River of smoke

In September 1838, a fierce storm on the Indian Ocean scatters the destinies of those aboard three ships: the Ibis, carrying convicts and laborers; the Anahita, an opium carrier; and the Redruth, a brig from Cornwall. Their paths converge in the bustling, opium-laden harbors of 19th-century Canton, where European and Indian traders clash with the Chinese emperor's efforts to halt the opium trade. Among them are Bahram Modi, a wealthy Parsi opium merchant, his estranged son Ah Fatt, and the orphaned Paulette, all navigating loss and unexpected freedoms in a quest for romance, riches, and a legendary rare flower.