To enjoy this fantasy of a ship sailing strange purple-black seas, I believe you need to have read the first in the Darkstar series. Min is First Officer of an expedition’s ship, called Melodious Narwhal, which earlier fell through a rift between dimensions and ended up in great peril. THE RETURN OF THE WHALEFLEET picks up some time after the close of THE FLIGHT OF THE DARKSTAR DRAGON.  

A major factor in the first book was the Darkstar Dragon itself. While the monstrous creature is still a threat, the crew have learned to live with it and now concentrate on rift-hopping for essential supplies, as they wait for a suitable portal from the Darkstar to their home of New Windward. Other travelers include a stately parade across the sky of beings using giant whales as galleons. Whoever they are, they don’t stoop to notice the ragged castaways. Then Min somewhat rashly (but isn’t every action rash in this world) comes to the rescue of one of the travelers and draws the attention of mightier forces.  

Abelandu, the wizardly scholar we all love to despise, is no less whining, arrogant, and insufferable. At one point I thought he had begun to learn his lesson, but I am not sure it will last. His notes introduce the story with a recap for newcomers, and he is such an unsympathetic character that I think a few lines only would have been advisable. Other familiar faces include Brightest, a longtime resident of the region, and Jedda, a skyship artificer. Then there is Zoya, also titled Colonel Zoya Odili, who knows she is doomed because of a choice she made for magical power – she just doesn’t know how long she has remaining. At this point the tale becomes darker (as opposed to just dangerous) and nothing seems to go right. Another constant is the dedication of players to improving their game of Eshak; fortunately, we are spared the rules of this game.

I had a good time revisiting this series, which again has the eye-catching cover art created by Jenny Zemanek. Benedict Patrick previously penned the Yarnsworld series, and I hope he will return to that series when the ripples settle from THE RETURN OF THE WHALEFLEET. A third book at least is promised for the Darkstar stories. That will be fun.