"There are only four words you need to understand this book," we are told promisingly, "GAY MAGICAL MYSTERY CRUISE"...
Nottingham author Frances White is about to release her highly anticipated first fantasy novel Voyage of the Damned. "There are only four words you need to understand this book," we are told promisingly, "GAY MAGICAL MYSTERY CRUISE."
No, that’s not an unreleased Beatles album. It’s the plot of the novel: set in the faraway world of Concordia, the book follows a voyage of the Emperor’s ship, aboard which are the heirs of the land’s twelve provinces.
As the heirs start being found in various states of murdered, our hero Ganymedes, a joker and a persistent underachiever, must "become the hero he was not born to be" to attempt to crack the case before all nautical hell breaks loose. The book is particularly aimed at young adult and LGBT+ readers, championing those who "who have ever entered a room and felt that they did not belong."
Those who are, ahem, onboard for this adventure can find out more by heading down to the launch event at Waterstones on 18 January, when Frances will presumably be smashing a bottle of her chosen beverage against the ship for good luck.
There she’ll be chatting to #1 Sunday Times bestselling author and ‘recovering lawyer’ A. Y. Chao, herself the writer of the popular Shanghai Immortal, the hero of which is Lady Jing - half-fox spirit, half-vampire.
This sounds to us like a top event for fans of imaginative - both authors will be there to take your philosophical questions on mystery cruises and half-fox spirits, and to sign their books.
You can book tickets to the launch of Voyage of the Damned at Waterstones on 18 January for £5
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