Surit and Tennal understand each other when no one else in their lives has cared to understand them. I am in love with how Surit describes Tennal throughout the book. The plot was so complex and detailed. There would be instances when a new point would be revealed, and I knew it was relevant somehow, but for the life of me, I could not figure out how. So when it was finally uncovered, I was a mess of excitement and nerves. Things got really crazy at about the 60% mark and did not slow down until the very end. I wasn’t sure my poor heart could take much more, but at the same time, I never wanted it to finish. Truly original.... Writing fantastically memorable characters, Maxwell masterfully draws out a rich and complicated story which explores military incursions, familial ties, and the impact of secrets revealed." — Booklist, starred review Slane, Kevin (June 7, 2018). "Matt Damon's cameo was cut from 'Ocean's 8' ". Boston.com. Boston Globe Media Partners. Archived from the original on June 9, 2018 . Retrieved June 10, 2018. Aw, do you know that feeling? Wanting to read an author’s second novel badly because you loved the first one so much? Being afraid to start and then finding out the second one is even better? It happened to me while reading Ocean’s Echo.

this ends with oceans echo sitting on the faves shelf. this ends with me sending my best friend over 50+ voice messages because i simply could not pause reading to send a text (some voice messages were just us yelling its Fine). it ends with a love so great that honestly? i’m still a little afraid to say this out loud but perhaps it parallels winters orbit in my heart. I love the world that Everina Maxwell has created in Winter's Orbit so I was thrilled to see that Ocean's Echo takes place in that world, just in a different part of the galaxy. There is no overlap in characters, but the world building is the same- and expanded on in a truly fascinating way in Ocean's Echo. I originally pitched this as "like fake dating but with fake soulbonding, also both characters are in the space military."The tension and the pining in this book was perfection. Tennel and Surit are expected to sync together, a term used in the military for a reader and architect, where the architect takes full control of the reader. Unfortunately for the military, they chose the most unwilling and stubborn reader, as well as the most upstanding and rule-following architect ever. Since this sync is nonconsensual and being forced on Tennel, Surit refuses to take part in it, and instead works with Tennel to fake the sync. The two then join forces to help each other reach their goals, and as the story progresses, their bond grows stronger, and their want for each other becomes impossible to ignore. Set in the same, nebulously described world as Winter’s Orbit, this book follows two characters I can’t even recall the names of (Tennal and Surit, as I had to look up). Tennal is the nephew of someone high up in government (whose power you just have to trust because it’s not exactly clear what role she really plays), but is a disappointment, and being so-called “reader”, also perceived as a danger to society. So, in an illegal move, he gets sent into military service, to be forcibly bonded to an “architect” (who, to me, seems more dangerous than someone who can read minds, someone who can write their will onto another person’s mind). Surit is chosen as that architect. The ending was also more of an open ending type than a tightly shut case. There were a few threads that were left without answers and even Tennal and Surit's future together was presented more as a hopeful thing than a sure one. I wasn't entirely upset about that since I had issues with the romance. I will keep an eye out for other Maxwell works, but this one wasn't for me. thank you so so much @torbooks for the earc, and @everina_maxwell for creating a home with her words. ocean’s echo comes out in november.

Everina Maxwell's writing has everything you could ask: impossible choices, divided loyalties, dry wit, and operatic struggle with bureaucracy. I don't know how she's managed to write a book that's simultaneously an elegant comedy of manners, a charming slow-burn romance, and an adventure in space politics, but whatever her secret, I'm wildly envious." —A. K. Larkwood, author of The Unspoken Name It’s not perfect. The worldbuilding felt very messy and barely sketched out and the plot lost itself a little towards the end (I found one of the character decisions particularly idiotic). But at the same time, none of it mattered or affected my enjoyment. It was fast and enjoyable and very easy to read in large chunks. None of them were that good. They weren’t slinging around mental commands at the bar or anything, but Tennal could see it: architects gave off an aura, if you knew how to look for it, like light radiating from a star. The ones he was watching were pretty faint. They might be able to take over someone’s mind for a split second, but only if they really tried. Tennal was looking for someone else. Someone better.Stunning coastal residence, beautifully furnished with gardens and off-road parking. Walking distance to the beach, pub, and many fine eateries. The perfect holiday home retreat.