’s clear from the outset that he’s experienced his own share of suffering and often I wanted someone to just give him a hug.

Their relationship is definitely a slowburn one. Kiem and Jainan start off with conflicting and incorrect assumptions about what each wants from the marriage. Kiem believes Jainan is only doing his duty and still mourns for his previous husband. Jainan believes Kiem is polite to him only because he’s generally a friendly person. He strives to stay out of Kiem's way because he’s sure Kiem will inevitably see him as a burden. Watching the two gradually learn to understand and trust each other was a balm to the heart, but I do wish there were more of these moments then there were misunderstandings.

Part of the misunderstandings are understandable, though, due to barriers Janian has in place after experiencing prior abuse that he isn’t ready to discuss. I will note that I thought the themes of psychological and physical abuse were well done and handled with care. I ached for Jainan as he struggled to unlearn some of the horrible things he was taught to believe about himself and the way it impacted his self-esteem.

I think I would have liked to see a little more moments of introspection where Kiem and Jainan would consider and express their feelings – internally and to each other – on the page. Though their budding attraction and growing trust was obvious, I suppose I found there was a lot more showing than telling – and for once, I wouldn’t have minded a little more “telling”.

Another thing I would have liked to see more of was information about the world at large. There wasn’t really as much worldbuilding as I expected and not very much was fleshed out in regards to the cultures, histories, events or technologies that were relevant to the plot. Often there were would only be one or two traits mentioned about the peoples of the vast empire, and it made the players seem nothing more than superficially distinct to me. Interpersonal relationships between the main characters and side characters – with the exception of Jainan and Taam or Kiem and Bel – never felt never felt very developed either. I found myself unable to get properly invested in the stakes of the primary or secondary conflicts because of this.

Ultimately, I’d claim this is primarily a love story that has elements of a space opera, some political intrigue and a murder mystery. The relationship between Kiem and Jainan is at the heart of the novel first and foremost. Other quibbles aside, if there were more moments or communication between the two I’d likely have been more satisfied since I wasn't all that invested in the other plotlines. But I would suggest others to give this a read and make their own opinions as this seems very well-loved by other reviewers.

I still think this was a good book and would read future works by the author.

Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for providing the free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars!

Winter's Orbit takes my favorite tropes and wraps them in a bow to be devoured and saved for rainy days alike. It takes elements of sci-fi and romance and packs them up with character building and gay yearning. Featuring an arranged marriage, mutual pining, space princes and a slow burn romance for the ages, the book is the gay space opera I've always wanted.
We meet Prince Kiem of the Iskat and Count Jainan of Thea who must marry each other to ensure that the pact ensuring peace between their planets remains intact. Only Jainan's husband, Taam has just died and it's increasingly obvious that foul play was to blame. The main characters try to solve a murder, navigate(often hilarious) cultural differences and court politics complete with background pining and funny dialogue.
Jainan's arc involves taking control that has been stolen from years of abuse and learning how to set his boundaries. Kiem is the charming and affable prince, and a genuinely kind person, if a lot self-depreciating
I liked how they learn each other slowly with care and respect for boundaries, but it's also really fun to read. We get huddling for warmth, impromptu bear attacks, being stranded in the middle of nowhere, gender neutral terms for titles and using accessories to signal one's identity which I love. Sometimes I did feel the plot was thrown away to introduce certain tropes but I honestly didn't mind.
Recommended for fans of gideon the ninth and red white and royal blue
rep: bi mc, gay mc and nonbinary side character
content warnings: (view spoiler)
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review

Jainan and Kiem are idiots. Unfortunately, Jainan and Kiem are also completely adorable, which is probably why I continued to read through their infuriating misunderstandings!

Winter's Orbit is quite a political space opera, but the World building is brilliant. There are some issues with pacing - sometimes, nothing happens for 100 pages, then suddenly its all go! However, its worth pushing through just to read this beautiful slow burn romance. I would read about Jainan and Kiem interacting for days!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Winter's Orbit was one of those books where I read the blurb and I KNEW I had to read it. For someone who doesn't like reading a lot of romance in her books, I really can't say no when I see PRINCE, POLITICAL MARRIAGE, GAY being used to describe the book.

Let me start off by saying that book is heavy on the tropes - arranged marriage, pining, the cold one is soft for the sunshine one, miscommunication & misunderstanding, love at first sight and so many more but ehh you don't see me complaining. Honestly I love most of these tropes and I just ended up loving this book.
Let's talk about
1. the characters: Prince Kiem and Count Jainan. *chef's kiss* love them love them. Did you hear me talk about a bright sunshine character and a cold seemingly emotionless character? Cuz I love this pairing and I love Kiem and Jainan!
2. worldbuilding: not a lot of it going on to be honest. This reads like a contemporary with a murder mystery added in. The fact that it is set on a different fantastical planet comes as an afterthought, when I think about the book now.
3. the plot: again, I categorise this mostly under Romance/Contemporary. As with any such book, my expectations from the plot is a whole lot of angst, drama, some cute moments and I definitely got all of that. There was also a mystery being solved, but I was just there, screaming for Kiem and Jainan to kiss already.

Overall, Winter's Orbit was such a fun, fast-paced book that I devoured in a single sitting.
Would I recommend this to hard sci-fi lovers? No. But I would definitely recommend this to people who enjoy contemporary and the above mentioned tropes. It's also queer AF, so definitely check this one out.

TW: on page domestic abuse.

Content warning for domestic abuse (inc on page verbal, physical, emotional and sexual abuse)

There are times when you know a book sounds like everything you've dreamed of and you worry it might never live up to your expections. That is definitely not the case with Winter's Orbit: this book lived up to the hype in my brain so much. It was an absolute joy to behold and read, it is the direction I have been longing for this genre to go - light SciFi with romance, familiar, favourite tropes and brilliant character development and queer relationships. I would die for Kiem and Jainan and I long for more stories in their world.

Winter's Orbit is described as Red, White and Royal Blue, in space, and I can definitely see that comparison. It follows Kiem and Jainan after they are rushed into an arranged marriage just a month after Jainan's previous husband, Taam, died, in order to sign a treaty keeping the Iskat Empire from war with the rest of the galaxy. But as it is revealed Taam was murdered, the treaty is at risk and Kiem and Jainan begin investigating.

I can completely see the RW&RB reference. Winter's Orbit has that same comforting joy about reading it, the sense of feeling completely at home and in love with the book and its characters. Kiem and Jainan were just so perfectly written and I loved the way their relationship developed from the uncommunicative first few days after they're forcibly married, to the way they risk their lives for the other. Miscommunication is so often a trope in romance, but in this book, it actually makes sense - Jainan with his dark history of the marriage with Taam is so terrified of opening up and sure Kiem wants nothing to do with him. Meanwhile Kiem is distraught that Jainan has been forced to marry him whilst grieving, and does everything he can to give Jainan as much space as possible. It takes time for Jainan to recover from Taam's actions, and slowly begin to see Kiem as the genuine, lovable, won't ever stop talking husband that he is. The two of them together brought so much joy to me, they were just perfectly wonderful. I want the world for them.

The murder mystery was also very well done, particularly in the second half. I was absolutely racing to get through the book and find out what was going on and find out what was happening to a particular character that I couldn't bear to see hurt.

I also loved all the worldbuilding details. It's definitely not your usual heavy science fiction with so much complicated terminology and world building. This was expertly woven into the story in a way that kept it light. I was particularly fond of the way gender presentation was included in this world, through use of accessories to know how an individual identified. I love that including things like this is becoming more common in SciFi and I really wish we could just see it adapted in the real world! The world is also so expansive, we get little glimpses into other societies across the galaxy and I really hope we get to explore more of the world in Maxwell's future novels. I'm particularly interested in exploring Thea, Jainan's home planet with its different clan style system, or the Resolution, the sort of controlling force of the galaxy with some very interesting technology who kind of protect the smaller empires like Iskat from war.

I find it so difficult to write reviews for books I absolutely loved. All I can say about Winter's Orbit is just it filled me with so much joy, I am in love with this world and these characters and this is going to be a comfort read for so many years to come!

3.75
I've been wanting to get more into sci-fi the last couple of years and this instantly got my attention. Since this is more planet based apart from the technology this reads pretty similar to a political fantasy (and I do really enjoy those, all that backstabbing).
I've seen this described as a slow burn romance and even though the characters take most of the book to get together I don't really see it as slow burn. This is mostly because it seemed to be because they spent most of that time misunderstanding each other because of assumptions they had based on either their or the other's past. This was quite understandable especially with the past experiences of one of the characters but there was not that many times they actually got to know each other. There are some points in the story where they bond but that's pretty much right before they get together. I see slow burn as the characters having time to become friends and then lovers and I felt there wasn't quite enough of the becoming friends part. However that's just my opinion and they were both interesting and complex characters and their relationship was very sweet once it got going.
This has a slow moving plot which wasn't too much of a problem to me since I was invested in the characters (and waiting for them to catch a clue and just talk to each other). I did find that the mystery was speed up a lot in the last part of the book especially due to the slower pacing of the rest of the book.
Overall I really enjoyed the characters, the politics and world building, I would be very interested in reading more books set in this world either with the same characters or new ones. I'm hoping that there will be, based on the author interview, so fingers crossed.

I was given an Advanced Reader Copy of this book by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

At first I was a bit confused as it immediately pushes stereotypes - the emperor is a woman, there is a prince who identifies as she (I had to keep looking to see if it was a misprint) and the main character, who is male, is getting an arranged marriage to another man and another character identifies as 'their/them' rather than traditional gender pronouns. I've never read a book with such forward thinking and was pleasantly surprised at how well done it is. The gender/sexuality isn't thrown down your throat as it's not the main part of the story. It just is what it is - if that makes sense.

I found myself rooting for the characters and felt the two main characters worked really well - both complete opposites who only saw the good in each other. The descriptions of things on the planet, people etc. were all great and helped me really imagine what was being described. The conclusion was satisfying and makes me really want to see a book 2 where perhaps they are going to other planets and we get to see more of this Solar System - a bit more of a star wars vibe maybe.

I highly recommend this book if you want a soft sci-fi that is a love story at heart.

Teenage me would have probably liked this. Alas, as I am no longer a teenager, I find the fanfic-y vibes of this novel to be a wee bit cheesy. The two main gain have very generic personalities (one is the fun-extrovert and the other guy is an introvert). I also guessed a 'reveal' within the very few pages...the way the narrative portrays trauma feels very scripted (to me).
The sci-fi is merely a backdrop and I guess I prefer more detailed and less generic world-building. The interaction between the characters, the tone of the story, the relationship between the two main characters....they all reminded me of fanfiction (which I used to enjoy reading but no longer).
I'm sure many readers will love this (I can already see lots of glowing reviews) and I wish the author the best but I am just not 'vibing' with Winter's Orbit.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was cute!

I started this book without knowing it first started as an AO3 fanfic, and looking back at it now, it makes sense. The tags "Gay Yearning" or "Idiots misunderstanding each other" definitely applies accurately. I did not expect a vast world building surrounding the story, but it is normal for sci books. To be honest, the writing did not successfully immersed me into the scenery descriptions enough for me to picture settings clearly, which was a bit difficult to navigate since parts of the plotline are happening in unprecedented territories. I did not also grasp the concept of how this particular galaxy works systematically but that's okay since I came here for the romance. I just wish there was more enumerations on how the world works.

I absolutely love Jainan! Content warning for domestic abuse should be necessary in releasing the book, but his character has a special place in my heart and for sure, other trauma survivors out there would find their souls in Jainan too. I abhor miscommunication trope, truly, I tend to steer clear from them, but I think it was handled good in this title. I would love to see more from this author and watch them evolve through their works.

This was a science-fiction romance novel that I didn’t know I needed. Everina Maxwell has created an excellent book with a rich military and political influence – I very much enjoyed the small details included. The romance is cute, the plot is fast-paced and intriguing and the characters are just out of this world.

Kiem is the prince with a reputation for partying in causing trouble. He’s all over the news for his outrageous antics, but he uses his people and diplomacy skills to get himself out of trouble. One day, the Emperor, his grandmother, arranges a marriage for him to a representative from the planet Thea, in order to save a treaty. Jainan is the exact opposite of Kiem – he’s academic, socially awkward and quiet. He lost his previous husband and has to marry Kiem to save the treaty that keeps Thea part of the Iskat Empire. Will it be the case of opposites attract?

I really loved the way this book handled sexuality – each culture had their own way of expressing gender which was super cool. It was up to the people to choose what they expressed and nobody challenged it. The romance is also adorable – these two guys are absolute disasters but both of them are so cute in their own way.

The plot is very fast-paced and includes plenty of opportunities for Kiem and Jainan to showcase their unique skills. I loved how the characters supported each other’s differences. The side characters are also great – I particularly enjoyed Bel, who is Kiem’s personal aide. She was very no nonsense and definitely kept Kiem in check!

Overall this is a really heartwarming story, though it does contain some darker elements such as domestic abuse. I really liked the integration of military with politics, it made for a realistic alternative universe. Really happy I got approved for this arc, I wasn’t expecting it to be quite this good!

The following review will be posted to my Goodreads account about 1-2 weeks before the book's release date of February 4th:

Winter’s Orbit’s synopsis pitches it as Ancillary Justice meets Red, White & Royal Blue, which feels appropriate because this is the first book that made me feel genuinely joyful since I first read Red, White & Royal Blue (and makes me want to pick up Ancillary Justice from my bookshelf ASAP). This book has all the charm I expected of a work that was originally published on AO3 but wraps it up in an intriguing sci-fi setting that makes me eager to explore the world further.
Maxwell drops the reader right into a scene where Iskan Prince Kiem is told by his Emperor that he is to marry the widow of his cousin Taam, who passed away recently. From there, we follow Kiem and his new husband, Count Jainan, as they get to know each other and discover that Taam’s death might not have been what it seems. This discovery brings to light a bigger mystery that, if it remains unresolved, could threaten the peace between planets.
The strongest aspect of this book is without a doubt the character work. Both Kiem and Jainan are delightful characters to follow, with both realistic insecurities that are explored, as well as delightful quirks, from Kiem’s love for the sport dartcar racing to Jainan’s nerdy interest in deep-space engineering. The way these two gradually discover these types of things about one another (and fall in love as a side-effect) genuinely warmed my heart. Their development both separately and together is what truly drives this book, and I would not have it any other way.
Aside from the characters and romance, this book concerns itself with inter-planetary politics and the mystery surrounding Taam’s death, both of which were a welcome break from the romantic angst. Readers going into this book expecting detailed, expansive science-fiction world-building will likely not be satisfied, but the Iskat Empire with its vassal states provides an intriguing political backdrop for the romance at the heart of Winter’s Orbit, and I am excited for any potential future novels exploring this universe that Maxwell hints at in the interview included at the end of the book.
As likely becomes clear from this gushing review, I adored this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for fun and swoon-worthy M/M romance in a science-fiction setting full of casual diversity. Kiem and Jainan have undoubtedly the ranks of my favorite characters, and I already cannot wait to read this again when the book is released in early February.

This story focuses on Jainan and Kiem and how their worlds collide when they have to get married to keep their respective planets alliance. Both of them agree to it as it’s their duty but they don’t really have much time to really know each other before getting married and are thrown straight into the deep end.

They are both such different characters and have such different personalities that they initially have difficulty understanding each other and I was literally screaming at them at points because they are both smart yet are completely ridiculous when it comes to each other. Their miscommunication results in a lot of angst and tension and I was living for it. It built up the tension so much so that when they finally resolved it, it was so satisfying. Also we got the only one bed trope with a twist and I just loved seeing their relationship develop as they learnt to understand each other.

I felt the story is very character driven, we spend a lot of time in both the main characters heads and we really get to know about them and how their pasts affect them now and I loved how we get to see them trying their best to make the marriage work but just not reading the other correctly because of their own past traumas and assumptions and it just felt so real. Jainan is a cinnamon roll and I will protect him with my life, he suffered so much especially the things we find out about his marriage to Taam and honestly it was so difficult to read about it. Kiem is so sweet and truly I need more characters like them in books.

I loved how they worked together using their own skill sets to help each other and find a solution to stop a war from happening and that they encouraged each other in pursuing their passions.

I do wish we had gotten to see more of the world, we get glimpses but mostly how the politics affect the characters and them trying to work out what happened to Taam. We do get indications of a wider world and I would love to read more stories in this world. One of my favourite side characters was Bel who we get to learn a little bit about and honestly I could read a whole book with her.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and the characters arcs were so great to read.

Winter’s Orbit feels like the perfect mixture of science fiction, mystery, political intrigue, and, of course, romance, while simultaneously allowing the reader to get a closer look into the characters' everyday-life, which made it so easy to forge a connection with them from the very beginning. I found myself immediately drawn to the story and the characters, invested in what would happen next and scared of the consequences at the same time.

Right away, I found both Kiem and Jainan to be incredibly likeable characters, both charming in their own way. Kiem: the self-appointed “least-favourite grandson of the Emperor”, easygoing and kind, but with the unfortunate ability to put his foot in his mouth on any given occasion. Jainan: dutiful, but almost anxious. There’s something in his past (and his past marriage) the reader only sees hints of in the beginning, but it's clear that he has gone through some terrible things. I immediately got the strong urge to protect him at all costs.

I’ve heard Winter's Orbit was first posted on AO3 as an original work, and it does have that seemingly easy, effortlessly entertaining quality to it, with characters that feel familiar despite just meeting them, and a plot I was invested in from the beginning. There’s a lot of pressure resting on both Kiem’s and Jainan’s shoulders—when push comes to shove, a failed marriage between them could mean war.

Winter’s Orbit started out as an almost slice-of-like like science fiction story, filled with all the best kinds of tropes: royals, arranged marriage, forced proximity, oblivious characters—a conglomeration of misunderstandings was inevitable, which, of course, is the case for all good romances. But despite being incredibly engaging and immersive, Winter’s Orbit isn’t always lighthearted: the focus shifted quite early in the story, from political consequences, a covered-up murder and a looming war, to more personal stakes, namely Jainan’s past and his abusive relationship with Prince Taam.

That brings me to my next point, and one of my favourite things about Winter’s Orbit: despite being a sci-fi story about different alien planets and their people, this book felt so utterly, heartbreakingly human. The characters—and especially the two protagonists, Kiem and Jainan—were some of the most realistically written characters I’ve ever come across, with hopes and wishes, doubts and fears. I cared especially about Jainan, who had to live with the consequences of living with and being married to an abusive man for five years, always thinking he was the one to blame. Some of the passages made me cry, because this is the reality for too many people and Jainan’s struggles to find back to who he truly was after holding so much of himself back for years was both heart-wrenching and encouraging—because there can be so much happiness waiting for you. I loved how both Kiem and Jainan were able to see all the good things the other wasn’t able to see about himself, and I also loved how their friends were willing to fight so fiercely for their well-being.

The only thing I could complain about was the ending, which seemed a bit rushed, after so much careful development. Suddenly, everything happened very fast: both, the solving of Taam’s murder and the Kingfisher project, but also Kiem’s and Jainan’s personal struggles. I would’ve liked a few more pages, to wrap everything up more cleanly.

That said, Everina Maxwell has a rare talent: despite the comparatively high stakes, Winter’s Orbit feels almost intimate, and utterly and incredibly human, in its execution; so much so, that I’d be hard-pressed to find another book that has the same genuine feeling to it, the characters that seem so real that there’s almost a vulnerability to it. In that way, it reminded me most closely of The House in the Cerulean Sea, which was much quieter overall, though, so it’s not a perfect comparison.

Overall, Winter’s Orbit is an unforgettable debut and a truly ambitious combination of fascinating sci-fi world-building, engaging romance tropes, and political intrigue. It was one of the most immersive books I’ve read this year, with characters that seemed so utterly human that it would be impossible not to feel for them, not to wish them the very best. Despite an ending that seemed a bit rushed, Winter’s Orbit was a wonderful story and I’m very much looking forward to whatever Everina Maxwell has planned next!

3.5 stars!
Wasn't quite what I expected but I still enjoyed it.

I really liked the mystery aspect in this and I'm definitely a sucker for a space setting.

I did expect this to have more romance especially with it being compared to red white and royal blue and I do wish the romance was built up more however the main characters were still cute together.

My favourite part of the book was definitely after the plane incident.

I also found the world a little confusing but overall I liked the story and can see a lot of people loving it.

The perfect balance of romance, political intrigue and humour, A Winter’s Orbit is a stunning debut and one of my new favourite books. Filled with charm and lots heart-warming moments but also a lot of tension and angst it strikes the perfect balance between a comforting read and one you just cannot put down. Seriously I read this in a day and refused to do anything but read because I had to know what happened!

The 2 main characters, Kiem and Jainan are so well crafted and lovable and complement each other so well. They play into the grumpy/sunshine trope (which I am a sucker for), with Kiem being a pretty outgoing charming prince and Jainan is much more reserved and stoic. At the start of the book they are thrust into an arranged marriage in order for a treaty between their two planets. Jainan was previously married to Kiem’s cousin Taam but after he mysteriously dies, Kiem must step up from being a playboy prince to ensure the treaty is upheld.

The mystery of Taam’s death is a major focus of the book, as well as making sure the alliance between the planets is secure as the over-arching galactic force, the Resolution is breathing down their backs.
We also have a huge focus on Kiem and Jainan relationship which was my favourite part of the book! It played into all my favourite tropes and watching them slowly grow to trust each other ugh I AM SOFT. We soon learn there was a lot more to Jainan and Taam’s marriage than it seemed on the surface, and as a result of this Jainan’s character is very reserved and diminished and it was very clear at least to me/the reader (not so much to Kiem at first lol) it had been an emotionally abusive relationship (spoiler: later it is found out it is physically abusive as well). Watching Jainan slowly heal and come into himself and realise what had happened to him and come to terms with it, as well as learn to stand up for himself was such a joy to watch, whilst also being heart wrenching and I may have teared up a few times.

Kiem is also such a great character, his kindness and selflessness really shows through and his gentleness with Jainan was so precious. He is also learning to take a bit of responsibility and helping Jainan investigate, getting himself involved in politics when previously he was very care free. His relationship with his aide Bel is also adorable, their banter is god tier and I love strong friendships in books! (Also I’m really hoping for a lesbian spin off featuring bel and gariad).

The balance of romance and intrigue just made for the perfect book in my eyes, and the way they tied together was perfect, you really felt the stakes that the marriage was important and I also love murder mystery type court drama. The world was also really well crafted, the conspiracy taking place was very well thought out and easy to see how it arose and I actually didn’t see a certain reveal of the “bad guy” coming. I also really liked how we explored how the cultures were different, especially through Jainan and how he had been isolated from his fellow Theans and made to conform himself to exactly what Taam wanted, denying himself a fundamental part of who he is.

The best way I can describe the book is a cross between red white and royal blue and a memory called empire.

There is a sequence in the middle of the book in which Kiem and Jainan end up in the wilderness and I have to say this was probably my favourite part of the book! I am a complete sucker for when one character gets cold and then they have to snuggle up together to get warm UWU. I also loved the wintery environment in this part and all the stunning landscape descriptions!

Overall this book manages to feel light hearted and comforting whilst also being really intense and dealing with some hard topics. I also loved how casually queer it was, I always love lgbtq rep in books and this world seemed so queer friendly which I think is another reason I found it so comforting. This will definitely be a book I will read over and over, and I expect will get so much from each time. Basically if you enjoy gays in space, political drama/conspiracies and grumpy/sunshine arranged marriage romance you will love this book!!!!

Winter's Orbit sees Iskat Empire controlling its political relationships with vassal planets with a system of treaties and often marriage alliances. After the Imperial Prince Taam dies in a freak spaceship accident, his black sheep cousin Prince Kiem is pushed into an arranged marriage with Taam's widow Count Jainan who also happens to be the planet Thean's diplomatic representative. When Taam's death is revealed to may have been a murder, the implications result in the couple's diplomatic privileges hindered (a huge problem for the Empire, as the Auditor's visit is imminent and required for the signing of the Resolution, which will guarantee peace among empires for decades). The two must now work together to solve the mystery before the political ramifications of the possible-murder snowballs into an interplanetary war.

The first thing I noticed about Winter's Orbit is how reminiscent it is to fanfiction a la Archives of Our Own (I later learnt that this was originally published there). Familiar romantic tropes taken to a joyride in longer, self-contained chapters. Winter's Orbit takes said tropes and does them in a refreshing, exciting way. The romance is put into heavy focus with a lot of introspection, emotional connection (at times physical😉), and push-and-pull style yearning bursting at the smallest touches. Forced marriages are such a trope, and watching it unfold in Winter's Orbit was a delight. The chemistry between the jovial, puppy-eyed Kiem and stoic, brainy Jainan was electric — and their slow-burn relationship was developed with just the right pacing. Even the hurdles in their relationship (e.g. miscommunication and insecurity) were navigated with a sensitive manner appropriate for each other's personalities and pasts.

Naturally, this being mainly a romance, the book focuses on the main leads Kiem and Jainan. Maxwell manages to write a couple whom we can definitely root for either individually or together. Easygoing, charming Kiem may not be academically-inclined as Jainan is, but he's more sensitive and perceptive than people tend to give him credit for. He's also "street smart," given that he knows how to use his networking connections to survive in a society full of journalists always ready for the next big scandal. Shy, nervous Jainan, on the other hand, tends to complement Kiem's street smart with his own book smart. He tends to be duty-bound, a trait which influences his attitude and actions based on how they may affect Thean's relationship with the Iskat Empire. Jainan, however, is harder to understand, particularly he withholds a key secret until a good way into the book (though I'm sure readers would have guessed this well ahead of Kiem).

On another note, Winter's Orbit dives into the topic of emotional, psychological abuse and physical violence, which Maxwell analyses and explores in a delicate way appropriate to the sensitivity it requires. Maxwell's portrayal is realistic to the point where its effects are persistent and inherent although the bruises have faded. As often and tragically as most cases are, the victim ends up internalising his long-term pain and blame to himself, shaping his every interaction with others and his expectations for the future. Winter's Orbit is a mature, realistic approach to how such abuse can deeply scar someone; and Maxwell strives to make a point that everyone, abuse victims included, deserve to be loved and that no one deserves to be mistreated as such.

While I understand that Winter's Orbit is a space opera rather than hard science-fiction, Winter's Orbit world/space building left me striving for more details, especially since in terms of world structure certain details are left unsaid. The remnants, for example, I felt was not sufficiently explored as the reader was clued in to their purpose only towards the end of the book. I felt that exploring these, and the Auditors in general, would have helped emphasizing the importance of Kiem and Jainan's mission to the intergalactic politics more appropriate to its high stakes. The book, however, has a beautifully described scenery in which a particularly iconic tent in snowy mountains scene is an imagery hard to forget.

I appreciated how this book has a special emphasis on culture and politics over technology and space battles. They truly bring that grounded feel to space opera while expanding is scope beyond planetary borders (honestly not even I have any idea if that made any sense). What I liked most of all, however, Maxwell's fantastic depiction of gender and sexuality representation. In this world, people’s gender is a choice that they can choose, or not, to express with accessories they wear (like glass or wood) rather than using physical traits. Also, homophobia doesn’t exist simple as that. No need to justify your gender and your sexuality. This aspect was truly refreshing to read and should be appreciated more in the SFF genre.

All in all, I liked Winter's Orbit for what it ended up becoming for me: a fast, action-packed stand-alone read with a delightfully sweet and nuanced romance between two people brimming with history and circumstance. It's a refreshing book with a lot of arsenals up its sleeve: it had the fluff, it had the mystery, the angsty drama fitting for space operas, twisty turns, and heart-clenching moments. It also handles the sensitive, heavy topic it sets out to do in a mature and realistic way. I may have longed for more in terms of world/space-building, but what this book has it does really well. The diversity in this book is impressive, and I liked how easy and accessible Maxwell's prose is. It's definitely something I would recommend to Science Fiction-Fantasy fans looking for a quick, comforting bite of romance as this book would appeal for fans of both genres.

I don’t generally read Sci-Fi but how could I turn down a premise that is Ancillary Justice meets Red, White & Royal Blue? I couldn’t, and I’m so glad I put my concerns about Sci-Fi aside because this debut was amazing!

So this is a book with an intriguing murder mystery, and some fascinating politics to keep the plot moving–but at its heart it’s a captivating love story, and I just fell in love with this charming slow-burn romance.

The main characters, Kiem and Jainan, were brilliantly multi-faceted creations, whose insecurities and fears were fully explored throughout the book. They play off each wonderfully with Kiem being the charming one, used to socialising and making friends easily, and Jainan being more closed off, always thinking his actions through carefully before he commits to anything. It makes their relationship an interesting one as they slowly uncover each other’s layers and learn to trust one another. Their attraction is definitely a slow burn, even though Kiem does find Jainan handsome from the beginning, those feelings aren’t acted on straight away. I loved that they didn’t jump straight in, they spent the time to really get to know one another first. There are a few misunderstandings along the way but they are quickly cleared up.

The murder mystery took a backseat to most of the politics in the book, there’s a lot of struggles between all the different planets as they volley for power. The action mostly takes place in the second part of the book, and a lot of the first half is made up of conversations, and the subtle power struggles that take place in the palace. The world building was decent, although, like I said, I don’t generally read Sci-Fi but I thought Maxwell did a good job at setting the scene for her space opera. It’s not a hard Sci-Fi by any means but it is a very enjoyable and easy read.

I loved the representation in this story! This is a world that Maxwell has created and it is wonderful in its inclusivity, there are all kinds of sexualities, all kinds of genders, people can choose to display their gender or hide it if they wish. You have a woman called the Emperor, and another called Prince. Both Kiem and Jainan are coloured and it was all just so lovely to read a book where this is all seen as normal. We need more of this in fiction!

It’s hinted at the end that there might be more books in this Universe and I really hope there will be. Even if they’re not about Kiem and Jainan I just crave more in this series, I love Maxwell’s writing and I’m very intrigued to find out more about the planets, the Auditors and the remnants.

All in all Winter’s Orbit is a wonderfully charming love story, an adventure in space, and an experience in space politics. A magnificent debut and I can’t wait to see what Maxwell writes next!

Although Sci Fi is not my most favorite genre, I liked this one! A lot! I pick up Sci Fi books when the premise seems interesting and when I think the Sci Fi part will be easy to understand. From the moment I saw Winter’s Orbit, I loved the cover and the blurb. And it was compared to ‘Red, white and royal blue’! I have to admit I had to get used to the world building at first but when I got used to it, I loved the story.

Kiem and Jainan are wonderful together, complementing each other in a lot of ways. Kiem charming, social and empathetic, always feeling he’s not smart enough and Jainan thoughtful, anxious and distant, always afraid to do wrong. Their relationship builds up slowly, although Kiem immediately thinks Jainan is attractive. They get to know each other pretty quickly and start working together when they find out Taam might be murdered. From the start it’s clear that something happened in Jainan’s past that made him anxious and obedient. The first part of the story is directed to the world building and the growing relationship between Kiem and Jainan while the second half of the story is more fast paced with a lot of action. I guessed quite early in the story what happened in Jainan's past and who was behind Taam's death but that did not detract from the story.

The representation in this story is fabulous, all kinds of sexualities, different gender, Jainan and Kiem both colored, women who were called Prince and so on. It’s refreshing to read a story where no emphasis is placed on sexuality, race or gender. Instead differences are seen as normal. Love it!

So a wonderful story set in space and I’m ready to read the next story of Evarina Maxwell.

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/108960535-marieke-du-pr

I'll be posting my review on Goodreads on January 19.