Happy New Year me hearties! My new year’s resolution is to read a bunch of nautical fiction, because that’s a resolution I will actually stick to. I’ve created my own reading challenge, so if you’re up for some adventures on the high seas, climb aboard.
Every book I read for this challenge will be in the nautical fiction genre, i.e. it will be set on or near the sea. If you’re playing along and find a book that ticks more than one of these boxes, feel free to count it for both.
1. Female protagonist
Nautical fiction is often a boys’ club, so challenge #1 is finding a female-centric book.
2. Set before 1500
A lot of nautical fiction is set during the “golden age of sail”, generally considered to be mid-1500s to mid-1800s. But people were navigating the seas long before this, and I’d love to read a sea story from ancient times.
3. Pirates!
Pirates are cool.
4. Diverse cast
Most of the nautical fiction I’ve read is pretty Eurocentric, so I’ll be looking for stuff that isn’t just a bunch of white dudes. LGBTQ representation is always welcome, and it would be awesome to see physically disabled characters thriving at sea.
5. Mystery
Honestly, I’m just itching to read a murder mystery set on a cruise ship.
6. Something by Patrick O’Brian
Because you can’t read nautical fiction without reading Patrick O’Brian.
7. Set during WW2
I know this period is over-done in historical fiction, but I’ve still never read any WW2-era hist fic set at sea.
8. Mermaids!
Mermaids are cool.
9. Animal magic
Sailors share the seas with fish, whales, sharks, and so many other creatures. I’d like to read a nautical story where animals are central to the plot.
10. Ships on ships
I rarely seek out romance in fiction because I tend to get much more invested in friendships and other platonic relationships. But in the spirit of exploration, I’m going to try a big swoony romance on the high seas.
Do you have any recommendations for any of these challenges?
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Regency romance on a ship: Georgana’s Secret by Arlem Hawks or Miss Whittier Makes a List by Carla Kelly. I learned a lot about ship life from these, and both are well-written, clean romances.
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Thanks so much for the recs!
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Fable series by Adrienne Young, Sea Wife by Amity Gaige and arguably, Our Wives Under The Sea. Good luck!
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Thank you! Which challenges are they likely to fulfill? I’m guessing the wives ones are romances and Fable series is perhaps mermaids? Could be way off though!
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