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A review by thegreenreadingroom
Voyage of the Damned by Frances White
5.0
“But now, death feels like a foe I must face. And the bitch is everywhere.”
A queer locked-room murder mystery in a fantasy world?? Um, yes please. Add to it an all too relatable self-deprecating main character and I am completely on board (quite literally - it’s set on a magical ship).
I’m almost at a loss for words with this one. I was so invested and it just kept pulling me in the more I read. I mean, anytime there’s a fantasy world I’m all in, but the world building in this story felt so well-balanced to me. It was well paced and was just so fun in a way some fantasy worlds are not. It felt real and tangible, like something I wanted to slip into and be part of. The author gave me enough to feel satisfied yet left me wanting to know more and more.
The murder mystery component was absolutely insane, but in the best way. It was baffling to me as a reader. I couldn’t for the life of me figure it out. I so desperately wanted to know what was happening, who was doing it, and most importantly, why. I didn’t expect it to turn out the way it did. In fact, I was so surprised I believe there may have been some yelling involved. I was left guessing up until the end. Even when I thought I finally knew, I truly hadn’t the slightest clue what was coming next.
The character development was beautifully paired with the plot. Each character was so utterly themselves, complicated and oh so human. They were each written in a way that made me feel as though they could’ve been peers of mine. They were just so real. Some I loved to love and others I loved to hate. And the personal drama and tension were palpable.
And our dear main character, Dee, so much to be said about him. I think many readers have been in his shoes - struggling to find any value in themselves, using humor as a shield against the world, and fighting to find our place. I was rooting for him the whole time and loved the way his piece of the story concluded.
In the end, what was a very fun and engaging queer murder mystery became a lovely journey of self discovery and acceptance. One fueled by the unconditional love of others, but moreover by realizing one’s own inherent worth was there all along just beneath the surface.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. I truly loved every second of this book!
A queer locked-room murder mystery in a fantasy world?? Um, yes please. Add to it an all too relatable self-deprecating main character and I am completely on board (quite literally - it’s set on a magical ship).
I’m almost at a loss for words with this one. I was so invested and it just kept pulling me in the more I read. I mean, anytime there’s a fantasy world I’m all in, but the world building in this story felt so well-balanced to me. It was well paced and was just so fun in a way some fantasy worlds are not. It felt real and tangible, like something I wanted to slip into and be part of. The author gave me enough to feel satisfied yet left me wanting to know more and more.
The murder mystery component was absolutely insane, but in the best way. It was baffling to me as a reader. I couldn’t for the life of me figure it out. I so desperately wanted to know what was happening, who was doing it, and most importantly, why. I didn’t expect it to turn out the way it did. In fact, I was so surprised I believe there may have been some yelling involved. I was left guessing up until the end. Even when I thought I finally knew, I truly hadn’t the slightest clue what was coming next.
The character development was beautifully paired with the plot. Each character was so utterly themselves, complicated and oh so human. They were each written in a way that made me feel as though they could’ve been peers of mine. They were just so real. Some I loved to love and others I loved to hate. And the personal drama and tension were palpable.
And our dear main character, Dee, so much to be said about him. I think many readers have been in his shoes - struggling to find any value in themselves, using humor as a shield against the world, and fighting to find our place. I was rooting for him the whole time and loved the way his piece of the story concluded.
In the end, what was a very fun and engaging queer murder mystery became a lovely journey of self discovery and acceptance. One fueled by the unconditional love of others, but moreover by realizing one’s own inherent worth was there all along just beneath the surface.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. I truly loved every second of this book!