dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Flipando demasiado. Este autor se ha convertido en uno de mis favoritos
challenging dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I love Ruiz Zafon’s beautiful prose and this book enchanted me. Not as much as the first one and at times a little over done and confusing but definitely high on my recommendation list!

I enjoyed reading this book just as much as I enjoyed The Shadow of the Wind. Though much darker, this prequel (which is loosely tied to the 1st book in the series) had me hooked from the first few chapters, all the way through til the end.

I must admit that this novel had me a bit lost towards the end, and there are still some questions I have as to what actually happened. Though I think I understand a lot of what happened, it left me scouring the internet in hopes of getting a fuller explanation of the ending. Unfortunately, finding one is not easy. I did find, however, that the 3rd installment of this series helps answer a lot of the questions revolving around the end of this novel. Needless to say, I have already purchased the 3rd and 4th installments of this series, and eagerly await revealing the answers to these questions, and once more being immersed in 1900s Barcelona (and hopefully reunited with some of the characters I've grown to love).

This book - as Ruiz Zafón has mentioned numerous times about all books in this series - can be read as a standalone...although I will say that I feel I enjoyed this book more having read The Shadow of the Wind previously. I would highly recommend reading that book as well, although based on the two stories, I feel it's fair to say that the order doesn't necessarily matter.

Overall, another 5-star rating for Ruiz Zafón (who has quickly become one of my favorite authors), and I am excited to begin the 3rd installment of this incredible series!

Сафон е новата ми Любов!

Отначало първите 60тина страници започна леко тегаво, защото много сравнявах със Сянката, но в мига, в който се отпуснах, удоволствието от думите ме завладя и обгърна като мека есенна завивка.

Изключително удоволствие бе за мен да
се потопя в Барселона и да вървя по следите на Давид Мартин.

А след много чуденки, накрая бях истински изненадана да открия разликите между Семпери и син от 1 част :-)
slow-paced