Book excerpt: In the early 1600’s, with Dutch power and prestige on the rise, the Dutch form the world’s first publicly-traded corporation whose purpose is to break Portugal’s trade monopoly in the Far East. Led by the mysterious and ruthless Gentlemen Seventeen, the Company has its own armies, its own ships and has the power to wage war, annex territory and make laws. In the New World life is better than fair for Mary - until grim misfortune finds her. A freakish wave during a monstrous storm off the coast of Florida sweeps her overboard and she is lost. Mary’s plucky, protégé Elizabeth - headstrong, full of Spanish fire and raw ambition, but also very young - assumes command. With prospects dwindling in the West Indies following Mary’s death, Elizabeth pledges Mary’s ships and men to the Company and agrees to sail to the Spice Islands in the East Indies for nutmeg, mace, cloves and pepper - cargo more valuable than gold. When Elizabeth exceeds her authority and ventures to Portuguese-held Macau, she is introduced to a powerful Chinese merchant named Féng Wú - and to the plentiful opium served liberally at the House of a Thousand Pleasures. When Elizabeth is later betrayed a ship is lost and the crew is slaughtered. As Elizabeth falters Mary, having survived her misfortunes, returns. When Mary learns that the Company has seized her ships and men because of Elizabeth’s foolishness, she must agree to sail into war alongside the Dutch to free them. Once she fulfills her obligations to the Company, Mary will sail on to Macau where she will introduce herself to the men who murdered her crew... “… [P]aced like an adventure movie, filled with sea battles, colorful bit players, and double crosses … a rousing, sprawling yarn about two indefatigable pirate women.” - Kirkus Reviews