Ocean's Echo

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They had very distinct voices and personalities and it was super fun to read about them clashing and then slowly learning to respect and trust each other. There are a million more things I feel like I could mention about this book to convey how much I loved it, but I also find it hard to put those into words, so I’ll just say I highly recommend this book if you enjoy queer science fiction with a generous side of romance.

Unfortunately for the military, they chose the most unwilling and stubborn reader, as well as the most upstanding and rule-following architect ever. There are several great side characters with their own personalities and goals, and the snarky interactions between Tennal and Istara in particular were fun to read. Under the talking and the music, there was the low, vibrating drone that people on certain chemical substances found enjoyably hypnotic. They were just the allies Tennel and Surit needed, and I loved the dynamic between the four of them.I read the paper book first and then decided that I also need to listen to the audio book and it was a right decision. This, I’ll admit, is also the case with Winter’s Orbit and I think the reason I could let it go there was because I’d already read the story back when it was online. The boss might refer to any number of people in the city of Sanura, but in here, it meant the leader of this gambling ring, the one who owned this hotel. Both Tennal and Surit bear the legacy of the past: the weight of their planet’s history and the experimentations that led to architects and readers; the weight of their family’s legacies and the complicated history between these two families; the roles both have been assigned by their society and how each chooses to navigate these roles and that overbearing legacy—how history repeats itself, but also the power of choices and how sometimes it is possible to break the cycle and see the start of something new. Tennal didn’t show any signs of backing off, though, and eventually a shot glass came sliding across the bar.

This also works very well with the book’s overall pacing, with the shorter nature of the timeline complimenting the breakneck pace of the latter half of the story: in this page-turning context, I found the politics of the different divisions, the previous rebellion, and the power struggles of the different leaders interesting to follow. There wasn't enough build up for me to be fully convinced that Tennal and Surit loved each other--which is a strange thing to say considering that only really came into play at the final 15% or so. Ocean's Echo is a stand-alone, romantic space adventure, set in the same universe as Everina Maxwell's hit debut, Winter's Orbit. There is a fascinating universe as a background to the story, with the mysterious shards, and the ‘resolution’ who maintain peace. 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.

I stayed up all night reading, desperately rooting for Kiem and Jainan to finally hold hands and save the day. so expectations were high for ocean’s echo, even though i knew putting that kind of pressure on it was a big risk. Nevermind that there must be some kind of artificial reproduction system, since all the talk of one gen parent, while the other might only be supplying some material, so maybe they could test or screen genetic material?

The only reason I didn’t rate Ocean’s Echo a full five stars is because I wanted a tiny, tiny bit more romance. For a story that is very much a romance as well as a plot-driven military space adventure, there are not a lot of outwardly romantic scenes. Update December 7, 2023** Bought my own copy and re-read this because after The Hurricane Wars I needed to remember what a truly satisfying SFF + romance tale was like! At the heart of Winter's Orbit is an argument about healing, honesty, and the nature of trust and power.This is how Tennal eventually com He keeps his feelings locked up deep inside, follows rules to a tee, and has a strong sense of justice. Ocean's Echo is a slow burn that eventually blazes into a supernova, a novel constrained in its location but massive in its ambition. Others will probably find the set up very intriguing and enjoy the way it was developed throughout the novel--because it is extremely well developed and detailed--but, due to personal preferences, that was not the case for me.

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. Surit had only come to know him: the one burning star in a system of inert planets, flaring so brightly it was dangerous to orbit. Winter's Orbit manages the incredible feat of being the slow burn 'sad spaceboys in love' romance of your dreams, while also being a gripping political thriller. Using it on the wrong person in the street might get you a warning from law enforcement, but in here, it might get you shot. 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.I wasn’t sure my poor heart could take much more, but at the same time, I never wanted it to finish. this is a well-written sci-fi with an interesting, tightly constructed plot and vibrant characters at its center. It was so interesting to see Tennal discover himself through his deep observations of Surit and his thoughts.