Hello, everyone! Today I’m reviewing one of my most anticipated releases from January 2024, Voyage of the Damned by Frances White. Unfortunately, this one hasn’t been published in the US. So, if you want to read it, you’ll need to order it from across the pond.

For a thousand years, Concordia has maintained peace between its provinces. To mark this incredible feat, the emperor’s ship embarks upon a twelve-day voyage to the sacred Goddess’s Mountain.

Aboard are the heirs of the twelve provinces of Concordia, each graced with a unique and secret magical ability known as a Blessing.

Except one: Ganymedes Piscero – class clown, slacker, and all-round disappointment.

When a beloved heir is murdered, everyone is a suspect. Stuck at sea and surrounded by powerful people without a Blessing to protect him, odds of survival are slim.

But as the bodies pile higher, Ganymedes must become the hero he was not born to be. Can he unmask the killer and their blessing before this bloody crusade reaches the shores of Concordia?

Or will the empire as he knows it fall?

I had such a fun time reading Voyage of the Damned. It was an exciting mix of fantasy and murder mystery alongside a dash of politics and a healthy dose of humor. The mystery unfolded at a steady pace, and the cast of characters was unique and intriguing. Many of the reveals took me by surprise, and I loved how it all ended up, despite the mountain of dead bodies it took to get there. lol.

There were two things in Voyage of the Damned that didn’t really work for me. First, the world-building and character introductions were a bit clunky. I think the author did a decent job of explaining the world considering the reader never gets to see any of it, but things got a little too info-dumpy at times. The same can be said for introducing the twelve characters. It was a lot to remember, and it didn’t feel very organic in how it was presented. Second, the book was just a bit too long, and it caused the mystery to drag a bit in places.

With that out of the way, let’s discuss all the things I loved about Voyage of the Damned. First and foremost, I adored the main character, Dee. He was a hilarious bisexual disaster that used humor, sarcasm, and being over-the-top obnoxious to mask the fact that he hated himself and struggled with feelings of worthlessness. He was the only heir without a magical blessing, which meant he always had to be on guard to keep his vulnerability a secret. He had a beautiful arc about learning to believe in himself and his worth, and I just had such a wonderful time getting to know him and laughing at all his jokes and antics.

The rest of the characters in Voyage of the Damned were all unique, and they definitely kept things interesting. They each had different magical abilities, and every single one of them had political or personal reasons to be the killer. I never knew who could be trusted, and it made the puzzle of figuring them all out so much fun. I loved all the twists and turns that their various personalities and powers created, and I enjoyed trying to track all of their maneuvering and political posturing. Who knew that putting a group of super-powered people who hate each other on a boat for 12 days could create so much mayhem? lol.

The found family that gathered around Dee was another of my favorite things about Voyage of the Damned. He seemed to collect people over the course of his investigation, and the groupings that emerged also fed into the rich versus poor theme that was woven throughout the story. Grasshopper was probably my favorite of his companions. She was an adorably hyperactive six-year-old with the power to turn invisible. His creation of the found family amidst such upheaval and distrust brilliantly showed exactly how good of a person Dee truly was, especially compared to the other heirs.

Overall, Voyage of the Damned was a witty and fun murder mystery. The front cover promised both magic and murder, and the story definitely delivered on both fronts. This was a really solid debut, and I’ll be watching out to see what comes next from this author. Therefore, I give Voyage of the Damned a rating of 4.25 out of 5 stars.

Have you read Voyage of the Damned? If so, what did you think of it? Let me know down in the comments!