Deep Waters: A Dark Sapphic Pirate Romance

by S.J. Hutchins

A Dark Sapphic Pirate Romance

Vengeance and the life of a pirate is all Amara knows.
After tragedy struck her and her town in the name of William James fifteen years ago, she vowed to get revenge.
And it starts with her taking what James stole from her. His family.

Mabel James, sweet and innocent. And heiress to the James empire.
Until one night pirates overthrow her ship and she‘s taken captive by the golden eyed pirate captain.
Unlike her father she has no secrets, a true innocent in the hands of someone who will kill without a second thought.

Can Mabel prove her innocence and stay alive? Will Amara be able to put aside her vendetta for love?

Will they find the truth of one another freeing? Or will it set this pair to ruin?

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2026

About the author

S.J. Hutchins is an emerging author of queer romances with a touch of fantasy. Stories filled with spice and heart, and treading on the line of dark romance.
S.J. Hutchins live in Kent, England with her husband, family and pets. Cats, dogs and scaly critters.
If she isn’t writing, she’s definitely reading and enjoying cat snuggles.

Reviews

[T.M. Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book you read when you're a little bit tired of men. When you want strong badass pirate women who are devious and ruthless. When you want the corruption of an enemy's daughter along with a solid helping of feminine rage and fighting against evil men. This is the weak princess who falls for her captor, and in the process finds her strength, her power, and her sexuality. This book is deadly battles and dangerous love. It's swashbuckling and spice on the seven seas. And yes, it's also seriously HOT sapphic smut. 🥵

[Torri · Rating 2 out of 5]

POTENTIAL SPOILERS**
This is more of a 2.5 rating. I DNF’d the book at 58%. There are several chapters in the beginning that are repetitive and don’t accomplish much (Mabel stating that she can’t survive / may survive). The tension between the main characters was great at first. The transition from anger to lust was quick and felt out of place. I think it could use another run through an editor. I liked the idea of the story but it fell flat for me.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely sucked me in and had me so invested from beginning to end I had a hard time putting it down. I loved the journey both FMC's took, Mabel going from timid to confident and Amara finding her softer side was so satisfying.

S.J. Hutchins writing is vibrant and lovely and it was a nice escape from reality for a while. I would highly recommend picking this one up.

[Evone Elia-Clancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book. I feel like I have read a similar pirate book...I have no idea. But it just did not keep my interest while reading. Using the same words/phrases multiple times within 2-3 paragraphs is too much. DNF at around 55%.