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bree_h_reads's review against another edition
There are aspects of this book that I can see really appealing to more patient reader. Unfortunately, I am not that reader.
I think the base of the world and how it functions is really interesting. I also really enjoy stories where a non-powered character has to pretend to have these powers. It’s a fun concept!
Unfortunately I just found the MC insufferable. While I mostly liked the complexity of the character, where he would be rude and prickly but as obviously a good person, there was one aspect where I drew the line. His relationship with his ex. To me it seemed as if they’d been apart for some time, but the MC was still obsessing over him and felt entitled to the ex’s affections. While I understand that the way things ended was shitty on the ex’s part and think the MC is valid for being upset about that aspect, everything else about it drove me up the wall. I had to call it quits when the MC got made at the ex for thinking of and wanting to say goodbye to his fiancée instead of the MC in a deadly situation. I knew I wasn’t going to enjoy the book when the MC left such a sour taste in my mouth.
I do hope that others fan find their enjoyment in the other aspects of the story! It just didn’t do it for me.
I think the base of the world and how it functions is really interesting. I also really enjoy stories where a non-powered character has to pretend to have these powers. It’s a fun concept!
Unfortunately I just found the MC insufferable. While I mostly liked the complexity of the character, where he would be rude and prickly but as obviously a good person, there was one aspect where I drew the line. His relationship with his ex. To me it seemed as if they’d been apart for some time, but the MC was still obsessing over him and felt entitled to the ex’s affections. While I understand that the way things ended was shitty on the ex’s part and think the MC is valid for being upset about that aspect, everything else about it drove me up the wall. I had to call it quits when the MC got made at the ex for thinking of and wanting to say goodbye to his fiancée instead of the MC in a deadly situation. I knew I wasn’t going to enjoy the book when the MC left such a sour taste in my mouth.
I do hope that others fan find their enjoyment in the other aspects of the story! It just didn’t do it for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Confinement, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
amphibianwitch's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
"Voyage of the Damned", o "ese libro que hizo que me enamorase del protagonista en el capítulo 1". Un narrador con una voz y un carisma increíbles. Una historia con muchos giros, con mucho suspense, asesinatos e intrigas. El worbu es genial y los personajes también. Grasshopper es lo mejor del universo. Ah, y todo es muy queer.
Este libro iba para 5 estrellas, disparado. Y a pesar de que lo sigo recomendando muchísimo y de que sigo adorando a Dee, me he desinflado con una revelación del final. No voy a entrar en detalles porque es un spoiler enorme. Solo diré que la forma en que todos los hilos entre las subtramas se conectan y todo cobra sentido está muy bien ligada, las pistas estaban todas ahí, pero eso no significa que tenga que gustarme. Aun así, un libro buenísimo, 4 estrellazas.
Este libro iba para 5 estrellas, disparado. Y a pesar de que lo sigo recomendando muchísimo y de que sigo adorando a Dee, me he desinflado con una revelación del final. No voy a entrar en detalles porque es un spoiler enorme. Solo diré que la forma en que todos los hilos entre las subtramas se conectan y todo cobra sentido está muy bien ligada, las pistas estaban todas ahí, pero eso no significa que tenga que gustarme. Aun así, un libro buenísimo, 4 estrellazas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Fatphobia, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Racism, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
evarinya's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Somehow the most interesting premise managed to end up getting worse chapter by chapter... Similar to the MC, I'm afraid.
I liked trying to figure out the mystery, but then when it was resolved it felt like there was no way a reader (or, well, me) could have actually figured out what happened with the information that was given.
Also there were some really contrived bits I strongly disliked.
At least some scenes were cute and/or funny, though.Grasshopper is actually so cute/funny!
It was cool to see that there was a bunch of diversity throughout the book, but [heavy spoilers]that every genderqueer person died at the end left a really stale taste for me. I mean, great, the woman liking women and two of the gay/bi men survived, but the trans man as well as the nonbinary person died in the stupidest ways (imho)
I liked trying to figure out the mystery, but then when it was resolved it felt like there was no way a reader (or, well, me) could have actually figured out what happened with the information that was given.
Also there were some really contrived bits I strongly disliked.
At least some scenes were cute and/or funny, though.
It was cool to see that there was a bunch of diversity throughout the book, but [heavy spoilers]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit and War
hollowspine's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This is a definite romantasy with an emphasis on the romance. Readers who want something a little spicy (but not too spicy) and who love classic romance tropes, like enemies to lovers, forced proximity/stuck together, and drunken games of 'never have I ever,' will find all that and more here, including a HEA. The other element is the mystery, which is similar to And Then There were None, only on a cruise ship rather than an island. Fans of snarky narrators will enjoy the feisty main character, Ganymedes, who is never without a quip no matter if the situation is a fusty dinner party, or witnessing a murder. The characters, representing the twelve political entities of the fantasy world, are a representation of POC, disabled and LGBTQIA+ folks. This romantasy mystery mashup is for fans of In Other Lands, and would lend itself to YA crossover readers. Fantasy readers who want very detailed world building and magic systems may feel let down. Avid mystery readers may figure out the puzzle early on in the story. While this is marketed for an adult audience the tone and characters are really more in line for YA readers. While this is in no way as good as Six of Crows, that's more what you're getting for character type, and romance spicy level in this book rather than the Magicians or A Marvelous Light. The characters, some of whom are in their late 30's read like teens.
This was not my cup of tea, I was really in it for the people dying on a cruise ship thing, but that wasn't the focus of the story. The more I thought about it the more I felt like I was reading a fanfiction about something I'd like, but where the author and I had very different ideas about situations to put the characters in. While I was interested in who would die next, and whodunit, this was much more a romance story than a mystery. Many pages were dedicated to developing a romance, which I was not on board with (see the pun!) at first, but eventually came around to, but then the twist happened and nothing made sense.
I had just accepted the fact that I was reading a romantasy with a slight murder mystery subplot and was if not loving the heavy use of romance tropes, I was at least agreeing to stay on the ride. Through the chapters dedicated to having the characters need to go to the baths (together because murderer is out there!), deciding they needed a break from investigating all the murders to get drunk and play never have I ever together (totally not going to get murdered when we're passed out!) and then smooch under a willow tree in a scene that was not not inspired by the little mermaid. I was still on the ride. I liked the two characters (enough) and wanted to see how it all panned out (also I was still really hopeful that the first character who died would come back because she seemed like she'd be really cool).
Then the author revealed a twist, that for me made all of those scenes very very weird. And not in a good way. The author also pretty much treated the twist like it made sense and the characters accepted it pretty much within a paragraph and were able to move forward with a this new/old/other romantic thing that just made absolutely no sense to me at all. I mean, it also solved the mystery, but in a really stupid way - basically Ganymedes the MC who has been playing detective this whole time, just has the murderers explain everything to him. It was kinda like the scene where the detective gathers everyone in the study for the big reveal, only it's the murderer revealing it to the detective.
Also, there is no justice in the story. The MC ends up with someone I would say is a psycho and he's like, "you complete me." It's bonkers. Lastly, way too much telling, and very little showing.
This was not my cup of tea, I was really in it for the people dying on a cruise ship thing, but that wasn't the focus of the story. The more I thought about it the more I felt like I was reading a fanfiction about something I'd like, but where the author and I had very different ideas about situations to put the characters in. While I was interested in who would die next, and whodunit, this was much more a romance story than a mystery. Many pages were dedicated to developing a romance, which I was not on board with (see the pun!) at first, but eventually came around to, but then the twist happened and nothing made sense.
I had just accepted the fact that I was reading a romantasy with a slight murder mystery subplot and was if not loving the heavy use of romance tropes, I was at least agreeing to stay on the ride. Through the chapters dedicated to having the characters need to go to the baths (together because murderer is out there!), deciding they needed a break from investigating all the murders to get drunk and play never have I ever together (totally not going to get murdered when we're passed out!) and then smooch under a willow tree in a scene that was not not inspired by the little mermaid. I was still on the ride. I liked the two characters (enough) and wanted to see how it all panned out (also I was still really hopeful that the first character who died would come back because she seemed like she'd be really cool).
Then the author revealed a twist, that for me made all of those scenes very very weird. And not in a good way. The author also pretty much treated the twist like it made sense and the characters accepted it pretty much within a paragraph and were able to move forward with a this new/old/other romantic thing that just made absolutely no sense to me at all. I mean, it also solved the mystery, but in a really stupid way - basically Ganymedes the MC who has been playing detective this whole time, just has the murderers explain everything to him. It was kinda like the scene where the detective gathers everyone in the study for the big reveal, only it's the murderer revealing it to the detective.
Also, there is no justice in the story. The MC ends up with someone I would say is a psycho and he's like, "you complete me." It's bonkers. Lastly, way too much telling, and very little showing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Blood, and Colonisation
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: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Toxic friendship
neatens's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
✨Book Review✨
📚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.
📚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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail