I would like to thank Nazia from orbit Books for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review

Publisher – Orbit

Published - Out Now

Price - £9.99 paperback

NB some spoilers will be here for the first novel The Bone Ships by R J Barker – WHICH YOU NEED IN YOUR LIVES

Dragons have returned to the Hundred Isles. But their return heralds only war and destruction. When a horde of dying slaves are discovered in the bowels of a ship, Shipwife Meas and the crew of the Tide Child find themselves drawn into a vicious plot that will leave them questioning their loyalties and fighting for their lives.

Often when reviewing I will usually focus on character, plot, themes and worldbuilding these are the components that often it feels the standard scorecard for marking a tale. A bit like a Strictly Come Dancing Judge looking at footwork, hold and timing. When reading RJ Barker’s superb Call of The Bone Ships I realised that storytelling; and taking that dancing idea to extremes the performance aspect of a novel is something I tend not to talk about and yet this is a prime example of how well to deliver a tale that has great characters, plots and a fascinating set of themes to it as well.

I loved The Bone Ships which began the tale of the bone ship Tide Child – a ship of the dead containing those people the Hundred Isles feel have transgressed its strict social laws. The fairly poor crew came under the leadership of a the fierce and disgraced Lucky Meas who brings with her cunning tactics, an ability to inspire those such as her second in command Joron. The crew became a lean mean and incredibly effective ship that was then revealed as a key part in Meas’ aim to end a war between The Hundred Isles and their eternal enemies The Gaunt Islands and in doing so put in place a new better society (which both sides’ leadership will be keen to prevent ever happening)

Call of the Bone Ships starts with a simple rescue mission to a ship in distress caused by a vicious storm. However, Meas and Joron are horrified by the discovery of hundreds of nearly dead prisoners rotting in the bowels of the ship for which their Captain refuses to disclose their purpose. This sets in train a number of issues -why is the Hundred Isles taking people and what is happening to them as slavery is something traditionally the Isles has not fed. At the same time the Tide Child finds out the secret base of rebels trying to prevent the war has been found and attacked. These plots combine alongside the simmering tensions within Meas’ crew and their old scores with Joron that some are keen to finally settle.

Middle parts of trilogies are often dismissed as just serving the purpose of moving us from start to the grand finale. I’m very pleased that while this book does indeed set up what should be a fascinating conclusion, we actually get a full adventure story in its own right that at the same time builds on the previous novel. One of the criticisms thrown at Bone Ships was the initial pace some felt too slow. I actually found the initially episodic format useful as this isn’t standard medieval world, we see in so many books and a slower look at the world really helps show us how this place worked. Now all that rigging is in place with Call of The Bone Ships we fly straight into the action and after that the plot never stays still for very long.

Third person narration is fairly standard for fiction, but I was incredibly impressed how Barker added a voice so strongly to this tale. The language used is never flat; occasionally in the same slang as its characters and not afraid to add some sense of foreboding. You feel less than you’re reading and instead that an old folk story from another world is being told to you by one of its storytellers. A major way that Barker delivers this is through pacing and changes of tone throughout which is very rarely seen in many books and something writers should explore how this is done here. Early on in the novel Joron and the crew have to perform a dangerous rescue mission. Barker paints a strange picture of a ship crewed by the dead giving it an air of the supernatural; builds up a sense of tension with characters all knowing this could be their last night alive and then explodes the action into chaos and energy. This happens throughout the novel and the story moves from spy missions, rescues, deceptions, and betrayals fluidly and without you feeling you’re being led to the obvious.

Having spent a lot of the first novel in Joron’s and Meas’ company this time Barker lets the wider cast start to come forward. Lots of attention turns to other characters in the crew. Joron’s nemesis Cwell who has not forgotten Joron’s previous leadership of the crew is definitely planning her revenge; we also more attention to Joron’s bodyguard Anzir; and get a closer look at the rascally yet smart sea-dog Mevans. In another sign of inventiveness when appropriate the story changes to small interludes giving us other character’s perspectives of events – including the often-enigmatic Meas. For me this made the wider tale stronger and really made you feel when characters were in peril (of which there is much!). I also loved the inclusion of a non-binary character whose tale again explores the cruelty that this society is capable of and makes you really appreciate that character’s decisions.

For fantasy fans Barker returns to the strange bird wizard the Guillame that can control winds for the ship but this time we meet more of the race and discover that they have their own social orders and beliefs adding more complexity to this world. There is again a look at the sea monsters known as Keyshans who provide the material Bone Ships are made and we get a new worrying spin on their origins. In all of this Joron seems to have a key role to play and here the wider tale is being set up. This element would be a huge attraction to those of you who love Robin Hobb’s work.

Finally, I strongly recommend this book for its themes. Here people doing better for the aid of others is the heart of the book. A crew that the world has written off is becoming its potential saviour and Barker who has already pushed Joron into a direction he never thought hw was capable is makes us look anew at to who we think are irredeemable. The bigger enemy though is how the world of the Islands uses people it feels worthless. We already knew young children could be sacrificed for new ships but now we see an even greater casual disregard of the disabled and those deemed worthless by the society in charge. I loved the theme that everyone has value, and we should do the best even if it risks our lives and greater schemes. It gives an emotional heft to the tale that makes its final scenes truly gripping.

Middle volumes are often written off as mere plot devices but in Call of the Bone Ships I think it is a prime example of what these books should do - build upon the first novel and yet give us a brand new and unexpected direction for the bigger story. The writing and approach used in this has made this one of my favourite epic fantasy reads in a very very long time. I can’t wait for the next novel but fear an emotional wringer awaits. If I were a dancing judge and gave scores this would be in double figures. Go get this book!!