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The Ship of Death
Not yet published
Expected 29 Sep 26Horror Movie meets The Blair Witch Project in this supernatural chokehold of a book told entirely through found documents: the cursed story of an unwitting couple ensnared by a mysterious tabletop role-playing game, who are commanded, as the game’s intentions become clearer, to do the unthinkable.
Cole and Lorraine playtest board games for some extra cash as they save up to buy a home. But after a series of bizarre coincidences, and signing a strange NDA, the couple finds on their porch a mysterious indie developer’s tabletop role-playing game called The Ship of Death. The game relies heavily on the players’ imaginations, and takes up an ever-growing amount of space: in their kitchen, and in their minds. As its true sinister nature becomes clearer, and its forces capture more in its web, the boundary between the game and reality begins to dissolve. . . and the pair are instructed to possess a stranger’s soul.
Told entirely through game reports, emails, game forum posts, personal journals, and police reports, reading The Ship of Death feels like a dangerous dice roll. It’s a sleep-stealing, possession-inducing work of intense, intelligent found cosmic horror that announces Kyle Winkler as a spectacular voice in the genre.
Cole and Lorraine playtest board games for some extra cash as they save up to buy a home. But after a series of bizarre coincidences, and signing a strange NDA, the couple finds on their porch a mysterious indie developer’s tabletop role-playing game called The Ship of Death. The game relies heavily on the players’ imaginations, and takes up an ever-growing amount of space: in their kitchen, and in their minds. As its true sinister nature becomes clearer, and its forces capture more in its web, the boundary between the game and reality begins to dissolve. . . and the pair are instructed to possess a stranger’s soul.
Told entirely through game reports, emails, game forum posts, personal journals, and police reports, reading The Ship of Death feels like a dangerous dice roll. It’s a sleep-stealing, possession-inducing work of intense, intelligent found cosmic horror that announces Kyle Winkler as a spectacular voice in the genre.
256 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 29, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
April 25, 2026
The Goodreads description calls this book Horror Movie meets Blair Witch. I don’t understand either comparison, as this is nothing like either of those. Lucky for me that didn’t matter whatsoever because I absolutely ATE THIS UP. What a ride!
This is dark fantasy meets cosmic horror. Strong occult vibes. Very otherworldly. Highly recommend if that’s your cup of tea!
The story is told 100% via documents (emails, journal entries, phone notes, game pamphlets, excerpts from books, cards drawn in game, etc.) That format was very fun to read and kept me super engaged. Loved the characters! Cole and Lorraine were really easy to care about. The world is very mysterious and strange, lots of odd names and things but wasn’t hard to follow. I’m absolutely in awe of authors who can come up with stuff like this. What a mind! Well thought out, well written. Loved it from start to finish! Will for sure be buying a copy to add to my shelf once it publishes. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book publishes September 29th 2026. Available in all formats.
Side Note:
I’ve never played DnD before so I definitely don’t think that’s a requirement to enjoy or understand what’s going on, but it’s probably a plus if you like RPG’s or are at least familiar with the concept and find it intriguing.
This is dark fantasy meets cosmic horror. Strong occult vibes. Very otherworldly. Highly recommend if that’s your cup of tea!
The story is told 100% via documents (emails, journal entries, phone notes, game pamphlets, excerpts from books, cards drawn in game, etc.) That format was very fun to read and kept me super engaged. Loved the characters! Cole and Lorraine were really easy to care about. The world is very mysterious and strange, lots of odd names and things but wasn’t hard to follow. I’m absolutely in awe of authors who can come up with stuff like this. What a mind! Well thought out, well written. Loved it from start to finish! Will for sure be buying a copy to add to my shelf once it publishes. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book publishes September 29th 2026. Available in all formats.
Side Note:
I’ve never played DnD before so I definitely don’t think that’s a requirement to enjoy or understand what’s going on, but it’s probably a plus if you like RPG’s or are at least familiar with the concept and find it intriguing.
April 18, 2026
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ship of Death is a "found media" formatted novel that, while an entertaining and quick read, fell a little short for me. I do feel that the constraints of the novel's format held it back. Even though I love the found media genre, especially when it comes to horror novels, it felt like the After Game Reports were really just a narrative of what happened, and given they were large chunks of text, honestly read as just a normal novel, at least to me. In between these reports were social media posts, police reports, and journal entries. However, as with the After Game Reports, the journal entries also read to me as that of a traditional novel. I feel like they were simply just normal narratives with "journal entry" or "AGR" slapped on to convey themselves as found media. I feel that the book would've been more immersive if it was told in alternating POVs with some found media interspersed throughout.
Even as a board game, video game, and D&D player, I found myself confused by the mechanics of the Ship of Death game. Perhaps this was the intention, with the author wanting to have the reader feel as immersed in the game as the characters were, mirroring our confusion to theirs. Even so, it left it hard for me to follow certain parts of the novel, which, in turn, took me out of any immersion I had.
While on the topic of immersion, I really struggled to connect with and see Cole and Lorraine as real people. I didn't have a good grasp on their personalities, relationship, goals, likes, dislikes, etc before being thrust into the story and it made it very difficult for me to care about anything that was happening to them. I did not feel invested even as things started to go awry and the plot revealed itself.
However, where the book really shined was the snippets of Mishilect we got to see. Mishilect is a dark, unforgiving, and gritty world full of despair and it really pulled me in. I almost wish the book had just been entirely in the world of the game and following Willem Lowcoin and Rot Apple instead of Cole and Lorraine.
Nevertheless, while it wasn't the novel I was expecting, it still kept me entertained and was a good quick palette cleanser between some of the more dense novels I've been reading.
Ship of Death is a "found media" formatted novel that, while an entertaining and quick read, fell a little short for me. I do feel that the constraints of the novel's format held it back. Even though I love the found media genre, especially when it comes to horror novels, it felt like the After Game Reports were really just a narrative of what happened, and given they were large chunks of text, honestly read as just a normal novel, at least to me. In between these reports were social media posts, police reports, and journal entries. However, as with the After Game Reports, the journal entries also read to me as that of a traditional novel. I feel like they were simply just normal narratives with "journal entry" or "AGR" slapped on to convey themselves as found media. I feel that the book would've been more immersive if it was told in alternating POVs with some found media interspersed throughout.
Even as a board game, video game, and D&D player, I found myself confused by the mechanics of the Ship of Death game. Perhaps this was the intention, with the author wanting to have the reader feel as immersed in the game as the characters were, mirroring our confusion to theirs. Even so, it left it hard for me to follow certain parts of the novel, which, in turn, took me out of any immersion I had.
While on the topic of immersion, I really struggled to connect with and see Cole and Lorraine as real people. I didn't have a good grasp on their personalities, relationship, goals, likes, dislikes, etc before being thrust into the story and it made it very difficult for me to care about anything that was happening to them. I did not feel invested even as things started to go awry and the plot revealed itself.
However, where the book really shined was the snippets of Mishilect we got to see. Mishilect is a dark, unforgiving, and gritty world full of despair and it really pulled me in. I almost wish the book had just been entirely in the world of the game and following Willem Lowcoin and Rot Apple instead of Cole and Lorraine.
Nevertheless, while it wasn't the novel I was expecting, it still kept me entertained and was a good quick palette cleanser between some of the more dense novels I've been reading.
May 9, 2026
this was so cool?? totally new concept of trying to bring “found footage” horror to a book (so “found emails/letters/telephone logs/interviews” lol). and i LOVE found footage horror movies
i had played DnD back in high school and play a lot of role playing fantasy games (skyrim, baldurs gate, fable) so this book immediately captured my attention. i could see if you’re not into role playing games (or board games) of any kind, this may not be your cup of tea
while not comparable in terms of a similar plot, a horror book (‘Nothing Tastes As Good’) i’d read a few months back would have intermittent articles from social media pages to emails to interviews like ‘The Ship of Death’ and I enjoyed that aspect of it, so makes sense I dug this book so much! and both books have that sense of characters spiraling into moral degeneration and losing their sense of reality
super creative, loved how in depth the actual game was in the book, was totally unsettling and dark. this wasn’t terribly long but i was immediately attached to the characters and dedicated to finding out how this would end. i could see how using different forms of media / communication could cause some disconnect, but i think the author did a really good job of how he approached it. you were getting into the heads of our two main characters while also getting outside perspectives that helped to show the general doom to the story.
i totally recommend giving this a shot, it was pretty palatable, if i hadn’t needed to go to bed i could have read this in one sitting.
*ARC courtesy of netgalley*
i had played DnD back in high school and play a lot of role playing fantasy games (skyrim, baldurs gate, fable) so this book immediately captured my attention. i could see if you’re not into role playing games (or board games) of any kind, this may not be your cup of tea
while not comparable in terms of a similar plot, a horror book (‘Nothing Tastes As Good’) i’d read a few months back would have intermittent articles from social media pages to emails to interviews like ‘The Ship of Death’ and I enjoyed that aspect of it, so makes sense I dug this book so much! and both books have that sense of characters spiraling into moral degeneration and losing their sense of reality
super creative, loved how in depth the actual game was in the book, was totally unsettling and dark. this wasn’t terribly long but i was immediately attached to the characters and dedicated to finding out how this would end. i could see how using different forms of media / communication could cause some disconnect, but i think the author did a really good job of how he approached it. you were getting into the heads of our two main characters while also getting outside perspectives that helped to show the general doom to the story.
i totally recommend giving this a shot, it was pretty palatable, if i hadn’t needed to go to bed i could have read this in one sitting.
*ARC courtesy of netgalley*
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
the ship of death is a work that feels constrained by its premise as a "found media" horror story. to be completely honest I have very little interest in most found media fiction as I find that they are rarely well executed. this isn't to say that there aren't ones that haven't been successful, and there are ones that I have personally liked very much. but these types of media - especially if they are in a written format - tend to suffer from similar problems.
as fresh as the ship of death as a found media book may feel (at least in comparison to most published fiction), its execution falls flat. telling the story as a series of journal entries, reports and transcripts actually takes away from the suspension of disbelief that is necessary for the reader. I was constantly thinking "no person types a report like this. or writes in their journal like this." the narrative lampshades this sometimes by saying, for example, that a character is told to write in a way that's as detailed as possible. but it is so jarring when the character goes out of their way to write whole pages of conversations from memory or detail what a random store looks like. it's things like that which pull you out in actually believing that you are reading the transcript from someone's voice memo. it's silly when you have to believe a character would go out of their way to hand-write a journal entry while their body is decaying. (it's the same thing you sometimes have to believe in video games when someone is conveniently writing a note "for posterity" about the location of an important key while running from a monster. except you can at least be distracted by this fact because you are playing a video game and aren't stuck reading just entry after entry of these types of things.)
(another side tangent: a problem that presents itself with these types of "creepypasta" media is that you know how it ends. if you are reading someone's entry documenting some horrible thing that they have just experienced, and then posted to the internet or shared in some way - like a book? - then presumably they have actually survived said traumatic thing. so you don't really have to worry about that character dying since they have literally lived to tell the tale and shared it. this has the effect of reducing the overall tension of the narrative, and the ship of death does not dodge this specific problem either.)
if these entries were written in a more convincing way, then maybe I could have been more hooked into the board game the characters were playing. but maybe I am just not the target audience for this. I enjoy a ttrpg from time to time, but I guess I'm more of a casual ttrpg fan, because the very idea of this game made me so angry. the in-narrative ship of death game is convoluted and has an overwhelming number of booklets and rules and game pieces, which does tickle the brain cell a bit in the beginning. by the time I was halfway through, this game sounded so annoying and needlessly convoluted, and really for no other reason than to make it seem cool and epic and immersive. every time a character pulled a "oh wait but before you do that, you need to draw a card from THIS random obscure deck from the game that we haven't opened yet!" or "we had to search for 5 minutes to find the specific tiny separate booklet that covered this specific set of rules" just made me so angry imagining if it were me playing this game. and on top of that, once more about the board game is revealed, it makes less sense why a board game like this would need to be this complicated to the point it's almost comical.
if you put aside the game itself and turn to the characters who are writing these entries that make up this book, they are also. so. dumb. I tend to excuse characters making dumb decisions as there still has to be a plot for a story to tell. but these characters made every bad choice imaginable without a single critical thought to the potential danger they would be putting themselves in. sure go ahead and invite an unknown stranger to your house to play a game and drink his homemade moonshine. sure don't even question the idea of stopping to play the game, ever, even when your game is going terribly wrong. and the psychic woman made me so angry by the end when
the random "scary" things that happen throughout the book make no sense. while horror never has to make "sense" per se and things can be unexplainable and defy logic, I would expect these happenings to have a consistent feeling to them in tone and nature. otherwise it all feels completely arbitrary, with the same energy as throwing common "scary" things at a wall and hoping that one of them is scary enough to stick, cobbling together horror cliches to form some semblance of a horror story.
the ship of death is a frustrating experience for many reasons. but the one that I keep coming back to is the way I feel it does not live up to its potential with the found media format that it has chosen for its narrative. I fail to see how this format better serves the story it's trying to tell. I was hoping to get the feeling that I was reading something that could have the verisimilitude of being a strange internet mystery, something uncomfortably real but ultimately unprovable. found media fiction lends itself to producing a heightened reality that could actually exist, which should make the horror scarier, but instead with the ship of death, it feels clunky and comedic.
it sadly just wasn't the experience that I was hoping for.
thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy
as fresh as the ship of death as a found media book may feel (at least in comparison to most published fiction), its execution falls flat. telling the story as a series of journal entries, reports and transcripts actually takes away from the suspension of disbelief that is necessary for the reader. I was constantly thinking "no person types a report like this. or writes in their journal like this." the narrative lampshades this sometimes by saying, for example, that a character is told to write in a way that's as detailed as possible. but it is so jarring when the character goes out of their way to write whole pages of conversations from memory or detail what a random store looks like. it's things like that which pull you out in actually believing that you are reading the transcript from someone's voice memo. it's silly when you have to believe a character would go out of their way to hand-write a journal entry while their body is decaying. (it's the same thing you sometimes have to believe in video games when someone is conveniently writing a note "for posterity" about the location of an important key while running from a monster. except you can at least be distracted by this fact because you are playing a video game and aren't stuck reading just entry after entry of these types of things.)
(another side tangent: a problem that presents itself with these types of "creepypasta" media is that you know how it ends. if you are reading someone's entry documenting some horrible thing that they have just experienced, and then posted to the internet or shared in some way - like a book? - then presumably they have actually survived said traumatic thing. so you don't really have to worry about that character dying since they have literally lived to tell the tale and shared it. this has the effect of reducing the overall tension of the narrative, and the ship of death does not dodge this specific problem either.)
if these entries were written in a more convincing way, then maybe I could have been more hooked into the board game the characters were playing. but maybe I am just not the target audience for this. I enjoy a ttrpg from time to time, but I guess I'm more of a casual ttrpg fan, because the very idea of this game made me so angry. the in-narrative ship of death game is convoluted and has an overwhelming number of booklets and rules and game pieces, which does tickle the brain cell a bit in the beginning. by the time I was halfway through, this game sounded so annoying and needlessly convoluted, and really for no other reason than to make it seem cool and epic and immersive. every time a character pulled a "oh wait but before you do that, you need to draw a card from THIS random obscure deck from the game that we haven't opened yet!" or "we had to search for 5 minutes to find the specific tiny separate booklet that covered this specific set of rules" just made me so angry imagining if it were me playing this game. and on top of that, once more about the board game is revealed, it makes less sense why a board game like this would need to be this complicated to the point it's almost comical.
if you put aside the game itself and turn to the characters who are writing these entries that make up this book, they are also. so. dumb. I tend to excuse characters making dumb decisions as there still has to be a plot for a story to tell. but these characters made every bad choice imaginable without a single critical thought to the potential danger they would be putting themselves in. sure go ahead and invite an unknown stranger to your house to play a game and drink his homemade moonshine. sure don't even question the idea of stopping to play the game, ever, even when your game is going terribly wrong. and the psychic woman made me so angry by the end when
the random "scary" things that happen throughout the book make no sense. while horror never has to make "sense" per se and things can be unexplainable and defy logic, I would expect these happenings to have a consistent feeling to them in tone and nature. otherwise it all feels completely arbitrary, with the same energy as throwing common "scary" things at a wall and hoping that one of them is scary enough to stick, cobbling together horror cliches to form some semblance of a horror story.
the ship of death is a frustrating experience for many reasons. but the one that I keep coming back to is the way I feel it does not live up to its potential with the found media format that it has chosen for its narrative. I fail to see how this format better serves the story it's trying to tell. I was hoping to get the feeling that I was reading something that could have the verisimilitude of being a strange internet mystery, something uncomfortably real but ultimately unprovable. found media fiction lends itself to producing a heightened reality that could actually exist, which should make the horror scarier, but instead with the ship of death, it feels clunky and comedic.
it sadly just wasn't the experience that I was hoping for.
thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Honestly, average apartment life. Half of this reads like a non-fiction account of whatever my upstairs neighbors got up to at 3am.
Strapped for cash and living in a run-down apartment complex, Cole and Lorraine playtest board games to help save up for their starter home. When their broker recommends them a dark fantasy table-top role-playing game, with the developer requiring in-depth After Game Reports and a strangely worded NDA, they figure it’s just a quirk of a small eccentric board game company. Upon beginning the game, they realize the complex and extensive set of maps, rulebooks, action cards, and mini-figures are taking up not just their apartment, but their minds. The otherworldly game has them role-play their sickly, evildoing characters in and outside the sessions, and as the game escalates, each action it asks them to take is more drastic than the last, culminating in a demand to possess a stranger’s soul.
Something I always think is worth mentioning in my horror reviews is that I am a huge weenie. Horror usually isn’t my cup of tea - I enjoy eerie, tense vibes, but as soon as things get gross or gory, I’m out. Unfortunately, the majority of this book didn’t fall into the category I enjoy. I think The Ship of Death fails to pull off any truly scary moments. All it really does is say gross shit to make you uncomfortable, and maintain its sort of generally feverish vibe. The kind of thing where there's a lot of mention of dead or dying animals, milk used in weird ways, and way too much choking/vomiting, but nothing actually happens.
I think what worked best and what I really wished there was more of was the world-building of the fantasy board game. The world of the Mishilect is dark, gritty, and intense, and the depravity of the ship is one of the more unsettling parts of the book. There are even intricate religions, magic systems, and weather patterns, but they’re glossed over for less interesting exposition on whatever the characters are up to in the real world. Truly, it felt like this should have had a more Jumanji-style approach, where Cole and Lorraine are literally inside the game. There was a clear gap in quality between the fantasy writing and the more domestic writing, where somehow the most unrealistic part of the book was how the couple talked to each other and exist on a day-to-day.
This had so many of the common horror pitfalls - the characters make stupid decisions, they’re way too trusting, they don’t react appropriately to insane situations, and so on. What really adds to the issue is the clunky dialogue. In general, the conversations just feel… unnatural, but not in the way you want from a supernatural horror novel. To a degree, the characters are absolutely being controlled by the game, making them do and say quite odd things, but the book doesn’t distinguish between normal nerdy role-playing and supernatural brainwashing. There were a lot of moments I had where I was thinking “Are the characters acting strange or are they just really into the game?”
Of course, this book also has some of the male writer-isms, the “breasted boobily” of it all, if you catch my drift. In particular, every scene with the psychic was just so over the top and unnecessary. Cole describes her as “not good-looking in a way men would think a woman attractive” and that she “smelled like oranges and sex.” He also mentions multiples times that he is turned on/aroused around her. Why? Genuinely, what does this add to the story?
I think it’s worth saying that I did speed through this book, it’s definitely a page-turner, but it’s also just not my thing. I’d recommend this to those who like found-footage tropes, fans of dark fantasy looking to get into horror, or anyone looking for a quick, ~250 page eerie read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Strapped for cash and living in a run-down apartment complex, Cole and Lorraine playtest board games to help save up for their starter home. When their broker recommends them a dark fantasy table-top role-playing game, with the developer requiring in-depth After Game Reports and a strangely worded NDA, they figure it’s just a quirk of a small eccentric board game company. Upon beginning the game, they realize the complex and extensive set of maps, rulebooks, action cards, and mini-figures are taking up not just their apartment, but their minds. The otherworldly game has them role-play their sickly, evildoing characters in and outside the sessions, and as the game escalates, each action it asks them to take is more drastic than the last, culminating in a demand to possess a stranger’s soul.
Something I always think is worth mentioning in my horror reviews is that I am a huge weenie. Horror usually isn’t my cup of tea - I enjoy eerie, tense vibes, but as soon as things get gross or gory, I’m out. Unfortunately, the majority of this book didn’t fall into the category I enjoy. I think The Ship of Death fails to pull off any truly scary moments. All it really does is say gross shit to make you uncomfortable, and maintain its sort of generally feverish vibe. The kind of thing where there's a lot of mention of dead or dying animals, milk used in weird ways, and way too much choking/vomiting, but nothing actually happens.
I think what worked best and what I really wished there was more of was the world-building of the fantasy board game. The world of the Mishilect is dark, gritty, and intense, and the depravity of the ship is one of the more unsettling parts of the book. There are even intricate religions, magic systems, and weather patterns, but they’re glossed over for less interesting exposition on whatever the characters are up to in the real world. Truly, it felt like this should have had a more Jumanji-style approach, where Cole and Lorraine are literally inside the game. There was a clear gap in quality between the fantasy writing and the more domestic writing, where somehow the most unrealistic part of the book was how the couple talked to each other and exist on a day-to-day.
This had so many of the common horror pitfalls - the characters make stupid decisions, they’re way too trusting, they don’t react appropriately to insane situations, and so on. What really adds to the issue is the clunky dialogue. In general, the conversations just feel… unnatural, but not in the way you want from a supernatural horror novel. To a degree, the characters are absolutely being controlled by the game, making them do and say quite odd things, but the book doesn’t distinguish between normal nerdy role-playing and supernatural brainwashing. There were a lot of moments I had where I was thinking “Are the characters acting strange or are they just really into the game?”
Of course, this book also has some of the male writer-isms, the “breasted boobily” of it all, if you catch my drift. In particular, every scene with the psychic was just so over the top and unnecessary. Cole describes her as “not good-looking in a way men would think a woman attractive” and that she “smelled like oranges and sex.” He also mentions multiples times that he is turned on/aroused around her. Why? Genuinely, what does this add to the story?
I think it’s worth saying that I did speed through this book, it’s definitely a page-turner, but it’s also just not my thing. I’d recommend this to those who like found-footage tropes, fans of dark fantasy looking to get into horror, or anyone looking for a quick, ~250 page eerie read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Vibes 4
Technical 3
Rec yes
Reread maybe
What a wild ride. I don't really know what I expected from this but what I got was a quick creepy read that draws the reader in just as the characters are drawn to The Ship of Death.
The writing definitely has some flaws, and there are technical errors that come with reading a proof, I assume they will be corrected before the book is published.
Our story follows Cole and his wife Lorraine as they are quickly absorbed into a tabletop RPG, that is quickly revealed to be far more than just a game. The game begins to infiltrate their lives and pushes them to do more and more extreme and bizarre things in real life.
What I liked:
the story is insane, and felt wholly original. I don't think I've ever read something quite like this before. I enjoyed Cole as a character and Lorraine's speedy descent. The creepy parts are intensely creepy, the creepy characters are deeply unsettling.
The book captures the feeling of madness and confused realities really well in my opinion.
I wasn't sure if I would enjoy a book written in this "found footage" format, but I think it ended up working pretty well, though there was some nuance that was left to be desired.
What I didn't like:
the word choice is a little.... Strange. I am a pretty avid reader with what I think is a decent lexicon and I found myself having to look up words pretty often. This isn't necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, but it can detract from my immersion in a story if I have to keep stopping to understand the words being used.
My biggest gripe with this book is that it could stand to be maybe 20 pages longer toward the beginning to (1) really give the reader a feel for who Cole and Lorraine are as individuals and as a couple. And (2) give the reader a deeper understanding of *why* they devolve into the game so quickly. There is enough subtext that we can assume the moment the "game" starts they are being influenced and that's why they make choices that to a rational person seem entirely insane. But, I would have liked a more gradual representation of how the game is worming into their minds and why Cole would not just invite a stranger to his home but consume a mystery moonshine.
Overall I really enjoyed this one, it delivers exactly what is promised and leaves you feeling a little squirmy and freaked out.
I don't give half-star ratings but if I did I would give this a 3.5, as it is I rounded up to 4.
Thank you to netgalley for providing an early copy of The Ship of Death for review.
Technical 3
Rec yes
Reread maybe
What a wild ride. I don't really know what I expected from this but what I got was a quick creepy read that draws the reader in just as the characters are drawn to The Ship of Death.
The writing definitely has some flaws, and there are technical errors that come with reading a proof, I assume they will be corrected before the book is published.
Our story follows Cole and his wife Lorraine as they are quickly absorbed into a tabletop RPG, that is quickly revealed to be far more than just a game. The game begins to infiltrate their lives and pushes them to do more and more extreme and bizarre things in real life.
What I liked:
the story is insane, and felt wholly original. I don't think I've ever read something quite like this before. I enjoyed Cole as a character and Lorraine's speedy descent. The creepy parts are intensely creepy, the creepy characters are deeply unsettling.
The book captures the feeling of madness and confused realities really well in my opinion.
I wasn't sure if I would enjoy a book written in this "found footage" format, but I think it ended up working pretty well, though there was some nuance that was left to be desired.
What I didn't like:
the word choice is a little.... Strange. I am a pretty avid reader with what I think is a decent lexicon and I found myself having to look up words pretty often. This isn't necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, but it can detract from my immersion in a story if I have to keep stopping to understand the words being used.
My biggest gripe with this book is that it could stand to be maybe 20 pages longer toward the beginning to (1) really give the reader a feel for who Cole and Lorraine are as individuals and as a couple. And (2) give the reader a deeper understanding of *why* they devolve into the game so quickly. There is enough subtext that we can assume the moment the "game" starts they are being influenced and that's why they make choices that to a rational person seem entirely insane. But, I would have liked a more gradual representation of how the game is worming into their minds and why Cole would not just invite a stranger to his home but consume a mystery moonshine.
Overall I really enjoyed this one, it delivers exactly what is promised and leaves you feeling a little squirmy and freaked out.
I don't give half-star ratings but if I did I would give this a 3.5, as it is I rounded up to 4.
Thank you to netgalley for providing an early copy of The Ship of Death for review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Many thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
When I selected this book to read I was drawn in by the cover, the title and the fact that my horror loving butt has been on a sci/fi fantasy binge and haven't read a good horror in a while. With that being said, I didn't read the description because I'm a horrible person and judge books by their covers. I went in blind knowing nothing about this book. Oddly enough, I probably turned out to be the target demographic. I love board games and I've been dying to play D&D enough so that I kind of know the gist (but don't know enough to have understood about the dice being thrown and if a high roll is good or bad).
The Ship of Death is about a man- Corey who tests board games as a side gig. He is given a mythical (amongst the redditors and board game afficionados of the world) board game to test with his wife who ends up becoming egregiously obsessed with the game and it has real life consequences. Think of Dungeons and Dragons meets Jumanji but you have a sadistic DM.
I think the book had a lot of potential, but really it fell short of being great or spectacular. It was easy enough to keep my attention and was a quick read. However, there were things from the beginning that just made me groan and say, "Give me a break. Can we make it a little believable?" There is no push back on what ends up happening, they just accept this is reality and move on which was a hurdle I really struggled with. Why is the wife so obsessed, why is she being a total weirdo, why is this couple so in love so quickly turning on each other? Books generally don't need to be believable for me to enjoy them but this was so far from reality it had me scratching my head.
There were several items I needed to look up as they weren't explained which isn't good or bad, it just is. The characters had no depth and I wasn't invested in them at all.
And finally, being cautious about what I say to avoid spoilers. Something happens to a character that is never explained so, what happened to this character? I had to go back to see if I was missing pages or not. I was...in fact. Not missing pages.
I think the editing needs some polishing, I wouldn't really consider this a horror either to be honest. Glad I read it but wouldn't recommend it.
When I selected this book to read I was drawn in by the cover, the title and the fact that my horror loving butt has been on a sci/fi fantasy binge and haven't read a good horror in a while. With that being said, I didn't read the description because I'm a horrible person and judge books by their covers. I went in blind knowing nothing about this book. Oddly enough, I probably turned out to be the target demographic. I love board games and I've been dying to play D&D enough so that I kind of know the gist (but don't know enough to have understood about the dice being thrown and if a high roll is good or bad).
The Ship of Death is about a man- Corey who tests board games as a side gig. He is given a mythical (amongst the redditors and board game afficionados of the world) board game to test with his wife who ends up becoming egregiously obsessed with the game and it has real life consequences. Think of Dungeons and Dragons meets Jumanji but you have a sadistic DM.
I think the book had a lot of potential, but really it fell short of being great or spectacular. It was easy enough to keep my attention and was a quick read. However, there were things from the beginning that just made me groan and say, "Give me a break. Can we make it a little believable?" There is no push back on what ends up happening, they just accept this is reality and move on which was a hurdle I really struggled with. Why is the wife so obsessed, why is she being a total weirdo, why is this couple so in love so quickly turning on each other? Books generally don't need to be believable for me to enjoy them but this was so far from reality it had me scratching my head.
There were several items I needed to look up as they weren't explained which isn't good or bad, it just is. The characters had no depth and I wasn't invested in them at all.
And finally, being cautious about what I say to avoid spoilers. Something happens to a character that is never explained so, what happened to this character? I had to go back to see if I was missing pages or not. I was...in fact. Not missing pages.
I think the editing needs some polishing, I wouldn't really consider this a horror either to be honest. Glad I read it but wouldn't recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I play Dungeons and Dragons every Thursday night, except when my schedule interrupts. I attend board game nights with my friends. I play RPGs on my Playstation, and love reading fiction, love stories. So when I read the description of The Ship of Death (TSoD) which combined a bunch of things I love, I was on board.
The best way I can describe this novel is if Jumanji and Blair Witch Project had a baby. It centers around the Tabletop Role-Playing Game “The Ship of Death,” but the story is told in an unconventional way – through e-mails, reports, forum posts, and other documents. I have not read a story told in this way before, and it was gripping.
Cole and Lorraine felt like real people. They had struggles, passions, and their relationship seemed genuine. It was not a picturesque relationship, but was reminiscent of how two people learn to grow together, how to be two separate people but one family unit.
The story itself was also compelling. TSoD is a short read which I read over 2-3 days. I would have finished it quicker if life had not gotten in the way. It was quite spooky at times. Once I fell asleep while reading TSoD (not because it was boring, but because I was exhausted), and I dreamed about the book. That might not sound weird, but once you finish the book, you will understand why I woke up a little unsettled.
I enjoyed TSoD. I do think some of the reveals were not as powerful as they could have been, but that did not detract from my enjoyment. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Tabletop RPGs, or tabletop games in general. It captures the love the tabletop community has for the hobby very well.
I received a free eARC of The Ship of Death from Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The best way I can describe this novel is if Jumanji and Blair Witch Project had a baby. It centers around the Tabletop Role-Playing Game “The Ship of Death,” but the story is told in an unconventional way – through e-mails, reports, forum posts, and other documents. I have not read a story told in this way before, and it was gripping.
Cole and Lorraine felt like real people. They had struggles, passions, and their relationship seemed genuine. It was not a picturesque relationship, but was reminiscent of how two people learn to grow together, how to be two separate people but one family unit.
The story itself was also compelling. TSoD is a short read which I read over 2-3 days. I would have finished it quicker if life had not gotten in the way. It was quite spooky at times. Once I fell asleep while reading TSoD (not because it was boring, but because I was exhausted), and I dreamed about the book. That might not sound weird, but once you finish the book, you will understand why I woke up a little unsettled.
I enjoyed TSoD. I do think some of the reveals were not as powerful as they could have been, but that did not detract from my enjoyment. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Tabletop RPGs, or tabletop games in general. It captures the love the tabletop community has for the hobby very well.
I received a free eARC of The Ship of Death from Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
March 10, 2026
Reviewing an unedited ARC sent to me by the publisher:
I have a lot of thoughts to put down. Overall, the book was fine. There is a better book buried within this one though, hidden somewhere within the gimmick of the “found footage” schtick. For a moment that gimmick grew on me, but in the end I find it unnecessary. It actually added nothing to the story. In fact it cheapened the better book that’s hidden in here with false tension and allowed so many things to be left entirely unexplained with the general idea that “well you wouldn’t know everything it’s just found scraps”.
There is so much incredible world building here and honestly I just kind of wish the book took place in the other world. The hints of and glimpses of that world were these glimmers of sheer genius peeking through, but they never really materialized.
Overall, the book is fine but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. If someone picked it up and read it not knowing anything they’ll be fine, but it isn’t doing anything new. And that’s where it really let me down because it felt like it could have. Instead it was a very mediocre story that ended exactly how I thought it would. There were no grand twists, no grand reveals. Nothing grand at all. So much didn’t make sense or wasn’t really explained, it just kind of happened. The found footage gimmick let this book get away with explaining way less than it should have had to, but it was truly such a cheap gimmick.
All in all, it was fine. I put three stars because there’s a better book buried in there somewhere. But my gut says it’s really a 1 or 2 star book.
Anyway, I’m sure this means the publisher won’t send me anymore ARCs because I feel there’s this unwritten rule to give them a positive review. I’m just giving you my honest opinion.
I have a lot of thoughts to put down. Overall, the book was fine. There is a better book buried within this one though, hidden somewhere within the gimmick of the “found footage” schtick. For a moment that gimmick grew on me, but in the end I find it unnecessary. It actually added nothing to the story. In fact it cheapened the better book that’s hidden in here with false tension and allowed so many things to be left entirely unexplained with the general idea that “well you wouldn’t know everything it’s just found scraps”.
There is so much incredible world building here and honestly I just kind of wish the book took place in the other world. The hints of and glimpses of that world were these glimmers of sheer genius peeking through, but they never really materialized.
Overall, the book is fine but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. If someone picked it up and read it not knowing anything they’ll be fine, but it isn’t doing anything new. And that’s where it really let me down because it felt like it could have. Instead it was a very mediocre story that ended exactly how I thought it would. There were no grand twists, no grand reveals. Nothing grand at all. So much didn’t make sense or wasn’t really explained, it just kind of happened. The found footage gimmick let this book get away with explaining way less than it should have had to, but it was truly such a cheap gimmick.
All in all, it was fine. I put three stars because there’s a better book buried in there somewhere. But my gut says it’s really a 1 or 2 star book.
Anyway, I’m sure this means the publisher won’t send me anymore ARCs because I feel there’s this unwritten rule to give them a positive review. I’m just giving you my honest opinion.
March 9, 2026
The Ship of Death blends dark fantasy with the structure and language of tabletop role-playing games. The story begins with a husband and wife who are invited to test play a mysterious game together but their experience quickly expands beyond the two of them. A strange patron from a local bar joins in, followed later by an upstairs neighbor, and the group becomes increasingly pulled into the game’s strange rules and unfolding narrative. As the story progresses, the boundary between the game and reality grows more and more uncertain, leaving both the characters (and the reader) questioning what is actually real.
Overall, I found the story itself to be solid. It's weird in an intriguing way and is populated with genuinely interesting characters. The atmosphere is often eerie and unpredictable, and the narrative leans into its strangeness rather than trying to smooth it out. My favorite character by far was the fortune teller, who added a layer of mystery and personality that made every scene she appeared in more engaging.
My biggest struggle with the book was the heavy use of terminology and acronyms drawn from role-playing games. Since I don’t personally play those kinds of games, I found myself stumbling over some of the language and occasionally feeling like I was missing context that more experienced readers would immediately understand. Because of that, the reading experience felt a bit uneven for me at times.
That said, the underlying story and characters kept me invested. Readers who are familiar with or enthusiastic about tabletop or role-playing games will likely get even more out of the references and mechanics that shape the world. For me, it was still an enjoyable read, just one that I suspect will be even more impactful for fans of that gaming culture.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Overall, I found the story itself to be solid. It's weird in an intriguing way and is populated with genuinely interesting characters. The atmosphere is often eerie and unpredictable, and the narrative leans into its strangeness rather than trying to smooth it out. My favorite character by far was the fortune teller, who added a layer of mystery and personality that made every scene she appeared in more engaging.
My biggest struggle with the book was the heavy use of terminology and acronyms drawn from role-playing games. Since I don’t personally play those kinds of games, I found myself stumbling over some of the language and occasionally feeling like I was missing context that more experienced readers would immediately understand. Because of that, the reading experience felt a bit uneven for me at times.
That said, the underlying story and characters kept me invested. Readers who are familiar with or enthusiastic about tabletop or role-playing games will likely get even more out of the references and mechanics that shape the world. For me, it was still an enjoyable read, just one that I suspect will be even more impactful for fans of that gaming culture.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Kyle Winkler, and NetGalley for providing an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book was, unfortunately, a significant letdown for me. As a fan of found-footage storytelling, LitRPG, fantasy, and thrillers, I was genuinely excited by the premise. However, the execution ultimately fell flat.
There were elements I could overlook. The limited variety in the storytelling formats was disappointing, but not a dealbreaker. The chaotic and often nonsensical game mechanics could be interpreted as an intentional choice, perhaps meant to mirror the confusion and overwhelm experienced by the characters. I also found the horror elements underwhelming and, at times, dull—though I recognize that may come down to personal taste.
What I couldn’t overlook, however, was how consistently unrealistic the characters’ decisions felt. Describing their actions as minor lapses in judgment would be like suggesting the Trojans were merely a bit careless in accepting the wooden horse. The characters are not only unrelatable, uninteresting and unlikable, but they repeatedly make choices that strain all credibility, pulling me completely out of the story.
On a more positive note, the epistolary format does lend itself to moments of real momentum, making parts of the book genuinely engaging. The atmosphere is also well-crafted, with a dark, desperate tone that suits the premise. Ultimately, the concept is strong, and the foundation is there—but the novel would have greatly benefited from more refinement, editing, and rewriting.
This book was, unfortunately, a significant letdown for me. As a fan of found-footage storytelling, LitRPG, fantasy, and thrillers, I was genuinely excited by the premise. However, the execution ultimately fell flat.
There were elements I could overlook. The limited variety in the storytelling formats was disappointing, but not a dealbreaker. The chaotic and often nonsensical game mechanics could be interpreted as an intentional choice, perhaps meant to mirror the confusion and overwhelm experienced by the characters. I also found the horror elements underwhelming and, at times, dull—though I recognize that may come down to personal taste.
What I couldn’t overlook, however, was how consistently unrealistic the characters’ decisions felt. Describing their actions as minor lapses in judgment would be like suggesting the Trojans were merely a bit careless in accepting the wooden horse. The characters are not only unrelatable, uninteresting and unlikable, but they repeatedly make choices that strain all credibility, pulling me completely out of the story.
On a more positive note, the epistolary format does lend itself to moments of real momentum, making parts of the book genuinely engaging. The atmosphere is also well-crafted, with a dark, desperate tone that suits the premise. Ultimately, the concept is strong, and the foundation is there—but the novel would have greatly benefited from more refinement, editing, and rewriting.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC—my honest thoughts, as always, are my own.
Now let’s descend into the shadows…
Some voyages promise escape… others promise something far more dangerous.
The Ship of Dreams isn’t the kind of journey you take lightly. What begins with intrigue quickly dissolves into something far more unsettling—where reality blurs, trust fractures, and the line between dream and nightmare becomes dangerously thin.
I’ve always been drawn to stories that trap you in liminal spaces—places where nothing feels solid, where you can’t quite trust what you’re seeing or feeling. This book thrives in that uneasy in-between. The ship itself feels less like a setting and more like a drifting, inescapable entity—cut off from the world, yet teeming with tension just beneath the surface.
There’s a quiet, creeping dread woven throughout—nothing rushed, nothing wasted. Just a slow unraveling that pulls you deeper the longer you stay. And by the time you realize something is truly wrong… it’s already too late.
**Content Warning:** Psychological distress, disorientation, isolation, and unsettling dreamlike sequences.
If you enjoy horror that disorients, lingers, and leaves you questioning what was real long after the final page, this is a journey worth taking.
🕸️I’m that weird girl who reads the shadows—and you’ll follow willingly.🕸️
Now let’s descend into the shadows…
Some voyages promise escape… others promise something far more dangerous.
The Ship of Dreams isn’t the kind of journey you take lightly. What begins with intrigue quickly dissolves into something far more unsettling—where reality blurs, trust fractures, and the line between dream and nightmare becomes dangerously thin.
I’ve always been drawn to stories that trap you in liminal spaces—places where nothing feels solid, where you can’t quite trust what you’re seeing or feeling. This book thrives in that uneasy in-between. The ship itself feels less like a setting and more like a drifting, inescapable entity—cut off from the world, yet teeming with tension just beneath the surface.
There’s a quiet, creeping dread woven throughout—nothing rushed, nothing wasted. Just a slow unraveling that pulls you deeper the longer you stay. And by the time you realize something is truly wrong… it’s already too late.
**Content Warning:** Psychological distress, disorientation, isolation, and unsettling dreamlike sequences.
If you enjoy horror that disorients, lingers, and leaves you questioning what was real long after the final page, this is a journey worth taking.
🕸️I’m that weird girl who reads the shadows—and you’ll follow willingly.🕸️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First and foremost, I’d like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with an ARC of this book.
I was initially drawn in by the cover and the promise of a horror story with a Blair Witch-style concept. Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite land for me. I found myself struggling to stay engaged and even considered DNFing it several times.
At points, the narrative felt confusing and difficult to follow. I frequently had to stop and reread sections, thinking, “Wait—what does that mean?” The heavy use of acronyms and specialized terminology made it even harder to stay immersed in the story.
That said, I do think part of the disconnect comes down to personal preference. This book leans heavily into an RPG-style format, which isn’t typically something I enjoy, so I may not have been the ideal audience going in.
Overall, I found the pacing slow and the horror elements lacking in impact. It never quite delivered the sense of tension or fear I was hoping for. The shorter length did make it easier to finish, but I was left wanting more in terms of both clarity and payoff.
These are, of course, just my honest opinions. I can see how this book might appeal to readers who enjoy RPG-inspired storytelling or more experimental narrative styles—it just wasn’t the right fit for me.
I was initially drawn in by the cover and the promise of a horror story with a Blair Witch-style concept. Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite land for me. I found myself struggling to stay engaged and even considered DNFing it several times.
At points, the narrative felt confusing and difficult to follow. I frequently had to stop and reread sections, thinking, “Wait—what does that mean?” The heavy use of acronyms and specialized terminology made it even harder to stay immersed in the story.
That said, I do think part of the disconnect comes down to personal preference. This book leans heavily into an RPG-style format, which isn’t typically something I enjoy, so I may not have been the ideal audience going in.
Overall, I found the pacing slow and the horror elements lacking in impact. It never quite delivered the sense of tension or fear I was hoping for. The shorter length did make it easier to finish, but I was left wanting more in terms of both clarity and payoff.
These are, of course, just my honest opinions. I can see how this book might appeal to readers who enjoy RPG-inspired storytelling or more experimental narrative styles—it just wasn’t the right fit for me.
Read
April 28, 2026thank you netgally for providing this for me to read ♡
Unfortunately this was not for me :( I went into it thinking it would be a horror story kind of like truth or dare where you play a game and the game comes to life and horror ensues but it is a little far from that. I think if I had any background in role playing games maybe I would be more interested but I found all the aspects of that too intricate that I felt at times like I was more getting long winded history lessons rather than the actual action of the game. At the same time the game seemed TOO much that even if I played rpgs I would eventually get exhausted by everything that the game seems to have. 😭
I was also very excited to know that it was a mixed media book as I love those but I found it didn’t help the story at all. I think if the author gave a normal novel from the guys pov and the journals be kept as the woman’s it would be fun that way but the chapters where we read about some dudes on forums I just didn’t care for. I also didn’t feel like it was horror at any moment because I felt like something would happen but then I needed to keep reading this lesson about this game.
I DO think if you like really intricate gaming you would enjoy this, I think the author does a great job imagining this game and the history behind it.
Unfortunately this was not for me :( I went into it thinking it would be a horror story kind of like truth or dare where you play a game and the game comes to life and horror ensues but it is a little far from that. I think if I had any background in role playing games maybe I would be more interested but I found all the aspects of that too intricate that I felt at times like I was more getting long winded history lessons rather than the actual action of the game. At the same time the game seemed TOO much that even if I played rpgs I would eventually get exhausted by everything that the game seems to have. 😭
I was also very excited to know that it was a mixed media book as I love those but I found it didn’t help the story at all. I think if the author gave a normal novel from the guys pov and the journals be kept as the woman’s it would be fun that way but the chapters where we read about some dudes on forums I just didn’t care for. I also didn’t feel like it was horror at any moment because I felt like something would happen but then I needed to keep reading this lesson about this game.
I DO think if you like really intricate gaming you would enjoy this, I think the author does a great job imagining this game and the history behind it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really wanted to like this book more. I'm a sucker for Lovecraftian horror and I have enjoyed a TTRPG in my time. The vocabulary and lore in-universe used for the Lovecraftian alternate board-game universe was great. It reminded me of Mork Borg, which I've read the book for and think would be super fun to play. Unfortunately, I feel like the fact that the entire story is told through a 'found footage' style added a layer of separation between me and the horror of the story.
I found myself wishing that I was just in the world of the Ship of Death without having the pretext of the characters playing the RPG--now that would have captivated me. All the modern-day people seemed like a barrier to my understanding of a dark world in which the true meat of the story lay. I didn't to read about people playing a board game connected to a horrible world, I wanted to see the horrible world. Maybe this affectation would have worked better in movie format than book format. I would have loved to have seen the author unleash their prose on a fully immersed version of the perfectly awful world they have created.
Thank you to Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion of this book!
I found myself wishing that I was just in the world of the Ship of Death without having the pretext of the characters playing the RPG--now that would have captivated me. All the modern-day people seemed like a barrier to my understanding of a dark world in which the true meat of the story lay. I didn't to read about people playing a board game connected to a horrible world, I wanted to see the horrible world. Maybe this affectation would have worked better in movie format than book format. I would have loved to have seen the author unleash their prose on a fully immersed version of the perfectly awful world they have created.
Thank you to Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
What is the difference between dreams and idle musings? Where is the line between either of those and reality? Is a thing true because it is an objective fact, or because enough people agree it is?
When a writer puts words on a page, or a script brings images to life on a screen, and someone consumes those things, they enter into a contract that makes the thing real, because "real" is a spectrum. Because given an infinite number of universes, it *is* real. When a group of people gets together to play a TTRPG, they're performing a ritual to bring something to life.
I've seen many found footage horror films in my life, but I can't say I've ever read a "found document" horror novel. The Ship of Death is epistolary horror for an age when reality seems to be both bleak chaos and subject to the machinations of malevolent influences. There are emails, journal entries and even police reports, but the most intriguing of all are the documents from the Ship of Death game itself.
This novel is best binged late at night in those few hours before sleep, when your mind can best absorb the Wolfe-ian prose with its fuligin candles and pitiful heirodules. You'll smell this novel and feel the grime between your fingers. Now roll for sanity and subtract your Turpitude.
When a writer puts words on a page, or a script brings images to life on a screen, and someone consumes those things, they enter into a contract that makes the thing real, because "real" is a spectrum. Because given an infinite number of universes, it *is* real. When a group of people gets together to play a TTRPG, they're performing a ritual to bring something to life.
I've seen many found footage horror films in my life, but I can't say I've ever read a "found document" horror novel. The Ship of Death is epistolary horror for an age when reality seems to be both bleak chaos and subject to the machinations of malevolent influences. There are emails, journal entries and even police reports, but the most intriguing of all are the documents from the Ship of Death game itself.
This novel is best binged late at night in those few hours before sleep, when your mind can best absorb the Wolfe-ian prose with its fuligin candles and pitiful heirodules. You'll smell this novel and feel the grime between your fingers. Now roll for sanity and subtract your Turpitude.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5
Definitely would be more engaging if I had ever played D&D, but an interesting read, especially since it is told entirely through emails, Notes App entries, journal entries, police reports, game forum posts, and game reports.
Cole and his wife Lorraine playtest board games for extra money while they're saving up to buy a house. Usually they play a game, send a quick review, and make some money. But this game is different. To play this game they must sign an NDA and write intensive game reports detailing every minute of gameplay, from what they may be drinking or eating or thinking to the moves they are making. This game is called The Ship of Death and is a tabletop role-playing game they initially see as in the vein of D&D. But as the gameplay expands throughout their home it also leeches into their minds and daily life. When they let someone else into the game who claims to have played before they begin to lose the boundary between the game and reality, and struggle to claw back any semblance of their normal life.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
Definitely would be more engaging if I had ever played D&D, but an interesting read, especially since it is told entirely through emails, Notes App entries, journal entries, police reports, game forum posts, and game reports.
Cole and his wife Lorraine playtest board games for extra money while they're saving up to buy a house. Usually they play a game, send a quick review, and make some money. But this game is different. To play this game they must sign an NDA and write intensive game reports detailing every minute of gameplay, from what they may be drinking or eating or thinking to the moves they are making. This game is called The Ship of Death and is a tabletop role-playing game they initially see as in the vein of D&D. But as the gameplay expands throughout their home it also leeches into their minds and daily life. When they let someone else into the game who claims to have played before they begin to lose the boundary between the game and reality, and struggle to claw back any semblance of their normal life.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC of The Ship of Death for an honest review. Unfortunately the emails back and forth style was hard for me to get into. The story itself was interesting but I felt it would have been more effective to just have some emails throughout the book not the whole time. I did however like Cole and Lorraine. They felt like real people to me. I felt like they were a couple I know in real life which is a great job by Kyle Winkler. The idea of the game and the worldbuilding of it was the most intriguing part of the book to me. You could tell the author put a lot of thought into how the game would work, what the story would be, the character, etc. It is obvious Winkler has played many a tabletop game which added to the books authentic feel within the emails. Again, this style did not work for me and wish it had been told in a normal narrative style. I do think I will check out his other books as this one was creative and would like to see what other stories he has. 3.5
April 22, 2026
*I received a copy of this audiobook on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
The Ship of Death might end up being one of the best books I’ll read this year. It promises a tabletop game horror movie in the style of Blair Witch and it most certainly delivers. Told through journal entries, emails, game logs, etc. as a couple plays a special “preview” of a table top role playing game that proves to be much more. I’m not a gamer in ANY capacity (many of my closest friends and family are so I have some tertiary understanding of them) but I really enjoyed this book. I felt drawn to the book much like the characters are drawn to play the game. The story is a fast paced and fairly easy read not complicated but not really predictable either.
I would describe the genre as cosmic Lovecraftian style horror so if you enjoy movies like In the Mouth of Madness or Ninth Gate or, to be a little more niche, the Tanis podcast by the Public Radio Alliance then this is most certainly for you.
The Ship of Death might end up being one of the best books I’ll read this year. It promises a tabletop game horror movie in the style of Blair Witch and it most certainly delivers. Told through journal entries, emails, game logs, etc. as a couple plays a special “preview” of a table top role playing game that proves to be much more. I’m not a gamer in ANY capacity (many of my closest friends and family are so I have some tertiary understanding of them) but I really enjoyed this book. I felt drawn to the book much like the characters are drawn to play the game. The story is a fast paced and fairly easy read not complicated but not really predictable either.
I would describe the genre as cosmic Lovecraftian style horror so if you enjoy movies like In the Mouth of Madness or Ninth Gate or, to be a little more niche, the Tanis podcast by the Public Radio Alliance then this is most certainly for you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 ⭐ rounded up.
The Ship of Death follows main characters Cole and Lorraine as they do play testing for a new tabletop RPG that has a lot of secrecy and intrigue surrounding it. As they delve further into the game, they have trouble distinguishing reality from the game. Told through play reports, journal entries, and police reports, this book will have you falling into madness alongside Cole and Lorraine.
I really loved the "found footage" aspect of this book. The changing perspectives and formats definitely keep your attention and make you want to find out what's next. The development these characters go through in this book is so palpable you almost feel like you're going crazy yourself. I had a little trouble following the game play at times, but it is supposed to be a large and intimidating game, so maybe we're not supposed to follow along that well. The climax of the book was satisfying and left enough mystery while still wrapping up the story nicely. I really enjoyed this book overall and I enjoy this author's writing as well. I highly recommend!
The Ship of Death follows main characters Cole and Lorraine as they do play testing for a new tabletop RPG that has a lot of secrecy and intrigue surrounding it. As they delve further into the game, they have trouble distinguishing reality from the game. Told through play reports, journal entries, and police reports, this book will have you falling into madness alongside Cole and Lorraine.
I really loved the "found footage" aspect of this book. The changing perspectives and formats definitely keep your attention and make you want to find out what's next. The development these characters go through in this book is so palpable you almost feel like you're going crazy yourself. I had a little trouble following the game play at times, but it is supposed to be a large and intimidating game, so maybe we're not supposed to follow along that well. The climax of the book was satisfying and left enough mystery while still wrapping up the story nicely. I really enjoyed this book overall and I enjoy this author's writing as well. I highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had a great time with this! The Ship of Death is one of those books that's very specific with its intended audience, and while I don't think that's a bad thing at all it's definitely not going to be for everyone. If you read the description and think it sounds perfect for you, it probably is. This is pretty much Mork Borg meets Jumanji, and I think the concept here was done pretty well. I wasn't sure at first if a story centering board game/TTRPG mechanics was going to be the most interesting, but I liked how the insanity was constantly being bumped up a notch to keep things entertaining. The main characters are dealing with forces well beyond their comprehension, so there's a lot going on and not all of it makes sense but it didn't stop me from tearing through this book. If you love board games, TTRPGs, creepy metaphysical rituals, and super dark fantasy vibes, hopefully you'll enjoy this as much as I did.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It's evil Jumanji! ☠️
Great world building. The lore, people, the lore. I would play the shit out of this board game. Even if I was slowly turned into a rotting-from-the-inside-out assassin.
I normally love found footage, but this is one that would've benefitted from more traditional storytelling. Cole's narrative as "game reports" didn't really work. The game rules told him to include everything but... how was he writing these reports during The Horrors™️?
I wish some of it took place inside the game's dimension too, instead of basically all in their apartment or the bar. I mean, I get it, it's a book about playing a boardgame, but why create a horrific game from a different dimension and then not have your characters go to that dimension?!
Still, quibbles aside, it's a very fun, quick read. Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!
Great world building. The lore, people, the lore. I would play the shit out of this board game. Even if I was slowly turned into a rotting-from-the-inside-out assassin.
I normally love found footage, but this is one that would've benefitted from more traditional storytelling. Cole's narrative as "game reports" didn't really work. The game rules told him to include everything but... how was he writing these reports during The Horrors™️?
I wish some of it took place inside the game's dimension too, instead of basically all in their apartment or the bar. I mean, I get it, it's a book about playing a boardgame, but why create a horrific game from a different dimension and then not have your characters go to that dimension?!
Still, quibbles aside, it's a very fun, quick read. Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Cole Wyler likes to beta test games. When he is offered a substantial amount of money that can be used as a down payment for a house for his family, he wouldn’t think of refusing. The game is called The Ship of Death, something between role playing (think: Dungeons & Dragons) and board game (think: Settlers of Catan). The assorted bits and bobs that come with this game take up most of his living room, still that does not deter him and his wife, Lorraine. They’re both quite eager to play, becoming very obsessed with it immediately. However, it is darker and more complicated than they thought, attracting abnormal characters and events in their lives. Now that they’re in it, can they ever leave?
This story was told through different pieces of documentation, which I find pretty neat. Read this to go a dark psychological journey. They're the creepiest horror books out there!
#ThxNetGalley #KyleWinkler #TheShipofDeath
This story was told through different pieces of documentation, which I find pretty neat. Read this to go a dark psychological journey. They're the creepiest horror books out there!
#ThxNetGalley #KyleWinkler #TheShipofDeath
April 10, 2026
The Ship of Death tells the story of a couple who love to play RPG’s. When they stumble upon a rare and unusual game, they are eager and ready to play it. What they don’t realize is that this game has real stakes, and it’s going to turn their lives upside down.
The writing style of this book is unique in that it’s told through found documents, such as emails, diary entries, and forum posts. The story sets a dark tone that page by page ramps up the tension for readers. Some parts of this book really worked for me, while other parts took me out of the story a little bit. Overall, it’s a great read for anyone who is a fan of Role Playing Games and dark, twisty narratives.
My thanks to the publisher for sending me an Advance Reader Copy of this book. It was provided to me through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Everything stated in my review is my own opinion written in my own words.
The writing style of this book is unique in that it’s told through found documents, such as emails, diary entries, and forum posts. The story sets a dark tone that page by page ramps up the tension for readers. Some parts of this book really worked for me, while other parts took me out of the story a little bit. Overall, it’s a great read for anyone who is a fan of Role Playing Games and dark, twisty narratives.
My thanks to the publisher for sending me an Advance Reader Copy of this book. It was provided to me through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Everything stated in my review is my own opinion written in my own words.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Cole and Lorraine playtest board games as extra income and are sent an unusual game that they’re eager to play, regardless of the fact that it requires NDA’s and extensive after play reports. But is it just a game? When the board takes over their entire kitchen and leeches into their minds and dreams, they realize that there’s more at stake than winning or losing.
I loved the presentation of the story through emails, police reports, game forum posts, after game reports, journal entries, and even locked notes app entries. I found the fantasy and horror game world-building more interesting than the day-to-day life of Cole and Lorraine and wish some things would have gotten more attention than, say, house hunting. If you’re looking for a quick and eerie read, and you have even basic knowledge of tabletop games and RPG’s, give this a try!
3.5/5 rounded up
e-arc provided by Netgalley ❤️
I loved the presentation of the story through emails, police reports, game forum posts, after game reports, journal entries, and even locked notes app entries. I found the fantasy and horror game world-building more interesting than the day-to-day life of Cole and Lorraine and wish some things would have gotten more attention than, say, house hunting. If you’re looking for a quick and eerie read, and you have even basic knowledge of tabletop games and RPG’s, give this a try!
3.5/5 rounded up
e-arc provided by Netgalley ❤️
April 29, 2026
4/5
This was a wild one! I was unsure at first due to how rapidly it seemed to progress into crazy space but I just let myself be taken in for the ride and I am so glad I did. This was so strange and yet so captivating it’s hard to describe what just happened. I really s joyed the vibes of the game and real world colliding together, even though very little of it made sense.
The characters themselves were odd and made all sorts of strange choices but that was part of the descend into chaos. I do wish that some of the other side characters were a bit better integrated in like the psychic.
The epistolary format was interesting and gave it more intrigue, though it did feel like some parts were forced into the format just due to its restrictions.
Overall this was definitely a strange book and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for a review copy of this book.
This was a wild one! I was unsure at first due to how rapidly it seemed to progress into crazy space but I just let myself be taken in for the ride and I am so glad I did. This was so strange and yet so captivating it’s hard to describe what just happened. I really s joyed the vibes of the game and real world colliding together, even though very little of it made sense.
The characters themselves were odd and made all sorts of strange choices but that was part of the descend into chaos. I do wish that some of the other side characters were a bit better integrated in like the psychic.
The epistolary format was interesting and gave it more intrigue, though it did feel like some parts were forced into the format just due to its restrictions.
Overall this was definitely a strange book and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for a review copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Guys, we need more just, super weird books in the world. This was such a blast to read. Especially if you’re into TTRPGs!
I loved the “found footage” style of story telling here, it really worked for me and with this kind of story in particular. I do wish we got more of the gaming/role playing itself but ah well, I understand there was a bigger story at hand that also needed to be told.
The only thing stopping this being a 5 star read for me is the plot itself was massively confusing, but honestly huge props to the author for coming up with something so wildly original. (Also: I feel like the man in the yellow jacket was a metaphor/some kind of symbolism for The King in Yellow, right? I’m not sure since I’ve never read it. Yell at me in the comments about it!)
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the “found footage” style of story telling here, it really worked for me and with this kind of story in particular. I do wish we got more of the gaming/role playing itself but ah well, I understand there was a bigger story at hand that also needed to be told.
The only thing stopping this being a 5 star read for me is the plot itself was massively confusing, but honestly huge props to the author for coming up with something so wildly original. (Also: I feel like the man in the yellow jacket was a metaphor/some kind of symbolism for The King in Yellow, right? I’m not sure since I’ve never read it. Yell at me in the comments about it!)
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
One of the most propulsive books I've read in a long time. I picked it up and couldn't put it down. Powered through it in less than a day. This is a high-three star review for me, maybe as high as it can be without me feeling confident in giving it a four.
I think my biggest frustration with this book was that it was so fast. I've found that Lovecraftian fiction works best as slow burn. Let the pot of boiling eerie water slowly get there instead of turning it to high temperature immediately. This book drops you into the cosmic horror immediately and I think to a bit of a disservice to the high quality of Winkler's writing. I think if this book was a hundred pages longer, it probably would have worked better and with Winkler's writing I don't think it would have lost any of that propulsiveness.
I think my biggest frustration with this book was that it was so fast. I've found that Lovecraftian fiction works best as slow burn. Let the pot of boiling eerie water slowly get there instead of turning it to high temperature immediately. This book drops you into the cosmic horror immediately and I think to a bit of a disservice to the high quality of Winkler's writing. I think if this book was a hundred pages longer, it probably would have worked better and with Winkler's writing I don't think it would have lost any of that propulsiveness.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My favorite horror trope is found footage/media. I am an absolute sucker for any type of movie or book with this type of setting. The Ship of Death was certainly one of the better versions I’ve seen of this. It was such a cool concept that the author delivered on. It kept me on edge throughout the story and I felt like I wanted to race to the end and also for it to never stop. I was so tense for Cole and Lorraine. I really enjoyed their relationship and that it wasn’t perfect. I rooted for them especially Cole
The story is short and I read it in one day. I think that’s a good thing for stories like these but I honestly would’ve loved even more. The world he created was so intriguing to me I wanted to know more. I will definitely be buying the physical copy once this releases and convince my friends to read it.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC
The story is short and I read it in one day. I think that’s a good thing for stories like these but I honestly would’ve loved even more. The world he created was so intriguing to me I wanted to know more. I will definitely be buying the physical copy once this releases and convince my friends to read it.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I hope this book find its audience. I am sadly not a member of it. It's through no fault of the book itself. The writing is good, it's well paced. I think the mixed media storytelling is perfect for this novel. It suites the plot SO well and should make for an excellent read.
Unfortunately like when someone is explaining a new game's rules to me I was lost. This novel is probably better suited for someone who is more into table top and RP games. I'm going to recommend it to my friends who do play those kinds of games because I think they will love it! I am not of that world and probably should have realized that after reading the description. It just sounded so interesting, and I think will be if it's already more aligned with your interested. Feels like the definition of a genuine "it's not you, it's me" moment.
Unfortunately like when someone is explaining a new game's rules to me I was lost. This novel is probably better suited for someone who is more into table top and RP games. I'm going to recommend it to my friends who do play those kinds of games because I think they will love it! I am not of that world and probably should have realized that after reading the description. It just sounded so interesting, and I think will be if it's already more aligned with your interested. Feels like the definition of a genuine "it's not you, it's me" moment.
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