Pirates of Darksea

PIRATES OF DARKSEA is the latest middle-grade novel from bestselling author, Catherine Doyle, which follows a young boy trying to save his brother’s life by embarking on a pirate-filled adventure in the world’s eighth sea. It is fun, moving and filled with a brilliant and barmy cast of characters – with a story of brotherly love and hope at its core. It was part of a four-book deal with Bloomsbury, which also includes Catherine’s debut picture book, and will publish in March 2024. Her novels MIRACLE ON EBENEZER STREET and TWIN CROWNS (co-written with Katherine Webber) are currently under option for Film/TV.

Max and his big brother Christopher have always shared their adventures. In fact for ages they’ve been sneaking down to Galway Bay at the turn of midnight, waiting for Captain O’Malley and his famed pirate ship to take them over the horizon to the magical world of Eighth Sea.

Despite their messages, the Captain never arrived and now, two years later, Christopher is in grave danger. It’s not even the sort of danger Max can help with. Christopher is in hospital and getting sicker. Their parents want to take him far, far away for a new treatment, but they don’t have the money.

That’s when a very loud, bright red parrot visits Max’s House in Bellflower Lane. Squawk is carrying a message from Captain O’Malley, who needs a new crew member to help with a top secret quest. The reward is treasure beyond Max’s wildest dreams. He’s going to sail to the Eighth Sea, but he hadn’t bargained on coming face to face with a monster, one that is eating the islands of the Eighth Sea one by one.

Catherine Doyle lives in the West of Ireland. She holds a BA in Psychology and an MA in Publishing. Her work, which includes Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction, has been published in over 25 languages. Her award-winning and bestselling middle grade STORM KEEPER trilogy is set on the magical island of Arranmore, where her grandparents grew up. Her modern re-imagining of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, THE MIRACLE ON EBENEZER STREET, was published by Puffin books in October 2020. Her most recent MG novel, THE LOST GIRL KING, was released in September 2022. Her bestselling YA novel, TWIN CROWNS, co-authored with Katherine Webber, published in May 2022. The sequel, CURSED CROWNS, published in April 2023.

Catherine is represented by Claire Wilson at RCW Literary Agency.