Tempest

The Lyrian Sea #1

by Victoria Aveyard

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard comes an epic adventure of love and betrayal, amid a brutal war for the high seas.

May the sea always sing for you

Cat Rose knows what it is to live in two worlds, in two times. Before—as Lady Catrine Rose of the Meridian Empire, chained to a loathsome lord with a dwindling fortune. And after—as the Widow Rose, queen of a pirate tavern in the Lyrian Sea, determined to be the master of her own fate.

But tides turn and winds change. The Meridian Empire looms on the horizon, the full weight of her navy falling on the Lyrian, bent on reclaiming the wealthy colonies and crushing the pirate republic once and for all. Ship after ship is captured, save for one, captained by a pirate who continually evades both noose and blade: the legendary Valerian Kane.

With his fearsome ship and uncanny connection to the song of the sea, Valerian is the only man who might rally the pirates who remain. The only man who threatens the Empire. And the only man Cat has ever loved, blazing in and out of her life like a star.

Desperate for victory, the Empire offers Cat a devastating choice: bring them Valerian or hang. In truth, no choice at all.

But Cat Rose is nothing if not a survivor.

A storm is rising on the Lyrian Sea—the question is, what will it leave in its wake?

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Pirates, Adult, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 8, 2026

About the author

I'm an author/screenwriter who likes books and lists. This site is the nexus of my universe.

I wrote the #1 NYT bestselling series RED QUEEN the #1 NYT bestselling REALM BREAKER trilogy. Next up, my adult fantasy debut, TEMPEST, coming 2026.

The genres I'm into include YA, Fantasy, Historical, Adventure, Apocalyptic - if people are dying, I'm buying.

Reviews

[Katherine]

ALEXA, PLAY THE PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN SOUNDTRACK

[Cassie (Star-Crossed Book Blog)]

PIRATES! ADULT DUOLOGY! ROMANTIC FANTASY! LOVE TRIANGLE?!?!

WE ARE SO BACK.

[Anabel]

NEW V.A. BOOK 🚨🚨

saw this on tiktok just now and i read the synopsis and oh my god!!! PIRATES??? YES PLEASE 😋😋

[Kaven Hirning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get me back to gods country (victoria aveyards books)

[vyn targaryen ‎♡‧₊˚]

give it to me right now victoria hope lauren doesnt plagiarize this one too

[Breanna]

sorry to all the other books being published in 2026 because victoria is going to SERVE with this one 🏴‍☠️

[Mari]

STANDALONE!! PIRATES!!! ADULT NOVEL!!!
AND INSPIRED BY PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN?!?

“in which a former noblewoman faces execution for treason unless she helps the Empire hunt their most wanted enemy, the last great pirate captain, and the only man she has ever loved”

and here we are finally with a story that reminds me of one my fav ship ever: Elizabeth Swann and Captain Jack Sparrow 🔥


AND HERE I AM WAITING FOR THIS BOOK IN 2024!!! 💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘

[Noi (in & out)]

I need a good pirate book, and I PUT MY FAITH IN YOU VICTORIA

[Sandra Bruxvoort]

Victoria is an auto-add at this point 🌊

[Elaina McClendon 📚🌸]

If Aveyard fails to bring some kind of substance to the overall Romantasy genre in this, I simply will dnf it. I am sorry, but I genuinely disagree with authors trying to write in the Romantasy genre when they know they only have a romance story to tell and not a story with complex characters, good plot, and great worldbuilding. If this is basically a romance, I won’t even read from her again. 😂

It just feels like authors are writing in the romantasy genre now because they know it sells well, not because they want to bring something new/ substance to the table, which is what the romantasy genre mostly lacks.

[Ricky]

We WILL be preordering.

[jenny reads a lot]

I just want all the pirates right now!


| TikTok | IG |

[h i n d]

- adult romantic fantasy
- inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean
- might have a love triangle??

Former noblewoman faces execution for treason unless she helps the Empire hunt their most wanted enemy, the last great pirate captain and the only man she's ever loved.

[✰DoveyV✰]

OCTOBER 16, 2024 // it's gonna be agony waiting till 2026 for this but it's POTC inspired so I'm ready to traumatized again 😆

JANUARY 8, 2026 // WE FINALLY HAVE A RELEASE DATE AND A COVER COMING SOON!! AND BOOK TWO NEXT SUMMER!!!

[Althea ☾]

YES MORE PIRATE ADULT FANTASY

[littlefox]

what i would do to get an ARC of this book, i’m gonna POUNCE as soon as it’s released 😮‍💨😮‍💨

[clicktojointhemafia]

i've been locked in since 2024 GIVE ME IT VICTORIA

[Lisa]

close enough, welcome back treasure planet (2002)

[Kentry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will say that in the discussion of originality, especially with the controversy in the book world right now (deserved or not), there are some aspects of this that already make me feel… tired.

Cat Rose. Lyrian. Meridian. Valerian.

Some of this feels recycled from 1,000 other books unfortunately, but I do consider any well-written romance a thrill

It’s just that if I’m being completely honest, I don’t think this would have landed an agent or publication if it had been written by an author who wasn’t already so known.

[Bethany Lam]

ARRGHGHHGHGHHGHGHGH THAT NEW COVER IS NICCEEEEEEE








I am so excited (!!!!!!!!!) just the fact that she wrote Red Queen. I read her SubStack and watch her Instagram - she seems such a nice person.

[megan]

i've been waiting a year for this im so ready. TEN YEAR situationship ?? with a pirate!! and a former lady!! say LESS

[Rebekah Clark]

Wooooo I CANNOT wait for this one 🤩

[ekaterina]

will read this before rauren loberts decides to write defenseless based on this series 👀

[shixx :))]

pirates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Juli]

BETTTTTT

[maggie]

we’re so back

[kayla]

i’m seated. the barnes and nobles employees are scared and asking me to leave because it’s “not 2026 yet” but i’m simply too seated.

[.⋆｡⋆☂˚｡Polaris ｡˚☽˚｡⋆.]

You say pirate I come running

[Audrey]

GIVE IT TO ME NOW

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️