I’ve searched and searched for something to scratch this itch, but nothing quite hits the mark. Ironically, the only thing that seems to calm this specific want isn’t even a book. It’s the movie Treasure Planet. It just seems to hit everything I love about pirate/sea faring stories. Adventure, found family, an interesting sub-genre (in this case sci-fi). Problem is, it’s based off of Treasure Island, which is a great book. I’ve read it and enjoyed it, but something still feels missing. I want something exciting and captivating. Hopefully with strong characters and interesting relationships.
Doesn’t have to be sci-fi or anything (though that is a bonus. Same with fantasy). I just want an exciting pirate (or adjacent) book to sink my teeth in. Thank you!
by Scared-Pass8290
15 Comments
Have you read Peter and the Starcatchers?
You could try Rafael Sabatini’s Sea Hawk or Captain Blood, which are probably the two best pirate novels after Treasure Island. Captain Blood, in particular, is based heavily on real pirate lore.
* Tide Child Trilogy by RJ Barker (Boneships)
* On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers
* Red Seas under Red Skies by Scott Lynch (2nd book in the Gentleman Bastard series)
The Tales of Ketty Jay by Chris Wooding. It’s steampunk pirates but still
I highly recommend The Ballad of the Whiskey Robber.
One Piece manga 😅😂
Honestly I need to find more pirate book recs too lol
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi might be perfect! Fantasy pirate with a big adventure
Pirate Laitudes, Michael Crichton
The Scar, by China Mieville. Literally Pirate City
Omg there was this book I read by Wilbur Smith that was a historically accurate pirate thing, I didn’t figure out which one it was so I’m now I’m reading all his books. They’re good.
Rafael Sabatini novels about Capitan Blood which was mentioned above, and if you could find, The Heir From Calcutta by Robert Stillmark.
**Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates** by Brian Kilmeade. Non-fiction history written as a novel about how the constant attacks on U.S. seafaring vessels led to the creation of the U.S. Navy.
Tress of the emerald sea is fantasy and very sweet, it contains a very piratey element but might not be your cup of tea!
Another vote for Peter and the Starcatchers, great read.
For something wholly more complex and much less directly related I can’t help but mention the Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson. Has a lot more than just pirates, but is absolutely excellent and takes a long while to get through.
For a real life account of historical events I found The Republic of Pirates to be reasonably good, and definitely insightful.
Treasure Island. Robert Louis Stevenson. The Original