The best fantasy books set by the sea to warm the winter blues

Why am I passionate about this?

As a pirate fantasy author myself, I have a profound love for the sea and the summer winds that these stories encapsulate. Growing up on the east coast, my favorite summers were spent on the Jersey Shore, digging for buried treasure on the beach, or searching for mermaids beneath the waves. These books capture in their pages the magic, heart, and mystery I associate with the sea. I believe fantasy worlds that tell the truth of the human experience are the most impactful, and strive to emulate that in my own work, as well as the books I read. 


I wrote...

Book cover of Daughter of the Deep

What is my book about?

A wedding to end a war. It’s been four years since the blood feud between the Branwens and Mathonwys started. Four years of sunken ships and loved ones lost, four years of wounds both seen and unseen. Keira Branwen is no stranger to duty. As the first mate of a legendary pirate ship, blessed by the sea-god Lyr, and heir apparent to her clan, she would sail to the Otherworld and back to keep her family safe. But when the Council threatens banishment for her people, Keira is faced with a choice; she must either marry her father’s alleged killer, the sea-snake Ronan Mathonwy, or curse her family to the deep. 

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Saltwater Heir

Lina C. Amarego Why did I love this book?

This book has all my favorite tropes; sibling banter, friends to lovers, and elemental magic. But best of all, it’s set in the beach-side kingdom of Atlas, and it instantly transports readers. It made me cry several times, and I can’t wait for the sequel! Best of all, Clarke is an independent author with a unique voice and gorgeous prose that has a visceral effect. 

By Cassidy Clarke,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Saltwater Heir as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Princess Soren of Nyx is no stranger to loss after a decade-long war with the neighboring kingdom of Atlas. But with her best friend slowly succumbing to a cruel Atlas poison, she hatches a reckless plan: kidnap the enemy prince from the battlefield and use his life to barter for the antidote.


But when that prince calls her by a different name...the name of his sister, whose death began the war ten years ago...everything changes.


Stolen away to Atlas, trapped behind enemy lines, Soren must navigate a kingdom she knows nothing about, surrounded by a family she doesn't remember, and…


Book cover of On These Black Sands

Lina C. Amarego Why did I love this book?

This pirate tale set on the high seas has a bit of everything. The main character is both engaging and multidimensional and is a joy to follow through the book. The sharp, snarky commentary and political intrigue add for tons of twists and turns. But the best parts are the morally grey love interest and fae magic.

By Vanessa Rasanen,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked On These Black Sands as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

He doesn't mind killing people... he just prefers to do it on his own terms.

But the pirates have no say in who they kill on this island.

The council orders. The pirates obey.

This arrangement has kept Declan from setting foot on these shores for years...until a bit of bad luck forces him to return.

But it may prove a lucrative stop, if the rebel's information is true.

Find the dagger. Escape this life.

But only if this damn stowaway doesn't ruin everything first.

=======
This high seas tale of deceit, legends, and love delivers a deliciously gray hero,…


Book cover of The Maiden Ship

Lina C. Amarego Why did I love this book?

This self-published beauty is the perfect soft, sweet pirate read to warm anyone’s heart. The main romance is to die for, and the descriptions within feel almost painted. Ryckman is a well-paced storyteller, and this debut novel from her reads almost like a fairytale. But best of all, it features plenty of piratey goodness and tons of adventure. 

By Micheline Ryckman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Maiden Ship as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

There's a time to hide, a time to run, and a time to fight. Dain Alloway was only nine years old when he began a new life with his father, sailing aboard The Maiden. Eight years later, the aristocratic city-boy turned merchant-sailor feels like he lives with one foot on land, and one foot in the sea. Life floats smoothly by until the night he wakes to find a mysterious woman in his cabin. The events that unfold after her appearance transform Dain's world. Now, hunted by empty-faced demons, he finds himself thrown into a dangerous web of intrigue and…


Book cover of Daughter of the Pirate King

Lina C. Amarego Why did I love this book?

This book cultivated my love for pirate books, and the fantasy elements are woven in expertly. The main character is both fierce and feminine, and is such a role model for readers of all ages. The plot had plenty of twists and turns, and the adventure never slowed. It grips the reader until the very end!

By Tricia Levenseller,

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked Daughter of the Pirate King as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

If you want something done right...When her father, the ruthless Pirate King, discovers that a legendary treasure map can be found on an enemy ship, his daughter, Alosa, knows that there's only one pirate for the job - herself. Leaving behind her beloved ship and crew, Alosa deliberately facilitates her own kidnapping to ensure her welcome on the ship. After all, who's going to suspect a girl locked in a cell...But Alosa has skills enough for any three pirates, and has yet to meet her match. Although she has to admit that the surprisingly perceptive and unfairly attractive first mate,…


Book cover of Fable

Lina C. Amarego Why did I love this book?

This story is full of tons of heart and even more adventure. Another sea-faring tale, this book takes the reader on a ride to remember, all while making them feel. I absolutely fell in love with the cast of characters, and the writing itself is stunning. The sequel is just as captivating! 

By Adrienne Young,

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked Fable as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Seventeen-year-old Fable is a dredger-a freediver who excavates rare gemstones from the coral reefs that fill The Narrows. For the last four years, she's been trying to get off the island of Jeval, find the father who abandoned her there, and claim her mother's place on his trading crew. But when she finally makes it off the island, she discovers it may have been the safest place for her.


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Book cover of The Twins of Auschwitz: The inspiring true story of a young girl surviving Mengele's hell

Lisa Rojany Author Of The Twins of Auschwitz: The inspiring true story of a young girl surviving Mengele's hell

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

I have published over 50 books, including award-winning and bestselling titles. I am also a publishing executive and editor with 20+ years of professional experience. My latest The Twins of Auschwitz: The Inspiring True Story of  Young Girl Surviving Mengele’s Hell, with Eva Kor, got a stellar review by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and is an international bestseller. As well as spearheading four publishing startups, I have run my own business, Editorial Services of L.A. I was Editorial/Publishing Director for Golden Books, Price Stern Sloan, Intervisual Books, Hooked on Phonics, and more. I am also the Publisher & Editor in Chief of NY Journal Of Books, the premier online-only book review site.

Lisa's book list on picture books for all ages

What is my book about?

This is the Inspiring true story of a young girl surviving Mengele’s hell. This is an incisive, harrowing, and touching memoir of Eva Mozes Kor and her twin sister Miriam, who are sent to Auschwitz only to be torn from their parents and given to Josef Mengele, "The Angel of Death," for his evil and damaging experiments on human subjects.

In the voice of the ten-year-old Eva, we learn about what life was like in the death camps and how a child survives when food, water, comfort, and care are absent. At times heartbreaking and at other times a triumph of the will of a child to survive, this is a memoir that is not easily forgotten.

By Lisa Rojany, Eva Mozes Kor,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Twins of Auschwitz as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

The Nazis spared their lives because they were twins.

In the summer of 1944, Eva Mozes Kor and her family arrived at Auschwitz.

Within thirty minutes, they were separated. Her parents and two older sisters were taken to the gas chambers, while Eva and her twin, Miriam, were herded into the care of the man who became known as the Angel of Death: Dr. Josef Mengele. They were 10 years old.

While twins at Auschwitz were granted the 'privileges' of keeping their own clothes and hair, they were also subjected to Mengele's sadistic medical experiments. They…


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Interested in the blues, piracy, and Pirates?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about the blues, piracy, and Pirates.

The Blues Explore 44 books about the blues
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