June 30 brings Linda H. Codega’s latest fantasy, Pasha the Storm, starring a pirate queen in exile and a minister who holds her afterlife hostage—set against empire-building, a necromantic navy, and a hunt for a legendary undying killer whale.
By the time fantasy readers turn the calendar to June 30, one pirate queen will already be plotting her escape.
Pasha the Storm is the latest novel from Hugo and ENNIE Award winner Linda H. Codega, releasing on June 30. Fresh off Codega’s acclaimed debut novel, Motheater, the book leans hard into swashbuckling myth—less “grounded romance” than the high-seas fantasy leap it promises.
In the story, readers follow Pasha the Northern Storm, once the most infamous Meridian swashbuckler to cross the sister oceans. A decade into exile. she’s no longer chasing treasure for the thrill of it—her fate is being handled by Minister Atle Itaavar. a wildly attractive noble serving the Kingdom of Garda. Atle keeps Pasha’s afterlife hostage, tying their rivalry to something far more urgent than a traditional love affair.
That deal starts to tilt when Queen Thivaldís begins making moves to forge an empire. She doesn’t just expand through politics; she brings a necromantic navy at her disposal. With duty and power pulling in different directions. Alte—spelled Alte in the novel’s description—plots to steal the Queen’s flagship. taking Pasha with her on a journey to hunt down a legendary. undying killer whale.
The search doesn’t stay at sea level. Their hunt thrusts them into a swirl of political intrigue, piracy, a cosmic reckoning with ghosts and the very gods themselves, and a vengeful queen on their heels.
Pasha the Storm is billed as a queer fantasy adventure. with simmering romantic tension between the titular pirate and her enemy-turned-ally. Atle. Comparisons have been drawn to the legendary tale of Moby-Dick and the 2020 fantasy The Bone Shard Daughter. combining a sea-beast hunt with a story of revolution and magic on the ocean.
Codega is publishing with Erewhon Books. re-teaming with a press known for championing diverse and underrepresented ideas and voices unafraid to take risks with their writing. Pasha the Storm becomes the latest fantasy tale under Erewhon’s purview. joining titles like A Harvest of Hearts and When the Tides Held the Moon.
For readers who want more fantasy than just one release, Pasha the Storm isn’t even the only Erewhon book hitting the same day. Angela Mi Young Hur’s contemporary fantasy novel The Loom Tree also releases on June 30, set at a magical university where fairytales and heritage intertwine.
Beyond Erewhon, Titan Books has This Is Where the Future Bleeds by Mike Brooks scheduled as well. The novel follows a revered diviner for the rich and powerful who finds herself in danger after being attacked, with her broker killed over a destiny one of her clients was dissatisfied with.
Pasha the Storm is available to pre-order now on Amazon and other retailers ahead of the book’s release on June 30.
Pasha the Storm Linda H. Codega Erewhon Books Hugo Award ENNIE Award Motheater fantasy novels pirate queen queer fantasy Moby-Dick comparison The Bone Shard Daughter Titan Books This Is Where the Future Bleeds Angela Mi Young Hur The Loom Tree June 30 release
So it’s like pirates but also necromancy and a hostage afterlife? June 30 can’t come fast enough.
Wait I thought it was June 30 already? Like is this coming out “June 30” of this year or next? Also why does a minister have her afterlife lol.
That “undying killer whale” part has me confused because killer whales don’t do necromancy. Unless the book is saying it’s like a cursed whale ghost thing? Idk I’m just going off the headline.
I’m kinda mad it’s described as “queer fantasy adventure” but then it’s also enemy-turned-ally romance… like which one is it? And they steal the Queen’s flagship to go whale hunting?? That sounds like a lot happening at once, but I probably still read it.