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The Best Fantasy Books Set by the Sea

Dark Cliff Fantasy Book

Why we love fantasy books set by the sea?

Misty night, swells dramatically crashing against the cliffs, sea breeze and mysterious moonglow...  The obscure landscape of the sea is something magical, inspiring many writers into creating their works in this aesthetic.

Books from many fantasy genres like ‘A Study in Drowning’ by Ava Reid, ‘Duma Key’ by Stephen King or ‘Rouge’ by Mona Awad have in their base the dark, foggy cliffs – discover the book list of the best of them... Discover the best fantasy books set by the sea...

#5
Duma Key
by Stephen King

Duma Key Book Cover Fantasy Books Set by the Sea
Cover image © Scribner Book Company

After losing a hand in the car accident, Edgar Freemantle suffers from sudden rages. On the advice of his psychologist, Edgar moves to Duma Key – a reclusive island on Florida. His new house on Duma Key makes Edgar spend his retirement drawing. His passion starts to become uncontrollable when the secret of Duma Key is slowly revealed, and the consequence of the Edgar’s paintings power become terrifying. 

 ———• ☾ •———

The titular Duma Key is the core for the horror of this King’s novel. As Stephen King fan, I know that most of his masterpiece lays in the atmosphere-building, and ‘Duma Key’ is one of this works. The isolation of the island reminds me of the vibes of other King’s book, ‘Bag of Bones’, that also takes place next to water region – a lake.

Just like in ‘Bag of Bones’, the blood-thirsty water is not also the important element of the plot, but also a source of a reader’s shivers. Imagine rough sea, long beaches full of shells, rocky caves. And an old man trapped in his villa alone during long, Floridian storms. The horror of Duma Key lays, as I said, in Edgar’s loneliness, caused partly by the sea that separate him from the world. 

#4
Herz aus Glas
(Heart of Glass*)
by Kathrin Lange

herz aus glas book cover Fantasy Books Set by the Sea
Cover image © Arena

Juli is asked to spend her winter break on the Martha’s Vineyard Island with David, the son of the Juli’s dad boss. David lost his fiancé after she fell down a cliff, what completely shocked David. He is mysterious and introverted, what intrigues Juli.

After discovering that the David’s lover wasn’t the only woman that died on the cliffs of Martha’s Vineyard. It is said that the curse from the 19th century forces young women to jump from the cliff straight to the blood-thirsty sea. Soon, Juli will become as unsure about the reality as the dead women. She will hear voices and slowly be drown in the madness of the cliffs...  

———•   ☾  •———

‘Herz aus Glas’ was one of the first gothic novels I’ve read. Based on ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne du Maurier, ‘Herz aus Glas’ inherits the unique and dark atmosphere of Gothic. At the same time, Kathrin Lange adds to her book a modern breath of fresh air. Like in ‘Duma Key’, the proximity of the sea adds the horror to the story. However, while in ‘Duma Key’ the sea is more a background for the main plot line, in ‘Herz aus Glas’ it is the true main character. Because of the curse that is the major factor in the story, the sea is the main danger in ‘Herz aus Glas’ for Juli.

What is more, ‘Herz aus Glas’ is perfect especially for the young fans of darkness – as long as I remember it is just right for the age above 13!  

• Available in only in German original and Polish translation.

#3
A Study In Drowning
by Ava Reid

a study in drowning Fantasy Books Set by the Sea
Cover image © HarperTeen

Effy and Preston are students at a prominent university, trying to solve the mystery of ‘Angharad’. It's an epic poem written by Emrys Myrddin telling a story of a titular girl that falls in love with the Fairy King, an immortal, legendary being. Believing in the story created by Myrddin, Effy is haunted by the Fairy King herself – she is cursed by perceiving the supernatural parts of the world, taken straight from the legends.

Preston, on the other hand, is a down-to-earth and rational novice scientist, trying to discover the truth about who the real author of ‘Angharad’ is. Effy agrees to cooperate with Preston, slowly ruining her perception of the world centered around Emrys Myrddin and his works.

Like the stories about literary scholars similar to 'A Study in Drowning'?
Discover my list of the enchanted books about books...

 ———• ☾ •———

Mysterious beasts lurking in the fog of the cliffs, half-swamped villa on the edge of a cliff and the dark secret that is able to destroy the main character...

In ‘A Study in Drowning’ folklore plays a key role. And this folklore is deeply connected to the sea, especially in the second volume, ‘A Theory of Dreaming’. What is more, the Emrys Myrddin’s villa that Effy is asked to rebuild with her architectural skills, is placed straight next to the stormy cliffs. The villa and the whole series are literally water-soaked and damp. The old house of the Myrddin’s is neglected and mildewed, and the whole atmosphere inherits it all. At the same time, ‘A Study in Drowning’ is incredibly engaging and overwhelming, making a reader fully immersed in the story. 

Trigger warning

'A Study in Drowning' contains deeply uncomfortable descriptions of grooming, emotional and sexual violence, both in the academic and job envrionment.
If you are somehow sensitive to these topics, please consider twice if you want to read 'A Study in Drowning' by Ava Reid.

#2
Rouge
by Mona Awad

Rouge Forgotten Fairytales
Cover image © Scribner

Belle is a woman raised by a beauty. Her mother, Noelle, has always been a reason of praise in men and of envy in other women... Including Noelle's own daughter. Belle has always hated how ugly she was, let alone compared with Noelle's appearance. Ashamed of her looks as a girl, the adult Belle does everything to be perfect on the outside, even though in the inside she is unhappy. Following the Noelle's example, Belle wants to be a heartbreaker. She unhealthely dedicates herself to maintain impossible beauty standards she imposes on herself.

Suddenly, Noelle dies in a mysterious way. Addicted to skin care and scared of looming ripe age Belle discovers a secret society her mother has been a member of - Rouge. Meaning both a blush and a red in French, Rouge is a group of people scarily similar to Belle. They all are obsessed with ever-lasting beauty dream. However, the methods of beauty therapies of Rouge are... quite unusual.

#1
L'isola dove volano le femmine
(The Island of Flying Women*)
By
Marta Lamalfa

L'isola dove volano le femmine set by the sea
Cover image © Harper Collins

The story of simple, poor family that after the death of their female teenage member slowly disappears in the madness. Maria, the beloved twin sister of Caterina, dies in a mysterious illness. However, the family suspect her lover of killing Maria. Caterina, feeling incomplete without her twin, discovers the myths of the megere - Sicilian witches, women living outside the social norms.

The megere are told to naked fly from Alicudi, the setting of 'L'isola dove volano le femmine', to Lipari, bringing food to their families. Quickly, feeling unsatisfied with the path Caterina is expected to follow - to be a wife and a mother - she wishes to become one of the megere: la majara. 'L'isola dove volano le femmine' shares not only the fascinating legends of Sicily, but most importantly - portrays vividly the reality of the poors from Alicudi and their daily work.

 ———• ☾ •———

The story takes place in the Alicudi, one of the islands of Lipari group, Italy. Obviously, the key role in 'L'isola dove volano le femmine' plays the sea of Alicudi, the centre of its people. Bringing both blessings - food - and misery - death, the sea is for the Sicilians portrayed in 'L'isola dove volano le femmine' a sacred and terrifying area. The megere are the only that aren't afraid of the sea: they are able to fly, ie survive the danger of the water.

The fact that the megere can be free both from the social norms and the death at the sea makes them and the water unique compared to the other Sicilians. Furthermore, the sea is essential for the main character, Caterina, a pure romantic who sees the sea as a path to freedom she desperately desire. After crossing the sea, nobody will be able to stop her from persuing Caterina's dreams. Marta Lamalfa beautifully depicts the roles the sea has in the lives and folklore of the Sicilians.

• Available in only in Italian original and Portuguese, French and Polish translations.

Enjoyed my ranking of the best fantasy books set by the sea?
Try also those book lists!

*All of the English translations marked with the asterisk I did by myself:
they are unofficial since there aren't any original English versions.

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