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The Bone Ships
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
31 posts | 16 read | 43 to read
A crew of condemned criminals embark on a suicide mission to hunt the first sea dragon seen in centuries in the first book of this adventure fantasy trilogy. Violent raids plague the divided isles of the Scattered Archipelago. Fleets constantly battle for dominance and glory, and no commander stands higher among them than "Lucky" Meas Gilbryn. But betrayed and condemned to command a ship of criminals, Meas is forced on suicide mission to hunt the first living sea-dragon in generations. Everyone wants it, but Meas Gilbryn has her own ideas about the great beast. In the Scattered Archipelago, a dragon's life, like all lives, is bound in blood, death and treachery. The Tide Child TrilogyThe Bone Ships For more from RJ Barker, check out: The Wounded KingdomAge of AssassinsBlood of AssassinsKing of Assassins
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Nessavamusic
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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Pickpick

An epic start to a fantasy series about magic dragon boats. That is a very simple summary to a very detailed and well built fantasy world. If anything, it spends so much time on world building, I zoned out and was a bit lost at times. I am intrigued enough to continue the series at some point. 3.5⭐️
Also glad I didn‘t hate it as I have this gorgeous edition. #roll100 done!

Gissy Beautiful edition😍👌 3mo
PuddleJumper That's great! 3mo
55 likes1 stack add2 comments
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TracyReadsBooks
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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#12Booksof2023

This. Book. This book is an epic fantasy set at sea which, thanks to this book, is now something I can‘t get enough of—more please! Inventive world building, fascinating magic system, dynamic, flawed characters, high stakes—this book, the entire series, has it all. Brutal, raw, unputdownable. This one is also one of my 2023 Top Ten Books.

@Andrew65

Andrew65 This is on my TBR, I clearly need to progress it up the list! 4mo
30 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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LeticiaToraci
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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Bailedbailed

One of the 11 books I DNFed in 2023, this was not completely bad, it just wasn't for me.

julesG Snap! 5mo
12 likes1 comment
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julieclair
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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This looks like a book to get lost in. And it‘s the first in a series!

#ScarathlonPhotoChallenge Day 2. #Bones @Clwojick @StayCurious
#MagicalMonsters @Laughterhp

AnnR Nice! I hope you are able to easily get the rest of the series. 7mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 7mo
Laughterhp Sounds interesting!! 7mo
RainyDayReading I‘ve got this full series sitting on my shelf! Some of my favorite covers. Still have to get around to reading it though 😅 7mo
Andrew65 This looks good 😁 7mo
38 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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BookMaven9
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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Pickpick

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Once I got my sea legs, it was a wild ride! Great characters and interesting creatures, Gullaime has my ♥️. Looking forward to getting back into@the ocean with this awesome trilogy.

dabbe Hello there, sleepy-adorable pup! 🖤🐾🖤 7mo
BookMaven9 The house ruler 🐾🐾 7mo
21 likes2 comments
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Twainy
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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Subscription Book Box - The Broken Binding. This is such a pretty book. The silver foil design wraps around the book and the digitally sprayed edge is fantastic! The jacket matches the original artwork & there‘s a bookmark with a quote.

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wordslinger42
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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Finding comfort in some good books tonight 📚

22 likes1 stack add
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TracyReadsBooks
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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February was heavy on fantasy & stories that took me to other lands & these were all great. I read a total of 22 books, the tagged one was my favorite (just edging out the concluding book in the trilogy which I gave five stars to because the ending was perfect) because it introduced me to a surprisingly inventive & original world. Roanhorse‘s novella also introduced a fascinating world I would like to see more of. On to March!

#FebruaryWrapUp

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TracyReadsBooks
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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#Two4Tuesday

1. Tagged book—a wildly original fantasy, first in a trilogy that I raced through because I couldn‘t put it down even though I didn‘t want it to end—was definitely my favorite book of the month.

2. Our daughter will be home from college for Spring Break and then at the end of the month we head to C2E2 and dive deep into our fandoms for a weekend.

@TheSpineView

TheSpineView Sounds like March is going to be a wonderful month! Thanks for playing! 14mo
18 likes1 comment
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Isy
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
Mehso-so

This has a Robin Hobb feel about it. I did enjoy it but felt like the attempts to subvert social norms were a bit strained. As a woman, I don't mind saying 'men and women' I found myself pausing to correctly read 'women and men' every time. Equally, it's absolutely riddled with spelling errors.

As a story, it was enjoyable, if a little slow. I kind of saw the end coming, but there were some surprises in there.

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TracyReadsBooks
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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Pickpick

A wildly imaginative, wholly original, vicious, fascinating world—pirates, Moby Dick except the whale is a sea dragon, nautical thriller, duty, honor, loyalty, endless danger, weakness a death sentence & betrayal a fact of life, where a ship crewed by condemned men & women may change everything, where a bird-like creature‘s power is the difference between life & death…& yes, the story is as awesome as all that suggests. Unusual & most excellent.

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TracyReadsBooks
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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A story about ships built from the bones of ancient dragons? Yes please!

(There‘s more to the story, of course, but ships built from the bones of dragons is definitely what caught my attention…)

26 likes1 stack add
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Twainy
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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Pickpick

🎧 Difficult to get into but once if clicks it‘s un-put-downable.

Dragons have been gone for years. Ships made of dragon bone are coveted! On the search for a sea dragon. A motley convict crew being beaten into shape by a woman on a death ship.

Once it gets going it‘s a thrill ride. Mostly on the high seas.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

31 likes1 stack add
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Ayotte93
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
Pickpick

I normally don‘t care for books that take place on the sea but the book dragged me in with its first line “Give me your hat”. If you are looking for a good read that is full of unique characters pick up the bone ships!

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Mitch
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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Lining up a few new series to start in 2022. Looks good and Robin Hobb says ‘Brilliant‘ so it must be good! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Nutmegnc Ooohh. That looks interesting!! 2y
Jee_HookedOnBookz Hi Mitch! How are you? Haven‘t heard from you in awhile. Hope all‘s fine on your end! :) 2y
Soubhiville Ooo, I‘ll be watching to see what you think. I dig the cover 😊 2y
77 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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imyril
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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#WyrdAndWonder (belated) day 22 | get in the sea

I love seaborne fantasy - give me tales of islands and archipelagos, hidden coves and deadly reefs, tall ships and sea monsters. I‘ve got lots, but my pick today is RJ Barker‘s dark matriarchal fantasy The Bone Ships, which blew me away with its meticulous worldbuilding.

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The_Heeler_Booklife
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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Mehso-so

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
First of all, I think this would have been way better to read physically instead of listening to it. Sometimes I found myself lost when I listened to the audiobook. The only reason I chose the audiobook because my library says the book is lost and I didn‘t want to buy it. I did like the action in it. I will be reading the rest of the series and hopefully physically.
#bookstagram #bibliophile #litsy #littens #bookreview #review

Lesanne I‘ve read both books in the series and I would definitely recommend reading a physical copy. 3y
The_Heeler_Booklife @Lesanne yeah after reading this through audio I kept wishing I got a physical copy. To bad it is lost at the library (edited) 3y
31 likes2 comments
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Samreamer
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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Pickpick

Wow, such a creative and exciting book. Pirates meet dragons, complete with non-binary characters, female leaders, and sea shanties. I absolutely adored the main characters, and I will die for the gullaime. So glad I brought the second book with me (what else have I got to do in the surgical waiting area while my partner gets his kidney stones blasted?!) 10/10

BookMaven9 Gullaine ♥️ 7mo
16 likes1 comment
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Lucy_Anywhere
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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#TBRPile 📚 For generations, the Hundred Isles have used the bones of ancient dragons to build their warships. The dragons have long vanished but the battles for supremacy continue. Now the first dragon in centuries has been spotted in far off waters, and both sides see a chance to tilt the balance of power in their favour...

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TheShaggyShepherd
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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This books is amazing! I was looking forward to it thanks to some blogger friends raving about it but I was not expecting to love it this much! This is amazing! A definitely 5 star read for me and a favorite of the year. I‘m so glad I have the second one to get into right away. #arcreview #netgalley

The_Penniless_Author I love that cover! 👍🙂 3y
TheShaggyShepherd @The_Penniless_Author Me too! They aren't overly complicated but draw your attention nonetheless. I'm excited to have print copies of them!
3y
50 likes6 stack adds2 comments
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Bookgoil
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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Thanks to @timeisfleeting for this awesome #litsylovefallswap package! I‘m excited to read all three books! The candle smells amazing and I‘ll burn it tonight after work! The coffee will help me in the morning! Thanks so much!
#litsylove

Hazel2019 Brown sugar vanilla 😊 can almost smell it lol yum 4y
Bookgoil @Hazel2019 she triple wrapped it and I could smell it as I unwrapped it!! 4y
Crazeedi I can smell it! Great gifts, and the coffee, yes!! 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️🎉📚 4y
timeisfleeting 😊 😊You are very welcome @bookgoil! : ) I am so glad you liked everything! 😊 4y
46 likes5 comments
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Littlewolf1
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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Ya, I know, I‘m supposed to wait for the 24th, but it‘s after midnight so I think that still counts. Thank you @Michollio for an amazing book choice and the chocolate. Happy #Jolabokaflod everyone. #Jolabokaflodswap

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imyril
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
Pickpick

Oh my. I‘m so glad I made time for this: considered world building, interesting characters (if not necessarily likeable; I loved the non-human characters best) and a gripping plot that had me on the edge of my seat - if not surprising, certainly deeply satisfying. I‘m going to be thinking about it for days: I can still hear the rigging creaking and the splash of waves. Can‘t wait for book two. One of the best of my year.

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imyril
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker

“It is not an impossible task I set you.”
“Not impossible in the unlikely event it goes perfectly,” said Meas.

A quarter in and O HAI PLOT and challenging the world building and I‘m so here for this but also NOOOOOO DON‘T KILL THE DRAGONS

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imyril
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker

Right. It‘s finally time to sail the Hundred Isles aboard the Tide Child. SO MUCH AWESOME WORLD BUILDING! Characters also intriguing but that‘s fine, tell me more about this world, RJ

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FoxySocks
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker
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Next up..

AutumnRLS Cool cover! 🖌🎨 4y
5 likes1 comment
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imyril
The Bone Ships | RJ Barker

I am way more excited to read this than I should be (I was the oddity who didn‘t love Age of Assassins) but SHIPS CREWED BY CONVICTS and ARCHIPELAGOES and MAGIC and A MAP and SEA DRAAAAAAAGONS

(Why yes I love a fantasy map. More space opera should include star charts, fite me)