The entire team at Bloomsbury continues to blow me away with their incredible dedication to the books they publish, and I am so grateful for everything. Huge thanks to Adrienne Vaughan, Erica Barmash, Faye Bi, Phoebe Dyer, Claire Stetzer, Beth Eller, Ksenia Winnicki, Rebecca McNally, Ellen Holgate, Pari Thompson, the copyediting team, the art department, and every single person at Bloomsbury who has a hand in making my books a success. Special thanks to Lily Yengle, Tobias Madden, Mattea Barnes, and Meenakshi Singh for their incredible work on managing my Street Team.
Speaking of the Street Team, if you’re a part of it, thank YOU. It means so much to me to know that there are thousands of you interested in my books, and I will never forget everything you’ve done to spread the word about my stories.
My agent, Suzie Townsend, of New Leaf Literary Agency, has been an absolute rock for me since we began working together. Suzie, thank you so much for your time and your guidance as we bring more books into the world. Additional thanks to Dani Segelbaum for handling so much behind the scenes.
Huge debts of gratitude go to my close writing friends, Gillian McDunn, Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Armentrout, Phil Stamper, Ava Tusek, and Amalie Howard, because I honestly don’t know how I would get through the day without your support. From reading my manuscripts to virtually holding my hand to listening to me and talking to me and supporting me, I am so grateful to have you all in my life.
Several people read and offered insight into parts of this book while it was in progress, and I want to take a moment to specially thank Christina Labib, Shyla Stokes, Reba Gordon, Ava Tusek, and Isabel Ibañez.
Special thanks to my “quaranteam” moms for helping me get through 2020 (and now into 2021), Christina Labib and Siobhan Reed. You’re not writers, but you kept me going through a really challenging year, and I’m so grateful to you both.
Additional thanks go to everyone who helps to spread the word about my books, whether you physically put a book in someone’s hands, or if you use book blogs, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook, and now TikTok. This includes readers, reviewers, bloggers, librarians, booksellers, teachers, artists, and cosplayers. Thank you all so much for helping to make my dreams come true. I know reading and reviewing and selling and creating can all feel like a thankless job. You have my full gratitude and appreciation for all you do.
And many thanks go to YOU! Yes, you. If you’re holding this book in your hands, thank you. Thank you for being a part of my dream. I am honored that you took the time to invite my characters into your heart.
Finally, tremendous love and thanks to the Kemmerer boys for following in Daddy’s footsteps and supporting me every bit as much as he does. You surprise me every single day, and I am so very lucky to be your mom.
BLOOMSBURY YA
Bloomsbury Publishing Inc., part of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
1385 Broadway, New York, NY 10018
This electronic edition published in 2021 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
BLOOMSBURY and the Diana logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
First published in the United States of America in September 2021 by Bloomsbury YA
Text copyright © 2021 by Brigid Kemmerer
Map by Virginia Allyn
All rights reserved
You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, printing, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
Bloomsbury books may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at [email protected]
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Kemmerer, Brigid, author.
Title: Defy the night / by Brigid Kemmerer.
Description: New York : Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2021.
Summary: The kingdom of Kandala is recovering from a devastating plague but the cure is rare and expensive, so a girl hatches a plan to infiltrate the castle and bring the corrupt system crashing down
Identifiers: LCCN 2021017795 (print) | LCCN 2021017796 (e-book)
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0466-1 (HB)
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0467-8 (eBook)
Subjects: CYAC: Fantasy. | Courts and courtiers—Fiction. | Magic—Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.K3052 De 2021 (print) | LCC PZ7.K3052 (e-book) | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021017795
LC e-book record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021017796
ISBN 978-1-5476-0984-0 (exclusive edition A) • ISBN 978-1-5476-1036-5 (exclusive edition B)
ISBN 978-1-5476-1045-7 (exclusive edition C) • ISBN 978-1-5476-1-0464 (exclusive edition D)
Book design by Yelena Safronova
To find out more about our authors and their books please visit www.bloomsbury.com where you will find extracts, author interviews and details of forthcoming events, and to be the first to hear about latest releases and special offers, sign up for our newsletters.
Defy the Night Page 37