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persephonefoxx's review against another edition
- 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
We can get murdered tomorrow. Tonight, we party.
It’s giving Danganronpa in the best way possible.
It probably says a lot about me, but I love a fun murder mystery. And God, this book was so fun. An ensemble cast of super powerful teenagers and young adults (and one amazingly insane six-year-old) stuck on a murder cruise? Filled with politics divides, generational disputes, social expectations and pressures, dangerous secrets, and loves worth killing and dying for? A perfect cocktail mystery, magic, and so much murder.
There were multiple times this book had me screaming. As in book closed, turning to my wife, ‘omg omg omg’ screaming. (Let’s just say a certain scene pertaining to secrets and fingers will go down as one of my top ten favourite scenes of all time.) And while I had a pretty solid idea of who was doing the killing by the time we entered the final quarter (thanks to obsessive autistic pattern recognition and a very quickly diminishing suspect pool), there were twists and turns in the final quarter of this book that had me going feral.
And I can’t talk about this book without talking about the oodle and oodles of representation. Causal and expansive queer representation in an incredibly well thought out queer normative fantasy setting. Not to mention the additional disabled, plus sized, POC, and chronically ill representation across the cast of multifaceted weirdos. Plus it gets mad props for including the most accurate line about bisexuality I have ever read: “why do I want women to beat me up and men to gently embrace me?” Same Dee. Same.
TL:DR - This book was so much fun. Dripping with representation in an ensemble cast of well-rounded and loveable (and sometimes hate-able) characters. (Nergüi really is ‘that bitch’ and I love them.) It is a rollercoaster of murder, mystery, romance, magic, and friendship. A story of self-discovery, self-worth, and kindness. I loved this book, and I fear my wife will have to listen to me ramble about it for some time to come.
Graphic: Grief, Animal death, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent and Body shaming
cozyreadergurl3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt
sarahna's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
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
neatens's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
📚Voyage of the Damned by Frances White📚
The story started when a beloved heir was murdered during the voyage and everyone suddenly became a suspect. It was such an exciting premise but nothing hooked my interest until the last quarter of the book. The plot drags so much and it was predictable. Though I like the subplot romance. It was cute.
This was one of my most anticipated books this January because of the great reviews but I got disappointed. I was about to DNF this because as I said the plot drags so much and nothing was interesting to me. But I gave it a chance and until the last chapters of the book it became good. I guess I read too much mystery/thriller books that this isn’t the one that I usually like.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, War, Abandonment, Murder, Body horror, and Violence
vienna_books's review against another edition
- 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
This was an amazing ride! If Agatha Christie and Leigh Bardugo co-authored a book - it could look something like this.
The future leaders of 12 provinces go on a 12 day ship voyage together. Every one of them has a unique magical ability- except for our protagonist who only pretends to have one. During their journey people start dying and soon foul play is suspected. The mystery kept me on my toes the whole time and even though I guessed part of the solution, most of it was a surprise to me. I love hard to solve mysteries and this one certainly gave me that. The protagonist was a little bit annoying at times but I still liked him. Not sure about the romance plot, I feel like the story didn’t really need it but it was fine.
All in all I loved the book and will definitely recommend it to friends :)
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
lisashelves's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Murder, Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Vomit
Minor: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts