Great Fantasy and Sci-Fi Books Involving Pirates

​Ahoy, mateys! There are avast number of SF/F books that take place on the high seas (or spaceways), and we always like to seas the day. So today we’re recommending some great fantasy and sci-fi books involving pirates! 

1. The Castaways of the Flying Dutchman series by Brian Jacques: A mute boy named Nebuchadnezzar (“Neb”) and his dog Denmark (“Den”) are cast overboard from the cursed ship, the Flying Dutchman, by a divine being who grants them eternal youth and the ability to communicate telepathically, tasking them to wander the earth aiding those in need.
 
2. The Pathfinder Trilogy by Orson Scott Card: Rigg, a young man with the unique ability to perceive the past paths of living beings, embarks on a journey to uncover his true identity and destiny, discovering that he is an unknowing colonist on a planet called Garden, which is in a seemingly medieval state of scientific advancement.
 
3. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty: Amina, a retired pirate and mother, is pulled back into a life of high-seas adventure for one last heist: rescuing the kidnapped granddaughter of a former crewmate, only to find herself entangled with supernatural forces, demons, and a quest for magical artifacts, while balancing her duty to protect her daughter.
 
4. Seafire by Natalie C. Parker: After losing her family to the ruthless warlord Aric Athair and his army of Bullets, Caledonia Styx becomes the captain of the Mors Navis, an all-female ship, leading her crew on a mission to survive and dismantle Aric’s fleet.
 
5. The Liveship Traders Trilogy by Robin Hobb: The fate of the Vestrit family entwines with their sentient liveship, Vivacia, as they navigate treacherous seas, confront ruthless pirates, uncover ancient secrets, and struggle to reclaim their family’s legacy while reshaping the balance of power in a world of magic, trade, and transformation.
 
6. Skyward by Brandon Sanderson: Spensa, a determined young woman branded as the daughter of a coward, fights to prove herself as a starfighter pilot and defend humanity against alien invaders, uncovering hidden truths about her father, her world, and her own extraordinary potential.
 
7. The Wars of Light and Shadow series by Janny Wurts: Half-brothers Arithon, Master of Shadow, and Lysaer, Lord of Light, are manipulated into a protracted conflict by a supernatural curse, leading to a complex struggle that blurs the lines between good and evil in the world of Athera.
 
8. Magic of Blood and Sea by Cassandra Rose Clarke: Pirate Ananna of the Tanarau and assassin Naji are bound together by a curse after she rejects an arranged marriage, leading them on a perilous journey across oceans and magical realms to break the curse while battling love, enemies, and their own destinies.
 
9. Of Sea and Shadow by Will Wight: Calder Marten, captain of the mystical ship The Testament, seeks the legendary Heart of Nakothi to resurrect a new Emperor and restore order to the fractured Aurelian Empire, while contending with the Consultant’s Guild—an ancient order of spies and assassins—determined to thwart his mission and maintain chaos.
 
10. The Red Wolf Conspiracy by Robert V.S. Redick: Young tarboy Pazel Pathkendle becomes entangled in a perilous voyage aboard the ancient ship Chathrand, where he uncovers a complex plot involving political deceit, sorcery, and a legendary artifact that could unleash an ancient evil.
 
 
What’s your favorite book involving pirates? Tell us in the comments!


P.S. – ​If you loved these book recommendations, why not sign up for our newsletter? Twice a month, we’ll send you a themed list of fantasy and/or sci-fi book recommendations, and sometimes music, movies, or manga too. (Not to mention jokes, games, puzzles, memes, and the occasional recipe!)

As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.