Cover Image: Ocean's Echo

Ocean's Echo

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Member Reviews

After really enjoying Winter’s Orbit, I was so excited to jump in to Ocean’s Echo! I like the idea of architects, readers, and neuromodification, mixed with politics and romance in space. Tennal is so rebellious and snarky, and I honestly felt so sad to see how controlling and distrusting the people around him were. There’s a lot more to him than what he is willing to show at surface level, and I enjoyed how we get more glimpses of this as the book progresses. Surit, with his logic, intelligence, and moral compass, was a great balance to Tennal. He has such a strong sense of what is right, and he doesn’t allow himself to be swayed away from it just because of a political or military order. Honestly I loved these two together!

There’s a great balance of humorous and romantic moments mixed with the intensity of the political and military landscape. Overall I enjoyed this book while reading it, but didn’t really feel drawn to pick it up once I stepped away from it. I had a hard time focusing on some of the chapters, especially in the middle of the book (but this could also be due to my reading mood lately 😣).

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Unfortunately this one just never clicked for me. It had some good moments, but the storytelling and world building felt very clunky. Some of that I might blame on the fact that I’m not much of a sci-fi reader, but generally I thought the writing wasn’t that convincing.

I did like the initial premise and the dynamic between the two love interests. I’m a sucker for the “one of them is an absolute mess and the other is an uptight perfectionist” thing. I just wish that their relationship had been developed more, rather than all the sci-fi politics stuff, which didn’t interest me.

Overall, this wasn’t my cup of tea. Some sci-fi manages to cross genre boundaries, but personally this one I would only recommend to people who really like sci-fi (with a small dash of romance on the side.)

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing access to the ARC in return for my honest review.

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As a fan of Winter’s Orbit, I had high hopes for this book. I am happy to say that Ocean’s Echo met and exceeded them!

I am a sucker for snarky traumatized characters, and Tennel absolutely delivered in that department. I fell in love with him instantly. And Surit’s earnestness and rule-following tendencies were also absolutely relatable and compelling. Their story was so much fun and I adored their chemistry with each other.

Additionally, I think I liked the political aspect of this even more than Winter’s Orbit, and I appreciated how miscommunication was not the main obstacle coming between the love interests.

You don’t have to have read Winter’s Orbit to read this one; I felt it did an excellent job standing on its own. But if you liked Winter’s Orbit, you should definitely run out and pick up a copy of this one too!

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- OCEAN'S ECHO is basically a sci-fi twist on the fake dating trope, and I adored it. Even more than WINTER'S ORBIT, which I didn't think would be possible.
- Tennal and Surit are perfect opposites-attract pair, and the slow burn between them is marvelous.
- This book expanded on the worldbuilding set up in the OCEAN'S ECHO, uncovering more history and more secrets along the way. Maxwell's detailed universe is masterful, and i hope she writes more books about other parts of it.

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I'm currently suffering from the worst reading slump I've ever been in, so I'm not enjoying any books at the moment. Therefore I can't give any books a proper review yet!
I know I'm going to absolutely LOVE this book as soon as I get back into reading again, and I'm pretty sure this will be a 5 star read as soon as I get over the horrible slump!
I will post a review on Goodreads, and edit this one as soon as I finish this one, but I'm pretty sure it will end up as a favorite of mine, just like Winter's Orbit!

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This is the story I've been craving for ten years. I would go to Archive of Our Own (AO3) to search for stories with mental connections like this. Ocean's Echo will be the story that I come back to again and again.

The story follows two men who find themselves in an unfortunate situation, one has to be controlled and the other is forced to control him. So, they fake it. Until they find out that there is a threat that could destroy everything they know. I really enjoyed the relationship between Surit and Tennal and I love military sci-fi. The only thing that rubbed me the wrong way was Tennal. He's a rich kid who doesn't care much about the people around him. Surit's need for truth and rules smoothed out the edges of Tennal's annoying behaviors, and I understand that Tennal is self-destructive as a coping mechanism. The book is fantastic though and Tennal quickly becomes a healthier person. I liked it.

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This was basically the perfect book for me. I love space. I love gays. I LOVE gays in space.

While it's set in the same universe as Winter's Orbit, it feels like it's own completely contained world. If Winter's Orbit was a political thriller, Ocean's Echo is a non-stop sci-fi action filled romp through the galaxy.

Tennal is probably my favorite character I've read this year. He's tired, he needs a break, but god damn if he isn't bad ass. The relationship isn't the sole focus of the book, but when it burns it burns bright and I loved it. Tennal and Surits dynamic is absolutely electric, the energy between them crackles whenever they're together even if there's nothing remotely romantic going on.

If you maybe found the first book a bit slow, or didn't like the political aspect of that one then I urge you to check this one out if you're into science fiction, because it's one of the best of the last few years for sure.

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Ocean’s Echo is a sci-fi adventure filled with action. I couldn’t put it down! In a world where there are readers and architects, both gifted with otherworldly manipulative powers, Tennal has always striven to do the opposite of whatever he’s supposed to be doing. It’s not his fault that his aunt is the legislator, one of the most powerful political leaders. When he is caught breaking the rules yet again, she finally conscripts him into the army. Tennal is slated to be bound to an architect, synced and under his control.

Surit, the architect, is extremely principled and ethical. When Surit and Tennal realize that they are being forced together- they decide to fake it. As they journey to a mysterious patch of chaotic space, Tennal and Surit must work together or risk their lie being uncovered. It soon becomes clear that their assignment was no accident and someone has nefarious plans for both of them.

Ocean’s Echo was such a fantastic adventure!! I loved both Surit and Tennal. Tennal was hilarious, yet has routinely been overlooked by the world and underestimated. He finds a perfect pair in Surit, who has the principles and steadiness to ground him. There is very little romance in the book, but the bond between Tennal and Surit was so satisfying. I also loved the fantastic LGBTQ+ rep, the way pronouns are communicated, and the inclusive writing/queer-norm worldbuilding. Everina Maxwell completely drew me into her world, unfurling a devastating and complicated political plot. I can’t wait to see what Maxwell writes next! Thank you to Everina Maxwell, Tor Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I was a huge fan of Winter's Orbit, Everina Maxwell's debut novel. So I was all on board with her newest release Ocean's Echo. The story of Surit and Tennal, two strong willed individuals that are forced together against their will. Slowly they find themselves in the very situation they were trying to avoid. I love a story that develops the romance so organically that it doesn't need to be explained. Tennal and Surit are fated to be with each other, and their narrative clicks in a satisfying way. Add in space adventures and I was enthralled from beginning to end.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for this ARC.

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Due to experimentation with the mysterious Remnants, in Orshan there are two kinds of neuromodified people: the Architects, those that can influence your thoughts; and Readers, who can read minds and also navigate through space. Tennal Halkana—a reader and a walking disaster, forced into conscription into the military by his aunt due to dubious circumstances. He’s forced into a sync bond with Surit Yeni—a model soldier with a dark past. But Surit refuses to go through with his illegal orders to sync and control an unconsenting Tennal, despite the orders they’re both under. So they fake it.

I didn't love Winter's Orbit. I thought it was just fine? I guess? Idk I was so confused, not in a good way like in Gideon the Ninth, and when I wasn't confused, I was bored. I liked Kiem and Jainan but didn't really care about the romance either.

That being said!! I was interested in reading Ocean's Echo. Why? Because LOOK at that cover. It's a beauty! It is grace! I'm obsessed. And I'm happy to say that I actually really enjoyed this one!! If you're like me and you also didn't LOVE WO, I feel like this one is really worth checking out!!

This book has my absolute favorite things that are highly specific to ME.

First, we have the character dynamics!! Tennal is a completely chaotic mess with so many unhealthy coping mechanisms, while Surit is stoic, serious, and protective. I'm obsessed with that dynamic. I love it every time. And I fell in love with them both.

Then we have the mental bonds!! It's about the mortifying ordeal of being known!! & loved in spite of it!! It's about forced proximity. It's about someone knowing you so intimately that you trust them enough to let them into your mind. I eat it up every time, I swear 😩

Ocean's Echo is very different from Winter's Orbit, and it very much stands on its own. It's a different setting, but the overall feel of both is similar.

Just like in Winter's Orbit, the romance isn't the main focus, but Tannal and Surit are always at the center of the story. I don't know what I can say about the plot without spoiling it entirely, but I can say it was super intense, and I was actually very invested in it. The twists had me gasping.

I can't believe it, but reading this made me want to reread Winter's Orbit even more?? I'm very intrigued by the whole alien remnants thing, and I hope we get more books in this universe exploring that.

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Rich socialite, inveterate flirt, and walking disaster Tennalhin Halkana can read minds. Conscripted into the military under dubious circumstances, Tennal is placed into the care of Lieutenant Surit Yeni, a duty-bound soldier, principled leader, and the son of a notorious traitor general. Whereas Tennal can read minds, Surit can influence them. Like all other neuromodified “architects,” he can impose his will onto others, and he’s under orders to control Tennal by merging their minds. Surit may live scrupulously by the rules, but he also has a strong ethical compass and refuses to force Tennal to merge. Together they work to deceive their commanders and scheme to free Tennal, but they are stymied by a political threat that is eager to exploit their skills and far less concerned with right and wrong. Like Maxwell's previous book, Winter's Orbit, Ocean's Echo is both an engrossing gay romance and a glimpse into a complex scifi society where all the technology may be alien but humans are always the same. While not quite reaching the heights of its predecessor, Ocean's Echo is a great read with bright, snappy, yet human dialog and well-developed characters.

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Rating: All-Time Favorite

"We have solved your situation for you,' Tennal announced grandly.
'You haven't! You absolutely haven't'
'We have f*cked up the situation,' Tennal amended, just as grandly, 'in a new and interesting way."

I absolutely adored this book. I loved Winter's Orbit, and I possibly loved his one even more. Ocean's Echo takes place in the same universe as Winter's Orbit, but in an entirely new corner of the galaxy. In this society, neuromodifications were created using alien remnants. There are architects, who are capable of imposing their will for a short period of time on others, and readers, who are capable of reading the emotions and minds of those around them. Readers are vilified in this world while architects are seen as stable and valuable, so often the readers are forcibly synced with an architect in order to control their chaos. We follow Tennal, a chaotic, troublemaker, reader, and the nephew of the Legislator who forcibly conscripts him into the military in order to sync with a reader and hopefully curb his troublemaking. We also follow Surit, the straight-laced, earnest, lieutenant in the military who was chosen as a strong architect to bond with Tennal. However, neither of them want this sync for various reasons, so they fake it and begin to plan for Tennal's escape. Adventure and chaos ensues from there.

Okay so this skews probably more to the sci-fi adventure side of things than the romance side. It is incredibly slow burn between our main characters. However, I really, really loved the romance in this one. The tension was written so well, and I one hundred percent believed Surit and Tennal as a couple. They really are what made this book so enjoyable. Tennal is chaotic and sarcastic and so full of sharp edges. Tennal is so incredibly earnest and steady, and the type of person you would want in your corner in a scrape.

I thought that the piece about the neuromodifications was really interesting and something that I continued to want to read about and learn about. It was compulsively readable and something I didn't want to put down.

I will say that the ending wasn't completely satisfying in terms of tying up all the plot points, but I loved the characters so much at that point, that I didn't really care. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more in this world in the future (I hope!)

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Ocean's Echo releases November 1, 2022.

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As a huge fan of the authors previous work, Winter's Orbit, I had high expectations for this book! And for the most part, they were met, even if I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as Winter's Orbit.

Both main characters were flawed in very interesting but complimentary ways, which I thought was very well done. We have Tennal, who is selfish (but for very fair reasons) while making questionable choices, and Surit follows the rules a bit too much.

Don't misunderstand though - this is very much not a romance novel, but more of a political science-fiction story with a side romance. I think my biggest problem with this one was that I didn't really care about the political aspect of this book - what drew me in was the characters, and the problematic aspects that arose from the reader and architect dynamic. Ultimately, I felt like there was too little focus on the characters (a few more scenes here and there where Thennal and Surit interacted would've been very welcome), and too much on the politics.

This makes it sound like I didn't actually like this, which I did! It was very good! But in some cases a political story can fail to grab me, and in this case I think it was mostly a case of personal taste. The worldbuilding and the political drama are very well developed, and if you like that with a dash of romance I think you'll really like this one!

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This is out today! I very much enjoyed this one. I actually put off reading it for awhile because I was afraid the thing that sometimes happens to me with SF books, where my brain does not want to figure out the world building and can't keep track of the characters, was going to happen with this book. But once I started I was hooked right away and had no trouble staying engaged and keeping track of who was who and what was happening.

I know I'm in the minority, but this author's first book wasn't entirely my cup of tea. This one, however, was very much to my liking. I honestly don't remember enough about the first book to even remember how these are linked, but this definitely reads as a stand alone. I loved the characters in this one and found the plot so enthralling that it was hard to put it down and I sped right through it. Even though I was hooked from the beginning, the plot kept gathering momentum and by the end I was dying to know what happened next. There were plenty of surprises and I just really liked the way the relationship at the heart of the story unfolded. And I loved all the side characters as well!

I absolutely loved the dynamic between the MCs here. It is a slooooooooooooow burn, which I always adore. And the shift from enemies(ish) to friends(ish) to something more was so well done. In some ways this felt more like SF with a side of romance, I'd guess that readers who aren't really drawn to romance but are into queer SF that guarantees a hopeful ending would very much enjoy this. But at the same time, I thought the romance was pitch perfect. For those readers who enjoy the romance genre but aren't always up for reading on page sex scenes, it can be very hard to find really well written books that fit the bill. This book does that so very well. The connection between the MCs is so deftly woven. I was just so freaking soft for these two. I love romance where we see the MCs really get to know one another, get to love one another's little quirks, and this did that in such a unique way. It is definitely a romantic love between the MCs by the end, but I appreciated that the way it played out, if these two had been Aro or Ace, not much about the story or their connection would have changed.

I will say that there were times near the end when elements of the plot got a bit trippy for me. I was still engaged with the story, and by then I was head over heels for the characters, but there were some sections and plot aspects that I didn't bother to try to fully understand, I sort of just skimmed and vibed rather than really trying to figure out exactly what was going on.

That didn't detract from my enjoyment, and overall I'd highly recommend this one. I enjoyed it so much and I hope there's a bonus epilogue or chapter in the future about these characters because I loved all of them. I think this will make a great comfort reread in the future. Loved it. Go read it!

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Ocean's Echo explores the world that Winters Orbit introduced. We get more detail about the political aspects, the remnants are more fully explained and most importantly we get Tennel and Surit. And while their relationship develops beautifully, the story is much more than just the romantic aspect.

My kingdom for more characters who are messy and make mistakes and are still loved and get the opportunity to grow! Tennal is a disaster, some of it his own doing, some of it not. He doesn't always make the best decisions and it's hard for him to understand that he's worthy of being cared for. Surit just wants to be the textbook perfect soldier, to show that he's more than his mother's son. But the military chews you up, spits you out and doesn't care what happens to you (I was a bit worried going in that the anti-military statements we're just going to be surface level but Maxwell went in on it and did not hold back and I was not disappointed)

Life is hard but it's about finding people that get you, all of you, even the bad. And don't try to convince you that you aren't without flaws but love you still. Choosing each other even though it might be the hardest option. Getting better for yourself because constant self depreciation is tiring and you deserve more. Maxwell depicts all of this with her usual humor and exploration of humanity in the great vastness of space

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This was a highly anticipated read for me. I read Winter's Orbit back in January and it's still holding as one of my favorite books of the year so obviously my expectations were high going into Ocean's Echo, which exists in the same universe as Winter's Orbit but both are definitely stand-alone novels.
You guys, expectations met and exceeded. This was so good! I'm not much of a SciFi reader normally, but something about Everina Maxwell's writing is just so compelling and easy to follow. It's clear that the world she's created is incredibly clear in her mind. It has so much nuance and detail, which she relays as necessary but never over explains. She trusts her readers to connect the dots and understand the world enough on their own so that she can really focus on her characters.
The dynamic between her two main characters, Tennalhin and Surit,is one of my favorites: loud, self-pitying rich boy who pretends he doesn’t care about anything to cope, and an upright do-gooder with a heart of gold that adores him. They’re thrown together under dubious circumstances and if they want to survive the political machinations going on behind the scenes, they have no choice but to trust each other.
If you like a slow burn romance that has a lot of plot, I absolutely recommend this book, as well as Winter’s Orbit. Everina Maxwell has solidified themself as an author I keep a look out for, I can see myself picking up anything she writes

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The best word I can think of to describe how I feel at the moment is delighted.

I'll be honest, I was very nervous about this sequel. I read Winter's Orbit last year and I absolutely loved it, so I was worried Ocean's Echo wasn't going to live up to my expectations. I'm happy to say it absolutely did. In fact, I enjoyed this more than I did Winter's Orbit.

Let's dive in.

-The plot
I'm not a sci-fi reader. In fact, I think Winter's Orbit was the first sci-fi book I ever read. After reading this book, I can confidently say I need to start exploring the genre. Despite being set in a very different world than our own, so much of it was familiar. It's not hard to wrap your mind around corruption and power hungry leaders. What is slightly harder to wrap your mind around is neuromodifications from ancient alien artifacts. I wasn't expecting to get such a deep dive into that aspect of the book, but I'm so glad we did. I can honestly say discovering the truth behind that whole operation alongside Tennal and Surit was fascinating. I would love to get another book exploring it more, even if it's with entirely new characters.

The characters
-I absolutely adored them. Tennal and Surit were so well-developed, as were the rag tag group of side characters. I'm always wary of dual POV because I think it's difficult to give each of them their own distinctive voice, but Tennal and Surit were very much able to stand on their own. I never felt like they bled together (which is very impressive considering the subject matter). Their character development from the beginning of the book was palpable, and I couldn't be happier with where they were by the end.

The romance
-Much like with Winter's Orbit, the romance is very much the side plot. Even though I won't lie and say I wouldn't mind more of a glimpse into their relationship, the way it all unfolded made perfect sense considering the larger plot. They had to grow to trust each other before anything could possibly happen between them, and they needed the whole book to do that. I'm very happy with the status of their relationship at the end.

All in all, this book was fantastic. I can't wait to get a physical copy of it.

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When I read Winter’s Orbit earlier this year, I was blown away by how incredible it was. Once I learned there would be a sequel in the same world, but with different characters, I knew I had to read it. I was a little bit nervous about Ocean’s Echo because of how much I loved Winter’s Orbit, but wow did Ocean’s Echo blow all my expectations out of the water. There was a moment in one of the earliest chapters that once I read it, there was no stopping my progress with the book. I just kept reading and reading because I needed all the answers, and I needed them immediately.

While I would describe Winter’s Orbit as a romance with sci-fi, I would consider Ocean’s Echo to be a sci-fi with romance. The relationship between the MCs was an essential part of the story, but the sci-fi elements were even more so. I’m not gonna lie, there were a few parts where I had no idea what was happening, but that did not lesson my enjoyment of the book in the slightest. I was so tense the entire time, my heart pounding as I kept reading to discover what was going on. Ocean’s Echo is definitely an edge of your seat kind of story, and I loved every second of it.

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.

Throughout the course of the book, I had to keep pausing and marveling at what a masterpiece Ocean’s Echo is. The writing style was beautiful and intricate, perfect for a sci-fi novel. Everina Maxwell has a wonderful way of weaving a story with the perfect balance of feelings/emotions and vivid detail for the reader to imagine each scene.

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.

I adored these two so much! Tennel has a carefree, ‘nothing fazes me’ attitude, with no mind for rules or orders, while Surit is the complete opposite in every way. He keeps his feelings locked up deep inside, follows rules to a tee, and has a strong sense of justice. Their attraction to each other was evident early on, but because of the situation, it was impossible for them to act on it. Thus leads to one of my favorite tropes in romance: pining. Watching Tennel and Surit come out of their shells and trust each other was so sweet and endearing.

In addition to Tennel and Surit, there were also some awesome side characters that added more fun and interesting layers to the story. Basavi and Istara were my favorites, and I would absolutely read another story helmed by them. Basavi was shyer, though firm in her opinions; meanwhile, Istara was loud, sarcastic, and never afraid to let you know what they thought of you. They were just the allies Tennel and Surit needed, and I loved the dynamic between the four of them.

Also, I have to mention how much I adore how queer this world is. Each society is queer and accepting, and there’s no homophobia present. All of the conflicts arise from other sources entirely unrelated to the characters’ sexualities and identities. We need more of this in fiction!

Honestly, I could go on and on about how much I loved Ocean’s Echo. It’s been a couple of days since I finished it, but my thoughts keep straying back to the book, even when I’m supposed to be doing other things. If you haven’t read Winter’s Orbit, or if Ocean’s Echo isn’t on your TBR yet, I highly recommend adding them! This series will not disappoint.

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I was really excited to read this standalone sequel to Winters Orbit, and I'm glad to say it measured up! And another beautiful cover. Of course, my review writing energy today is absolute trash, but here's thoughts anyway:

I really loved how distinct all the characters were. Not only did Tennal and Surit have complementary and individual personalities, but the secondary characters (and even tertiary/background ones!) had a solid sense of personality. No neglecting character depth in this book!

I enjoyed seeing Surit and Tennal slowly start to trust and work together. They kind of just gradually slipped into it, very naturally, and it was a lovely theme.

That's another general thing I loved - the development of their relationship and connection was impeccable. A slow burn, but such emotional depth! Hard to find a book with such skilled relationship development.

The plot and conspiracy and intrigue elements unfolded at a very accessible pace. I tend to struggle to follow many characters and plot lines, so maybe some might find it straightforward, but this had me both able to follow the developments as well as not quite knowing what was coming next! Definitely my favorite kind of balance.

The imagery in this was unreal - such colorful and evocative descriptions.

The one place I struggled the most was the beginning - there was just so many terms and factions and things happening all at once, I got a bit lost. Might not be an issue for more attentive readers, but it was somewhat of a struggle for me.

Overall, this was another lovely book by this author! Truly some unique concepts, and a very accessible sci-fi story. The romance was fantastic as well, and I always love an in-depth emotional connection. Highly recommend!

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I was instantly intrigued by Ocean's Echo and its position as a companion novel to Winter's Orbit. While it is in the same world, I feel like we are seeing an entirely different piece of the world. To be fair, it's been a while since I read Winter's Orbit, but the world felt so unique to me! I loved this idea of "reading" and architects. So while I was just getting used to the characters at the beginning, I was drawn in by the world. While this one felt more 'space-y' and science fiction than Winter's Orbit because they are legit in space and there are space chases and battles, that's one of the reasons I loved it.

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