Michael Wolfe is an only child in pre-revolutionary New Haven. His boyhood is ended abruptly by a spiteful British army officer who does not approve of American patriots like Wolfe’s parents. Though his early life is a struggle, Michael obtains a unique education in military strategy and survival. When old enough to strike out on his own, his unique skills are recognized by Flora Burn, captain of The Burn Rose Pirates. As the apprentice and protégé of Flora Burn, Michael begins years of training as a future pirate captain. His destiny is fulfilled as Revolution approaches. An agent of the Continental Congress offers his crew privateer status. All the superstitious pirates have to do is locate the corpses of a few ancient spirit shifters. Congress hopes to retrieve the shifters from the afterlife and use them as weapons against King George III. Confronted by defection of the most deadly spirit shifter of all time, an indestructible enemy warship, and really bad family blood, the survival of The Burn Rose Pirates seems doubtful. But expect the unexpected when an Oneida Clan Mother, a spirit healer, decides to intervene between the warring factions.