The Sultan’s Eyes is the sequel to Act of Faith.

Where Act of Faith took place in a strife-torn Europe of the seventeenth century, in The Sultan’s Eyes, the action moves from Venice to Istanbul, to an empire ruled by a seven-year old Sultan and the women of his royal household.

It’s 1648, and Isabella has made a home for herself in Venice, safe from the clutches of the Inquisition. She, her friend Willem, and their mentor, the irascible Signora Contarini, work together as printers and publishers. Their publishing house is famous throughout Europe for one title: The Sum of All Knowledge, a revolutionary book of history and philosophy that has brought them – yet again – to the attention of the authorities.

Then Isabella’s nemesis, Fra Clement, is appointed Inquisitor in Venice, and vows to stamp out heretical printing. Isabella knows she will no longer be safe in the city, and, guided by their learned cartographer Al-Qasim, the three friends make their escape to the one place they feel sure Fra Clement will never follow: the fabled city of Constantinople.

Awards

• Shortlisted for the 2014 Ethel Turner Prize in the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.
• Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable Book 2014.
• International Youth Library (Munich) White Ravens notable book list 2014.

“Sultan’s Eyes is much more than a rollicking, action packed work of historical fiction. While effortlessly weaving history, adventure, romance and philosophy into the story, Gardiner subverts and entices with her cast of richly drawn characters and the complicated, poignant relationships between them. At the centre of it all, however, is a young girl whose convictions and loyalties are put to the test. And here lies the seduction of Sultan’s Eyes: young adult readers will identify with the sometimes vulnerable, sometimes fierce Isabella, who shows us that having the courage to embrace your convictions transcends time and place.”

– Judges’ comments, NSW Premier’s Literary Awards

“Through the eyes of the books’ impulsive and curious heroine, in this sequel readers experience everyday life in the seventeenth century first in Venice, then in the capital of the Ottoman Empire. In addition to being an amusing and gripping adventure story, this ambitious novel also discusses questions of gender inequality, religion, philosophy, and politics.”

– International Youth Library, White Ravens 2014

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Aya Sofia in Istanbul   Photo: Kelly Gardiner

You can read some reviews of The Sultan’s Eyes on Goodreads.

It was published by HarperCollins in September 2013.

You can follow the writing progress on the research log (on tumblr)

And here’s an image sourcebook (on Pinterest).

I gratefully acknowledge the support of the May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust, which awarded a Fellowship to allow me to draft The Sultan’s Eyes.