A darkly historical fantasy involving shapeshifting religious vigilantes in war-torn 17th century Germany. The Empire has been ripped open by war and plague. Ravaging armies turn the land to mud. Three great religions fight each other without mercy and a rare and feared race of people known as Doppelgangers - trained by the Jesuits to be the ultimate spies and assassins - walk the streets. Gustave inherited the curse of the Doppelganger from his mother - a witch who was burned at the stake. Under the iron rule of his father, Gustave roams from town to town, no real friends or home, living the life of a spy.