Cornelia Fairfield is the female protagonist in my debut pirate fantasy Cornelia Fairfield and the Darkened Heart publishing on 19 May (available to preorder from WATERSTONES, AMAZON (exclusive bonus chapter only on Kindle) and independent bookshops. The story follows rebellious noble Cornelia Fairfield who is destined for a loveless marriage. She seizes her last chance of freedom when she strikes a dangerous bargain to save her father from the Curse of the Oblivion Sea and becomes swept into a centuries old power struggle. It has the perfect blend of the high seas adventure of Pirates of the Caribbean with the elegance of Bridgerton and the fierce heroine energy of Renegade Nell. Features a slow burn romance between Cornelia and superstitious pirate Adrien, secrecy and lots of adventure – your next summer adventure sets sail soon!
When I began writing this book in December 2022, I knew I wanted to explore a character that was torn between two worlds: one of the high society of nobility and the other being the freedom of the open sea, in particular piracy. Ever since I was young I’ve had a fascination for the sea from mermaids, pirates hiding out on Smuggler’s Cove in Cornwall to the romanticised version and adventure from Pirates of the Caribbean. While I can’t see myself willingly stepping on a boat that isn’t docked or in a place where I can confidently see the bottom, I find the whole idea of the open ocean both a terrifying and liberating idea. Inspired by the historical notion of piracy as a group that pillaged and plundered with a complete disregard to the rules that seemed to bind society on land, I wanted to explore what would happen if a character, trapped by the stifling rules of society on land, seized a chance at freedom and escape, even for only two weeks, and how that would impact their character. I’m more than aware of the less than glamorous history of piracy and don’t want to brush over the nasty side of history, but in terms of my story I present the liberating side of a life without boundaries.
When choosing the name for my protagonist, I wanted a name that evoked nobility but also contrasted with her desires for a life of piracy (as well as a subtle nod to my heritage). The fictional island that the story is set on is called Silvertown in honour of my late Grandfather (who the book is dedicated to) and his early life in the East End of London. I had a Great Uncle called Cornelius and it seemed fitting to use the female derivative Cornelia. Fairfield has a little more of a fun connection; it was the original name on the title deeds of the house grew up in. Thus, Cornelia Fairfield was born. The story is as much as a high stakes adventure as it is a way to articulate those feelings of trying to find your way in the world and find a place where you comfortably fit, despite the pressures of societal expectations. This is something I really struggled with (and still am) in my early 20s and I want readers to know that it’s okay to feel lost sometimes.
Cornelia is often conflicted between these two worlds, she wants the freedom without fully committing so she can run home back to land and the nobility if things go pear shaped. This unwillingness to commit is something that I explore much deeper in the sequel and causes a lot of tension between her and Adrien in both books. He comments in book 1 that Cornelia is ‘playing’ pirates until she gets bored, while this is his reality. Sneak peek Adrien says this to Cornelia – “You do not understand the world you cling so dearly to for salvation. You can leave this world and hide away on land. But I’m always running from those with a sharper blade and faster foot.”
Furthermore, I’ve always been drawn to characters that break tradition and defy expectation and Cornelia does just that. She is constantly torn between what she wants to be doing and what she thinks she should be doing, but ultimately she doesn’t want to be controlled by the fear of scandal or have her life dictated by the rules of the nobility. Very quickly during the writing process, I had the start of a very complex character that is full of life and bad decisions. I wanted Cornelia to be relatable and flawed, reflecting the messy emotions of growing up and having to navigate the politics of the world. At seventeen years old, Cornelia is in that sticky age before moving into early adulthood, and in the story she is forced into an arranged marriage against her wishes.
At its core Cornelia Fairfield is a coming of age story with a protagonist that wishes to outrun destiny only to fall head first into it anyway. It’s a story about owning your decisions and taking those consequences. As the story progresses Cornelia realises how her actions impact those around her and takes the decision to sacrifice everything she holds dear for the greater good irrespective of what the nobility demand of her.
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Amy is a writer and reviewer and her action-packed debut novel, CORNELIA FAIRFIELD AND THE DARKENED HEART is set to be published on 19 May 2026! Available in paperback here: WATERSTONES, AMAZON (ebook here), FOYLES HATCHARDS. For more content read Amy’s book reviews, short stories and updates on Amy’s writing journey.
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