Ahoy there mateys!  Though the First Mate and I have very different reading tastes, occasionally we do recommend books to each other.  He and I both read the following:
the moons of barsk (Lawrence M. Schoen)

We read and talked about the book and I enjoyed his viewpoint so I ordered asked him to write a review.  So you get one from me and a bonus additional review from me crew.  Please note that I write like I talk and the First Mate writes like he thinks.  Hope you enjoy!

From the Captain:
I thought book one was one of the best books I have ever read.  Period.  It ended perfectly so when I heard there was another book in the series, I honestly didn't know where it could possibly go.

The First Mate had already listened to the second book and said it was wonderful.  I was hesitant to mess with the beauty of the first book but agreed to listen to it with him.  And book two enhances book one while looking at the world and the characters from a completely different angle. The alternative perspective of the second book causes an amazing reevaluation of the first.

No actually, that adjective doesn't work.  I don't have a good enough word for this series.  This is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever listened to (just like the first).  I still cried and laughed.  I still love Jorl and Pizlo.  I cannot do this justice.  But I wish I could give all the crew members these books.

Me words fail, fail, fail at how amazing this book is.  Please do yerself a favor and read this book that deserves all the love and more.  Aye, there be talking animals but don't let that deter ye.  It pays off.  Check out the First Mate's words below and have them help tip this book off the tbr and into yer hands.  It be worth it.  Arrrr!

From the First Mate:
Advice that is often attributed to Flannery O’Conner about endings is that they should be “surprising yet inevitable.” The Moons of Barsk is a surprising and yet inevitable sequel to the brilliant Barsk: The Elephants’ Graveyard. It would have been impossible for me to guess what would occur in a Barsk sequel, and yet it is so perfectly written and flows so logically from the original story that after reading it I can’t imagine the tale going in any other direction.

Taking place several years after the events of the first book, Jorl has continued his work as a Speaker, historian, and galactic senator. Pizlo remains an abomination with an ever growing psychic ability. The villains from the first book remain defeated. From a place of seeming status, Jorl and Pizlo go on a journey that fundamentally reshapes what they and we know about Barsk, its history, and its capabilities.

Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of The Moons of Barks for me was that I kept getting surprised about how deeply Schoen had thought about the consequences of what he had created. Because he chose a scientific frame for the ability to Speak, he’s logically asked what else could be done with that ability? We learned in the first book that the majority of Speakers were not using the ability to its true potential. I was surprised that my own imagination didn’t guess at some of the places that Schoen would take us.

Barsk: The Elephants’ Graveyard is a beautifully sad book. The Moons of Barsk is nowhere near as sad. There are still sad elements; this is still a book that is fundamentally about dealing with loss, difference, prejudice, and oppression. But there’s a lot of hope in the book as well. Jorl and Pizlo are still amazing characters. And the book delivers on some amazing ideas. To say more would definitely require getting into spoiler territory.

My only quibble with the book is that it ends with a dangling plot thread. The main storyline of the book is finished, but there’s a loose end that is present presumably to set up a third book. Schoen has said that his publisher has no interest in a third book. So it seems likely that we won’t get that thread resolved. I don’t think it overly mars the book, but I can also see where someone else would be irked by it.

As with the first book, if you enjoy audiobooks I cannot more highly recommend the audio version of The Moons of Barsk. Again read by J. G. Hertzler, it’s a treat to listen to. Highest recommendation to everyone. Avoid if for some reason the first book didn’t work for you or if the prospect of a dangling plot thread is intolerable.