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laurenleigh's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Carlos Ruiz Zafón does pretty much just one thing, but he does it so well! Anyone who enjoys gothic fiction has to read him. This short story collection is best read as a deep cut though. I wouldn’t go here first, that should be saved for Shadow of the Wind. This is also better if you’ve read Angel’s Game. Seeing the Corelli character pop up in a few stories made me appreciate and understand him even more. (Appreciate how scary he is.) I think Ruiz Zafón is better suited to the narrative of a full novel, but I enjoyed watching him play within the confines of a short story. It’s almost like the structural limitations allowed his darkness to come out full force. The creepiest, craziest, and weirdest stories are both the shortest ones and the ones that are standing out in my mind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Medical content, and Violence
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