"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.

Firstly, I want to extend my thanks to Net Galley and France White for providing me with an ARC of "Voyage of the Damned." Overall, I would rate this book 3.5 stars.

**What I Liked:**
I found the main character's humor and rebellious attitude refreshing and engaging. The book's complex magic system, unlike anything I've encountered before, added a fascinating layer to the story. Additionally, I appreciated the inclusivity of the LGBTQ+ representation.

**Challenges I Encountered:**
One significant challenge was the multitude of provinces and characters, some with similar names, which made it difficult to keep track of who belonged where. This complexity hindered my understanding of the class system and my connection to many characters.

**Confusion About Blessings:**
I found the concept of blessings confusing. For instance, while dragons received their blessings after the Emperor's death, Fish was supposed to have received his while his father was alive. Moreover, Lysander and Cordelia obtained their blessings while their parents were still alive. This inconsistency left me uncertain about how blessings are bestowed and inherited. Clarity on this aspect would have greatly aided my immersion in the story.

**Conclusion:**
"Voyage of the Damned" offers a compelling narrative with standout elements such as humor, a complex magic system, and inclusive representation. However, the abundance of characters and unclear mechanics surrounding blessings detracted from my overall enjoyment. Nevertheless, I appreciate the opportunity to explore this unique world early, and I believe with some clarification, this book could resonate more deeply with readers.

How to describe this book? It’s an historical fantasy, locked room murder mystery, romance comedy mash up; but put it on a boat, fill it with modern references and make it queer as f***.

If you don’t mind a jumbled world and this description excites you, you will likely love this book!!

Our main character and narrator is an insecure impostor, thrown into a lie that he has a special “blessing” power from the gods by his father for political and narcissistic reasons. Now he has to go on a voyage with all 12 “blessed” (one from each of the 12 provinces) and hope he isn’t discovered as a fake. That is until the “blessed “ start getting murdered one by one, and he has to figure out what the hell is going on!

I had a ball with this book! Most of the humor is found in the MC’s internal commentary. It’s sarcastic and self deprecating but in a refreshing way! The romance is not centered but still vital to the plot and quite heartwarming. If you want consistent world building and depth in the side characters this may not be for you (it is kind of a mess but I’d argue that is on purpose).

What grabbed me the most though was seeing this poor man who has been told his whole life he has no value become a reluctant hero despite his anxieties and learn to believe in himself amidst the mayhem. I’m in 💯 for that!

I’m thrilled Voyage of the Damned will be released in the US on August 20th and there is a cool first edition with sprayed issues available for preorder. So if this sounds like your jam, don’t miss out!

Thanks to @netgalley and @_mira_books_ for early access to an eARC for review purposes.

The emperor's ship embarks on a twelve-day voyage to the sacred Goddess's Mountain to celebrate the achievement of peace across the empire of Concordia. The vessel holds twelve heirs of each province. Each heir, except Ganymedes, has a unique, secret blessing or magical ability. After an heir is found murdered on the ship, everyone becomes a suspect. Ganymedes does not have a blessing to protect him. He must discover the identity of the killer before he is their latest victim.

I do love a zero-to-hero story. Ganymedes "Dee" and Grasshopper's banter was a source of humor and sweetness, like a big brother relationship. It is an extensive journey of self-discovery for our MMC, and he develops depth throughout the book. Initially, he seems shallow and self-serving but becomes a compelling character as the drama unfolds. He spends much of the book struggling with how he sees himself and his value to the empire. Dee's transformation pulls focus on the importance of inner strength and resiliency. All characters deal with some aspect of the expectations and pressures of being an heir.

The book was filled with suspense and unexpected twists. Everyone is a suspect and has a motive. It is difficult to discern who is friend or foe. The setting of the boat creates an isolating sense of danger and no escape. The author does a great job of building tension throughout the story. There were some events at the end that I wish were a little different, but it was an enjoyable read.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing.

MAGICAL GAY MURDER CRUISE HERE I COME.
I've actually been there and back again since I read the UK version BUT it's SUCH A GOOD BOOK.

The characters are all so distinct! I was surprised a few times while reading this. Surprising me is really hard to do since I've been a bookseller for nearly 10 years. I'm a wizened veteran bookseller.

Voyage of the Damned is heartwrenching, heartwarming, heartstopping. It does many things to the heart all at once and I loved every minute of it.

The ending was beautifully done. I felt satisfied with it but there's also room for MORE adventures with the gays! HOW EXCITING.

Thank you so much to Harlequin and Netgalley for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

I am not a huge fantasy reader but this one intrigued me since it was a murder mystery set on a cruise ship. This one had a lot of potential and I love the special editions that are coming out.

Unfortunately, I did not like this book. I found the writing to seem childish almost and it didn't feel like an adult book. I had a hard time connecting with the plot and the characters. I ended up DNFing this one because it was not working for me.

I feel like I never like the hyped Tik Tok books and alas this is the same.

I hope others love this one but it was not for me.

And Then They Were None-style mystery on a magical boat ride with a diverse cast? Yes, please. Voyage of the Damned is surprisingly fun given the amount of murder. Also features: great characters (I would literally die for Grasshopper), just enough worldbuilding, and lots and lots of twists. There was one twist towards the end that I didn't like - it relates to the romance and is impossible to talk about without spoilers - but overall, this was a surprisingly fun ride. I'll definitely keep an eye out for future books by this author.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Delightfully diverse, with a varied cast of characters. This fantasy novel really delivers on it's promise of a gay murder mystery cruise.

This book was an absolute ride. From start to finish it kept me hooked and had me wondering what was going on. Normally, I am quite good at guessing twists or figuring out some of the bigger pieces of the puzzle. This time, though I guessed some of the big reveals, there were many hints I missed when it came to the ultimate twist. If nothing else you will want to read to find out who and why.

For thousands of years the 12 provinces of the Concordia have tried to keep harmony between themselves to protect the border that keeps out their mutual enemy, The Crab Nation. Each Blessed is represented by an animal, with the Dragon being the head and emperor. Each Blessed has a different power bestowed upon them passed from their parent.
Dee is from the lowest province of the Concordia and he's the only "Blessed" who isn't actually Blessed. He's kept this secret for a decade because if the rest of the Concordia finds out it will ruin his province. He's spent most of his life trying to keep his distance from the other Blessed so they don't find out his secret. Including trying his hardest to miss the inaugural 12 day voyage to the Goddess’ mountain now that the 12th Blessed has been chosen. Of course he does end up on the ship and then the murdering begins.

Personally I find murder mysteries most entertaining if I know as little as possible going in. And this one was no different. I saw it was a secluded murder mystery with magic and queer lead and I knew I needed to read it.

I. Was. Not. Disappointed.

I was captivated from the beginning. Dee’s sarcastic, self deprecating-ness and sense of humor drew me to him. And I identified with him more and more as the story went on. If anyone has read the Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson, Dee is like Lift and Hoid combined. Lift and Hoid happen to be some of my favorite fictional characters so my love of Dee makes sense. Each of the other 11 characters on the ship stood out from each other. I didn’t have any problems confusing them with each other and I can’t always say that when there is focus on a big cast. They all were a varying level of likable and unlikable and it was very well done in my personal opinion. I do have to say that sometimes the information given about characters was at weird times. Or seemed to contradict other things that were said not long before. One example is how many times it was brought up that it was so surprising the Ermine Blessed showed up but then also it was declared everyone HAD to come. But yet still, everyone was so surprised she was there.

Dee’s development as a person over time was amazing. He started out sounding and acting like he never matured past 13. But by the end he grew emotionally and just overall and I absolutely loved it.

The world building was thorough and easy to understand. The only thing I had an issue with when it came to it, like with character information, was sometimes the timing of information about the world seemed disjointed.
The revels to the who-dun-it was laid out perfectly and made sense. Along with character revelations! I had all these “omg that’s why xyz happened earlier!” These were actual out loud exclamations that prompted my kids and partner to ask me if I was alright. (I was but also wasn’t)
Maybe my favorite world building part was how queer identities are absolutely normal. I love when a book has this seamlessly in the world.

The writing overall started out clunky. Definitely written like a debut (nothing wrong with that though!) But over time I think it morphed into something better and better. I absolutely can’t wait for what Frances White has for us next!

My library already has this one on order and I can’t wait to yell (Metaphorically of course, it is a library after all) at everyone to READ THIS ASAP!

Fun and well written whodunit! This was one of my favorite books I've read in a long time. I am a huge fan of mystery books in the vein of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie and I have been a fantasy reader my whole life. This is the first time I have ever read a book that blended fantasy with a whodunit and I thought it was masterfully done! I was a little apprehensive of the main character at first and the first few chapters read as young adult, but I quickly adjusted to both the style and characters and definitely would classify this as new adult literature. The magic system was fun and the world building was incredible. I genuinely wanted to be in this world and hope more books in this setting come in the future!

As someone who loves to ready mysteries in-between books as a sort of literary palette cleanser, I thought this was incredible. I also really enjoyed how the author treats the clues and doesn't overly explain or point everything out for us as the reader. We sort of are genuinely solving the mystery along with the main character. I think the only true critique I had for this book was the main character's name. I mentally gave him my own nickname for the novel anytime his name appeared. I also loved the LGBT+ representation and it didn't feel forced like a lot of modern LGBT+ do. These characters felt real and genuine. If you need a fun quick engaging read, pick this up!

I am obsessed with this book! The writing style was sarcastic and well-written. The characters were sassy and charismatic and I needed more. I would die for Grasshopper. Such a fun murder mystery!

For hundreds of years, Concordia has had 12 Blessed who travel together to complete a pilgrimage. The journey takes 12 days by ship, but this year, people keep turning up dead.

The premise of this book was highly promising, but unfortunately, its execution fell short for me. Had it not been an ARC, I likely would have discontinued reading. The story had an overabundance of characters, each with multiple names and "blessings," making it challenging to follow. The target audience was unclear—too mature for children yet often too juvenile for adults. Despite being marketed as LGBTQ+, the portrayal felt excessive, as nearly every character had a distinct preference, which seemed overwhelming.

There were several redeeming qualities that led to my 3-star rating though. The Grasshopper character was delightful and thoroughly enjoyable. The plot twist at the end was unexpected and well-executed, effectively maintaining suspense with twelve suspects, making the murderer's identity difficult to predict. The conclusion provided a sense of resolution and peace, nicely wrapping up the story. Additionally, Dee’s character arc was well-developed and engaging. While I wouldn't choose to reread it, I am satisfied with having completed the book.