Apowerful,engrossingstoryofabiracialheiresswhoescapestoPariswhentheHaitianRevolutionburnsacrossherislandhome.ButassheworksherwayintotheinnercircleofRobespierreandhismistress,shelearnsthatnotevenoceanscanstoptheflamesofrevolution.SylviedeRosiers,asthedaughterofarichplanterandanenslavedwoman,enjoysthecomfortsofaladyin1791Saint-Dominguesociety.Butwhileshewasborntoprivilege,shewasneverfullyacceptedbyislandelites.AfteraviolentrebellionbeginstheHaitianRevolution,Sylvieandherbrotherleavetheirfamilyandoldlivesbehindtofleeunwittinglyintoanotheruprising--inaustereandradicalParis.SylviequicklybecomesenamoredwiththeaimsoftheRevolution,aswellaswiththerevolutionariesthemselves--mostnotablyMaximilienRobespierreandhismistress,Corn矇lieDuplay.Asarisingleaderandabolitionist,RobespierreseesanopportunitytoexploitSylvie’sraceandabandonmentofheraristocraticrootsasanexampleofhisideals,whilethestrong-willedCorn矇lieoffersSylviesafeharborandguidanceinfreethought.SylviebattleswithherpastcomplicityinaslavesocietyandherfuturewithinthisnewworldorderasshefindsherselfincreasinglytornbetweenRobespierre’sideologyandCorn矇lie’slove.WhentheReignofTerrordescends,Sylviemustdecidewhethertobecomeanaccomplicewhileanewempirerisesonthebonesofinnocents...orrisklosingherhead.
