Review: Ship of Spells by H. Leighton Dickson

*I received a copy of this book from Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review.

Ship of Spells

by H. Leighton Dickson

November 4, 2025

Goodreads Summary:

A war-scarred mage. A sentient ship. A secret that could drown empires.

When Ensign Bluemage Honor Renn is rescued from the wreckage of her first naval post, she expects death or disgrace. Instead, she wakes aboard the Touchstone, a mythic vessel whispered of in dockside ballads and royal war rooms alike. With a crew of misfits. A mysterious, elven captain. And a mission tied to the Dreadwall, the crumbling barrier that has kept the Overland and Nethersea from open war for a hundred years.

But the tragedy that sank her last ship didn’t just take lives―it left something behind.

Now Renn carries a secret everyone wants. A magik that’s chimeric, arcane...and slowly killing her. But the captain’s mission may be her only chance to survive, even if he still doesn’t trust her.

Caught between privateers, princes, and spies, Renn knows each choice could sink her future―or set the sea on fire.

Ship of Spells is perfect for readers who crave the raw grit of Arya Stark, the world-building of Samantha Shannon, and the slow-burn tension of enemies who should never trust or want each other.

Review

Ship of Spells was a thrilling sea adventure. I was pulled into its volatile world cheering on the hard-working characters. Though sadly, I wasn’t as taken with the magic or the romance between the main characters.

Politics and emotions heavily influenced the world and the magic in Ship of Spells. Chimeric seemed powerful but was hard to grasp in action. I never felt like I fully understood its workings. Renn's magik always felt contradictory. She pushed her powers to the limits and was met with very little consequences… I was baffled and wished we got more explanations.

The crew of the Touchstone was crafty. At first glance, they seemed fragile: one wave away from rolling on each other. But as the Ship of Spells sailed on, we see how in sync they were. “Hardship forged bonds stronger than steel. Shared sorrows knit tighter than cable or cord.” (p. 148) Each crew member played their role convincingly. Thus, betrayals cut deep.

The action scenes in Ship of Spell stood out. Many different battles were fought. Whether it was against monsters or between people or within themselves, tension ran high. “Grief cut out pieces of the heart, seared itself into the mind in ways that never truly healed.” (p. 101) Not knowing what would happen next, my heart continuously pounded.

I wasn’t convinced by the romance in Ship of Spells because Renn and Thanavar didn’t have much spark. Their roles as Ensign Bluemage and captain of the Touchstone felt a lot more natural than them as lovers. However, after that ending, I am curious how things will develop.

Despite my reservations on the magic and the lack of connection in the romance, I want to continue Ship of Spells. I believe the world and its characters have more stories to tell so I want to hear them.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the copy I received.