Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell

After reading Winter’s Orbit  I immediately picked up Ocean’s echo, a stand-alone space opera set in the same universe. Tennalhin Halkana is a rich tearaway, who is a Reader. Readers can read minds as well as having the ability to navigate chaotic  space. When his aunt will no longer put up with his exploits, he is conscripted into the military to be placed under the control of Lieutenant Surit Yeni, a loyal soldier and the son of a notorious traitor general. Surit is an Architect who can influence minds and he is told to fully control Tennal by syncing with him. However Surit is principled and is unwilling to follow his orders when Tennal will not consent to them and together they fake a sync bond and plan Tennal’s escape. They are sent on a mission to salvage Remnants in chaotic space, where they uncover a conspiracy dating back to the neuromodifcation lab that Surit’s mother had tried to destroy. There are secrets and plots that will jeopardize their lives and test their loyalties.

Maxwell cleverly combines riveting action and the growing understanding between Tennal and Surit. Tennal is selfish and destructive, while Surit has a strict code of conduct and belief in justice. Gradually the pair begin to trust each other and together they face the possibility of a civil war where the use of Remnants enhance the ability to control minds and actions.

The themes of loyalty, justice, neuromodification, power mongering and space warfare result in an exciting feel-good reading experience for sci fi fans, while the slow burning romance will appeal to romance lovers.

Themes: Psychic ability, Space flight, Space warfare, LGBTQI people.

Pat Pledger