The perfect mixture of fantasy and mystery quickly brought Voyage of the Damned to the top of my list of the best 2024 reads. Fantasy and mystery are two genres that are not typically brought together, but Voyage of the Damned finds just the right balance with a fun use of characters, an interesting variety of magical abilities, and a sense of urgency throughout the plot. When all these elements are put together, it makes for a book that is nearly impossible to put down.
Ganymedes Piscero started the story as an annoying noble who did not want to be part of the ceremony that was required of him. His annoying nature quickly became charming as his growth developed. The more of his backstory that was revealed, the more lovable he became. It was difficult not to root for him. His interactions with the other nobles that were embroiled in a murder plot showed his compassion and love for the people who treated him so poorly. It is not often that I find myself laughing in the middle of a murder mystery, but Ganymedes never disappointed.
The magic that flowed throughout the nobles was absolutely fascinating. The idea that only the leaders of each province had a special ability is nothing new, but the reveal for each province kept me guessing until the very end. The connection that each power had to the land and the people in which they led ended up being very different than I ever expected, but it left me satisfied each time one was revealed.
The true driving factor of this book was the pacing. The timeline was neatly set up at the beginning so that the stakes of each passing hour grew higher and the tension grew more unbearable. This made every choice that Ganymedes made feel important and stressful. This gave the book motivation and a reason behind everything that happened. It was a true testament about how the decisions someone makes in the heat of the moment say everything about who they are as a person. Ganymedes became such an excellent character to root for because so much about him was shown and not told.
There is every chance in the world that I could wax poetic about this book for hours. Was it perfect in every way? Probably not, nothing is. But was it perfect in all the ways that mattered to me? Absolutely.
5/5 stars
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Novel Llama 