Reviews

The Bone Ship's Wake by RJ Barker

kevinscorner's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.5

4.5/5 stars

The Bone Ship’s Wake is the stunningly emotional conclusion to the swashbuckling epic fantasy The Tide Child trilogy. It’s been one year since Lucky Meas gave herself up, and Joron is now the leader of the Tide Child and the black fleet rebels in all but name. As his search for her grows more desperate, so does the plight of the rebellion; all the while they are hurling towards the fulfillment of the dark prophecy of the gullaime and the end of their world as they know it.

If the second book was about loss and sacrifice, this third book is about grief (and sacrifice still). This was just such a sad book, dragging your emotions through the gutter with the many incredible acts of sacrifice and nobility throughout. So many deaths, each one more sad than the last, culminating in a devastating (but also hopeful) finale. The growth of Joron through the series has just been exemplary, and he finally holds his own since Meas is missing through most of the book.

I thought the first third of the book was the weakest for what would otherwise have been a 5-star book. The entire Part 1 was just one long sea chase that I thought went on for too long. It does give Joron a chance to shine as the Tide Child’s “captain” and he demonstrated some brilliant maneuvers for his part, but it felt long and somewhat too drawn out with over 180 pages of it. It does pick up after and doesn’t let out a breath after. The rest of the book is just an unrelenting, intense battle for survival against all odds thrown at their dwindling alliance. Characters shine and characters dies, and we are just along for the ride through many tears and a thread of hope.

The Bone Ship’s Wake is one intense and emotional finale.

jaycube26's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

silkymoonshine's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

the_one_krissy's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

isledinskye's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional inspiring 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

4.5

tkryan's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

thekirbsterh's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

creosote's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I can't remember the last time I have cared for characters as much as I care for these. This whole trilogy is fantastic. 

lulu628's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.0

danalex175's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Truly a phenomenal ending to a captivating trilogy. I wish there was more. The epilogue was heart-breakingly impactful. I love ships