Ship of Smoke and Steel

By: Django Wexler

Narrated by: Catherine Ho

Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Ship of Smoke and Steel is the launch of Django Wexler's cinematic, action-packed epic fantasy Wells of Sorcery trilogy. 

In the lower wards of Kahnzoka, the great port city of the Blessed Empire, 18-year-old ward boss Isoka enforces the will of her criminal masters with the power of Melos, the Well of Combat. The money she collects goes to keep her little sister living in comfort, far from the bloody streets they grew up on. When Isoka's magic is discovered by the government, she's arrested and brought to the Emperor's spymaster, who sends her on an impossible mission: Steal Soliton, a legendary ghost ship - a ship from which no one has ever returned. If she fails, her sister’s life is forfeit.

On board Soliton, nothing is as simple as it seems. Isoka tries to get close to the ship's mysterious captain, but to do it, she must become part of the brutal crew and join their endless battles against twisted creatures. She doesn't expect to have to contend with feelings for a charismatic fighter who shares her combat magic, or for a fearless princess who wields an even darker power.

©2019 Django Wexler (P)2019 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

“Truly epic, fierce, and exhilarating, Ship of Smoke and Steel will capture you and lock you away. With magical combat sequences fit for the big screen, the action is almost as breathtaking as the intrigue.” (Morgan Rhodes, New York Times best-selling author of the Falling Kingdoms series)

The Long Pauses Ruins the Book

I don't know if it is the voice actors fault or sound editing, but there is a noticeable pause between each sentence. This is made even made worse and awkward because the narrator speaks at a quick pace, which probably suits the story being action packed based on other reviews. I did quite listing within 30 minutes.

I will be returning and purchasing just the kindle version to read.

Weirdly edited but good story

Editor needed to trim down the pauses at the end of sentences, it's pervasive and distracting but the book itself is good

AMAZING! MUST READ!

Best book I've read in a LONG time! Utterly captivating. Very well written women characters, lovely lesbian romance that feels natural alongside the action. A bit dark, mentions of rape and child abuse as backstory.

I personally loved the narration as well. Voice fit perfectly with a good range for all the different characters.

Love the author, hate the actor

I’m sorry to write this as I’ve greatly enjoyed Django Wexler’s other books. But I honestly can’t get into this one at all.

The voice actor, Catherine Ho, is either brand new to the profession, or simply has no talent for it. Every sentence is punctuated by a long. Uncomfortable. Pause.

....

It. Breaks. The flow. Of the story and dialog.

See how annoying that is?

Additionally, the flat lack of inflection makes an overall emotionless story, not at all like the work of Mr. Wexler, which is highly emotionally evocative.

Finally, every character sounds almost the same. Every male character sounds like a 6 year old girl trying to imitate her father, and every female character sounds like the protagonist. Paired with the constant pauses and the emotionless delivery, any interest or detail is quickly drained from the book.

Because of this I can only give one star in each category. I grew up reading dictionaries, but this was harder to get into. I may buy the book in printed or ebook format and try reading it that way simply out of loyalty to the author. After that I may edit this review to include a better representation of the narrative itself separate of the disgraceful performance by Ms. Ho.


Authors, please, please be more picky and involved in the choice of voice actors for your stories. Usually I can suffer through a bad delivery, but this is getting more and more common, and this is the very first time I actually quit the audiobook due to an actor.

Readers, save yourself a credit. Check out the book at your library or listen to Mr. Wexler’s other works, which are excellent.

Yes! Another good book

I’m a fan of Django Wexler and this book did not disappoint. Strong female characters and a very interesting world. I will happily look forward to the next book.
If you have a problem with LGTB romance in a book then you’d best avoid this but to me it isn’t a problem and if anything is welcome as its hard to find a good read that includes it.
There was a couple small things that bugged me but they might be answered in the next book.

Loved It

Great Book! Great Narrator! I found this book because I liked another book read by this narrator. And now I have a new author to read! I would definitely recommend this audio book!

Really great

This is the first Wexler book I have listened to on audible. It is very engaging and the woman reading it has a very smooth voice that draws you in. Some of the battle sequences drag on a little bit, but maybe they work better on the page and not as audio. Overall a really good audiobook, highly recommend.

Really fun book!

Enjoyed this the whole way through. I enjoyed how Wexler developed the characters and kept the action moving. Really looking forward to the next one. I also loved the narration. I thought she embodied the characters and brought the action to life very well.

Different & Good

I'm a big fan of Django Wexler. His "Thousand Names" series is one of my favorites. Wexler doesn't miss the mark with this book either. It's a fun beginning to a new series I'm sure will be quite entertaining.

fun fantasy

Awesome intro to an exciting world! The audiobook narration hooked me right from the get-go — she really brings the listener into the action. Looking forward to the next one!