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Secrets of a Sun King: 'The Queen of historical fiction.' Guardian
Enter a world of Egyptian pharaohs and ancient curses from the Queen of Historical Fiction.London, 1922. A discovery from ancient Egypt . . .A cursed package . . .The untold story of a young pharaoh . . .When Lilian Kaye finds a parcel on her grandad's doorstep, she is shocked to see who sent a famous Egyptologist, found dead that very morning, according to every newspaper in England!The mysterious package holds the key to a story . . . about a king whose tomb archaeologists are desperately hunting for.Lil and her friends must embark on an incredible journey - to return the package to its resting place, to protect those they love, and to break the deadly pharaoh's curse . . .'This crisp, beautifully paced story will hold every young reader in thrall.' Telegraph'Hooked yet? You'd have to be dead and wrapped in bandages not to be.'The Times
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2018
98 people are currently reading
1090 people want to read
About the author
Emma Carroll
31 books579 followersAfter years of teaching English to secondary school students, Emma now writes full time. She graduated with distinction from Bath Spa University’s MA in Writing For Young People. In another life Emma wishes she’d written ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne Du Maurier. She lives in the Somerset hills with her husband and three terriers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
August 23, 2018
I really wanted to like this more than I did: Ancient Egypt, Howard Carter, Pharoah's Curses... The cover comments compare it to a Michael Morpurgo or Eva Ibbotson book but for me it had neither the subtlety nor the plausibility of either. However, since I'm not in the target age group any more, maybe I'm just being picky expecting that the writing appeals across generations in the same way that Morpurgo and Ibbotson do! (oh - and it should really be hieroglyphs, not hieroglyphics!)
August 18, 2018
A lovely, exciting story about the opening of Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922 that'll make readers feel as though they were really there. I love Emma's writing - she can bring history to life, and this is another great book from her. (10+)
*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. If you use it in any marketing material, online or anywhere on a published book without asking permission from me first, I will ask you to remove that use immediately. Thank you!*
*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. If you use it in any marketing material, online or anywhere on a published book without asking permission from me first, I will ask you to remove that use immediately. Thank you!*
June 2, 2020
Probably the best book i have ever read!!!!!
July 30, 2018
Every time Emma Carroll publishes a new book I rush out to buy it, and I’m never disappointed. She has been declared “The Queen of Historical Fiction”, and if you are looking for historical novels aimed at the MG audience there is no finer writer.
This time she has turned her skill to the discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922 and with her usual flair has woven a plot mixing historical facts with fictional characters and discoveries.
The story cracks along at a fast pace, the central child protagonists; Lil, Tulip and Oz are delightful. There is exactly the right amount of intrigue, themes of family, friendship and bravery are touched upon and I loved the parallels drawn between friendships separated by several millennia.
This book is a wonderful addition for any school to run alongside the teaching of Ancient Egypt in KS2. It is now my current favourite of all Emma Carroll’s novels.
This time she has turned her skill to the discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922 and with her usual flair has woven a plot mixing historical facts with fictional characters and discoveries.
The story cracks along at a fast pace, the central child protagonists; Lil, Tulip and Oz are delightful. There is exactly the right amount of intrigue, themes of family, friendship and bravery are touched upon and I loved the parallels drawn between friendships separated by several millennia.
This book is a wonderful addition for any school to run alongside the teaching of Ancient Egypt in KS2. It is now my current favourite of all Emma Carroll’s novels.
August 6, 2018
Emma does it again! This was fantastic.
December 31, 2018
4.5 stars :)
Emma Carroll is one of my favourite writers for children, and has been for a while now. I met her a few months before this book was published and she told me a little about her process for writing this book and how deadlines were helpful for her, which was really inspiring for me. Like her previous books, this is a story centred in history, but with a modern-day awareness of social issues like representation, colonial footprints, and cultural appropriation.
Secrets of a Sun King begins with Lilian finding a strange package has been delivered to her unwell grandfather. When she opens it, it's an ancient Egyptian jar that makes her feel terribly uncomfortable and watched, sent from an archaeologist who had just been reported in the newspapers to have died in very mysterious circumstances. With the help of some new friends, Lilian uncovers the secrets of the jar and its connection to Tutankhamun, the famous boy king of Egypt who died while still very young, and his incredible friendships with his two best friends. It takes the reader on a fantastic adventure all the way to Egypt itself, and explores some of the problematic elements of archaeology's past in a way that opens up discussions about colonialism for children well.
This book is a well-paced historical adventure with a wonderfully intimate heart centred in a story of steadfast friendships and personal remembrance. The ancient diary entries that punctuate Lilian's narrative were a lovely addition, giving us a voice into the past that felt both fresh and of the time. Lilian is a clever and conscientious kid, who is immediately easy to love. She has an engaging voice, a thirst for adventure, and a lot of loyalty for her friends and family. Her story gently takes some deep topics like the death of a friend and gives it warmth, a strong sense of peace, and a wonderfully satisfying ending.
It also tentatively touches on things like Lilian's father's PTSD from fighting in the First World War, classism and the experiences of scholarship students from poorer backgrounds, women's rights and sexism, and most importantly, tackles the long-held assumptions and traditions of heroism in children's literature about colonial explorers and archeologists, such as Howard Carter. Lilian expresses with an attitude more people should have had in her era but unfortunately didn't, that 'Being English didn't give me the right to sort out other people's problems, not when they could solve them themselves.' This cultural awareness is one of the things that makes this such an important book to be using in classrooms. It's a tightly-written and very conscientious book that naturally weaves so many themes into a fun adventure.
Emma Carroll is one of my favourite writers for children, and has been for a while now. I met her a few months before this book was published and she told me a little about her process for writing this book and how deadlines were helpful for her, which was really inspiring for me. Like her previous books, this is a story centred in history, but with a modern-day awareness of social issues like representation, colonial footprints, and cultural appropriation.
Secrets of a Sun King begins with Lilian finding a strange package has been delivered to her unwell grandfather. When she opens it, it's an ancient Egyptian jar that makes her feel terribly uncomfortable and watched, sent from an archaeologist who had just been reported in the newspapers to have died in very mysterious circumstances. With the help of some new friends, Lilian uncovers the secrets of the jar and its connection to Tutankhamun, the famous boy king of Egypt who died while still very young, and his incredible friendships with his two best friends. It takes the reader on a fantastic adventure all the way to Egypt itself, and explores some of the problematic elements of archaeology's past in a way that opens up discussions about colonialism for children well.
This book is a well-paced historical adventure with a wonderfully intimate heart centred in a story of steadfast friendships and personal remembrance. The ancient diary entries that punctuate Lilian's narrative were a lovely addition, giving us a voice into the past that felt both fresh and of the time. Lilian is a clever and conscientious kid, who is immediately easy to love. She has an engaging voice, a thirst for adventure, and a lot of loyalty for her friends and family. Her story gently takes some deep topics like the death of a friend and gives it warmth, a strong sense of peace, and a wonderfully satisfying ending.
It also tentatively touches on things like Lilian's father's PTSD from fighting in the First World War, classism and the experiences of scholarship students from poorer backgrounds, women's rights and sexism, and most importantly, tackles the long-held assumptions and traditions of heroism in children's literature about colonial explorers and archeologists, such as Howard Carter. Lilian expresses with an attitude more people should have had in her era but unfortunately didn't, that 'Being English didn't give me the right to sort out other people's problems, not when they could solve them themselves.' This cultural awareness is one of the things that makes this such an important book to be using in classrooms. It's a tightly-written and very conscientious book that naturally weaves so many themes into a fun adventure.
July 26, 2025
Book 6 of the 2025-2026 academic year.
I've accidentally read this book too early. I was trying to read it in order of the academic year but I LOVE this book and I couldn't take my Kindle with me on my travels (so I needed to take my paperback). I hope the reading planning doesn't suck the soul out of this book - because I'm really looking forward to this one.
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Enjoyed it again.
I hope my class are going to enjoy it. I didn't enjoy reading as much this time but maybe because I'm anxious ALL the time so I can't really relax much. It's such a unique way to discover the truth of the sun king and to realise Howard Carter was a bellend and it will help me with a great discussion about the right of historians.
I'll also bring up the fact Lil was named after a victim of Grenfell as we discussed Grenfell in reading before Easter. It is such a beautiful way to keep someone's memory alive.
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This is, honest to God, epic - 5*
This was my first 'new school year' resolution book. I have promised to pleasure read every day, even if it is only for five minutes. But I'm actually exhausted...Like seriously. So this review is going to be short and bullet pointed.
* Labelled children's fiction but is available to all.
* Accidentally bought this in Waterstones. I'm so glad I did.
* It is also the #primaryschoolbook club September book of the month - what a coincidence.
* Very emotional and very surprising.
* A guy I follow on Twitter's review is on here and I trust that guy.
Completely adore this. I can't wait to read Letters from the Lighthouse because Carroll is a genius. Yeah still emotional to be honest.
I've accidentally read this book too early. I was trying to read it in order of the academic year but I LOVE this book and I couldn't take my Kindle with me on my travels (so I needed to take my paperback). I hope the reading planning doesn't suck the soul out of this book - because I'm really looking forward to this one.
_____________________________
Enjoyed it again.
I hope my class are going to enjoy it. I didn't enjoy reading as much this time but maybe because I'm anxious ALL the time so I can't really relax much. It's such a unique way to discover the truth of the sun king and to realise Howard Carter was a bellend and it will help me with a great discussion about the right of historians.
I'll also bring up the fact Lil was named after a victim of Grenfell as we discussed Grenfell in reading before Easter. It is such a beautiful way to keep someone's memory alive.
_______________________
This is, honest to God, epic - 5*
This was my first 'new school year' resolution book. I have promised to pleasure read every day, even if it is only for five minutes. But I'm actually exhausted...Like seriously. So this review is going to be short and bullet pointed.
* Labelled children's fiction but is available to all.
* Accidentally bought this in Waterstones. I'm so glad I did.
* It is also the #primaryschoolbook club September book of the month - what a coincidence.
* Very emotional and very surprising.
* A guy I follow on Twitter's review is on here and I trust that guy.
Completely adore this. I can't wait to read Letters from the Lighthouse because Carroll is a genius. Yeah still emotional to be honest.
January 7, 2019
Lovely cover but a disappointing read. This tale, set in 1922, of some children from London travelling to Egypt to take back an ancient hieroglyph-inscribed jar to avoid a curse on the heroine, Lil's, grandfather, is well-trodden material. The modern idiom of the characters' speech grates, as does the contemporary sensibilities ascribed to them. Perhaps all historical fiction must do this to some extent but it was too obvious here. The heroine is a working class girl who befriends two children, Tulip and Oz, from a well-to-do bohemian family. Improbably, but luckily for the plot, she is asked to go with them to Egypt so their mother (a journalist) can cover the story of Howard Carter opening Tutankhamun's tomb. In Egypt, they befriend a camel handler boy and through him we get a critique of the imperialistic tomb hunters. (Lil's grandfather is one of these but he has learnt his lesson by being cursed for appropriating the jar). The backstory set in Ancient Egypt is conveyed via transcriptions of papyri found in the jar (one of these translations is done on the hop in a few hours by Oz, a twelve-year-old!) The author bends over backwards to convey 'messages' in this book. She is a former teacher and it shows. To me the story was just not compelling enough to overcome these obstacles - Lil easily gets to Egypt and returning the jar is fairly straightforward.
September 2, 2018
1922: the world is captivated with Howard Carter's search for Tutankhamen's tomb. 13-year-old Lilian is equally fascinated by the news but when a famous Egyptologist dies under mysterious circumstances and her grandfather becomes ill, Lil begins to believe these events are related and that there is a curse on artefacts stolen from the ancient Egyptian tombs. When ones of these artefacts comes into her possession Lil must find a way to return it to where it belongs before anyone else dies. Emma Carroll beautifully blends historical fact and fiction to create a thrilling and moving MG adventure story. Highly recommended.
June 9, 2022
O carte draguta cu faraoni, descoperiri, secrete, familie si prietenie. Am ascultat-o pe Voxa si pot sa zic ca mi-a placut. Chiar daca povestea in sine are multe scene neverosimile, trebuie mentionat ca este prezenta si o tenta fantasy. Copiii Lillian, Oz si Tulip sunt foarte simpatici, dar si foarte curajosi. Daca vreti o lectura potrivita tuturor varstelor, este alegerea potrivita. Iubitorii de fictiune istorica vor fi incantati de poveste, cred eu.
January 8, 2019
Great adventure/historical read for year 4 to year 6.
Suitable for both boys and girls.
I really love Emma Carroll, I have read all her books and they are great standalone stories.
Suitable for both boys and girls.
I really love Emma Carroll, I have read all her books and they are great standalone stories.
September 15, 2018
If you`ve heard me speaking about Emma Carroll’s work before, you`ll know how much of a fan I am, and her latest release lived up to my stratospherically high expectations. It`s the story of Lil, who lives in 1920s London, and what happens she opens a mysterious package addressed to her grandfather, who is incredibly ill in hospital, and decides she must return the contents- the remains of famous boy pharaoh Tutankhamun- to their rightful resting place in Egypt because the letter that accompanied them revealed that they were cursed. She sets off with new friends Oz and Tulip, and a fabulous adventure follows. Additionally, we see passages from the point of view of Lysandra, a girl in Ancient Egypt who was friends with Tutankhamun, that imagine what the days leading up to his death could have been like. Both settings are really well written and utterly immersive- I truly felt as though I was there in both of them- and while there`s a lot of descriptions the plot still zips along and every time I put the book down I always looked forward to picking it back up because the events in both timelines were so interesting. In terms of the characters, Lil was completely likeable and I loved her bravery and that it was her love for her family that spurred her on. I also liked Tulip and Oz very much, particularly how bold and daring Tulip was, as well as their mum, whose storyline highlights how sexist the time period was.The conclusions for both Lysandra`s friendship group and Lil`s were absolutely perfect and made me cry quite a bit, I`m already desperate to get my hands on whatever Emma Carroll releases next. 5/5
September 7, 2018
The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb by Howard Carter in November 1922 has captured people's imagination for almost a century now. Imagine my delight when I found a children's book on that topic; I never finished "The Visitors" which has the same premise.
Unhappy at her posh school, Lil makes a shocking discovery when she looks after her sick grandfather's cat. As she tries to find out more, she meets the Mendozas, and before she knows it, they're on the train to Luxor in a race against time to put things to right before the opening of King Tut's tomb.
Emma Carroll's style is engaging and well-paced. I felt drawn into her world at once, and her characters are likeable, even though one of them is a bit on the Mr Exposition side. A bookish teen, he has the skill to translate a lengthy ancient Egyptian text overnight, something which a learned professor probably took weeks to do. Oh well. At another point, the children travel from Alexandria to Luxor in the matter of a morning. Either I misread that (apologies), or the author's research was a bit sloppy there. I reckon it would take at least one day to get there today -- it probably to longer in 1922.
What I loved about the book is that historical figures become their own person, and that includes Tut as well as Carter. And this is where Carroll subtly gets her message across: she encourages her readers to question people's concepts and notions of historical events. She does not shy away from criticizing Carter's behaviour and motivations, and questioning the young pharaoh's attitudes. But she doesn't stop there. By having the children meet a local boy, she also hints at problems of colonialism, and with the help of Lil, Tulip and Mrs Mendoza she makes accessible the tricky topic of feminism to young readers; also, PTSD in veterans is also an issue.
All in all, I loved the book, and I'll definitely read more by the author.
Unhappy at her posh school, Lil makes a shocking discovery when she looks after her sick grandfather's cat. As she tries to find out more, she meets the Mendozas, and before she knows it, they're on the train to Luxor in a race against time to put things to right before the opening of King Tut's tomb.
Emma Carroll's style is engaging and well-paced. I felt drawn into her world at once, and her characters are likeable, even though one of them is a bit on the Mr Exposition side. A bookish teen, he has the skill to translate a lengthy ancient Egyptian text overnight, something which a learned professor probably took weeks to do. Oh well. At another point, the children travel from Alexandria to Luxor in the matter of a morning. Either I misread that (apologies), or the author's research was a bit sloppy there. I reckon it would take at least one day to get there today -- it probably to longer in 1922.
What I loved about the book is that historical figures become their own person, and that includes Tut as well as Carter. And this is where Carroll subtly gets her message across: she encourages her readers to question people's concepts and notions of historical events. She does not shy away from criticizing Carter's behaviour and motivations, and questioning the young pharaoh's attitudes. But she doesn't stop there. By having the children meet a local boy, she also hints at problems of colonialism, and with the help of Lil, Tulip and Mrs Mendoza she makes accessible the tricky topic of feminism to young readers; also, PTSD in veterans is also an issue.
All in all, I loved the book, and I'll definitely read more by the author.
September 16, 2018
What a lovely story-book
“Secrets of a Sun King” by Emma Carroll
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Step back in time and fall into the charm of this lovely story.
You’ll see this book on the bookstores’ shelves and it will grab your attention just by its lovely image.
I suggest you grab it from the shelf and treat yourself to a book of delights.
Love the characters (even and especially the camels and cat)
I’m just a reader, however, I appreciate the work that has gone into making this such a good book for all ages.
“Secrets of a Sun King” by Emma Carroll
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Step back in time and fall into the charm of this lovely story.
You’ll see this book on the bookstores’ shelves and it will grab your attention just by its lovely image.
I suggest you grab it from the shelf and treat yourself to a book of delights.
Love the characters (even and especially the camels and cat)
I’m just a reader, however, I appreciate the work that has gone into making this such a good book for all ages.
June 12, 2023
Really intriguing plot, I'm never sure where she is going with her plots.
I liked the characters and thought Lil was an independent and brave girl, Tulip was resourceful and Oz was clever. I thought maybe Oz had autism.
I liked that skin colour wasn't an issue and wondered how Mrs Mendoza got on with society in her choice of partner.
I would have liked more scenes with Lil and her grandfather. I liked the scene at their Sunday roast.
I was unsure of the guards in the last scenes and Mr Carter was aggressive.
I liked the characters and thought Lil was an independent and brave girl, Tulip was resourceful and Oz was clever. I thought maybe Oz had autism.
I liked that skin colour wasn't an issue and wondered how Mrs Mendoza got on with society in her choice of partner.
I would have liked more scenes with Lil and her grandfather. I liked the scene at their Sunday roast.
I was unsure of the guards in the last scenes and Mr Carter was aggressive.
August 11, 2018
The story starts off in London 1922, Lilian Kaye finds a parcel on her grandad's doorstep with a note about a strange curse. It was sent by a famous Egyptologist, who was found dead that very morning.
As her grandad lies ill in hospital Lilian and her friends must find a way to break the curse by embarking on an epic journey to Egypt and return the package back to its resting place. This is a fabulous adventure story. I loved this.
As her grandad lies ill in hospital Lilian and her friends must find a way to break the curse by embarking on an epic journey to Egypt and return the package back to its resting place. This is a fabulous adventure story. I loved this.
March 3, 2021
Loved, loved, loved this book! This book had me gripped throughout. The story is about a girl called Lilian who needs to travel to Luxor in Egypt to return a jar to Tutankamun's tomb to break a curse. Her Grandfather was involved in taking the jar therefore he is under a curse. Lilian hopes this will save her Grandfather who is ill in hospital. There is a race against time to return it back with her friends Tulip, Oz and their mother Mrs Mendoza to save her grandfather in time.
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June 14, 2022This story provides good vocabulary that was relevant to our Ancient Egypt topic, providing names of places, artefacts that originally come from Egypt and names. There are lots of references to Tutankhamen in particular, that provided further discussion for our history lessons. The book is rich in adjectives, smilies and metaphors that really pained a picture of what the setting would be like for the class. It was engrossing, so much so that I would get told off by my class every time I finished reading for the day because they wanted to know what happened next!
The book covers themes of family, friendship class and prejudice would could link well not only with history lessons but also with PSHE. It would also link well with English lessons, such as inference based sessions and as a model for narrative writing.
The book covers themes of family, friendship class and prejudice would could link well not only with history lessons but also with PSHE. It would also link well with English lessons, such as inference based sessions and as a model for narrative writing.
September 28, 2018
I found this book very engaging and I loved the different plots inside the story! I connected well with the characters and I found it quite an easy read
March 6, 2020
i didn't think i would like it because i am not really interested in Egyptians but when i started reading it i absolutely loved it which was surprising for me as i didn't think i would like it
May 31, 2021
Loved this, read it in 24 hours, can’t wait to share it with my class , and have lots of fun explore the wonders of Egypt
August 29, 2023
Amazing story, I couldn't put it down!
November 15, 2023
Spannend! En interessant!
June 16, 2024
Read as a class book- was okay but some points it felt like nothing was really happening!
August 2, 2018
A really marvellous read- my 11 year old raved about it- she couldn't wait to tell me what was happening! We chatted about Egypt and we both learn lots of interesting facts. I would say this book is perfect for both boys and girls too.
September 5, 2018
I am looking forward to sharing this fantastic book at school. Emma Carroll has intertwined fictional adventure with historical fact perfectly in this enthralling tale of ancient Egypt. Lil, a 1920’s London schoolgirl, is drawn into a quest by the sudden illness of her Egyptologist grandfather and the appearance of a mysterious cursed package. This books follows Lil on her journey to Egypt, as she uncovers the secret life and death of a boy king, as well as the secrets and struggles of her own family. I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of this layered and intriguing novel, as I was completely swept along with by the delightful cast of characters Carroll created. I would highly recommend this book.
December 2, 2021
I read this with my year 5 class and I only knocked a star off for the ending. Not the ending of what happened but the last chapter which just dragged on unnecessarily. We didn’t need the last 6 or so pages it just felt a little pointless.
Otherwise, lovely book with brilliant vocabulary and sentence structures. I enjoyed the character and my class were hooked hearing me read it to them.
Otherwise, lovely book with brilliant vocabulary and sentence structures. I enjoyed the character and my class were hooked hearing me read it to them.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews