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Winter’s Orbit
RECOMMENDED: Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell is $2.99! Ellen read this one and gave it an A-:
If you enjoy sci-fi, arranged marriage/marriage of convenience stories, courtly intrigues, and/or slow-burn romance, I think Winter’s Orbit is a great choice.
Ancillary Justice meets Red, White & Royal Blue in Everina Maxwell’s exciting debut.
While the Iskat Empire has long dominated the system through treaties and political alliances, several planets, including Thea, have begun to chafe under Iskat’s rule. When tragedy befalls Imperial Prince Taam, his Thean widower, Jainan, is rushed into an arranged marriage with Taam’s cousin, the disreputable Kiem, in a bid to keep the rising hostilities between the two worlds under control.
But when it comes to light that Prince Taam’s death may not have been an accident, and that Jainan himself may be a suspect, the unlikely pair must overcome their misgivings and learn to trust one another as they navigate the perils of the Iskat court, try to solve a murder, and prevent an interplanetary war… all while dealing with their growing feelings for each other.
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The Night Tiger
The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo is $2.99! This was a previous Hide Your Wallet pick for me, as I loved Choo’s The Ghost Bride. It’s a mix of historical fiction, mythology, romance, and magical realism. Have you read this one?
A sweeping historical novel about a dancehall girl and an orphan boy whose fates entangle over an old Chinese superstition about men who turn into tigers.
When 11-year-old Ren’s master dies, he makes one last request of his Chinese houseboy: that Ren find his severed finger, lost years ago in an accident, and reunite it with his body. Ren has 49 days, or else his master’s soul will roam the earth, unable to rest in peace.
Ji Lin always wanted to be a doctor, but as a girl in 1930s Malaysia, apprentice dressmaker is a more suitable occupation. Secretly, though, Ji Lin also moonlights as a dancehall girl to help pay off her beloved mother’s Mahjong debts. One night, Ji Lin’s dance partner leaves her with a gruesome souvenir: a severed finger. Convinced the finger is bad luck, Ji Lin enlists the help of her erstwhile stepbrother to return it to its rightful owner.
As the 49 days tick down, and a prowling tiger wreaks havoc on the town, Ji Lin and Ren’s lives intertwine in ways they could never have imagined. Propulsive and lushly written, The Night Tiger explores colonialism and independence, ancient superstition and modern ambition, sibling rivalry and first love. Braided through with Chinese folklore and a tantalizing mystery, this novel is a page-turner of the highest order.
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Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber is $2.99! This seems to be women’s fiction with some magical realism and yummy food descriptions. Seeing as I love Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen a lot, this should be right up my alley, but I’ve been hesitant to add it to my TBR.
Nestled in the mountain shadows of Alabama lies the little town of Wicklow. It is here that Anna Kate has returned to bury her beloved Granny Zee, owner of the Blackbird Café.
It was supposed to be a quick trip to close the café and settle her grandmother’s estate, but despite her best intentions to avoid forming ties or even getting to know her father’s side of the family, Anna Kate finds herself inexplicably drawn to the quirky Southern town her mother ran away from so many years ago, and the mysterious blackbird pie everybody can’t stop talking about.
As the truth about her past slowly becomes clear, Anna Kate will need to decide if this lone blackbird will finally be able to take her broken wings and fly.
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I’m Judging You
I’m Judging You by Luvvie Ajayi is $2.99! Sarah has mention this previously on the site and here’s what she says:
This book is as thoughtful as it is hilarious and clever. If you like Luvvie’s writing anywhere online, you’ll really like it in this book, as there are deeper explorations of every topic, and it’s all brilliantly done.
Comedian, activist, and hugely popular culture blogger at AwesomelyLuvvie.com, Luvvie Ajayi, serves up necessary advice for the masses in this hilarious book of essays
With over 500,000 readers a month at her enormously popular blog, AwesomelyLuvvie.com, Luvvie Ajayi is a go-to source for smart takes on pop culture. I’m Judging You is her debut book of humorous essays that dissects our cultural obsessions and calls out bad behavior in our increasingly digital, connected lives—from the importance of the newest Shonda Rhimes television drama to serious discussions of race and media representation to what to do about your fool cousin sharing casket pictures from Grandma’s wake on Facebook.
With a lighthearted, razor sharp wit and a unique perspective,I’m Judging You is the handbook the world needs, doling out the hard truths and a road map for bringing some “act right” into our lives, social media, and popular culture. It is the Do-Better Manual.
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Ooh, I’ve been wavering over ‘Winter’s Orbit’ for a long time, seems like this is A Sign to Buy It Now. 🙂
@chacha1 I’ve been waiting for it to go on sale, but I’ve already gotten it from the library twice. It does have a little bit of a pacing issue, as Ellen pointed out, but it’s a wonderful hurt/comfort read.
(I remember texting my friend during the first read through, “My heart hurts so much. I can’t wait until [Jainan] cracks and lets Kiem be his Emotional Support Sex Puppy.”)
WINTER’S ORBIT is so special. I put it off for a long time–no idea why–and just finished the other day. Ellen’s review is pitch perfect and her comment: “… love can’t save you, but it can be a catalyst to get you to save yourself …” says it all. The book is also unexpectedly funny when the reader’s heart isn’t being stomped to bits. Go forth and read it.
I’m a sucker for sci-fi, arranged marriages/marriages of convenience, doing one’s duty even when it’s tough, and WINTER’S ORBIT hit on all accounts. The one bit that I especially appreciated was the recognition of social skills as serious talent that is often overlooked (says this very socially avoidant and socially in-adept person). Yep, the A- is a good rating; I loved it, probably because the HEA was so hard won.
I highly recommend The Night Tiger. Liked the romance in this one less than in Ghost Bride, but otherwise excellent. Choo’s books started my kick for Asian mythology/folklore based fantasy, which I’ve been really enjoying. (Although hers are a historical fiction/fantasy hybrid.)
Another vote for Winter’s Orbit. I agree about the minor pacing issues, but the world-building and character development definitely outweighed that. I listened to it on audio and really liked the narrator, too. One thing the author got spot on in my opinion was her depiction of Jainan’s PTSD. Really well done. Ellen give the CW/TW in her review for those who are interested.
Unpopular opinion here: Winter’s Orbit is my most hated read of this year. It started out promising but I thought it had a horrible treatment of intimate partner violence and there was so much of the plot that made no sense.
@leigh – I’m sorry to hear that! It’s always a weird feeling when your perspective feels out of sync with the community.
If you feel inclined to explain further, when you say “it had a horrible treatment of intimate partner violence” how do you mean – did you find it unrealistic? irresponsible? I admit to not knowing a lot about how IPV can present for the abused.
@Leigh, you weren’t the only one, though I didn’t hate it as much as lose interest in it about half-way through.