R. J. Barker


R. J. Barker is a British author of fantasy literature. He is best known for his Wounded Kingdom trilogy and the Tide Child trilogy.

Career

Barker is from Leeds, England. He played in a band for many years before realizing he "was never a very good musician", after which he turned to literature.
Barker served as a judge for the 2018 James White Award.
In 2021, Barker sold a new fantasy series the Forsaken trilogy to Orbit Books.

Personal life

Barker has Crohn's disease. He has used his personal experiences to explore the presentation of disabled characters in fantasy literature.

Reception and awards

YearWorkAwardCategoryResultRef.
2018Age of AssassinsBritish Fantasy AwardBest Novel
2018Age of AssassinsBritish Fantasy AwardBest Newcomer
2018Age of AssassinsMorningstar AwardBest Fantasy Newcomer
2020The Bone ShipsBritish Fantasy AwardBest NovelWon
2024Gods of the WyrdwoodRUSA CODES Reading ListFantasyWon

''Wounded Kingdom'' trilogy

Age of Assassins Blood of Assassins
  • ''King of Assassins''

''Tide Child'' trilogy">Tide Child trilogy">''Tide Child'' trilogy

The Bone Ships Call of the Bone Ships
  • ''The Bone Ship's Wake''

''Forsaken'' trilogy

Gods of the Wyrdwood Warlords of the Wyrdwood