Reviews

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White

marnienicole's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-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

3.75

Loved the main character but this got a little long. It felt like because it was a stand alone they threw everything in that reasonably could have gone into the start of a second book. Also the ending scene was both too nicely wrapped up and also not enough detail. Solid read and I’d be happy to see more from this author.

ivybee's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.5

wormwoods's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

ahaddad24's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring mysterious medium-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

4.75

irreverent_reader's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.75

erinp08's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious sad 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

4.0

shelves_of_anna's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-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

Finally a book that could pull me out of my reading slump 😭 I loved every second of this and I couldn’t put it down when I got to the end. I can’t wait to see where else this author goes in their career!! 

megatza's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 Ganymedes Piscero isn't anything he should be. He's heir to a Blessed legacy...but it seems the Blessing passed over him and perhaps went to a bastard half sibling instead. His fsther has sworn him to secrecy, and so he's been lying for 10 years to everyone - including the Emperor - about his ability. Only one other person knows; his best friend (and former lover) Ravi. Now on a voyage with the other Blessed heirs getting ready to take up the mantle of leadership, heir after heir turns up murdered. And Ganymedes needs to figure out who killed the Dragon and Ravi before the murderer gets him too.

Voyage of the Damned has a me-problem. It reads like YA and the fantasy elements felt underdeveloped to me. Plot holes abound, so if you like solving mysteries, this may leave you gasping for air like a fish out of water. That said, for those who like a plot that moves and an incredibly inclusive cast of characters, it could be an easy to digest fantasy for a lot of readers. The worldbuilding is a low lift, and I think it's easy enough for a novice to enjoy and not be confused. I'll always root for more inclusive fantasy writing with queer mcs of all sorts, even when those books are not for me.

Thank you to Harlequin for an eARC for review. Voyage of the Damned is out 8/20. 

cherylg123's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

tnapoliament's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted medium-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

3.5