Choosing the right pirates comp titles for your query letter can make or break your chances of being published.
Agents and publishing house editors use comp titles as a quick way to gauge the genre of your book along with its market potential.
I regularly update this list of pirates romance comp titles to make sure you’re always working with relevant books.
No matter if you’re writing a sweet, slow-burn pirates romance or something fast and spicy, you’ll find titles below to help you write a killer query letter!
If you’re looking for something a bit more specific, check out my romance comp database.
- A Pirate's Life for TeaYear published: 2023Genre and themes: LGBT, adult, cozy, cozy fantasy, fantasy, lesbian, pirates, queer
- A Ship of Bones & TeethYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, dark, enemies to lovers, fantasy, mermaids, pirates, retellings, romantasy
- A Ship of Bones & TeethYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, dark, enemies to lovers, fantasy, mermaids, pirates, retellings, romantasy
- A Ship of Bones and TeethYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, dark, enemies to lovers, fantasy, mermaids, pirates, retellings, romantasy
- Fallen StarsYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, enemies to lovers, fantasy, magic, pirates, romantasy
- SaintYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adventure, fantasy, pirates, romantasy, young adult
- The Ever KingYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, dark, enemies to lovers, fae, fantasy, magic, pirates, romantasy
- The Ever QueenYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, dark, enemies to lovers, fae, fantasy, magic, pirates, romantasy
- The Ghost ShipYear published: 2023Genre and themes: LGBT, adult, adventure, fantasy, historical, pirates, queer
- The Mermaid, the Witch, and the SeaYear published: 2020Genre and themes: LGBT, fantasy, lesbian, mermaids, pirates, queer, young adult
- The Mist ThiefYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, dark, enemies to lovers, fae, fantasy, magic, pirates, romantasy
- Tress of the Emerald SeaYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, adventure, book club, fantasy, high fantasy, pirates, young adult
- Vengeance of the Pirate QueenYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adventure, enemies to lovers, fantasy, pirates, romantasy, young adult
Other resources to assist with your querying journey
Comp titles are only a small piece of the querying puzzle! Here are other resources I offer to help writers achieve their dreams of publishing their novels:
- Developmental editing services
- Pre-querying package
- Publishers accepting manuscript submissions this month
- Romance tropes list
- Random romance trope generator
Frequently asked questions
How recent do comp titles need to be?
Comp titles should be published within the past five to seven years so it is representative of the current market potential of your manuscript.
Can I use bestselling books as a comp title?
Yes, you can! However, the bestselling books aren’t always the most suitable options. While it’s integral that a comp title has sold well, it’s better to choose a comp title that’s sold less well but closer represents the tone and overall vibe of your own book.
How many comp titles should I include in my query letter?
You should aim for two comp titles in your query letter. You can include three, but agents would expect more than one.
Can I use a series as a comp title?
You can, but it’s best to pick a specific book within that series that best represents your manuscript.
What if I can’t find a pirates romance comp title that fits my book?
You can broaden your horizons to also include other subgenres of romance!