Save in bulk on business essentials Shop now>
This edition of this title is not available for purchase in your country. Choose an available edition from the options above
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

RJ Barker
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Bone Ship's Wake: Book 3 of the Tide Child Trilogy Kindle Edition

by RJ Barker (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 out of 5 stars 2,067 ratings

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.

Leading the black fleet from the deck of Tide Child Joron takes every opportunity to strike at his enemies, but he knows his time is limited. His fleet is shrinking and the Keyshan's Rot is running through his body. He runs from a prophecy that says he and the avian sorcerer, the Windseer, will end the entire world.

But the sea dragons have begun to return, and if you can have one miracle, who is to say that there cannot be another?

'Excellent . . . one of the most interesting and original fantasy worlds I've seen in years'
Adrian Tchaikovsky

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 3 of 3
    The Tide Child Trilogy
  2. Print length
    493 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Orbit
  5. Accessibility
    Learn more
  6. Publication date
    September 28, 2021
  7. File size
    5.5 MB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details
Unwell Hydration from Alex Cooper
Hydrate & focus with every sip Shop now

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 3 books in this series.
This option includes 3 books.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A vividly realized high-seas epic that pulls you deep into its world and keeps you tangled there until the very last word."―Evan Winter, author of The Rage of Dragons on The Bone Ships

"The Bone Ships is excellent. Aside from the standout writing, it's one of the most interesting and original fantasy worlds I've seen in years."―Adrian Tchaikovsky, Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author

"The Bone Ships is a viciously exciting adventure. I loved every second of it."―Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand

"[T]he novel feels like one of Patrick O'Brian's richly detailed sagas of seamanship...a very promising beginning."―Publishers Weekly on The Bone Ships

"I absolutely loved it. A whole lot of swashbuckling awesomeness by RJ Barker. He has crafted a fascinating world and a twisty plot, both rooted in characters I came to care about. A definite winner for me."―John Gwynne, author of Malice on The Bone Ships

"An epic tale of duty and obligation and honour, and what bravery really means... I can't recommend it enough."―Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones on The Bone Ships

"The first in the Tide Child trilogy presents a unique and memorable world-harsh and brutal and full of fully realized, powerful female characters. Barker has managed to craft a story inspired by Moby Dick, Game of Thrones, and pirate lore, and readers will be drawn in and fascinated."―Booklist (starred review) on The Bone Ships

"Simultaneously gritty and full of a sense of wonder, The Bone Ships is the perfect adventure for anyone who's ever had dreams of the sea-or of dragons ... an excellent book for any reader in search of a fantastical journey."―BookPage on The Bone Ships

About the Author

RJ Barker is a softly-spoken Yorkshireman with flowing locks. He lives in the frozen north with his wife and son, and divides his time between writing and looking after his son.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08M5ZTKTW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Orbit
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 28, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.5 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 493 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0356511870
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 3 of 3 ‏ : ‎ The Tide Child Trilogy
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 2,067 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
RJ Barker

RJ Barker

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

RJ Barker is a critically acclaimed and award-winning author of fantasy fiction. He won the 2020 British Fantasy Society (BFS) Robert Holdstock award for Best Novel for his fourth novel, The Bone Ships.

His debut trilogy The Wounded Kingdom (Age of Assassins, Blood of Assassins and King of Assassins) was nominated for the David Gemmel Award, the Kitschie Golden Tentacle, The Compton Crook and the BFS Best Debut and Best Novel awards. It was called ‘Thoroughly entertaining and constantly impressive’ by the Fantasy Hive, ‘One of the best fantasy series you will ever read’ by the BFS, and ‘A singular sensational new voice in epic fantasy’ by Kings of the Wyld author Nicholas Eames.

He followed this with the award-winning Tide Child Trilogy: The Bone Ships, Call of the Bone Ships and The Bone Ship's Wake. These books have been hailed as “One of the most interesting and original fantasy worlds I’ve seen in years” by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and “Brilliant” by Robin Hobb, alongside rave reviews in Starburst, SFX, and a starred review in Booklist: ‘A unique and memorable world – harsh and brutal and full of fully realized, powerful female characters. Barker has managed to craft a story inspired by Moby Dick, Game of Thrones, and pirate lore, and readers will be drawn in and fascinated.’

RJ lives in Leeds with his wife, son and a collection of questionable taxidermy, odd art, scary music and more books than they have room for. He grew up reading whatever he could get his hands on, and has always been 'that one with the book in his pocket'. Having played in rock bands before deciding he was a rubbish musician, RJ returned to his first love, fiction.

Website: www.rjbarker.co.uk

Twitter: @dedbutdrmng

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
2,067 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers praise this book as a phenomenal conclusion to the trilogy, appreciating its storytelling, world-building, and character development. They find it enjoyable to read and well-crafted, with one customer noting its remarkable portrayal of tough sailing ships. The book receives positive feedback for its heartfelt content, with one review mentioning the impact on their heart.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

21 customers mention "Story quality"21 positive0 negative

Customers praise the story quality of the book, particularly its phenomenal conclusion and engaging world-building, with one customer noting it's a beautifully written end to the wonderful nautical trilogy.

"...A story all new, unique, and flawlessly rendered, of the human spirit in conflict and then harmony with nature. A oneness. A wonder." Read more

"...The intrigue and betrayal and joy and grief. This was a phenomenal conclusion to an amazing series." Read more

"...What an amazing tale. Extraordinary characters. Wonderful narrative. Simply (almost) too good t be true. But it is true and so worthwhile...." Read more

"This was a great story. A trilogy I’ll be reading several times over. The series is an experience that I simple loved...." Read more

10 customers mention "Series quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the series, with one mentioning they loved all three books, and another noting that the final book will complete the trilogy.

"I enjoyed this series as a whole. The first two books are important but did nothing to prepare me for the edge of my seat highs and lows of this..." Read more

"Ok. I am a demanding reader. This series is not to be missed. What an amazing tale. Extraordinary characters. Wonderful narrative...." Read more

"...Weird but familiar. It’s just a really great trilogy. I can’t say that enough" Read more

"...the Bone Ships and its tortured crew, this third and final book will complete the trilogy...." Read more

8 customers mention "Readability"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and worthwhile, with one customer describing it as fantastic from beginning to end.

"This is an excellent, fast paced and moving work of art. Raw emotions, both in the books and elicited by them on the reader...." Read more

"...Extraordinary characters. Wonderful narrative. Simply (almost) too good t be true. But it is true and so worthwhile...." Read more

"...Not this book. This book DELIVERS. The ending is perfect. Emotional af, but perfect. Finishing was bittersweet. I wish for another book...." Read more

"...This series will stay with me forever. Great writer. Check out his other amazing series! Stupendous!" Read more

7 customers mention "Character development"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book.

"...This series is not to be missed. What an amazing tale. Extraordinary characters. Wonderful narrative. Simply (almost) too good t be true...." Read more

"...The series is an experience that I simple loved. I felt for all the characters, even the bad ones...." Read more

"...Epic and original from beginning to end. World building, character development all the work of a master storyteller. You want be disappointed." Read more

"Fantastic nautical fantasy. Great story and unforgettable characters...." Read more

5 customers mention "Heartfelt content"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the emotional depth of the book, with one review noting how it evokes both joy and grief, while another mentions the raw emotions and human spirit in conflict.

"...A story all new, unique, and flawlessly rendered, of the human spirit in conflict and then harmony with nature. A oneness. A wonder." Read more

"...The intrigue and betrayal and joy and grief. This was a phenomenal conclusion to an amazing series." Read more

"...of those books that after it's complete, you sit still and feel the impact on your heart...." Read more

"...this story was eerie and creepy at times, but very imaginative and heartfelt as well...." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one noting its remarkable world of tough sailing ships.

"...A story all new, unique, and flawlessly rendered, of the human spirit in conflict and then harmony with nature. A oneness. A wonder." Read more

"Superb story telling, remarkable world of tough ssiling ships and even tougher crew...." Read more

"Good series. Well crafted . Heartbreaking . Full of memorable characters . It will be a while before this is forgotten...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Marta Esterkin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary - The Tide Child Trilogy
    Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This is an excellent, fast paced and moving work of art. Raw emotions, both in the books and elicited by them on the reader.
    A story all new, unique, and flawlessly rendered, of the human spirit in conflict and then harmony with nature. A oneness. A wonder.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Joseph A. Giaquinto
    5.0 out of 5 stars wow
    Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this series as a whole. The first two books are important but did nothing to prepare me for the edge of my seat highs and lows of this final chapter. The intrigue and betrayal and joy and grief. This was a phenomenal conclusion to an amazing series.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kat Cohen
    4.0 out of 5 stars An incredible end to the trilogy
    Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2021
    One Sentence Summary: Over a year after Meas surrendered herself, Joron still works to find and free her, but it becomes a race to find peace and escape those they crossed.

    Overall
    The Bone Ship’s Wake is the very fitting conclusion to the Tide Child trilogy. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful, and continued to have everything I love about this series. The world is still so remarkable that I felt like I was stepping into it every time I picked it up. The characters broke me and put me back together and made me cry. Their relationships were so gorgeous throughout the series and this book couldn’t have given them better endings (well, I lie a little as I wish some of them had never happened, but I believe they were appropriate and were the fitting culminations of those particular character arcs). I did feel there was a bit too much good luck and magic going on at the end that broke the spell a little bit for me, but, while caught up in it, I thought it was wonderful and beautifully, achingly, perfect. Overall, an incredible end to an incredible trilogy.

    Extended Thoughts
    The Bone Ship’s Wake is set over a year since Meas surrendered herself in order to ensure her fleet of blackships would go free. Tortured at the hands of an unknown hagpriest, she longs to be saved, but also desperately wants Joron to stay away. Joron and the blackship fleet, though, need Meas and he will do anything and everything to find and rescue her.

    It’s difficult to review the last book in this trilogy without revealing too much both about the series overall and about this book in particular. If I thought the second book broke me, this one did something much worse. It was beautiful and painful, breathtaking and heartwarming. There are so many strong spirits, so many hard choices. I never knew a book could torture me so much, but I also can’t help but see just what a beautiful book this is.

    My favorite part of this trilogy has been watching Joron’s journey. From an angry man intent on getting his shipwife hat back to an incredible broken but strong man who has more than earned it back, his journey has been one of pain and hardships, but of also learning and discovering. The Bone Ship’s Wake was an amazing conclusion to his story, even if my heart broke about a million times throughout. I did find it was a bit predictable, but the power behind it was incredible and the way it was written felt so fitting.

    If there’s one thing I wasn’t a big fan of, it was actually towards the end when it kind of felt like magic swept in to save the day. Of course, the whole trilogy did heavily hint and lead up to it, but it still felt a bit sudden, almost like the author had written himself into a corner and needed something quick. It was a bit jarring, but also beautifully executed. I do wish more of the magic, more of the power, had been written in to make it feel more natural, but then I think some of the power would have been lost.

    While I adored all the characters and had my heart broken over and over by them, I struggled a bit with Meas in this one. She is, understandably, broken to some degree. I did enjoy how conflicted she was, how unsure she was, and how angry and sad she was with not being who she had been. Her struggles felt real and deeply human for someone who had been lauded as such a legend. But she seemed so lost and almost like she was trying too hard. Of course, it makes way for putting Joron on full display and makes his position at the end of the story perfect, but it was a little difficult to get past.

    But I absolutely love everything about this world. Every bit of it is carefully thought out, every piece fits, and the mythology behind it is incredible. I love that everything about it has been so consistent from book to book, that, every time I pick up the story, it drops me right back onto a ship. The ships are so detailed, especially when it comes to how they’re run, that I feel like I’m on a ship, flying across the sea. Overall, reading this trilogy has been an exceptionally immersive experience.

    As a matter of fact, it was so immersive that, when it came to the end, even if it felt a tad unbelievable, I had to fight to not weep uncontrollably in front of my kids. It’s amazing how near and dear all the characters, human and creature, came to be to my heart. Every word of this series has just wrapped itself around me and it always felt more like I was reading a friend’s story. It’s heartbreaking, but beautiful.

    Of course, as a big fan of creature companions, I adored the relationship between Joron and Guillame. What was once one full of animosity became something incredibly beautiful. It helped make hard decisions even harder and definitely heightened the emotional factor for me. All of the relationships felt so precious and every loss was like a blow.

    The Bone Ship’s Wake is a beautiful end to the trilogy. It neatly ties up the story while leaving the emotionally invested reader feeling kind of wrung out. I’m so impressed with how each book just pulled so much of me in and took me into they’re pages. Overall, this has absolutely been one of the most emotional roller coasters I’ve been on with a series.

    Thank you to Angela Man at Orbit and NetGalley for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
    6 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • R. Williams
    5.0 out of 5 stars just wow
    Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Ok. I am a demanding reader. This series is not to be missed. What an amazing tale. Extraordinary characters. Wonderful narrative. Simply (almost) too good t be true. But it is true and so worthwhile. Boy…I hope you enjoy as much as I did.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Wolfric
    5.0 out of 5 stars I’m sad it’s over
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This was a great story. A trilogy I’ll be reading several times over. The series is an experience that I simple loved. I felt for all the characters, even the bad ones. Mind you that feeling was dropping them off the side of a ship to the water beasts. The world building is great all around. Weird but familiar. It’s just a really great trilogy. I can’t say that enough
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Keith
    5.0 out of 5 stars Book of the Year. Easily
    Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    How many ways can you say OUTSTANDING? Seriously. I’d cut and paste every version right here. I love this series. It’s fresh and original and fantastic from beginning to end. I can’t tell you how many times a series loses steam or focus or doesn’t deliver after strong starts. Not this book. This book DELIVERS. The ending is perfect. Emotional af, but perfect. Finishing was bittersweet. I wish for another book. I want nothing more than to go back into this world and relive it.

    Highest recommendation.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • HiPower
    5.0 out of 5 stars Poignant and Moving Finale
    Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    If you have enjoyed your journey with the Bone Ships and its tortured crew, this third and final book will complete the trilogy. It was one of those books that after it's complete, you sit still and feel the impact on your heart. Kudos to the author for not extending it past its proper arc, like so many series in the genre.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • H. Abreu
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite fantasy reads of all time
    Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Truly one of my favorite reads. Epic and original from beginning to end. World building, character development all the work of a master storyteller. You want be disappointed.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Aran Brown
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Series...
    Reviewed in Germany on January 9, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Not often that a book manages to make me shed a tear but this one did. Naval based fantasies are not normally my staple fare but this was excellent. Great characters throughout and once you get drawn in its impossible to stop!
    Report
  • Mig Bardsley
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best of its kind
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 7, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I've loved this trilogy from start to finish. The writing is so good and draws you in really quickly. The world building is brilliant and the whole bone ships thing is deliciously well conceived. Because of the way the story is constructed - heroes, tragedies, larger than life characters fighting against a crushing government system in a wild and terrifying environment of oceans and monsters - there is a good deal of suffering and pain and lots and lots of violence. Our heroes and heroines are always under attack and they always fight back. Nearly always anyway. If they aren't under attack from their enemies, they're under attack from the sea. Or the monsters or something else.
    So some of the best bits were the very short interludes when stuff got worked out between characters and the sun shone.
    The characters are great; different, colourful, noisy, clever. The minor characters are also well developed. The Gulliaume and the bone ships are the best. You can hear the creaking and groaning of the battered ships and feel their glory and awfulness and the Gulliaume is a wonderful creation, developing from a helpless and irritating victim in the first book to something quite exciting by the end.
    I read the first book in the trilogy quite a long time ago and then read the next two close together and as a result, I found there were maybe one or two too many improbably close escapes from impossibly difficult situations a bit too close together. I wasn't always convinced that they were really going to be able to carry on but again, the writing kept me going. And also, this was what the books were about - how an idea, a legend and faith could carry them through.
    A great read and I recommend it.
    Report
  • CoveredinCatHair
    5.0 out of 5 stars A very satisfying end to a brilliant fantasy
    Reviewed in Canada on March 15, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    It is all here. The well-loved characters suffering, growing, facing all odds with courage they did not know they processed. There is magnificently written battles by land and sea. There is friendship proved against all the world can throw against it. There is the world-building with layer after layer revealed. Not all the questions are answered about this strange world and its creatures and their interlocking lives: it turns out they too have their myths and prophesies. After you end the book you can still find much to consider about the world brought to such brilliant life.
    The ending is both strange and satisfying. Read the last two chapters carefully, they give many of the answers to what happened and what the fates of the characters were. Remember to read all the poems and songs written in the book. And consider the myths you have been told about the creation of the world from the first book on.
    Report
  • Seafire
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning series
    Reviewed in Italy on October 2, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I love these books. I enjoyed no. 1, rated no. 2 highly, and now at no. 3 I am amazed that R. J. Barker could actually surpass both. I will be reading all three again and again, I think. These books are so different and, while I've read a few of the other sea adventures, this series is so much better, mostly for the understories - the keynshans and strange birds...well, the phoenix really. The wonderful topsy-turvy society, particularly as it underscores my view that a society headed by women would be just as abusive as the one we have at present. I'd love to know what the hundred islanders will make of one based on real equality.
    Report
  • Madison
    5.0 out of 5 stars a great epic that needs far more recognition
    Reviewed in Australia on June 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Worth every late night, tired morning spent on this series. I have so much to say but need to gather my emotions
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report