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kiwij96's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The leaders of the country's 12 provinces find themselves on a murder cruise. I mean, what isn't to love about that idea? Characters with their own strong beliefs and concerns, and heavy on the distrust.
100% check your trigger warnings for this one. However, there is so much to love about this story. It is well-paced and the perfect length for the story to be told. Nothing felt wasted or out of place in terms of the pacing,however, I didn't super love the fade to black at the end of the last chapter. That felt really out of place for me.</spoiler
100% check your trigger warnings for this one. However, there is so much to love about this story. It is well-paced and the perfect length for the story to be told. Nothing felt wasted or out of place in terms of the pacing,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Murder, Body horror, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Grief, Blood, Death, Classism, and Violence
Moderate: Genocide, Child abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Drug use, Ableism, and Sexual content
rubyredders's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book does NOT go big into details on the magic system or hitting you with the history of the world or even how the weird weather patterns work but you know what I DO NOT CARE - I didnt come here for high fantasy Tolkien level world building. I came here for the murder mystery with fantasy elements and I got that.
It's very locked room murder mystery ala And Then There Were None, with everyone on board the ship being a chosen magic user for their respective area and the deaths start thick and fast. Trying to figure out the murder mystery was fun.I was watching those dead bodies mount up like which of you are fake dead I know one of you must be because Mrs Christie has my mind always looking for that false lead and I WAS RIGHT
So many of the characters are endearing and the representation is insane. We got queers of every flavour, trans rep, a wheelchair user and a chronic pain sufferer with long term illness. Plus every one of them is some variety of messed up. These people have suffered, are suffering and are causing suffering to each other.
Our main character Ganymedes (Dee) sometimes comes across a bit younger than he is in the writing, but I can excuse it because, again, all these characters are going through it and clearly living a different life from the average person. He did have some great moments of maturity thoughHow he describes his meetings with the Crabs and others reactions to them, his care for Grasshopper and the chess match! Dee's biggest strength is how much everyone underestimates him due to his purposely off-putting behaviour
There was a romance subplot that I shan't say more about because spoilersit was sweet, is all I'll say
The ending wrapped everything up while leaving the future open to interpretation.
I'll be keeping my eye out for the authors future works because this is a very strong start.
It's very locked room murder mystery ala And Then There Were None, with everyone on board the ship being a chosen magic user for their respective area and the deaths start thick and fast. Trying to figure out the murder mystery was fun.
So many of the characters are endearing and the representation is insane. We got queers of every flavour, trans rep, a wheelchair user and a chronic pain sufferer with long term illness. Plus every one of them is some variety of messed up. These people have suffered, are suffering and are causing suffering to each other.
Our main character Ganymedes (Dee) sometimes comes across a bit younger than he is in the writing, but I can excuse it because, again, all these characters are going through it and clearly living a different life from the average person. He did have some great moments of maturity though
There was a romance subplot that I shan't say more about because spoilers
The ending wrapped everything up while leaving the future open to interpretation.
I'll be keeping my eye out for the authors future works because this is a very strong start.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Child abuse, and Xenophobia
ameliabiblio's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I am the audience for this book. That’s right. It’s me. Hi, I’m the audience. It’s me. (I’m sorry not sorry. I’m a huge Swiftie.)
I will admit that it took me a few chapters to get my footing and figure out if I would like it. Dee isn’t an immediately likeable character. His humor walks the line of “so cringey it’s funny” and “so cringey it’s bad.” For me, it falls on the funny side. For others, it may not. I think his overall characterization was handled well and he ended up feeling like a very real, understandable person.
When I started this book, I thought it was going to be multiple POV because I hadn’t read the description in ages. At the end of the day, I didn’t mind that you only get Dee’s POV, but I think, if it was done well, having multiple POVs could have really elevated the book. I liked the array of characters and the DIVERSITY! Love love loved it. Also, they all have different hair colors, which is very fun.
I will say that I immediately clocked the Main Big Bad. There were still plenty of other twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, though, including the biggest reveal (imo), so I wouldn’t necessarily call this book predictable. I also didn’t guess the true motivation until much closer to the end, after the book basically already told me. The mystery ended up making complete sense and I didn’t feel like Dee stupidly missed any important details.
Spoilers for the ending incoming!While I totally understand those who feel weirded out by how Ravi was going to partake in a massacre, personally? I don’t care😝 It’s a fictional book! Sometimes characters are bad, but good at heart and you just have to forgive them because they’re so darn lovable! And even though I thought he was Wyatt for most of the book, he was very lovable. Sometimes you’re just reminded how much you love someone and remember that murdering people is bad!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Michael Joseph for the ARC.
I will admit that it took me a few chapters to get my footing and figure out if I would like it. Dee isn’t an immediately likeable character. His humor walks the line of “so cringey it’s funny” and “so cringey it’s bad.” For me, it falls on the funny side. For others, it may not. I think his overall characterization was handled well and he ended up feeling like a very real, understandable person.
When I started this book, I thought it was going to be multiple POV because I hadn’t read the description in ages. At the end of the day, I didn’t mind that you only get Dee’s POV, but I think, if it was done well, having multiple POVs could have really elevated the book. I liked the array of characters and the DIVERSITY! Love love loved it. Also, they all have different hair colors, which is very fun.
I will say that I immediately clocked the Main Big Bad. There were still plenty of other twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, though, including the biggest reveal (imo), so I wouldn’t necessarily call this book predictable. I also didn’t guess the true motivation until much closer to the end, after the book basically already told me. The mystery ended up making complete sense and I didn’t feel like Dee stupidly missed any important details.
Spoilers for the ending incoming!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Michael Joseph for the ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, and Murder
quitegood's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think it pays to always read the acknowledgements for a book before you pass judgement. To understand why the author wrote the book. This book was a wonderful debut novel and I'm glad I read it. Dee and Grasshopper are so adorable and have stolen my heart. Dee is a little bit of gary stu at times, but also saw a lot of myself in him.... hmm. Always, well worth a read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Death, and Suicide attempt
sarahna's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Murder, Bullying, Chronic illness, Classism, Ableism, Blood, Suicide attempt, Fatphobia, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Body shaming, Confinement, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Vomit
keya_caivalur's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Suicide attempt, Murder, Blood, Xenophobia, Violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Confinement, and Body horror
Moderate: Xenophobia, Alcohol, Mental illness, Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, Drug use, Chronic illness, Classism, Bullying, Child abuse, Stalking, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Vomit, Abandonment, War, and Death of parent
farfetched's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book. I've been thinking about it since I started reading it, and it will stick with me for longer. I could have read it all at once, but I'm glad I didn't - it was great to stop and think about it, and think about it I definitely did. The twists caught me unawares but equally made sense - the longer you go on with this book you realise how complicated the characters are. I absolutely loved this book - I really want to go back and reread it, so I can see the foreshadowing. Lots of natural queer, POC, disabled and working class rep, the social themes were excellently handled, and the Blessings were used really well. Would recommend highly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Cursing, Grief, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
The main character is implied to be shamed about being fat/chubby by other characters, but is accepting of it themselves and fights back against it when it is raised in book.
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