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12dejamoo's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Disappointing because I normally love Zafón so much. Maybe his adult books are just where it’s at and the young adult fall a bit flat. Anyway it does have that signature maziness and magical realism which I do love. I liked the setting but I missed the Barcelona of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books a lot more.
I didn’t really like any of the characters that much. Well maybe apart from Michael. I think it was really Ben that I didn’t like. It’s not always a necessity that readers love characters but I couldn’t tell if the book wanted us to like Ben or not. Ian insists they’re best friends but he actually seems aloof and too wrapped up in his own intelligence to actually be a good friend. Perhaps also there are too many characters introduced all at once to the point that you don’t feel you really know any of them.
The plot seemed classic Zafón and I did enjoy it. If it had been an adult book it would have had more depth but there was definitely something there. It was a bit frustrating that we acted for so long on one assumption and then things changed abruptly. I think the discovery and research could have been more natural.
Whilst I didn’t enjoy this all that much, it has had the effect of making me want to read another adult Zafón, so maybe it’s not all bad.
Also final note this book is weirdly similar to The Sibius Knot, which I don’t recommend but I wonder if that author was inspired by Zafón.
I didn’t really like any of the characters that much. Well maybe apart from Michael. I think it was really Ben that I didn’t like. It’s not always a necessity that readers love characters but I couldn’t tell if the book wanted us to like Ben or not. Ian insists they’re best friends but he actually seems aloof and too wrapped up in his own intelligence to actually be a good friend. Perhaps also there are too many characters introduced all at once to the point that you don’t feel you really know any of them.
The plot seemed classic Zafón and I did enjoy it. If it had been an adult book it would have had more depth but there was definitely something there. It was a bit frustrating that we acted for so long on one assumption and then things changed abruptly. I think the discovery and research could have been more natural.
Whilst I didn’t enjoy this all that much, it has had the effect of making me want to read another adult Zafón, so maybe it’s not all bad.
Also final note this book is weirdly similar to The Sibius Knot, which I don’t recommend but I wonder if that author was inspired by Zafón.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Colonisation and Confinement
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