Renowned fencing master Napier Gerard has been enjoying an opulent existence amidst the gaming clubs and coffee houses of late 18th‑century Paris, but this is about to change. Exiled from his native England and isolated by his reputation as a deadly duellist, he finds himself increasingly threatened by powerful enemies on both sides of the Channel. At the same time, the threat of terror and revolution is looming over France. It becomes clear to Napier that, to survive, he must flee to the American colonies.
However, fate disrupts Napier's plans, thrusting him into a series of perilous adventures. While he has the good fortune to be accompanied by the steadfast Will Styles, whose skill with a bow matches Napier's with a sword, his ingenuity and courage are tested to their limits as he and Will navigate the dangers of the American wilderness. Napier soon finds himself unwillingly entangled in a colonial war, struggling not only against wild animals but also involved in battles that he never sought. Unbeknownst to him, his decision to escape France will lead him repeatedly to confront death itself.