Cassandra

James

Bestselling Novelist

Young Adult Fantasy Writer

Travels from: Orlando, FL

“James delivers her fast-paced and convincing debut narrative in an accomplished third-person voice. Budding romance and soaring stakes keep the tension simmering through the last page. A shimmering, piratical fantasy with real-world teeth.” — Kirkus Reviews

Cassandra James grew up in a mixed immigrant family with a penchant for storytelling, so becoming a writer was almost inevitable. She recently graduated from Princeton University with a degree in English focusing on Creative Writing. After solo-traveling the world for several months, she met her swoon-worthy husband and landed in Orlando, Florida, where she spends her time cooking Colombian food, obsessing over Broadway musicals, and occasionally swashbuckling.

Her debut Young Adult pirate fantasy novel, Capitana, was as an international bestseller, translated into multiple languages worldwide and chosen as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. The sequel, Libertad (June 2026), is the conclusion to this sweepingly epic seafaring romantasy duology.

Cassandra's Featured Titles

Libertad

Quill Tree Books |

June 16, 2026

Young Adult

In this conclusion to a sweepingly epic seafaring romantasy duology—perfect for fans of Daughter of the Pirate King, Curious Tides, and The Hurricane Wars—Ximena Reale is trying to bring down an empire. But with her loyalties torn, she finds herself grappling with the true price of freedom…and love.

Alongside her sister, Ximena Reale now sails under the banner of the legendary pirate Gasparilla. But, between the bounty on “Gasparilla’s” head and the Empire’s renewed efforts to stomp out piracy, the sisters’ fellow pirates are suddenly wary of swearing allegiance to their cause.

After a betrayal in the one place they were supposed to be safe, Gasparilla’s crew hits the high seas again and Ximena is reunited with Cazador Dante de León. Her longtime rival has been tasked with capturing her, and Ximena doesn’t know if she can trust the information he’s feeding her about the empire’s plans to take over the Northern Archipelago’s silver mines. “Gasparilla” heads north to rob the robbers, but the Empire has a few nasty tricks up their sleeves—including putting a traitor in the pirates’ midst.

With the armada closing in, Ximena finds herself scrambling to protect the people she loves. The price of freedom is higher than it’s ever been—but is Ximena willing to pay, even if it costs her everything?

BIPOC Representation, Fantasy, Fantasy, Speculative & Science Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Kid-Lit: Young Adult, Latinx Heritage, Romance & Romantasy

Capitana

Quill Tree Books |

February 4, 2025

Young Adult

Prepare to set sail with this riveting romantasy—the first in a duology—that’s filled with complex characters, sizzling chemistry, and evocative action. A must-read for fans of Daughter of the Pirate King and Fable!

Ximena Reale has spent most of her life training at La Academia to join the Cazadores, seafaring hunters who track down pirates. But her future is uncertain, thanks to her parents’ questionable reputation. They were traitorous pirates, and though they were executed when Ximena and her sister were young, they permanently damaged the Reale name in the eyes of the Luzan Empire.

Ability alone won’t make Ximena a Cazadoro—or earn her the coveted Cazadoro cloak. So, when the legendary pirate Gasparilla returns and captures the Empire’s queen, Ximena offers to bring back the queen and the notorious pirate in exchange for a cloak. But there’s a catch: Only one cloak is available, and Ximena’s competition is Dante, an infuriating yet handsome classmate with mysterious motives.

With their futures on the line, Ximena and Dante set out on a dangerous quest across the high seas. But no matter how far Ximena sails, her family’s legacy haunts her, and her exposure to a world outside of la academia leads her to question the very laws she’s always fought to uphold. Is it possible she’s been on the wrong side all along?

Bestseller, BIPOC Representation, Fantasy, Fantasy, Speculative & Science Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Kid-Lit: Young Adult, Latinx Heritage, Romance & Romantasy

Writing and Publishing Your Debut Novel

Dreaming of becoming a published author? Learn how the writing and publishing process works from young debut Cassandra James, who sold her first book while she was still in college!

“…Debut author James employs elucidating prose to craft a rich imaginary world inspired by 18th-century Latin America in this swashbuckling adventure, a duology starter.” — Publishers Weekly

“…Budding romance and soaring stakes keep the tension simmering through the last page and marvelously tee up the second book in this duology…A shimmering, piratical fantasy with real-world teeth.” — Kirkus Reviews

“A treacherous, seaworthy tale full of adventure.” — The School Library Journal

“A fantastical, action-packed tale full of swashbuckling, daring and complex characters. YA at its very finest.” — Rachel Greenlaw, Author of Compass and Blade

“Capitana amounts to an exhilarating, edge-of-your-seat voyage of a novel. Bring on book two in a duology that defies romantasy conventions and tackles themes of imperialism.” — LoveReading4Kids

“With her second novel, James falls effortlessly back into the 18th-century Latin American–inspired world she created, expanding both the magic and the political intrigue in service of a moving and nail-biting plot. The seeds of romance planted in the earlier book are allowed to bloom deliciously into an earned connection that’s as swoony as it is believable. The author uses time skips to good advantage, sustaining the story’s momentum and providing ample space for imagined interludes. More swashbuckling sisterly fun, with a healthy dose of hope for a brighter tomorrow: siempre juntas.” — Kirkus Reviews

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