Ship of Smoke and Steel

Ship of Smoke and Steel follows Isoka, an enforcer who wields combat magic in the slums of a fantasy world. After being captured, she receives an ultimatum: board the legendary ghost ship Soliton and steal it, or watch her sister die. The story takes place aboard the Soliton, a massive vessel that operates by its own rules and houses deadly creatures in its depths. Isoka must navigate complex politics among the ship's inhabitants while mastering her magical abilities and searching for a way to take control of the vessel. The narrative combines elements of maritime fantasy with a magic system based on different aspects of combat and power. Through partnerships, betrayals, and battles, Isoka works to survive the ship's dangers while protecting those she cares about. The book explores themes of loyalty, survival, and the price of power through the lens of a protagonist who must question her own moral boundaries. Its dark fantasy elements serve to highlight questions about what people will sacrifice to protect what matters to them.

Readers found this YA fantasy focuses heavily on action and combat scenes at the expense of world-building and character development. The magic system and supernatural elements interested many readers but left questions unanswered. Likes: - Fast-paced fight sequences - LGBTQ+ representation with a bisexual protagonist - Dark and gritty atmosphere - Creative monster designs Dislikes: - Limited explanation of the magic system - Romance felt forced and underdeveloped - Side characters lack depth - World-building feels incomplete - Several readers noted the plot becomes repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (180+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Great action scenes but needed more substance between fights" - Goodreads reviewer "The magic system had potential but wasn't explained enough" - Amazon reviewer "Loved the LGBT rep but wished the relationships were better developed" - BookTube reviewer

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🏴‍☠️ "Ship of Smoke and Steel" is Django Wexler's first young adult novel, though he was already an established author of adult fantasy books. 🗡️ The combat scenes in the book draw inspiration from video games, particularly the "Dark Souls" series, with its emphasis on timing and precise movements. 🌊 The massive ghost ship "Soliton" in the novel is named after a real scientific phenomenon - a solitary wave that maintains its shape while traveling at constant velocity. ✨ The magic system in the book, called "Wells," was partially inspired by the author's interest in video game character classes and their distinct abilities. 🏰 Before becoming a full-time writer, Django Wexler worked as a writer for Microsoft, creating content for their games and software.