The Bone Ships

I really really really enjoyed this book - transportive, set in a darkly flawed world, viewed through the eyes of a jaded innocent on the cusp of the journey of his life? This is absolute catnip!

I had a great review written up, full of nautical allusions and a careful ration of puns when my fickle internet connection ate the whole thing with the suddenness of a...a...a very sudden thing. Look, I used up all my words on the first draft.

So - brass tacks version recreated from my notes:

I loved this book!
Oh my god there are so many unique/invented words.
Brace yourself, there is no glossary either.
Lack of glossary aside - figuring out the new terms is worth it, the world building is huge and amazing!

Barker has created a vivid world that can aptly be described as the intersection of Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey/Maturin series and a heap of fantasy tropes. Some of the world building is subtle, however, and suggests some deep and intriguing facets of the world that will hopefully be explored over the rest of this series.