Magic occurs when a talented author strikes upon the perfect material. When this happens with a debut novel, passionate fans are created. Such is the case with Frances White’s Voyage of the Damned. This fantasy/mystery hybrid is a guaranteed cross-over success for readers who love bildungsroman-style tales of magic, detailed political landscapes in fantastical worlds, and the intrigue and mystery found in the best crime fiction. Imagine if you will: Naomi Novik’s Scholomance series merged with Game of Thrones set on a sailing vessel upon the high seas and unfolding like Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Then throw a fistful of queer glitter onto the entire proceedings and one would understand a bit what Voyage of the Damned is like—still leaving plenty of room for unexpected surprises and uncontrollable devotion.
Readers who find themselves thinking that some fantasy novels lack the diversity they wish to see in their reading journeys will find much to love in Voyage of the Damned. Frances White doesn’t just include diversity in this novel’s storyline, she prioritizes it. Aboard The Dragon’s Dawn, readers encounter characters of every race, gender, sexuality, size, socio-economic status, physical ability, and mindset. These characters are all presented without “authorial” judgement, though of course, the characters themselves do fall into the human pitfalls of opinion, assessment, and ranking—and therein the plot lies.
Our narrator is Ganymedes Piscero, a gay Blessed from the lowest province in Concordia. As a Blessed, he is the spokesperson for his constituency and in return is gifted a magical power by the Goddess. Except that Ganymedes—aka “Dee”–is lying about being his province’s “chosen” one and would rather spend his days eating everything in sight, rather than attempting to negotiate political powerplays with the other eleven Blessed aboard the ship. (It’s worth noting here that White’s level of body positivity is unparalleled and a true breath of fresh air not just for the fantasy genre, but in most literature in general.)
A key element that helps in the execution of this plot is the many shorthand clues Frances White gives the reader to help distinguish the twelve main characters. Each comes from a different Province, which is represented by an animal, a hair color, and that character’s magic ability—some of which are known and some which need to be discovered. Even their names often help to orient the reader to who they are, for example Yewande Locusta is from the Grasshopper Province, while Ravinder Corvus resides in the Crow Province. These assists really become useful once the passengers aboard the ship begin getting killed, one by one.
At this point, Dee becomes a makeshift detective, assembling a team of investigators determined to uncover the nefarious plot unfolding as the ship sails towards its destiny. To call Voyage of the Damned timely undervalues the complex storyline—and Frances White’s talent in crafting it. Yes, many readers will see parallels in our modern culture—certainly those are intended—but there is also a level of originality at work here that must not be diminished. If Science Fiction is the predicator of the future, then perhaps Fantasy is the exposer of the status quo, and Crime Fiction the method by which justice is achieved. However one breaks it down, Frances White’s Voyage of the Damned will resonate with readers in truly fundamental ways, opening minds and making hearts vulnerable—as it amasses a league of fanatical disciples.
Readers who dive into Voyage of the Damned will not soon forget this reading experience. This is a resounding success and marks Frances White as a unique voice on the literary landscape—one who is unafraid to take risks and sees the immense value in blending genres in ways that make the whole more powerful than the sum of its parts. Pick up Voyage of the Damned today and follow Ganymedes—and Frances White—on a journey to discover the best in each individual and in humanity as a whole.
BUY LINKS: Voyage of the Damned by Frances White
