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A review by ameliabiblio
Voyage of the Damned by Frances White
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