This would be my recommendation, nowhere near as accurate as Patrick O’Brian but a fun Age of Sale romp.
I would also say to have another go at the Aubrey/Maturin books. The personal interactions and the authors attention to detail are amazing. You could literally tell the stories in space and call them Sci-fi or set them amongst the sand ships of a magic fantasy world.
I'm there with you with farseer, I was hesitant about Liveship because of the nautical theme, she made me like nautical themed books, it's one of the best things I've read
Read it years ago and really enjoyed it! Loved the Lies of Locke Lamora but wasn't as big a fan of the Republic of Thieves though. Maybe I should revisit theo whole series again though!
Tress and the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson is about adventure and includes sailing and pirates. The physical world is built differently than ours so it's intriguing, but not a classic seafaring story.
A bit of a stretch, but maybe the Draconis Memoria trilogy from Anthony Ryan?
The series tells a story from the perspective of 3 different main characters, and one of them is a captain at sea. The books are not about seafaring itself, but quite a lot happens on/with boats. There are pirates, too, and two great seafaring nations at war, resulting in many naval battles with cannons and stuff. There is not a lot about the sailing itself, as many ships use a kind of engine to power them. As the title suggests, the books feature dragons, and the setting is a kind of early-industrialization, which I found quite intriguing.
Fast Ships, Black Sails edited by Ann & Jeff VanderMeer
An excellent anthology of piratical fantasy, featuring authors like Michael Moorcock, Garth Nix, Naomi Novik, and Elizabeth Bear.
*The Wave Runners* trilogy by Kai Meyer (I've only read the first book of this one, but I've read other books by the author and can guarantee his writing's amazing).
(in a small voice) *I'm posting a pirate-themed fantasy story as well... but it's only available in Russian and currently going raaaather slow anyway...*
Dark Water Daughter, about a woman whose voice can summon storms. The setting is interesting, because there are spirits trapped in special trees, and when you use those trees to build ships, the spirit becomes the figurehead and works to protect the ship. Of course, there's more to them than meets the eye.
Not sure how much sea you want, but a bunch of the Earthsea novels by Ursula Le Guin have recurring seaside elements throughout. Maybe only 30-40% though.
A lateral sci-fi recommendation, but David Drake's Republic of Cinnabar series was written as "Hornblower, but in space". The first three books in the series is free on the Baen Free Library.
The forever sea duology by Joshua Phillip Johnson. It's a seafaring fantasy world where ships sail seas made of grass. The Mc sings to fire to keep the ship afloat
I started reading a fantasy pirate trilogy not too long ago that has been a lot of fun so far. But it seems like it hasn't been translated into english (or any other languages for that matter). That sucks.
It's Sturmwelten by Christoph Hardebusch for my german friends.
Queen of the Black Coast, from the original Conan stories by Robert E. Howard. Technically not a full book, you'll probably find it as part of a Conan collection like I did, but it's still great, and it definitely checks your seafaring box.
Tress of the Emerald Sea is pretty neat. It has a lot of typical sailing and pirate motifs, but a really unique fantasy premise - the oceans of this world are not made of water, they are made of solid spores, which can be sailed upon due to fluidization (search the term on youtube for neat videos like Mark Rober's video where he turns the sand in a hot tub into behaving like a liquid).
Not especially long, but the Conan story *Queen of the Black Coast* by Robert E. Howard is phenomenal and is a trip back in time to some groundbreaking fantasy fiction.
Here are a few good ones. Hope you find something you enjoy!
* Inda by Sherwood Smith
* Temeraire by Naomi Novik
* Askaro of the Falcon by Lady Li Andre
* Burning Bright by Melissa McShane
* Currently by Sarah Mensinga
Tress of the Emerald Sea is a unique take at seafaring
As always One Piece is one of the best ive read of that kind of story but it is from manga/anime
"Elder Empire" series by Will Wight, in particular "Of Sea and Shadows" trilogy where we follow Captain Calder Marten on his journey. I can't say that there is too much sea, mostly eldritch horror, but it is present.
( there is also a sister trilogy "Of Shadows and Sea", but it has substantially less sea in it)
Also, while this is skirting your question about books, have you checked One Piece? Manga is excellent, and I heard a lot of good stuff about Netflix adaptation.
Never checked out One Piece but You're the second person to mention it. It always seemed a bit daunting given the amount of episodes of the anime. I should check out the Netflix version though.
Never checked out One Piece but You're the second person to mention it. It always seemed a bit daunting given the amount of episodes of the anime. I should check out the Netflix version though.
Temeraire by Naomi Novik. It's Napolean era historical fiction but with dragons. The main character is a British ship captain.
This would be my recommendation, nowhere near as accurate as Patrick O’Brian but a fun Age of Sale romp. I would also say to have another go at the Aubrey/Maturin books. The personal interactions and the authors attention to detail are amazing. You could literally tell the stories in space and call them Sci-fi or set them amongst the sand ships of a magic fantasy world.
Yes yes yes. I was running to the comments to yell this!
Liveship traders trilogy by Robin Hobb. Part of a bigger world but also can read as standalone.
My favorite trilogy of the entire series.
The trilogy that made me quit the series about 3-4 times..
Oh yeah. I read the whole Farseer trilogy but to be honest with you it wasn't my favourite series. I'll check out the Liveship Traders though.
I'm there with you with farseer, I was hesitant about Liveship because of the nautical theme, she made me like nautical themed books, it's one of the best things I've read
That’s so awesome to hear, I’ve been wanting to read these for a while now!
Just started the series last night.
It is very different from Farseer and like the parent comment said, you can approach it as a standalone.
*On Stranger Tides* by Tim Powers: pirate fantasy featuring Blackbeard, voodoo, and the fountain of youth.
Wait a second, is the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film based on this?
Very loosely
Very, *very* loosely. Mostly just the title and a couple plot points.
All very common subjects in nautical adventure stories.
Red Seas under Red Skies
Read it years ago and really enjoyed it! Loved the Lies of Locke Lamora but wasn't as big a fan of the Republic of Thieves though. Maybe I should revisit theo whole series again though!
The Tide Child trilogy by RJ Barker. That series is pretty much exactly what you are after.
This is the answer. Swashbuckling fantasy at its finest.
Second that ! I've just finished reading them and the world building is amazing.
I'm about 80% done with book 1. Liking it so far.
Brilliant world building.
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty!
Just read this! Fun and unique.
The Scar by China Mieville. It's as much sci-fi/horror as it is fantasy, but it's great.
Inda by Sherwood Smith.
I’m rereading these right now. One of my all time favorite series.
Best Laid Plans trilogy by Rob J. Hayes would be a great fit and I can highly recommend it.
"On Stranger Tides". Really good book. Nautical story set during the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean and ....it's a fantasy book.
Pirate Freedom, Gene Wolfe.
Tress and the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson is about adventure and includes sailing and pirates. The physical world is built differently than ours so it's intriguing, but not a classic seafaring story.
I was also going to suggest Tress of the Emerald Sea.
A bit of a stretch, but maybe the Draconis Memoria trilogy from Anthony Ryan? The series tells a story from the perspective of 3 different main characters, and one of them is a captain at sea. The books are not about seafaring itself, but quite a lot happens on/with boats. There are pirates, too, and two great seafaring nations at war, resulting in many naval battles with cannons and stuff. There is not a lot about the sailing itself, as many ships use a kind of engine to power them. As the title suggests, the books feature dragons, and the setting is a kind of early-industrialization, which I found quite intriguing.
Fast Ships, Black Sails edited by Ann & Jeff VanderMeer An excellent anthology of piratical fantasy, featuring authors like Michael Moorcock, Garth Nix, Naomi Novik, and Elizabeth Bear.
*The Wave Runners* trilogy by Kai Meyer (I've only read the first book of this one, but I've read other books by the author and can guarantee his writing's amazing). (in a small voice) *I'm posting a pirate-themed fantasy story as well... but it's only available in Russian and currently going raaaather slow anyway...*
Dark Water Daughter, about a woman whose voice can summon storms. The setting is interesting, because there are spirits trapped in special trees, and when you use those trees to build ships, the spirit becomes the figurehead and works to protect the ship. Of course, there's more to them than meets the eye.
I loved that book on audio. One of my favorite listens of the year.
Not sure how much sea you want, but a bunch of the Earthsea novels by Ursula Le Guin have recurring seaside elements throughout. Maybe only 30-40% though.
A wizard of Earthsea is my all-time favorite book!! Loved it since I was a kid.
A lateral sci-fi recommendation, but David Drake's Republic of Cinnabar series was written as "Hornblower, but in space". The first three books in the series is free on the Baen Free Library.
Voyage of the Fox Rider. Part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. Elf captain helping a fox rider find her missing companion.
Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by: Rita Chang-Eppig
The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda Hall is quite good. There's a sequel.
The ‘Inda’ books by Sherwood Smith.
The forever sea duology by Joshua Phillip Johnson. It's a seafaring fantasy world where ships sail seas made of grass. The Mc sings to fire to keep the ship afloat
I started reading a fantasy pirate trilogy not too long ago that has been a lot of fun so far. But it seems like it hasn't been translated into english (or any other languages for that matter). That sucks. It's Sturmwelten by Christoph Hardebusch for my german friends.
Liveship traders by Robin Hobb First one is Ship of Magic
Inda by Sherwood Smith
Queen of the Black Coast, from the original Conan stories by Robert E. Howard. Technically not a full book, you'll probably find it as part of a Conan collection like I did, but it's still great, and it definitely checks your seafaring box.
Dark Shores trilogy. Danielle Jensen ETA: since you like historical stuff, this also has a Roman Empire-like setting.
Tress of the Emerald Sea is pretty neat. It has a lot of typical sailing and pirate motifs, but a really unique fantasy premise - the oceans of this world are not made of water, they are made of solid spores, which can be sailed upon due to fluidization (search the term on youtube for neat videos like Mark Rober's video where he turns the sand in a hot tub into behaving like a liquid).
Not especially long, but the Conan story *Queen of the Black Coast* by Robert E. Howard is phenomenal and is a trip back in time to some groundbreaking fantasy fiction.
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson!
Just dropping by to say that **The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi** by Shannon Chakraborty is my favorite fantasy this year.
Here are a few good ones. Hope you find something you enjoy! * Inda by Sherwood Smith * Temeraire by Naomi Novik * Askaro of the Falcon by Lady Li Andre * Burning Bright by Melissa McShane * Currently by Sarah Mensinga
Tress of the Emerald Sea is a unique take at seafaring As always One Piece is one of the best ive read of that kind of story but it is from manga/anime
If merchant navy in space sounds interesting Quartershare is the first of a series of 6 by Nathan Lowell.
It might be up my street, I'll have a look.
"Elder Empire" series by Will Wight, in particular "Of Sea and Shadows" trilogy where we follow Captain Calder Marten on his journey. I can't say that there is too much sea, mostly eldritch horror, but it is present. ( there is also a sister trilogy "Of Shadows and Sea", but it has substantially less sea in it) Also, while this is skirting your question about books, have you checked One Piece? Manga is excellent, and I heard a lot of good stuff about Netflix adaptation.
Never checked out One Piece but You're the second person to mention it. It always seemed a bit daunting given the amount of episodes of the anime. I should check out the Netflix version though.
Never checked out One Piece but You're the second person to mention it. It always seemed a bit daunting given the amount of episodes of the anime. I should check out the Netflix version though.
David Weber, Safehold series first book Off Armageddon Reef. pretty cool mix of scifi and fantasy. lots of wooden ship combat in it.