Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

L'Ombra Del Vent by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

62 reviews

adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The actual plot details may be dark but this book is FUN. Some predictable twists but some that are surprising, the story sprawls out in interesting ways. I will definitely continue the series.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional mysterious tense medium-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

I LOVE ZAFÓN!!!

His prose is so magnetic and even though this book is over 500 pages long, you barely notice it. I just can't really explain what it is about him but yeah.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

"...this was a story about lonely people, about absence and loss,..."


It has been a while since a book has been so captivating and haunting for me. This book was profound and devastating, yet beautifully written.  Ruiz Zafón did a tremendous job.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark funny mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

What a blessing and a treat it is to come across a five-star book that captured my heart and attention on page one! I was blown away by the beautiful writing, the rich characters, the detailed settings, the intrigue, the mysteries, the murders, everything! I was enthralled. Each character felt like a real person. And each twist and turn felt entirely believable, though extreme. Very much a “our world, but more.”

You can’t help but feel for Daniel the whole way through as he searches not only for Julian and his works, but also for himself. We see him grow up and learn what it is to be an adult, what his values are, what is right and fair. You can’t help but root for him and the people he befriends along the way. I couldn’t help but feel as though he were a good friend of mine by the time I got to the last page. 

And the cherry on top is that it’s a book about books, a trope that is difficult to do well, but which is done superbly well here!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book changed something inside of me, truly an unforgettable piece of literature.

Zafon is a master at creating a gloomy world and weaving characters into a storyline that explores the essence of human emotions in a way that few can. There are stories within stories all set against an alluring background set in Barcelona. The lines between fiction, the truth and the paranormal are blurred in ways I’ve never experienced before, and may never experience again. 

The ultimate reveal doesn’t leave you breathless because it’s unpredictable; it leaves you breathless because of the journey Zafon takes you on to get there, exploring what it means to be remembered, and what it means to be forgotten.

This book is full of quiet revelations whispered in a labyrinth of pure human emotions and discovery.

5/5 stars. It was a privilege to read this book.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
Loveable characters: No

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark funny mysterious reflective 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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings