Manchuria Opium Squad

In the corrupt, conflict-ridden Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo, the illegal opium trade is a perilous path to quick riches-or a swift death. Desperate to save his doomed family, the young Isamu Higata seizes a dangerous opportunity, using his botanical expertise to make mind-blowing opium in hopes of cashing in. But when sinister gangs and the oppressive state catch wind of his operation, Isamu is thrust deeper and deeper into a treacherous world of deceit and depravity to protect himself and those he loves. This series is a work of fiction and contains graphic depictions of intense violence, drug abuse, and other shocking imagery. The story and its contents are not recommended for young or sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.

To sell their goods, Isamu and Li Hua look to recruit a drug pusher-one with a special set of skills. But while they’re away, an assassin pays a visit to Isamu’s home, where he finds what remains of Isamu’s family. With the Green Gang hot on their trail, the crew searches elsewhere for a plot of land and protection from pursuit…but the deal of their dreams falls apart when they unexpectedly upset the Mongols and turn friends into foes. Now, Isamu must put his life on the line to mend strained relations with the most fearsome warriors in the land. This series is a work of fiction and contains graphic depictions of intense violence, drug abuse, and other shocking imagery. The story and its contents are not recommended for young or sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.

While Li Hua and the others scheme to seize control of the Manchukuo Film Association, a steamy moment between Isamu and Yoko is cut short by the ruthless Green Gang. A plea from the actress spares Isamu’s life, but at a cost he cannot accept. And while he’s keen on attempting a daring rescue, the rest of his crew isn’t on board. When Isamu goes it alone, will his plan to rescue his savior succeed, or will his courage cost him his life? This series is a work of fiction and contains graphic depictions of intense violence, drug abuse, and other shocking imagery. The story and its contents are not recommended for young or sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.

In hopes of tapping into a new market, Isamu and the gang relocate to Harbin—the cultural melting pot of Manchuria. However, before they can settle in, they get tangled up in a high-speed chase for a crime they didn’t commit and attacked the moment they set foot in the slums. To survive this treacherous city, they’ll have to stay sharper than ever…but now that the Green Gang knows who they are, one wrong move could be their last. This series is a work of fiction and contains graphic depictions of intense violence, drug abuse, and other shocking imagery. The story and its contents are not recommended for young or sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Deep in the slums, where children and women are snatched up to be sold, Kirill fears the worst when his beloved Natasha goes missing. Despised by his fellow countrymen who refuse to help, he turns to the crew, determined to rescue her before it’s too late. But a rescue attempt gone awry leaves Li Hua as a pawn in the war between the Green Gang and the Russians running Harbin. This series is a work of fiction and contains graphic depictions of intense violence, drug abuse, and other shocking imagery. The story and its contents are not recommended for young or sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.

It’s a race against time to treat Li Hua’s worsening shoulder wound, but every hospital is in enemy hands. While half the crew hunts down an underground doctor, the others conspire with an insider to rescue Natasha and topple the Russian mafia of Harbin. But just as their plans begin to unfold, a betrayal puts their very lives in peril… This series is a work of fiction and contains graphic depictions of intense violence, drug abuse, and other shocking imagery. The story and its contents are not recommended for young or sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Li Hua makes a miraculous recovery thanks to Guan, the underground doctor, but it comes at a steep price—their freedom. Forced to work at her secret clinic until they can repay a huge debt, the crew plots to plunder the riches of the fallen ruling class of Jilin. But while the gang’s cunning negotiators work their charm on the once-wealthy Bannermen, the military police close in on their hideout, putting Isamu in a deadly pinch where one wrong move could doom them all. This series is a work of fiction and contains graphic depictions of intense violence, drug abuse, and other shocking imagery. The story and its contents are not recommended for young or sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.

To throw the military police off Isamu’s trail, Guan tells a lie wrapped in truth—one convincing enough to save him, but damning enough to haunt her. Meanwhile, Haotien races the clock to earn enough money to avoid exile, torn between the shame of poisoning his own people and the fear of losing everything. But when Lady Shenmei’s desperate plight leaves him no other option, he casts aside his conscience in hopes of saving her—only for everything to unravel when it matters most. This series is a work of fiction and contains graphic depictions of intense violence, drug abuse, and other shocking imagery. The story and its contents are not recommended for young or sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.

There’s no time to run, nowhere to hide, and no rescue in sight. After being taken for interrogation in a military police raid, Rin and Guan are left to fend for themselves. As Rin endures unspeakable pain, she clings to her love for Isamu like a lifeline, refusing to break. Meanwhile, Guan faces emotional torment—her past used against her, one bond at a time. But with no help on the horizon, the price of their silence is bound to be paid in blood. This series is a work of fiction and contains graphic depictions of intense violence, drug abuse, and other shocking imagery. The story and its contents are not recommended for young or sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Gunfire tears through Jilin as Baatar and Kirill lead a reckless raid on police HQ to rescue their friends. Despite a citywide dragnet clamping down, Li Hua and Isamu manage to slip free…until his promise to Rin drags them back into the war zone. Wounded, shaken, but side by side once more, the crew flees the jaws of pursuit in a high-speed chase—only to find themselves cornered and outnumbered at the city’s edge. This series is a work of fiction and contains graphic depictions of intense violence, drug abuse, and other shocking imagery. The story and its contents are not recommended for young or sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.

After escaping Jilin, Isamu returns to his poppy fields with his crew bigger than ever—only for the Opium King to threaten Isamu’s newfound “family.” Their only way forward is to smuggle their goods overseas, but concealing contraband as cargo demands a middleman with the right skills and the wrong morals. Desperate for help, Isamu and Li Hua scour Dalian for someone they can trust—unaware they’re about to let a snake into the fold. This series is a work of fiction and contains graphic depictions of intense violence, drug abuse, and other shocking imagery. The story and its contents are not recommended for young or sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Isamu’s crew comes to Shanghai for a clean slate and a bigger cut, hoping the foreign-run concessions will keep the military police and the Green Gang off their backs. But when their search for buyers in the Magic City leads them into a club where people “disappear,” their Shanghai debut could be over before it begins. This series is a work of fiction and contains graphic depictions of intense violence, drug abuse, and other shocking imagery. The story and its contents are not recommended for young or sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Li Hua stirs up Shanghai by seizing opium dens from the Red Gang and daring them to respond. But when her dealers start turning up dead, it’s clear that war is underway. To gain the upper hand, she turns to a different kind of weapon: words—along with a young Jewish refugee to wield them and bring the Red Gang to its knees. This series is a work of fiction and contains graphic depictions of intense violence, drug abuse, and other shocking imagery. The story and its contents are not recommended for young or sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.

As Hongkou reels from a bombing and the murder of a newspaper editor who dared to print the truth, the True Opium crew gathers allies for a war they cannot win alone. But when a friend becomes a liability, Isamu is torn between protecting his crew and silencing an innocent soul—all the while blind to the danger within his own ranks. This series is a work of fiction and contains graphic depictions of intense violence, drug abuse, and other shocking imagery. The story and its contents are not recommended for young or sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Betrayal strikes just as the Red Gang launches an assault on the hideout, leaving Isamu and the crew scattered across Shanghai. Fallen into enemy hands, Isamu is ordered to make True Opium for Lanyu…or be broken piece by piece. While Li Hua weaves a daring lie to pit the police against the Red Gang, her gamble to save Isamu leaves her cornered and outmatched when the truth comes due. This series is a work of fiction and contains graphic depictions of intense violence, drug abuse, and other shocking imagery. The story and its contents are not recommended for young or sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.