Sometimes the world-building in fantasy fiction can feel dense and tedious, a whole new context and culture to take in for the story to unfold. Not this one, though. The premise was straightforward (a society made of tenuously peaceful, distinct districts, a la The Hunger Games), the setting was easy to understand (a magical ship) and the characters so colorful and compelling that the world just easily unfolded as the mystery of the story deepened. The main character is kind and funny, snarky and sensual. The pages turned themselves once I was halfway done and finished the second half in one sitting!

Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommend for a fun and different read.

I reaaaally wanted to love this one. I'd seen it all over the book internet and was so excited when it came to the US. I wasn't in love with the cheeky narrator/main character and humor in fantasy just doesn't work for me. I can see how a lot of people absolutely love this one, though! Just not my taste.

A BookTok sensation that didn’t disappoint? Bravoooooooo!!! Such a fun romp, with a locked-ship murder mystery that kept getting more and more intriguing and the bodies piled up. I loved the magic that accompanied the story, and the main character was so funny and endearing that I’d love to spend several more books with him. It was a perfect choice for an all-day readathon, and held my attention from start to finish!

A colorful cover, a vibrant world, and loads of adventure. I always love an Agatha Christie style novel and this one was a fun one.

I devoured this in two days and I’m not sure what came over me but I’m not mad about it

This is an adult fantasy with a murder mystery at its core. However, I do think this feels more YA in tone and behavior.

I had a fantastic time with the setting (isolation on a ship) and the murder mystery (there’s only 12 people to choose from so the suspect pool is limited). The fantasy elements were fascinating - each character is the Blessed, aka the heir to their province, and therefore has a magical power.

Grasshopper 💛

This book was rather long, but the resolution still felt a little rushed in the end. But overall this was a great read for the mystery and fantasy lovers.

Its a big, gay, mystery cruise and I honestly don't know how else to convince someone to read this lol what an immersive and incredible DEBUT novel! This being a debut is crazy, everything clicked together so well and the banter between characters had me INVESTED.

OMG!!!!! This was the one of the best book I read this year. The story, the characters, I loved every bit. The book’s pacing is impeccable. Each chapter heightens the tension, with new twists, alliances, and betrayals keeping the reader hooked. The diverse cast of heirs is fascinating, their complex dynamics adding depth to the story. Moreover, the vivid descriptions of the ship and its surroundings immerse readers in a world brimming with color and magic.

While the story shines as a thrilling mystery, it also explores deeper themes of power, identity, and resilience. The stakes feel real—not just for the characters but for the fragile empire they represent.

Voyage of the Damned is a must-read for fans of fantasy, mysteries, or character-driven narratives. Its unique premise and engaging execution make it unforgettable.

I wasn’t able to review this book before it’s publish date but now that I have read it I am giving it 4 stars.

I love a good fantasy. Sadly this one just didn’t do it for me.
It was good but not what I was hoping for. I wanted more action. But got more of a love story.
With the title called Voyage of the Damned. I was expecting sea creatures, pirates something that would make it more of a fantasy and exciting.

Talk about fumbling the ball at the one yard line! For the first 2/3 of this book I thought it would be a five star read. The closing, however, was both overly complicated (there’s no way a magic system this fragile could survive a millennium) and infuriating. I can’t say more without a really big spoiler, but suffice it to say, I did *not* enjoy the romance plot.

Sigh. I truly hoped to enjoy this book. The title and description seemed appealing, yet it fell very short for me. It was rather boring. I truly hoped to enjoy this book. The title and description seemed appealing, yet it fell very short for me.

I loved this book. It was very engaging and the main character was very relatable in his nonchalant way of going about things, at least in the beginning. Definitely a good murder mystery book without being ensconced in the typical murder mystery setting of a big and dark mansion in the middle of the woods.

What do you get when you put 12 heirs from different magic countries alone on a ship heading toward a ceremonial mountain...... and one dies? Then another? A locked room murder mystery full of secret magic powers and even secreter secrets.

Voyage of the Damned follows Ganymedes "Dee" Piscero, the gay, chubby, next in line for the fish province as he alternately tries to joke his way out of the trauma of being the least regarded and you know, the aforementioned murders, and protect himself and the ones he loves from being next on the murder list while trying to figure not only everyone's special magic power (aka "Blessings") but who is the killer!

I know I did a disservice here by putting this book aside due to other obligations at the moment and then coming back about 65% in, but the last third of the book moved pretty quickly. It reads pretty YA and also very,perhaps inspired by Gideon the Ninth (while being easier to follow - said as someone who quite likes the Locked Tomb books) and various anime, with the Fruits Basket-esque each province representing an animal, each of the heirs having a hair color attributed to that area, and the magic dragon mascots. It was all right! It was a quick read entertaining enough with a wide but not very likable cast of characters that sort of check various diversity boxes (not a negative thing really but also noticeable 'here's the wheelchair one' 'here's the trans one' 'this one is they/them and also straight out says 'I'm asexual'' ). It's a book with a lot of potential and a lot of bits of what-could-be in the world building but it's also A Lot that isn't really fleshed out enough, both lore and character-wise although maybe it's hard to develop more characters when some of them get killed off quickly (and some less quick but are around the first-person-pov character less often so what does he know about them anyway). Also I straight up forgot about the conflict with the Crabs now two days after finishing and opening up NetGalley to write this review because there was so much else going on on the ship and Dee's feelings.

I'm glad this was a standalone, and I enjoyed Dee's sad gay feelings toward his ex and developing toward Wyatt and... the scene at the beginning at the fair was cute!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for the eARC in exchange for review! I was really looking forward to this one, but alas, it didn't really hit for me unfortunately!

I love murder mystery vibes! So I had high hopes for this book. The story is very interesting. The book is of the adult genre but I would say it had a very childish vibe. The language would at times be considered mature but the characters seemed immature.

I like the concept of the book, murder mystery on a boat. But at time I would get lost with so many characters to keep track of. This made it difficult for me to continue reading the book.

I think this book would be a fun adventure to dive into. Maybe it just wasn't for me.

1.5 stars. There was NOTHING about the way this book was written that had me feeling the need to continue beyond 10%. Soooo disappointing

"If Agatha Christie wrote fantasy, this would be it!"

....unfortunately this was not the case, in my opinion as an Agatha Christie fan. I knew this book probably wouldn't be for me from the very beginning so I doubt I would have continued reading had I not received a review copy from the publisher. The main character was so unlikeable and his internal monologue was insufferable. Shortly into the book I stopped and went to check if it was supposed to be YA or adult. I thought it was adult but it reads as YA, with the occasional filthy word thrown around. I did not enjoy the mystery plot at all, too many characters - honestly my list of unlikes could go on so I'll just wrap up by saying overall this book just wasn't for me. Beautiful cover though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Rating 2/5 🌙"s

Overview: Murder mystery on a boat? Now let's add magic.

Review: I think this book should have been made a YA novel. The world building and magic rules were very elementary for an adult novel. I felt like the main character was a bit underwhelming as well. I wish there would have been more streamline world building and more knowledge and structure about the magic system.

I would probably recommend this book to anyone who is into fantasy but maybe wants it to be an easy non complicated read.

I recently finished *Voyage of the Damned* by Frances White, and it was an incredible reading experience, made even more special because a coworker gifted me a stunning special edition copy. This thoughtful gesture added an extra layer of enjoyment to an already captivating story.

The novel centers on Dee, a sharp, chaotic detective from the marginalized Fish province, as he uncovers a series of murders tied to the political tension between the provinces. Dee’s character is both hilarious and heartbreaking, and I found myself fully invested in his journey, both in solving the mystery and grappling with the personal struggles he’s trying to hide. The emotional depth of the story, especially in terms of identity and self-acceptance, really resonated with me.

The world-building in *Voyage of the Damned* is impressive, with White offering enough detail to create a vivid setting without overwhelming the reader. The themes of power, identity, and personal growth are well-explored, and the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters adds further depth to the narrative. The murder mystery itself is tightly plotted, with twists that kept me on my toes right until the end. This is a fantasy novel that offers a perfect mix of humor, emotional depth, and thrilling adventure, and I’m so glad I got to read it—especially in such a beautiful edition.

Realizing a lot of the books labeled as "tiktok sensations" are not going to be for me. The humor in this book was not to my taste, and I found the tone shifts between jokiness and murder to be a little jarring. I think this is a great pick for someone who isn't well versed in fantasy novels or locked-room mysteries, because the setup and characters are all pretty flat and easy to follow. This sounds like I'm knocking it or being snobby. It's totally fine; I'm just not the target audience

Voyage of the Damned was a wild, queer ride with lots of twists I didn't see coming!

Great worldbuilding, with characters I rooted for and wanted to know more about! Loved the romance, and it had a large amount of adventure too, if that's more your cup of tea!