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thepicprophet's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
utahmomreads's review against another edition
3.0
The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is the third novel about Daniel Sempere following The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game though it is intended to stand on it's own. I very much enjoyed The Shadow of the Wind (read my review **here**) and was excited for the chance to read and review Zafon's newest book.
Daniel is working alone at the family book store in Barcelona when a mysterious man with a limp and a missing hand comes into the store. He buys the oldest and most valuable book in the store, overpays and then leaves the book with an inscription for Daniel's friend Fermin. When Fermin returns he is able to shed some light on the mysterious man and the book goes back to Fermin's history as a political prisoner during the Spanish Revolution. The bulk of the book focuses on this history. I was intrigued by the dark and cryptic characters that Fermin met in prison. Zafon sets up an absolutely fascinating and thrilling mystery. Zafon writes well. With short chapters and plenty of action and suspense, he makes his readers want to keep turning the pages well after bedtime.
The trouble is that once the novel goes back to Daniel and Fermin, the mystery falls flat. It's not that frightening and not that perplexing. And while, Zafon leaves the ending open for another novel, the loose ends are not tied up well enough to made The Prisoner of Heaven a stand-alone work. The Prisoner of Heaven lacks the depth and insight of The Shadow of the Wind and I was disappointed to reach the last page without a satisfactory ending. However, I will likely read Zafon's next book hoping to find the answers to questions left open in this one.
Daniel is working alone at the family book store in Barcelona when a mysterious man with a limp and a missing hand comes into the store. He buys the oldest and most valuable book in the store, overpays and then leaves the book with an inscription for Daniel's friend Fermin. When Fermin returns he is able to shed some light on the mysterious man and the book goes back to Fermin's history as a political prisoner during the Spanish Revolution. The bulk of the book focuses on this history. I was intrigued by the dark and cryptic characters that Fermin met in prison. Zafon sets up an absolutely fascinating and thrilling mystery. Zafon writes well. With short chapters and plenty of action and suspense, he makes his readers want to keep turning the pages well after bedtime.
The trouble is that once the novel goes back to Daniel and Fermin, the mystery falls flat. It's not that frightening and not that perplexing. And while, Zafon leaves the ending open for another novel, the loose ends are not tied up well enough to made The Prisoner of Heaven a stand-alone work. The Prisoner of Heaven lacks the depth and insight of The Shadow of the Wind and I was disappointed to reach the last page without a satisfactory ending. However, I will likely read Zafon's next book hoping to find the answers to questions left open in this one.
obanlord's review against another edition
4.0
Pues no es la obra maestra que es el primer y segundo libro, sin embargo lo que si es espectacular es como esta obra une las dos anteriores y crea el modo para el cierto, solo eso, y saber de un gran personaje mucho más a fondo superbe
angelan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
logolepsy_e's review against another edition
2.0
Mai e poi mai avrei pensato di poter dare due stelle a un libro di Zafòn. E invece, eccole qui.
"Il prigioniero del cielo" è una conclusione (?) della trilogia sul Cimitero dei Libri Dimenticati, che riprende la storia di Daniel, protagonista de "L'ombra del vento", ora sposato e con un figlio e che conduce quasi una vita normale, Fermìn, suo migliore amico, e David Martìn, protagonista de "Il Gioco dell'Angelo" che qui ritroviamo in prigione.
Non c'è quasi nulla, in questa storia, che mi ha convinta. Credo che questo romanzo abbia ben poco a che vedere con i due che l'hanno preceduto: il coinvolgimento è decisamente minore, la prosa più scarsa, anche se pur sempre scorrevole, l'atmosfera non solo meno cupa ma quasi inesistente, nonostante parte del racconto sia ambientato in una tremenda prigione; i protagonisti, forse a unica esclusione di Fermìn, sono ridotti a banali personaggi senza spessore e anche la trama lascia, a mio parere, un po' a desiderare.
Inizialmente, infatti, non capivo dove il racconto volesse andare a parare. Il racconto di Fermìn dei suoi anni passati in prigione è sicuramente la parte più riuscita: un po' perché il protagonista della storia è un personaggio affascinante e a tratti anche divertente, un po' perché è comunque ben scritta e accattivante, data l'ambientazione. Essa, però, occupa la gran parte del romanzo, e il resto della trama un po' si perde, un po' non si riesce bene a inquadrare e non si capisce dove porti.
E poi, il finale... Io, sinceramente, non l'ho affatto capito. A quanto pare però dovrà esserci un seguito, il che mi fa sentire un po' meno stupida per esserci rimasta male alla fine di questo libro... Dunque lo attenderò per dare a Zafòn un'altra chance!
"Il prigioniero del cielo" è una conclusione (?) della trilogia sul Cimitero dei Libri Dimenticati, che riprende la storia di Daniel, protagonista de "L'ombra del vento", ora sposato e con un figlio e che conduce quasi una vita normale, Fermìn, suo migliore amico, e David Martìn, protagonista de "Il Gioco dell'Angelo" che qui ritroviamo in prigione.
Non c'è quasi nulla, in questa storia, che mi ha convinta. Credo che questo romanzo abbia ben poco a che vedere con i due che l'hanno preceduto: il coinvolgimento è decisamente minore, la prosa più scarsa, anche se pur sempre scorrevole, l'atmosfera non solo meno cupa ma quasi inesistente, nonostante parte del racconto sia ambientato in una tremenda prigione; i protagonisti, forse a unica esclusione di Fermìn, sono ridotti a banali personaggi senza spessore e anche la trama lascia, a mio parere, un po' a desiderare.
Inizialmente, infatti, non capivo dove il racconto volesse andare a parare. Il racconto di Fermìn dei suoi anni passati in prigione è sicuramente la parte più riuscita: un po' perché il protagonista della storia è un personaggio affascinante e a tratti anche divertente, un po' perché è comunque ben scritta e accattivante, data l'ambientazione. Essa, però, occupa la gran parte del romanzo, e il resto della trama un po' si perde, un po' non si riesce bene a inquadrare e non si capisce dove porti.
E poi, il finale... Io, sinceramente, non l'ho affatto capito. A quanto pare però dovrà esserci un seguito, il che mi fa sentire un po' meno stupida per esserci rimasta male alla fine di questo libro... Dunque lo attenderò per dare a Zafòn un'altra chance!
devonforest's review against another edition
4.0
Probably my least favorite in the series. It didn’t have as much to do with the Cemetery or Lost Books as the others, but still a good read. Also definitely felt like the ending was setting up for another book in the series.
findallyreading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
sas_lk's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Ruiz Zafon says at the beginning that the books in this series don't need to be read in order, however, I disagree. I think they should be read in order.
I was very happy being back in this world. There's just something about Carlos Ruiz Zafon's writing that just works for me. He just manages to pull me into his worlds and keep me there. I would say though that this book felt more like a filler book for the series, that's why I think it doesn't make sense to read this book if you haven't already read the first too.
This gave more of a back story about other characters and intertwined their stories even more. All the storylines are coming together now. Within the series? Really enjoyed it. As a standalone book? Don't think it holds much weight on its own.
I was very happy being back in this world. There's just something about Carlos Ruiz Zafon's writing that just works for me. He just manages to pull me into his worlds and keep me there. I would say though that this book felt more like a filler book for the series, that's why I think it doesn't make sense to read this book if you haven't already read the first too.
This gave more of a back story about other characters and intertwined their stories even more. All the storylines are coming together now. Within the series? Really enjoyed it. As a standalone book? Don't think it holds much weight on its own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Death, Mental illness, and Violence
Moderate: Torture and Sexism
kcooke159's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75