My advice is to judge them on who they are when you meet them, rather than on what you have heard from those to whom they are only stories.” This first novel of the Tide Child trilogy aptly titled The Bone Ship takes us to the Hundred Isles where two rival nations have been warring since time immemorial. None can even tell you how or why the enmity started between them, but all they know is that in this archipelago system, the side with the best ships win. Thus for generations, the islanders have endeavored to build the most powerful fleets out of the sturdy bones of great sea dragons, but after centuries of this practice, inevitably these magnificent beasts have been hunted to extinction. Dragon sightings have become virtually non-existent, sparking yet another fierce competition for the few bones that remain.

A vividly realized high-seas epic that pulls you deep into its world and keeps you tangled there until the very last word." —Evan Winter, author of The Rage of Dragons 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. 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.” Now, the first dragon in centuries has been spotted in far-off waters, and both sides see a chance to shift the balance of power in their favor. Because whoever catches it will win not only glory but the war.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.”" An enthralling story in a fascinating yet brutal world and its harsh seas, The Bone Ships is another winner from R.J. Barker.

Questo romanzo è il canto del mare in tempesta, la pace della risacca, il tuono dell’abbordaggio, questo romanzo è la storia di una ciurma dannata e reietta, pronta a salvare il mondo. Penso sia scontato dirlo, ma questo è davvero un libro perfetto se amate le storie di pirati. C’è avventura, adrenalina, mostri marini e soprattutto una ciurma indimenticabile. È un gruppo di condannati a morte, underdogs per eccellenza, e quando la nostra storia inizia sono uniti quanto una classe delle medie. Con l’avanzare della storia la ciurma però comincia a conoscersi, a credere in se stessa come gruppo e nella dama di nave. Meas è un personaggio fantastico, quasi la vera protagonista rispetto a Joron, molto più passivo, quasi un fantasma di se stesso all’inizio della storia. È un protagonista atipico, soprattutto per un libro fantasy, ma ho adorato seguire la sua crescita, vederlo abbandonare le sue paure e avvicinarsi al resto della ciurma. Il suo rapporto con il Gullaime è una degli elementi che ho preferito di più in questo romanzo. 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? 😎😃. 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.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. Loyalty. That is what makes a ship work – ties of loyalty. To each other, to the ship. And every time we fight together, we are bound closer together. It is your nature, Joron, to like people and to be kind. Do not think I have not seen the leeway you give.” This is a pirate-y story, and normally I enjoy books aboard ship. However, in this one, although I do think RJ does a super job with the bone ships and the ways of sailors on a ship, I just didn't feel gripped or compelled by this. I also think it's a super slow start with none of the 'real' plot happening until around halfway and the second half, although better, still didn't grip me as I wanted it to.