A magical, thrilling adventure ... 'A classic winter's tale.' THE FINANCIAL TIMES '... an engrossing, deeply atmospheric story.' THE TELEGRAPH 'A highlight of this year's fiction.' THE TIMES Alone in the world, Sophie dreams of being someone special, but she could never have imagined this ... On a school trip to Russia, Sophie and her two friends find themselves on the wrong train. They are rescued by the beautiful Princess Anna Volkonskaya, who takes them to her winter palace and mesmerises them with stories of lost diamonds and a tragic past. But as night falls and wolves prowl, Sophie discovers more than dreams in the crumbling palace of secrets ...