The moment the realization of just what was being risked hit me was singularly profound, and I am deeply, deeply curious how Barker will work all this out in the trilogy's final book. It is clear even from the very first pages of The Bone Ships that if we are to have a traditional hero, it will be the woman who has taken Joron’s ship, Gilbryn “Lucky” Meas.

Call of the Bone Ships by RJ Barker – The Unseen Library Call of the Bone Ships by RJ Barker – The Unseen Library

The firstborn healthy child from each family is sacrificed, and their soul is used to make a “corpse light” to light a white ship. The majority of people are crippled from birth, or if, as in the case of our protagonist Joron T, the mother dies at birth, they are considered low class and undesirable, never given a chance to rise above their birth. The Bone Ships, the first book in The Tide Child trilogy started quite slowly and was very information-heavy (for the first part of the story) taking its time with laying the groundwork, introducing readers to the characters and establishing the world of the Scattered Archipelago before the pacing picked up in the second half. In general, the adventures in the sea and on various islands of this world turned out to be dangerous and realistic.Quite simply, I am in love with not only the main characters in this book, but all the side characters that get presented as well. Aside from the standout writing, it's one of the most interesting and original fantasy worlds I've seen in years. She knocked his blade aside with a a small movement of her wrist, and the weighted end of the curving curnow blade dragged his sword outward, past her side.

Call of the Bone Ships - Goodreads Call of the Bone Ships - Goodreads

She idled away from the slanted bothy he had slept in, away from the small and stinking abandoned dock, and he followed. White ships are used in traditional battles, while black ships are crewed by condemned prisoners expected to die in battle. It assists Tide Child's crew with destroying the towers, allowing the arakeesian to continue its journey unharmed. The covers for this series are extremely cool, and I cannot wait to see what amazing design the artist comes up for the final entry in the series. After a slow start, I found it increasingly difficult to put this book down and I am on board for more.

The story did end on a cliffhanger, and I look forward to reading The Bone Ship’s Wake in a few weeks.

The Bone Ships: Library Edition (Tide Child Trilogy)

And there is the type a strong shipwife runs that raises his wings for trouble and lets his women and men die well. J. Barker just keeps getting better and part of the reason is that he's not afraid to take risks and chances in his writing.

Barker does a good job of letting us get to know them as people, but make no mistake, this is Joron's story. Then the pain in his mind would fade as the thick liquid slithered down his gullet, warming his throat and guts. Delivered while he kept his eyes closed against the tides of nausea ebbing and flowing in hot, acidic waves from his stomach. One of the things that I have been most impressed with for this series is the author’s ability to create a gripping and consistently well-written maritime story.

The Bone Ships by RJ Barker book review - Fantasy Book Review The Bone Ships by RJ Barker book review - Fantasy Book Review

At the start of this series, Joron was a depressed and embittered young man who was unjustly forced aboard the black ship and made its Shipwife due to his lack of courage and determination. No happy colours for this boat; it was unnamed, painted black and given only the one eye on its beak to guide it through the sea.

However, the crew of Tide Child find themselves drawn into a different conflict when they chance upon a damaged ship with a hold full of dead or dying prisoners. Simultaneously gritty and full of a sense of wonder, The Bone Ships is the perfect adventure for anyone who’s ever had dreams of the sea—or of dragons. The world we see through Joron’s eyes is alien, from the little details (ships are referred to as “he” rather than “she”) to the big ones (normalized infant blood sacrifice).