A haunting and romantic novel set in post-war Spain by Ruta Sepetys - winner of the Carnegie Medal 2017.

A haunting and romantic novel set in post-war Spain by Ruta Sepetys - winner of the Carnegie Medal 2017.

Madrid, 1957.

Daniel, young, wealthy and unsure of his place in the world, views the city through the lens of his camera.

Ana, a hotel maid whose family is suffering under the fascist dictatorship of General Franco.

Lives and hearts collide as they unite to uncover the hidden darkness within the city.

A darkness that could engulf them all . . .

Master storyteller Ruta Sepetys once again shines light into one of history's darkest corners in this epic, heart-wrenching novel about identity, unforgettable love and the hidden violence of silence.

'Ruta Sepetys is a master of historical fiction' Elizabeth Wein, author of CODE NAME VERITY

** Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2021**

'Spain under Francisco Franco is as dystopian a setting as Margaret Atwood's Gilead' New York Times

'A staggering tale of love, loss and national shame' Entertainment Weekly

'Gripping. Ruta Sepetys is the finest writer of historical fiction working today' The Wall Street Journal

'Captivating, deft, and illuminating historical fiction.'

Booklist

'A stunning novel that exposes modern fascism and elevates human resilience.'

Kirkus

'An exemplary work of historical fiction.'

The Horn Book