When both his parents are brutally murdered and his siblings scattered, vengeance sets into Mark’s bones. Duty-bound to reclaim his family honor, he becomes an assassin, intent on killing his enemies. But the assassin who trained him becomes his worst enemy. With one loyal brother beside him, and a mysterious brother fated to cross his path, he navigates through continuous obstacles.

Overwhelming odds are against him: survival in the wild, brutality, loss, illegal martial arts, cannibals, corrupt government troops, and running from those who would enforce the contract on his life. By sheer will he disciplines himself to become physically strong, skilled, and forceful; he responds to the kindness and love of good people, and sets his course for survival. But with each survival comes loss, sometimes by his own hand, at an enduring cost.

Thankfully, there are moments along the way that are sweet enough to soften the sting of any blade—faces of family, fun and adventure, bonds of brotherhood, and the realization that redemption reaches into even the most ragged corners of our souls. In the end, it will be up to Mark, as it always has been. Every punch, every kill, every choice to keep going or turn back, every lost friend and every unexpected new one, all will carve out their place in his story and guide him toward the one thing that has driven him from a scarred childhood to a resilient adulthood—the aching desire to avenge his family.

But what will happen when that long-awaited moment finally arrives? What will he do when he is finally standing at the precipice of exacting justice or turning toward the opportunity for a sacred, brand-new life?

Perhaps the answer lies in the smallest of things, like the memory of his mother singing, the dog that nuzzled devotedly under his blanket, or the kindness of a nun. Even the unexpected lessons from the “cannibals” will forever etch themselves into his resolve. Based on true events.