The Pirate Queen's Curse

by E.H. Casteele

Centuries ago, a witch’s curse doomed a pirate crew. Now, one woman’s blood may be the key to breaking it. Forty-year-old marine archaeologist Elizabeth Tate didn’t expect her midlife crisis to involve curses, pirates, or attempted murder.

Her carefully ordered life unraveled when she discovered her husband’s affair—and an even more shocking truth: she’s descended from Maria Hallett, the infamous Witch of Wellfleet and lover of the pirate Black Sam Bellamy. When Black Sam failed to return at the time he promised, Maria’s rage unleashed a curse on him and his crew…one Elizabeth was destined to break.

Then someone tried to kill her because apparently betrayal and midlife hot flashes weren’t enough.

As strange powers awakened in her blood, Elizabeth was pulled into a dangerous world of cursed relics, dark magic, and a secret organization known as the Obsidian Hand, which believed the artifacts she was studying held the key to an ancient goddess and a legendary lost treasure.

Hunted for powers she barely understands, she’s forced to trust a sentient pirate ship, its cursed crew, two men who seem to know more about her and her destiny than they should, and gain a deeply unhelpful, foul-mouthed parrot familiar with a talent for bad timing.

Now, with betrayal closing in and the sea calling her home, Elizabeth must embrace her destiny or risk unleashing something far more dangerous than an ancient curse.

406 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2026

About the author

E. H. Casteele writes historical fiction and paranormal romance inspired by real pirate history, maritime legends, and the mysteries of the sea. With a bachelor's degree in American History and more than fifteen years researching the Golden Age of Piracy, she blends authentic history with unforgettable adventure and passion.

Reviews

[E Wright]

The way this book is written allows you to get swept away with the story from the very beginning. It gives a good feel for the characters allowing the investment in them and taking sides, wanting the characters to forget what happens and do well for themselves. During this time where they are creating something that they have worked so hard on for a while, the characters are tested and you feel what they are feeling. Jib is written especially well, funny and lightens up the character he is with making him very likable and a lively chap. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars, I felt like I wanted more in the story, so the book leaves you floored for days afterwards.

[Lynda]

I’m leaving this a 3.5. Not a 4, not a 3.

I enjoyed reading book one, and it’s wonderful introduction to some very fun characters including a cantankerous bird, but I started scanning chapters towards the end. That might be more of a me response to the, “ok, I get it, now will the ending meet my expectations in a great way?”

Yes, it does.

I loved the pirate lore, actual adult characters, the curse elements, and how the curse began, and played out and are, because it’s book one, might sail in book two. (It made me smile more than once and say “oh no” a couple too).

And I absolutely loved pieces of this that I can’t tell you about because, spoilers.

[T.E. Rosemeyer]

It was so refreshing to read a book with an older, wiser FMC. E.H. Casteele has a wonderful imagination and brings the story to life beautifully. The Pirate Queen is a strong, capable heroine, and I really enjoyed following her adventures. A lovely start to the series, and I look forward to seeing where her journey goes next. I particularly enjoyed her familiar (sorry, no spoilers).

[MoonWillowArchives]

The Pirate Queen’s Curse had such a good premise. Pirates, curses, secrets, adventure... all things I should have been completely into.

But this one just never really came together for me.

My biggest issue was the FMC. She’s supposed to be this intelligent professor, but some of her reactions to really major things felt way too casual. Huge revelations would happen and I kept expecting more of a reaction from her, but instead it would almost feel like... okay, moving on. 😂 That made it really hard for me to get invested in what was happening.

The romance didn’t help much either. There are two possible love interests, but neither relationship ever really went anywhere for me. It kept feeling like the important conversations or moments were coming later... and then later never really came.

A lot happens in this book, but sometimes it felt like we were moving on before anything had time to actually sink in. I kept wishing things would slow down just a little so I could get to know the characters better and actually care about the relationships.

I do think the idea behind the story is really good, and there’s definitely room for this world to become something I’d enjoy more. I just needed more depth from the characters and relationships than I got here.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC!