”Anyway, that's why I was still in the car, wondering whether to move it a little further up the hill, when I heard the first scream.”

This book needs no explanation. Human rights, what human rights, out of sight out of mind. It’s not even that far fetched from reality.

In one sense it’s so morbid and horrific. In another it’s about souls and humanity. A quaint county side with a trio of friends. A microscopic view on human interaction, love, forgiveness, anger and resentment.

I new this mellow book in all its steady pace and unremarkable events would still manage to break me. And that it did. 

"Behind all this the ever-changing melody of the windspire, that strange, sad chorus, and it felt to Joron that the organs of his body had become part of it, that his body’s struggle through the arteries of the island was a counterpoint to the melody of the spire far above. And though he did not know why, that song helped him. Had it not been with him, he was sure he would have been overwhelmed by the darkness."

If you followed my reading updates at all on The Bone Ships you’ll know that I have absolutely adored the reading experience. This book was very close to a five-star read for me. The combination of how sound is woven throughout as a continual theme along with Joron’s self-development has been nothing short of music to my soul. Additionally, this author managed to bend and literally flip gender norms on their head so effortlessly, it was surreal, one of the many things that brought me joy whilst reading.

That said as beautiful as so much of the writing is in this series, it has a very dark undertone.

"But gullaime serve, all know gullaime serve.” And was it bitterness in that otherworldly voice, spoken without lip or true tongue?"

A cruel world, filled with disability discrimination, abuse, slavery, and child and infant sacrifice. And for the most part, you don’t quite understand why. I don’t think the writing style would be for those that like to have answers and meaning straight away. If you don’t want to be left confused and have to work to understand, you’ll probably just put this book aside in the too-hard basket.

It’s a style of writing that I love, unique, cryptic and layered. Leaving breadcrumbs for future chapters and understanding. It’s also brutal and bloody, with an author that doesn’t shy away from death and blood on the slate deck.

”If the shipwife dreams of a world where children are not taken and raids are not made, then I say” – she looked to her left and her right – “that is a world worth fighting for, no matter who we must fight or who with.”

The ‘quest’ or duty that the characters embarked on had me stressing from the first time their ship set sail. You start the novel with a ragged drunken mess of a ship and spend the first quarter of the novel learning about an unforgiving world. I’m surprised how fast-paced I found this book it progressively picks up speed along with your adrenaline with each chapter. Not only do you find yourself wanting the main characters to survive but the entire crew. Their pride ebbs as they progressively become a fleet to be proud of. And it’s such a warming experience to feel a part of.

”Let us hunt the hunters.”

…The Gullaime, thank you to all authors that bring us unhinged, weird characters that I just want to hug.

”The chest beneath its robes rose and fell as the pressure in Joron’s ears ebbed and flowed, making the sound of the sea around him pulse like waves on a shore.”

The only reason The Bones Ships shies away from five stars is that I feel like the deckchilden, particularly the fleet members that we got to know quite well were kind of just picked up and dropped. There was so much going on in this book, between the world-building and battles there wasn’t much room left to focus on the many other characters. But I hope this is amended as the series continues and we have less time focusing on and understanding this world, and more time spent focused on some really amazing characters.

'I’ll not deny the Mother love,
She birthed me into life.
I’ll not deny the Mother love,
So to honour her I’ll die.

I’ve always loved the sea, my love,
So deep and blue and true.
I’ve always loved the sea, my love,
As much as I loved you.

I’ll not deny the Hag my love,
Let us fly to her in pride.
I’ll not deny the Hag my love,
For duty have I died.' 

4 3 4 3 4 3 I love Harley Laroux characters and stories. There's just always something that misses with the writing style and it hurts my soul to not give these books 5 stars. 

I randomly keep catching myself thinking about lines from this book and find myself either laughing or smiling. Either way, good vibes only.

I stayed up last night and randomly read the novella to Pucking Around. “That One Night” and shit I think I was grinning the entire time, few books have ever made me smile like such an idiot. 4.5 stars with ease.

”Care to share with the team why you were laughing with your mouth on my dick?” he says, his voice dangerously low. “I think I need to fuck that mouth harder. Shove down your throat until you gag”

** I really didn’t have any clean options to pick a highlight from. But trust me when I say it’s actually a really sweet and heartwarming novella. 

Its just one giant recap of emotions, regret and that dam love triangle. I actually liked the characters in the Daughter of the Moon Goddess, I just don't know what this book was and how characters that where once really compelling, driven and charismatic could become so bland, brooding and sappy 

A MUST READ 

Wild. 

I should count how many plot lines and mystery twists happened within this one depthless novel.

Blame my high expectations going in. And overexcited eagerness to read a dark hockey romance. 

This was definitely me problem. And very well could have been to do with the books I was reading alongside it. While I was actively reading Vengeful I couldn't put it down. However, I never had any drive to pick it up again.

I still stand by the fact that I wish this entire series was in a Graphic Novel format like ExtraOrdinary.