An exciting and fitting end to a fantastic trilogy.
It has been a while since a fantasy trilogy has gripped me but the Bone ships delivered so much and finished so beautifully. From the beginning of the Bone ship's wake you are immersed in the characters and shipmates of the Tide Child. The imagery is powerful and descriptive but never takes from the pacing from the story which is gripping from the offset as Joron the "black pirate" adjusts to his new role on the Tide child and tasked with the seemingly impossible mission of finding his Shipwife Meas. As with the previous books, the protagonist and supporting characters are complex, intriguing and fascinating as you experience every high and low throughout the novel. Brilliant!
This is an honest review in exchange for an ARC

Some excellent fantasy series make me cry buckets when I have to say my goodbyes, this is one of those cases.
i can write plenty of blah blah but I loved what I read as it's well written, complex, fast paced, and gripping.
R.J. Barker is a talented storyteller and he expands the world building and add layers to his characters.
It's the great end of a great series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I didn't want this book to end, so I kept postponing actually finishing it. It was just too hard for me to separate myself from this setting, from these characters, to say farewell to all of them. As I'm writing this, all kinds of feelings are bubbling up inside me. Ey, I am a bit of a cry baby.

This trilogy has been such a remarkable journey for me. And what this third book has confirmed is that - this book is about PEOPLE. About honour, duty, sacrifice, friendship, love... Every single word I mentioned can be clearly seen through character arcs and through their actions, and I'm in awe at how well this was concluded.

Oh, how I will miss Gullaime and Joron and Meas and...EVERYONE. But Gullaime and Joron the most. From the firsts book, I made it clear that the relationship between Joron and Gullaime was something special, something that touched my heart, and this feeling just kept growing and growing. I'm so sad. Happy but sad. It's a bitter sweet ending for me.

This book lacks no drama, no action, no suspense. We go from one catastrophic even to the other and just when I think it can't get any worse, and they can't lose more...they do. I was literally gasping and yelling out loud, closing the book, trying to get it together. This book and the events in it literally possessed me.

The pacing was great, nothing felt rushed. I can't even speak on the characters, it still pains me to think about the ones we have lost.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for writing one of my 2021 favourites. Whether anyone understands, or agrees with me, it does not matter. This book will have a special place in my heart for a long time. And I am definitely going to purchase the physical copies so I can stare at them all day.

I would like the author to write more in this world, it would be amazing to get to dive into it again! We still have to find out what happened to Shorn and the rest ey! C'mon Shipwife, write more books!

A fitting finale for a trilogy that never disappoints. Here was a heart-wrenching ending that delivers the legend this story promised to be right on the very first page of Book One. I’m truly going to miss Joron, Meas and my beloved Gullaime.

The Bone Ship’s Wake sets an even darker tone than before as we return to the crew of the Tide Child. For the past year since Meas surrendered herself to the Hundred Isles in order to save her crew, Joron Twiner has been leading her rebel fleet in a crusade of merciless violence against them across the Scattered Archipelago. Though he is now the acting commander and feared across the sea as the ‘Black Pirate’, he refuses to take the official title of shipwife as his plan is to save Meas and restore her to her proper place.

Joron still has secrets to protect as well. As far as he’s aware, the powers of the Hundred Isles either do not know or do not believe that he’s the true Caller capable of rising the arakeesians – and very few even among his crew know that he’s afflicted with the fatal Keyshan’s Rot that will surely end his life. Joron is determined to keep it this way until Meas has been safely rescued but his mission is by no means an easy one. Brooding over these worries, along with his wariness over a mysterious prophecy that declares he and his Gullaime friend could cause great destruction, Joron and the crew of Tide Child sail grimly forward into some of the greatest perils they have faced yet.

The strongest part of this series, as ever, is the immaculate worldbuilding. I was immersed in everything from the colloquial dialogue of the deckchilder, to the force of the raging storms the crew encounters, and to running of the very bone ships themselves. The way RJ Barker describes his world makes is so easy to get lost in it once again.

At the beginning I was a bit worried about the pacing because it felt like the primary plot was taking a while to get going – but once it gets going, boy does it ever. There were plenty of adventures and twists and revelations that kept me on my toes. I couldn’t imagine where the story was going as I approached the ending and was a little in disbelief once I started to realize what it would be, but ultimately it was exactly the sort of ending that Joron and his crew deserved, if not more than a little bittersweet. Joron and Meas were wonderfully developed characters to have been on this journey with and their character arcs were a treasure to read.

I am sure to be re-reading this trilogy again in the future. Only the day is undecided. :)

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

The grand finale of a trilogy is a difficult read for the lover of any series. Will the last book tie up all the loose ends? Will there be justice? Will all my favourite characters survive? But I think the key question a reader should be asking as you reach that final page is was the ending right for the story itself. All the other questions above may be turned on their head ,but you just know as you wipe the dust from your eyes spouting water that you’ve travelled on the final leg of the quest and it fully was worth the time and emotional highs and lows experienced. Let’s make this clear from the off that The Bone Ship’s Wake by RJ Barker is a more than fitting triumph concluding one of the best trilogies in epic fantasy.

I suppose you may need a little more than that…

Ok I’m going to remind you that we left the crew of the Tide Child in a bad place at the end of Call of the Bone Ships. To protect her crew the ship’s leader Lucky Meas surrendered herself to her former employer’s The Hundred Isles who she has tried to rebel against. Her second in command Joron finds himself leading a fleet but completely stunned at losing his mentor, leader, and friend. Where do we go next? I shall reluctantly tell you that you’ll find our characters changed more than you ever imagined and if you consider where we both met them at the start of this tale in The Bone Ships you’ll be amazed at their transition. This is fundamentally Joron’s quest for Meas as the heart of the story and on top of that we witness the final reckoning of Joron’s rebel fleet as he tackles the various empires all keen to see the status quo of corrupt power continue. Be prepared for revelations, betrayals, battles, and last stands.

Ok ….really ….you want to know more?

Avoiding the plot because trust me this story is best for seasoned deckchilder already familiar with the books to go in cold then just be aware that Barker has made the tale into three beautifully composed set pieces. A stone-cold tense war of cat and mouse between The Tide Child and a pursuer that will keep you on edge with every turn of sail and cunning trick being played between the captains. There is then on land then a powerful game of politics, subterfuge, sacrifice, and secrets revealed and some truly head turning but well-played revelations about our characters. Finally, the finale lives up to all expectations as the remaining rebels have to face their pursuers and the outcome is not certain…oh and did I mention that the gigantic sea monsters known as the Keyshans are rising and that the mysterious bird sorcerers the Guillame are up to something? In terms of plot, you will enjoy the voyage to be travelled. It is hard, it is satisfying, and it never makes you want to look away from the page.

How this is largely achieved is Barker’s absolutely gorgeous prose. A third person tale told in the language of the Tide Child’s world. Three books in we now understand the culture, terminology and people so these metaphors and shipping terms make sense (and for a fully made-up fantasy world that is very much a sign of Barker’s worldbuilding talent). The other joy is the prose is never dull, it skips, runs, shouting and whispering in our ears as appropriate pulling us readers along to look at whatever happens next. We feel joy, dread, and loss with a turn of a sentence and the narration is as much a character in this tale as the rest of the crew. If this had been flat third person prose, we would have lost so much instead it feels like a legend from another world being told to us. A joy to read and please do enjoy the use of language.

Lastly this is a story of character. From villain’s henchman to our main players there is no character in the story who does have some depth or shade to themselves. We find ourselves haunted by their deaths and we also have to marvel at the changes they all undergo. Joron has taken on the mantle of leadership and safe to say he has had to sacrifice a lot of himself to take on that mantle. The costs of his previous adventures are also taking their toll. From the naïve and often drunk young man we first met he is now seasoned; ruthless and aware he is no angel and not comfortable with that outcome. Fittingly as Joron gains this hard shell of command around him then in the scenes we see of Meas we find more about the person who is behind the uniform and living legend. Our two leads are now balanced and make a fantastic double-act even when separated. Their entwined paths are the heart of the entire trilogy and that underlying friendship and sense of trying to do the right thing here is tested. Throughout the trilogy there has been a sense that this entire world is too cruel and unforgiving, and the choices made for our duo get them to really question how much they are willing to sacrifice for their ideals and let go of their past loyalties.

In conclusion if you’ve not yet picked up these books then you need to correct that mistake. For existing fans prepare to go in and you will be drained but more than happy for one last epic adventure in that strange world. More widely this is a tale of redemption, of being better than you ever thought you were capable and one of being prepared for justice for those who cannot defend themselves from those who seek power for power’s sakes. As times get harder and evil people keep talking about difficult decisions having to be made hurting those less able to protect themselves then sometimes it is useful to have something to motivate yourself to be better. That’s what great books do.

This is a great book.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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What a fantastic end to one of the most original fantasy series out there!

It's been a pleasure following this journey and I'm honestly quite sad to see it end here. I hope there's some sort of continuation in the same universe since Barker has really created one of the best fantasy worlds I've ever had the pleasure of being immersed in.

Full review to come since I'd like to go into detail about everything this book and the series as a whole has accomplished.

Overall rating: 5/5 stars

5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2021/09/30/the-bone-ships-wake-the-tide-child-3-by-rj-barker/
My Five Word TL:DR Review : A fantastic ending to series

I have to say that The Bone Ship’s Wake could possibly be one of the most satisfying, slightly bittersweet and tear inducing endings to a series that I can recall reading. Put bluntly, and if you don’t have time for the rest of this review – this series is superb. If you’re already familiar with this particular author through his Assassins (Wounded Kingdom) series then you’ll know he can write some addictive fiction loaded with lovable characters and compelling plot. He manages to find a winning balance between light and dark through the use of great dialogue, emotional impact and humour and his characters quite simply take on a life of their own. I never quite expected to fall so hard for a seafaring story, in fact it felt a little risky in some respects to take such a step away from the fantasy ‘norm’ but the author pulls it off and then some. In fact, towards the final chapters I was actually cursing out loud – ‘give these characters a break for pity’s sake’ – but, my pleas went (mostly) unheard. This is an author who will pull on your heartstrings relentlessly and who refuses to take the easy option.

I don’t intend to go into the plot much here although there may be some unintentional spoilers for the earlier books so if you haven’t yet started this series take heed (also take my advice and dive into this series soon).

A year has passed since Call of the Bone Ships concluded. Meas is captive, held who knows where and tortured cruelly. Joron now commands the Tide Child, although, for reasons that I won’t reveal, refuses to be named Shipwife instead becoming known as the Black Pirate. He’s not proud of many of his actions since Meas was taken and is becoming desperate to find her before the truth will out and her chances of survival disappear. This is truly a race against time as Joron is slowly being eaten away by Keyshan’s Rot. You could be forgiven for thinking this a tale of revenge with one man at the heart of the story relentlessly chasing what seems an unachievable goal and going to terrible depths in order to do so but, in fact, it’s much more than that. At its heart this is a story of hope, right and wrong and the sacrifices that people make to live decent lives free of tyranny. Also, who am I kidding, there are sea dragons, tentacled beasts, mystical foggy waters that are believed to be haunted, dark, stormy and impassable seas and impossible chases.

Predominantly this third instalment spends a good proportion of the time on the high seas. There are chases, fantastically described as these tall ships cut through the waves, nail biting skirmishes with sea critters and lulls where the Tide Child creeps silently through foggy seas hoping to avoid detection. There is also a dramatic return to land and a daring plan of rescue fraught with betrayal and reveals. In fact there are so many twists and turns that as a reader you eventually start to mistrust everything and doubt everyone – this is not easy to achieve and it’s so good because it creates an enormous amount of tension as you’re reading and keeps you glued to the page and constantly on edge.

The absolute, hands down, winning element is of course the characters and the amazing character arcs that have been experienced throughout the series. Joron makes for excellent reading. He has committed atrocities and suffers accordingly. Surprisingly for me, particularly with Meas being such a compelling character and so easy to love, I actually found Joron and Gullaime stole the show in this final instalment – and in fact I would say that the crew of the Child Tide reached the same conclusion as I did.

The other winning elements to this. Well, the writing is superb. Barker seems to have crafted his very own nautical language that is both easy and immersive. I loved the time aboard ship and the ease with which we slipped into tension and danger and then escaped barely by the skin of the teeth. On top of this I think the way the author has taken Meas and Joron and effectively turned them into, what would appear in simple terms to be stereotypical pirates with peg legs, eye patches, talking birds perched on shoulders, etc, but then actually managed to defy convention and make them so defiantly original – well, what can I say. It’s impressive.

Any criticisms. Well, apart from being sad that the adventure has concluded, I confess to moments of anger at the author’s relentlessly harsh treatment of the characters (*shakes fist*)! The only other thing I would mention is that this is a series to be relished. It takes it’s time to become established, to grow and reshape. Basically, patience is not only a virtue but a requirement. This isn’t a speedy read but to quote an old adage ‘all good things to those that wait’.

In conclusion, a stunning series not to be missed.

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

One of my most eagerly anticipated reads for the year - so no pressure eh?
I'm delighted to say that The Bone Ship's Wake totally lived up to my expectations. This has all the things I've loved about this series and turns them up to eleven.
You want epic seafaring battles? - You've got them.
You want deep emotional moments with amazing character communication and growth? - You've got them.
You want twists and turns and betrayals that feel like someone has stabbed you in the back? - YOU'VE GOT THEM.
I am obsessed with the way RJ Barker has crafted this series, this book starts a far way down the line from the ending of book two but it doesn't feel at all disjointed. It has the feel of a time jump that was necessary to get you back into the story and it works magnificently.
When looking at the end of a trilogy I think to think about where characters have started and ended (and often where the world has started and ended too) and this is one of those great moments where truly I could never have anticipated where they would go. Joron at the start of book one and the end of book three are vastly different people and yet seeing him go on that journey has been a true delight. The same can be said for many other characters in this story but to go into all of them would make this review far too lengthy!
Suffice to say if you loved the previous books in the series you will absolutely love this final instalment - I look forward to seeing what people think of the ending as I have FEELINGS.
And those who, like me, love Gullaime with all their hearts, will assuredly not be disappointed.
I'm eager to see what RJ Barker has next, once my heart has recovered a little!

A fabulous and satisfying ending to a truly awesome series. My main reason for starting this series was Robin Hobb’s five star glowing review, and it didn’t hurt that it had a dragons on the front covers. This has been an engrossing series that throws the reader into a world of pirates, weird creatures, sea dragons, strange magicks, conspiracies and action on the high seas. And my goodness, the ships! I would never intentionally seek out sea based fantasy but the ones I have read I have very much enjoyed (The Liveship Traders anyone?). This is very much sea based, we rarely stand on solid ground and are surrounded by a whole new terminology and way of being. At first I found it a little overwhelming but little by little I got my head round the language, sat back and let the author sweep me away into another world. The pace starts sedately but gradually picks up as the book goes along The pace starts sedately but gradually picks up as the book goes along, reaching a glorious crescendo that genuinely had me gasping. It’s quite a dark series in tone but there are light touches of humour (often of the gallows variety) in the often the least expected places that bring dimension and depth to the writing. I could wax lyrical all day long about the fabulous world building and leap of the page characters but I would urge anyone who loves a good fantasy trilogy to pick this one up. I will be immediately be ordering the author’s previous trilogy, which somehow I completely overlooked. This is an author whose future books will be going on my ‘must buy’ list.

The Bone Ship's Wake is the third and final book in the Tide Child series. It comes as no surprise that, once again, R.J. Barker has created a marvellous adventure featuring Joron Twiner, Lucky Meas, and the unyielding crew of Tide Child.
Compared to the previous books in the series, this one might just be the grimmest of them all. In the absence of Lucky Meas, her crew and the other ships that joined her cause are looking at Joron to guide them. That's a lot of responsibility, considering that he is also battling his affliction, which eventually will drive him mad. How can he trust his decisions with such a curse looming over him?
It's amazing how the entire series has been such a rollercoaster of emotions and character development. You can clearly see the differences in their behaviour and how that influences the overall course of the book.

Absolutely nailed it.

Trilogies are always hard and the middle book is usually the most difficult. You're hoping your readers will remain engaged enough to want to read the last one, where you can bring it all home and finish the story arc.

Bone Ship's Wake does this pretty much perfectly. It's dark as hell in places, builds the tension in others and blows you away with the action scenes. The editing is great, particularly in the opening two chapters which set the scene fantastically for what is probably the best book of the trilogy.

I would have maybe liked slightly more explanation around some parts of the ending, but the character development was great in this book. Sacrifice, loyalty, friendship, faith and redemption, the author has got you covered.

Can we call it grimdark? Not sure. It's certainly grim and dark in places, but you can feel the hope shining through, so maybe not quite. But I will say this series is better than the Wounded Kingdom trilogy and that was really good too.

Oh boy, where do I even start with this review? The Bone Ship’s Wake is the third and last book in The Tide Child trilogy by RJ Barker. This is one of the few series that I kept up with over the past 3 years and I have that bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye to this world and these characters I grew to love so much. A series that jumped Barker on my favorite authors’ list, and whose books I’ll keep an eye out for in the future because apparently, I enjoy being tortured by him.

Now, before I get to the point, a fair warning: this review might contain spoilers for the previous books in the trilogy, so proceed with caution! I’ll try to keep it as spoiler-free as possible, but since we are talking about a third book, it can still happen.

The Bone Ship’s Wake picks the plot up about a year after the events in the Call of the Bone Ships. Joron is determined to cause as much havoc for the Hundred Isles as he can in order to get back Mease. He builds up a reputation as the fearsome Black Pirate, leading the black fleet with the help of old friends such as Shipwife Brekir, and his loyal crew Cwell, Farys, Mevans, Solemn Muffaz, Gavith, Barlay, Garriya, Alerin and of course the Gullaime. Keyshans are rising even more frequently, and it looks like the war is unavoidable and comes ever nearer as the song grows in Joron. And with the war comes hard decisions, sorrow, blood and death. The Bone Ship’s Wake has all that and so much more.

“Did the pain of growing ever really stop? Or did you simply become used to the stress and hurt and strain of every day until it became normal to you? A background buzz of constant worry cut through with moments of transcendent joy, or terrifying fear?”

I’d rather not say much about the plot, this is something you have to experience for yourselves. I’m only going to say that all of the characters are coming a long way, both in this book and in the trilogy as a whole. We get to witness how legends are born, but we also get to see how hard it is to live up to those expectations. You can’t help but feel empowered by these characters as they are coming over their own flaws, their doubts, their demons, their disabilities, never letting those stop them from reaching their goals and dreams. Changing the world around them one painful step at a time. I love how the relationships were developed between the characters, especially those Joron built with Mease, with Cwell, and the Guillaime. Who forever will remain my favorite character of this trilogy, no questions about that. We learn what the titles Caller and Windseer really mean in this installment. Which I found particularly interesting.

The Bone Ship’s Wake holds quite a few surprises for its reader, some of them you’ll never see coming. I found the first 30% or so a bit slow which was instantly forgotten after a rather thrilling and heart-racing sequence and from that point on the pace never let down. Or more like, there was a much better balance between quiet and often dreadful moments and breathtaking action. From the 60% mark, I could barely put the book down. It’s been a long time since a book captured me so thoroughly that I forgot about everything else and just eat up all the pages. I could easily imagine being right there with the Tide Child crew, feeling the cool breeze on my face mixed with freezing saltwater, facing whatever was coming. Because as they say:

“We are all here to die, only the day is undecided.”

The Bone Ship’s Wake being the last book of a trilogy, I went into it with a dreading feeling. I mean, if you’ve read the first two books then you know that Barker does not pull his punches. I was fully prepared to be broken apart piece by piece throughout the book. What I did not expect was the emotional reaction it brought out of me. Like… holy shit. I raged, I feared, I hoped and I cried. For the record, I almost never cry over books. Tear up, yes, cry, no. One of my GR updates at 33%: “I’m quite sure RJ will rip my heart out, trod on it and put it back all twisted and bruised by the time I’ll finish reading this book…” Dear reader, I was not wrong with that prediction. And for this, I’m going to award the EMOTIONAL PANDA NEEDED stamp to The Bone Ship’s Wake as a warning for anyone brave enough to trade these dark and dangerous waters the Tide Child rides on.

The Tide Child trilogy got a thrilling, heart-wrenching, and overall most deserving ending in The Bone Ship’s Wake. One that’s going to take me quite a while to get over. I can’t even recommend it highly enough because it just deserves all the praises. If you are into audiobooks, I wouldn’t miss out on Jude Owosu‘s narration, who brings this series into life in a way that will give you goosebumps and chills all over. It’s a match even the Hag, the Mother and the Maiden would approve of. If you’ve been waiting to start this series, I’d urge you to get on board as this is an adventure you wouldn’t want to miss out on.

The Bone Ships Wake triumphantly closes the Tide Child Trilogy in this the final volume, and I must say that RJ Barker has done it again and written one of my favourite books of the year.
There is a strange juxtaposition with the endings of trilogies in that whilst you want to see how the story finishes, you never want it to end. And it very much stands with this trilogy. From the moment I read the first page of The Bone ships and the strange maritime world that RJ Barker described, I was utterly entranced by this highly original and brutal world filled with strange water dragons, the Gullaime and the harsh, unforgiving peoples of The Hundred Isles and their forever war with the Gaunt Islanders.
Throughout the books, RJ Barker has captained the good ship Tide Child and the characters that inhabit this evocative world though a tumultuous storm and led us finally, to this culmination of his epic series.
With ‘The Bone Ships Wake’, we join with Joron Twiner a year after the events of The Call of The Bone Ships, and goodness me, how his character and stature have grown. Instead of being the frightened boy that we met in the first book, he is now the scourge of The Hundred Islands, The Black Pirate. A figure to be feared as he swathes his way through the Hundred Isles fleet, cutting down those that stand in his way in his search for his beloved Shipwife, Lucky Meas.
It is not long into the book that we realise that things have changed. Not only have the crew become something new, but so has Joron Twiner. He is merciless in his search and he takes no prisoners. Whilst at times he questions the decisions that he makes, he is far from the quaking deck keeper that he once was but has become the Ship wife of the Tide Child in all but name.
However, there is some familiarity about the story, particularly with the characters. The Gulllaime is as present as ever, although much more subdued throughout the first part of the book. Cwell remains as Joron’s shadow and we see that a relationship of sorts has developed between the two. Mevan’s has become a trusted member of the crew, as has Farys and Solemn Muffaz.
For me, I think that RJ Barker has written a truly magnificent book with ‘The Bone Ships Wake’ and he closes the series perfectly. Everything that you want in the book is there, form heart warming characters and relationships to blood pumping battles.
Stylistically, the book is set into three distinctive acts that at times felt like three separate novellas that were interconnected into a wider story. In the first act, we have the desperation that Joron feels as he searches for signs of Lucky Meas. Throughout this first part of the book, there is a taut game of cat and mouse as Twiner is pursued by the Hundred Isles fleet in their bid to capture The Black Pirate and his crew. The second part deals directly with the scars and pain of the events of The Call of the Bone Ships, with Lucky Meas coming to terms with the ‘new’ Tide Child and her own part to play in the changes that she has wrought, and with the third act, RJ Barker delivers the actual culmination of the story.
However, be prepared though. There are some highly emotive scenes in The Bone Ships Wake, and I would advise having a box of tissues, or a more eco-friendly handkerchief that you can regularly wring out as you make your way through the book.
Normally, I would mention world building, characters etc, but if you have got this far in the series you know how brilliant these are, and nothing has changed. So, get yourselves aboard the good ship Tide Child and enjoy the end.
“Ey, D’Keeper!”

The Bone Ship’s Wake wraps up the Tide Child Trilogy. At the end of the previous book, Meas was in a precarious position and the book opens a year later, finding out what has been happening to her. Joron, on the other hand, has been raising hell trying to find her.

Much like the title ship, this novel has a very mournful tone throughout its 500 pages with only a few bright spots to make you smile. You have the high points of the rising of the Keyshans at the end of the novel and new life intertwined with the overall downbeat and rather sad tone. It’s not a happy novel but, I for one, actually really liked that. There’s just something about the sea and mourning that go hand in hand, in my opinion.

I still very much like the characters and, much like the rest of the trilogy, Barker puts them through absolute hell over the course of the book. We all know by now that I love it when characters are emotionally and physically tortured, so I was in my element reading this story. The characters go through hell and not all of them make it to the end.

Which brings us to the end. It’s rather sad, not going to lie, but that shouldn’t really be a surprise after the very bittersweet ending of Barker’s previous trilogy. He just knows how to tug at the heartstrings. It wasn’t quite sad enough to make me cry, but I rarely cry at books so it usually takes a lot more to get me sobbing but I did feel a lump in my throat and the fact there is only a short epilogue at the end means that I kept thinking about the ending long after I had finished it.

If you enjoyed the previous two books in the Tide Child trilogy then you are sure to love The Bone Ship’s Wake. It has action, fighting and some very heartfelt moments to bring the series to an end. I really enjoy Barker’s writing, it is descriptive and he writes the action scenes well. The truth strength, though, lies in the characters. You really love reading about them and you genuinely feel for them whenever something bad happens to them. I loved Joron, Maes, the Gullaime and all of the other characters that joined them on this journey and I am very sad to say goodbye to them.

Here we are, the final installment of The Tide Child.
As a reader I have gone from struggling to connect with the characters and the world building to being absolutely in LOVE with the series and willing to protect each and every member of the crew at all costs.

The character building over the series has been truly superb. Both in terms of the main characters and our secondary characters and the relationships between them all. There are characters I truly hated and now adore, characters I knew nothing about and now understand and love them for who they are, and characters I have loved from the start and continue to love.

At the end of Call of the Bone Ships the story is left on a bit of a cliffhanger so I couldn't wait to pick this one up and find out what happens next. I was most certainly not disappointed. This book is absolutely packed with everything that is so great about the series. Suspenseful chase scenes, epic sea battles, loyalty, betrayal and heart breaking no-win scenarios. The pace was kept solid throughout making it hard to put down while making you want to take your time and absorb every word.

The world of The Tide Child is fascinating and I feel that there's so much more to explore so although this trilogy is well and truly over, I would love the author to return to this world for another new adventure. I would particularly love to learn more about the Gulliame and their history and culture. This is touched on in this book as the Gulliame once again has a major role in the story and saves the day more than once with its fantastic powers.

As for the ending...Wow. Some of the events of the grand finale were really inevitable, as much as I wished they weren't. Yet, other elements I did not see coming at all! The whole ending stayed completely on theme with the rest of the series which I really appreciated.

Overall, my heart is slightly broken at saying goodbye to this world and these characters. If anything is the mark of an excellent series, it is that.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review

~ To The Maiden, The Mother, and Finally The Hag ~
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis: The Keyshans are rising, Lucky Meas is gone, and Joron’s time is running out. Drenched in the blood of his enemies, Joron fights to return Meas to her place as ShipWife – but Joron’s luck may be running out. His crew are tired and notorious, the Rot is growing worse, and the Prophecy of the Caller and Windseer beckons. But will the world end in fire and death as the prophecy fortold?

CW/TW: Violence, Tortue, Body Horror, Gore, Blood, Disease, Death, Murder.

SPOILER WARNING: THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR BOOKS 1 AND 2 IN THE TIDE CHILD TRILOGY.

Reviews: Book Review: The Bone Ships, by RJ Barker | Book Review: Call Of The Bone Ships (The Tide Child #2), by RJ Barker

The Bone Ship’s Wake, by RJ Barker is an explosive and intense conclusion to an epic trilogy. With prophecies rising and revenge being dealt without mercy, the Tide Child crew take to a sea of blood to return their Shipwife to them. But will their voices be heard by the Maiden and the Mother, or will they join the Hag around her fire?

This conclusion truly blew me out of the water, Barker gave us everything we loved about books 1 and 2, and then gave us even more. Barker efficiently ties up each element of the plot while still giving us a rich story full of emotion, tension and action. This book dives into the story months/a year or so after the concluding events of book 2 – Meas has been taken and is being held prisoner, Joron has the Keyshan’s Rot and a prosthetic leg, The Tide Child heads a fleet of ships, and the Keyshans have been rising.

The book kicks off with, what I can only describes as PAIN! The Bone Ship’s Wake is told from two primary perspectives, Joron and Meas. Unlike in book 1 and 2, the Shipwife and Deckkeeper are now separated so we get two different perspectives to how the story has progressed. Meas is being held by the Hundred Isles in order for them to find the secret behind raising the Keyshans, while Joron wreaks havoc on the Hundred Isles in search of her. While we already know the Black Ship Crew members are all criminals of some kind and are not ‘good’ people but Barker really dives into the darker side of the Tide Child Crew in this book – and I LOVED IT (The Pirate vibes are REAL in this conclusion!). The Hag welcomes many souls at her fire throughout this book.

Before I talk about the plot, let’s just appreciate Barker’s writing! The masterful and immersive prose is just as strong in book 3 as it was at the start of the series. Barker’s writing is truly atmospheric from the Sea to the land, every element is richly detailed and absorbing, actively bringing these nautical scenes to life. Not only is the writing both rich and descriptive, it is also intensely emotional and full of action. From the connections between the crew members, to the loyalty to Meas, and the newfound respect for Joron, to the dynamic between crew and guillame – every bond and connection is perfectly captured. The emotions and connections truly pull at the heartstrings and make all the risks in the story worth it. Tension, angst, heart-break and heart-ache is all perfectly weaved in throughout the book and we have an undeniable connection with this cast of characters, making the book an all the more powerful read.

Ok so, the plot! now I can’t talk too much about it because I’d hate to spoil it for any of you but I absolutely LOVED how the story played out in this conclusion. Over the course of the trilogy the story has taken on a darker tone, and The Bone Ship’s Wake is no exception – it accepts the dark tone and sails with it. From the Keyshan’s Rot, to Lucky Meas being captured and tortured for information, to the impending doom of the fire and death prophecy of the Caller and Windseer – this book already seems to be courting the Hag. There has been a lot building up to this book and it really stands up to the expectations and then some. The primary part of the plot is Joron’s search for Meas, and within this search you can truly see the connection he has with her – all the character development so far really pay’s off, this coupled witht the characters progression in this book alone is astounding. Joron and Meas have an amazing bond between them which is really highlighted through how desperately Joron tries to get her back, in his actions in doing so and in his determination that she is still alive.

Joron’s journey in this book is action-packed, dark and desperate. It gave me chills to watch it all unfold. Not only does his independent determination and newfound title make for an absolutely enthralling read, but the loyalty of his crew to him is also amazing. The Crew, both new and old members, truly respect Joron now and follow him into even the most dangerous of tasks. While the crew also want Lucky Meas back, they do now have respect for their Deckkeeper to the point that they share some interesting rumours about him. Joron has come along way, and even in this darker turn, you can see just how much he has developed. I really enjoyed this element of the story, from the absolutely epic action scenes that feel incredibly real, to the stealthy missions, to the dangerous sea routes, everything hit the mark.

Similarly, Meas’ perspective was also engaging and heartbreaking. Tortured at the hands of the Hundred Isles, Meas truly tries to hold out. We see a whole new side to the unbreakable pillar that is Lucky Meas. Meas is a standout character and I am so glad we got to see more depth to her in this book – and her connection with Joron is something I adored. Barker did an excellent job exploring the effects of Meas’ imprisonment on her, while still maintaining what it is that makes Meas who she is. I also really liked how the prophecy surrounding Meas was explored and discussed in this book, from her own perspectives on it, to Joron’s and the Crew’s.

Barker was definintely not afraid to impose risks and consequences throughout this book. The plot is incredibly well paced with a lot of action, and Barker ensures that we are sufficiently terrified through each life-threatening scene. My heart has been adequately blown into teeny-tiny parts thanks to this book. It is truly unpredictable, injuries, losses, any consequence is truly as shocking and unpredictable as the sea itself, and it was painfully glorious. This also means that, throughout the book, the looming prophecy is also terrifying because fire and death has been promised and yet we still do not know the meaning behind these words. The climax and conclusion to this book really blew me away. This was truly a fitting and heart-breaking yet closure-inducing end for this stunning trilogy. From start to finish I was emotionally invested, and I do not forgive Barker for breaking my heart in this way!

While the overarching plot is full of prophecy and vengence, Barker still gives us even more with more secrets, betrayals, bargains and plots within plots weaved into the wider story – there is som much packed into this book, all of which is tied up well and fits into the wider plot perfectly. A truly heart-in-throat finale that will blow you out of the water.

It is devastating that we are saying goodbye to the cast of the Tide Child Trilogy, each character was memorable, well developed and complex. From Joron and Meas, who I love with all my heart, to Cwell, Farys, and our beloved Courser, (and even more!) – the crew is truly the best and I loved seeing them all develop. Finally, my love the Guillame has to be spoken about, I absolutely adore the Guillame and their friendship with Joron, and their role in this book made me love them even more. The Guillame, and it’s kind are another staple of the trilogy that truly standsout in this conclusion.

I could honestly go on and on about this epic conclusion, but I don’t want to travel into spoiler territory! So, I’ll leave my review here for now. However, overall this book was a perfet conclusion to what has been a truly epic tilogy that captured my heart. It is an explosive and intensely emotional ending that was incredibly fitting. From the plot, to the prose to the characters, Barker truly hit the mark on every aspect of this book. It is the kind of conclusion and trilogy that will leave you feeling at a loss upon finishing because there is no more to consume! Oh, how I would love to see this adapted and played out on screen in all its sea-faring glory. An epic, outstanding and intense conclusion to a masterpiece of a trilogy.

*I received an eARC of this book from #Netgalley @Orbitbooks in exchange for an honest review- thank you so much!*

I’m… almost tempted to leave it there. That’s how I felt when I finished this book. Life has got in the way of me writing this review until now, but even a month later I can still recall how I felt after putting the Bone Ship’s Wake down. I felt… drained, in some ways. I felt like I’d experienced every emotion at once. I felt somewhat sad and melancholy, but with a giddy sort of hopeful feeling.

This will be a short review. Not because I don’t have a lot to say about these books, but because I don’t know how to say it.

Something I always love in a good story is genuine, natural, character growth. I love books that aren’t afraid to centre their character’s struggles, and aren’t afraid to take them to darker places, but still care enough to build them back up. Very few contemporary fantasy authors do that as well as RJ Barker.

Look at Joron Twiner. Look at where he started. Look at where he is now, where Meas has led him. That right there, that’s brilliance. Even if you’ve only read the first two books, you know what I’m talking about. If you’re asking me, it only gets better from there.

I love these books. The family feeling of the crew. The awkward tensions of the families. The fight for something better. The imposter syndrome. The fact that society itself is the enemy. The fact that it is impossible to look away from the people squashed underfoot. The acknowledgement that some people can be irredeemable utter shits, but that other people can. be. better.

I could talk to you about the worldbuilding. I could wax lyrical about the goth-y aesthetic and the great pacing and all of the ebbs and flows of the plot. But you can read my review of the last book if you’re looking for that.

Right now, I just want to enjoy the fact that I have read an absolute masterpiece.

And the Bone Ships trilogy IS a masterpiece.

I’ve been putting this review off for a few days because I wasn’t sure where to start with how much I loved this book. Anyone who has read the first two books in the series – The Bone Ships and Call of the Bone Ships – will know what to expect, but Barker really took it up a notch in this finale. I don’t typically get outwardly emotional about books, but The Bone Ship’s Wake left me open-mouthed and a little teary.

We pick up where Call of the Bone Ships left off, with Joron as the new shipwife of The Tide Child, and desperate to get Meas back from her captors. The synopsis paints this as a revenge story, but in my opinion it’s much more nuanced than that – the book is ultimately about about Joron coming to terms with what it means to be a leader and how to weigh up what is necessary, what is right, and the consequences of one’s actions. We also return to a number of the other themes threaded throughout the series – courage, duty, and finding hope and light in the darkness. Joron has no idea who he can trust as friends become enemies and enemies become allies, but there is still a focus on finding meaning and solace in relationships with others despite all the treachery and betrayal the Tide Child’s crew face.

Those who came to the series for the naval battles also won’t be disappointed; there is plenty of action, particularly in the first part of the book, including a terrifying encounter with a sea kraken that had me on the edge of my seat. My biggest concern with the first two books, and the reason I didn’t give them five stars, is because I found the pacing could drag a little, but that’s not the case here – the story moves along at a perfectly balanced pace. There is always some event unfolding, but readers are also given time to soak in the world-building and themes that Barker has layered throughout the series. The action scenes are great, but I also love the little details, such as the uniqueness of the flora and fauna (which goes beyond the dragons and the guillame), and the subtle shifts in language that mark the Hundred Isles as a matriachal society in all aspects of its culture.

If you’ve read to this point in the series (which – this is definitely not a book that stands alone) you’ll know not to expect a happy ending, but the conclusion is appropriately bittersweet and, most importantly feels right for the characters that we, as readers, have gone on this journey with. Thank you, R.J. Barker.

Summary: The Bone Ship’s Wake is a tense and exciting final act to a stellar trilogy. Barker pulls off the ending with aplomb, excellently rounding out the themes introduced up to this point.

Yes, it’s what many us have been waiting for, the final instalment of the Tide Child trilogy, and boy does it not disappoint. After the devastating loss at the end of Call of the Bone Ships, Joron is now in charge of the entire black fleet, the alliance of ships Meas built up to counteract the cruelty of The Hundred Isles and bring peace to the seas. With Meas captured, Joron’s only goal is to bring her back, no matter who stands in his way.

Joron is one of my favourite characters in recent fiction, and it’s great to see how he’s evolved since the first book. Now in a position of complete command, he has to reckon with his own imposter syndrome, and the loneliness of being set above everyone else. At the same time, he refuses to take the title of Shipwife, even if that’s exactly what he now is (and other characters point out that even Fleet Mother might be a better term, considering). He’s now know as the Black Pirate, a dangerous and ruthless raider. More than ever, he feels his mortality – the Keyshan’s Rot has taken hold of most of his body, and he knows it is only a matter of time until it takes his mind too. Any time he feels a surge of anger, or wants to laugh at the terrifying, he starts to wonder if those emotions are really his, or a symptom of the rot.

I found the pacing in this book to be impeccable. The first part of the book is taken up mostly by a long tense chase punctuated by bursts of intense action that had me on the edge of my seat. The second part concerns the plot to rescue Meas and forces Joron to reckon with the consequences of his actions. The third part rises to a belter of a climax that by the end genuinely had me in tears. Each part builds on what came before, but also segregates nicely so that theoretically you could take a break at the end of each part and still be satisfied (although I can’t see many people not wanting to find out what happens as soon as possible).

The Guillame is back, and it’s interactions with Joron and the crew is great as always. This time Joron has to deal with the fact that Madorra seems to be controlling the Guillame somehow. The crew in general are less prominent in this book – the deaths from the previous book causing there to be less named crew members with known personalities than before. Farys, Cwell, Mevans, Muffaz and Gavith all get their due however, and I am certainly sad to see the last of them.

Thematically, this book does a good job of touching on elements from the previous books. We get to see more about what makes a good leader in Joron’s story; the flaws of the culture of The Hundred Isles and their maritime policies in general; how the guillaime can be when they are free; the inevitability of the prophecy of the Windseer, and Joron’s part in that as the Caller; how compassion can change things for the better and probably more that I’ve missed. The Caller/Windseer dynamic is definitely far more pressing in this final novel, as Joron hears the song of the Keyshans whenever he lets his mind wander.

Triumphs and betrayals, death and new leases on life, and a deep sense of camaraderie – these are what I’ve come to expect from the Tide Child series, and The Bone Ship’s Wake does not disappoint. This book is without a doubt my favourite of the trilogy, and I sorely recommend that you read it.

Rating: 10/10

The Bone Ship’s Wake is the final part of the Tide Child Trilogy and it is a brilliant end to what I felt was a great and inventive fantasy trilogy. Joron Twiner has to try and rescue his shipwife, Lucky Meas but he has to contend with treachery on all sides. There are very few people that he can trust and he even doubts them at times. This book returns us to the place where the whole story started but Joron is definitely no longer the same person. Many of the characters from the early part of the saga reappear and issues are resolved. However, R J Barker is not an author who is kind to his characters and none of them escape unscathed.
I love the world of the Tide Child although it is a very dark world where hardship and injustice are the normal state of affairs. We see very few characters who lead an easy life. But despite the hardships, there is still love and friendship. The relationship between Joron and the Gullaime is one of the book’s highlights and I love how the role played by the Gullaime is gradually revealed.
This is definitely the third part of a trilogy and I think that it would be hard to read without having read the first two
Huge thanks to Net Galley and Little Brown Book Group for letting me read an advance copy of this book.