Where the Screwups Get a Second Chance

The Bone Ships by R.J. Barker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a super creative, exciting novel, and I really enjoyed it.

I wasn't sure at first. There was a bit of a curve to the action. And more importantly, I didn't think I liked the main character, Joron, at first. He starts out as a drunk and a screwup, but in addition to that he seems to have no pride, accepting embarrassment and humiliation without fighting it much. But Joron is a great character, and while I suppose there's a lot left in his arc between the second and third books, he's already changing a bunch. It's all earned--no cheats, no shortcuts--and it's fun to watch.

The other protagonist, Meas, who defeats Joron early on to take over his ship, is complex and difficult. Sometimes she's unlikeable, at least at first, showing no signs of human kindness or compassion, but she's more complex than that, and the more we know her the more there is to like. It's not just that she's incredibly capable and driven, but that she has skills with people that go beyond just dragging the best work from them; she also seems able to help losers and ne'er-do-wells improve their self esteem and regain their place in the social order through being useful. Like The Dirty Dozen except at sea, some of the fun is watching her take a bunch of failures and criminals and turn them into a crew.

The world-building here is excellent and full of imagination. It takes the reader a bit of work to learn the way around, and maybe I'm still working on it, but I found it compelling and exciting. And the action, especially from the midpoint onward, is everything a fantasy reader could look for.

I want to talk about the arakeesian, the super giant whale-like being, but there isn't a lot to say that isn't a spoiler. However, I'd love to see one in real life, from a distance. :)

The first book in the trilogy gives the reader enough closure to be satisfying, though the sequels are clearly on the horizon. That's how I like my series, if anyone is asking. Recommended for fantasy readers, absolutely.

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