The Bone Ships

The Tide Child #1

by R.J. Barker

A brilliantly imagined saga of honor, glory, and warfare, The Bone Ships is the epic launch of a new fantasy from David Gemmell Award-nominated RJ Barker.

Two nations at war. A prize beyond compare.

For generations, the Hundred Isles have built their ships from the bones of ancient dragons to fight an endless war.

The dragons disappeared, but the battles for supremacy persisted.

Now the first dragon in centuries has been spotted in far-off waters, and both sides see a chance to shift the balance of power in their favour. Because whoever catches it will win not only glory, but the war.

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Fiction, Pirates, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Adult

469 pages, Hardcover

First published September 24, 2019

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Petrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit—in exchange for an honest review.

Highly imaginative world-building with a large focus on sea voyages and naval warfare.

Let me begin by saying that I’m a huge fan of Barker’s debut series, The Wounded Kingdom trilogy. I gave each installment in The Wounded Kingdom trilogy a 4.5 stars rating, and ever since I finished King of Assassins, The Bone Ships has been on my list of priority books to read ASAP for a while now. Honestly, on my first read, I had a great time with this book, but The Bone Ships was a totally different sort of beast—that’s sadly not too suitable for me—compared to The Wounded Kingdom trilogy. I had expected to love this book more, and thankfully, this result was delivered on my second read.

“No sane woman or man wishes for war, and those that do never would if they thought it would leave paint on their doorsteps.”

The Bone Ships is the first book in The Tide Child trilogy by R. J. Barker. For generations, the two nations in the Hundred Isles have built their bone ships from the bones of supposedly extinct ancient dragons. The two nations used these ships to wage an endless war for supremacy and dominance in the high seas. Now, our main characters, Joron Twiner and Lucky Meas, heard that there’s a new sighting of a new sea dragon for the first time in centuries; nations participate in a race to shift the balance of power in their favor by hunting the dragon. I won’t lie; I struggled through the first half of the book on my first read. I, as a reader, prefer characterizations first more than anything else. A focus on characterizations was one of the things Barker did immediately and exceptionally well in The Wounded Kingdom trilogy. The Bone Ships to me felt like it followed the opposite direction by focusing the narrative on heavy world-building first; deeper characterizations came in the second half. The main premise regarding the appearance of a new sea dragon didn’t really begin until we’re 40% into the book. Because of this, the first 40% felt like the plot was directionless. Thankfully, the second half was significantly better. On the second read, however, none of these problems existed. The first half felt so much more engaging because I’m familiar with the world and characters already.

“The greatest revenge is not taken with a blade, it is that done by taking your enemy’s taunts and throwing them back in their face.”

The first time I read through this novel, the amount of time required to get me to care about the characters was definitely the biggest hurdle of the book. In The Wounded Kingdom trilogy, I cared about Girton immediately just from the first few chapters, and my investment for him and the side characters continuously grew throughout the series. In The Bone Ships, Joron—as the main character—takes the role of an observer of a legendary figure; similar to the Bloodsounder’s Arc by Jeff Salyards. It took a while for me to care about him, but I finally started to like the characters in the second half of the book. Seeing Joron Twiner, Lucky Meas, and the misfit crew of Tide Child gradually learn about duty, friendship, honor, and loyalty was simply a joy to read. The expert characterizations skill found in Barker’s first trilogy became more evident in the last 35% of the book.

“Loyalty. That is what makes a ship work – ties of loyalty. To each other, to the ship. And every time we fight together, we are bound closer together. It is your nature, Joron, to like people and to be kind. Do not think I have not seen the leeway you give.”

The one thing to highly praise about The Bone Ships, in my opinion, would have to be its inventive and intricate world-building. This isn’t an easy book to read; the learning curve is relatively higher than usual, and the first half of the novel was totally a sink or swim situation. World-building, lingo, unique names, and terminologies were introduced rapidly—sometimes even in an info-dump manner. It took a long time for me to acclimate myself to the world and characters. I’m also not particularly a fan of reading long sea voyages in a fantasy book; almost the entirety of The Bone Ships was spent on seafaring, and this indeed became a hindrance to my enjoyment on my first read. However, this is also where the book excels so much on the second read. The gorgeous cover art of The Bone Ships is similar to the UK cover art of The Liveship Traders trilogy by Robin Hobb, and the setting was also reminiscent. And yet, The Bone Ships stands out on its own; it felt refreshing and original to read. We have Gullaime (wind-mage or weatherman), sea dragon, bone ships, and the colossal Skearith’s Spine; these were some of the factors that made the discovery and sea voyage heavily prominent and awesome in the narrative. If you’re a fan of seafaring in fantasy, this book would be a hit for you. The vivid imagery displayed when they were traveling on the sea was stunning, and the gorgeous map plus chapter icons created by Tom Parker enhanced the strong atmosphere of the book.

Picture: Interior chapter icons by Tom Parker





If this is your first time reading through The Bone Ships, and you feel like you’re struggling, rest assured that the second half made the struggle worthwhile; every part of the novel became clearer. I read through The Bone Ships again to refresh my memories before I dive into the sequel, and I’m glad I did. The vivid world-building and thrilling naval warfare concluded The Bone Ships on a high note. I recommend this book to readers who loved pirates, seafaring, and found family in their fantasy books.

“My advice is to judge them on who they are when you meet them, rather than on what you have heard from those to whom they are only stories.”

Official release date: September 26th, 2019 (UK) and September 24th, 2019 (US)

You can pre-order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Blackwells (Free International shipping)

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel

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[Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out my YouTube channel where I show my instant reactions upon finishing reading fantasy books.

One of the greatest starts to a fantasy series of all time. Perfect in literally every way

I went into this book completely cold, with only the vague understanding that it was a fantasy seafaring book. And as a fan of both of those genres, my expectations for this book were rather high for a book and author I knew nothing about. But I was not prepared to read a masterful work of art like this, that amazed me with every aspect of what the book was trying to accomplish.

If you loved the Liveship Traders trilogy by Robin Hobb, or are in general a fan of fantasy books with a somewhat high learning curve - just stop reading this review and go get your hands on this book immediately.

Story: 5/5

The story starts off a little on the slow end, and then continually ramps up the action as the book goes along. This is a common theme in fantasy, but just keep that in mind here if you are reading it because I didn't really start to understand exactly what was going on and get hooked into the plot until about 1/3 through the book.

Without ruining anything, this book is about a pathetic captain of a ship who gets his captaincy taken from him by an incredibly adept person. The former captain takes up the #2 role on the ship, and the ship goes from a group of horrible sailors and they start to get their confidence and skills back to become extremely formidable. They are given a quest involving a sea dragon, and the entire book is about them trying to achieve the quest they were given.

There are fun twists to the plot as it goes alone, with extremely addicting action scenes, and the plot involving the ship itself just trying to stay alive is extremely exciting.

World Building: 5/5

The world building in this book is absolutely fantastic, and if there was one aspect of this book that stood above the rest - it is this. The world is so incredibly fleshed out that you cannot help but feel transported to that world and living it along with the characters. There are unique names for a ton of different things, necessitating regular use of the glossary, that make this world feel more real than a normal fantasy world. The author does something I absolutely love in a fantasy book where he just throws you in without holding your hand, and lets you learn the world as you go along without any sort of info dump or narrator explaining things. It takes time to appreciate, but once it clicks it's a wonderful experience.

Fantasy Elements: 5/5

The fantasy elements to this book were incredible. You have half human/half bird weather mages, epic sea dragons, ships made out of dragon bones, the incredibly fun Skearith’s Spine (you'll have to read it to find out what it is), and so much more. It feels unique, grander than life, and deeply exciting.

Characters: 5/5

The character writing in this book is top notch, with all of the characters providing such vivid life to the story and intricately well crafted. The main character in particular is an extremely well written character was a convincing arc and character growth, who matures as a man and works to earn the respect of his fellow shipmates. The cast that surrounds him is colorful, and exactly what you would expect to see on a fantasy pirate ship. I love the way these characters interact with each other and each have unique traits that don't just make them names, they feel like real people.

Writing Style: 5/5

This writing is spellbinding in quality. Everything is so intricately explained, the battles are so vivid in their depth and quality, and the character dialogue is just wonderful. The author can explain a calm scene on the water and just leave you captivated while nothing is happening, he's that good at his craft. It just oozes quality, and you will have a very difficult time peeling your eyes from the book.

Enjoyment: 5/5

I can't imagine having more fun reading a first book to a trilogy than I did reading The Tide Child, and my excitement towards reading the next book in this series is absolutely through the roof. What an incredible experience, and I hope you pick up this book to see how wonderful this is for yourself.

[Robin Hobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rats and double rats!
Have you ever done a cut-and-paste to move a paragraph? And then come back to discover that said paragraph is missing?
See an insertion below, with a few stars to mark it!

My usual Caveat: I received a free copy of this book as an Advanced Reading Copy. I have met RJ Barker, and shared several breakfasts with him in a dungeon. This creates a bond of friendship.

However, I do not think that affects my review of this book.

The Bones Ships, as noted above, is book one of The Tide Child. There are unanswered questions at the end of the book, but I felt that this section of the tale made a satisfying read on its own.

My husband comes from a family with a long maritime tradition, as fishermen and Merchant Marine. Both my sons have gone to sea for extended periods of time. Our home is full of bits and pieces of maritime heritage. Our homes have always had 'galleys' and 'decks' instead of kitchens and floors.

I mention this as when I first entered the world of the Tide Child and his crew, there were changes in idiom that were small hurdles for me. Slates on the deck? Ships referred to as 'he'? Deckhands as deckchilder?

If these puzzle you at first, persevere. (And my copy has an appendix in the back if you need help keeping the ranks straight in your mind.) Many fantasy and SF books simply plunge the reader into the middle of a foreign setting and expect you to accept and hold onto the thread of the story and move forward. The Bone Ships does this very well. Just trust it. The flora and fauna of the world, the organization of the society, and the economy of the world will fall into place around you. It all makes sense.

If you've read any of my other reviews, you know that I avoid spoilers. So reviewing a book without giving spoilers can push me into using the same phrases over and over. A good tale. Well developed characters. A well thought out world.

Don't fear that I am using generalities. I'm telling you what is genuinely important to me in reading a book all the way to the end. Characters. Plot. Setting.

**** Inserted paragraph:
The lush descriptions of the foreign forests and sea creatures are remarkable. I chose the word 'foreign' rather than 'alien' as it is apparent that Joron Twiner is a man of the sea, and a fisherman. When he ventures into the forests on the land, or goes beyond fishing grounds into deeper waters, his reactions to these foreign environments are genuine. He sees them in the same way I saw my first encounter with a subway station, or a desert. He has known of these things, but to him they are foreign. This is a nice bit of worldbuilding, as is the way the inhabitants of this world accept their social system as 'the way it has always been.' Too often I read fantasy where the characters are suddenly able to lift their eyes and see 'a better way' with no catalyzing event to wake them up to it. It always rings false to me. But as Joron moves through his disasters and adventures, he is gradually pushed into a wider awareness. He has to adapt to his changing status aboard the vessel, to modify his behaviors to fit his differing roles, and eventually to interact with different species in a way he had never even considered possible. That is brilliant writing.

****** There. Fixed it. And I'm sure you see why inserting that was important!

Bits I especially liked: How the difference in flora affects the construction of a ship, and the garments that are worn. Consistency in world building! The gullaime. I will say nothing about the gullaime except that I very much enjoyed it! The wheels within wheels of the plot is another excellent ingredient.

I hope you will enjoy Joran and Lucky Meas and the rest of the crew as much as I did. The characters have believable flaws. Some they overcome. Some they don't. Isn't that what always keeps us reading to the last page.

[John Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A big thank-you to Orbit for sending this my way. It's the first book I've read by R.J. Barker - an author I've been meaning to read for ages, as I've heard great things, but we all know what the TBR MOUNTAINS are like, they just keep on growing.

I thoroughly enjoyed my first taste of RJ Barker's writing. THE BONE SHIPS is a whole lot of swashbuckling awesomeness, with intelligent, organic world-building and deeply likeable characters. Reminiscent of Patrick O'Brian, which can only ever be a compliment, this was a sea-fairing tale with heart, and one that picked me up and swept me along. There was a point where I could not stop reading, where I found myself thinking about the story during my day, and looking forward to when I would get back to reading it.

This won't be the last R.J. Barker book I read. Highly recommended.

I think Black Oris might have been my favourite character.

[Nick Borrelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/10

THE BONE SHIPS is set in a world where vast seas and oceans cover the majority of its mass, hundreds of islands are scattered across it, and huge ships made from the bones of long-dead sea dragons are the primary means of transportation, war, and commerce. We'll get back to that dragon part later, I promise! One particular bone ship, Tide Child, is by default led by the weak and ineffectual Joron Twiner. That is until he is forced out of his tentative role as shipwife by the renowned Lucky Meas Gilbryn. Lucky decides to spare his life in return that he become the ship's main deckhand and carry out her orders without fail.

Joron faces a huge challenge as the crew of Tide Child are made up of a surly bunch of prisoners who can't find spots on a more reputable ship. They're not used to taking orders from anyone, especially not someone with the low self-esteem and insecurities of Joron. His only saving grace is that Lucky Meas' Gilbryn has quite a reputation of her own as a rough and battle-tested shipwife. She gives Joron the authority to speak with her voice backed up with her ruthless punishment should the crew fail to adhere to Joron's commands.

Oh yes, about those sea dragons! They supposedly disappeared and were completely wiped out of existence centuries earlier. Until recent rumor revealed that there may have been one (and possibly more) spotted some leagues from Tide Child's location. Were this to be true and Tide Child could somehow manage to kill the legendary beast, power and prestige unknown for centuries would be Meas' and Joron's prize to claim. And perhaps a sliver of redemption for a captain and crew who have long been consigned to permanently wander the open seas for mere survival's sake.

But there are others who would also claim the sea dragon's bones as prize for their own glory. Which means that the race is now on between warring nations and ships' crews to locate this mythical creature, and to somehow find a way to kill it utilizing limited knowledge on how to do so. Can Tide Child fulfill its mission and bring all due honor and power that would come along with it? Or will those who also hunt the beast get there first and spoil their plans? The 500 or so page journey to find out the answers to these questions is just as fun as the action-packed and amazing conclusion.

I was utterly enthralled by R.J. Barker's THE BONE SHIPS and devoured it in a little over a week. That's how great it is, as the 500 pages literally flew by as I brushed off much-needed sleep. I loved this story, especially because it reminded me of one of my favorite Fantasy series of all-time, The Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb. This had many of the same elements that I enjoyed from that series, yet was a wholly original tome in its own right.

An aspect of this book that really appealed to me was that yes, it's a Fantasy book, but at its core it is a fabulous adventure story. The Fantasy elements are more subtly handled than the usual Fantasy offering, and the thrilling adventure of hunting a sea dragon that may or may not exist, absolutely ramped up the suspense and kept me turning pages just so that I could get to the next chapter and the next and the next...

I feel like I should also quickly mention the characters and the world building which were certainly significant strengths that helped catapult THE BONE SHIPS to another level altogether. Meas is an incredibly strong female main character and an unwavering sea captain who shows throughout the book that contrary to what her nickname implies, you ultimately make your own luck. Joron is the antithesis of Meas and often struggles with his command of the deck crew. However we see his character grow immensely from the first chapter to the end of the book and that is also part of the endearing qualities of this book.

Lastly, the world building is second to none. R.J. has definitely outdone himself with this wonderfully complex world. All the more impressive because it is such a different setting from his previous Wounded Kingdom series. I can't say enough about how tremendous of a read this book is and I highly recommend it to lovers of all types of genres, not just Fantasy. This is a story that will appeal to anyone who loves wonderful stories filled with deep characters, gripping adventure, and multi-layered world building.

Comparisons to the books of Patrick O'Brian, Herman Melville, and Jules Verne are natural and somewhat appropriate. But make no mistake, this is a totally unique and original tale that proudly stands very tall on its own. I simply loved it from beginning to end. The good news is that this is just the beginning of the Tide Child series with book 2 coming out in 2020. Until then, definitely pick up a copy of THE BONE SHIPS by R.J. Barker. It will be one of the more rewarding reading experiences that you will have and an incredibly fun one as well.

[Em Lost In Books · Rating 1 out of 5]

Giving up on this for now, I am unable to give it the attention that a high fantasy book requires or it just utterly failed to captivate me..

[Fabiano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conoscete tutti quella splendida sensazione che si prova quando una storia tiene incollati alle pagine, vero? Un pensiero fisso, un’attrazione quasi erotica, il seducente canto di una sirena. Esattamente ciò che è successo a me leggendo la trilogia "The Tide Child" scritta da R.J. Barker.

La narrazione si svolge nell’immenso Arcipelago Sparso dove gli uomini solcano i mari con navi fatte d’ossa di draghi marini. Il worldbuilding creato dall’autore è florido, ricco di spunti originali e definito nei minimi dettagli. Flora e fauna sono variegate, descritte in modo talmente meticoloso da prendere vita agli occhi del lettore. I popoli che abitano l’arcipelago vengono minuziosamente tratteggiati nei loro usi e costumi. La società è divisa in caste, matriarcale nella sua struttura governativa e mitologico-religiosa, logorata da una guerra secolare senza fine. Da qui vi ritroverete a leggere l'epopea di una ciurma dannata e reietta, pronta a salvare un mondo ormai corrotto e decadente, intriso di violenza. Il sangue inonderà di rosso i ponti delle navi.

I due protagonisti, Joron e Meas, hanno una personalità solida, credibile e sfaccettata; Barker ha impresso su carta una caratterizzazione sopraffina. Mi è piaciuto molto Joron che, da ragazzo arrendevole, insicuro, tormentato dal passato, diventa un ottimo vice. La maturazione cui va incontro lo vede assumersi il peso delle scelte, il peso della responsabilità e del comando. Meas è una figura leggendaria, una capitana audace e implacabile. Come una madre adottiva rigida e distaccata, guida Joron nel suo percorso di crescita. Ma vogliamo parlare della schiera di personaggi secondari? Eccezionali, ve ne innamorerete.

Lo stile di Barker è raffinato e scorrevole, i dialoghi sono avvincenti e il ritmo serrato. Strepitoso come l’autore abbia inventato un gergo nautico apposito per le navi d’ossa, a partire dalla loro struttura fisica fino ad arrivare alla gerarchia dell’equipaggio. Peculiare, inoltre, come la prosa di Barker sia stracolma di riferimenti all’acqua e al mare; le descrizioni sono caratterizzate da metafore evocative e poetiche.

Levate le ancore e abbordate senza indugi questa trilogia, è una cannonata!

[TS Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still as great on a reread, and it's making me even more excited to know what's next now that the last book of the trilogy, The Bone Ship's Wake, has just been released.
----------------------------------
ARC provided by the publisher, Orbit, in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars.

Bold and inventive, R.J. Barker sailed through new, uncharted waters with The Bone Ships and emerged with a brilliant tale of seafaring adventure and deeds of derring-do.

With The Bone Ships, Barker's sophomore series is quite a departure from the tone and style in his debut The Wounded Kingdom, which I loved, but the most important that remained is his engaging voice. Let me first state this pertinent fact - I am not typically a fan of seafaring stories - be it in the medium of books or movies. To set some context before I proceed, I have not read The Liveship Traders by Robin Hobbs and not seen the movie, Master and Commander. Why? Because ships. Throughout my many years of reading, whether it's fantasy or otherwise, I usually dreaded the part of the story where the main characters had to undertake a sea voyage, always hoping that it'll be as short as possible. There had been exceptions where I've found it to be more than just agreeable, but these were rare and usually did not make up the bulk of the narrative.

As such, I was actually pretty anxious going into this book. I would say that over 90% of The Bone Ships took place on a ship and in the sea. And, I loved reading every minute of it. Honestly, I was quite blown away by how much I enjoyed this book. Not only was the narrative predominantly seafaring - the very culture, religion and economy of this world are centred around it. To top it all off, Barker even created a whole slew of new sailing jargons. However, due to his deft skills in contextualising these terms in the narrative, I found myself struggling less than I usually do with our real-world sailing jargon. Barker's lyrical prose pulled me into the story effortlessly notwithstanding how foreign this world of the Scattered Archipelago was.

On that note, I just want to take a moment here to praise the incredible worldbuilding. Even accounting for the fact that I've not read much seafaring narratives, the worldbuilding in The Tide Child feels unique stacked against other fantasy settings. The building blocks of this world - religion, culture, economy, mythology, even the flora and fauna - are rooted in the seagoing life of its people and shaped by the never-ending war between the two major nations in the Scattered Archipelago. All these are so well-crafted that even such foreign environment came alive in my mind. I don't have the right words to describe how everything seemed to just fit and work well, from ships made from the bones of sea dragons to an avian God, and the worship of feminine deities.

The world is decidedly matriarchal. For example, ships are referred to as "he" as opposed to the typical use of the feminine pronoun and the captains are called shipwife. The social structure is built upon a blatant and absolutely awful discrimination between those who are born normal and those with deformities, however slight. To be part of the fleet is an honour granted to the privileged and strength is perceived from lack of deformity. This is just one of the many harsh realities in The Hundred Isles - life there is hard and brutal. One element of Barker's writing which stayed true to The Wounded Kingdom is the significance of animals or creatures in the narrative. As an animal lover, I love having them strongly represented in stories, and one of my favourite characters in The Bone Ships is an avian creature.

Now on to the most crucial part of any storytelling, and it is the characters. The Bone Ships differ from Age of Assassins most of all in the way it deals with characterisation. In Barker's debut, the narrative was so highly character-driven that the plot and worldbuilding seemed secondary to the character arc of Girton Club-Foot. In The Bone Ship though, the balance between characterisation and worldbuilding has shifted with the latter taking more precedence given how unique the setting is.  I thought that it was managed remarkably well through the perspective of Joron Twiner, our main protagonist, who was brought up with ingrained prejudices and preconceived notions, pretty much like most of the people in The Hundred Isles.

The story started with Joron being usurped from his position as shipwife (i.e. captain) of the Tide Child, a black bone ship whose crew is made up of the condemned, and hence known as a ship of the dead. Through Joron, I was able to understand the way of life in The Hundred Isles in all its brutal glory and be part of a compelling journey in his character development. Lucky Meas, a renowned former shipwife of a famous white bone ship, became the shipwife of Tide Child after defeating him easily in a duel. With her competent leadership, we get to witness Joron's growth, both in his strength of character as well as in his awareness of how wrong some of his earlier prejudices are.

"It diminishes no commander to learn from those which know more. Weak commanders dare not ask. Strong commanders know no fear of learning. And, just so you know, Joron, if I am in a competition I like to win, and as you are my second in command I expect you to win for me. So do not expect me to be soft on you."

Lucky Meas is a fantastic character. A formidable ship captain who demonstrated solid leadership, competence and well-placed empathy. While we don't get much of her backstory, enough was revealed to know that her luck could either be from providence or self-made. I would like to believe it's both. There are some strong leadership lessons in this story that's for sure, and it was especially captivating because the characters we follow are stuck in a dark place.

I've always been enamoured by stories about people rising above what life has thrown at them. Those condemned to the ship of the dead are not necessarily all criminals, but they are essentially deemed as dead the moment they take on the black armband of the crew. Nonetheless, under the right leadership, to be given the trust and the chance to prove oneself, and to then take pride of job done well, even the dregs can rise from the bottom. I found myself caring for the survival of some of these supposed rogues or curs, and feeling equally moved by the stirring speeches delivered by Lucky Meas and the courage of the Tide Child crew as they prepare to face the battles in an almost-suicidal mission.

"To be fleet is not do what is possible, it is to do what you must."

The sea battles in The Bone Ships are magnificent. Never have I been able to imagine battles between ships so vividly. Never have I been so engrossed in the ship manoeuvres and fully appreciate the power of wind in seafaring. Even in handling the aspect of wind, the wild and wonderful imagination of Barker shines through. There is magic involved here, and that's all you'll ever get out of me for now. If you like seafaring adventures, do yourself a favour and pick up this book, for even one who's not normally a fan like me enjoyed it immensely. Before I end this review, I also have to make special mention of the stunning map (which I've referred to numerous times during my read) and evocative interior art created by the ultra-talented Tom Parker.

An enthralling story in a fascinating yet brutal world and its harsh seas, The Bone Ships is another winner from R.J. Barker.

You can pre-order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Book Depository (Free shipping)

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

You can find this and my other reviews at Novel Notions.

[William Gwynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I now have a YouTube channel that I run with my brother, called 'The Brothers Gwynne'. Check it out - The Brothers Gwynne

A very unique introduction to a largely nautical fantasy series, with a fresh world met by an original plot line, with a great mix of characters thrust into the mix. A really enjoyable read, which was performed brilliantly by the narrator on Audible.

One of the strongpoints of The Bone Ships is the culture and world that has been crafted. It is different to our own and that stark contrast full of brutality made this an immersive and also original reading experience.

On top of this unique fantastical culture, The Bone Ships is, as I said before, a largely nautical tale. I have not read anything of this nature before, but it was an interesting and enjoyable read. Whilst many people veer away from this types of stories, fearing the tale will drag and tend to be repetitive, R, J. Barker does a great job of allowing different plot points to evolve whilst out at sea, as well as building up the mysteries and lore of the world and also building on our characters. He strikes a great balance.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Bone Ships. Whilst I would not say I was as attached to the characters as much as I wanted to, there is a lot of potential for the rest of the series.

4/5 STARS

[Eon Windrunner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audacious storytelling, with an original, captivating world.

RJ Barker wrote one of my favourite fantasy series of all time, The Wounded Kingdom trilogy. So, when I heard that he was writing a brand-new series called The Tide Child trilogy, I was excited. And by excited, I mean I might have shouted about it to one or two, or seventy random people. I am a huge fan. That said, on my first read I struggled with the start of this book and that influenced my initial rating quite a bit. I still thought this was a very good book in the end, but felt it took slightly long to get there. On rereading this though, I was pleasantly surprised by having an absolute blast of a time and I am happy to say that I misjudged this book a bit.


Bone Ships illustration by Tom Parker

The story of the Bone Ships sets sail in a world where two seafaring nations are engaged in a never ending fight in what has almost become a war of attrition. The ships they sail the dangerous oceans upon are made from the ancient bones of sea dragons, but the last sea dragon was killed centuries ago, and their bones have become a very limited, priceless resource. When a whisper of a rumour is heard that a sea dragon has been sighted, the race to secure the future is on. In the war’s greatest battle, whoever kills the dragon, will have the prize of it’s bones and the mantle of victor. The two main characters of The Bone Ships, Lucky Meas Gilbryn and Joron Twiner, both recently condemned to a ship of the dead, or Black Ship, have been given the deadly task of capturing the sea dragon or arakeesian as they are commonly known. As truths became forgotten and legends turned to myth, much of what was known about sea dragons, including the methods of their capture has been lost to time though and they have to use every resource available to them in order to have even a minuscule chance at succeeding.

“We are a ship of the dead. Sentence has been given: we only wait for it to be carried out.”

As I mentioned, on my first read I felt that the start was very slow and even at times confusing, which was wholly unexpected, but feels much more intentional now. RJ Barker has proven before that he can grip you right from the first sentence with an engrossing story and compelling characters. It is something he demonstrated again and again with every entry in the Wounded Kingdom trilogy, and he won many fans for it. With my original read of the Bone Ships, I found myself continuously picking this up, only to put it down again a few pages later. The characters did not pique my interest and the plot meandered. I felt lost in this slow read, but I did not give up, because RJ Barker. Lo and behold, the tides of change did arrive at around the halfway mark and brought with it everything I initially expected, delivering a book-saving second half and enticing me back for more.

But that was then, and this is now. So, I set out on this reread, honestly expecting that it might once more be a slog to get through the start, but I cannot recall at this moment a book which felt so different to me at second glance. I was unequivocally invested in the story and the characters right from the very first page. Imagine my surprise when the issues I had before faded away like mist in the sun, and what was once jarring to me became captivating and immersive writing that merely reinforced the strangeness of this fascinating new world..

UNFURL THE MAINWINGS!

Oh how the tides turn! Where before I had to put this one down continuously, I was reading multiple books this time but kept on catching myself putting those stories down to instead pick this one up again. Did I say the story meandered before? EXCUSE ME, it’s RIVETING and I was dragged along in the book’s relentless current. And that was all before I reached the second half of the book that was in fact the highlight of my first read. That great hunt I mentioned earlier? It rears its head here at this midway point, and becomes the catalyst that takes the story of The Bone Ships to the next level and made me keep on reading just one more page. And just one more. And just one more.





Beautiful chapter icon illustrations by Tom Parker

Previously I thought the significant amount of early worldbuilding hindered the ebb and flow of the tale, even though it became a boon in the latter part, having already laid a solid foundation for everything else to expand upon. This time around it was an absolute marvel. Barker’s creation of this world and it’s landscape, the gender roles, customs, traditions, inhabitants and creatures, fauna and flora and much much more is a breath of fresh air. I can’t wait to read more! And while most of the story’s time was spent voyaging on the sea in pursuit of the Arakeesian, (traveling can be oh so dangerous in a fantasy story) the chase was not without adventure, gripping character clashes, skirmishes, very intense ship battles and fascinating naval tactics. I was at times reminded of scenes I had seen in the movie, Master and Commander, and I was not surprised to learn later on that the story is also kind of a love letter to authors like Patrick O’ Brian, creator of the book that that movie was based upon.

As the pace sped up in tune with the pursuit, the characterization refused to take a backseat to the action. Joron, Meas, the Gullaime and the rest of the crew - I absolutely loved reading about them all and immensely enjoyed the growth exhibited by so many of them, but especially Joron. Joron starts off as a nothing, a nobody, broken, lost and hopeless. But that is the beauty of it. We get to follow him on this journey as he becomes more, a journey fraught with pitfalls and tests, but one in which he never gives up, facing lots of grief and his own mortality while still learning so much along the way, in particular about himself. For me one of the biggest themes in the story is also one that I am a huge fan of, redemption, and no-one currently embodies it more than Joron, although it is a journey shared by all of the crew. Most of them are broken in one way or another, just trying to find their way whilst surviving in this harsh world, and we get to go along for the fascinating ride.


Gullaime illustration by Tom Parker


The Bone Ships is both a wonderful and promising start to this excitingly original series that RJ Barker has imagined. If, like me, you find yourself struggling upon reading this the first time, I would advise you to hang in there. The story does take it’s time in establishing the world and the characters, but it’s very deliberate on the author’s part and the payoff is clear once you have finished the book. Even more so on a reread. Be patient in getting to know the characters in this story; the broken people, the lost people, the people in need of redemption. They are very much still in the process of discovering who their family is and who they themselves are. And they are all very much on the adventure of a lifetime, sailing into history as they chase the last sea-dragon across vast and merciless seas, against impossible odds and implacable enemies.

So remember this, if you hear tales of bravery and greatness, they are nearly always told by people who have only watched battle from afar. Those of us who have suffered through it know such stories as a skin over the horror of what is true.

You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bone Ships is book one of a new fantasy series. Don’t be thrown about by the concept of a handful of warriors chasing after the world’s last sea dragon. This is not a children’s book. It is a bold, exciting, adventure that is dark, gritty, and ruthless. At first, it may be difficult to enter this world because the prose - the incredible prose - is filled to the brim with terminology that is unfamiliar and customs and history that are often only hinted at. Nevertheless, this is a book with a great payoff. It is well worth the time to dig into this.

It is a fantasy world where almost all the action is naval in character. Two great warring island nations do battle on glorious ships made of dragon bone. And, the dragons 🐉 are gone for three generations now so any hint of dragon bone is more valuable than gold. Nothing else that ships can be built with floats like this bone. And, there are all kinds of bows, crossbows, and siege engines mounted on these boneships.

To be a part of the dragon bone fleet is to have the values of duty, loyalty, honor, and bravery. But, alas, our hero, Joron Twiner, rides not on a magnificent fleet ship, but on a black ship of death manned only by condemned prisoners, the Tide Child. He is in command- sort of - on a drunk more like it while his sailors let the ship rot in a forgotten bay.

Those looking for a strong female lead will look no further than Lucky Meas, the toughest, most ornery, sea captain to ever sail the however many seas they have there. Meas takes Joron and his motley crew and turns them into the most tenacious crew to ever sail.

This is a book chock full of action and all kinds of fascinating creatures, particularly the Gulliame (or windtalker) who can fill the ship’s sails with wind. And, the giant sea serpents and of course, the sea dragons, mightiest of all, who are referred to as Keyshan or Wakewyrm.

The biggest problem is that the sequel is not due out till Fall 2020. It’s going to be a long wait.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.

[Krell75 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un equipaggio di reietti e una nave fatta di ossa.
Una donna capitano dal passato oscuro e un primo ufficiale alla ricerca di se stesso.
Una missione segreta tra bugie e battaglie navali attraverso l'arcipelago delle Cento Isole.
Il ritorno dei draghi leggendari e la speranza per un futuro di pace...ma a quale costo?

Un romanzo promettente che intrattiene ma non riesce a convincermi del tutto lasciando al termine un senso di carenza su alcuni elementi narrativi.

La religione delle Isole è perfettamente in linea con la società e rispecchia il forte rapporto con il mare.
L'aspetto politico è poco sviluppato specie se abbiamo un’ambientazione in cui si è perennemente in guerra.
La vita sociale con le sue inclinazioni razziste avrebbe giovato di una profondità più marcata nella narrazione dando risalto al tema che invece si perde in sottofondo.
I personaggi secondari rimangono nomi senza profondità, dimenticabili.

Ho notato una continua ripetizione di termini coniati ex novo dall’autore con lo scopo di arricchire il suo mondo, ci riesce in parte perché si dimentica di descriverli rimanendo semplici termini sulla carta. Non basta infatti dare nomi diversi alle cose per creare un’ambientazione originale. Anche il traduttore ha contribuito negativamente continuando a chiamare "corde" quelle che in terminologia corretta sono "cime".

Se siete in cerca di una storia con navi, pirati e draghi, Personaggi con la P maiuscola ed emozioni vere e coinvolgenti allora provate a leggere la trilogia di "Borgomago" della Hobb, lì siamo nettamente su un altro livello. Poi fatemi sapere.

----------------------------------
A crew of outcasts and a ship made of bones.
A female captain with a dark past and a first officer searching for himself.
A secret mission between lies and naval battles across the Hundred Islands archipelago.
The return of the legendary dragons and the hope for a peaceful future... but at what cost?

A promising novel that entertains but fails to completely convince me, leaving a sense of deficiency in some narrative elements at the end.

The religion of the Islands is perfectly in line with society and reflects the strong relationship with the sea.
The political aspect is underdeveloped especially if we have a setting in which we are perpetually at war.
Social life with its racist inclinations would have benefited from a more marked depth in the narrative, giving prominence to the theme which instead gets lost in the background.
The secondary characters remain names without depth, forgettable.

I noticed a continuous repetition of terms coined from scratch by the author with the aim of enriching his world, he succeeds in part because he forgets to describe them, remaining simple terms on paper. In fact, it is not enough to give different names to things to create an original setting.

If you are looking for a story with ships, pirates and dragons, Characters with a capital C and real and engaging emotions then try reading Hobb's "The Liveship Traders" trilogy, we are clearly on another level there. Then let me know.

[K.J. Charles]

Tremendous. Sort of Dark Patrick O'Brien with sea monsters. I was a bit alarmed at first it would be too dark, not being a grimdark reader, but there's enough hope and growing sense of purpose to keep it working, and the story just flies by. A thoroughly well written, absorbing read.

[Library of a Viking · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most unique fantasy worlds I've ever encountered!

I really enjoyed this book but it is definitely not for everyone. Full review is on my channel!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzJDs...

[Kitty G Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately I didn't love this one like I thought I would. I really enjoyed the last series by RJ, and I think the difference between the two is that that series is so full of vibrant characters who you can connect with and who feel really alive. This series, at least for me, focused a lot more on the world-building, and I think it was at the detriment of the characters. I found it very hard to really connect with any of the characters and the plot just didn't have enough to keep me excited.

This is a pirate-y story, and normally I enjoy books aboard ship. However, in this one, although I do think RJ does a super job with the bone ships and the ways of sailors on a ship, I just didn't feel gripped or compelled by this. I also think it's a super slow start with none of the 'real' plot happening until around halfway and the second half, although better, still didn't grip me as I wanted it to.

We follow two a characters called Joron Twiner and Lucky Meas. Joron is the deck-keeper (first-mate) and Meas is the Shipwife (captain) and together they are on an adventure. The story is a very slow start and took a while to really get going, despite the battle which starts the story. I think these two characters felt fairly bland to me for a lot of the book and I never truly got to know either of them, although Meas is more aloof to be sure.

We also have some magical creatures such as a giant sea dragon and a mysterious bird like being who play a big part in the story. Personally I think the animals/creatures may have been more interesting than the actual characters which is a bit of a shame really as there was good scope to develop both.

In the end, I read it for book club, but I didn't find it a perfect fit for me. It's not bad writing, it just focuses on things which don't really appeal to me. I would rather have a character-driven story and I am not sure this one is aiming for that so I doubt I will continue with the books. 2*s overall.

[Choko · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 3.85 ***

Dark, moody, reads like a marine legend of old. Hypnotic at times, at times the story takes itself a bit too serious... Maybe a bit of humor, even dark and hopeless, would have helped the story's flow. However, it is still imaginative and unique, despite the main theme to remind me a ton of Robbin Hobb's tales and to have the tried and true feel of the ocean battles of adventure authors of times past. I don't mind that, but I feel the whole book could have benefited of some lighter moods at times... I loved the main characters though, especially Lucky Meas and the wind-talker, Gullaime! Strong, well established and made me care for them. The world itself is dark and cruel, but presents itself in all of its infamous glory... A good read for those who like their adventures dark and moody...

[Nicholas Eames · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really incredible book. I absolutely loved it. So inventive, and such intriguing characters. I hear the second is even better, so I'm looking forward to reading it down the road!

[Peter McLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive a pre-ARC proof of THE BONE SHIPS by RJ Barker from Orbit books, and it was glorious!

Imagine the naval sagas of Patrick O'Brian (the Aubrey–Maturin series, Master and Commander) in a fantasy world with a triumvirate of goddesses, avian wind-mages, and a fully matriarchal society. Imagine it told in the language of the sea, in rolling, rhythmic prose that crashes over you like breakers.

Imagine the mythic grandeur of the last sea dragon, and the dragonbone ships that set out to hunt it - or to save it.

Barker has created a living, breathing society here, with every turn of phrase and nuance of expression hand-crafted to draw you on and on into this world of women and men on the high seas; into an epic tale of duty and obligation and honour, and what bravery really means.

It is truly magnificent, and I can't recommend it enough.

[Edward Gwynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable pirate-esque fantasy that gave me serious Divinity 2 vibes (the ship stuff, great fantasy world building, fantastic characters.) I love this premise and although I am definitely not a massive fan of ship-based journeys in fantasy books, this was written so well and was very engaging.

R.J.'s prose is lyrical, his combat is magical, his world building is phenomenal. The plot took a while to kick off but when it did, boy was did it take me on a whirlwind of a journey. Can't wait to dive into book 2.

[Derpa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry, but this book is not it. I was so excited about finally reading it, but it just doesn't work. 15% in and I'm both bored and annoyed.

Look. Nowadays every fantasy writer and reader seems to be obsessed with worldbuilding and making it as over the top as possible. Of course some worldbuilding is necessary. But adding ridiculous words every two sentences is not good worldbuilding. It is especially useless and stupid if you are inventing new words to name something normal just to fake that your world is so rich.
Example. In this thing every single fucking position people can have on a ship is given a new stupid name. A damn doctor is called a hangshand! WHY? What does it add? Nothing. A hat is called a hat, but a doctor needs some uwu fancy new name for no reason. We are less than a hundred pages in, we don't know much about the characters or what's going on or why. But we get told the fancy fantasy names of the days of the week, which again, adds nothing.
Coming up with a new name for a palm tree is not good fantasy writing. Work on the things that are necessary for the story to glide, to capture people, instead of reinventing the wheel to seem deep.

Everyone loves this, so my rant is nothing, but hey. Another thing.
Why is everyone going along with this shit? There is a ship, full of criminals who got condemned to serving here. The protagonist is the captain (called some other ridiculous bullshit, not captain, we are DEEP FANTASY NOW). Everyone hates him and they have exactly zero respect for him. But they just go with it because? Then some woman shows up and is like "YARR, I am the new captain here". Why don't they fucking beat the shit out of her and leave it at that? Everyone is like super dangerous badass evil, but some chick can order them around because she... is confident?
Let me see ya try that with your local biker gang. See how it goes.

Another thing that is ridiculous that one more book tries to make us believe that it's totes mcgoats natural and indeed logical to pretend that women can be like 50% of some fighting force and biological and physical gender differences ain't shit.
Yes, some women can keep up with men. Very few. They are the exception. 99% of us can't. There is no shame in it and it's not helping anyone to pretend that I could ABSOLUTELY outlift and outfight and out... physical-labour men.

Something about the prose is also really odd. Often times the sentences are just written in this odd style where I don't even understand what they are trying to get to. Combined with the needless mumbo-jumbo lingo and me rolling my eyes at the 'roided up Wonderwomen, I just felt like I was probably having a stroke.

All in all, this did not work. Most of you will probably love it. That's nice. I refuse to waste my life on it.

[Andrews WizardlyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is worth the journey. The beginning is rough but I feel that’s by design. I’m just shocked with how much I enjoyed this.

[The Tattooed Book Geek (Drew). · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...

Joron Twiner, once a fisherman is condemned to crew Tide Child, a black ship, a ship of the dead on which he is made shipwife (captain). He is uncaring, disconsolate, consumed by melancholy, insecure, wretched and drowning in the bottle. He is a useless and unworthy captain for a useless and unworthy crew. A crew of rough convicts and the deck of Tide Child is a place rife with disrespect and filled with anger, disgrace, shame, simmering resentment and threats of violence.

Lucky Meas Gilbryn is famous, revered and some would say the greatest shipwife in the history of the Hundred Isles Bone Ship fleet. But, she has recently fallen from grace and found herself condemned to serve on the black ships where she challenges Joron for the rank of shipwife on Tide Child. Lucky Meas easily wins the duel, Joron’s skill with a sword being almost as slovenly as his captaincy. Instead of killing him Lucky Meas spares his life and makes him her deckkeeper (second-in-command).

There is a rumour that the first arakeesian/keyshan/sea-dragon to be seen in generations has been spotted in the oceans of the Scattered Archipelago. The bones of the arakeesian are used to make the Bone Ships and they were thought hunted to extinction, long gone, faded from the world to fable, to myth and to legend.

Lucky Meas and Tide Child are given an impossible mission, hunt the arakeesian. But, there are others who covet and who hunt the arakeesian too. Those who prize the glory, the power and the wealth that killing the arakeesian will bring them and those who wish to fan the flames of war with the new Bones Ships that would be made from the bones of the beast.

Tide Child is a black ship, a ship of the dead, the sentence for each crew member has already been passed and they are sailing the sea in the knowledge that one day, that sentence will be fulfilled, that they will die and that the sea will claim their body. There is a very slight chance of redemption for the crew of Tide Child. If they perform a heroic act, an act of bravery and valour, or, a renowned deed that will carve their names in the history of Hundred Isles (like single-handedly killing the arakeesian). Then, the crimes of the crew would be erased, wiped out and from death, they will be given a return to life. Though, it has been lifetimes since anyone managed to reclaim their life and leave behind the black ships.

With that knowledge and rumoured return of the legendary arakeesian the race is on to hunt the sea-dragon, to become part of the Hundred Isles history and to win glory and renown.

The Scattered Archipelago was created by Skearith the Stormbird as a place to lay her eggs. The inhabitants worship the Stormbird but, many also worship the three goddesses, the Sea Hag, the Maiden and the Mother. It is a world rife with superstitions. For the crew of a Bone Ship, they constantly throw paint on the deck, the gallowbows, the ship for luck and offer prayers to the Sea Hag to keep them safe, to protect them and to ward off ill omens. The Scattered Archipelago is a world of two warring nations, the Hundred Isles and the Gaunt Islands. The two are stuck in an endless cycle of repeated attacks, of repeated raids on the other with the original reasons for the war having been lost in time but the conflict, the hatred still abides. The two nations are separated by Skearith’s Spine, a vast mountain range that runs through the middle of the Shattered Archipelago. And, it is a world where water holds sway, where the sea, where the ocean dominants and what land there is to be found is made up of islands.

The Hundred Isles are made up of two classes. The Bern, the ruling class who are the women that survive childbirth and who birth healthy, strong and whole babies. They have men who are the ‘kept’ of the Bern, the chosen to serve them. Then, there are the Berncast, the lower class, the second class citizen. The Berncast form the majority of those born in the Hundred Isles, either those with no physical defect but of ‘weak’ blood whose mother died during childbirth and then, those with deformities, missing limbs, etc. The first-born child, if born healthy, strong and whole allows the women to become ‘Bern’. But, the first-born is also cursed born and every first-born child is sacrificed to the Bone Ships. The child dies but their soul lives on as a corpse light above a Bone Ship, giving life to the ship. It is a society where the more healthy children you birth, the more power you hold.

The Bone Ships are highly valuable, highly sort after and with a dwindling stock of arakeesian bone are extremely rare. The Bone Ships of the fleet are blinding, bright and brilliant polished white bone with lights adorning them showing that the ship lives. While, the Bone Ships that are the black ships, the ships of the dead are painted the colour of death, pitiless black and have no lights as they have no life.

The Bone Ships are referred to as ‘he’ and their captain, whether male or female is the shipwife a ‘she’. Apart from the officers, most of the crew are referred to as either ‘deckchild’ or ‘deckchilder’ and they are the children of the ship and the shipwife, like a marriage between the two and both, are to be respected by the crew.

Lucky Meas is a strong-willed character, confident in her ability as shipwife and determined. She is a force to be reckoned with and Joron is her opposite. Where Lucky Meas is strong Joron is haunted, resentful, weak and lacks confidence in himself. There is a contrast between them and throughout The Bone Ships, you see him flourish, grow and bloom under her captaincy. He finds a sense of pride, of self-respect and of worth that he had previously been missing. becoming someone better, someone so much more than he was at the beginning of the book.

As shipwife, Lucky Meas moulds the crew, shapes them, restoring discipline and a sense of order to the deck of Tide Child. You see the crew change, transform and become familiar with the ways of the ship. The crew were lost and under Lucky Meas, they find a purpose, redemption and they unite. Learning duty, honour and loyalty to each other, to Lucky Meas and taking pride in Tide Child they ultimately become worthy of the name ‘crew’.

The characterisation on display by Barker is terrific. Not just for the main characters of Joron and Lucky Meas either but for the whole of the crew of Tide Child. I really liked Black Orris, only a small role but when he appeared he never failed to make me smile. Also, the fascinating bird-like Gullaime, a windtalker who controls the wind aboard Tide Child and the unlikely friendship that developed between Joron and the mysterious Gullaime.

The harsh world created by Barker is richly detailed and vivid. The bright and lush flora of the islands and the dangerous creatures, only glimpsed that inhabit them. There’s a brutal hypnotic beauty to the sea, the treacherous waters that are rife with myriad monsters that dwell, that lurk in the depths. Each ship, even the mighty Bone Ships are only a single drop in the ocean, each crew member even less, a mote of dust, they don’t own the ocean, the ocean tolerates the ships.

The action in The Bone Ships is stellar. There is some fighting on land but the majority of the action takes place on the high seas and is ferocious ship-to-ship combat. The conflict is exhilarating to read and gets the heart-pounding. The concussive collisions between ships and the massive gallowbows on the decks that thrum to life and of the death, destruction and devastation that they rain down with there deadly bolts all has a heft to it and you feel the impact of the violence.

There are a lot of terms (there’s a helpful appendix located at the back) and information is thrown at you at the start of The Bone Ships. In the beginning, it can feel like you are adrift and cast on stranger tides. Like you are caught in the undertow as you navigate through and become accustomed to the various terms on display, become acquainted with the characters, the wealth of information and the world that Barker has created.

After about the first quarter everything comes together. Barker is a magnificent storyteller and one that can keep your attention. From the first page through to the last his ability to craft a spectacular story that you can lose yourself in really shines through in The Bone Ships. Your perseverance pays off rewarding you with a rich reading experience. You see that by crafting a story that is dense and information-heavy in the beginning he was laying the foundations for what is to come. From that point on the sails unfurl and the narrative moves at a far faster pace with Barker taking you on a dangerous and exciting nautical adventure that is filled with thrilling seafaring action. A stirring finale completely satisfies whilst leaving you eager for the next book in the trilogy and the further adventures of Tide Child and his crew.

When reading fantasy it takes you to another world and that’s what Barker does with The Bone Ships. He transports you into a fully-formed, alive and immersive world that is populated by characters that feel real and allows you to get lost in the story that he is telling. The bite of the blades, the thrum of the gallowbow strings, the briny air, the salt spray, the crash of the waves, the creaks, the groans, the hustle and bustle of ship life aboard Tide Child all come to life on the pages and I didn’t want it to end.

The Bone Ships is a sublimely crafted epic voyage and everything that I want in a fantasy book.

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/09/23/...

With the completion of his Wounded Kingdom trilogy, RJ Barker has shot up to the top of my must-reads authors list and I was so excited when I found out that his next fantasy series will be a maritime adventure set on the high seas featuring bone ships and a dragon hunt!

This first novel of the Tide Child trilogy aptly titled The Bone Ship takes us to the Hundred Isles where two rival nations have been warring since time immemorial. None can even tell you how or why the enmity started between them, but all they know is that in this archipelago system, the side with the best ships win. Thus for generations, the islanders have endeavored to build the most powerful fleets out of the sturdy bones of great sea dragons, but after centuries of this practice, inevitably these magnificent beasts have been hunted to extinction. Dragon sightings have become virtually non-existent, sparking yet another fierce competition for the few bones that remain.

Unfortunately, this culture of constant war has also affected the ways people lived. Society favored the strong, and it was decreed that anyone with a physical defect or disability—and even those who were born from a mother who died in childbirth—is automatically relegated to the lower classes, denied a chance to ever amount to anything. That said, it wasn’t all peachy for the healthy and able either. Many are sacrificed to the dangers of the sea, sent to win glory and treasures or die in brutal conflict. In this society where birthrate is low and whose survival depends on raising the next generation, women who have proven their ability to bear and deliver many children are also in places of authority, but as a result, everything else about what makes her a person is diminished. It didn’t matter who you were, it seemed life on the Hundred Isles had relatively little meaning beyond your ability to breed or to fight.

Which brings us to the main characters of this particular tale, Joron Twiner and Lucky Meas Gilbryn. Both of them are condemned to the crew of the Tide Child, a ship of the dead, so called because those aboard are prisoners and outcasts who will toil the rest of their lives on the ship in service to their nation, and it is only a matter of time before the sea claims them—no riches or glory for them, ever. The book first begins with Joron as the shipwife, or captain, of the Tide Child, but he is soon swiftly dethroned by the fierce and plain-spoken Lucky Meas, who vows to whip her new crew into shape. She has been given a mission, and in order to have any chance of success, she’ll need all of them at their best. News of a dragon sighting has been spreading across the Isles, sending everyone into a furor to hunt the creature, which might be the last of its kind in the world. But the Tide Child has been given different orders. Instead of killing the dragon, they have been sent to protect it.

So, one thing I’ve learned from reading Barker’s books is that he is extremely on-point when it comes to writing mentor-apprentice relationships. Granted, Meas and Joron are nothing like Merela and Girton from The Wounded Kingdom, but the author has made their dynamic no less interesting and filled with nuance. This time, the story is told from the third person, mostly through Joron’s eyes. This essentially places him in the role as chronicler of Lucky Meas’ achievements, as it soon becomes clear she is the series’ lynchpin. But one downside of this mode of narration is that it ends to put a distance between the reader and the characters, and I confess missed the more intimate perspective of Barker’s first-person writing. Still, as Meas second-in-command, Joron is also like her pupil of sorts. Their constant interaction and close proximity makes him a good authority on her character, and as a result, much of what we find out about the shipwife is gleaned from his observations of her and their conversations.

I also loved the incredible world-building behind The Bone Ships. Life in the Hundred Isles is harsh, cruel and unpleasant, but I give me a good maritime fantasy and you’ll find that I can put up with a lot of bleakness. After all, I can never resist a sea-faring adventure, and the promise of pirates and dragons simply sealed the deal. Also, the more I learned about the world, the easier I found to appreciate it, even some of its nastier and more brutal elements. Barker clearly spent a lot of time crafting the world, the people and their culture and their traditions, and I’m happy to say all that hard work paid off in the sheer immersion of the experience. History and mythology intertwine to create a full picture of the setting and to explain how life on the Hundred Isles has developed to become so dark and rife with chaos.

With that said, it’s time to move on to the criticisms, though to be fair, they are few. Mainly, The Bone Ships has a mild case of what I call the first-in-a-series doldrums, suffering from sections marked by sluggish pacing which took the wind right out of the story’s sails. What’s more frustrating is that more often than not, these periods would follow immediately after a flurry of action. One moment, I would be all pumped up, only to run smack into a brick wall a few pages later. I understand that in a series starter there’s a lot of setup to be done, but that requires a careful balancing act, which I wish had been handled better here. Fortunately, the second half had fewer of these pacing issues, and the story picked up immensely thanks to many the many exciting scenes of pitched battle at sea.

I won’t deny it, I’m hooked. Despite its hitches, I think The Bone Ships is a promising start to what is on track to be an extraordinary new fantasy series, and strengths like the superb world-building and characters have no problem shining through. Better yet, now that the groundwork has been established, the sequel will likely run more smoothly considering we’ll be able to jump straight into the action. Needless to say, I can’t wait.

[Hamad · Rating 3 out of 5]

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I have had mixed feelings about this series ever since its release and me finishing Barker's first trilogy which I enjoyed a lot. Usually, I stay away from nautical stories because they rarely capture my attention. That's the part that kept me from starting the series. However, I enjoyed stories like The Blacktongue Thief and Red Seas Under Red Skies which partially take place at the sea. So, my decision was to wait till the series ends and see what kind of reviews it gets, and it ended up getting a lot of love which finally pushed me to start this journey.

The story focuses mostly on the world-building, and it was really well done. Again, my personal tastes did not make me enjoy this world to the max, but I cannot deny that Barker has woven a vivid and interesting world.

And although I love to read a story with good world-building. I want to connect to its characters more and I want to feel what they're feeling, a thing that I can't say I felt with this story. The character that captivated me is the magical bird but the rest of the crew are already gone from my memory. I still remember characters and events from The Wounded Kingdom series which shows what really matters to me in a story.

The writing is okay, but the pacing is kind of slow. I got bored at some point in the middle and that was when I knew that there are low chances of me continuing this series. To be fair there were some great moments here and there but for me they do not compensate for the rest of the book.

Summary: I decided to read this after thinking about it for a long time. I believe I should have trusted my gut feeling and skipped this one because nautical stories do not usually work for me. The world was great but it took away from the characterization which is more important for me. I did not love it but did not hate it either. I won't continue the series, but I will keep an eye on Barker's next series.

[Spencer Orey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was MUCH slower than I'd expected. A slow and ponderous tale about the seafaring times, with echoes of the seafaring books you'd expect, plus some magic on top. The opening was especially slow, and it isn't until almost halfway through the book that the ship actually sets sail on its quest. Until then, it's a slow build of worldbuilding and personal conflicts, with a crew and a super interesting captain and some magical mysteries.

If you're looking for a very slow and ponderous tale of magical seafaring, this is for you. If you want something action-packed and quick paced, avast! Set your sails elsewhere.

[Jonah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was tons of fun! The idea of ships made from dragon bones is just awesome. It took me till the back half of the book to really connect with the characters, but I ended up really liking them! The plot moves at a clip, and there are some truly awesome sea battles towards the end. Good time!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent sea based sailing ship fantasy, written with a good understanding of the way ships with sails work, with a touch of fantasy worked in to make it fit into a fantasy world.

Well worth reading and highly recommended by me to everyone who wants well written fantasy epics.

First book by this author I have read, means I have to read his first series now.

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange)]

3.5 Stars
This was a unique seafaring epic fantasy with rich worldbuilding and beautiful prose. The tone was much more serious than I expected. I did not completely connect with the characters but overall I found it an interesting story. The audiobook version was fantastic.

[Adam Backus · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 I loved this book! It was the pirate themed fantasy book I did not know I needed. From epic ship battles, to sea dragons, to foul mouthed birds—this was a journey I will never forget. The world building, character development, and plot were all excellent. This was the most unique fantasy story I have ever read. I thoroughly enjoyed my entire read of this book and cannot wait for the next entry-I will probably start book two right after writing this review.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joron Twiner was a fisher in the Hundred Isles before being sent to the black ships as punishment. He was shipwife of the boneship Tide Child, until he was displaced by Lucky Meas Gilbryn. Lucky Meas, Joron and the crew of the Tide Child are tasked with tracking down the last remaining sea dragon (for reasons that keep shifting, they either want to save it or kill it). At the end of the book there is an appendix explaining the ranks in the fleet of bone ships and in the Hundred Isles. I suggest that you read this appendix before reading the book. If I had done so, it would have prevented a lot of confusion.


If you are expecting a rollicking sea adventure full of fire breathing dragons, look elsewhere. The sea dragon stays under water and doesn’t show up until the second half of the book, when the action picks up. It’s a good thing that I liked the author’s first fantasy trilogy, otherwise I would have given up on this book before I ever got a glimpse of the dragon. The first half of the book was a slog, with too many characters but not enough information about them. The story is told from Joron’s point of view so we never really get inside the head of anyone else, including Lucky Meas. I missed the compelling relationship between the protagonists that made The Wounded Kingdom trilogy entertaining for me.

The world in which this story takes place was very muddled to me. People seem to have a difficult time producing healthy children, for unexplained reasons. The Gaunt Islanders and the Hundred Islanders have been at war with each other forever, for very fuzzy reasons. Lucky Meas is perpetually cranky and Joron is perpetually insecure. There’s no levity or wit in this book, but it isn’t rough or violent enough to reach the level of grimdark. My favorite character was the Gullaime or windtalker “an avian race of magicians able to control the winds”. At least his dialogue was a relief from the “tough talk” employed by the rest of the characters.

Two things about the book got on my nerves. First, the author refers to ships as “he” rather than “she”. Since I am accustomed to the feminine pronoun, every time I read “he” I had to stop and think who the author was talking about. I never got used to this. Second, the author is working very hard (probably too hard) for gender equality. The crew of the ship is comprised of both men and women. Once this fact is established it is not necessary to say “the women and men did X” which the author did repeatedly. Just say “the crew did X”.

Based on his prior trilogy, I’m willing to cut this author some slack and I’ll probably read his next book, but I’m hoping for improvement. The narration by Jude Owusu of the audiobook was very good. 3.5 star

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.