James R. Sanford

When Calanda disguises herself as a boy and ships out with a pirate hunter, she discovers the High Salt to be a harsh and unforgiving place. And when she and her crew cross paths with the mysterious pirate ship Black Magic, she finds that a single misjudgment could doom her to a life of piracy under an inhuman captain who wields arcane powers. (Novelette length. Suitable for YA readers.)