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 Bone Ships by R.J. Barker Series: The Tide Child #1
Published by Orbit on September 24 2019
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 512
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: Thrilling and atmospheric, The Bone Ships is a rollicking sea adventure with heart, humor and a very large sea dragon.
I’m not sure why I waited so long to read this book, but I guess I have Wyrd & Wonder to thank for kicking me in the butt and finally giving me the motivation to dive in. The Bone Ships is my first experience with R.J. Barker and he’s immediately made it onto my “auto-buy” list. I often don’t have the patience for complex, epic fantasy, and so I’m thrilled that this book worked in just about every way possible. Yes, I did have a couple of issues with the pacing, which is slow for the most part, punctuated with bursts of frantic action. But Barker won me over in the end with his phenomenal world-building, characters and unexpected emotional moments. I laughed, I gasped, I felt both dread and sorrow, I got goosebumps more than once, and I cheered on the crew of the Tide Child from start to finish. For this review, I’ve decided to give you a list of all the elements I loved best about this book, but first a quick story recap.
Barker’s story takes place in a watery world where two rival nations are embroiled in a constant war, fighting over the resources they need to make up the grand fleet ships that sail the seas and protect their lands. These bone ships, as they are called, are made from the large bones of a gigantic sea dragon called an arakeesian, a creature who hasn’t been spotted in years and is considered extinct. In order to keep their ships afloat, the Hundred Islanders and the Gaunt Islanders raid each other, stealing arakeesian bones as well as children, who are used in a horrific practice that strengthens their ships.
Joron Twiner is a young and inexperienced shipwife (captain) on the death ship Tide Child, when a woman named Meas Gilbryn appears one day, challenges his authority and takes over as shipwife. Meas has her work cut out for her, for the crew of the Tide Child is a sorry sight. But she has also been given a mission, and she intends to carry it out. An arakeesian has been spotted, the first in generations, and Meas has been tasked with seeing it safely to the northern realms and then killing it and allowing it to sink into the deep waters. Doing so would be the first steps in ending the war, and Meas agrees to complete this task, despite the dangers involved.
But the Tide Child isn’t the only ship who knows about the arakeesian, and Meas knows her journey ahead is fraught with peril. With two smaller ships along to help out, the Tide Child sails inexorably towards its destiny.
Ten things I loved about The Bone Ships:
The language and words. I don’t know much about the seafaring life, but I’m pretty sure a lot of these words are unique to this book (but they ought to be real words!): deckchilder, rumpspine, kivelly, windtalker, bonepyre, bonewrights, corpselights, hagspit, gallowbows, beakwyrms, bowpeeks and many more. Try saying them out loud, they are wonderful words!
A matriarchal society. Many of the main characters are female in this story, including the shipwives on several ships (although males are also called “shipwife”), and the society is built around a woman’s ability to have children, specifically healthy children. Those that are able to give birth successfully—multiple times—are revered. I also noticed that Barker uses role reversal in some cases. Ships are male in this story, oddly enough. (I was thrown in the beginning when the characters refer to the Tide Child as “he.”) And often Meas addresses her crew as “women and men,” when we are used to the phrase “men and women.”
Amazing battle scenes. I never thought that sea battles between ships would be exciting, but I could not catch my breath during some of these scenes. I loved the way Barker gives us blow by blow descriptions of the way ships turn and maneuver in the water, and I was fascinated by the almost medieval weaponry aboard the ships. Some of the most emotional moments in the story happen during these battles, and I could not get enough of them.
Compassionate characters. One of the biggest surprises for me was the heart and compassion in this story. There are plenty of bloody battle moments, and some of the characters are pretty horrible, but not all of them. Meas, Joron and the rest of the crew end up working as a team, and I loved the growing respect and admiration they have for each other. Best of all, Meas isn’t afraid to let her crew know that she’s proud of them, and she cares for the well being of each one—but watch out, if you disobey her orders you will be severely punished.
Atmospheric writing. Barker’s prose immerses the reader in a world full of sights, sounds and smells. I often felt I was right there on the ship, with the sound of the wind and the roar of the arakeesian in my ears, the stink of a ship full of women and men who haven’t bathed in ages, the spray of the ocean and the rolling deck beneath my feet.
The gullaime! Every ship has a gullaime, a bird-like creature with the power to control the winds. Gullaimes are beloved by crews because they can make or break a battle at sea, but they are also misunderstood and feared. The gullaime on the Tide Child becomes friends with Joron and plays an important part in the story. Not only that, but he has a very interesting relationship with the arakeesian!
Corpselights. One of the most gruesome ideas I’ve ever read about—and certainly the hardest parts of the story to read—are the corpselights. Babies who are the firstborn of their mothers are sacrificed to the great ships, and their souls become lights that hover aboard the ships and provide luck and protection.
Terrifying sea creatures. Oh so many dangers in the ocean! In addition to the arakeesian, you will find beakwyrms, longthresh, keelcatch, tonir and more. Some of these swim alongside the ships and lie in wait for someone to fall into the sea, and many have mouths full of teeth that will strip away your flesh. Good times!
Intrigue, betrayal and secrets. Barker’s story is so well-rounded, and in addition to all the action, he makes sure to include untrustworthy characters who are working against Meas and Joron.
The ending! I absolutely loved the ending. It was perfect, in my opinion, and sets things up for the sequel. Plus, I have to admit I wasn’t sure how Barker was going to tie everything up until the very end.
I haven’t talked much about the characters, but I absolutely loved Meas and Joron, just to name two of them. Readers who are frustrated by slow, dense world-and-character building may struggle with this book, but I beg you to have patience, because the rewards are worth it. I can hardly wait for the sequel, Call of the Bone Ships, which comes out this November. Highly recommended.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.
I’m happy you read this one! I bought it on a whim when it was on Kindle Deal and then I’ve seen only glowing reviews! I’m glad you enjoyed it as well, I really should prioritize it. I probably won’t have the time to read it for Wyrd & Wonders and June is going to be very sci-fi heavy (I need a quick break from fantasy haha) but I’ll try to read it this summer! 😀
Maryam recently posted…Book Review: The Monster Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson (The Masquerade #2) | Wyrd & Wonder 2020
It’s definitely worth reading, hope you enjoy it:-)
I tried a chapter a while ago and was in love with the worldbuilding (…this book has so many cool ideas in it) but wasn’t sure about the characters, so this is great to hear! I also think that fantasy as a whole could do with more magical creatures both of the nice and terrifying kind, so it’s good to know that this book has at least many of the second.
Great review!
Acqua recently posted…SapphicAThon #3: TBR
The characters really grew on me as the story went along. At first they all seem horrible, it’s a very dark sort of world. But I loved how they grew and changed.
Oh my god, this truly sounds like an amazing read! I have gotta add it on my wishlist ASAP! I especially like the matriarchal society. 😀
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Review: Psyche Unbound by Zenobia Neil
It’s so good, I’m glad you’re adding it to your list!
I’m so glad you loved this as much as I did – like you, I’m in awe of the use of language to express the world-building. I’ve read a fair amount of shipboard books and I loved that RJ’s invented language sounded entirely real (and yet if you paid attention, was consistently highlighting that these are seafaring nations with no trees and few animals – there’s so much packed in to his terminology!)
I can’t wait for Call of the Bone Ships.
His worldbuilding was so meticulous and well thought out. Yes, I can’t WAIT for the next book now!
This review was magical! This book is on my TBR but thanks to your words it moved up, because now I am dying to meet all these new creatures and what you wrote about the writing and the “new” words really drawn me in!!
Thanks Susy! I think you would love this!
😀
So glad you were able to add this book to your TBR – and even happier to see such a high rating!
It’s true that the beginning is a little slow, but once the journey is underway it turn into such an emotional rollercoaster that we forget the necessarily slow initial setting of the stage. And I’m happy to see that you joined Team Gullaime as well… 😉
Thanks for sharing!
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE WHEEL, by R.S. Belcher – Wyrd & Wonder 2020
I ADORED the gullaime!! I want my own:-)
Ooh. Great review! I’ve seen the cover so many times, but assumed the book wasn’t really for me. I may need to reconsider!
I didn’t think it was for me either, to be honest:-)
Sounds really good though I am not a fan of slow pacing, so maybe if I can find an audio…lol. 🙂
You definitely have to have patience for sure. But I’ll bet the audio is pretty good:-)
Ah, this books sounds so cool! It makes me think of The Scar by China Mieville, a book I love which had an unimaginably sea creature. I had hoped to read The Bone Ships during Wyrd & Wonder but it’s got a lot of holds on it at my library. Your review makes me excited to check it out.
Jenna @ Falling Letters recently posted…How Kendare Blake’s Three Dark Crowns Hooked Me [Wyrd & Wonder Review]
Oh yeah, I loved the Scar! And there are some similarities. Hopefully you’ll be able to get a copy soon:-)
It’s absolutely fantastic to hear how much you enjoyed this, and that you loved the ending. Definitely a book I’d like to read. I don’t know that I’ve read all that many spending much time on ships. Should be an entertaining change of scenery.
I can’t remember ever reading a book so focused on sailing, but I really loved it:-) Who knew?
Yo!! Every review of this book I’ve read makes me want to read it and yours did that even more so. You used all the phrases to make me want to go buy a book. I’m glad the worldbuilding and atmospheric writing stood out to you. Those are big things for me and I’m so curious to experience the sea adventures in it.
I hope you get to read it! I love hearing other bloggers’ opinions:-)
I love that this book took you on such an emotional roller coaster. It sounds like a pretty amazing read!
It was surprisingly emotional!
Wow, I’m so excited you enjoyed this one so much! I loved it too, but the reason why I couldn’t give it five stars is because I thought the books in his Wounded Kingdom trilogy were even better, so my standards were raised, lol. Still I can’t wait for the sequel.
Now I can’t wait to read the Wounded Kingdom series, although I didn’t leave any room at the top of my rating, lol.
What a fantastic review. I loved this too and it always makes me so ridiculously happy when other people love the same books.
Lynn 😀
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Thanks Lynn, I’m glad I FINALLY read it!! I remember how much you loved it in your review.
You had me at sea dragon. <3 Honestly, I've been intending to read this since before it came out and I just haven't had a chance yet, but OMG YEEES. I'm so glad to hear that you loved it! I can't wait to love it, too. OMG those words are fabulous! They're so freaking fun to say lol. Okay. That's it. I'm 100% sold. I need to read this as soon as my copy comes in because fejaifjelajfeia. Everything you described sounds so freaking amazing. xD
Ha ha, thanks Sammie! I hope you have fun with it too:-)
I’ve been eyeing this one and you have me so excited to read it now!
Laura Thomas recently posted…Teaser Tuesday #263 ~ A Bottle Full Of Djinn
I hope you read it, Laura:-)
Okay, Okay I’ll read this one! Honestly, I put off buying it because I have Barker’s trilogy Age of Assassins and I haven’t cracked it open yet and I really feel like I should do that first before buying MORE books. But maybe I’ll need to make an exception.
Caitlin G. recently posted…Top Five Tuesday: Opening Lines from Fantasy Books
His trilogy is supposed to be amazing:-)
Wow this sounds fascinating! Excellent review! It’s a very different world which might be fun to read.
It’s such a different world, a true epic fantasy world.
I adored this one and felt that yer review captured it better than mine! Arrr!
x The Captain
Aw thanks Captain! I truly loved it.
I keep seeing such amazing things about this one and it has me wanting to give it a go (plus RJ is a riot–he hangs around our subreddit a lot and is generally quite fun). I want to read it so much but also I don’t have the time right now, eternal conundrum. Glad you loved it so much!
I’m going to try this one again. I think I only got about halfway through, and it sounds like it deserves a full read.