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girlreading's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.0
This was so.much.fun!!!
but also kind of hard to rate..
Voyage of the Damned is my kind of fantasy. It's laugh out loud funny, easy to follow, brilliantly engaging, a little bit gruesome but also surprisingly tender at times. It's fast paced, action packed and the kind of book you day through without even realising and for the first 90% or so, I was dead set on it being a five star read.
Then the twist hit.
It's not to say it was a bad twist. In fact, it was surprising and interesting but it left me feeling somewhat deflated and detached from the characters and relationships for the last part of the story. It's hard to explain without any spoilers but something about it and certain characters reactions to said twist, didn't quite match up for me with what I previously knew of them. It also left me feeling slightly duped out of a certain relationship (again, trying to be a vague as possible here).
It's frustrating that I was left feeling a little flat after reading a book that I genuinely adored for all but its final pages (and even those weren't bad, I think I just felt the disappointment more because of how much I had been loving it.)
That being said, I did thoroughly enjoy my time with this book and I feel as though I'd probably think a lot more of the ending upon a reread. All in all, this was a witty, tender, murderous and diverse fantasy with a locked room murder mystery, romance and mental health rep, and one that has left me very excited to read Frances White's future work.
but also kind of hard to rate..
Voyage of the Damned is my kind of fantasy. It's laugh out loud funny, easy to follow, brilliantly engaging, a little bit gruesome but also surprisingly tender at times. It's fast paced, action packed and the kind of book you day through without even realising and for the first 90% or so, I was dead set on it being a five star read.
Then the twist hit.
It's not to say it was a bad twist. In fact, it was surprising and interesting but it left me feeling somewhat deflated and detached from the characters and relationships for the last part of the story. It's hard to explain without any spoilers but something about it and certain characters reactions to said twist, didn't quite match up for me with what I previously knew of them. It also left me feeling slightly duped out of a certain relationship (again, trying to be a vague as possible here).
It's frustrating that I was left feeling a little flat after reading a book that I genuinely adored for all but its final pages (and even those weren't bad, I think I just felt the disappointment more because of how much I had been loving it.)
That being said, I did thoroughly enjoy my time with this book and I feel as though I'd probably think a lot more of the ending upon a reread. All in all, this was a witty, tender, murderous and diverse fantasy with a locked room murder mystery, romance and mental health rep, and one that has left me very excited to read Frances White's future work.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
e_read_books's review against another edition
3.75
A really well thought out murder mystery considering there were 12 characters each with pretty different magical abilities to keep track of over 12 days in a fairly large ship. There were multiple equally plausible suspects to keep the reader guessing and as such I couldn't be truly surprised when the killer was revealed but the motives and plans still had some unexpected twists.
I was worried in the first couple of chapters that Dee would be too annoying of a character for me to follow. I'll admit his humour did not always land for me, but his true depth is quickly revealed to us and he ended up being a really compelling character and a pretty good detective. I absolutely loved his relationship with little Grasshopper (truly Adorable Level 5/5).
Lowering the score for me is I didn't quite jive with some of the humour and also the conclusion, though it fits well with Dee's character arc. I'm just never going to preferDee becoming the new Emporer "ruling the right way" over abolishing the system altogether. Though there was mention of independence later down the line . However, the meat of the story i.e. the murder mystery was a great fun time and the differing character dynamics between the 12 heirs created plenty of opportunity for great dialogue scenes with lots of character.
I was worried in the first couple of chapters that Dee would be too annoying of a character for me to follow. I'll admit his humour did not always land for me, but his true depth is quickly revealed to us and he ended up being a really compelling character and a pretty good detective. I absolutely loved his relationship with little Grasshopper (truly Adorable Level 5/5).
Lowering the score for me is I didn't quite jive with some of the humour and also the conclusion, though it fits well with Dee's character arc. I'm just never going to prefer
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Self harm, and Death
Moderate: Murder, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Xenophobia
black_cat_iiix's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Murder, and Torture
Minor: Slavery and Racial slurs
momokomoon94's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
I thought this was going to be a 5 star book for me until around page 400. I’m not sure I’m a fan of what the twist ended up being, and the end felt very rushed. But I loved all the characters, especially Grasshopper. This was still a great read so 4.0 stars it is.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
miss_cheevious's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
linde_ahobbit's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? It's complicated
3.75
This is a fun book that I really enjoyed. It isn't perfect, the jokes don't always land and it's sometimes a bit immature. But it's such a fun ride. There was one plot twist tho, during the last couple of chapters ,that I really dislike.
Turns out Ravi was Wyatt (almost) the whole time... and I think it was a bad move. I actually really liked Dee's romance with Wyatt, and the shock that Ravi got killed off so soon and unexpextedly. It felt good for Dee to move on and open up to someone new. First loves, however important they were at the time, aren't always the right choice for us. And the book convinces you of that as well. Ravi was awful to Dee before be "died". Dee realises this and is ready to move on. Move on to someone who is there for him, who defends him. There's literally a scene in the book where Dee chooses Wyatt over Ravi. That's why you don't see the plot twist coming. It's such a set-up, Wyatt is written as an entirerly different character. That's why it doens't work.
It is so manipulative of Ravi. He was lying to Dee the whole time while pretending to be someone else (for a bad reason I might add). And even after Ravi comes clean and admits to it (and how he was in on the murder plot from the beginning...), he still doesn't tell the whole truth.
Dee forgave him wayyyy to easily. He should at least have been angry and feel betrayed. Ravi made him mourn him, made him fall in love with a pretend person (he made up a whole backstory for Wyatt etc) and kept lying right until the end.
Dee also should've missed Wyatt at least a bit, because you do as reader. For him to just accept it... feels off. And unfair (to himself).
Also, Ravi being the one to take away Dee's clothes for almost two weeks without even as much as a change of underwear?? Actual bullying behavior. And one another thing, shouldn't Ravi have known about Dee's "fear" of water?
Sorry for the rant, but the twist just doesn't work. They could have kept the twist in, that Ravi's still alive. Just not him being Wyatt as well... It makes me feel sad because I was really liking the book right until that point... ):
Other than that, I liked how Dee's mental health was handled. And Grashopper was a cutie. Anyway.. justice for Wyatt.
It is so manipulative of Ravi. He was lying to Dee the whole time while pretending to be someone else (for a bad reason I might add). And even after Ravi comes clean and admits to it (and how he was in on the murder plot from the beginning...), he still doesn't tell the whole truth.
Dee forgave him wayyyy to easily. He should at least have been angry and feel betrayed. Ravi made him mourn him, made him fall in love with a pretend person (he made up a whole backstory for Wyatt etc) and kept lying right until the end.
Dee also should've missed Wyatt at least a bit, because you do as reader. For him to just accept it... feels off. And unfair (to himself).
Also, Ravi being the one to take away Dee's clothes for almost two weeks without even as much as a change of underwear?? Actual bullying behavior. And one another thing, shouldn't Ravi have known about Dee's "fear" of water?
Sorry for the rant, but the twist just doesn't work. They could have kept the twist in, that Ravi's still alive. Just not him being Wyatt as well... It makes me feel sad because I was really liking the book right until that point... ):
Other than that, I liked how Dee's mental health was handled. And Grashopper was a cutie. Anyway.. justice for Wyatt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Bullying
inkysplodge's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Murder, Self harm, Death, Classism, and Cursing
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, Blood, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Suicide, Vomit, Animal death, and Sexual content
novel_nibbles's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
I absolutely loved huge hearted, funny, flamboyant , body positive Dee. While the book came to a satisfactory conclusion I would happy read a whole series headed by him.
Like all good mysteries, Voyage of the Damned kept me guessing the perpetrator and speculating on how they’d carried out their crimes.
Like all good mysteries, Voyage of the Damned kept me guessing the perpetrator and speculating on how they’d carried out their crimes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Blood, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Suicidal thoughts
madscientistcat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
This book was *gripping*, like can’t put it down, thinking about it when I’m not reading sort of adventure. I loved the characters, the world building, the humor, and the first 85% of the book. I think if I had gone in with the mindset of this being a New Adult rather than Adult book I would have appreciated the end more than I did. Still it was an incredible world and an absolutely wild mystery - and phenomenal writing. Between that and the incredible queer and disabled rep, White is definitely on my must-read author list now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Suicide attempt, Grief, Classism, Xenophobia, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Sexual content
hailstorm3812's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
This book is so bonkers. It feels like a rollercoaster but has the same amount of fun. I really liked Dee. He's such a fun protagonist and I liked living in his head. The side characters were all really interesting. It's overwhelming in the beginning but as it goes on a lot of them get a chance to shine. I do have problems with the "and then there were none" style mysteries when all the characters I like start dropping like flies. This book also gives rights to the homoerotic childhood friendship which I can never condone but I think they pulled it out in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Toxic friendship