RJ Barker

An amazing sequel in the Tide Child series.

In the first book we were introduced to Lucky Meas, Joron Twiner, and the crew of the Tide Child. Together they tried to protect the first sea dragon seen in generations, to stop it from being killed and its bones harvested to make more warships. But now more dragons are being sighted, and it seems there is little they can do to stop the neverending war between the Hundred Isles and the Gaunt Islanders, though Lucky Meas dreams of peace.

Until they show more discover a fleet ship, it's hold filled with dead and dying slaves. Something isn't right, and as they investigate this ships purpose, they're pulled into something even darker than they'd imagined, and not everyone is going to make it out alive.

This sequel continues the flawless character and world building that defined the first book. The prose and narrative is smooth and the pacing is perfectly balanced between action and introspection. This is also a story that handles diversity, gender identity, sexuality, and disability in such a seamless way that you hardly even notice it.

It's a grim and sometimes heart wrenching story, but also full of hope, optimism, loyalty and courage. I'd strongly recommend this for any fans of maritime/pirate fantasy, but also anyone who enjoyed Robin Hobb's Elderling series. I am so invested in this world, and I'm already reading book 3! show less

A sad, gentle murder-pirate must protec the chonky rainbow seaboi who is the size of an island. But grimdark, with copious child murder and violence and a brilliantly executed feminist bent.

Not a pirate fan but I loved this and enjoyed it very much.

Oh. How perfectly this series lands... Third book of a trilogy can be a strange beast sometimes, hard to tame. RJ Barker does it beautifully.

This is a dark, dark tale. There are people being broken, people dying, people doing terrible things, people doing truly evil things (and arguing that there is a difference between the two latter). Much of the grief and tragedy in "The Bone Ship’s Wake", as in the two previous books, comes from blindly following traditions, just for traditions’ show more sake, because “this is how it was always done”.

The loneliness of leadership is described so vividly here. Both Meas and Joron tumble into this darkness – and come back out.

I loved the plot twists I did not see coming, and new discoveries about so many characters. There are horrible choices everyone has to make. Yet, there is also bravery, friendship, hope, the stories that bind people together. And did I mention all the adventure and excitement? I had to take deep breaths between storms, sea battles, monsters of the deep, and mysteriously empty ships.

The ending was fitting. It still broke my heart.

And stripping everything else in the book away, what you have left is the romance of the sea. Feel it, smell it, taste it, see these ships fly… show less

It is a very rare thing indeed, as an adult, to meet a book of the sea of exactly the same kind you used to devour when you were nine. It’s just that this is not a children’s book and it happens to be fantasy, too (oh, yes). But all the feelings, the smell of the sea, the exaltation, these are all there still.

Exploring the world of “Bone Ships” was a lot of fun - despite it being a dark and grim one. The worldbuilding is very skillfully done, and I loved all the made-up naval terms. show more
Joron’s voyage of discovery - of himself, of others, learning to question the way things work in his society - was one of the most enjoyable things about the book.

In case I have not made it clear in the first paragraph of this review: this book is fiendishly entertaining. Sea battles (lots of them). Strange creatures and monsters. Swashbuckling galore. Badass characters. Last minute rescues.

The best thing: the whole trilogy is out, so Book 2 and 3 are waiting for me. Hurray! I’ll definitely be watching R.J. Barker :-))) show less