Voyage of the Damned
by Frances White
⭐⭐⭐½ | 🌶️ Clean | Agatha Christie meets fantasy with a delightfully chaotic narrator
This book caught me completely off guard. I went in expecting a straightforward fantasy murder mystery and instead found myself genuinely laughing out loud at Ganymedes—possibly the most lovably pathetic protagonist I've encountered. His self-deprecating humor and pun-heavy narration shouldn't work, but somehow it absolutely does.
The Agatha Christie vibes are spot-on, with passengers dropping like flies aboard a magical cruise ship. What surprised me most was how the seemingly flippant tone masked some genuinely clever plotting. That twist? I saw pieces coming but still gasped when it all clicked together.
I'll admit the modern dialogue occasionally felt jarring in a fantasy setting, and some jokes landed awkwardly. But there's something endearing about Dee's desperate need to belong, his found family of misfits, and how he transforms from comic relief to unexpected hero.
Vibes We Are Tracking:
🚢 Locked-room mystery perfection
🃏 Chaotic disaster protagonist energy
🏳️‍🌈 Queer found family feels
🎭 Class commentary with laughs
🔍 Plot twists that actually twist

Was this a fantasy? A murder mystery? How about a mix of both with some humor thrown in and LBGTQ+ representation added too. There were numerous characters to keep up with but the comical hero, Dee, was a standout as he pretended to be one of The Blessed (a province member gifted with magic). 12 Blessed are trapped on a boat so there’s problems that arise from forced proximity and as bodies start piling up, so does the need to solve the mystery. The twists were appreciated, the humor intertwined with the mysterious plot was appreciated, it was just a bit long.

Voyage of the Damned had a unique and interesting setup. Loved that this story took place on a 12 day voyage.

This story is filled with secrets, mystery, elegance, and humor. I loved the MMC in this story and following his sleuthing. I was very vested in his character story. I felt often distracted by the storyline of who was doing what.

I wasn't as much into the writing of this story and felt like the pace was off in this story. We saw little on the page side character time. So much of what was being experienced was told to me as a reader not felt.

Loved that the representation of this story and the overall messaging. There were so many undertones in this book of humanity and prejudice.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA and Netgalley for this eARC for my honest review.

The perfect mixture of fantasy and mystery quickly brought Voyage of the Damned to the top of my list of the best 2024 reads. Fantasy and mystery are two genres that are not typically brought together, but Voyage of the Damned finds just the right balance with a fun use of characters, an interesting variety of magical abilities, and a sense of urgency throughout the plot. When all these elements are put together, it makes for a book that is nearly impossible to put down.

Ganymedes Piscero started the story as an annoying noble who did not want to be part of the ceremony that was required of him. His annoying nature quickly became charming as his growth developed. The more of his backstory that was revealed, the more lovable he became. It was difficult not to root for him. His interactions with the other nobles that were embroiled in a murder plot showed his compassion and love for the people who treated him so poorly. It is not often that I find myself laughing in the middle of a murder mystery, but Ganymedes never disappointed.

The magic that flowed throughout the nobles was absolutely fascinating. The idea that only the leaders of each province had a special ability is nothing new, but the reveal for each province kept me guessing until the very end. The connection that each power had to the land and the people in which they led ended up being very different than I ever expected, but it left me satisfied each time one was revealed.

The true driving factor of this book was the pacing. The timeline was neatly set up at the beginning so that the stakes of each passing hour grew higher and the tension grew more unbearable. This made every choice that Ganymedes made feel important and stressful. This gave the book motivation and a reason behind everything that happened. It was a true testament about how the decisions someone makes in the heat of the moment say everything about who they are as a person. Ganymedes became such an excellent character to root for because so much about him was shown and not told.

There is every chance in the world that I could wax poetic about this book for hours. Was it perfect in every way? Probably not, nothing is. But was it perfect in all the ways that mattered to me? Absolutely.

5/5 stars

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the gifted e-book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this book if you like: Mysteries, whodunit, deep stories, royalty

This was so interesting. I have never read anything like it. It was funny and suspensful. I loved the characters. I highly recommend it!

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy ‘Voyage of the Damned’ as much as I did—especially since fantasy and magical realms usually aren’t my thing. But I’m so glad I gave it a chance!

Nathan Foad did a wonderful job narrating the audiobook. His performance brought each character vividly to life, and his delivery of Dee’s side comments had me chuckling throughout. His voice added so much personality and charm to the story, making the experience that much more immersive.

I chose to "immersion read" this book—listening to the audio while following along with the physical copy—and I found it incredibly helpful. It kept me focused and made it easier to keep all the information straight, especially in a genre I’m not typically drawn to.

Surprisingly, I found myself not wanting to put the book down. The humor, the character dynamics, and the narration all combined into a thoroughly entertaining read. If you're on the fence about fantasy, or just looking for a fun and engaging audiobook, I highly recommend giving this one a try!

** Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Frances White for an eARC copy of ‘Voyage of the Damned’.

Oh…the laughs I had with this book 🤣.
I knew nothing about this book before I signed up to read it as an ARC for the U.S. release. I rotated between reading and listening to the audio. Both are great, the audio is fantastic - the narrator is FAB-U-LOUS and had me in unexpected bouts of laughter.

The sarcastic, dry sense of humor and the one liners are phenomenal. The main character Ganymedes (Dee) - the things he says - the puns - all of it are a big yes for me.

“My father always says “you can’t run from your responsibilities, but he lacks imagination.”

“We’re as welcome at breakfast as a turd in a swimming pool”.

“I only came here to vomit. So if you want your private time to bang your head against the mirrors and insult your reflection, who am I to judge?”

“Dragon’s dick. I’ve got vomit all over my masterpiece.”

Dee is a messy, smart ass of a hero but a softie at heart. He has a 6 year old side kick that adds to his charm. I love that the book embraces LGBTQIA+ and that the author imbues overweight positivity into the book. I adore this author’s sense of humor. I hope she has another book in the works.

I liked how this book mixed humor and suspense. However I found it was missing a bit of sophistication with the character connection and the plot. I also found the ending very rushed. It had the feel of a YA novel.

I really enjoyed this, but you do have to close one eye to avoid some character motivations. I think the author did a fantastic job with her characters, and I was really affected by some of the murders. The plot twist was shocking, and I have some gripes with the end, but overall I liked this a lot and would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!
I absolutely loved this book, the characters in it, and the world created for it.
When the first twist happened at the end, I did grieve for what I thought was going to happen for 2.5 seconds, but I should have trusted the author-it ended just as it should!

This book was not interesting to me, and I didn't get into it. It wasn't for me. I'm sorry, I didn't like it.

Murder mystery that's also a fantasy...set on the sea? Sign me up, please! This book was an enjoyable read and I will definitely be recommending it to my customers who want something unique to read.
What I liked:
- Felt like a traditional mystery book, but the magical characters added a fun element
- Did I mention great characters?
I will read more from this author someday.

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White is a captivating blend of fantasy, mystery, and humor that kept me engaged from start to finish. The story follows Ganymedes "Dee" Loveage, a witty and self-deprecating heir faking his magical Blessing to conceal a family secret. When a celebratory voyage for the empire's heirs turns deadly, Dee finds himself in the midst of a murder mystery where everyone is a suspect.​

The novel's strength lies in its richly diverse cast of characters, each with unique abilities and secrets. The interplay between them adds depth to the narrative, making the mystery all the more intriguing. Dee's character is particularly compelling; his vulnerability and growth throughout the story are both heartwarming and relatable.​

While the world-building is imaginative, introducing a queernormative society with magical provinces, some aspects felt a bit underdeveloped. However, the engaging plot and character dynamics more than compensate for this.​

The pacing is steady, with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. The blend of humor and suspense is well-executed, providing moments of levity amidst the tension.​

Overall, Voyage of the Damned is an impressive debut that offers a fresh take on the fantasy genre. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven stories with a mix of magic, mystery, and heart.

This book had me hooked for the first half. However, after 50%, I lost interest in this book and I did not feel the urge to pick it back up. I would recommend this book to others though because the plot and tropes might interest them even if I dnf-ed it.

What a book! I will be recommending this one to all my friends. A fantasy world creativity designed with humor and a mystery. I loved D. He has enough snark and charm to be anyone's best friend. He is our main character and is a member of the "blessed". Humans who have received a blessing from the goddess. There is one per province of the land. There are 12 provinces. These 12 blessed end up on a voyage that will last 12 days (each day to highlight a province). During this voyage murder happens and the locked room mystery begins. With the inventive characters, humorous dialogue and unique world, the story moves at a fast pace and keeps twisting. Just realize you will learn to love a piss fish by the end. Don't pass this one up. It's a fun ride and completely unique stand-alone story. And if you are an audiobook person, then this story will be even better, as the reader does the entire cast of voices and they are all different. a true talent!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback

This was such a unique read, I really enjoyed the plot. I haven't really read anything like this before. Definitely recommend if you like fantasy with a bit of thriller in the mix!

I'd say 3.75 rounded up to 4⭐️
the concept/premise of this story was super unique, and i haven't read anything like it before.
i think the execution could've been done a little better but i ended up falling in love with the main character and i needed to know what happened, especially after the 20% mark. it's kind of like agatha christie's and then there were none but quirkier and with a more fantastical element.
the ending threw me for a loop too & honestly i still remember the plot even months after ive read it.

Voyage Of The Damned
Frances White
3.75⭐️

Pub Date: 8/20/2024

I have mixed feelings about this book, mostly veering towards the positive. It reminds me a lot of Chinese mythology/zodiac where there are 12 animals and a diety. But this one took it to a different spin. So the uniqueness is there. I like the world building- legends/history of the world, they were intricate but still concise. The characters were a mix of likable and not, some where very whiny and truly annoying. I switched between audio and digital for this book. I initially was a bit annoyed at the narrator but it got better as the book went on- able to differentiate the voices but for some reason, I didn't vibe with it too well.

The plot was good- 12 blessed heirs to their kingdoms on a pilgrimage. But they were getting targeted and murdered along the way. Who, and why? So much conspiracy and betrayal. I enjoyed how it all unfolded. It was hard to make theories because the author cleverly "hid" their blessings/powers. So there were a lot of things that I didn't see coming. The representation in this book is very diverse. This is also a strongly political book (albeit a fantasy one) that talks about socioeconomic standing and discrimination. Those parts, I very much appreciated. It added to the charm of the book. There were parts of the book though that did drag a bit. The ending was satisfying but felt a little rushed (?). I'm still processing it. Overall, I like the plot, I enjoyed it. It's very entertaining. Definitely a good read.

Thank you @netgalley and HTP @htp_hive for a gifted e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White
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Ganymedes has to fulfill his family obligation and join the kingdoms other heirs on a cruise to a sacred mountain. He has a big secret though. And when people start dying he is thrust into a role he does not want- playing detective.
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I did the audio for this one and that was really the way to go because I’m not sure I would have gotten Ganymedes name right otherwise. So I got all the pronunciation down, thanks audiobook.

I have to say the narrator for this book was AMAZING. All the voices for the different characters made it sooooo easy to keep track of, and really helped nail down their various personalities. And there were loads of personalities on the murder cruise, let me tell you.

The world was a fantasy world and the building was done in such a fun round about way that it didn’t feel like info dumps. I loved this world and would love more set there.

The mystery was veeerrrrrry intriguing and I was held rapt to hearing every second of it.
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4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️