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Call of the Bone Ships

Book 2 of the Tide Child Trilogy
4.38 goodreads logo

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( 5,384 ratings, 649 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Call of the Bone Ships by RJ Barker is a gripping fantasy set in a world where sea voyages on living bone ships are key to survival. The tale follows Joron Twiner and his crew as they navigate treacherous waters, facing both supernatural threats and human dangers, in a desperate quest for a legendary sea creature that could alter the balance of power.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might like this book if you enjoy epic fantasy adventures featuring formidable sea battles, richly detailed world-building, and complex characters. RJ Barker's narrative weaves thrilling naval combat with intriguing political manoeuvring, ideal for readers seeking a dynamic and immersive experience.

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A brilliantly imagined saga of honour, glory and warfare, Call of the Bone Ships is the captivating sequel to David Gemmell Award-nominated RJ Barker's The Bone Ships.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
'Swashbuckling awesomeness . . . a definite winner' John Gwynne, author of Malice

Call of the Bone Ships takes readers on an exhilarating journey into a vividly imagined world filled with honour, glory, and fierce battles. As the much-anticipated sequel to RJ Barker's The Bone Ships, this captivating epic fantasy novel delves deeper into the perilous lives of its characters and the ominous universe they inhabit.

In this gripping continuation, dragons have made a much-feared return to the Hundred Isles. However, their presence does not signal hope, but rather portends war and impending devastation. Amidst this chaotic backdrop, a disturbing discovery threatens to unravel the fragile balance of power. Shipwife Meas and her resilient crew aboard the ship Tide Child uncover a ship hollow and haunting, filled with dying slaves. This chilling find thrusts them into a complex and deadly conspiracy that challenges their faith, tests their courage, and forces them to confront harrowing truths.

As the intrigue deepens, loyalties are put to the ultimate test. Meas and her crew must navigate treacherous waters, both literal and political, in their quest to thwart the menacing forces at play. They are driven by a deep sense of duty and a pursuit of justice, yet continually besieged by enemies and allies whose true intentions remain shrouded in mystery.

RJ Barker masterfully crafts a narrative that is both heart-pounding and richly detailed. His world-building prowess immerses the reader into a realm where the sea holds many secrets and the skies are dominated by majestic yet fearsome creatures. The novel's compelling cast of characters grapples with themes of sacrifice, bravery, and the relentless search for truth, making Call of the Bone Ships an unmissable read for fans of high fantasy.

With its masterful blend of action, intrigue, and emotional depth, Call of the Bone Ships continues to push the boundaries of epic fantasy, securing RJ Barker's place as a notable author in the genre. Perfect for readers who are drawn to tales of daring sea voyages, intricate plots, and richly developed worlds.

Series: The Tide Child Trilogy

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  • The Bone Ships
    β€œExcellent . . . one of the most interesting and original fantasy worlds I've seen in years” Adrian Tchaikovsky For generations, the people of the Hundred Isles have built their formidable warships from the bones of ancient dragons known as arakeesians, using these spectacular vessels to wage an endless and brutal conflict with neighbouring nations. The bones themselves are imbued...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Call of the Bone Ships
    'Swashbuckling awesomeness . . . a definite winner' John Gwynne, author of Malice Call of the Bone Ships takes readers on an exhilarating journey into a vividly imagined world filled with honour, glory, and fierce battles. As the much-anticipated sequel to RJ Barker's The Bone Ships, this captivating epic fantasy novel delves deeper into the perilous lives of its characters...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Bone Ship's Wake
    The sea dragons are returning, and Joron Twiner's dreams of freedom lie shattered. His Shipwife is gone, and all he has left is revenge. In The Bone Ship's Wake, the breathtaking conclusion to RJ Barker's sweeping fantasy trilogy, Joron Twiner is thrust into an epic struggle against fate. Captaining the warship Tide Child and leading a dwindling Black Fleet, Joron...
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Call of the Bone Ships by RJ Barker in the Sci-Fi & Fantasy category has received rave reviews. Critics praise its vivid, high-seas epic story that delves into themes of duty, honour, and bravery. The book is noted for its original and fascinating fantasy world, with an absorbing plot and well-developed characters that keep readers deeply engaged.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780356511849

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 November 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Orbit

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 38.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 353g

Pages: 512

About the Author

RJ Barker lives in Leeds with his wife, son and 'a collection of questionable taxidermy'. He grew up reading whatever he could get his hands on, and having played in a rock band before deciding he was a rubbish musician, RJ returned to his first love, fiction, to find he is rather better at that. As well as his debut epic fantasy series, the Wounded Kingdom trilogy (Age of Assassins, Blood of Assassins and King of Assassins) RJ has written short stories and historical scripts which have been performed across the country. He has the sort of flowing locks any cavalier would be proud of. RJ's novel The Bone Ships is the winner of the British Fantasy Society's Best Novel, aka the Robert Holdstock Award.

Also by RJ Barker

View all
  • The Bone Ships
    β€œExcellent . . . one of the most interesting and original fantasy worlds I've seen in years” Adrian Tchaikovsky For generations, the people of the Hundred Isles have built their formidable warships from the bones of ancient dragons known as arakeesians, using these spectacular vessels to wage an endless and brutal conflict with neighbouring nations. The bones themselves are imbued...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Bone Ship's Wake
    The sea dragons are returning, and Joron Twiner's dreams of freedom lie shattered. His Shipwife is gone, and all he has left is revenge. In The Bone Ship's Wake, the breathtaking conclusion to RJ Barker's sweeping fantasy trilogy, Joron Twiner is thrust into an epic struggle against fate. Captaining the warship Tide Child and leading a dwindling Black Fleet, Joron...
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Gods of the Wyrdwood: The Forsaken Trilogy, Book 1
    OUR LANDS ARE WILD WITH GODS, OUR WOODS ARE WILD WITH MONSTERS . . . Cahan du Nahare is known as the forester - a humble man who can nonetheless navigate the dangerous Wyrdwood like no-one else. But once he was more. Once he was a warrior. Udinny serves the goddess of the lost, a goddess of the small and...
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  • Blood of Assassins
    Look out for The Bone Ships, the start of a new series by RJ Barker! 'Reveals its mysteries with the style of a magic show and the artful grace of a gifted storyteller' Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld TO SAVE A KING, KILL A KING . . . The assassin Girton Club-foot and his master have returned...
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  • Age of Assassins
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  • Gods of the Wyrdwood: The Forsaken Trilogy, Book 1
    OUR LANDS ARE WILD WITH GODS, OUR WOODS ARE WILD WITH MONSTERS . . . Cahan du Nahare is known as the forester - a humble man who can nonetheless navigate the dangerous Wyrdwood like no-one else. But once he was more. Once he was a warrior. Udinny serves the goddess of the lost, a goddess of the small and...
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  • Warlords of Wyrdwood
    'You fear the forest... It is not foolish.' His words rang like bells in the clearing, each face reacting to their din. 'But the forest does not hate you, it does not hunt you. It simply does not care about you.' The Forester known as Cahan led the village of Harn in rebellion against the all-powerful, oppressive forces of the...
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  • King of Assassins
    Look out for The Bone Ships, the start of a new series by RJ Barker! 'Reveals its mysteries with the style of a magic show and the artful grace of a gifted storyteller' Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING . . . Many years of peace have passed in Maniyadoc,...
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  • Warlords of Wyrdwood
    You fear the forest.. It is not foolish. His words rang like bells in the clearing, each face reacting to their din. But the forest does not hate you, it does not hunt you. It simply does not care about you. The Forester known as Cahan led the village of Harn in rebellion against the all-powerful, oppressive forces of the...
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  • Heart of the Wyrdwood
    That thing in Tiltspire, it keeps Cahan like a trophy. It says to us, here is your strongest and I have killed him. Cahan Du Nahare is lost, taken by a dark god whose tendrils reach throughout the world, intent on its destruction. Those who followed Cahan are spread across the land, desperate and lost now fate has turned against...
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  • Heart of the Wyrdwood
    'That thing in Tiltspire, it keeps Cahan like a trophy. It says to us, here is your strongest and I have killed him.'Cahan Du Nahare is lost, taken by a dark god whose tendrils reach throughout the world, intent on its destruction. Those who followed Cahan are spread across the land, desperate and lost now fate has turned against them....
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