China—1860. The Taiping Rebellion, led by a man who claims to be the living brother of Jesus Christ, controls huge swathes of Southern China. Caught in the chaos are Mark Falchion, a young China-born scholar and experienced swordsman; Meng, a vengeful Taiping warrior; and Mei, a beautiful young archer and former house slave now swept up into the Taiping army. Their destinies collide during the battle for the fortress town of Sungkiang, gateway to the rebels' main prize—Shanghai. “The Scholar's Blade” is a tale of brutal warfare, betrayal, and forbidden desire, all set against the backdrop of history's bloodiest civil war—the Taiping Rebellion.
