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mheimbec's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bmatin321's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
penguin_emperor_of_the_north's review against another edition
2.0
Eh, not enough keyshan.
So, the two things I had been enjoying most about this series is first, broadly the spectacle that the world building allows. Particularly whenever the keyshans showed up the author did a really good job of making that a spectacular scene. Like from the climax of book 1 That's an awesome scene, that was just cool.
Or in book 2, maybe 2/3 of the way through when Joron the way the crew's fighting retreat to escape the island was written was a great scene.
The second thing that I had been enjoying a lot was the fight scenes. I think it did a great job of building tension as the ships close range and then the havoc of the ships exchanging fire.
But, a lot of this book is chase scenes. Very slow paced chase scenes. There's a few good action scenes like the scene in the southern ice field. Good balance of suspense, action and spectacle with what lurks in there. And the climax was fast paced and engrossing as a scene.
So much of the rest of the book is slow paced though and you're left with the characters. So, if you've grown to like the characters maybe you'd enjoy those sections but I haven't grown to like these characters. I can appreciate how much Joron has grown since the beginning of the series but I can't sympathize with him anymore. After what he, his crew and his fleet did in the beginning of this novel and between the end of the second and the start of this one? They lost the moral high ground and I gave up really caring about them.
That's what made a lot of the book drag for me then, I didn't particularly care who came out ahead. Whether the Hundred Isles, Gaunt Islanders or Meas' fleet comes out ahead it's just a question of which group of monsters wins and I didn't have near enough skin in the game to root for any particular group of monsters.
And the prophecy was a let down overall. Spoilers for the climax Honestly, it felt like a last minute thing in the book too, I don't think it was foreshadowed or hinted that that was what the prophesy referred to. Others might think differently I suppose but when the nature of the prophesy was revealed I was more disappointed than awed or satisfied.
Then I had some thoughts about the morality presented, thoughts here hint at the end but I tried not to be explicit about how things shake out:
Joron's been committing war crimes between books and at the beginning of this book.
Then, when Joron finds an opportunity to strike a blow at the capital (Bernshulme) by basically using a biological weapon (sending a dead keyshan there apparently unleashes a plague) against the city he does so.
And to the book's credit, Joron feels a lot of guilt over this. His actions eat at him. But later on Meas tries to comfort him that what he did was done in the heat of battle. That may be true for unleashing the keyshan but certainly not true for massacring the towns and settlements. But even with the keyshan, that didn't happen in a hand to hand fight. Joron wasn't deciding between dying and doing something wrong. It was escape or escape and find a way to use the keyshan. Sure he was under pressure at the time but he was still able to think of a way to unleash a plague.
For that reason, for the rest of the book Joron, Meas and their fleet abandoned any moral high ground and I just had no reason to root for them over their enemies.
Finally, at the end, the book seems to lean into this idea that just getting rid of the bad people would lead to a better world for the good people. And to an extent I can sympathize with that, we are shaped by our surrounding society and people do tend to rise or fall to the standards of those they surround themselves with.
But the way the book shows a borderline utopian society after the 'good people' escape and that's a worrying thought to me. Maybe at one time I would've just thought it naive but now I start thinking about how that idea that getting rid of the bad people or escaping the bad people would manifest.
Maybe as long as people stick to the escape side. Good luck with that hippie commune, autonomous zone or Mars colony I guess. But if turns to getting rid of the bad people, I don't like where that leads.
And maybe I'm reading too much into it, what I was thinking about in the last three paragraphs there wasn't explicitly said in the book. But the more I thought about the end, the more of a bad taste in my mouth I got.
Hopefully the next book I read has more explosions or dinosaurs so I don't have to write as much . . .
So, the two things I had been enjoying most about this series is first, broadly the spectacle that the world building allows. Particularly whenever the keyshans showed up the author did a really good job of making that a spectacular scene. Like from the climax of book 1
Spoiler
when the keyshan attacks the hostile ship (Hagshunter maybe?) and you have this massive sea dragon bite a freaking capital ship in half.Or in book 2, maybe 2/3 of the way through when Joron
Spoiler
awakens the keyshan sleeping in that one islandThe second thing that I had been enjoying a lot was the fight scenes. I think it did a great job of building tension as the ships close range and then the havoc of the ships exchanging fire.
But, a lot of this book is chase scenes. Very slow paced chase scenes. There's a few good action scenes like the scene in the southern ice field. Good balance of suspense, action and spectacle with what lurks in there. And the climax was fast paced and engrossing as a scene.
So much of the rest of the book is slow paced though and you're left with the characters. So, if you've grown to like the characters maybe you'd enjoy those sections but I haven't grown to like these characters. I can appreciate how much Joron has grown since the beginning of the series but I can't sympathize with him anymore. After what he, his crew and his fleet did in the beginning of this novel and between the end of the second and the start of this one? They lost the moral high ground and I gave up really caring about them.
That's what made a lot of the book drag for me then, I didn't particularly care who came out ahead. Whether the Hundred Isles, Gaunt Islanders or Meas' fleet comes out ahead it's just a question of which group of monsters wins and I didn't have near enough skin in the game to root for any particular group of monsters.
And the prophecy was a let down overall. Spoilers for the climax
Spoiler
The 'fire and death' prophesied refers to open a fiery door and the Gullaime sacrificing itself to open that door. Fine, but I was hoping for something more cataclysmic.Then I had some thoughts about the morality presented, thoughts here hint at the end but I tried not to be explicit about how things shake out:
Spoiler
In an attempt to get Meas back from the Hundred Isles government, Joron and his fleet have taken to raiding any settlement they can overpower, interrogating any officers, seizing any supplies and making a 'join or die' offer to any survivors. It's implied that they kill a lot of people. Like killing off entire towns. Enough that the Hundred Isles has to commit significant resources to hunting Joron's fleet and turtling their fleet to defend the Hundred Isles' capital.Joron's been committing war crimes between books and at the beginning of this book.
Then, when Joron finds an opportunity to strike a blow at the capital (Bernshulme) by basically using a biological weapon (sending a dead keyshan there apparently unleashes a plague) against the city he does so.
And to the book's credit, Joron feels a lot of guilt over this. His actions eat at him. But later on Meas tries to comfort him that what he did was done in the heat of battle. That may be true for unleashing the keyshan but certainly not true for massacring the towns and settlements. But even with the keyshan, that didn't happen in a hand to hand fight. Joron wasn't deciding between dying and doing something wrong. It was escape or escape and find a way to use the keyshan. Sure he was under pressure at the time but he was still able to think of a way to unleash a plague.
For that reason, for the rest of the book Joron, Meas and their fleet abandoned any moral high ground and I just had no reason to root for them over their enemies.
Finally, at the end, the book seems to lean into this idea that just getting rid of the bad people would lead to a better world for the good people. And to an extent I can sympathize with that, we are shaped by our surrounding society and people do tend to rise or fall to the standards of those they surround themselves with.
But the way the book shows a borderline utopian society after the 'good people' escape and that's a worrying thought to me. Maybe at one time I would've just thought it naive but now I start thinking about how that idea that getting rid of the bad people or escaping the bad people would manifest.
Maybe as long as people stick to the escape side. Good luck with that hippie commune, autonomous zone or Mars colony I guess. But if turns to getting rid of the bad people, I don't like where that leads.
And maybe I'm reading too much into it, what I was thinking about in the last three paragraphs there wasn't explicitly said in the book. But the more I thought about the end, the more of a bad taste in my mouth I got.
Hopefully the next book I read has more explosions or dinosaurs so I don't have to write as much . . .
saloninareads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
anachronaxia's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
Both too much and not enough. An ending that should be satisfying that isnt quite built up to despite all the meandering to get to it.
arpakape's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
oursinculte's review against another edition
5.0
On y est, la fin de la trilogie Tide Child, la conclusion de cette saga navale épique dans un univers bluffant d’inventivité. La tension monte, les promesses seront-elles tenues ? Rendez-vous au port le plus proche, on embarque.
Plus d’un an s’est écoulé depuis les évènements de Call of the bone ships, Joron Twiner et son équipage sont devenus le cauchemar de tous les navires des cent îles, il est le pirate noir, prêt à faire la guerre à toutes les flottes pour retrouver ce qu’on lui a pris, mais la maladie le ronge et son temps est compté. Est-il le « caller » de la prophétie Gullaime, va-t-il sauver le monde dans le feu et le sang ? Réveille-t-il les keyshans avec son chant ? D’autres le pensent, et paieraient cher pour lui mettre la main dessus.
Que dire sur ce troisième tome qui serait pas une répétition de ce que j’ai déjà dit des bouquins précédents ? On a toujours un univers original et fantastique qui permet à l’auteur de réinventer toute une culture navale, une société et ses codes qui prenaient un peu de temps à se mettre en place au premier tome, mais qui ici prennent toute leur ampleur. On a les clés de la maison, on est maintenant plongé dans l’action ! Et on continue dans les grands moments de tension avec une première partie de roman sous forme d’énorme course poursuite navale qui dure des jours et des jours, où tout doit être sacrifié pour semer l’ennemi. Le suspense de la mer calme où on se croit enfin sortis d’affaire, épuisés, lorsque le cri tu top boy vient signaler une voile à l’horizon, encore et encore jusqu’au désespoir.
Mais Joron Twiner conduira son équipage d’une main de fer, jusqu’au bout de leur mission et de leur idéal, même quand tout le monde est contre eux, même quand tout semble perdu. Ce suspense et cette tension, mesdames et messieurs, c’est du grand spectacle, prenant de bout en bout. Et il en a fait du chemin le Joron, partant de noble alcoolique condamné à Shipwife intérimaire du vaisseau le plus recherché des deux côtés le l’épine de Skearith. C’est peut-être Joron qui nous happe le plus dans cette aventure, qui se découvre une famille, une cause, des responsabilités et des choix déchirants qu’il aura à faire en chemin. Le Tide Child et sa flotte vont se battre pour remettre en question des lois archaïques qui font souffrir les femmes et les hommes. Car c’est là le sens du combat du Tide Child, lutter contre un monde vieillissant et oppressant, contre des traditions et des lois qui meurtrissent et tuent, comme on l’a vu dans Call of the bone ships.
Ces bouquins ont une telle aura, une telle classe à tous les instants qu’ils laisseront une trace indélébile dans ma mémoire. On a plusieurs moments de suspense captivants, de grandes manœuvres épiques, de grands épisodes tragiques (j’ai encore la larme à l’œil en pensant au choix de Muffaz), des souffrances et des victoires inoubliables qui en font une grande œuvre. RJ Barker a imposé ses personnages extrêmement impressionnants, avec évidemment Meas en tête, qui gagne dans ce tome encore des couches de profondeur et de subtilité, même si elle laisse un peu d’air à Joron. Et c’est Joron justement qui subit ici une vraie transformation, de Deckkeeper admiratif, il se transforme en chef de guerre, en capitaine déterminé et en meneur de femmes et d’hommes accompli. Il va faire des choix difficiles, des décisions aux conséquences désastreuses, des sacrifices, mais quel protagoniste !
On se dirige petit à petit vers une conclusion explosive, le piège se referme, on voit très bien tous les éléments se mettre en place inexorablement. Avec minutie l’auteur a placé ses pions, a mis en place ses pièges, ses combats et les arcs des différents personnages pour que tout se rejoigne dans un dernier acte grandiose qui m’a laissé sur le cul. C’est avec un peu de tristesse que je quitte cet univers, en espérant y revenir un jour. RJ Barker a sorti le premier tome de sa prochaine trilogie, que j’ai évidemment déjà en PAL, mais pour The bone ships, on espère sincèrement que Bragelonne ne va pas rester assis sur ce trésor en puissance et va enfin nous traduire tout ça (mais bon courage pour la traduction, ça va être costaud).
https://ours-inculte.fr/the-bone-ships-wake/
Plus d’un an s’est écoulé depuis les évènements de Call of the bone ships, Joron Twiner et son équipage sont devenus le cauchemar de tous les navires des cent îles, il est le pirate noir, prêt à faire la guerre à toutes les flottes pour retrouver ce qu’on lui a pris, mais la maladie le ronge et son temps est compté. Est-il le « caller » de la prophétie Gullaime, va-t-il sauver le monde dans le feu et le sang ? Réveille-t-il les keyshans avec son chant ? D’autres le pensent, et paieraient cher pour lui mettre la main dessus.
Que dire sur ce troisième tome qui serait pas une répétition de ce que j’ai déjà dit des bouquins précédents ? On a toujours un univers original et fantastique qui permet à l’auteur de réinventer toute une culture navale, une société et ses codes qui prenaient un peu de temps à se mettre en place au premier tome, mais qui ici prennent toute leur ampleur. On a les clés de la maison, on est maintenant plongé dans l’action ! Et on continue dans les grands moments de tension avec une première partie de roman sous forme d’énorme course poursuite navale qui dure des jours et des jours, où tout doit être sacrifié pour semer l’ennemi. Le suspense de la mer calme où on se croit enfin sortis d’affaire, épuisés, lorsque le cri tu top boy vient signaler une voile à l’horizon, encore et encore jusqu’au désespoir.
Mais Joron Twiner conduira son équipage d’une main de fer, jusqu’au bout de leur mission et de leur idéal, même quand tout le monde est contre eux, même quand tout semble perdu. Ce suspense et cette tension, mesdames et messieurs, c’est du grand spectacle, prenant de bout en bout. Et il en a fait du chemin le Joron, partant de noble alcoolique condamné à Shipwife intérimaire du vaisseau le plus recherché des deux côtés le l’épine de Skearith. C’est peut-être Joron qui nous happe le plus dans cette aventure, qui se découvre une famille, une cause, des responsabilités et des choix déchirants qu’il aura à faire en chemin. Le Tide Child et sa flotte vont se battre pour remettre en question des lois archaïques qui font souffrir les femmes et les hommes. Car c’est là le sens du combat du Tide Child, lutter contre un monde vieillissant et oppressant, contre des traditions et des lois qui meurtrissent et tuent, comme on l’a vu dans Call of the bone ships.
Ces bouquins ont une telle aura, une telle classe à tous les instants qu’ils laisseront une trace indélébile dans ma mémoire. On a plusieurs moments de suspense captivants, de grandes manœuvres épiques, de grands épisodes tragiques (j’ai encore la larme à l’œil en pensant au choix de Muffaz), des souffrances et des victoires inoubliables qui en font une grande œuvre. RJ Barker a imposé ses personnages extrêmement impressionnants, avec évidemment Meas en tête, qui gagne dans ce tome encore des couches de profondeur et de subtilité, même si elle laisse un peu d’air à Joron. Et c’est Joron justement qui subit ici une vraie transformation, de Deckkeeper admiratif, il se transforme en chef de guerre, en capitaine déterminé et en meneur de femmes et d’hommes accompli. Il va faire des choix difficiles, des décisions aux conséquences désastreuses, des sacrifices, mais quel protagoniste !
On se dirige petit à petit vers une conclusion explosive, le piège se referme, on voit très bien tous les éléments se mettre en place inexorablement. Avec minutie l’auteur a placé ses pions, a mis en place ses pièges, ses combats et les arcs des différents personnages pour que tout se rejoigne dans un dernier acte grandiose qui m’a laissé sur le cul. C’est avec un peu de tristesse que je quitte cet univers, en espérant y revenir un jour. RJ Barker a sorti le premier tome de sa prochaine trilogie, que j’ai évidemment déjà en PAL, mais pour The bone ships, on espère sincèrement que Bragelonne ne va pas rester assis sur ce trésor en puissance et va enfin nous traduire tout ça (mais bon courage pour la traduction, ça va être costaud).
https://ours-inculte.fr/the-bone-ships-wake/
i_aletheia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Incredible ending
astronad's review against another edition
5.0
I started the year with the first book of this series ([b:The Bone Ships|43521682|The Bone Ships (The Tide Child, #1)|R.J. Barker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553245088l/43521682._SX50_.jpg|67688478]) and, though I liked it enough, I wasn't sure if I would be picking up the second book. Then I found the second book ([b:Call of the Bone Ships|50637119|Call of the Bone Ships (The Tide Child, #2)|R.J. Barker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1654468932l/50637119._SY75_.jpg|75640964]) on sale so I obviously had to get it and I think that was one of my best book decisions this year.
It was a wild journey and it was all so very fun. I think this may the most unique world-building I've seen in a fantasy series (and I have read many). A matriarchal naval society with sea-dragons, talking bird creatures that control the wind, a social hierarchy system based upon the ability to give birth. I loved it. Additional a bad-ass hero who is a greying older woman? FANTASTIC.
At one point I was so sure a woman wrote this book with how well it treated all its characters, imagine my surprise HAHA
Everything about this series is refreshing. I will definitely be picking up more of R.J. Barker's books.
It was a wild journey and it was all so very fun. I think this may the most unique world-building I've seen in a fantasy series (and I have read many). A matriarchal naval society with sea-dragons, talking bird creatures that control the wind, a social hierarchy system based upon the ability to give birth. I loved it. Additional a bad-ass hero who is a greying older woman? FANTASTIC.
At one point I was so sure a woman wrote this book with how well it treated all its characters, imagine my surprise HAHA
Everything about this series is refreshing. I will definitely be picking up more of R.J. Barker's books.
darkskybooks's review against another edition
5.0
I genuinely admire RJ's vision. The Tide Child is such a refreshing fantasy trilogy and a good part of the reason for this is how different it feels from a lot of modern fantasy. First take the setting - Nautical Fantasy is definitely an interesting niche. There are other Nautical Fantasy series out there, but I have yet to encounter one as well realised as this. The boneships, constructed from the bones of ancient seamonsters in a land devoid of natural wood sources, are described with an eye to nautical detail giving them a brilliant sense of reality. The wildlife, formed of fantastical sea creatures, moves beyond the classic nautical tropes. Most fantasy settings cleave so close to land that they forget about the weird and wonderful creatures that can inhabit the oceans. The setting is certainly a star here!
But moving beyond that the relationships that form the core of tightknit crew are center stage. This is as much a character study for Joron Twiner as it is a world building exercise for a nautical world. The growth in this character over the series is just brilliant constructed. He goes from essentially a failure at the start of the series to this titanic heroic figure at the end. And through that the growth feels earnt. All that character development feels natural and deserved. This is no mean trick and shows the quality of RJs writing.
Modern fantasy is in safe hands with creative works like these. I cannot recommend the Tide Child enough!
But moving beyond that the relationships that form the core of tightknit crew are center stage. This is as much a character study for Joron Twiner as it is a world building exercise for a nautical world. The growth in this character over the series is just brilliant constructed. He goes from essentially a failure at the start of the series to this titanic heroic figure at the end. And through that the growth feels earnt. All that character development feels natural and deserved. This is no mean trick and shows the quality of RJs writing.
Modern fantasy is in safe hands with creative works like these. I cannot recommend the Tide Child enough!