Jonah is growing up in the early 1600's without a father. His mother grows herbs and helps people medicinally, so there are often rumors of her being a witch. They live on the outskirts of the fictional town of Delmare, which is a fishing village. All the other boys his age are often out on the ships with their fathers and Jonah is jealous. Due to being different, he is bullied. He wants nothing more than to have a father (though he doesn't believe that is possible because he's always been told his father is dead). It turns out that his father is actually a cursed man who is the Pirate King. Miguel (his father) arrives in Delmare and all sorts of strange things begin to happen, causing unrest in Delmare. Fear is abundant, Jonah's mother is arrested and sentenced to death for being a witch (and the cause of all town's problems), and Jonah believes Miguel is the one to blame. He ends up joining Miguel in the hopes of making him put things to rights, only to discover the cursed secrets of a magic that controls the ship, the crew, his father, and even at times himself. It's a journey of struggle for identity, hope, and family while fighting through the things one does not get to choose.