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milena3198's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent
jprescritor's review against another edition
4.0
«El príncipe de la niebla» es la primera novela de Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Según el propio autor, esta obra marca el punto de partida en su carrera literaria y omite todos aquellos textos previos, que nunca verían la luz, al considerarlos una falta de respeto hacia los propios lectores si los hubiera llegado a publicar.
La novela, desarrollada durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, narra la historia de una familia que debe abandonar su hogar en la ciudad y trasladarse a un pequeño pueblo en la costa donde comienzan a suceder situaciones un tanto extrañas —tanto en la nueva casa junto a la playa como en los alrededores de la misma—.
Max, uno de los protagonistas, se ve envuelto en una trama de misterio, relacionada con un antiguo barco hundido y un jardin secreto lleno de estatuas, de lo más inquietante. Un mago, una familia marcada por la tragedia y diversos accidentes llevarán a los Carver a vivir situaciones extremas, desembocando en una serie de enigmas, que los protagonistas deberán resolver y sortear.
El autor utiliza un narrador omnisciente para acompañarnos a lo largo de toda la historia y se focaliza, de vez en cuando, en los protagonistas para que entendamos como se sienten durante situaciones muy específicas. La tensión e, incluso, el terror que algunos de ellos sufrirán durante las escenas más importantes llevarán al lector a vivirlo como si fuera real y no abandonar la novela hasta haber resuelto el misterio.
La lectura es fluida y el vocabulario es apto para cualquiera.
En determinadas ocasiones se detectan algunas repeticiones innecesarias; la utilización frecuente de palabras concretas que denotan el gusto del autor para emplearlas; y el uso de adverbios terminados en -mente que se podrían llegar a evitar en determinados párrafos.
En definitiva, una buena novela juvenil con los ingredientes necesarios para engancharse a ella y llegar a devorarla en pocos días.
NOTA: 8/10
La novela, desarrollada durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, narra la historia de una familia que debe abandonar su hogar en la ciudad y trasladarse a un pequeño pueblo en la costa donde comienzan a suceder situaciones un tanto extrañas —tanto en la nueva casa junto a la playa como en los alrededores de la misma—.
Max, uno de los protagonistas, se ve envuelto en una trama de misterio, relacionada con un antiguo barco hundido y un jardin secreto lleno de estatuas, de lo más inquietante. Un mago, una familia marcada por la tragedia y diversos accidentes llevarán a los Carver a vivir situaciones extremas, desembocando en una serie de enigmas, que los protagonistas deberán resolver y sortear.
El autor utiliza un narrador omnisciente para acompañarnos a lo largo de toda la historia y se focaliza, de vez en cuando, en los protagonistas para que entendamos como se sienten durante situaciones muy específicas. La tensión e, incluso, el terror que algunos de ellos sufrirán durante las escenas más importantes llevarán al lector a vivirlo como si fuera real y no abandonar la novela hasta haber resuelto el misterio.
La lectura es fluida y el vocabulario es apto para cualquiera.
En determinadas ocasiones se detectan algunas repeticiones innecesarias; la utilización frecuente de palabras concretas que denotan el gusto del autor para emplearlas; y el uso de adverbios terminados en -mente que se podrían llegar a evitar en determinados párrafos.
En definitiva, una buena novela juvenil con los ingredientes necesarios para engancharse a ella y llegar a devorarla en pocos días.
NOTA: 8/10
motocatlady's review against another edition
2.0
Spoiler: Not sure if I like that the bad guy won in the end.
books2010's review against another edition
3.0
Not a bad book but there are some elements lacking slightly however it has a great plot twist! 3⭐️
_denny's review against another edition
3.0
A promising start and a disappointing ending. Even though, it keeps the interest, there are some unexplained things, maybe even plot holes.
But it is a good book for a non-native speaker to read in the original language.
But it is a good book for a non-native speaker to read in the original language.
herbieridesagain's review against another edition
3.0
I had completely forgotten I’d read this, tucked away in my kindle’s read list, and the omission was made more poignant when I discovered that Carlos Ruiz Zafon had passed away on the 19th of June. A masterful story teller, Zafon’s Cemetery of forgotten books series captivated me for hours on end, and even re-reading the first three to fully enjoy the fourth was just as enjoyable the second time around. I had planned to read his Young Adult books, starting with this and my own small tribute will be to finish all of his books.
Ruiz Zafon doesn’t dial down the Gothic that much for his YA books it seems. Max’s family move to the coast to escape the war, or at least put it at arms length, and instead, something unseen, dark and sinister wraps it’s grip around them and becomes a battle for their lives. I found the the cemetery series an absolute joy to read, and while there were a lot of Gothic elements, it was only really The Angels Game that I felt really immersed itself in the Gothic. But here, it is still dark, there is a strong supernatural element, an enemy who doesn’t seem human, a promise still to be kept, and 3 young teenagers seemingly the only ones who can stop it.
The protagonist is Max, his sister Alicia, but it is Roland, their new friend that sits at the heart of the story, it seems someone, or something, is after him, and the mystery involves the old house that Max and Alicia’s family has moved into. After their younger sister is mysteriously struck down and has to go to hospital, the brother and sister try to unravel the mystery to protect their family and friend.
I enjoyed The Prince of Mist, although after reading the Cemetery series there is definitely a different style of writing here for a younger audience but the darkness doesn’t seem to drop many notches and the ending was not what I was expecting, although really I should of been.
Next up will be The Midnight Palace. It’s a great shame we lost Ruiz Zafon so young, he was a brilliant writer who was a great and enthralling story teller, may he rest in peace.
(blog review here)
Ruiz Zafon doesn’t dial down the Gothic that much for his YA books it seems. Max’s family move to the coast to escape the war, or at least put it at arms length, and instead, something unseen, dark and sinister wraps it’s grip around them and becomes a battle for their lives. I found the the cemetery series an absolute joy to read, and while there were a lot of Gothic elements, it was only really The Angels Game that I felt really immersed itself in the Gothic. But here, it is still dark, there is a strong supernatural element, an enemy who doesn’t seem human, a promise still to be kept, and 3 young teenagers seemingly the only ones who can stop it.
The protagonist is Max, his sister Alicia, but it is Roland, their new friend that sits at the heart of the story, it seems someone, or something, is after him, and the mystery involves the old house that Max and Alicia’s family has moved into. After their younger sister is mysteriously struck down and has to go to hospital, the brother and sister try to unravel the mystery to protect their family and friend.
I enjoyed The Prince of Mist, although after reading the Cemetery series there is definitely a different style of writing here for a younger audience but the darkness doesn’t seem to drop many notches and the ending was not what I was expecting, although really I should of been.
Next up will be The Midnight Palace. It’s a great shame we lost Ruiz Zafon so young, he was a brilliant writer who was a great and enthralling story teller, may he rest in peace.
(blog review here)
corgigirl's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first book I've read since The Shining that really gave me the creeps. There were several parts that actually gave me chills. This is my fourth Carlos Ruiz Zafon book and I am so impressed that I plan to read everything he has published.