Okay. When I read a fantasy book, unless stated otherwise, I believe them to be in medieval-ish times. This book starts by mentioning things that are not even invented/founded until the mid 1900’s and found it to be a little confusing and off. I just think the world building was inconsistent and hard to follow through and just didn’t feel well thought out. I think the story had a lot of promise but there were so many inconsistencies for me that I felt as if it really turned me off to the book.

🤍🩵 Voyage of the Damned ARC Review 🩵🤍

Thank you so much to Frances White and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Voyage of the Damned is a standalone fantasy novel. Tom celebrate peace between the provinces, every year the twelve heirs gather for a voyage on the emperor’s ship. But this year, things go horribly wrong. When an heir is unexpectedly killed, everyone on board is a suspect and Ganymedes is determined to discover the truth

This was such an interesting read! Ganymedes was a really fun character and I enjoyed their humor throughout this story. The world building was super unique and I enjoyed the magic system that was created. It had a lot of twists and turns, which sometimes left me a little confused but overall made for a fun fantasy mystery

Overall this was a four star read for me. I enjoyed the characters and the story! This book did have some darker elements, so please check triggers if you’re sensitive. This book did have a queer romantic subplot and YA levels of on page spice, so overall one flame for spice

If you’re a fan of fantasy books with murder mysteries, unique magic systems and intriguing world building, then absolutely pick this one up!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for free in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t know where to start with this book. I loved it. The representation of ethnicities and genders was very appreciated. Mystery with a hint of sci-fi and magic, chefs kiss. Every time i thought I’d had the killer figured out, something happened to change my thought process. All of the reveals left me shocked. I think I gasped or said “NO” more times in the last 1/3 of the book than I have in a very long time.
The cast of characters was definitely a great mix of personalities as well. Dee’s determination and love for Grasshopper were some of my favorite parts of this story. One of my favorite reads of the year for sure

Fantastic fantasy novel! Join the twelve blessed of Concordia as they make the pilgrimage to the sacred mountain. The problem is that as soon as their vessel sets sail, bodies begin to pile up. As the twelve day voyage progresses, more and more blessed die. Ganymedes (our main character and underdog) attempts to solve the mystery and find out who or what is killing the blessed.

The only thing that I found a little too trite was the ending and how nearly the author wraps things up. I don’t think the ending would actually go down the way the author wrote it. However, I truly enjoyed all of the plot twists and this was a wonderful mystery/fantasy novel.

This book was SO. MUCH. FUN.

I am KICKING myself for not reading this back in January when it was published in the UK. This is for you if you love:

~Knives Out/The Glass Onion
~Agatha Christie/Locked Room mysteries
~Magic, dragons, and magical politics
~Queer AND disability rep
~Witty and hilarious MCs

Dee had me cracking up the entire book, and I found the mystery aspect of this extremely well done! Dee didn't set out to be a detective, but he ended up becoming one out of a desire to avenge is friend. I loved the way the relationships were developed between characters, the way we got Dee's inner monologue and anxieties without it being overbearing or random, and his relationship with Grasshopper is adorable. The romance aspect of the book was there, but not overdone and (in my opinion, anyway) didn't rely on stereotypes to progress things.

I honestly don't have a single bad thing to say about this one. I was hooked from the beginning, and devoured it every second I had time to read. If you watched Knives Out and wondered what Blanc would have been like in his 20s and in a fantasy setting--you're going to LOVE this one!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. The book was slow going at first but got better as the story went on. I first thought the various Blessed were adults but it was a mix of mostly teens and adults with a kid in the mix. I liked the murder mystery theme of the book.

The premise of the book is really fun. Mystery on a ship, of course I'm picking that up! I struggled a bit with the worldbuilding as it fell a bit below my expectations and the politics felt a little underwritten. I feel like those aspects could have been fleshed out a little more so the overall story flowed a bit more smoothly. It was an enjoyable read with room for improvement of course.

A fantasy murder mystery set on a cruise where all the Blessed (ie magical) heirs to the empire's provinces are gathered on a pilgrimage. The catch? Our main character Dee has been lying all his life about his blessing.
This was such a fun read and a real page turner. I loved seeing the diversity too, even within such a small cast of characters.
My mine issue is that it felt quite juvenile -- the worldbuilding, the romance, and the writing itself. Not bad by any means but I could tell this was a debut.

The writing was engaging, humorous, and at times intense. The pace of unfolding action and world-building was wonderfully balanced.

Dee’s care of Grasshopper was what first drew me deeply in. I felt the conflict and pain from Dee’s broken relationship with Ravi and enjoyed seeing his connection to Wyatt grow. Dee’s journey to find self-worth was so beautiful and relatable.

I absolutely loved this combination of fantasy, murder mystery, and romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC.

Okay, so I kind of loved this one. I mean, magical passengers on a magical ship? And there's a a murder mystery to boot? Yes, please! There's way more romance in this book than I'm normally willing to read, but I only rolled my eyes a few times over all the lovey-dovey talk which is definitely an accomplishment (on both mine and the author's parts).

Ganymedes (Dee) is on a magical ship (steered by an insane emperor with incredible powers) with the other rulers of the provinces of Concordia. They each have a magical ability called a Blessing … well, except Dee. He's pretty ordinary. But when the Blessed start dying off one by one, it's up to Dee to unmask the killer.

I pretty much adored all of the characters in this book. Most of them are rather unlikeable – although I'll admit that I had more sympathy for several of them than I expected to – but they're also fascinating. Their backstories are well-fleshed out and the worldbuilding surrounding their provinces is fantastic, and it's interesting to see how the idiosyncrasies of their provinces affect their personalities. Dee is a great main character – he's witty and fun and perhaps just a little bit snarky. And who can not love Grasshopper? Such an adorable (and slightly scary) sidekick!

The murder mystery component is a slow burn but I never found myself bored. I think I suspected pretty much every character at one point or another, including Dee himself, so I guess in a way it turns out that I was right when it came to the identity of the murderer? (Okay, fine, maybe that's a stretch.) There are a couple of twists that I never saw coming – the one involving Bear is just … wow. That “if Agatha Christie wrote fantasy” line in the blurb is a pretty accurate description, honestly.

And the worldbuilding … I've already mentioned it once, but it is really, really well done. I'd love to visit Concordia and visit each of the provinces. Even the scary ones … I think. Maybe. If I'm feeling really brave that day.

The romance? Eh, it was okay considering I'm not usually much of a fan. Ganymedes and Bear really have some insta-love going on, although it did all make a lot more sense in the end. Dee's devotion to Ravi is kind of sweet, though, even if he did go on about it a lot.

My overall rating: 4.05 stars, rounded down. Voyage of the Damned is a magical (and romantic) romp of a murder mystery that will leave you guessing right up until the very end.

Many thanks to NetGalley and MIRA for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is August 20, 2024.

Concordia is a realm divided into twelve provinces each directed by one of the Blessed, the heir to the magic of their land. There has long been discord among the Blessed and between the provinces. The one thing that unites them is their hatred for the Crab who live outside their boundaries. Following centuries old tradition the twelve Blessed set sail on a pilgrimage to the sacred mountain. On the first night a belove heir is murdered and all are suspect. Gandymeade, heir to the FIsh province has a secret..---he has no magic . As more deaths ensue He is determined to solve the crimes. Think Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" enshrined on a magical fantasy vessel. I never cease to be in awe of the creative imagination of authors and the amazing tales they spin for my entertainment. The twelve characters are diverse and each quirky in their own unique way. An emotional roller coaster ride with surprises along the way. The romantic elements are far removed from traditional but find their pace in the plot. If you are in the mood for a whimsical diverse murder cruise climb aboard this mystical magic carpet. It ill be quite a ride!!!

"Voyage of the Damned" by Frances White is a masterfully crafted tale that had me utterly enthralled from start to finish! This book is a true cat-and-mouse story, with characters so well-developed that I felt deeply invested in their journeys. The emotional depth of this story is remarkable, with a mystery that kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat.

White's writing is pure genius, weaving a fantasy story that's both captivating and suspenseful. I was completely absorbed in the world she created, with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end.

This was my first experience with Frances White's work, and I'm eager to explore more of her books in the future. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this incredible story. If you're a fan of fantasy and mystery, do yourself a favor and add "Voyage of the Damned" to your reading list - you won't regret it!

Murder on the Orient Express told as a gloriously queer fantasy romp. This was a lot of fun. Don't miss it.

Ok, I had a really hard time with this book. The first maybe 15% is full of nothing but name-calling and false bravado from the main character’s internal monologue. While that part gets less insufferable, the murder mystery isn’t very good, in that we never get any clues or see anyone having any kind of motive, so instead of wondering who did it, we have no suspects.
The only things I liked about this book are the fact that there are several queer characters, including the main character, and the premise of why the main character has to cover up for not actually having the ability he’s supposed to.

While I enjoyed the mystery part of the plot, I’m surprised this book is considered adult fantasy. It read like a YA book which isn’t a problem but it just felt odd at times, it was hard to get past the fatophobia I tried to understand why the author would include it but it felt awkward. I appreciate the inclusivity of the characters, and the books complex magic system. I guess it just wasn’t my type of tea but i would definitely recommend it as it’s not a bad book! It just wasn’t for me. ☺️

4.5 ⭐️ Voyage of the Damned easily skyrocketed into my top reads of the year! It’s a murder mystery that feels reminiscent of Agatha Christie and Clue that includes positive representation of LGBTQIAP+ and BIPOC characters, tackles themes of classism and racism, and explores mental health challenges while weaving in humor, magic, self-love, and found family. At times the story felt a bit longer than it needed to be, but overall the almost 500 pages were worth it for the twists and reveals that came at the end. I’m already looking forward to purchasing & re-reading this book once it’s published in August so that I can look for clues I missed on my first read-through.

- Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! -

What a fun ride. I had so much fun with this one and highly recommend it. Now I want to go on a gay magical adventure ^.^

This was an interesting one cause the POV felt very modern, but the setting definitely did not. The inconsistencies threw me off a little bit.

It also had an insta love type of situation (not totally instant, but too quick to really feel it as a reader) that I’m not a fan of…

But something about me is I’m always going to enjoy a book on a ship. This was fun and fast paced!

I sadly DNFed this book around 40%. This book did not read like an adult fantasy novel and maybe that was due to the mystery part of it, but it truly felt like I was reading YA. I was not a fan at all of the way food and weight was described. While I understand that fatphobia can be a writing tool, in this case it felt very flat and made me uncomfortable due to the way it was handled. It truly added nothing of substance to the story and really took me out of the story.

Each of the twelve provinces of Concordia has an animal mascot, a single industry, and one Blessed: a scion of the ruling house with a temperamentally-appropriate superpower they keep secret. And then there's Dee. The sarcastic, self-loathing future leader of the lowly Fish province never got his Blessing due to his father's philandering. Being stuck on a holy cruise with the other Blesseds was a special form of hell for Dee even before someone started killing them one by one. Dee picks the least likely allies for his chaotic detecting. A fun blend of fantasy, mystery, and romance.