![]() ![]() Kiem wonders about that too – but when he starts to question this and other things, Kiem and Jainen suddenly find themselves uncovering conflicting details about Taam’s death and the work he did at Kingfisher – the mining operation on Thea. The Theans are also upset that their access to Jainen over the past few years has been so limited. ![]() But there is unrest on Thea – half of Iskat’s military mining is based there, and the Theans are unhappy with the Iskat base and all the resources it’s taking. They try to put a good face on things but in private they tiptoe around each other, both assuming the other is not interested in a real relationship as long as they can make it through the Auditor’s visit, they’ll figure out the rest later. He agrees to the marriage – he sees that it must occur – but he is reserved around Kiem as he can’t imagine that Kiem had any choice either. ![]() Jainen is still spinning from losing his husband Taam so suddenly. Iskat cannot afford for the Resolution to question the bonds, so Kiem has to marry Jainen and he has to make it look like a love match. The primary way Iskat provides proof of those strong relationships is by uniting a member of Iskat royalty with representatives from the planets. If the Resolution Auditor decides Iskat does not, Iskat and the planets it oversees will lose the benefit of Resolution protection and access to the link networks throughout the galaxy, without which Iskat and its vassal planets will be left on their own in a hostile space. This should not strain your capabilities.”Įvery few years, Iskat has to prove to the Resolution that they have control over their sector of the galaxy. You are good at appearing confident in pictures. There must be a representative couple in place to disprove this, with no visible concerns, smiling at the cameras. Everything must be watertight by then.” “The Auditor may conclude Iskat does not have sufficient control over the rest of the Empire to keep our Resolution treaty valid. “We have precious little time before the treaty is signed on Unification Day. “I thought you meant in a few months! The man lost his life partner!” He sat down hard on the uncomfortable gilded chair. Kiem agrees to consider the idea but is shocked at the rush. Jainen was recently widowed when his husband’s spacecraft crashed. Kiem, Prince Royal of Iskat, has been asked to marry Count Jainen, the Thean representative to the federated empire ruled by Iskat. And, as space opera’s go, this one was a pretty quick read.I’m not usually drawn to Science Fiction/Fantasy or Space-Opera Romance but I may have to rethink that after reading Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell. Overall, Winter’s Orbit surprised me by presenting some very mature themes amongst a colorful, imaginative landscape, as well as two main characters who struggle with real-life anxieties and fears. Throw in a few assassination attempts, a done-with-your-shit emperor, a spunky assistant running from her space pirate past, and you’ve got a crazy ride. Also, both Kiem and Jainan grow throughout the story, overcoming their misconceptions about each other and themselves, and so became one of the most stable power couples in their mutual societies. Some of the heavier themes included domestic abuse, trauma, and duty to one’s nation. I originally went into it thinking it was a young adult book, but, by the halfway point I realized it’s more for adults. This isn’t a bad thing of course, especially if you prefer deeper character development over a fast-paced plot. There were a few parts where the pace was slow – roughly, the first third of the novel as we got to know Kiem and Jainan – the prince on royal probation and his Thean emissary husband. It was a fun read, to say the least, though a bit more political than I usually like. The first book of 2023 was Everina Maxwell’s “Winter’s Orbit”, a fun romp through an intergalactic society filled with political intrigue and colorful characters, all framed within an icy alien landscape. ![]()
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