Review: The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart

The Bone Shard Emperor

Andrea Stewart

(The Drowning Empire #2)

Publication Date: November 23, 2021

Hardcover, 560 pages, Orbit

Genres: Adult, Fantasy

Goodreads

Andrea Stewart returns with The Bone Shard Emperor, the second installment of this unmissable, action-packed, magic-laced fantasy epic.

 

 The Emperor is Dead. Long live the Emperor.

 

Lin Sukai finally sits on the throne she won at so much cost, but her struggles are only just beginning. Her people don’t trust her. Her political alliances are weak. And in the north-east of the Empire, a rebel army of constructs is gathering, its leader determined to take the throne by force. 

 

Yet an even greater threat is on the horizon, for the Alanga – the powerful magicians of legend – have returned to the Empire. They claim they come in peace, and Lin will need their help in order to defeat the rebels and restore peace. 

 

But can she trust them?

My Review

The Bone Shard Emperor is definitely for fantasy lovers of mythology, creature companions (which are honestly the best creature companions I know of outside of Toothless the dragon), a little bit of slow-burn romance, mult-POV stories, unhinged villains, and even body horror/necromancy plotlines. (The body horror isn't super explicit, but it is there.) I said book one was for fans of The Poppy War and The Daevabad series, and that recommendation still holds up. The Bone Shard Emperor also has a little bit of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings vibes as well.

As for the characters, there are five POVs again. Lin and Jovis are the primary protagonists. Lin is trying to keep her country together, and Jovis is trying to keep Mephi from stealing things. Well, more seriously, he's spying on the new emperor. Lin and Jovis's relationship is the type I love but hate at the same time. It's slow-burn! With secret keeping! And miscommunications! I just want more of them bumbling their way through liking each other in book three. But what I really want is more Mephi. I picture Lin and Jovis's companions as little otters, which totally doesn't work for some of the battle scenes, but that's just how they look in my mind. All cute and fuzzy and adorable. To the bad guys who mistreat the creatures, I hope you suffer in book three.

Phalue and Ranami are still around too, though their chapters in the first half of the book are a tad bit slower. Their plotlines did pick up at the end, however. And the final POV is kind of a major spoiler from the first book, so I won't give anything away. 

Now, the plot of the story isn't super unique, as some of the reveals and major beats have been done before fairly often, but the character interactions and smaller plot twists had me devouring the last half of this book when I should've been sleeping to wake up for work in the morning. The Bone Shard Emperor's POV characters start interacting more than in the first installment, which I definitely enjoyed, especially Lin and Jovis. If that wasn't already obvious. Oh, and that cliffhanger with my favorite character. UGH! They better be okay, Andrew Stewart, or I will curse your pillows to allows be warm and your socks to always be cold. Haha. Just kidding. But seriously, nothing bad better happen.

All in all, this sequel has action, godly powers, and mystical swords to keep many a fantasy reader happy. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who wants a fast-paced high fantasy trilogy to binge.

*Note: I received a copy of this book to review from the publisher. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: Oaths of Legacy by Emily Skrutskie

Oaths of Legacy

Emily Skrutskie

(The Bloodright Trilogy #2)
Publication Date: September 14, 2021

Hardcover, 288 pages, Del Rey Books

Genres: YA, Sci-Fi, LGBT+

Goodreads

Torn between loyalty and love, a young prince will learn how much he's willing to sacrifice as he tries to destroy the rebellion that threatens his throne in this exhilarating sequel to Bonds of Brass.

Gal’s destiny has always been clear: complete his training at the military academy, prove his worth as a royal successor, and ascend to the galactic throne. When a failed assassination plot against Gal sends him and Ettian—his infuriatingly enticing roommate—on a mad dash through the stars, Gal’s plans are momentarily disrupted. But he was born to rule the Umber Empire, and with Ettian by his side, nothing will stop him from returning home and crushing the growing insurgency threatening his family’s power.

But nothing is ever that simple in war—or in love. Gal is captured by the rebellion during a skirmish and faces public execution, his grand fate cut short. To save Gal’s life, Ettian does the unthinkable: he reveals himself as the secret heir to the fallen Archon Empire and rightful leader of the rebellion . . . and, therefore, Gal’s sworn enemy. Now a political hostage in this newly-reignited conflict, Gal must use his limited resources to sabotage the rebellion from within, concoct an escape plan, and return to the empire he’s destined to lead. And if that means taking down the man he thought he loved?

All the better.

My Review

Gal and Ettian are back in the second installment of Emily Skrutskie's Bloodright Trilogy, and boy, are things just a wee bit complicated now. But I have to admit it was fun seeing all the relationship drama play out. What can I say? I love reading enemies-to-lovers romance. It's my thing. Add in a sci-fi element, and I'm all in.

So Oaths of Legacy picks up pretty close to where Bonds of Brass left off. I won't spoil the first book, but let's just say Gal wasn't in a good place and Ettian was in a slightly better one. Unlike the first book, however, Gal is the point-of-view character for book two, which was a little odd, but not unwelcome. It's a different strategy when it comes to writing YA sci-fi, and I'm intrigued to see who narrates book three now. 

While I was initially skeptical about the plot development Ettian had towards the end of the first book, I was 100% on board for it in this one. Ettian's new role made for some great romantic tension between two boys who just have no idea what the heck they're feeling and what the heck they're doing.

It had been a while since I read Bonds of Brass, so I had a little bit of trouble remembering some of the names and overall worldbuilding, but nothing was hard to pick up on once the book got going. However, I actually enjoyed Oaths of Legacy a lot more, simply because of the tension and Gal's internal and external dilemma in deciding where he stands in the war. I will say, though, that sometimes Gal got a little wishy-washy in his politicking and not a whole lot happened in terms of plot for him until the very end. There just wasn't a lot of action in general when compared to the first book. Did that stop me from wanting to know what was going to happen next? Nope. Those darn boys just kept pulling me back in.

All in all, Oaths of Legacy was a great second installment to a series that combines typical sci-fi elements like spaceship battles and robotic suits with the fantasy royalty tropes that are being devoured by readers right now. I'd highly suggest this story for anyone who likes Red Rising, Throne of Glass, The Kiss of Deception, The Winner's Curse, and the Star Wars franchise. It's just a fun time overall.

*Note: I received a NetGalley ARC of this book to review from the publisher. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Iron Widow

Xiran Jay Zhao

(Iron Widow #1)

Publication Date: September 21, 2021

Hardcover, 400 pages, Penguin Teen

Genres: YA, Sci-Fi, LGBTQ+

Goodreads

The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn't matter that the girls often die from the mental strain.

When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.​

To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia​. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed.

My Review

Wow! Xiran Jay Zhao is out to pack a punch with Iron Widow. I've never read a single YA book like it, but if this is the direction the sci-fi/fantasy storylines are going to take in the future, I am all for it.

Okay, so Iron Widow was a lot crazier than I anticipated it to be, which lead to some mixed feelings while I was reading. What I really enjoyed was how different it was from all other sci-fi on bookshelves right now. There's a polyamorous romance, a female character who has a very strained relationship with her family, and a mysterious world that leads to a crazy cliffhanger twist at the end.

To really get into my review, I have to note how fast-paced this story is. It's almost too quick-paced once we get into the first third of the story. While the battles go on a bit too long, everything else, like relationships and character interactions, seem to snap by a lot faster. I felt like there could have been more pauses and slow moments to really feel the tension. Everything was kind of Wham! Bam! One revelation after another. I'd also say the worldbuilding is a little confusing at first. It's like Pacific Rim, Voltron, and Transformers with some more complex rules thrown in. Pilots driving giant magic-esque robots to fight monsters. You get used to all the techy explanation stuff once the series goes on, though. (Iron Widow definitely has some major Transformers movie sequel vibes with the battles going on just a bit too long. But, if you like longer action scenes, you may seriously enjoy those chapters of the book.)

Now, back to the characters. This is where the book lost me at times. Because while I enjoyed Zetian, our female protagonist, her emotions did kind of hop from one feeling to the next pretty quickly. I personally wanted more angst, especially with three teen love interests trying to figure their lives out during monster attacks and sabotages. I'm a character-reader though, so if you're more plot-based, you might appreciate the fast-paced emotional changes. I will say that Zetian never backed down from a challenge, and I was continually impressed by every decision she made. I was rooting for her to go all Daenerys Targaryen on everyone and everything multiple times throughout the book.

One of the male love interests, Li Shimin, is a shady figure at first. He's a pilot who killed his entire family. Yikes. But the author, Zhao, goes a long way in really delving into Li's backstory and making him a sympathetic character. Poor guy. He's just a gentle giant who doesn't deserve all the hate.

My major love interest issue comes from Yihzi, who kind of just shows up. He doesn't get as much time or care as the other two characters, and when he is involved with one or both of them, I didn't feel a connection to him. Perhaps because his past isn't really shared? I think Zhao has potential to delve into his background a little more and not just make him the childhood best friend with a rich daddy, and I have my fingers crossed that this is the case. His storyline could turn out to be great if he gets more page time.

While I will say that the premise of Iron Widow really drew me in, the execution didn't make this story one of my all-time favorites. However, I can totally appreciate what Zhao is doing with this book. Zhao is writing a female character who is taking charge of her life after she's been put through hell, and this female character is getting to finally experience power with two male love interests as her arm candy. It's great! But with all of these thoughts in mind, I'm not sure if I'll pick up the sequel; though, I do think YA SFF lovers should pick this one up and give it a try. It's worth the read, especially for fans of Pacific Rim, Voltron, Transformers, Power Rangers, The Hunger Games, or Avatar: The Last Airbender.

*Note: I received an ARC of this book to review from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: The Endless Skies by Shannon Price

The Endless Skies

Shannon Price

Publication Date: August 17, 2021

Hardcover, 354 pages, Tor Teen

Genres: YA, Fantasy

Goodreads

High above the sea, floats the pristine city of the Heliana. Home to winged-lion shapeshifters―the Leonodai―and protected from the world of humans by an elite group of warriors, the Heliana has only known peace.

After years of brutal training, seventeen-year-old Rowan is ready to prove her loyalty to the city and her people to become one of the Leonodai warriors. But before Rowan can take the oath, a deadly disease strikes the city’s children. Soon the warriors―including two of Rowan’s closest friends―are sent on a dangerous mission to find a fabled panacea deep within enemy lands.

Left behind, Rowan learns a devastating truth that could compromise the mission and the fate of the Heliana itself. She must make a decision: stay with the city and become a warrior like she always dreamed, or risk her future in an attempt to save everyone she loves. Whatever Rowan decides, she has to do it fast, because time is running out, and peace can only last so long...

My Review

Shape-shifting flying lions in YA fantasy books. Sounds intriguing, right? And to me it was. I was curious as to how something like this could be done well in a YA storyline. Was I completely impressed with how this book was executed? Not really, sadly.

So we have three main characters in The Endless Skies, all with their own point-of-view chapters. First is Rowan, a headstrong Leonodai warrior-in-training; Callen, the boy who loves her; and Shirene, Rowan's older sister who works for the King. Because there were three POV characters, and none of their voices were particularly unique, it was very easy to get them mixed up and forget who we were following in each chapter. At least one POV should've been cut, maybe two. We got way too much information out of Shirene's chapters, due to her political role, that would have been better off coming as surprises to the primary character, Rowan. Then, plot elements could've been surprising to the reader as well. As for Callen, having a POV from a boy who has been rejected romantically by the main character is quite interesting, but since Rowan and Callen are in the same locations a lot of the time, theirs were the easier chapters to mix up.

Rowan herself isn't all that interesting or unique from other YA female fantasy characters, either. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but if you've read a lot of fantasy, this may not be the book for you. Because of the lack of difference in characters' inner voices and the lack of individuality of characters, this book read really young. I would recommend it for 12-14 year-olds, not upper YA readers.

The world building, while completely unique in the shapeshifting abilities, is just okay. There's not enough description to really connect readers with the locations, other magical shapeshifting creatures, or even the catastrophic things that are happening to the children of the land. Oh, and a major warning here for a disease that kills off kids. If you're at all tired of diseases or even triggered by diseases because of the world's current circumstances, do not read this book. I know that's one reason I just couldn't get into it, in combination with the stuff I mentioned earlier.

Despite the disease, the book is fast-paced, so readers can devour it pretty quickly if they're so inclined. And because it's not a complex magic system, and the characters have a rather modern dialect for a fantasy world, it's an easy book to give to new readers and not bog them down in complexity. Oh, but speaking of world-building, I was super confused as to why an entire magic system rests on the shoulders of a small child when the father is still alive and should have had magic as well. Maybe I missed something about this in the story, but I found it extremely odd that rescuing a baby was key to the entire Leonodai existence.

All in all, The Endless Skies is simply an okay read for those who have devoured fantasy books for many years. While, to a newbie, it may be something super enjoyable. I think if I handed this book to a sixth grader, they'd have a pretty good time.

*Note: I received a NetGalley ARC of this book to review from the publisher. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: The Exiled Fleet by J.S. Dewes

The Exiled Fleet

J. S. Dewes

(The Divide #2)

Publication Date: August 17, 2021

Paperback, 432 pages, Tor

Genres: Adult, Sci-Fi

Goodreads

J. S. Dewes continues her fast paced, science fiction action adventure with The Exiled Fleet, where The Expanse meets The Black Company--the survivors of The Last Watch refuse to die.

The Sentinels narrowly escaped the collapsing edge of the Divide. They have mustered a few other surviving Sentinels, but with no engines they have no way to leave the edge of the universe before they starve.

Adequin Rake has gathered a team to find the materials they'll need to get everyone out.

To do that they're going to need new allies and evade a ruthless enemy. Some of them will not survive.

My Review

We're back with Adequin Rake, Cavalon Mercer, and the Sentinel crew in this witty and epic sci-fi series that I just can't get enough of! Seriously, book three better be on its way, or I will have some words with Tor. I must have the next installment!

Okay, I'm going to stop (jokingly) threatening publishing companies and instead focus on my review. The Exiled Fleet picks up close to where The Last Watch left off. Some time has passed, though more time has passed for Cav than for Rake. That darned Divide messing with time again. I will straight up say that Cav is still a giant mess in this book, and for some very strange reason, I really enjoy that. He has so much going on in that brain of his, that sometimes he just forgets how to take care of himself. He's a disaster cinnamon roll, and I love him.

As for Adequin Rake, surprisingly, she was a bit of a mess in this book as well. Which totally makes sense given the events of book one. Lots of PTSD and trauma to sort through, as well as survivor's guilt for both Rake and Cav. However, Rake still had her badass moments, and Cav had his scientific HA-HA moments for his major brain blasts.

The plot for this installment started off a little slow at first, but it picks up fairly early on, and even when the book is slow, you can tell a new, faster development is coming in the next few pages. There are some major revelations going on in The Exiled Fleet, and things go topsy-turvy. (Poor Cav....)

While I did very much enjoy myself with this sequel, I will say that there were a couple of events that I found myself a little iffy about. One was a small time jump in the middle of the book that really confused me. I actually thought it was a dream sequence or a hallucination at first. Then, later, a very convenient "save the day" moment happened that kind of took me out of the story a bit. However, these were pretty minor interruptions to my overall reading experience.

So, was book two better than book one? Yes and no. Yes because major plot points happen, and no because it wasn't as funny as book two, in my opinion. Definitely still fun, but that opening line for The Last Watch still kills me every time I think about it. Now for the important question: do I still want to be a member of Adequin Rake's crew? Also yes and no. Yes because they're awesome. No because bad things happen to them. Often. That being said, I'm still 100% recommending this series for fans of Game of Thrones and The Expanse, as well as Star Trek and even YA sci-fi fans. It's just a good time all around.

*Note: I received a NetGalley ARC of this book to review from the publisher. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: Flash Fire by TJ Klune

Flash Fire

TJ Klune

(The Extraordinaries #2)

Publication Date: July 13, 2021

Hardcover, 384 pages, Tor Teen

Genres: YA, Sci-Fi, LGBTQ+

Goodreads

Flash Fire is the explosive sequel to The Extraordinaries by USA Today bestselling author TJ Klune!

Nick landed himself the superhero boyfriend of his dreams, but with new heroes arriving in Nova City it’s up to Nick and his friends to determine who is virtuous and who is villainous. Which is a lot to handle for a guy who just wants to finish his self-insert bakery AU fanfic.

My Review

Nick and co. are back at it again. Doing superhero things in a superhero world. And of course Nick has to be as adorably awkward and goofy as possible trying to figure out all that superhero drama. He has zero chill.

While this second installment didn't have quite the same charm as book one, it was still an enjoyable journey. It was nice getting to see Nick go through his junior year with his friends, especially knowing it's Gibby's last year there. It always sucks when older friends graduate before you. And it was great to see a group of teenagers who got along and didn't have unnecessary melodrama just for the sake of having unnecessary melodrama. Though, in all honesty, a little bit of relationship drama between Seth and Nick would have been great to see. Sometimes their "arguments" never seemed to really dig deep into major feelings. And that was true for a lot of the conflicts in this book. You'd go from one major revelation to another with no real downtime to let the emotions play out. It was almost too fast-paced.

But there was an introduction to a certain superhero that had me absolutely in love! The name! The powers! YASSSS! Nick was 100% correct in his excitement level. I could totally relate.

Sadly, the plot developments for this book were fairly predictable, whereas in the first book, I was totally surprised by the major reveal. I guess because there aren't any more secret identities floating around, the superhero trope I won't mention because of major spoilers had to come into play. Let's just say that it's a development that was set up at the end of book one about Nick's own backstory. Oh, and something I thought I'd mention is how the author addressed the police brutality plotline from book one. The author totally made the effort to fix elements of his story; however, I'm not sure if I was just aware of these changes because I knew he was going to fix it, or if it's something I would have noticed regardless, but sometimes the writing around those particular scenes felt a little drawn out and forced. But maybe that was just me. I do appreciate him making the effort though.

So did I have fun reading this story? Absolutely! There were chuckles and a couple of face palms, but I was slightly disappointed that no major plot reveals came about, or at least not ones that I wasn't already anticipating. However, I'm not the target audience here, so I think teens will really enjoy this addition to the series. It's definitely one comic book readers and Marvel movie fans will love, and it's also a great book to diversify shelves, both in terms of genre and characters. Overall, I'm still eagerly anticipating the conclusion to The Extraordinaries trilogy, and I can't wait for Nick to finally "take out the trash."

*Note: I received an ARC of this book to review from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: The Last Watch by J.S. Dewes

The Last Watch

J. S. Dewes

(The Divide #1)

Publication Date: April 20, 2021

Paperback, 480 pages, Tor

Genres: Adult, Sci-Fi

Goodreads

The Expanse meets Game of Thrones in J. S. Dewes' fast-paced, sf adventure The Last Watch, where a handful of soldiers stand between humanity and annihilation.

The Divide.

It’s the edge of the universe. Now it’s collapsing—and taking everyone and everything with it.

The only ones who can stop it are the Sentinels—the recruits, exiles, and court-martialed dregs of the military.

At the Divide, Adequin Rake, commanding the Argus, has no resources, no comms—nothing, except for the soldiers that no one wanted.

They're humanity's only chance.

My Review

Sometimes a book doesn't hook you in for a few chapters, or even for the first hundred pages. J.S. Dewes's The Last Watch hooked me in from the opening line! To be completely honest, that's a rare feat for me. I'm the type who doesn't get fully captured until I've gotten to know the characters a little more. So thank you, Dewes, for giving me a laugh with that LOL-worthy beginning!

The Last Watch is told from two different characters' points of view. The first is Cavalon, a trouble-making royal prince who's just trying to do his cinnamon-roll best in a space (pun-intended) that's trying to kill him. His banter and wit are absolutely hilarious, and his antics made me both feel sorry for him and roll my eyes at the same time. I felt like he needed a hug or two.

The other point-of-view character is Adequin Rake. Unlike Cavalon, she didn't immediately suck me in. She seemed a bit of a stickler for the rules and too hesitant to make snap decisions for a spaceship captain. Though, in her own words, she's not exactly a captain. Adequin quickly became a badass boss however, and I loved every second of it. Her protectiveness of her crew is just perfection. No exaggeration when I say her and Cavalon's dynamic had me smiling constantly. She tries to protect the poor fool from his own faults, and he just wants to prove himself useful to her.

Oh, and I can't forget to mention the other crew members. Everyone played a part in getting the job done, and I believe every side character had me feeling some emotion at one point or another.

As for the plot of The Last Watch, it was a little slow after the first couple of chapters, but then $hit hit the fan. So much happened so quickly, and I didn't know how anyone was going to make it out of any of the situations in one piece. I mean, I love me some spaceship explosions, but these were so crazy and my poor little heart just couldn't take it! I didn't want any character hurt.

While overall the action was great, there were some instances, like with any good sci-fi book where scientific (or made-up scientific) terms are used to explain events and actions taken by the characters, that could be a bit disorienting for non-sciency minds like mine. Especially when spaceships are the setting. But again, I'd expect nothing less than some crazy technical jargon in a well-written sci-fi. I just wish my brain was smart enough to actually comprehend what everything means. 😫

I now know that this space-romp adventure has a sequel coming soon, and I've already requested it on NetGalley. I am 100% in for future installments in this series! Consider me a non-official member of Adequin Rake's crew. There's no way I could miss out on any quests undertaken by this particular team. They already made me tear up at the end, and I'm totally ready to rally behind them when things undoubtedly continue to go sideways.

All in all, the comparison of this book to The Expanse and Game of Thrones is correct, especially for fans who love the "stranded and underfunded warriors at the edge of the universe" storyline like with GoT's Night's Watch. I'd also say that The Last Watch has a lot of crossover appeal to young adult readers of series like The Illuminae Files or The Aurora Cycle, maybe even Red Rising. Honestly, The Last Watch is simply pure fun with some space fighting and time hiccups to keep readers on their toes.

*Note: I received an ARC of this book to review from the publisher. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

Winter's Orbit

Everina Maxwell

Publication Date: February 2, 2021

Hardcover, 352 pages, Tor

Genres: Adult, Sci-Fi, LGBT+

Goodreads

Ancillary Justice meets Red, White & Royal Blue in Everina Maxwell's exciting debut.

While the Iskat Empire has long dominated the system through treaties and political alliances, several planets, including Thea, have begun to chafe under Iskat's rule. When tragedy befalls Imperial Prince Taam, his Thean widower, Jainan, is rushed into an arranged marriage with Taam's cousin, the disreputable Kiem, in a bid to keep the rising hostilities between the two worlds under control.

But when it comes to light that Prince Taam's death may not have been an accident, and that Jainan himself may be a suspect, the unlikely pair must overcome their misgivings and learn to trust one another as they navigate the perils of the Iskat court, try to solve a murder, and prevent an interplanetary war... all while dealing with their growing feelings for each other.

My Review

An arranged romance between two royals? Check. A gay relationship? Check. Another planet as the major setting? Check. Winter's Orbit seems to have everything my geeky heart would want in a sci-fi romance book. But unfortunately, I was disappointed in this one. I think I was simply expecting something different.

Winter's Orbit has been compared to Red, White, and Royal Blue, one of the best new adult romance books to release in the past couple of years, which meant I had the (possibly unfair) expectation that Winter's Orbit would be a light-hearted romance with a small dosing of political backdrop. Alas, this book was more of a political sci-fi thriller with a bit of a romance. I typically expect more kissing-feelings-angstiness from my arranged marriage stories, especially ones that are advertised with a one-bed trope and cinnamon roll protagonists.

The book's arranged marriage took place between our two main characters, Kiem, the Iskat Emperor's grandson, and Jainan, the representative from Thean who was married to Kiem's late cousin. Kiem definitely fit the cinnamon roll description. He was cute and funny and kind of a mess at times. I easily fell for his charm. Sadly, Jainan was a little bland. His chapter POVs often read like articles discussing the political state of the planets. He barely had any emotions for the first half of the book. I understand Jainan's history contributed to this, but some sort of emotional connection between the reader and his character just seemed to be missing for far too much of the story. Romantic tension was missing somewhere as well, perhaps in the lack of physical cues between the leads. That last main-character nitpick brings me to the additional characters. The diversity in Winter's Orbit is fantastic. However, it's easy to forget who is who because of the name-dropping, so some of that diversity may be lost in the first read-through.

Now, as for the actual plot of the book, it was an interesting story. The first half was a lot of political discussion, while the second half had a bit more action. Not a crazy amount, but there was some action. There was quite a bit of info-dumping at first, however. It was really difficult to get the names and places straight in my head. I'm still not 100% sure what a remnant is or what it does or what exactly everyone's jobs are. Perhaps a re-read would help and provide me with more enjoyment now that I know the world better. Despite this initial confusion, the final half did get more entertaining. The two characters are put into situations where they're forced to be alone and not talk politics 24/7, though it's still not enough to satisfy me, someone who was anticipating angst and pining.

All in all, if you are looking for a romance book that simply takes place in space, Winter's Orbit might not be for you. On the other hand, if you're looking for a political sci-fi with a smidge of romance and a cast of diverse characters, you'll probably like this one. And who knows, I may have liked it more had my expectations not been set on reading what I anticipated to be more of a romance book.

*Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher to review via NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Top 10 Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2021

It’s Top Ten Tuesday time!

If you’re unaware, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly original feature created by The Broke and the Bookish, and it’s now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week there’s a new Top Ten theme that the blogger responds to with their own list of answers.

This week’s theme is… *drumroll please*…

Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2021

I originally thought 2021 was kind of a dud when it comes to new releases, but I was wrong. Happily wrong.

***

Winter's Orbit by Evarina Maxwell

This one used to be higher on my list, but I won an ARC from Tor so I'm either reading it now or have already read it by the time this post goes up.

War of Dragons by Jessica Cluess

So I read book one last year with my book club, and I enjoyed it. Book two comes out in May; however, the author has done some very questionable things. I'm not sure if I'll buy the book or not.

The Last Watch by J.S. Dewes

I'm watching season five of The Expanse right now, and this book just really reminds me of that show/book series.

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart

Pretty cover? Witches? Magic? Count me in.

Trial of Sorcerers by Elise Kova

Another very pretty cover for a fantasy book. Another cool magic system with sorcerers. I need it.

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

Another M/M sci-fi book? Heck yes! Between Winter's Orbit, this book, and the upcoming A Complicated Love Story Set in Space, 2021 is going to have some great gay sci-fi romances.

Grace and Glory by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The last book in the Dark Elements/Harbinger series. Sad day.

Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

The Red Queen series is one of my favorites, so I'm excited to see Aveyard take on a new fantasy world.

A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth

This book has snuck up on me and replaced Realm Breaker for the number two spot. I want it. That cover and it having two queer couples? Yes, please!

The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Is anyone surprised at this point? This series has taken over my life.

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Alright, there you have it. My most anticipated releases of the first half of 2021. What did you put on your list? Let me know in the comments section.