7 Best Nautical Fantasy Books Full of Pirates, High Seas, and Adventure

At the beginning of February, I was fortunate to spend a week away from the snowy wonderland that is Canada in the magical Turks and Caicos. Naturally, I planned to do a lot of reading on this trip, and since I would be staring out at a gorgeous sea the whole time, I wanted to read books with a nautical theme.

It’s a vibe, so I thought I would put together a list of the best nautical fantasy books to read when you’re in the mood for open water, pirates, and adventure. These are books I’ve either read and loved or books that are very high up on my TBR!

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Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

Sanderson describes this book as The Princess Bride if Princess Buttercup was the one who had to do the saving instead of Westley. It follows Tress, an ordinary young woman with unruly hair who collects cups and is friends (and perhaps a little more than friends) with Charlie, the duke’s son.

Then the duke takes Charlie away on a voyage to marry him off and returns without him.

Worried about what may have become of Charlie, Tress stows away on a ship that’s crossing a dangerous sea of spores to find an equally dangerous sorceress.

Everything from the spore sea and the abilities of the spore to the creatures and situations Tress meets is so creative and fun. It was one of the first books I ever read by Sanderson and afterward, I went on to read the rest of his extensive cosmere series. I’d recommend it to just about anyone!

Ship of Magic (Liveship Traders Trilogy) by Robin Hobb

Ship of Magic is perhaps the quintessential seafaring fantasy book, with pirates, traders, and sentient vessels with thoughts, feelings, and familial bonds. The story follows several characters, including Althea, the youngest daughter of the Vestrits who has a deep bond with the recently “quickened” family ship, Vivacia, Wintrow, a priest in training made to become a sailor instead, and Kennit, a scoundrel of a pirate with uncanny luck and ambition.

This is the book I spent most of my vacation reading, and I loved every single moment of it. It’s one of those books where 800 pages go by in a blink and then you’re sad it’s over! Every single plot line is fascinating and weaves in with each other and the character work is impeccable. (As Hobb’s characters always are.) It’s also a great series if you enjoy fantasy with a lot of political intrigue, as the story explores the tenuous relations between Bingtown, The Rain Wilds, and Jamaillia City.

Note: The Liveship Traders trilogy is actually part of a larger series known as the Realm of the Elderlings. It is strongly recommended by most fans that you read the Farseer trilogy before you read this. (Farseer is an equally fantastic series and has a little bit of seafaring action in it, too!) Although in my opinion, you could easily follow it without having read Farseer. That said there details in Liveship Traders that will spoil Farseer if you haven’t read them.

A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic Trilogy) by V.E. Schwab

I confess, there isn’t really any seafaring in the first book, A Darker Shade of Magic. But a Gathering of Shadows and a Conjuring of Light have plenty of “privateering” and shipbound adventures as our favorite characters explore the world beyond Red London.

It’s also one of my favorite trilogies of all time so if I can find any way to add it to a rec list, I’m going to do it!

Considered a “portal fantasy,” Shades of Magic is about a rare magician named Kell who can travel between three different versions of London, with Red London being the one he hails from. He also happens to be an adopted prince and has a penchant for rebellion. The other main character is Lila, a cutpurse with dreams of exploring the world.

The second book also introduces us to Alucard, the “privateer” captain of the Night Spire. I love all the characters in these books and with magic competitions, portals, and romance, there’s something in them for everyone.

Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

Yes, this is a children’s book. Yes, it is still worth reading as an adult if you haven’t yet. The Chronicles of Narnia were transformative books for me as a kid as they were my first taste of the fantasy genre. But of all the books, there’s a special place in my heart for Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

It follows Lucy and Edmund, the two youngest Pevensie children who previously visited Narnia in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. During a visit with their rude cousin, Eustace, the three of them are pulled into the world of Narnia once more via a picture of a ship. The ship is – you guessed it – the Dawn Treader, run by Caspian X, Narnia’s current king.

What ensues is a top-notch quest on the ocean as the children face the slave trade, mythical creatures, sea monsters, mermaids, and a nefarious island where dreams (aka nightmares) come true.

Although this series is seven novels, you can read them independently without missing much. That said, you should read all seven at some point in your life!

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

By the same author who wrote City of Brass, The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi is the first book in a new fantasy historical fiction trilogy full of mayhem, magic, and high seas. Our heroine, Amina, has had a lively and successful career as one of the most notorious pirates in the Indian Ocean. But although she considers herself retired, she is approached with a job to save her comrade’s kidnapped daughter.

Not only is it the right thing to do, but she also stands to make a lot of money! What starts out as one last opportunity to set sail becomes something much different as she learns there is more to the job than what she was told.

This one is next on my seafaring TBR. I enjoyed City of Brass so I know this will be a solid read!

Fable (The World of the Narrows) by Adrienne Young\

Fable is the first book in The World of the Narrows series and winner of the 2020 Goodreads’s Choice Awards for favorite young adult fantasy novel. Fable is the seventeen-year-old daughter of Narrows’ most powerful Trader. One fateful night her mother drowns during a storm, and her father abandons her on an island full of thieves.

I haven’t read this yet, but I have this book (and Namesake, the sequel) on my shelf waiting for me. The premise seems a bit like Liveship Traders Lite. But with lots of pirates, adventure, and romance, I’m sure I will love it.

The Books of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

Ursula K. Le Guin is one of the most renowned fantasy writers of all time and in some circles it is as beloved as The Chronicles of Narnia or even Lord of the Rings. Taking place over several books, Earthsea is a high fantasy taking place in a huge archipelago consisting of hundreds of islands.

Each book is pretty short, none of them surpass 300 pages, so they make for quick reads on vacation. you can also get the complete illustrated edition pictured above which has all the stories combined, including some short stories.

Final Thoughts

There’s something especially magical about nautical fantasy stories. I think for me its the spirit of freedom and adventure that ships sailing upon a vast sea effortlessly convey. Whether you’re looking for high-stakes fantasy or fun stories full of romance, every book on this list will convey that feeling!

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