Secrets of a Sun King

by Emma Carroll

  And to all the readers who’ve sent letters, emails, or who’ve turned up at book signings and festivals, meeting you is the best part of being an author.

  Finally, my nearest and dearest. For the phone calls I’ve forgotten to make, the headaches, the early starts, the being grumpy and begging you to look after my dogs while I go on yet another trip, I’m sorry. Most of all to my husband who, as I start the first draft of my next book, faces the process all over again. A heartfelt, gargantuan thank you.

  ‘Engaging and entertaining.’

  Independent on Sunday

  ‘An adventure of old-fashioned charm.’

  Sunday Times

  ‘Perfect for captivating the imagination.’

  Mumsnet

  ‘Absorbing … brimming with atmospheric detail.’

  Carousel

  ‘My go-to author for historical fiction.’

  The Bookbag

  ‘Rich in thrilling details.’

  Lovereading4kids

  ‘Compelling.’

  Metro

  ‘Absorbing, sensitive and genuinely magical in feel.’

  Independent

  ‘A fast, exciting read.’

  The School Librarian

  ‘If your middle grade kids (ages 8-12) haven’t discovered Emma Carroll yet, then they’re missing out.’

  Irish Times

  ‘Beautiful.’

  Luna’s Little Library

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Emma Carroll was a secondary school English teacher before leaving to write full time. She has also worked as a news reporter, an avocado picker and the person who punches holes into Filofax paper. She graduated with distinction from Bath Spa University’s MA in Writing For Young People. Secrets of a Sun King is Emma’s eighth novel. She lives in the Somerset hills with her husband and two terriers.

  BY THE SAME AUTHOR

  Frost Hollow Hall

  The Girl Who Walked on Air

  In Darkling Wood

  The Snow Sister

  Strange Star

  Letters from the Lighthouse

  COPYRIGHT

  First published in 2018

  by Faber & Faber Limited

  Bloomsbury House,

  74–77 Great Russell Street,

  London WC1B 3DA

  This ebook edition first published in 2018

  All rights reserved

  Text © Emma Carroll, 2018

  Photo p.288 © Red Photographic, 2017

  Cover illustration © Julian de Narvaez, 2018

  The right of Emma Carroll and Julian de Narvaez to be identified as author and illustrator of this work respectively has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly

  ISBN 978–0–571–32850–5