Treason's Shore — Sherwood Smith

Inda had been exiled to sea for ten long years -- the innocent victim of political vengeance against his noble family. But as a natural military prodigy, he had thrived in exile, establishing a life as the leader of a mercenary marine company. And at the end of a long, difficult decade, Inda was known the world over for defeating the most dangerous pirate fleet in history.

But when Inda discovered that his home country was about to be attacked from the sea by the Venn -- an ancient enemy of his people -- he threw his carefully guarded anonymity to the winds and returned home.

After so long at sea, Inda found his home utterly changed. His Old classmate Evred, the formerly powerless younger prince, was now king. Inda, overjoyed to see his good friend again, expected forgiveness and welcome -- but Evred had bigger plans for Inda. For Evred was determined to make Inda his Royal Shield Arm -- the person in charge of defending his entire kingdom.

Though Inda was an accomplished military leader, his experience was exclusively naval. Yet he found that he could put his skills to work on land to the advantage of his homeland. But the Venn were planning the largest naval attack in history -- an attempt to wrest control of all the lands to the south, including Inda's homeland. The first line of defense would be in a critically strategic strait to the north. Control of this strait had been contested for generations, often by war, and Inda would need strong allies to overcome the Venn. Even with these allies, Inda would be severely disadvantaged and outnumbered.

Could Inda, a military genius, yet only one man, find a way to defeat the powerful navy of the Venn and bring peace to his battered homeland at last?