The Bone Ships (The Tide Child, #1) in SpecFic Buddy Reads

Apr 25, 2020 Lata rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: bipoc-actor, sf-f-h, x2020-read

The Bone Ship is a terrific, violent, and exciting story. Not only does the author give us an interesting take on a matriarchal society that is brutally violent, but R.J. Barker also gives us a wonderful character study and transformation.
Main character Joron Twiner is a member of the Berncast, one of the many in his society who do not live the privileged lives of those who are allowed to breed. (The society is divided between those who are healthy and whole and are allowed to breed, and everyo The Bone Ship is a terrific, violent, and exciting story. Not only does the author give us an interesting take on a matriarchal society that is brutally violent, but R.J. Barker also gives us a wonderful character study and transformation.
Main character Joron Twiner is a member of the Berncast, one of the many in his society who do not live the privileged lives of those who are allowed to breed. (The society is divided between those who are healthy and whole and are allowed to breed, and everyone else.) He's shipwife of deadship Tide Child, and also drinking himself to death. That is, until Meas Gilbryn, “Lucky” Meas, a famous and hugely successful shipwife, and known to be a fierce warrior, takes his position, and begins getting everyone on board the ship into shape for an incredibly important mission of peace.
Barker shows us the difficulties of command through Meas's isolation and actions, and her many discussions with Joron (he's her second in command). Barker also gives us wonderful character work in Joron, as Joron is changed from a depressed, possible alcoholic, leader-in-name only bitter and angry man, to the person we see at the end of this book: confident, compassionate (insofar as anyone in this brutal work is), caring, and leading and inspiring others on board the Tide Child.
If this were all this book is, it would be great. The author also does a good job with his worldbuilding. In addition to the stratified human society, there are many strange, razor-toothed, and dangerous creatures in this world. Among them are the guillaimes, which I love. They are odd, flightless bird creatures , who are deliberately blinded so they can magically fill the live ships' sails with wind. The guillaime on the Tide Child is different from others of its kind; it's difficult and argumentative, and even odder than the typical guillaime. Joron's developing relationship with this creature is beautiful, and becomes important to the mission, and I look forward to more interactions between Joron and Meas, and Joron and Guillaime in the following book, which I am definitely reading. ...more

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Apr 12, 2020 Di Maitland rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: magic, action-girl, fantasy, leader, military, swords, war, non-humans, dragons, on-kindle

"Let her know I come. Lucky Meas is here, and she should know that when we loose our bolts, my girls and my boys, we shall not miss. The time of blood and pain comes, but it shall be their blood ey?"

This book came courtesy of Amazon First Reads and what a read it is! A solid 4.5*s which, as I was feeling generous, I rounded up. It's got:
- dragons that swim
- magical birds (gullaime) that control the wind
- hard-as-nails, swords-wielding women
- and a brutal matriarchal society
What more can a girl a ...more

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May 07, 2020 Amanda rated it really liked it

Enjoyed my reread/listen. Ready to continue with the series now.

4.5 this was an excellent start to a very promising series. I listened to the audio which was phenomenal and I highly recommend if you like audiobooks.

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