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itsaripotter's review against another edition
2.0
This entry was both confusing and disappointing. I can't even really think of what "the point" of the novel is. Zafon states that the entries in his Cemetery of Forgotten Books series can be read in any order, but I don't understand how that could be possible after reading The Prisoner of Heaven. Little of consequence happens, with the majority of the book spent in flashbacks, and the rest of it reflecting on the current state of characters we've previously encountered. There's no way this can be an entry book to the series, as getting through it requires A) a previous understanding of the characters and events in order to know what's being discussed, and B) enough previous investment in the characters that you put up with what can only be described as a banal series of events with very little connecting thread.
All that takes place feel like it should've been contained within a larger, more developed book. What we're presented with in The Prisoner of Heaven is just fluff, flavor text that on its own feels far too insubstantial. And aside from the familiar characters, little else feels familiar to the experience of reading The Shadow of the Wind or The Angel's Game.
Barcelona is no longer alive and subconsciously magical, but just a place where these characters live. The story also lacks the page turning intrigue and sense of mysticism I associated with Zafon's prose before this. As I continued reading, I kept waiting for the moment when I'd say, "Ah, here we go. This feels familiar", but then I got to the middle of the novel and realized this was going to be a different experience.
The Prisoner of Heaven feels both like a set-up and a cash-in. I got the impression of events being orchestrated for a sequel, but there's no soul or impetus to drive it. We're teased with a potential antagonist from Fermin's past, yet nothing really transpires, and you realize he was just a figure to prompt exposition on Fermin's past. For some reason David Martin is a key figure in the novel, to the point of the title referencing him, yet you'd be hard pressed to understand why, as he isn't present aside from a cameo in Fermin's backstory. In the present, Daniel is being set up for what seems to be a revenge arc that relates to characters in Fermin's past, but it feels flaccid, cheap, and unconvincing.
The Prisoner of Heaven feels like cutting room scraps pasted together to sell more novels. While I enjoyed getting a little more backstory into some of the characters I like, I'm hesitant to approach the last book if it resembles this one in any way.
All that takes place feel like it should've been contained within a larger, more developed book. What we're presented with in The Prisoner of Heaven is just fluff, flavor text that on its own feels far too insubstantial. And aside from the familiar characters, little else feels familiar to the experience of reading The Shadow of the Wind or The Angel's Game.
Barcelona is no longer alive and subconsciously magical, but just a place where these characters live. The story also lacks the page turning intrigue and sense of mysticism I associated with Zafon's prose before this. As I continued reading, I kept waiting for the moment when I'd say, "Ah, here we go. This feels familiar", but then I got to the middle of the novel and realized this was going to be a different experience.
The Prisoner of Heaven feels both like a set-up and a cash-in. I got the impression of events being orchestrated for a sequel, but there's no soul or impetus to drive it. We're teased with a potential antagonist from Fermin's past, yet nothing really transpires, and you realize he was just a figure to prompt exposition on Fermin's past. For some reason David Martin is a key figure in the novel, to the point of the title referencing him, yet you'd be hard pressed to understand why, as he isn't present aside from a cameo in Fermin's backstory. In the present, Daniel is being set up for what seems to be a revenge arc that relates to characters in Fermin's past, but it feels flaccid, cheap, and unconvincing.
The Prisoner of Heaven feels like cutting room scraps pasted together to sell more novels. While I enjoyed getting a little more backstory into some of the characters I like, I'm hesitant to approach the last book if it resembles this one in any way.
saya85's review against another edition
5.0
recensione nel blog: http://www.vivereinunlibro.it/2017/03/recensione-il-prigioniero-del-cielo-di.html
Cari lettori, quando ho inziato ad avventurarmi nel cimitero dei libri dimenticati, mai avrei creduto di conoscere dei personaggi che mi rimarrano imrpessi nel cuore e sopratutto non avrei mai pensato di imbattermi in una storia così intricata e coinvolgente. Se non siete ancora entrati a contatto con questi romanzi vi consiglio caldamente di procurarveli tutti e quattro e leggerli in sequenza per assorbirne tutto il fascino e la narrazione!
Cari lettori, quando ho inziato ad avventurarmi nel cimitero dei libri dimenticati, mai avrei creduto di conoscere dei personaggi che mi rimarrano imrpessi nel cuore e sopratutto non avrei mai pensato di imbattermi in una storia così intricata e coinvolgente. Se non siete ancora entrati a contatto con questi romanzi vi consiglio caldamente di procurarveli tutti e quattro e leggerli in sequenza per assorbirne tutto il fascino e la narrazione!
isa_bracco's review against another edition
4.5
Deary me, oh my, I need some air here.
This book is definitely not what I was expecting. The Prisoner of Heaven is completely different from The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game. There ain't no thriller story with a detective protagonist chasing a mysterious character that is tangled with another thousand plots and elements, but The Prisoner of Heaven is not less complex for sure, as it linked everything perfectly and concisely.
It is much more intimate and character focused, though not as lyrical as The Angel's Game (which makes sense, since David is much more of a poet than Daniel). I confess I was a bit bored in the begging, but the last half of the book is pretty exciting and emotional and got me absolutely in love with Daniel and Fermín friendship (if I wasn't in love already), as well as Isabella and David... relationship.
Now the bad part. The way I see it, the whole plot of the mysterious buyer in the beginning ended inconclued. Of course it was the ignition point to crucial information and book development, but his story itself seemed finished in a hush and filled with loose ends that won't be tied in The Lybirinth of Spirits I guess...? At least it doesn't make sense to drag it to another book.
As always, Carlos Ruiz Zafón completely failed to let me down.
This book is definitely not what I was expecting. The Prisoner of Heaven is completely different from The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game. There ain't no thriller story with a detective protagonist chasing a mysterious character that is tangled with another thousand plots and elements, but The Prisoner of Heaven is not less complex for sure, as it linked everything perfectly and concisely.
It is much more intimate and character focused, though not as lyrical as The Angel's Game (which makes sense, since David is much more of a poet than Daniel). I confess I was a bit bored in the begging, but the last half of the book is pretty exciting and emotional and got me absolutely in love with Daniel and Fermín friendship (if I wasn't in love already), as well as Isabella and David... relationship.
Now the bad part. The way I see it, the whole plot of the mysterious buyer in the beginning ended inconclued. Of course it was the ignition point to crucial information and book development, but his story itself seemed finished in a hush and filled with loose ends that won't be tied in The Lybirinth of Spirits I guess...? At least it doesn't make sense to drag it to another book.
As always, Carlos Ruiz Zafón completely failed to let me down.
hypatia13's review against another edition
3.0
This was definitely not as good as Shadow of the Wind, and I don't think I liked it as much as the Angel's Game. It was surprisingly short, and not much actually happened. It seemed more like the prologue to a longer book + an extended flashback to things that happened between the other two.
thehobbitarchivist's review against another edition
5.0
Another wonderful book in this series/cycle/labyrinth. I'm glad, however, that I knew this wasn't the last book before I read it. Knowing there is much more story to be told made up for the comparably quick story and short length. If I wasn't salivating for "The Labyrinth of Spirits" before, I am now!
anamaria_abroad's review against another edition
5.0
Great continuation in the Daniel Sempere series, I finished it in two days!! Cannot wait for the next edition!
jonathanlaughlin's review against another edition
3.0
Cannot. Freaking. Wait.
Amazon's US pub date: June 19, 2012.
Amazon's US pub date: June 19, 2012.
kpfeil's review against another edition
3.0
3-3.5/5stars
This was definitely more interesting than The Angel's Game but not nearly as good as The Shadow of the Wind. It was very entertaining and gripping and made me want to keep reading, and I enjoyed that it followed the same characters from book 1 and also wrapped everything up from that book and book 2. I loved Carlos' writing style, but this book just simply wasn't as incredible as the first unfortunately.
This was definitely more interesting than The Angel's Game but not nearly as good as The Shadow of the Wind. It was very entertaining and gripping and made me want to keep reading, and I enjoyed that it followed the same characters from book 1 and also wrapped everything up from that book and book 2. I loved Carlos' writing style, but this book just simply wasn't as incredible as the first unfortunately.
ellipher's review against another edition
4.0
This is the book that started my current thread - I realised there were more in the Cemetary of Forgotten Books series so had to start from the beginning to remind myself and catch up. The top review wasn’t favourable that it was short and rushed so I didn’t have high expectations but it was wonderful to have the characters of the first book back, and a little of the second. Looking forward to the chunky fourth. Not sure you could say that’s rushed!