Book Series · 3 Books

The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates Books

In order from Magic Marks the Spot to The Buccaneers' Code.

A completed comic fantasy trilogy about Hilary Westfield, a girl determined to become a pirate despite the League's rules, with help from loyal friends and a talking gargoyle.

Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated August 13, 2026

Reading order

How to Read the Pirate Trilogy

Read Magic Marks the Spot, The Terror of the Southlands, and The Buccaneers' Code in numbered order. Hilary's fight to define honorable piracy and the threat to Augusta's magic continue across all three books, and the author identifies the third as the conclusion.

Sources: Caroline Carlson's official book 1 page, Caroline Carlson's official final-book page, The author's official series FAQ.

For parents

What Parents Should Know

The madcap tone softens real adventure stakes: swords, cannons, kidnapping, magical theft, ocean battles, treacherous adults, and threats of death. Hilary also pushes back against a society that says girls should be polite finishing-school students instead of pirates, giving the comedy a strong thread about fairness, independence, friendship, and choosing what honorable behavior means.

Where the story begins

First Book in the Series

Sale price

$958

Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2013

Magic Marks the Spot

By Caroline Carlson, Dave Phillips (Illustrator)

A girl defies pirate rules, seeking treasure with a map, magic, and a talking gargoyle.

384 pages

6.8/7 Bookroo

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Hilary Westfield dreams of piracy, but the League of Pirates won't accept girls. Escaping her dull life, she embarks on a wild adventure with a map missing an X, a magical treasure, and a talking gargoyle. Joined by a crew of misfits, Hilary faces unexpected dangers and a surprising villain on the high seas. Will she prove her worth and find the treasure, or will the sea's secrets remain hidden?

In reading order

The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates Series

3 books · Published 2013–2015

#1 in Series

Sale price

$958

Magic Marks the Spot

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2013

A girl defies pirate rules, seeking treasure with a map, magic, and a talking gargoyle.

#2 in Series

Sale price

$1139

The Terror of the Southlands

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2014

A young pirate must prove her worth and find a missing enchantress to save magic.

#3 in Series

Sale price

$759

The Buccaneers' Code

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2015

A pirate girl battles for leadership to save a magical kingdom.

Good to know

Common Questions

How many books are in the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series?

There are 3 books in the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series. It began with Magic Marks the Spot in 2013, and the newest book, The Buccaneers' Code, was published in 2015.