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Table of Contents
About The Book
As the War of 1812 rages, Marcel Moreau, wounded in service with Napoleon’s Grand Armée, must journey to New Orleans to find Celeste de Beaumais, a young aristocrat who has fled her family and has settled herself on a sprawling Louisiana plantation. Standing in Moreau's way are various factions in and around the city—soldiers, slave hunters, marooned slaves, and Baratarian pirates—all of whom have their own interests, and enemies. As he ventures deeper into the city and the vast cypress swamps beyond, Moreau will find that circumstances are much more complex—and dangerous—than he could have imagined.
Meanwhile, a massive English fleet looms on the horizon, causing panic in New Orleans and desperation from the outgunned and outnumbered Louisiana militia. Hoping to benefit from his years of experience with Napoleon’s Grande Armée, these French-speaking creole farmers and townsfolk, and their American allies, enlist Moreau to help train them for the coming fight. As he does what he can to help this motley fighting force—led by General Andrew Jackson and bolstered by Jean Lafitte's Baratarian pirates—Moreau soon comes up against another enemy. With the city's eyes on the battlefield, a ruthless plantation master plots his own designs. But those who've escaped his clutches have no plans to return to a life in chains, and Moreau must decide where his experience and instincts must be put to the best use.
Product Details
- Publisher: Permuted Press (May 20, 2025)
- Length: 432 pages
- ISBN13: 9798888455845
Raves and Reviews
“When Owen Pataki’s protagonist, the one-armed mercenary Marcel Moreau, finally takes his own advice that to be a really good soldier a man must do what he knows to be the right thing in the moment, regardless of his superior’s orders, he comes into his own as a hero and finds the missing pieces of his wounded soul. Pataki’s talent for creating atmosphere that is as dynamic, intriguing, and treacherous as his characters, sweeps readers into the violent secret world of Louisiana’s bayous during the run-up to the Battle of New Orleans.”
– Juliet Grey, Author of the acclaimed Marie Antoinette trilogy
“An absolutely thrilling foray into one of the most fascinating times in American history. If you're a fan of Bernard Cornwell, Patrick O'Brian and even Alexandre Dumas, you will love Owen Pataki and this new, electrifying tale of war, honor, and survival set against the lush backdrop of Louisiana during the War of 1812. This is a special book!”
– Michelle Moran, International Bestselling Author
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High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Smoke in the Cypress eBook 9798888455845