There are few archetypes as exquisite as a wonderfully written royal. The rogue, the runaway, the wrathful. Whether it’s in a fantasy kingdom or catapulting through the stars this character is truly *chef’s kiss*. Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell is just the latest addition to make good on that promise. This debut is bursting with romance and the escapism of a good space opera. Winter’s Orbit follows Prince Kiem, who has a reputation for being utterly disappointing and the Emperor’s least favorite grandkid. He’s created this scandal-prone reptation that I can’t help but find charming. The best he can do for his family is become used as a pawn to strengthen ties between them and a new vassal planet. The Emperor does exactly that, and so Prince Kiem is commanded to marry Count Jainan. Now, where Kiem is a space rake, Jainan is softer, quieter. Jainan is a recent widower of an entirely different prince, and to make matters more complicated, he is a suspect in his late husband’s death. As the princes get closer, can their union become more than a peace treaty between an empire and its vassal planet?