Shapeshifters and telepaths do battle in Napoleonic Europe, in this alternate world, and with Boney exiled to St Helena a sinister plot is under way in London. Tess Ryder, of humble origins, has the gift of taking another person's shape, so she conceals herself as a beautiful actress in order to get close to Earl Sebastian Montague at the Prince Regent's ball. She may be THE IMPOSTOR but it turns out she is not the only one, and Sebastian's life is in danger.

From Mayfair mansions to the shadowy docklands, the two fight off footpads and escape burning carriages with the ease of seasoned warriors. They have battled together during the Napoleonic wars but Sebastian's memory has been altered and he cannot recall knowing Tess or having asked her to marry him. Wellington is also slightly gifted and so are some of his staff, called the Omega Squad, and now Tess has discovered that there has been a series of deaths and disappearances. Sebastian's own gift is for illusion, so he is marked by the French for assassination.

The hardship and horror of the campaigns are described in flashback and contrasted with the luxury of Mayfair living. A search for papers from the American Consulate leads to action aplenty. There is detail, romance and narrow escapes as the couple discover a plot to free Boney from exile, led by the gifted French including a firestarter.

Lily Lang has written a great supernatural take on this period in Europe's history, which will interest fans of historical romances just as much as those wanting paranormal reads.