Capitana by Cassandra James

Capitana

Cassandra James

HarperCollins · Paperback · January 6, 2026

Prepare to set sail with this riveting romantasy—the first in a duology—that’s filled with complex characters, sizzling chemistry, and evocative action.

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Who it’s for
A seafaring fantasy blends rival-classmate chemistry with questions of family legacy and loyalty.
Themes
Family legacy and reputation, Questioning laws and loyalties
Genres
YA Pirate Adventures, YA Fantasy Romance, YA Romance

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About this book

Prepare to set sail with this riveting romantasy—the first in a duology—that’s filled with complex characters, sizzling chemistry, and evocative action. A must-read for fans of Daughter of the Pirate King and Fable! Ximena Reale has spent most of her life training at La Academia to join the Cazadores, seafaring hunters who track down pirates. But her future is uncertain, thanks to her parents’ questionable reputation.

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They were traitorous pirates, and though they were executed when Ximena and her sister were young, they permanently damaged the Reale name in the eyes of the Luzan Empire. Ability alone won’t make Ximena a Cazadoro—or earn her the coveted Cazadoro cloak. So, when the legendary pirate Gasparilla returns and captures the Empire’s queen, Ximena offers to bring back the queen and the notorious pirate in exchange for a cloak. But there’s a catch: Only one cloak is available, and Ximena’s competition is Dante, an infuriating yet handsome classmate with mysterious motives. With their futures on the line, Ximena and Dante set out on a dangerous quest across the high seas. But no matter how far Ximena sails, her family’s legacy haunts her, and her exposure to a world outside of la academia leads her to question the very laws she’s always fought to uphold. Is it possible she’s been on the wrong side all along?

High Seas, Hard Choices

A seafaring fantasy blends rival-classmate chemistry with questions of family legacy and loyalty.

Come here for

  • Pirate-hunting ambition and a dangerous quest across the high seas
  • An infuriating classmate, a coveted cloak, and sparks of competition

Expect

  • A heroine reckoning with her family’s reputation
  • Loyalty tested as familiar laws come into question

Where it sits

YA Fantasy Romance67%
YA Pirate Adventures59%
YA Romance22%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • YA Pirate Adventures
  • Multigenerational YA Stories
  • YA Stories About Parents
  • YA Fantasy
Show all 8 publisher categories
  • Epic YA Fantasy
  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • YA Stories About Girls & Women
  • YA Romance
Authors
Cassandra James
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
January 6, 2026
Format
Paperback
Theme
Family legacy and reputation · Questioning laws and loyalties
Reading lane
YA Pirate Adventures