For Pirates read:

• Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods. It’s a retelling that takes themes from Cinderella, The little mermaid and Blue Beard. Technically this book doesn’t have any pirates BUT there are smugglers and on a technicality let’s just pool them into the same group. The love story also has a heavy amount of yearning.

• The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton. The book takes place in an alternate version of Victorian England where lady pirates & thieves rule the airspace. There is tons of gossip over tea, attempted assassinations and sword fights. Also did I mention that these women have magicked the shit out of their Victorian townhouses and fly them around town shooting cannon balls out their living room windows. It’s also Enemies to Lovers.

For Princesses read:

• The Swans Daughter by Roshani Chokshi. While mc is not technically a princess, the love interest is a prince which is good enough imo. The story is inspired by a bunch of classic fairytales and features a bachelor-style tournament. Basically it’s a slow burn, friends to lovers romance. One of our mc’s is the daughter of an evil wizard and an enchanted swan. Whose magical gift is that her singing voice forces anyone who hears it to tell the truth. Our other love interest is a cursed prince who’s fated to be murdered by whoever becomes his wife.

• Ariadne by Jennifer Saint. Greek Mythos is an acquired taste but there are some really good ones out there. Ariadne focuses on the story of the Princess of Crete, Ariadne, and her adventures and eventual betrayal (that’s not a spoiler the myth is thousands of years old) by the “hero” Theseus. It explores how women are used as political pawns or collateral damage by temperamental gods and power-hungry men. If you’ve ever heard of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, then you’ve heard of Ariadne.

Other fantasy recs:

• Anything by T. Kingfisher. She’s the queen of modern fairytales.
• Anything by Sarah Beth Durst. Impossibly cozy fantasy.
• Belladonna series by Adalyn Grace. A woman immune to death finds that she can communicate with Death himself. Enemies to lovers, yearning. It’s a gothic fantasy murder mystery and that along should be enough to warrant a read.
• The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones. Set in a remote village against a Welsh inspired backdrop. Our MC works as a gravedigger to keep her family afloat after the death of her parents. But the dead don’t stay dead in this town, instead then start rising from their graves and attacking civilians. Thus begins a journey to find the source of the curse and destroy it. Dark fantasy with elements of horror and a slow burn romance. Also the MC has a pet goat.