Call of the Bone Ships

The Tide Child #2

by R.J. Barker

A brilliantly imagined saga of honour, glory and warfare, Call of the Bone Ships is the captivating epic fantasy sequel to RJ Barker's The Bone Ships.

Dragons have returned to the Hundred Isles. But their return heralds only war and destruction. When a horde of dying slaves are discovered in the bowels of a ship, Shipwife Meas and the crew of the Tide Child find themselves drawn into a vicious plot that will leave them questioning their loyalties and fighting for their lives.

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

528 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 24, 2020

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.

A great sequel that doesn’t shy away from developing the characters through harsh circumstances.

“We are nothing, Shipwife… If we do not try we are nothing. You are right there. Better to lose it all for what is right than to live in fear.”

Call of the Bone Ships is the second book in The Tide Child trilogy by R.J. Barker. There’s no middle book syndrome here. I was one of the relatively few readers who were slightly disappointed by The Bone Ships on my first read. To sum it up briefly, it was too different from The Wounded Kingdom trilogy, and I expected a focus on characterization right from the getgo. But that wasn’t the case, The Bone Ships spent the first half of the novel heavily focused on world-building, and the characterizations came in the second half. This storytelling decision, however, made the reread experience of The Bone Ships that I did rewarding. And I’m happy to say that Call of the Bone Ships provided a more character-driven narrative in addition to retaining the fascinating world-building.

“You think it cannot be, Joron Twiner? That we would not murder hundreds for a chance to hunt the keyshans once more?... We sacrifice our own children to our ships, you think those in power care about the lives of the sick and the useless?”

Do note that Call of the Bone Ships isn’t a light tale in any possible way. Brief moments of respite are there, and they’re placed at the right spot for the characters to catch a breath, but this is a brutal sequel. If you’re not a fan of your main character being tortured, Call of the Bone Ships won’t be for you. This is a ruthless sequel that showcases just how harsh the world the characters lived in, and I loved it for that. The first book consisted of Lucky Meas uniting Joron and many other broken characters together under her wing, this sequel is more or less the other way around. Meas doesn’t make many appearances here; definitely not when compared to The Bone Ships. If the role of Joron in the first novel was to be an observant of the legend of the Lucky Meas, Call of the Bone Ships is about Joron having to survive through his ordeals before he became a man of his own.

“And if they heard him weep a little, did they care? No, they did not, for what did it matter to them if a brave man wept? It did not make him any less brave, and had they not all wept at some point in their lives? So they smiled to themselves and went on with their jobs, never to mention it again.”

Thankfully, Joron Twiner is never alone. Readers of The Bone Ships will know that found family is one of the key themes of the series, and I’m gratified to state that Barker nailed the growth of the other characters as well. The themes of loss, sacrifice, responsibility, and loyalty were established, and they’re indeed pretty savage, but the crew of the Tide Child knows they are all in this together. Being battered non-stop by waves of pain and blood, it’s only by working together they can put a dent in their seemingly unbending end. Whether they succeed or not, I’ll leave that for you to find out for yourself. I enjoyed what I’ve read, and the growth of the characters—I won’t mention their name to avoid spoilers—was incredible.

“Look in the mirror when you return to your cabin. Ask yourself if people can change, ask yourself if people can surprise you.”

We also get to learn more about the gullaime, keyshan, and the Hundred Isles. As far as world-building goes, the world that Barker has crafted is a genuinely distinct one. I don’t think I’ve read many, or any, fantasy world similar to this. And speaking of creativity, Barker is one of the few fantasy authors I know who continue to utilize the limited formatting of the pages inside his novels to convey an emotion. This was executed in The Wounded Kingdom trilogy, and I’m glad to see it made a return again here. The action sequences were also breathtaking and vivid; there was a sequence in the middle of the novel that completely wowed me. If you haven’t read this book yet, prepare for the tidal wave.

“Maybe that is the true nature of prophecy—we can only change what is within our reach. So do not worry about the gullaime, do not worry about their prophechy. Hold close those you care for. Worry only about tomorrow, and the day after. Think not on the day after that for we fly the ship of the dead, and the Hag calls us all. To plan far ahead is to ask for the Maiden to thwart all you are. We are in the now. We fight for what we believe is right. We can do nothing else.”

I do have one minor issue with Call of the Bone Ships, and it’s the lack of a prominent antagonist figure. Don’t get me wrong, we do get to learn who the main villain is. But we still haven’t seen the character yet. There’s a good chance that Barker is saving the entrance for the final book, but I do believe that I would’ve been able to enjoy this book even further with the appearance of this villain. That being said, my co-blogger mentioned that the real villain of this series is the Hundred Isles, and she’s not mistaken on this.

“I was a Hundred Isles shipwife, boy. How many innocents do you think fell to my blade? Too many. You think I would throw away the one person I genuinely care about for those who I know nothing of? Those I care nothing for?... No, never.”

Lastly, the beautiful map and chapter icons by Tom Parker are back, with two new chapter icons related to the narrative, too. Call of the Bone Ships is a great sequel that improved upon everything established in The Bone Ships. It answered several questions from the first book, and it also left us with enough intriguing mysteries to be answered in the final book of the trilogy. I’m glad I gave this trilogy a second chance. The story did end on a cliffhanger, and I look forward to reading The Bone Ship’s Wake in a few weeks.

You can order the book from: Blackwells (Free International shipping)

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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 fantasy books I have ever read.

I haven't been more excited to read a book in a very long time when I picked this one up. I thought the first book in this series was absolutely spectacular and a very high 5/5 book, and somehow this one improved on it in literally every way. My expectations were sky high, and somehow this book shattered them, and it has left me stunned at how perfect R.J. Barker knocked this book out of the park.

Story: 5/5

While the first book centers sets out one specific goal and the book slowly marches towards achieving it, this one starts out a bit more ambiguously since the previously established conflict in the first book doesn't exist anymore. But very quickly we find out that not only has the problem intensified, but includes layers of complexity that added to the tension and drama in this book.

This one felt more like a grand, epic pirate fantasy with tons of twists and turns and with generous heaps of action throughout. My only criticism that I could possibly come up with in terms of this story is that I am sad that this is only a trilogy and that my journey in this world is soon coming to a close.

World Building: 5/5

The world was already established as being completely unique, fresh, and fun - but this book went above and beyond by taking the reader to many different locations and dumping more lore into this world. I'm going to be thinking about the world that was built here for many years, and it will be difficult for a fantasy book to come close to capturing the wonder that has been built here in the future.

Fantasy Elements: 5/5

The fantasy elements to this book are 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

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. This book is a masterclass in character writing, both in making you cheer for the ones you like, and utterly despise the ones you dislike. Many new characters have been introduced here, and some have been given a much brighter spotlight.

I could read a book that involves literally no action, with just these characters interacting with each other and I would still greatly enjoy my reading experience.

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.

I also thoroughly the thing this author does that didn't happen in the first book where he goes back and explains events we did not get to see from the main POV, with a side character telling their story of something that happened in the recent past. It's a great way to learn more about other characters, and getting filled in on other events. The times this happens are some of my favorite parts of this book.

Enjoyment: 5/5

If you haven't caught on by now, I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a reading experience as much as this one - and I absolutely cannot wait to read the final book in this trilogy, and every other book that is written by R.J. Barker.

[Nick Borrelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Choko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moody, Dark, Emotional, Devastating at times, and so, so very good!!!

"“I did not for one moment long to be alone; in fact, my loneliness was as much a prison as this brig is. I simply longed for someone who would let me be as I wished to be.”"

I liked the first book, but I thought the author had some issues with pacing and a ton of world building, which was understandable, since he was introducing us to a very ugly world, harsh and unforgiving, where women are revered for having healthy children, and men who are able to father children without flaws are given desired positions, as long as they keep trying to father such on other proven women... 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 world is mostly ocean, and people live on scattered islands, with the two major unions of such islands being constantly at war. The way they wager war and have commerce is by ships. The biggest, best ships are built with the bones of long extinct water dragons. But those big ships are now old and it seems with their disintegration, the never ending war might be coming to an end. This is what Joron and his crew want most of all. However, it seems some of those long lost water dragons seem to be awakening from a deep sleep, and both sides would do anything to be able to kill them and harvest their bones again for their ships. Only it turns out this is not easy to do, and a horrible recipe might be the only way.

Only our crew is not going to stand for it. And a race to discover what exactly is going on and stop it ensues...

""Worry only about tomorrow, and the day after. Think not on the day after that for we fly a ship of the dead, and the Hag calls us all. To plan far ahead is to ask for the Maiden to thwart all you are. We live in the now. We fight for what we believe is right. We can do nothing else.”"

This was a much better structured book than the first, and I couldn't put it down, as much as the author hurt my heart in numerous occasions... It put me through the wringer and set up for the third and final book, which has me wanting to grab it right away, but I will be strong and give myself some time to process and put some distance by reading some fluffy and light books, because we need to take care of our mental health, right? 😎😃.

I have no idea whom to recommend this series to, since as I mentioned, the first is a bit heavy on world building and a tad sluggish at times, but it gives a great base for the more dynamic second book. It is a marine setting, and it is very gender and sexuality inclusive, without having any sex and even romance. It has great characters, all flawed, all with debt, all put in situations conducive to relationship building, and deals with honor, loyalty, sacrifice, loss, and the fight to stay alive. I don't think there is anything that would be objectable to young readers, but there has to be a level of maturity and understanding of people's nature in order for the series to be truly appreciated. Otherwise, I would recommend it to everyone, as long as you know this is not a light read...

"He lived by the blade and when that was your profession the now was the only guarantee you had, for the future may not exist, as it no longer did for poor Berhof, and the past was a place full of sorrows and lost friends."

Now I wish you Happy Reading and may you always find what you need between the pages of a Good Book👍🙂

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

One of my favourite reads of 2023 so far.

Uniqe worldbuilding, compelling characters, brilliant pacing and SEA DRAGONS!

So excited to continue!

4.5/5 🌟

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 glue to that world.

And, oh what a world it is. Island archipelagos filled with gritty seamen and seawomen. The ships are made of sea dragon bone, creatures that are nearly extinct. The sails are like wings. The ships are two-ribbers, three-ribbers, four-rubbers, and are commanded by shipwives, the greatest of whom is Shipwife Lucky Meas. The sailors are Deckchildren and they are charged by a Deckmother. The ships, when possible are powered by strange birds 🐦, guillaime, who can call forth winds, but who are generally moody, irascible creatures. The gullaime (and their cousins the windshorn) have no equals anywhere.

Joron Twiner is Meas' second in command and he has a bond with the guillame. This story has Joron featured just as much as Meas as they come upon the strangest ship they'd ever seen with the strangest cargo ever beheld. Desperation has birthed evil.

From there, it's pretty much nonstop battle against superior odds time and time again and surviving time and time again beyond all hope. It's bloody, fierce, gritty, and adventurous. Bring on the damn finale! Can't wait!

[K.J. Charles]

Second tremendous installment. This is fabulous stuff, with the compulsive readability of Patrick O'Brien's sea stories, plus magic, sea monsters, villainy, mutiny, piracy, oppression, rebellion, loads of violence, and deep if understated love. Wonderfully vivid; bleak but never tipping over into grimdark. Hugely compelling. I can't wait for book 3.

[William Gwynne]

Been a while since I read The Bone Ships, but it was a really refreshing and enjoyable read, so I was looking forward to seeing where this second instalment was going to go. I'm glad to say this was also a fun and engaging read. R. J. Barker creates a great nautical scene and atmosphere. It is expanding and the stakes are rising as the story gradually widens to become more epic, but still maintained an intimacy that explored the camaraderie of those on board the main ship, Tide Child.

Full Review to Come

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as the first- we see Joron go on a helluva ride, suffering and loss all round for the Black ships and almost non stop action. I’m very keen to see how this trilogy ends. I really do adore the gullaime, a bird-like wind/weather mage and loved the new gullaime characters in this book. Quality entertainment all round.

[Christine Sandquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Eon Windrunner · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A superb sequel that elevates the series.

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of RJ Barker's Wounded Kingdom series, and when I recently reread the first book in the Tide Child trilogy I was once again reminded how much I love his stories and I kept on thinking about the story and the characters long after that reread. So when the time came around for myself, TS and Petrik to resume our buddy read with the Call of the Bone Ships I was more than excited to plunge into this world again and I was overjoyed to find that it was every bit as good as I'd hoped.

The story starts as we immediately join our favourite crew of misfits who make a deeply disturbing discovery. Of course, this discovery is tightly linked to the story and revelations of the first book, so I won’t divulge any specifics other than to say that it sets them on a race against time to save lives and uncover the depths of this horrific plot. 

“Better to lose it all for what is right than to live in fear.”

RJ Barker managed to lay down a tremendous amount of worldbuilding in The Bone Ships and while this did impact the pacing slightly in that story, it’s now paying huge dividends in this second book, allowing him even more time to focus on character development. And wow, has he done an outstanding job of it. I laughed and cried and cursed as I followed the journey of the crew, characters I have come to love and hate. Farys, Coughlin, Anzir, Dinyl, Shorn, Cwell… So many feelings. It’s also a testament to the author’s adeptness at clearly portraying relationships in all their complex glory that my feelings about characters I once loathed are now... I don’t know! You’ve muddied the waters RJ! It’s complicated. And it’s fantastic.

The single most impressive journey for me though is that of Mr Twiner. I am flabbergasted just trying to compare the Joron we met in chapter one of The Bone Ships to the Joron we leave at the end of Call of the Bone Ships. The trial and tribulations that he is put through in this book are enough to break many a person, but the losses he suffers somehow make him stronger, more confident, as he refuses to break but rather bends and weathers every tempest that besets him, steadily growing into the best version of himself. I think his relationship with both the Gullaime and Meas is also one of the highlights of the series, and I hope we get to see much more of all of this, but the way RJ is going I am not so sure Joron will make it to the end. If he does, it will probably only be because he is being held together by some combination of string, bandages and hope. I will happily add my hope too.

“Look in the mirror when you return to your cabin. Ask yourself if people can change, ask yourself if people can surprise you.”

As mentioned, less worldbuilding is required in this book, but it's still very much present as more parts of the map of the world are filled in and history and lore are expanded upon or hinted at. Personally, I hope we get to learn much more about the lore and that it is not left to the imagination, but I think the author will oblige us as there is surely a treasure trove’s worth of things we still don’t know about Gullaime and Arakeesians and the Song within Joron and I can hardly wait to find out all the things.


Map by Tom Parker

The pacing is steady throughout, with ebbs and flows, but the tale never loses the wind in its sails, taking on elements of the story as it mimics the swell of waves, moving along smoothly only to build to a peak multiple times throughout the book and bringing everything to a frothy head before crashing down again and then purposefully building up to the next crescendo. It makes for an utterly engrossing read and had all of us who read the book together devouring it swiftly.

Finally, I have one more thing I’d like to say about RJ’s writing. I feel like we have seen such a scope of literary ability already in his two published series, but just like the above-mentioned lore, he has so much more in store for us. Call of the Bone Ships once again puts this talent on full display with brilliant writing all around, be it the use of certain literary devices, the tugging of heartstrings by the simplest of sentences or gestures of the characters, constantly subverting expectations, the quiet contemplative moments, the frenetic chaos and panic of being confronted with the ferocious force of the ocean’s fury, the deep despair of loss or the brutality of naval warfare; the man has a skilled touch and it’s a joy to experience.

"Worry only about tomorrow, and the day after. Think not on the day after that for we fly a ship of the dead, and the Hag calls us all. To plan far ahead is to ask for the Maiden to thwart all you are. We live in the now. We fight for what we believe is right. We can do nothing else.”

Call of the Bone Ships is a superb follow up to the first book in the series, and in my opinion even better, raising the bar and laying down a challenge to Wake of the Bone Ships. It underlines why RJ Barker is one of the best writers in fantasy and together with Jen Williams, still one of the most underrated. Criminally so to say the least. I truly hope more people discover them and that they become the household names their work deserves.

You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.

[Juraj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent sequel with fast pacing, even too fast at some places in the middle.

There are maybe two times when characters are allowed to breath between events and reflect on what is happening. Otherwise the book is packed with tension and action. Very little time is spent on the ship while nothing is happening and I found myself in situation where I desired it because the characters are so well written they deserve some "time alone" away from constant threat of death.

Allies and friends are dying all around and there's barely any time spent on mourning. Plot just skips a tenday or two ahead to the next major event. It's like complete opposite of the first book which had very slow first half.

Last series that made me care about characters this much was The Faithful & The Fallen. Although here it's mostly only Joron, Meas, Guillaime and maybe Farys and Shorn. Barker writes so well that I just felt like part of the crew. Nakama, for fans of One Piece. There are certain events in this book that make the crew really tight and Joron's position as deckeeper nearly unshakable.

The prose is beautiful. Very English but also alien since a lot of vocabulary is made up, from plants to ship terms and vocations. I'm finding out that this is one of those cases where I wish there was more description of the world. It would've been balanced better in this book than in the previous one. Plot also didn't expand on mythology much though I think the religion and legends will be important at the end.

However, I can't recommend this book enough. Best book so far this year next to The Tyranny of Faith and I can't wait to read The Bone Ship's Wake

[faanielibri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Band 1 war cool, Band 2 ist genial. Er bedient jedwede Emotion, ist spannend, brutal und gewaltig. Die kleinen Schwierigkeiten mit den Begriffen, die ich noch im ersten Teil hatte, waren hier nicht mehr vorhanden, da alles schon vertraut war. Das gilt auch für das Worldbuilding, das noch detaillierter und ausgefeilter wird. Bisher eine ganz große Leseempfehlung für die Reihe!

[Ron Sami · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in The Tide Child series.

Plot. Rating 4
The plot is fairly straight forward as it is a quest that the heroes and their ships go from one point to the next. The opening plot is executed intriguingly, although its solution, it seems to me, is given too early. Further plot tension is supported by new worldbuilding mysteries and the series of confrontations with antagonists. Also, the plot is filled with various unexpected twists and side quests, so it was interesting to read. I liked that the characters suffer losses, overcoming significant difficulties. In general, the adventures in the sea and on various islands of this world turned out to be dangerous and realistic.

Characters. Rating 4
They come close to being well made. There are more characters in the second book than in the first, and the author managed to present their diverse characters well, even if we are not talking about full depth and naturalness. The plot helps to show the characters from different angles: for example, Lucky Mias and Joron changed their static behavior because of the trials and tribulations.
.

Dialogues. Rating 5
The words, concepts and sayings of the original world are well woven into the dialogues of the characters. They have beautiful and suitable places for the situation, conveying the necessary pathos, tragedy and self-sacrifice. Dialogues with antagonists are also well done.

Writing style. Rating 4
The style is not bad, although it does not make big discounts for a better understanding of what is happening. Some events are depicted indistinctly and fragmentarily. However, the various positive aspects of the writing style offset these shortcomings.

Worldbuilding. Rating 5
Heroes and readers continue to explore new aspects of the interesting world of the islands. The second book is more focused on sea voyages - it is very good that their subtleties are conveyed in a comprehensive and diverse way. Various concepts of seafaring are successfully reworked in a fantasy style, but remain recognizable. Worldbuilding is revealed in a consistent and logical way - this can be seen in the examples of gullaimes and sea dragons.

Conclusion. Overall rating 4
The second book improved the series. I hope that the series will be of interest to fans of sea adventures and well-developed worlds.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 a beautifully atmospheric world that is gritty, yet hopeful. As Meas and her crew continue to try to avert war, we learn more about the politics of the Hundred Isles and the gullaime, as well as see more locations within the world. He takes the already interesting world and expands it even wider, giving the reader more room to imagine and explore.

Poor Joron really gets put through the ringer in Call of the Bone Ships, but it's fascinating and wonderful to see him grow as a character in spite of his troubles. He continually fights against self doubt and begins to gain more confidence and authority after the events of The Bone Ships, yet he remains a flawed and wonderful character.

Bring tissues, this one will make you cry.

[TS Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

4.5 stars.

An excellent sequel filled with brutal and bloody seafaring adventures, Call of the Bone Ships elevated the story with remarkable character work.

I've to say this again just to emphasize how amazingly well-written these books are. I'm typically not a fan of seafaring stories, be it a book or a show. Whenever I read a book that contained a section involving sea voyage, I tended to view it with trepidation. As such, when I first read The Bone Ships though, I was mind-blown by how much I loved it despite the narrative being predominantly taking place on a ship (albeit one made of bones of a type of dragon called the arakeesian in this world). I waxed lyrical about the superb worldbuilding in my review of that book, and I think that Barker's gamble of spending so much time doing so for the introductory volume paid off for now he could really play with the character arcs and plotlines. That doesn't mean that worldbuilding was thrown overboard though as we did get to learn more about the lore behind its strange and wonderful creatures.

"We live in the now. We fight for what we believe is right. We can do nothing else."

There's some seriously marvellous character work in this sequel. I think one of the reasons why I loved The Bone Ships so much despite it not being a preferred setting was the theme of redemption and being able to rise above oneself. The main cast here are those among the condemned of The Hundred Isles, and hence cast out as crew of black bone ships. I've grown to be really fond of the crew of the Tide Child - some more than others but as a whole the bonding, camaraderie and loyalty of the crew to each other and their shipwife and deckkeeper were some of the highlights of the book for me. Even though most of the characters could be considered as secondary to the plot, they are nonetheless primary to the Joron Twiner's character development.

“Look in the mirror when you return to your cabin. Ask yourself if people can change, ask yourself if people can surprise you.”

Barker was really brutal on Twiner, who went through so much loss, suffering and pain. The man that Twiner has become by the end of this book was completely unrecognisable from the person I first met in The Bone Ships . The best part was how believably compelling his character arc was, which was compounded by the significance of his role in the future of The Hundred Isles. At some point, I actually started to equate his arc and growth with that of Girton Club-Foot from The Wounded Kingdom as I felt some similarities there. True enough, in the Afterword and Acknowledgements, the author mentioned how this cycle of growth seemed to fascinate him as a writer because Girton went through a similar process.

"She may never like you, but you gave her back her life, and now she will die for you."

I've actually met R.J. Barker and he's a really sweet and nice guy. But man, he can write some truly dark stuff. The Hundred Isles was one of the most unforgiving and harsh worlds I've ever read which seemed to highlight all the worst of humanity. There was also the ever present feeling that no one was ever safe. Maybe except for Twiner, given that the stories are mainly told from his perspective. To make it even more tensed, the entire narrative was pretty much a non-stop roller-coaster of action and danger. These scenes were really well-written and the ones involving the might of the sea and nature were highly cinematic. The element of magic was there, even though it's usually not the focal point of the fights and battles. Well, not until it culminates into the power of songs, and that's when I started getting epic feels and goosebumps.

"If we do not try we are nothing. You are right there. Better to lose it all for what is right than to live in fear.”

Just like this debut series, Barker's writing was always engaging and never failed to pull at the heart strings. Although the narrative was dark and brutal, there was also a lot of heart which made it even more captivating. This book put me through the wringer many times, and from what I've come to expect from the author, the finale will likely be even worse. Call me a fool as I'm all for it, because nothing beats an emotionally powerful conclusion that rips my heart to pieces.

You can purchase the book from Blackwells | Bookshop.Org | Amazon US | Amazon UK

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

[The Captain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahoy there me mateys!   While I try to post no spoilers, if ye haven’t read the first book in this series, the bone ships, then ye might want to skip this.  If ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .

Aye, I really, really enjoyed the first book.  But this one be better.  It took me a while to get hold of this yarn and then find time to read it.  I wondering if the span of time between the two would cause some problems with me noggin forgettin' things.  Nope.  Sunk right back into the world of bone ships and dragons and gulliames.  Sucked right back into the action and adventure.  Stuck clinging to every word with bated breath and hoping the crew and Lucky Meas didn't go down in the storm.

What a swell time.  If ye haven't read this series, ye should.  I need the next one like I need the sea air and grog and treasure.  Arrrr!

[Andrews WizardlyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 such a great sequel to The bone ships. Not quite as good as the first book. But it takes steps to avoid middle book syndrome. Staggered timelines and multi pov. It’s great to crew the tide child once again.

KEYSHAN RISING!!! Onwards to book 3

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent chapter in the story of the Tide Child.
'Yeeeee Deekeeper!'

Salt and pain and a dark journey over the sea in bone ships made of dead sea dragons. What's not to love?

Great character development, exciting adventures and subtle humour and heroism everywhere.
Good times

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

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.

[Oleksandr Zholud · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second volume of a maritime fantasy trilogy Tide Child. The 1st volume, The Bone Ships, won British Fantasy Awards and was reviewed by me here. The continuation is as good as the start.

It is hard to describe the story without revealing the plot of the earlier book, so I’ll try to do it in most general terms. The crew of the black ship Tide Child under the leadership of shipwife Lucky Meas and deckkeeper Joron continues to fight to bring peace for the world. While patrolling the sea, they find a ship with a ghastly cargo, which suggests that there are forces still planning to hunt newly emergent sea dragons, arakeesians, for their bones to built a new navy. A sad news arrives that their ship’s haven is attacked…

There are continuations of several ideas, we get more info about the bird-like windtalker gullaime and others of his time; why Joron is called Caller by some… there are enemies both inside and outside and sadly enough some of the characters will be no more by the book’s end.

Definitely a strong fantasy series, which should be known more broadly.

[Michael Mayer III · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel to the sensational pirate fantasy The Bone Ships is an intense flight on the seas as we journey with Lucky Meas and our main character Joron Twiner. When I was reflecting back on this book after finishing it, I realized that a LOT of events happened to our beloved deckchilder. So much happened that I forgot some of it happened in this book and not the previous. Not all of it is a cheery good time either, as I find this sequel to be much darker than the previous book.

Call of the Bone Ships is a sequel that takes place roughly one year after the events of the first book. It was a bit disorienting at first to find out exactly when this took place, but much has changed. Lucky Meas has obtained a fleet to her cause and it seems the game-changing revelation at the end of The Bone Ships is loosely common knowledge, at least among the seafarers. This means the stakes are higher and there's a greater sense of urgency as time is far from on the good guys side. R.J. Barker does well at creating twists in the plot that you may not see coming but also make them feel like they are naturally happening and not mere plot devices. Some events that have been hinted at since the last book come to fruition.

Character arcs make sense as they either come to their natural end or take turns believable to the characters. Joron and his rag-tag crew of deckchilder have grown much and it's a testament to the writing that you can see the growth clearly. As for Joron... man, Joron gets in some dark places. R.J. Barker made it easy to feel the man's plight and grief as he keeps getting beaten around worse than a boxer's punching bag. Some truly dark moments, however, are mixed in well with a good bout of humor and intriguing supernatural occurrences. The further development of the mysteries of the world with the guillame, creatures of the land and sea, and this mysterious magic of some sort with the power of singing just keep intriguing me. It's been slow reveals to this point but the pacing of it all is good with new revelations peppered throughout the first two books to keep me wanting more. The pacing was much better than the first book as well.

I try and keep my reviews as non-spoiler as I can, so I won't mention specifics... but there's an amazing, vivid scene at about the 70% mark that may stay with me forever. It's so evocative and beautifully written that I almost 'felt' the scene as well as imagined it as if it were real. I felt as if I were on the seas with how cinematic it was. All credit to Barker on the top-notch execution in writing it to perfection. It's written so well it might have been better served as the conclusion to the story with how epic it was. The ending, itself, felt like a good place to stop, although I was admittingly underwhelmed at how quickly it all wrapped up with the big cliffhanger catching me off guard. Fortunately, I don't have to wait until the next book has released since it's already out. I still highly recommend this series for any lovers of seafarer/nautical fantasy.

The Tide Child
The Bone Ships - 9/10
Call of the Bone Ships - 9.5/10
The Bone Ship's Wake - 10/10

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are back on the archipelago with the crew of the tide child. After the events of the first book, things aren’t better and war are still impending in the isles despite the hope of the shipwife Meas and her second Joron Twiner.
Things are getting worse with the reappearance of the keyshans , the race is setting between the isles and certainly the hundred isles wanted to seize this power. Alas long time had passed since the last Keyshans were murdered and they realized it’s not an easy thing. Secrets must be unburied…
When the crew of the tide child intercepted a mysterious ship they know they are running out of time…
If they want to bring peace in the archipelago Lucky Meas and Joron twiner must face face dire trials and pay a steep price.

RJ Barker delivered again a magistral tale even better than book 1 . The adventures of the tide child is full of actions and I can’t wait to see where the tale is finishing in the last book.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dragons have returned to the Hundred Isles. But their return heralds only war and destruction. When a horde of dying slaves are discovered in the bowels of a ship, Shipwife Meas and the crew of the Tide Child find themselves drawn into a vicious plot that will leave them questioning their loyalties and fighting for their lives.

Call Of The Boneships is book 2 in The Tide Child series.
Book one was amazing, but this was even better. R J Barker is a great story teller, and the world-building is fantastic.
It's full of action from the start, with a big cast of characters, Joron and Lucky Meas are great but my favourite is Gullaime - A Windtalker and Weathermage, who's from an avian race of magicians able to control the winds - he's kinda like the ship's weird pet.
So climb aboard me matey, if you're looking for a sea saga that's full of monsters, and adventure.
I've sailed straight into book three. 😉

[Dom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good example of a good second book in a high fantasy series. Where book one was enjoyable, but perhaps a bit overloaded with new terminology and ideas, in this one it all felt almost natural.

The story was interesting and full of action and I'm really intrigued to see where we go with book three, especially after a surprising ending.

I definitely enjoyed this more than The Bone Ships, and The Tide Child is shaping up to be a very good trilogy, especially if everything I've heard about The Bone Ship's Wake is true for me as well.

[tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

i already thought the characters were nicely characterized in the first book, but in this one, they were somehow even more fleshed out and so much more likeable which made reading this much more enjoyable. also, something i'm really liking about this series is how realistic it is; every character goes through something and so many main characters die which i think matches well with the harsh atmosphere. and all the trials and ordeals the characters go through feel very realistic/fair and like an actual part of the plot which is nice.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 always hear, a strange counterpoint to his own thoughts, a constant low hum on a scale alien to his own sense of harmony and of what was sharp and what was flat, but still full of beauty and yearning.

R.J. Barker has cut out my heart with a curnow* and shredded it to bits, and I couldn’t be happier. Call of the Bone Ships is a more than worthy sequel to The Bone Ships , so there’s no need to worry about “middle book slump” here. Once again, the author immediately drew me into his unique and fascinating fantasy world, where bone ships—ships made from the bones of giant sea dragons—sail the deadly waters of the Hundred Isles. This series has it all—thrilling action, humor, characters who worm their way into your heart, and of course, dragons and other fantastical creatures.

Because this is a sequel, I won’t get into the plot details too much so as not to spoil it for you. But here’s the basic set-up. The story takes place eight years after the end of The Bone Ships , which might seem like a big time jump, but honestly not a lot has changed. With her evil mother on her tail, Lucky Meas, the shipwife of the Tide Child , has found a secret, sheltered strip of land she’s named Safeharbour, where the downtrodden and victimized citizens of the Hundred Isles can live in peace. So far Safeharbour has gone undiscovered, but one day Meas and her crew  rescue another bone ship that is about to crash into a rocky shore. When they board the ship, they are horrified to find hundreds of prisoners aboard, many of them dead or dying. This discovery sets a series of events in motion that will have lasting repercussions throughout the Hundred Isles. And the elusive keyshan, the mighty sea dragons that this empire is built upon, has once more been spotted on the horizon...

One of my favorite things about this series is the way the characters get under my skin. OK, some of them get under my skin like a splinter, but even those characters managed to wring a tear or two from me by the end of the book. Barker has a knack for creating complex relationships that don’t end up where you expect them to. One of my least favorite characters in this book was Cwell, an angry, bitter woman who resents Meas and absolutely hates Joron. She and Dinyl, Joron’s former lover and a man passed over for his own ship time and again, join forces and make ship life very uncomfortable for Meas and Joron. But just when you think you know where the trajectory of those characters’ relationships are headed, Barker twists things around in some very surprising ways. I can’t tell you how many times I gasped out loud while reading this book, and my review copy is covered with exclamation points and “WTF”s.

And then there are the characters who made my heart ache, the characters who seem way too fragile and good for such a violent, harsh world. Farys, Berhof, Anzir, and Coult to name a few, tore at my heart every time they faced danger, and I love that Barker included such good hearted folks in the mix, because they balance out all the horror. This is a brutal story, full of swords and knives, axes and bolt throwers, catapults and poisonous fire, and war is a part of everyday life. Characters who hate each other are forced to work together or die, both women and men—there is no ease for anyone if your life is on the sea. Killer sea creatures lurk below the ship, waiting with sharp teeth for a strong wind to push a crewmember over the side, and there is of course the sea itself—cold, cruel and unbending. In this world, people believe that when they die, they go home to the Hag at the bottom of the sea, a fitting end to those whose lives are mostly spent on the water.

Joron is front and center in this story, and we learn more about him and his ability to “sing” and communicate (in a way) with the keyshan. Joron also has an interesting connection to the gullaime, the bird-like creatures who are revered by ships because of their magical ability to call forth winds. There is still quite a bit of mystery surrounding Joron’s talent, though, but I have a feeling we’ll get some answers in the next book. Meanwhile, it was satisfying to see his relationship with the Tide Child ’s gullaime grow. I adore these creatures, who add a bit of humor to the story—although you have to watch out, because where there is humor, pain and horror follow close behind.

As for pacing, I really have nothing to complain about. The Call of the Bone ships isn’t a quick read, so those readers looking for breakneck pacing might be disappointed. Yes, there are plenty of heart-racing scenes, but there are also quieter moments when Barker really digs into his characters and their relationships, and I honestly loved these sections. The book is also full of dense, atmospheric passages, but these are necessary and give the story a very particular ambiance. We actually spend a lot of time on land in the sequel, and Barker takes this opportunity to describe the mysterious, rotting forests of the islands and the horrifying creatures who live there. There are mysteries aplenty still to learn about this world, and I have come to savor each one.

But. When the action does ramp up, get ready. There were so many memorable scenes in this book, and I wish I could talk about them! (But I won’t. You should discover them for yourself. Although I will say, watch out for Chapter 40!) Barker isn’t afraid to kill off beloved characters, and there are some painful deaths in this book, some of them shocking. Deaths are always worse when you care about the characters, and I cared for every single one, even the worst of them.

And oh the ending. I thought Barker was done wringing out my heart but no, he had one more trick up his sleeve. Let’s just say it’s going to be agony waiting for the next book in the series, The Bone Ship’s Wake . The book doesn’t end on a cliffhanger so much as a lead-in to the next adventure, but judging by those last few pages, Barker has raised the stakes even higher and my heart is already racing! Epic fantasy fans who love well written, well rounded, thrilling stories with plenty of heart and heartache won’t want to miss this boat.

Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.

*a sharp, knife-like weapon used for cutting rope and killing enemies.

Read my review of The Bone ShipsThis review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy

[Di Maitland · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* I very nearly abandoned this book a third of the way in. I am very glad that I didn’t. The world-building is awesome, the band-of-brothers camaraderie heart-warming, and the story picks up.

“Bad things,” it said again. “Yes, and Meas will stop them.” “And Joron! And Gullaime!” “Yes.” “And Farys, and Means and Solemn Muffaz and Anzir and…” The gullaime went on, joyfully naming the crew and Joron felt sure if he had not interrupted it the creature would have carried on until it had named everyone aboard the ship. “Yes. All of us.”

The biggest question I had before starting this book was whether I had to reread the first book. I read it back in September 2019 and loved it, but remembered little of the details. There were times, especially at the start, when I regretted that I hadn’t reread the first book, but overall I’d argue that a reread isn’t necessary. Despite expectations, the plot from The Bone Ships does not continue on into The Call of the Bone Ships, the former being structured around a quest, the latter around a mystery.

”These women and men do not know it yet but they have volunteered to join us. Their ship wife is dead, and as of now so are they.” As she walked past the crew of the Maiden’s Bounty, she stared at them. “And the dead belong to me.”

In The Bone Ships, Joron Twiner, Lucky Meas and the crew of the Tide Child accompany a dragon–the first sighted in decades–on its migration north, knowing that its death would spell war for the Hundred Isles. Whilst their mission was successful, dragons have now returned to the world in greater numbers and lasting peace seems impossible.

The Call of the Bone Ships opens with Shipwife Meas and her crew happening upon a slave ship, wrecked during a recent storm. The ship’s crew deny the cargo and the slaves are mad, dying or dead. As Meas investigates why such a cargo would be wanted, and where it’s going, a deeper, more nefarious plot unravels which threatens Meas, her crew and the fragile peace she so desperately preserves.

The plot starts slowly and I struggled to maintain interest, partially because of the pace, partially because I was frustrated at not remembering exactly who was who from book one and it took time for it to come back to be/for Barker to remind me. Rest assured though, things do pick up and by 40% or so I was hooked. I also enjoyed the chance to see things from different perspectives as Meas, Means and a few others get look-ins (unlike in book one which is solely from Joron’s perspective).

’She touched his arm, a brief squeeze, but in that one touch was so much understanding–I know this is hard for you, I trust you to be strong. And so he followed her down into the depths and he knew that wherever she went he would always follow, for she was his shipwife.’

A large part of why I enjoy these books so much is the characters, and the bonds between them. Joron is imperfect but oh so willing to learn and oh so ardent in his desire to do better. Meas is a hard taskmaster but a brilliant leader, with a firm understanding of right and wrong, even when those definitions contradict the societal norm. Gullaime, or should I say Officer Gullaime, is sweet, stubborn, and sometimes simply hilarious. Then there’s Anzir, Farys, Solemn Muffaz, Dinyl, Coughlin, Aelerin and more. None are perfect but all are loyal and their hearts are in the right place.

”Officer Gullaime?” “I suppose,” said Joron, unsure quite what he had promised. “Get shiny badge? Get dye for feather?” “I am sure it can be arranged.” The gullaime trilled, a high-pitched fanfare of delight. The it span in a circle. “Officer Gullaime!”

Another large part of why I love these books is the world-building. I haven’t read many fantasy books set at sea, let alone a series. I also haven’t read many I’d describe as grimey: where everything’s a bit dirty, a bit make-shift, and quite cut-throat. But shining from this darkness is Meas, who shows kindness and inclusion with every word and every act, and instils a similar attitude and behaviour in her crew. It doesn’t make her soft, and she’s far from a bleeding heart, but she’s fighting the good fight and will continue to do so as long as she lives.

”All who are brought on this ship, Gullaime, are criminals, and lost and unwanted and hated by others. Meas say Tide Child is a new start.”

There are two things you may want to know about this book before you begin:
- Not everyone survives so be prepared for some sadness
- The book ends on a (literal) cliff hanger.
Even if it didn’t, I’d be eager to read the next, but now that’s doubly so. I want to know what happens, I want more time with the crew, more time in the Hundred Isles, and more sea dragons. If you like the first book, I’d recommend continuing (and powering on through the first third). If you didn’t like the first book, you won’t like this one so you’re better off giving it a miss. If you haven’t read the first book, I’d recommend it and you can find my review here.

[Trinity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a heart-pumping, edge of your seat continuation! Absolutely loved everything about this book and am eager to continue!

[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!