Winter's Orbit

by Everina Maxwell

4 out of 5 

Synopsis
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.

Review
Kiem is one of the many princes of the Iskat Empire, and his life has been one of freedom, until he is roped into a political marriage with a Thean representative.
It's a rushed affair to satisfy the peace treaty of the Resolution, but things are not as straight-forward as they seem.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kiem is one of those minor princes in the Emperor's vast family. He's gotten away with a lifetime of providing plenty of scandal for the media. He has improved with age, but still has a reputation and his adoring fans.
All that changes when his cousin Prince Taam is killed in a shuttle 'accident', and for the sake of a political alliance Kiem has to marry Taam's widower.
When he meets Jainan, he feels a complete fool in comparison. Jainan is very reserved, and intelligent. He's quiet and careful in everything he says and does.

Jainan was married to Prince Taam for five years, and at first he's portrayed as a grieving widower, quietly doing his duty to keep peace between Thea and Iskat.
Slowly you learn that his life with Taam was far from perfect, and the only emotional impact it has are the scars of dealing with an abusive man.

I thought Jainan's story was very strong. It's a realistic portrayal of an unhealthy relationship, and all the little things that Jainan does, as a consequence of having lived with Taam's abuse.
It's upsettingly sweet how he struggles to process Kiem's open friendship. He's trying to work out what he's supposed to say and do to keep his new husband happy; but struggles to come to terms with the fact that Kiem's words don't have a double-meaning and there isn't a hidden threat in everything he says.

This is not a romance. Yes, there is the slow-building connection between Jainan and Kiem; but that romance is not always central to the story.
And I liked that.
This has a solid plot. The marriage is what pulls Kiem in, and between the two of them they uncover a lot about the empire, the actions of the army, and the Resolution.
It turns out that Prince Taam's death may not have been an accident, and there may have been a cover-up.
There are plenty of suspects, as the Empire is not as stable as one would hope. It does keep you guessing throughout.

Sometimes I thought there were too many elements in play, and I lost track of some of the sides and their motivations.
I personally felt that it seemed to hit a natural climax about 80% of the way in, when they discovered who was behind everything and why. What happened next could have been exciting, but I felt disconnected from this part of the story.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure and look forward to more of this author's work.

Winter's Orbit

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