As I’m sure you guys already know, the cover of Magic Marks the Spot is the most attractive book jacket in the history of literature. It’s bright, it’s fun, it stands out on bookshelves, and it features the gargoyle’s charming mug, as all good book covers should. It’s so great, in fact, that I was worried about whether the cover of my next book would be able to measure up.

Fortunately, there was no cause for concern. I am now the proud author of books with the two most beautiful jackets in the history of literature. Here’s the fantastic cover of The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates: The Terror of the Southlands, coming from Harper Children’s this fall!

Isn’t it great? Don’t you love the crumbling castle? The sunset? The cannonballs?? (That’s Charlie on the starboard side of the ship, by the way.)

Oh, and it looks pretty gorgeous next to the first book, too:

This cover was once again designed by Senior Art Director Amy Ryan at HarperCollins, to whom I am constructing a shrine in my living room. And the artist is the extraordinarily talented Petur Antonsson–you can check out more of his lovely work here. Dave Phillips, who provided the great interior art for Magic Marks the Spot, is returning to illustrate The Terror of the Southlands as well, and I can’t wait to be able to show off his splendid sketches.

What’s this book about, other than castles and cannonballs? Actually, I can tell you that, too:

Hilary Westfield is a pirate. In fact, she’s the Terror of the Southlands! She’s daring, brave, fearless, and . . . in a rut. Maybe she hasn’t found any treasure lately. And maybe she isn’t fighting off as many scallywags as she’d like. But does that mean she and her loyal crew  (including a magical gargoyle) deserve to be kicked out of the ranks of the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates?

There is only one thing to do—find a daring mission worthy of her fearless reputation. With the help of first mate Charlie, finishing-school friend Claire, and the self-proclaimed intrepid gargoyle, Hilary sets sail on a swashbuckling expedition that may or may not involve a kidnapped Enchantress, bumbling inspectors, a mysterious group called the Mutineers, and—the most terrifying thing of all—a High Society ball.

Caroline Carlson brings just as much rollicking fun, laughter, and action to this second book of the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates as she did with the first, Magic Marks the Spot.

The Terror of the Southlands will be available everywhere on September 9, 2014. I hope you’ll preorder a copy from your local independent bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, Amazon, or the book purveyor you love best.