Sadly this was a DNF for me. I feel like I just haven't been in the right mindset because I loved the first book.

I really enjoyed this book and the relationships between all the different characters. it kept me second guessing the whole time with all the politics and secrets and the pacing was really good.

4.5 stars

I hyped up the "syncing" thing too much in my head. I just wanted to read a trad-published soul bond romance ok and this wasn't it 😩

But, other than that, it was amazing.

Tennal, I love you forever and ever.

Mess is also not a bug but a feature in OCEAN’S ECHO (Tor, 480 pp., $27.99), Everina Maxwell’s second sci-fi romance after her sleeper hit “Winter’s Orbit.” Like the first, this new book centers a forced-proximity bond — in space! — surrounded by layers of complex politics. I inhaled this one like I needed it to live.

Tennal is a reader (of minds) and a rebel on the run, since readers are usually conscripted into the army and placed under the mental control of an architect, a mind-manipulator. But when Tennal’s luck runs out and he’s shoved into the service, the architect ordered to sync with him is Lt. Surit Yeni, a man of gentle but unshakable goodness along the lines of “Discworld"’s Captain Carrot or “Disco Elysium”’s Kim Kitsuragi. Surit will not sync Tennal unwillingly, no matter who orders it — but if he refuses outright, command will just find someone less scrupulous. So, in true chaos muppet fashion, Tennal proposes they simply fake being synced, and keep their minds to themselves.

Reader, this works beautifully, until it doesn’t. And I could not put it down.

Sci-fi romance is a high-wire act: An author has to build a unique external world while also establishing a compelling interior landscape. It’s thrilling when it goes well — and I’ve rarely seen it done better than it is here. It’s also rare to see a low-heat book that also still feels adult and intimate. Rather than being a justification for plot-acceptable sex, the mind-sharing stands in place of it. It felt like a subtle joke about the old “didn’t know where one of us ends and the other begins” cliché — and it also meant the author didn’t have to wave away the extremely good reasons for Tennal and Surit not to bang (chain of command, injuries, surveillance, imprisonment, active civil war).

this is a well-written sci-fi with an interesting, tightly constructed plot and vibrant characters at its center. i enjoyed tennal and surit's contrasting personalities and the burgeoning feelings between them. although it took me a while to get invested in the story,

A gripping miltary romance (with soul bonds!) set in the far-future sci-fi world of Winter's Orbit. While that is an arranged marriage romance, this one has much more of a plot-focus, with a complicated political landscape across planets and political parties. But it still has a core couple who you can't help but root for.

I am unwell 🥹 queer ‘fake dating’ but in a world where the dating consists of syncing minds together, a world where the space military are the bad guys, my emotions being dragged through the wringer, an opposites attract dynamic that has me FERAL 🤌🏻 + this world is just so incredibly creative and intricate it calls to me in my dreams. Truly a sci fi fantasy unlike any other!

Having loved Winter's Orbit after devouring it within a day, I was very excited to read this book! This, of course, means that I delayed reading it until a year after its release date.

There is a different tone to this novel compared to Winter's Orbit -- this is because they aren't sequels to each other but just take place in the same universe. There is much more of an anti-military tone here and there is a more magic-adjacent world here.

The world building was extensive and immersive, I throughly enjoyed it. Despite the fact that it's all rather complex, you do not feel out of your depth for more than a few pages. The architect/reader system was fascinating and intricately constructed.

The characters were well developed and flawed and it was easy to get invested in them as individuals and as a pair. Romance wise, Maxwell is at the top of their game as usual. I was, of course, emotionally destroyed.

This hasn't changed since the previous book but I just wanted to again emphasise how wonderful it is to read a book with a queer-normative world. The pin convention to emphasise pronouns, as well as the gender neutral use of Sir and such is just very welcoming to queer people so. I just wanted to comment on that again.

Overall, a wonderful space opera-type novel! Honestly, I don't know how to categorise it as it's a genre hybrid but just trust me, it's great. Do check the trigger warnings though.

Oceans echo is a beautifully written, fast paced, space adventure! The world building was fantastic and the characters were extremely well developed. Tennal and Surit were perfect for each other and their chemistry was impeccable.

At times, I was a bit confused due to the complexity of the world. However, as I kept reading and learning new aspects of the world, things fell into place.

I always love a good slow burn political romance, especially one set in space. This lived up to Winter's Orbit for me, which is a hard bar to meet.

I really enjoyed reading Winter's Orbit and I enjoyed this one as well, which is not a sequel but takes place in the same universe. This book follows Tennal, the nephew of a prominent politician who forces him to sync with an architect in the military after years of abusing his taboo psychic power. But his architect Surit is a no nonsense by-the-book rule follower and, in the midst of their assigned military mission, is appalled at the way the government and military are treating Tennal.

While I liked the plot better in Winter's Orbit, I really enjoyed the characters in Ocean's Echo, especially Tennal who is a bit of a chaotic disaster. I also enjoyed the side characters in this one. Also like in Winter's Orbit, this universe has an interesting way of showing gender preference and has a nonbinary side character. I'm not a big scifi reader in general, but I think Ocean's Echo is a good intro to scifi! It has enough space and political intrigue while still being a good entry point to the genre.

Thank you to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me free access to the digital advanced copy of this book.

Everina Maxwell has done it again, perhaps even better than Winter’s Orbit. I was simply amazed by the depth of the characters, as well as the vivid setting of space and political intrigue. I am utterly in love with both main characters, Tennal and Surit, for different reasons. By all accounts, Tennal is an entitled asshole. But he’s also quite intelligent and a skilled Reader.

The depth of their feelings for each other is so engrossing and fascinating, especially once they fall into sync. I can’t get over how much they begin to care for one another, and to understand one another. How they each level out their personalities to sync with one another. Their banter is hilarious. I love how much Surit comes to care for Tennal, even when they’ve only just begun to spend time together. When Tennal has fallen into fear of being synced, and he can’t sleep or hardly even breathe for fear of losing himself to this bond, and Surit pulls him out of it. It’s just incredibly sweet and I can’t even say how much it meant. It was the beginning of a complicated and worthwhile slow burn relationship.

There is no spice, sadly. There wasn’t enough time for it and it wouldn’t have really fit with the pair or the plot, unless you just threw both those things out the window in a fit of spontaneity. Which would have been fine with me, just saying.

The different symbols for gender identity are so neat. And the acknowledged idea that there’s more identity beyond the public display of such a thing. The public display is just for formality, and to ensure the right pronouns are used. There is also the kind of secondary gender identity that is known only to friends or partners. I love the queer normative setting and I need more of this in my life. Along with this worldbuilding, and the dialogue, I found such joy in reading this book. I didn’t get bored even once, though the book was long. I never felt that it dragged or became unnecessary. If anything, the end could have dragged out a bit longer.

If you’re into fanfic, this whole concept of Readers and Architects is similar to the Sentinels and Guides trope. And I am so into that. I cannot count the number of fics I’ve read in this trope and it’s really cool to see something like it in published fiction, as it’s something that shaped my many fandoms for years about a decade ago (think the height of Tumblr and SuperWhoLock). This book will be good for people who liked Winter’s Orbit, who enjoy the Illuminae series, or Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner’s Starbound Trilogy, or A Taste of Gold and Iron. I can’t wait to see what Maxwell does next!

Maxwell has come to be one of my favorite authors after reading Winter's Orbit and was so excited to see another book set in this world. Another incredible read that blends adventure and romance. The world that Maxwell has crafted is incredible and adds something new to the science fiction genre. Can't wait to see what Maxwell writes next.

I absolutely loved this story! The slow progression to allies, then friends, and eventually potential lovers so well written. I really enjoyed how it didn't make up the plot- there was a completely separate political plot going on which also moved at a good clip. Overall really enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone who likes sci-fi.

Leaving reviews on Goodreads and Amazon.

Ocean's Echo is a stand-alone space adventure about a bond that will change the fate of worlds, set in the same universe as Everina Maxwell's hit debut, Winter's Orbit .

"I inhaled this one like I needed it to live." ― New York Times Book Review

Rich socialite, inveterate flirt, and walking disaster Tennalhin Halkana can read minds. Tennal, like all neuromodified “readers,” is a security threat on his own. But when controlled, readers are a rare asset. Not only can they read minds, but they can navigate chaotic space, the maelstroms surrounding the gateway to the wider universe.

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 accepted a suspicious promotion-track request out of desperation, but he refuses to go through with his illegal orders to sync and control an unconsenting Tennal. So they They fake a sync bond and plan Tennal's escape.

Their best chance arrives with a salvage-retrieval mission into chaotic space―to the very neuromodifcation lab that Surit's traitor mother destroyed twenty years ago. And among the rubble is a treasure both terrible and unimaginably powerful, one that upends a decades-old power struggle, and begins a war.

Tennal and Surit can no longer abandon their unit or their world. The only way to avoid life under full military control is to complete the very sync they've been faking.

Can two unwilling weapons of war bring about peace?

Apologies but I haven't read the first one yet so it won't be possible for me to read the sequel already, and I really can't have it on my shelf on here because I won't be getting to it anytime soon but still, thank you to the publisher for sending it to me and I'll make sure to post about it once I have it read.

Tennalhin Halkana wields powerful mental powers that can read people's emotions and thoughts. He is also self destructive disaster on the run from his family. When he is caught, Tennal is unjustly conscripted into the military and forced into a sync to Lieutenant Yeni. Surit Yeni is a powerful architect, someone who can write instructions to people. He is also the son of an infamous traitor and has been randomly promoted to sync with a 'volunteer' reader. Neither of them want to sync, so Surit and Tennal decided to fake it until Tennal can escape, but nothing ever goes as planned.

This is a sci-fi military fantasy about two very different people who find themselves allies against just about everything else. Tennal is drowning in everything and nothing can seem to fix it. Surit lives by the rules. When these two collide it was fun and sad and together they gave the other hope. I enjoyed this book a lot. Tennal is a lot extreme in the beginning and I struggled with what his choices were doing to himself.

This is set in the same universe as Winter's Orbit but there is no crossover at all. I was just a tiny bit disappointed in the beginning because I was hoping for a glimpse of Kiem and Jainan but it ended up being fine because this is a whole other place.

I would totally read another book in this series. The plot is well made and the characters are interesting.

Thank you Tor Books for sending me an ARC!
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Unfortunately I DNFed this, it just didn’t catch my attention and maybe I’ll get into it again when Imm in the perfect headspace to give this another try!

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Books for sending me a copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

Oh my goodness my soft little babies...where do I even start?? This is such a sweet romance, and I absolutely adored the characters far more than I thought possible. I love the coupling of a big softie with an arrogant troublemaker. It was so adorable and the slow burn and the way that they came together after truly getting to know each other made it much more believable and high-stakes for me. I loved how they ended up understanding each other and loving the way that made the feel unlike anyone had made them feel before.

I did find it a bit hard to follow the politics, but I also liked the plot twists associated with that and the way the world was woven together. I liked the implications of all the architect/reader issues and the way there's so much room for more stories here because of it. I really enjoyed seeing it all unfold and definitely wanted to see more!

If you like sci-fi and you're looking for a sweet romance, please check this book out!

Many science fiction stories rely heavily on their most genre-heavy aspects to stand out in a crowded literary field, be it the specifics of bizarre alien cultures, unexpected twists involving the bending of time and space, or the dangers of extended intergalactic travel. And, as a result, things like character development and relationships too often tend to get short shrift. Perhaps this is why Everina Maxwell’s “space opera”-style novels feel so satisfying to read because while they’re as meticulously developed as any traditional sci-fi classic, their world-building is firmly grounded in and developed around the characters at their centers.

From sweeping galactic treaties to the specifics of space travel, each aspect of these worlds and their cultures are funneled through the day-to-day experiences and low-stakes interactions of the stories’ characters, that all ultimately come together to build the pieces of a larger, fully lived-in world. Ocean’s Echo is, on paper, the story of two young men gifted with almost unimaginable mental abilities, but at its heart, it’s a story of two lost souls trying to find a purpose and a place to belong, that ultimately discover both those things in one another. Yes, there are space-based military operations and the threat of a sector-wide war over alien artifacts no one entirely understands. But those narrative threads always exist in service to the story’s characters, rather than the other way around.
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