Series: Winter’s Orbit #2
Author: Everina Maxwell
Publisher: Tor Books
Released: November 1, 2022
Received: NetGalley
Warnings: Conscription, loss of autonomy

Book Summary:

Tennalhin Halkana can read minds but only surface thoughts. In society, that makes him a bit of a black sheep – something he’s learned to embrace. He’s been out in the world, doing his best to avoid his family and the consequences of his actions. Right up until they hit him with the weight of a train, now, he’s been forcefully conscripted and faces a forced sync with an architect.

Surit Yeni is the architect in question. While readers like Tennalhin can read minds, architects can influence them. As the son of a traitor general, Surit has worked hard to improve his reputation. As such, he knows every rule and follows them to the T. So it’ll come as quite a surprise when he finds a way to bend those rules to protect Tennalhin.

“Society isn’t something you can just snap your fingers and change.”

My Review:

Oh wow. I loved Winter’s Orbit and have been looking forward to Ocean’s Echo. It did not disappoint! For those wondering, while Ocean’s Echo is a sequel, there is no requirement to read Winter’s Orbit first (though you should read it, you know, for fun).

There is SO MUCH going on in this tale. We have conscription, readers, architects, politics, aliens, and I know I’m forgetting to list about half a dozen things. It’s a complicated foundation for what turns out to be one hell of an emotional roller coaster. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The two perspectives of this tale (Tennalhin and Surit) are so perfect. They’re vastly different from one another, but you know what they say, opposites attract. Honestly, I’m not sure I can say that I had a favorite POV – they complement each other perfectly.

Read Ocean’s Echo if you’re looking for a complex political science fiction novel with aliens and romantic elements. It will not disappoint.

Highlights:

• LGBT
• M/M Romance
• Space Opera
• Psychic-enhanced space travel
• Sequel
• Multiple POV

Trigger Warnings:

• Drug use
• Loss of Autonomy via mind control
• Conscription

Thanks to Tor Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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