The Bone Ships: Winner of the Holdstock Award for Best Fantasy Novel

The sea dragons are gone, but their bones are not. And they make for an incredible setting for a fantasy story. The massive Sailing ships carry the intensity, and memory of these behemoths of the deep, as the framework for their Fleet. I was looking forward to this one for awhile. There was a lot of buzz on social media, but not having read any previous works by Mr. Barker, I tried to maintain no expectations. I should also say that I had the audiobook version. I have almost 3 hours of driving back and forth to work every day and it’s a great time to get lost in a book. This book was very impressive. The detail involved during the battles between ships at sea was entrancing. At times I really felt like I was tilting on the deck with them. The fear and adrenaline is really felt, partly because of the narrators touch I’m sure. And now I understand why Mr. Barker is so highly respected by his peers. I was fully engaged in the characters and the world he creates. A majority of the setting is on an ancient sailing ship, made of “extinct” Sea dragons bones and crewed by the dregs of society, the “deckchilder”. Captained by one fearless, and seasoned Leader, her Black ship, Tide Child is Her realm, and you really dont want to get in her way. But I loved them all, including the parrot and the windtalker (one of the most bizarre and mysterious members of the crew)…So much more to say but you’ll find out when you read it, and you should! I really look forward to the next in the series and have some of his past work to read now as well. I should also say that I am very new at this review thing, and was not provided this book for free to review…I paid for it by my big boy self. Thank you for stopping by, I’ve gotta get ready to get the kids all dressed up the the small town halloween event tonight…wish I was going as the “windtalker.”