Call of the Bone Ships (The Tide Child #2) by R.J. Barker

Nov 08, 2020 Nick Borrelli rated it it was amazing

R.J. Barker's The Bone Ships was one of my favorite fantasy reads of last year. It had the perfect blend of epic fantasy and maritime fiction. The fact that the majority of the book takes place on a ship made of dragon bones was really cool and unique, definitely a breath of fresh air from the usual medieval fantasy flooding the market. That book only served to whet my appetite for what would come next and I was extremely excited when I was able to get an early copy of the follow up CALL OF THE R.J. Barker's The Bone Ships was one of my favorite fantasy reads of last year. It had the perfect blend of epic fantasy and maritime fiction. The fact that the majority of the book takes place on a ship made of dragon bones was really cool and unique, definitely a breath of fresh air from the usual medieval fantasy flooding the market. That book only served to whet my appetite for what would come next and I was extremely excited when I was able to get an early copy of the follow up CALL OF THE BONE SHIPS from publisher Orbit Books.

CALL OF THE BONE SHIPS met and exceeded all of the expectations that I had going in and broke my heart in a number of pieces as well. Once again, the majority of the action takes place at sea and at various ports where there are rumors of a terrible slave trade taking place. Joron and Shipwife Meas are rightfully appalled at what they suspect is going on after a gruesome discovery when they board an adrift ship carrying with it an awful stench. Could their worst fears be true? A plan is put in place and they quickly find themselves embroiled in something that will put them and their surrounding circle in peril the likes of which they've never experienced.

This book was a much more emotional read for me than its predecessor. There were many parts that were tough to get through because of the subject matter. Having said that, Barker navigates it all in such a way that yes you feel the pain, but you are also compelled to keep moving forward because you have to believe that someone is going to pay for all of the tragedy being dished out. I really do believe that R.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. CALL OF THE BONE SHIPS is simply another example of this in my opinion.

Where The Bone Ships was an exciting adventure fantasy, this book had a lot more mystery involved and a plot that had plenty of tension throughout. That's not to say that there aren't moments of action fight scenes, and adventure. Oh there are! I'm just saying that it's a slightly different book in plot and pacing but delivers all the same when taken as a whole. The redemption story of Joron in particular was a joy to read for me. Here is a character who took a beating in the first book and really got tested time and time again. In CALL OF THE BONE SHIPS we wee how that experience is changing him and his evolution is clearly happening before our eyes.

Staying with the characters for a moment, I'm still in awe of the magical creatures who can control the winds called the gullaime. In this book they take on another prominent role and there's even a new type of species called wIndshorn that we are introduced to that are similar to gullaime in appearance but possess a very different type of magic. Gullaime do not particularly like windshorn very much and vice-versa, that is made clear. But for what reasons? Just one of the many mysteries that propel this book from your normal fantasy read to something much more special in my opinion.

And I would be remiss if I talked about an R.J. Barker book without mentioning the deep and vivid world-building. The Hundred Isles is a place that stands out in the pantheon of fantasy worlds. The fact that this world is also inhabited by sea dragons, and other incredibly cool beasts makes it all the better. It was truly a brilliant concept for this series to take place on the high seas because there are is always another amazing place to visit, you simply have to hop on your dragon bone ship and get there! I said before that the setting reminded me a lot of Robin Hobb's Liveship Traders series and that still somewhat holds true for me. Yet Barker has somehow managed to make his own story very fresh and different from that one by adding a level of warfare and intrigue much higher than Hobb's series.

Just be prepared for what this book will make you feel. The last quarter of the story absolutely broke me and stayed with me for quite some time. I still haven't fully shaken it off actually. If that alone isn't a reason for you to read this series, I don't know what is. If you aren't reading R.J. Barker, you are missing out on a special storyteller who is consistently pumping out great book after great book. CALL OF THE BONE SHIPS may be my favorite so far, but I'm sure he has something even better in store for us in the future. One thing is certain, I will be checking publication schedules obsessively trying to find out when that next one is on the horizon. An absolute must-read for anyone who enjoys epic fantasy with raw emotion and heart. ...more

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Dec 01, 2020 Dave rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-all, fantasy-epic-fantasy-high, read-borrowed

Yowza! Barker's "Call of the Bone Ships" soars past the five-star rating scale. Can't recommend this grim pirate-infested fantasy read enough. No sophomore slump here. The midpoint of this trilogy is a rollicking adventure that'll have you pinned to your seat at least till it all gets resolved in the final volume next year.

Part of what makes this trilogy so fulfilling is that Barker creates an entire fantasy universe which thoroughly makes sense with its own idioms and pacing and he sticks like ...more

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Sep 20, 2020 eriophora rated it it was amazing

This review and others can be read on my blog, Black Forest Basilisks. Many thanks to the publisher for providing this review copy!

And he felt the song within, the beat of his heart, the high-pitched passage of blood through veins, the cymbal-spatter of thoughts, the crack of muscles and the groan of tendons and it was beautiful. Behind it all was some meaning, and although he could not quite fathom it he felt sure of it it, felt certain that this meaning was only a moment away from him.

I'll con This review and others can be read on my blog, Black Forest Basilisks. Many thanks to the publisher for providing this review copy!

And he felt the song within, the beat of his heart, the high-pitched passage of blood through veins, the cymbal-spatter of thoughts, the crack of muscles and the groan of tendons and it was beautiful. Behind it all was some meaning, and although he could not quite fathom it he felt sure of it it, felt certain that this meaning was only a moment away from him.

I'll confess, this sequel did not take me in any of the directions I was expecting at the end of The Bone Ships. I had thought we'd jump straight into the action, calling up the Arakeesians and taking down the Thirteenbern.

Instead, I've been given a tale steeped in espionage and cunning. The stakes have been raised, and the winds are changing. Joron will find himself flensed to the bone, losing everything he holds dear. He will be hammered and tempered into steel before he can live out his destiny... or reject it entirely and shape a different future from what has been foretold.

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. The Hundred Isles are not what they seem, and the stakes are higher than I ever could have guessed. The implications hinted at in the events of Call of the Bone Ships are grand and epic in scale even as the cast remains small and focused.

Written in the same flowing, descriptive voice as The Bone Ships, you can be well assured you're in excellent narrative hands. Barker explores themes such as waste, ableism, and the basic assumptions of societies. By setting his epic naval fantasy in a world steeped in perfectionism, matriarchy, and distrust, he creates a world that is engaging and refreshing. He is casual in the extreme as he subverts gender roles and expectations, allowing women readers to experience the same relaxed set of assumptions that male readers tend to enjoy in most fantasy settings.

Other reviews can be read on my blog, Black Forest Basilisks. Alternatively, follow me on Twitter for books, cats, and sourdough. ...more

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Nov 29, 2020 Justine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, netgalley, review-copies, read-in-2020, favorite-authors

See more book reviews and thoughts on my YouTube channel

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler free for Call of the Bone Ships, but approach with caution if you have not read the first book, The Bone Ships

Having absolutely adored The Bone Ships when I read it last year, Call of the Bone Ships was one of my most anticipated books of 2020. I'm so pleased (and totally unsurprised) to say that it lived up to my expectations

Barker continues to create ...more

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Dec 01, 2020 The Tattooed Book Geek (Drew). rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

About a year has passed since the ending of The Bone Ships and the return of the legendary arakeesian sea-dragons/keyshans to the seas of the Scattered Archipelago. In that time, Tide Child has been undertaking solitary missions in the outlying and far reaches of the Hundred Isles. On one such mission, during a ferocious storm Tide Child comes across a badly damaged ship in trouble, stranded and near to breaking against rocks that surround an island. Tide Child pulls the ship away from the rocks About a year has passed since the ending of The Bone Ships and the return of the legendary arakeesian sea-dragons/keyshans to the seas of the Scattered Archipelago. In that time, Tide Child has been undertaking solitary missions in the outlying and far reaches of the Hundred Isles. On one such mission, during a ferocious storm Tide Child comes across a badly damaged ship in trouble, stranded and near to breaking against rocks that surround an island. Tide Child pulls the ship away from the rocks and tows them to safety, but something isn’t right with the ship. The ship, a brownbone merchant vessel is too small to have been that far out in the ocean and there is a rank stink, a rotten odour of corruption emanating from the ship that permeates the sea air with a smell of festering decay and sickness.

On further investigation, Lucky Meas Gilbryn, Joron Twiner and their chosen crew members leave the decks of Tide Child and enter the bowels of the ship where below they find a horror awaiting them. In the hold, there is a human cargo (also including some Gullaime) numbering in the hundreds and kept in appalling conditions. There are rows upon rows of people who are barely alive and near to death having been left to wither and rot alongside many who have already perished on the journey. Life in the Hundred Isles is precious and Meas is enraged by the discovery and the dark business of mass kidnappings of the sick and the weak and sets out aboard Tide Child to find out where the cargo came from, where their destination was and for what foul purpose the cargo was intended to be used.

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. With the foundations already built and the knowledge gained from its predecessor Call of the Bone Ships is fast-paced from the very beginning with Barker unfurling the sails and never letting up until the emotionally-charged ending and final page. The story, that raises the stakes, expands and progresses what began in The Bone Ships starts with a raging storm that highlights the merciless and unforgiving nature of the sea, its immense power, the brutality and the ravenous hunger that will never be sated. It is an action-packed opening with some stellar imagery conjured by Barker and sets the scene perfectly for the unfolding danger and hard times that lay ahead. You could even say that the wrathful storm is a symbol and that the opening is an augury, a portent and that it is indicative of the oncoming storm that Meas, Joron and Tide Child will face themselves on the brutal, dark and perilous journey into the unknown that they undertake in their search for the truth behind human cargo in Call of the Bone Ships.

Call of the Bone Ships is written in the third-person and the story mostly unfolds through Joron, but, on occasion, Barker hands over the tiller to another character to steer the story, bridge gaps and fill in events with what they have been doing. Though few and far between, this allows the reader to see some more of the crew and gives them their own moment in the spotlight and their own time to shine as the focal point of the story. Tide Child is a black ship that is crewed by convicts, criminals and the condemned, a hard bunch for a hard and harsh world. If they die in service to the black ship, then their sentence will be fulfilled. There are some stellar characterisation and character development on display in Call of the Bone Ships. The complex characters are very human with their actions and motivations. Bonds are made, broken and relationships continue to change, evolve and grow between the characters, some in ways that you aren’t expecting with Barker wrong-footing you with certain characters and their surprising actions. With the characters, Barker has a way of making you really care about them, the motley crew that are weathered, worn and tough as old leather, but still, they manage to worm their way into your heart. Even if you don’t necessarily notice it during the calm moments when the storm arrives, you are hit with the realisation that you have come to care about not only about Meas, Joron, the Gullaime and Tide Child, but many of the other crew members too.

One character that deserves a special mention is the magical and mysterious avian creature the Gullaime. Simply, the ever-curious and enigmatic Gullaime is a truly wonderful character. In Call of the Bone Ships we see the significant relationship between Joron and the Gullaime blossom and bloom, they are bonded, connected and we see a deeper level to that connection and relationship begin to develop over the course of the story.

Joron is really put through the wringer with Barker hanging him out, beating and stretching him thin on numerous occasions. It’s not how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you pick yourself up and carry on and Joron battered and bruised both emotionally and physically keeps getting back up, carrying on and he endures what he is put through time and time again. Joron was weak, he had lost everything and lost himself, drowning in the bottom of a bottle and wallowing in the depths of self-pity and his own despair. Under Meas, his steadfast and loyal Shipwife (captain) he has found himself, the bravery within, risen up, become better than he was and though he still suffers from moments of insecurity he has changed. He has weathered the storms of the sea and of life. He has been shaped by events, by those around him and through his own personal growth. His role as Deckkeeper (first mate) aboard Tide Child is his salvation and on the ship, he found a place to belong and with the crew he has found a family.

Bad luck follows Joron, he is a beacon for it and it dogs him with every step that he takes. He is tormented and tortured countless times on his way to accepting himself, to his redemption and while he has come a long way, he still has a distance left to travel. Meas gave Joron a chance and he doesn’t want to let her, the crew or himself down. Through struggle, perseverance and overcoming adversity he has drawn the crew of Tide Child to him earning both their respect and their trust. He is well-liked by many, not all, some have grievances, hold grudges and have hatred in their heart, but for most, he now inspires them, a failure redeeming himself and a leader where before he was a layabout and a drunk. Joron hasn’t been forged in fire and flame, but through the crashing waves and the churning maelstrom of the sea, tempered and reborn in the water through hardship, pain and suffering, from a wastrel to a man.

Meas’s dream, her hope for peace and that the futile and never-ending war between the Hundred Isles and the Gaunt Islands will finally end seems further away than ever after the return of the arakeesian’s to the seas of the Scattered Archipelago. The first in generations of creatures thought to be hunted to extinction by the inhabitants of the Scattered Archipelago. Creatures that had been consigned to the past and lost to time. With the return of the sea-dragons comes the renewed hunting of the legendary creatures to make the bone ships from their skeletons. The world-building in Call of the Bone Ships is tremendous as you sail through The Hundred Isles and the Scattered Archipelago voyaging on the high seas. The world is full of wide-open spaces, the sea, vast and enormous with various islands, some larger and some smaller and sea-ports spread throughout. We return to Bernshulme, a location that was first visited in The Bone Ships, but we also travel to new islands, ports and locations and delve deeper into the world. We are also introduced to the Windshorn, a slightly different species of Gullaime and there is a rivalry between the two with the Gullaime vehemently disliking the Windshorn.

The writing in Call of the Bone Ships is magnificent and Barker has a way with words that is poetic, descriptive, captivating and he utterly mesmerises you in the story that he is telling. There is a high level of attention to detail surrounding Tide Child and the running of the ship which runs through the blood, sweat and tears of the crew and you feel like you are walking the decks of Tide Child alongside Joron. Another thing that Barker does exceptionally well is to highlight the beauty and the brutality of the sea. The majesty of the ocean, the expanse of open water where you need to be ever watchful and respectful as the seas are fraught with danger and monsters that dwell in the deep.

There is plenty of action spread throughout Call of the Bone Ships both on the land and the sea. With his action scenes, Barker doesn’t shy away from depicting the visceral nature of the battle and the fights have a weight to them, a heft to the blows dealt where you can feel the bite of the blade into flesh. There are some absolutely stunning cinematic and large-scale set pieces throughout Call of the Bone Ships, dramatic moments too, but there are also smaller and more personal moments, ripples in the water that are weighted and have a huge impact. The settings are all vividly realised and Barker manages to easily evoke images of the locations allowing you to picture them in your mind. With his writing, Barker’s words are able to convey the emotions that the characters feel and there are moments that rend your heart. In Call of the Bone Ships, you find yourself cursing Barker for what he puts both his characters and his readers through as he breaks them in the name of the story.

I have nothing negative to say about The Call of the Bone Ships. Yes, it ends on a cliffhanger, but it is the middle book in a trilogy and that is to be expected. While I may have channelled my inner Gullaime and screeched “Not Want! Not Want!” as I finished the book, I can’t fault the endpoint as it felt like the natural place for Barker to conclude this volume. Call of the Bone Ships and its story that is full of action, betrayal, dark deeds, drama, duty, emotion, mystery, prophecy, sacrifice and tension is the type of book that has you conflicted. On one hand, you want to fly through the pages as you are engrossed in the story and eager to find out what happens next, but on the other hand, you want to take your time and savour every moment that you spend in the company of Joron, Meas, the Gullaime and Tide Child.

For me, Barker is a must-read fantasy author, if you aren’t reading him, why not? He consistently delivers to an extremely high standard and is putting out some phenomenal work from his completed The Wounded Kingdom trilogy through to The Call of the Bone Ships the second book in his outstanding Tide Child trilogy. He keeps getting better and with each new release, he somehow manages to top and improve upon the previous book.

I loved The Bone Ships and put quite simply, Call of the Bone Ships is even better with Barker absolutely nailing it, hitting it out of the park, expanding the story, ramping up the emotional attachment to the characters and raising the stakes for all involved as he delivers a spectacular sequel. ...more

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Nov 26, 2020 Tammy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The nitty-gritty: A stunning follow-up to The Bone Ships , R.J. Barker’s thrilling, intricately plotted seafaring fantasy is just as good, if not better, than the first book.

The gullaime made their way to the windspire, a curved, pale bone-like piece of rock that sang to Joron—the spires always sang, and it was a song Joron could

...more

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Dec 17, 2020 Adah Udechukwu rated it it was amazing

Call of the Bone Ships is a great read and worthy sequel.

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Nov 13, 2020 Amanda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: want-to-buy, want-arc

You can also read my review here: https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....

Review: 5 Stars

The Bone Ships was one of my favorite reads of last year. I loved it so much that it wound up having quite the influence on my reading preferences. I started seeking out books set on ships and discovered just how much I enjoy sea adventure stories. When I realized that the release date for Call of the Bone Ships was creeping up I scrambled to get my hands on an ARC. The sequel was absolutely incredible.

In T You can also read my review here: https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....

Review: 5 Stars

The Bone Ships was one of my favorite reads of last year. I loved it so much that it wound up having quite the influence on my reading preferences. I started seeking out books set on ships and discovered just how much I enjoy sea adventure stories. When I realized that the release date for Call of the Bone Ships was creeping up I scrambled to get my hands on an ARC. The sequel was absolutely incredible.

In The Bone Ships we saw incredible character development in Joron, a man who was unlikable and weak became a character who I wound up feeling really proud of. I wasn't sure if Call of the Bone Ships would live up to its predecessor in terms of character development, but I should have never doubted R.J. Barker's ability. Joron goes through some horrific losses in this book and somehow comes out stronger. While this is a book about struggle and pain, it is also an incredible story of perseverance, strength and character during times of adversity. Joron is a character I love to root form but also one that my heart aches for. R.J. Barker once again did a fantastic job creating characters that I love fiercely and an emotional journey that really had an impact.

The minor characters also grow immensely in this story. I really loved how we got to see past Shipwife Meas' hard exterior and I truly felt we got to know her so much better in the moments that she let down her walls. I also really loved Dinyl and Cwell's transformations in this book. I really wound up caring for these two characters who I had once hated fiercely. Of course I can't talk about characters I love without mentioning Gullimae. Gullimae is a magical avian creature who calls the wind for ships. Gullimae plays a large role in this book as well which I was really happy about because he always makes me laugh. I really love all the characters in this series, big and small, that I could gush about each of them and their transformations for hours.

While Call of the Bone Ships is a character driven novel it also has an incredible plot that is full of action. There is so much packed into this book that it was really hard to set it down and go to sleep. Call of the Bone Ships was full of adventure and was paced well so that there was never a dull moment. The journey is full of loss and heartache, but there were also moments where I got goosebumps and moments where the tension was so high that I was on the edge of my seat. R.J. Barker really does a fantastic job building up dramatic moments in a way that you feel the impact. The writing is so vivid that I could smell the salt in the air and hear the orders on deck. This journey came to life in my mind and I just didn't want it to end.

Honestly, I could gush about this book forever, but you should really just read it yourself. If you enjoy found families, stories of overcoming adversity, or just love an entertaining sea adventure, you should give this book a shot. R.J. Barker is an incredible voice in fantasy who told a fascinating sea adventure tale that also had deep messages about perseverance and strength. ...more

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Nov 23, 2020 Lynn Williams rated it it was amazing

https://lynns-books.com/2020/11/23/ca...
Five Word TL:DR Review: I’m not crying, you’re crying.

Dear Hag what is going on? This book has left me an emotional wreck. I just don’t understand what is going on in the tiny spaces of my brain because I’m all over the place. I want to cry and this just doesn’t happen, I’m a tough cookie, I taught hard nails a thing or two, I didn’t cry for Lassie. I don’t cry. But I so want to do so right now and it’s brilliant and unexpected and inexplicable. Frankly, a https://lynns-books.com/2020/11/23/ca...
Five Word TL:DR Review: I’m not crying, you’re crying.

Dear Hag what is going on? This book has left me an emotional wreck. I just don’t understand what is going on in the tiny spaces of my brain because I’m all over the place. I want to cry and this just doesn’t happen, I’m a tough cookie, I taught hard nails a thing or two, I didn’t cry for Lassie. I don’t cry. But I so want to do so right now and it’s brilliant and unexpected and inexplicable. Frankly, any book that gives me all the feelings is a winner.

I would mention at this point two things. Firstly this is a second book in series and I do not think you can jump in at this point – and why would you anyway, the first is not only essential to understanding this world but is also damn fine so ‘how very dare you’ think of bypassing it. Secondly, beware of spoilers – I don’t believe I’ve included any but who knows – you have been warned.

To be honest, and sorry for this, but this second instalment blows the first book totally out of the water (I know – but I couldn’t resist). To be clear, I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, I really did, and I wondered if this would suffer maybe from second book syndrome, and, whilst there may be a slight set up for the final instalment going on here, this book is definitely not a suffering from any type of middle book sickness. It works well, the characters grow, the author is bloody ruthless, there are skirmishes on land and on the high seas, it seems like the dragons have not perished or declined after all and there are prophecies afoot, oh my.

I am going to write nothing of the plot other than to say that Meas and her crew make a terrible discovery and are forced to throw everything they know into a heroic rescue type of mission that will leave many dead. That is all I’m going for here so pick up the book and discover everything with fresh eyes for yourself.

This second instalment really takes us around the Hundred Isles. The fights take place on land and on the sea. There are huge kraken style monsters, so enormous that they cause Tsunami size waves and chaos in their wake. There are islands where foul deeds take place and there be rescues.

In terms of the characters. Well, Joren has come a long way by the time this book concludes. I could say it’s exhausting watching his struggles, and it is to be honest, but it’s also satisfying. Not everything goes according to plan, and Joren definitely goes through the wringer here but I loved all the gut wrenching emotion and the dramatic quests. Meas, well, she is an enigma. There’s something comforting about her presence whenever she appears on the page. I was just like ‘please tell everyone what to do and save the day’, but of course, every now and again there are little cracks in the facade and she clearly fears her mother – so, Contrary Mary that I am – I cannot wait to meet her.

Why the emotion. I can’t really pin it down to be honest. I just fell for the characters. There’s such a depth to them all and Joron experiences one of the most incredible story arcs. There’s this whole feeling of acceptance,. He’s not perfect, he may have disliked people for all the wrong reasons, but this books shows him prepared to learn, to find out about differences and to overcome things he never thought he would have to. This is an author that can write all these little light bulb moments into a book but they’re so subtle that you feel like you’re turning on the switch yourself. On top of this I feel like this is an author who has grown in style and confidence.

In terms of criticisms. Stop killing people I like. Please. I will send cake. Okay, not really a criticism but seriously I have nothing. I would mention that this is not a quick read. You need to sit down and pay it the respect it deserves but that’s not really asking too much is it? Although, I would just mention, cliffhanger – but, oh what a cliffhanger. Give me the next book soon for the love of the Hag.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 5 of 5 stars. ...more

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Nov 25, 2020 Andreas rated it liked it

Synopsis: This second volume of the Tild Child Trilogy is set a good while after the first book. Shipwife (Captain) Lucky Meas and her First Officer Joron run petty jobs for their home country on board of the bone ship Tild Child. They hit on a ship full of dying people, and a mystery starts which they want to end: who is in charge of this cruel deed, and what would they want to achieve? They are sure that it has to do with the sea dragons, and suspect someone from their Home town behind it. The Synopsis: This second volume of the Tild Child Trilogy is set a good while after the first book. Shipwife (Captain) Lucky Meas and her First Officer Joron run petty jobs for their home country on board of the bone ship Tild Child. They hit on a ship full of dying people, and a mystery starts which they want to end: who is in charge of this cruel deed, and what would they want to achieve? They are sure that it has to do with the sea dragons, and suspect someone from their Home town behind it. Their search leads them across the map through storms, fights, torture and injuries.

Review: If you don‘t like huge cliffhangers, then wait until the final book will be published before diving into this one. It is well separated from the first book which can be read as a standalone. And surely connected to the last book where the blatantly bad ending of this book will hopefully be resolved in a meaningful way. I won‘t discuss the details, but you surely don’t want to wait a year for it.

While I liked this book overall, with its colorful characters and a wonderful, dangerous world, the second book emphasizes deficits from the first book and adds a few.

First of all, the setting isn’t much extended - we see storms, yet another island, sea battles, and even a mutiny. But neither the map brings fresh locations, nor is the magic system enhanced. Even the characters are mostly the same. In summary, the given scenery is just the same, and the given relations between characters meander their way forward in expected ways.

Plot resolutions are often resolved by deus ex machina, and the evolving mystery didn’t draw my attention.

The authors tendency to repetitions and staccato sentences kept on bothering me. Why does everything need its very own different term - like deckchild‘s sickness instead of scurvy? A good measure of replaced terms transport the concept of a foreign world well enough, but here it‘s taken to extremes and I constantly have to check where landwards and seawards is and who’s more important: deckkeeper or deckholder? Glancing over those terms doesn’t help, because the next one waits in the next sentence. And that’s the state after having read both books back to back. I can’t imagine how one feels after a year.

I recommend waiting another year and read the rest of the trilogy in one go. I just hope that there’s more awe in the last volume. This is a weak three stars. ...more

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Nov 30, 2020 Katy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 stars

Wow. Just wow. This book started going on page one and was just relentless until the end. Emotional blow after emotional blow. How is anyone expected to be okay after that T_T

This book follows on a couple of years after book one, the crew of the Tide Child is now established and Joron has settled comfortably into his role as deckkeeper. This book takes a turn when the crew of the tide child come across a mysterious ship bearing a bunch of half dead prisoners and gullaime. The book follo 4.5 stars

Wow. Just wow. This book started going on page one and was just relentless until the end. Emotional blow after emotional blow. How is anyone expected to be okay after that T_T

This book follows on a couple of years after book one, the crew of the Tide Child is now established and Joron has settled comfortably into his role as deckkeeper. This book takes a turn when the crew of the tide child come across a mysterious ship bearing a bunch of half dead prisoners and gullaime. The book follows on unravels the mysteries around the missing people and Meas and Joron rescuing them.

Joron grew on me so much throughout reading book 1, and now after reading this one I'm ready to lay it all down for him. He is a very interesting and complex character, wanting what is best for his crew and showing the classic fantasy heroism but also being pretty flawed and self-doubting, which I think is how a lot of us would feel/do feel. He just feels like such a real character and I just want happiness for him. He goes through so much in the book and watching him grow and learn, as well as watch his developing relationships with others was so great to read about.

I adore the setting of this series, it all feels so well researched and you really feel like you are out at sea with them. The writing is also incredibly vivid (spoiler - there was one scene where they are stranded out at sea with no food and water and I was so anxious reading that, I think a testament to how well it was written).

Okay, onto my favorutie part of teh book - the Gullaime!!! We follow the gullaime we know and love from book 1, who is such a great character and every interaction with Joron is so precious uwu. We also get to meet some new gullaime, who are slightly different and known as windshorn, who we meet when Joron and crew discover the ship with prisoner on. One of the windshor, who becomes known as Shorn, stays with the crew of the TIde Child to guard the gullaime (who very much doesn't appreciate shorn). This relationship was so well done, a very complex power dynamic and it completely broke my heart at the end. Shorn is my precious baby T_T

Like the first book this one is filled with so much action and shipwise political drama, as well as characters who have very grey morality and unclear motivations. Joron has to figure out who to trust, which leads to some very sticky (and painful for the reader T_T) scenarios. It was also interetsing to get to know some of the side characters and crew of the TIde Child a bit more, especially Dinyl (his character was very interesting after the events of book 1) and Aelerin (they are now one of my favourites :')).

In conclusion this is a fantastic sequel, filled with plenty of shocking plot twists and reveals, whilst expanding beautifully on the lore of the world and growing the characters arc in a very emotionally compelling way. ...more

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Nov 21, 2020 Annemieke / A Dance with Books rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020, 4-star, fantasy, dragons

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.

Last year I read The Bone Ships and was not quite as taken with it as others around me. Regardless in the last 25% I saw so much potential for a continued series that I was excited for its sequel. And Call of the Bone Ships lived up to this.

What draws me to this installment and the series as a whole is the focus on the characters on th ...more

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Nov 17, 2020 Queen Terrible Timy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, dark-fantasy, dragons, fantasy, epic-fantasy, favorites, magic, nautical-fantasy, netgalley, fiction

This review was originally posted on RockStarlit BookAsylum!

Disclaimer: I got an ARC on Netgalley from Orbit in exchange of an honest review.

“All was chaos in the dark. Joron saw vague shapes. Was it gion, was it a woman? Was it varisk, was it a man? Was it a sword, was it a branch? Was it? Was it? Was it?
Keep. Going.“

Call of the Bone Ships was one of my most anticipated books in 2020, and for a good reason. I really loved its predecessor, The Bone Ships and I was pretty sure I’m not going t ...more

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Nov 21, 2020 Amanda rated it it was amazing

Call of the Bone Ships was a thrilling read. The Bone Ships was one of my favorite reads last year and it would be an understatement to say I’ve been awaiting this sequel enthusiastically ever since. In preparation, I’d even decided to do an audiobook reread of the first book right before starting this one just so I could get fully immersed back in the world of the archipelago. My expectations were sky high and I was certainly not let down.

We rejoin captain (“Shipwife”) Meas Gilbryn, her second Call of the Bone Ships was a thrilling read. The Bone Ships was one of my favorite reads last year and it would be an understatement to say I’ve been awaiting this sequel enthusiastically ever since. In preparation, I’d even decided to do an audiobook reread of the first book right before starting this one just so I could get fully immersed back in the world of the archipelago. My expectations were sky high and I was certainly not let down.

We rejoin captain (“Shipwife”) Meas Gilbryn, her second (“Deckkeeper”) Joron Twiner and the rest of the crew of the Tide Child about a year after their mission to save the keyshan. Since the end of this fated adventure, their ship has been sent on numerous isolated missions that seems intended more to keep them away from the seat of power in Bernshulme and the Thirteenbern’s plans than anything else. After all, Meas is still considered a traitor to the Hundred Isles and her crew no more than a pack of criminals. But her continued banishment doesn’t deter Meas in the slightest from her goal to one day unite the Hundred Isles and the Gaunt Islands to create a world where they can live without continuous war.

This goal grows more challenging than ever when she and Joron discover that the keyshan they once protected was not the last remaining arakeesian after all. Three more arakeesians have recently been spotted and the news has travelled more quickly than they’d like. Now, The Hundred Isles and Gaunt Islanders are gearing up for further bloodshed in their ceaseless competition to hunt the sea dragons for their bone once again.

Matters are made worse by a gruesome discovery the Tide Child comes across in a suspicious ship they take over. For unknown reasons, the ship is found to be transporting half-dead captives who were evidently being treated like human cargo. An incensed Meas is determined to investigate this cruel operation, especially when it emerges that those under her protection have been taken by another such ship for the same nefarious purpose. Meas and Joron’s urgency to stop the perpetrators becomes only more urgent as they realize the aim of these slavers and the hunters of the arakeesian may be one and the same.

Suffice to say, the seas of the Scattered Archipelago are harsher and bloodier than ever before. It’s been clear that this world is grim and near-inhospitable since the first book, but some of the terrible lengths the villains in this book are willing to stoop to in the name of their greed just makes it even darker. Danger has always been the eternal companion of the Tide Child but now the threats they face are truly taken up a notch. No character ever seems truly safe, least of all Joron and Meas, and they are forced to make their own sacrifices and terrible decisions in turn to fight their enemies. I found it so difficult to put this down because I always had to know what would happen next and how they would escape their most current peril.

There are also some new and fascinating revelations that come to light about the gullaime and Joron. The faint song that Joron can always hear near wind spires and in his own head, as well as the title of 'caller' that was previously bestowed upon him, gets much more explanation in this book. Joron continues to be a compelling main character in general who never stops growing through his hardships. He managed to build himself up in the last book – with help from the crew – from a lost and wayward boy to a leader in his own right, but in this book he suffers in ways that could easily have broken him back down again. I always have to root for him and how he keeps pulling himself back to his feet, even when he fears he cannot.

There’s fantastic character work here with the rest of the cast as well. Every member of the crew has their own memorable personalities and distinct presence on the Tide Child. You can't help but appreciate them the way Joron and Meas do. The fast pace of the plot does mean that there isn’t time to truly flesh out individuals besides the main characters, but that doesn’t mean the some of the others don't get their moments to shine. Certain side characters such as Aelerin, Mevans and Coughlin get entire chapter segments to themselves – bringing their own unique narrative voices to the events around them. Even Joron’s least favourite person on board, the antagonistic Cwell, gets an expanded role that certainly keeps the reader on their toes.

And the gullaime! The gullaime is my favourite once again. During the bleakest moments, it was always some unexpected comment from the gullaime that lightened the mood in ways that never felt jarring or out of place. Its obstinacy at the most inopportune moments always amused me. But it’s so much more than its moments of comedic relief. There’s still something hauntingly sad about the gullaime that draws you in and makes you wonder how much it knows that the others do not.

I suppose my only regret now is that I’ll have to wait once again for the next book. My anticipation will be boundless, but in my defense, that ending definitely warrants it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK and Orbit for providing the free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Oct 23, 2020 Chris rated it it was amazing

*copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review*

R.J. Barker’s work has been a breath of cool, fresh air across the fantasy scene for years. Their latest in the Tide Child series, Call of the Bone Ships, has a lot to love about it. Some eldritch, weird magic that seems to stand just at the edge of human understanding. Majestic and lethal cryptids. THe sort of complex characterisation that will have you laugh out loud with a character one minute, and feel the steel barbs of their sorrowful tears in *copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review*

R.J. Barker’s work has been a breath of cool, fresh air across the fantasy scene for years. Their latest in the Tide Child series, Call of the Bone Ships, has a lot to love about it. Some eldritch, weird magic that seems to stand just at the edge of human understanding. Majestic and lethal cryptids. THe sort of complex characterisation that will have you laugh out loud with a character one minute, and feel the steel barbs of their sorrowful tears in the next. A world filled with odd corners, intricate details, and soaring descriptions of wine-dark seas, thunderous waves and glorious, terrible craft that sail upon them.Yeah. Ther tl;dr right here is that if you read The Bone Ships and wondered if the sequel held up to the already very high standards of its predecessor - yes. The answer is yes. This is a story of blood in the water, of piratical boardings, of fights that start blade to blade and end edge to edge, one inch from disaster. It’s a story that reminds us that you can lose everything. That heroism has a price. But also of the necessity of virtue, the strength of it, and the value of pride and loyalty. If the ice-soaked sea is the stage, still it’s those upon it that make the story sing.

And sing it does.A full throated roar in harmony, a melody that wraps compassion around friendship and sacrifice. This is a book that will grab you by the heart and by the guts, and not let go until it’s done.

Our main perspective on this world come from Joron, a man who spent much of the previous book finding out how far it was to rock bottom, and then starting the long climb back up to the person he wants to be, inspired by the leadership of a Captain who gave him the opportunity to earn respect, earn trust, and change the world. Joron here is wiser, kinder, perhaps a bit more settled in his sense of self. The growing bonds between Joron and the crew whom he helps oversee are a delight to watch, built on countless small acts of humanity and friendship, backed by moments of heroism and heart-stopping action. Joron still carries his scars, but is learning to bear them a little better. Still, the price of this is that now he has attachments, has people he cares about. Wher ebefore he might have simply accepted the worst under the black dog of depression, now he cares, wants respect, wants to build a life. And in becoming a better person, or at least one more whole, he’s also become more vulnerable. THe portrayal of a man damaged, often in over his head, and struggling with the vagaries of circumstance is beautifully done. It has the emotional rawness that makes it feel genuine, and a certain truth sears through the pain and the trust, the faith of Joron in his people and their acceptance of him. Mind you, it’s not all good news - Joron is going to find out the hard way that now he has more to lose, and this is a world quite keen to take it from him.

Speaking of which, the world remains as vivid as ever, as marvellous as ever, as terrifying and strange and wondrous as ever. There are still dragons stalking the crashing waves of a space defined by the spaces between islands. Humanity is still (with apologies to Pratchett) barely on the right side of the rising ape. Those who bear children not marked by the poisonous environment are still an aristocracy, and like any aristocracy, they still hold to their system of power. There’s oppression, and war, and, worst of all, politics. Oh yes, Joron has stepped into a (metaphorical) whirlpool. Because this is a story filled with quiet intrigues. With betrayals. He’s a man whose seemingly sound footing in the world may be swept away, as we uncover the secrets, half truths and bloody bargains that help the Bern keep their iron grip on the levers of power. As we see how the powerless fare in a society structured to discard them. As the Guillaume, avian masters of magic, and mutilated slaves, reveal a little more of their secrets. As the dragons roar in the deep.

It’s hard, so very hard to talk about this book without spoiling it. So, forgive that digression. But think on this. The world drawn here is, at turns, one capable of displaying appalling atrocity and evoking true wonder.The people - Joron, and the crew of the Tide Child, misfits, miscreants, rebels all - are fiercely, searingly human. They live, love, hurt, bleed,and hope. They live the comedy and tragedy of our lives, cast upon an ocean swept by storms of magic. The same, but different. Different, but the same. They’re people, and damn good ones, at that (well...some of them!). And the story, well, it has its twists, and its turns, and you’ll be torn between inhaling each page to see what happens next,, and not wanting the book to end. It’s got everything - the grand, sweeping elements of an epic tale. Sea shanties. Boarding actions. Blood on the decks, and in the water. New secrets and old magic. But it’s also devastatingly, beautifully personal - with quiet moments, moments of honesty, moments of epiphany, times of betrayal and times of quietly powerful love. It’s a story that, once again, will not let you go - and one you won’t want to put down until it’s done

I certainly couldn’t. I miss the Tide Child and its crew already. I can only suggest that you join them on their journey. You won’t regret it.
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Dec 26, 2020 KitKat The #BookNerd KBbookreviews rated it it was amazing

Synopsis: The Keyshans are back, no longer believed to be extinct, and people wish to hunt them again. But something more sinister is occurring in the Hundred Isles, people are going missing and Shipwife ‘Lucky’ Meas, Deckkeeper Joron, and the Tide Child crew are determined to find out why.

CW/TW: Violence/Gore/Death/Sacrifice/Slavery/Ableism/other’s associated with fantasy may be present.

Spoiler Warning: This review may contain spoilers for book in this series: The Bone Ships, by RJ Barker

This b ...more

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Dec 04, 2020 Maddalena rated it it was amazing

I received this novel from Orbit Books through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review: my thanks to both of them for this opportunity.

From the very first book in RJ Barker’s The Wounded Kingdom series I knew I had encountered a talented new voice in the fantasy genre, so I should not have been surprised that his new saga The Tide Child would follow on the same footsteps, but once again I discovered how this author is able to surpass himself with each new work he publishes: Call of the Bone I received this novel from Orbit Books through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review: my thanks to both of them for this opportunity.

From the very first book in RJ Barker’s The Wounded Kingdom series I knew I had encountered a talented new voice in the fantasy genre, so I should not have been surprised that his new saga The Tide Child would follow on the same footsteps, but once again I discovered how this author is able to surpass himself with each new work he publishes: Call of the Bone Ships is the gripping sequel to an outstanding first volume, and it drew me into this world even more deeply than its predecessor did.

We’re back aboard the Tide Child, the black ship of the forsaken among the islanders peopling this world, and her captain - pardon me, shipwife - Meas Gilbryn is bent on ending the long war between her people, the dwellers of the Hundred Isles, and the Gaunt Islanders, and to this effect she had a hand in the creation of a place, Safeharbour, where both groups could live together. It’s a short-lived dream, however, and soon enough Meas, her second Joron and the whole crew must face both the threat to their own existence and the mystery of the mass abductions of weak and powerless people, carried in slave ships to an unknown destination and killed for some dark, loathsome purpose. This is as much of the story as I feel comfortable in sharing, because to say more would deprive any reader of the joy and terror of discovering what this book has in store for them.

With Call of the Bone Ships you don’t need to choose between a character- or plot-driven story, because you can have both: there are long sea chases, battles, mutinies and a dreadful mystery to be solved in what at times becomes an undercover operation, complete with double-dealing agents; there are the delightful details of everyday life at sea on a very peculiar ship that’s crafted out of dragon bones; and again one can meet amazing creatures, or terrifying ones. But what carries this novel more than anything else is the strength of its characters: in the series’ opener they were introduced and we got to know them a little, together with the fascinating world they inhabit, but here - now that the needs for background have been fulfilled - they are given more than enough room to expand. And shine.

“Lucky” Meas moves a little to the sidelines here, although she remains the strong, determined leader capable of taking a motley group of rejects and turning them into a loyal and proud crew: one might say that she is the heart and soul of the ship and the inspiration that drives them to move forward even in the face of certain death. But here she leaves more room for Joron Twiner, her deck-keeper or first officer, to grow into a more rounded, many-faceted character. Where he started his journey as a despondent, defeated individual, he slowly gained more confidence in himself and a measure of pride in his accomplishments under Meas’ tutelage: in this book we see him not only reach new levels of self-respect and wisdom, but also inspire the same feelings in the rest of the crew as he earns their own consideration and loyalty.

Perversely enough, though, this newfound connection with the rest of the crew and the way he has come to care for them - shown in many little gestures of appreciation and understanding - leave him exposed, vulnerable: now that he has something worthwhile to lose, he’s bound to suffer under the cruel blows of chance as he was not when he had nothing of value he could call his own. And in the course of the story Joron will lose much, in more ways than one, which will remind us that this is a harsh, unforgiving world, that always exacts a price for the small favors it chooses to bestow on people.

Together with Joron, we gain a better understanding of a few secondary characters aboard the Tide Child, and if some of them are not exactly friendly or trustworthy, it all adds to the delightful variety offered by this crew and enhances the story with little and big details that build on its substance. Among these characters, however, the one that stands out more is that of the Gullaime, the avian creature able to summon the winds necessary to propel the ship, or to tame the fury of storms. The first glimpse we were given of the Gullaime in the first book was that of a wretched creature, kept in the darkness of the hold and summoned only when need arose, but otherwise considered as a useful tool rather than a living being: the different outlook imposed by Meas has now morphed the Tide Child’s Gullaime into an assertive, curious individual and a valued member of the ship’s complement, but it’s in his interactions with Joron that the Windtalker sparkles with intriguing life and opens the way to a number of questions that simply beg to find an answer. There is a so-far barely explained bond between the Gullaime and Joron, one that takes the form of a pervasive song whose effects have been touched on but not completely disclosed, and yet this takes second place to the emotional connection between the two of them that seems to go beyond the confines of mere respect and friendship. I am eager to have this mystery unveiled, but for now I count myself very happy to have witnessed the many, meaningful interactions between the two of them.

There is a great amount of emotional content in Call of the Bone Ships because it offers a number of poignant personal interactions, made even more so by the contrast with the harsh shipboard life and the drama of the quest in which Meas, Joron and the crew are involved. Together with the captivating descriptions of life at sea, of powerful storms and creature-infested waters, these moments gift the book with a lyrical quality that runs seamlessly throughout the story and turns it into a compelling and exciting read. If you have not read The Tide Child series yet, do yourselves a favor and pick it up: you will not regret it.

Originally posted at SPACE and SORCERY BLOG
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Nov 23, 2020 FantasyBookNerd rated it it was amazing

So it is, with any reviewer that we read books, and then we move on. In most cases, we love the books that we read. In some cases we don't, but above all we remember that the words that have been put in front of us are something that someone has put time and effort into. However, sometimes there is that special book. The one that touches you in some way. The one that captures your imagination or pulls at your emotions. When I started my journey with the Bone Ships by RJ Barker, I was caught up i So it is, with any reviewer that we read books, and then we move on. In most cases, we love the books that we read. In some cases we don't, but above all we remember that the words that have been put in front of us are something that someone has put time and effort into. However, sometimes there is that special book. The one that touches you in some way. The one that captures your imagination or pulls at your emotions. When I started my journey with the Bone Ships by RJ Barker, I was caught up in the imagination of the world that he describes. This brave new world with strange creatures such as the Gullaimes or the Arakeesians. A world that is filled with steel woven characters who are at once harsh and unforgiving, and yet can show tenderness and belief in others. So how could this be followed?
Could this be bettered? Could the world be expanded and what would happen next on the journey of Joron Twiner and the crew of The Tide Child.

Let me tell you, I did not expect this!

In Call of The Bone Ships, RJ Barker raises the sails of The Tide Child and takes us on a completely different path than the one you would expect. My goodness, this book is harsh! I simply couldn't believe what Barker puts his characters through in Call of the Bone Ships. He takes them through ferocious maelstroms and my goodness, when they come out they come out as different people.
With most of the world building done in the first book, Barker gives himself the freedom to hit the ground running with the second book and the pace never lets up from there. We are immediately thrust into the narrative of the story and are placed into a tale that is full of high crested waves. Barker chucks everything at you with as much ferocity as the seas that The Tide Child sails in, leaving you just enough time to breathe before the next wave takes your breath away.
It is very difficult to discuss the plot as to do so would take away the enjoyment that you experience as you plough your way through Call of The Bone Ships, but my goodness, this is such a masterfully crafted tale that Barker tells. So much happens in the book it is difficult to recall how many things are going on. And that is the beauty of the book
Barker doesn't explain every little detail, he trusts that you will keep the pace and that you will keep up with him as events happen one after the other.
Of the many things that occur in this book, we must talk about the structure of the book. There are so many things structurally that had me exclaiming 'Oh that's clever'.

In The Bone Ships, the story is told through Joron Twiners eyes. However, in Call of the Bone Ships, Barker introduces other points of view and he phrases them as little Vignettes within the story, such as telling the story of the Courser Aelleren, and how they were condemned to the the black ship, or when Lucky Meas undertakes a seperate mission and he describes the events that happen on diary format. It works so well.

And at other points he will use repetition as a device to increase tension, employing the same phrase repeatedly to convey a sense of urgency to the situation.

The book is just gorgeous (you'll have to excuse, I have just finished the book and I seem be having an attack of the emotions after finishing), but be prepared. Call of the Bone Ships is hard, really hard. I don't mean in the reading sense, but in the emotions that the book evokes. Barker pulls no punches in Call of the Bone Ships. I found myself regularly fluctuating between shock and awe, between utter elation to the lowest doldrums as the story unfurls like the sails of a ship, and once the story catches the wind it glides through the pages of the book happily stealing the hours as I became completely engrossed in the book.

There is a fantastic quote by the great film critic, Roger Ebert that states that 'movies are like a machine that generates empathy, it lets you understand a little bit more about different hopes, aspirations dreams and fears. It helps us to identify with the people who are sharing this journey with us'.

The same notion, for me is applied to books, and this book certainly generated the emotions and empathy akin to watching a summer blockbuster, feeling the swell of excitement or the feeling of having the ground tilted at an angle so that you are completely blindsided by unexpected events. For me, this book is simply brilliant.

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Nov 18, 2020 Swords & Spectres rated it it was amazing

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'll start my review by saying that this was, without a doubt, the best fantasy novel I have read this year. Barker looked back at the story from the first book and obviously thought 'that was great, but I can break the laws of impossibility and write a sequel that will make the first one look bland in comparison.' And a bloody good job he did of that.

In the first fifty percent I felt there was more action, more story, more fast-mov I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'll start my review by saying that this was, without a doubt, the best fantasy novel I have read this year. Barker looked back at the story from the first book and obviously thought 'that was great, but I can break the laws of impossibility and write a sequel that will make the first one look bland in comparison.' And a bloody good job he did of that.

In the first fifty percent I felt there was more action, more story, more fast-moving parts in the world surrounding the story, than I got in any other novel I've read this year. It had me excited for the second half of the book in ways I'm not normally excited about a book.

Barker's strength in this world is the characters. He does a sublime job of writing characters that you can't help but to love or hate and, if he fancies it, he'll make second-guess yourself on occasion and love certain characters you never thought you could. If anyone who has read this says they do not like the gullaime, or that they would not move heaven and earth to have a gullaime of their own, then that's just proof that not everyone tells the truth.

It's rare that I'm constantly thinking about characters, their motives, what they might be doing next etc ... as most novels feature characters that telegraph any particular turn from good to bad/bad to good/ one or the other to grey etc ... well in advance, but the characters in this trilogy are so well written that you just can't tell. They are humans, with the same thoughts as you or I, but they live in a world entirely alien to our own and I think that bleeds through into their personalities and makes them very difficult to predict. If only every book I read kept me as enthralled with the characters as this one did.

I'm a huge lover of nautical novels and this series, being set on the ocean, delivers in ways that a lot of other ones haven't for me. The attention to detail as far as the world outside of the ship is concerned really helps, along with the intriguing creatures that inhabit the seas beneath the ship. All in all, it creates a wonderful atmosphere that had me forgetting I was reading a fantasy at times.

The end has been set up perfectly well, leaving the reader wanting to dive straight into book three, a tad frustrating considering book 2 is only just being released this month. A good kind of frustration, though, as it'll make getting my hands on the final instalment all the more enjoyable for having waited.

It's a little early to say, seeing as how book three is a year or more off, but this quite easily could be my favourite fantasy trilogy to date. I can't wait to see what Barker does with the final book, nor can I wait to see what world he turns his pen to after all is said and done with the Tide Child Trilogy.

The long and the short of this review is: buy this book. Unless you haven't already read the first book. In that case, buy both books. ...more

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Dec 05, 2020 Travis Riddle rated it really liked it

The same wonder and excitement of the first book, brought to another level.

This is a seafaring adventure first and foremost, like the previous book, but this time around Barker incorporated some elements of mystery and even a dash of thriller to the proceedings that I felt brought a great dose of freshness to the book. Near the start, Joron and Meas and the others stumble across a ship filled with slaves and a type of gullaime called windshorn, who cannot harness the same magical wind powers as The same wonder and excitement of the first book, brought to another level.

This is a seafaring adventure first and foremost, like the previous book, but this time around Barker incorporated some elements of mystery and even a dash of thriller to the proceedings that I felt brought a great dose of freshness to the book. Near the start, Joron and Meas and the others stumble across a ship filled with slaves and a type of gullaime called windshorn, who cannot harness the same magical wind powers as a typical ship's gullaime. The rest of the book deals with solving why these people have been captured and where they were headed, with the hopes of saving others from a similar grim fate.

In the process, we of course visit a ton of new locales that all offer exciting and unique set pieces. Whether it's a twisted hospital or a sponge-like island, Barker paints a vivid picture of this world and its inhabitants while crafting thrilling action sequences where there are truly dire consequences for the crew of the Tide Child if things go south.

My favorite new element of the book were the windshorn, whom our (kind of) loveable (to me, anyway) gullaime is not the biggest fan of. Shorn and Madorra are both fantastic new characters, and I would read an entire spin-off series about the gullaime. There is a prickliness yet an inherent respect between the gullaime that is endlessly fun to witness, with all of them constantly getting on each other's nerves. Seeing the way they have started tying into the trilogy's overarching plot in this novel has gotten me very excited to see what happens in the final book.

My only complaint is the same one I had for the first book: I still haven't felt a ton of warmth or connection to any of the characters except the gullaime. Everyone goes through various hardships in this book, but the moments failed to emotionally resonate with me. There were still some gut punches, to be sure, but I would not say I was especially emotionally invested. The relationship I feel is most deeply developed, and the one I most enjoy reading, is between Joron and the Tide Child's gullaime. I love their interactions and seeing the relationship develop further since the events of the first book. The gullaime has undoubtedly become one of my favorite characters in fantasy.

Call of the Bone Ships is even better than its predecessor, bringing us deeper into one of the most unique and fascinating fantasy worlds I've visited in a long while. I have no idea where the finale is going, but I can't wait to take the ride. ...more

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Nov 24, 2020 Gemma ✨ a bookish blether rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: age-adult, fantasy, favorites, 2020

I want to say thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for sending me an arc of Call of the Bone Ships for an honest review.

The book immediately jumps straight into action as the crew of the Tide Child step in to rescue a ship stuck in shallow water. It is quickly discovered that even a simple rescue is not as straightforward as it looks. Following the events of the first book, Meas has been kept at arms length from Bernshulme by her mother and her spymaster. That doesn't stop her from getting inv I want to say thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for sending me an arc of Call of the Bone Ships for an honest review.

The book immediately jumps straight into action as the crew of the Tide Child step in to rescue a ship stuck in shallow water. It is quickly discovered that even a simple rescue is not as straightforward as it looks. Following the events of the first book, Meas has been kept at arms length from Bernshulme by her mother and her spymaster. That doesn't stop her from getting involved as she uncovers secrets others would rather stay unnoticed.

I praised the world building in my review of book one and I can happily say that the depth of field we got in this sequel measured up to my high expectations. I would even say that my immersion and enjoyment of the world building increased this time around as I had a much stronger footing in the world. I also found that this book built on the fundamentals established in the first book without adding too many unfamiliar words.

The sea about them was grey and eternal, a continuous shifting of waves that gently jostled the little boat as it coasted across the sea, wings full of the storm's gift and the sky above as blue as promises.

However, it was the characters who had me so attached to this book from the start. The Bone Ships had taken two main characters that I did not feel any attachment or admiration for and created two individuals I came to love. I also was on the edge of my seat throughout the book waiting to see how relationships developed between different members of the crew. All without a focus on a romantic plot line. By the time the end of the first book came around I was emotionally wrought and worn out.

In book two, Joron in particular has built up several relationships (positive and negative) that I was already invested in. I was especially elated to get more progress of the bond and trust developing between him and Meas. I said previously that some of the "second tier" crew were hard to pick out individually and keep track of, but this was much improved on in this book as Joron developed stronger ties to the crew and spent more time with them.

Meas was also given more of a spotlight and we saw sides to her character that were previously unknown. I found in both books I was impressed by how she can remain a mystery and person of legend and still have a real humanity to her character.

The plot of this one did not let up for a second. It is a testament to RJ Barker's skill with a pen that they can cram in enough plot to feel like I've read multiple books but still manage to build such fully realised worlds and characters along the way.

"That is indeed right and proper what we were ordered," said Mevans, for as said, he had particular and certain beliefs. "But he did not say to us that we should do it with all speed.

The Call of the Bone Ships was all engrossing, captivating read that blew my socks off. I was loving the read so much that despite incurring eyestrain and a headache, I didn't put the book down for eight hours. I think the plot is jam pack, the world building is fully realised and three dimensional. But it is the characters that steal the show and my heart. A full 5/5 stars from me, and I cannot wait to see what comes next. ...more

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Nov 07, 2020 Mike rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: galley

Despite its massive storms, brutal battles, and monstrous fauna, R.J. Barker keeps the characters at the forefront of his world. The ever-evolving relationships between Joron, Lucky Meas, and the Tide Child crew are really wonderful. Specific attention was paid to flesh out the backstories of several background crew members, which allows them to carry the narrative when Joron or Lucky Meas are sidelined. That said, Gullaime the windtalker remains the standout character of the series and it was e ...more

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Dec 24, 2020 Maura Paxton rated it really liked it

Call of the Bone Ships did not hit quite as well as The Bone Ships for me, but it could have been my outsized expectations because I loved the first in the series so much. This book is overall much darker in tone and breaks your heart over and over. However, the depth the changes give to the characters is worth it. It was a slow start for me, but once things picked up I was totally invested. The Gullaime continues to be my favorite character.

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Dec 27, 2020 Nicole rated it really liked it

A book packed with action and a lot of cool world building. I'm really looking forward to the next one. Please tell me that RJ Barker will stop torturing joron. ...more

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Dec 30, 2020 Mike rated it it was amazing

A fantastic continuation of The Tide Child series - can't recommend it enough. ...more

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Jan 05, 2021 Runalong rated it it was amazing

Well this turned into one of my favourite fantasy reads ever - great storytelling and I loved it

Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl... ...more

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Dec 31, 2020 Sean Sullivan rated it really liked it

3.5 rounded up, like the first book, great fast, fun read.

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Oct 29, 2020 James Latimer rated it it was amazing

This is a spectacular sequel that takes the story of the first book and shakes it - and the crew of the Tide Child - up, tossing them on storm and setback, introducing new dangers and terrible mysteries, driving them relentlessly in their increasingly desperate battle against a cruel sea and crueller society. Can't wait for book three now!

Full review here: https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2020/11/ca... ...more

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Nov 24, 2020 Kat rated it it was amazing

Lucky Meas’s mother, the leader of the Hundred Isles, wants her “dead” daughter, and Meas is fueled by her anger at the severe mistreatment of her people and will do anything to bring her mother down.

Call of the Bone Ships is a stunning sequel to The Bone Ships. It picks up some time after the events in the first book, but it was easy to get back into the gentle rocking of Tide Child and the routines of his crew. I really loved the first book, so was eager to read the second. The middle book in ...more

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Nov 26, 2020 debchan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-scifi, fav-mcs, ultimate, 5-stars, wilde, favorites

talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before this deserves more than 5 stars. saved 2020.

if i thought The Bone Ships was amazing, this one blows it completely out of the water. barker pulled through, showing us he still has the same magic that brought us The Wounded Kingdom trilogy.

there's so many good things to talk about and not one bad thing.

let's start with the characters, the backbones of the sto ...more

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