As their destination looms closer, time is running out for our surviving Blessed. The pressure’s on, and some shocking secrets come to light…

Let’s discuss Voyage of the Damned. (Spoilers follow for chapters 22-30!)

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

All except one: Ganymedes Piscero – class clown, slacker and all-around disappointment.

When a beloved heir is murdered, everyone is a suspect. Stuck at sea and surrounded by powerful people and without a Blessing to protect him, Ganymedes’s 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 secret Blessing before this bloody crusade reaches the shores of Concordia?

Or will the empire as he knows it fall?

We finally get a bit of insight into Tendai and the politics of Elephant province. How does that affect your theories and views of Concordia?

I was more fascinated by the character aspect, by what we learned about Tendai, than by the Concordia politics, to be honest. It was interesting but I’m not sure it added anything fresh to the perspective, in terms of what I think of Concordia in general.

I did appreciate that insight where Tendai was concerned, though – it certainly explained why she keeps to her room and never tries to get along with anyone. And honestly, it made me like her a lot more. I wouldn’t want to get along with this crowd either (Dee and Grasshopper notwithstanding).

What are your thoughts on the relationship between Dee and Wyatt, and Dee’s lingering feelings for Ravi?

Well. That was awkward. Oh, Dee.

So, here’s where I confess that I messed up my own reading schedule and finished the book a week early, so … I know some things that are very relevant to this relationship? And I don’t want to get spoilery so I’m not sure how much to say right now? Other than that these two are the most adorable, and Dee’s slip of the tongue just about wrecked me. It hurt and it was delicious, heehee.

But yeah. I’ll talk some more about this next week, I’m sure…

What do you make of Grasshopper’s revelations about the Crabs and Lysander?

I want to talk about this but my heart still hurts too much. Grasshopper is the sweetest and the bravest and the best and I want to protect her so fiercely. Also, I’m not disliking the deep irony here of everyone’s hero Lysander being another prejudiced person who made a mistake. I’m sure he was great when he wasn’t making that mistake, but that doesn’t change what happened. As for Cordelia’s contempt for Grasshopper – well. More on that next time, too, heh.

Dee finally confronts Nergüi, and things take an interesting twist regarding the Spider Blessed, with everyone’s secrets getting spilled. All your thoughts on this please!

I really liked this twist on the detective’s reveal – instead of gathering everyone together to explain who the killer is and how they did it, everyone (except Tendai, love her for that) got to deal with the latest murder victim getting back at them from beyond the grave. Nergüi was extra fascinating to me, and this scene reinforces their perspective on the world – that no one is innocent, everyone’s guilty of something. The fact that they’re not wrong in this instance is both amusing and sort of tragic, to me.

Leofric, sweetie. Nobody cares that you had a fling. And if they do, they’ve got bigger problems than you having a boyfriend.

Cordelia. Cordelia. It was not the fault of a six-year-old that you panicked and froze up in a battle, or that your brother didn’t abandon you and died for it. Deal with your issues, honeybee. (Much, much more on this one later…)

As for Shinjiro – it’s always the calm, quiet, unshakeable ones that are hiding the worst secrets, isn’t it? I’d say a reckoning was due, but. Well. To be perfectly honest, I only feel sorry for Bancha.

… And on that rather blunt note, I’m going to call it here and save the rest of my thoughts for the finale! See you next time…