November 1853: Sailing beneath the ominous cloud of war between Turkey and Russia, the 300-horsepower, 31-gun steam frigate Trojan is on her way to the Crimea with a large Royal Navy Fleet to deal with the Russian Black Sea fleet and support the conquest of Sevastopol. The Trojan is carrying on board a mysterious passenger: a young woman whose identity must be concealed by orders of the Admiralty. Although First Lieutenant Phillip Hazard is captivated by the charming young woman, he has a far more pressing concern: the Trojan's captain is a sadistic despot—and quite possibly insane.

With The Valiant Sailors, Stuart introduces her 8-volume series, which presents an exciting and authentic picture of naval operations during the Crimean War.