Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (2010), Hardcover, 224 pages
Description
In 1943, in a seaside town where their family has gone to be safe from war, thirteen-year-old Max Carver and sister, fifteen-year-old Alicia, with new friend Roland, face off against an evil magician who is striving to complete a bargain made before he died.
Media reviews
Once The Prince of Mist gets moving, though, Zafón's real strength shines through: chills. There are some genuinely, deliciously scary sequences that will thrill young readers, particularly if they, like me, have a thing about clowns. And by "thing about", I mean "terrified hatred of". The
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unevenness here is probably that of a first-time novelist finding his feet, but there are treats enough for an enjoyable read. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member AlisonsBookMarks
Zafon does not disappoint in his spine-chilling YA thriller, The Prince of Mist. Go read it - you'll love it!
It grabbed me from the first line of the first page and it did. not. let. go. I read it in practically one sitting, and wanted more when I turned the last page.
Max Carver is an easy-going,
Max learns that the house they moved into has a past, and their moving in sets in motion a series of events which resurface old, but not forgotten, secrets. If the signs are to be believed, they are too dangerous to ignore. The legend of the Prince of Mist is a scary one, could he be real? Could he be here? What really happened to the family that used to live in this house? What will happen to Max's family if they stay? How long must one keep a promise? When is that debt paid?
Max quickly learns:
NOTHING IS AS POWERFUL AS A PROMISE.
I have chills just writing that sentence!
I am already a huge fan of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game, so when I learned that his YA novels were going to be published in the US in English and translated by Lucia Graves, I could not wait to get my hands on a copy! I begged for ARCs of this book, so it should not have come as a surprise when two copies landed on my desk on the same day. Thank you to both Clinton Book Shop and Angela at Dark Faerie Tales! You made my week!
It's not commonly known that Zafon wrote his YA novels before he penned his world wide bestseller The Shadow of the Wind. The Prince of Mist is hopefully the first of many more of his YA novels to be translated to English and available in the US. He makes me want to learn Spanish, just so I don't have to wait for the translations!
The Prince of Mist may have felt like an earlier, less polished, work to some, but I think that this is only because we adult readers are used to such complex characters, plot and settings from Zafon. This YA might fall short for some of Zafon's fans, but not me!
This was a well crafted ghost story worthy of any flashlight! Then again, you may want to keep the lights on. It's suspenseful, exciting, and scary. I loved every minute of it!
It grabbed me from the first line of the first page and it did. not. let. go. I read it in practically one sitting, and wanted more when I turned the last page.
Max Carver is an easy-going,
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intelligent, 13 year old boy, whose father moves the family out of the city and away from the war, to a house on the beach. The first thing Max notices is the clock at the train station - it keeps perfect time, except that time is going backwards. He shrugs it off as a fluke. Soon he will realize, there are no such things as flukes and minor coincidences. Max and his older sister, Alicia, quickly become friends with Roland, a local boy who lives with his grandfather, Victor Kray, the lighthouse keeper. Max learns that the house they moved into has a past, and their moving in sets in motion a series of events which resurface old, but not forgotten, secrets. If the signs are to be believed, they are too dangerous to ignore. The legend of the Prince of Mist is a scary one, could he be real? Could he be here? What really happened to the family that used to live in this house? What will happen to Max's family if they stay? How long must one keep a promise? When is that debt paid?
Max quickly learns:
NOTHING IS AS POWERFUL AS A PROMISE.
I have chills just writing that sentence!
I am already a huge fan of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game, so when I learned that his YA novels were going to be published in the US in English and translated by Lucia Graves, I could not wait to get my hands on a copy! I begged for ARCs of this book, so it should not have come as a surprise when two copies landed on my desk on the same day. Thank you to both Clinton Book Shop and Angela at Dark Faerie Tales! You made my week!
It's not commonly known that Zafon wrote his YA novels before he penned his world wide bestseller The Shadow of the Wind. The Prince of Mist is hopefully the first of many more of his YA novels to be translated to English and available in the US. He makes me want to learn Spanish, just so I don't have to wait for the translations!
The Prince of Mist may have felt like an earlier, less polished, work to some, but I think that this is only because we adult readers are used to such complex characters, plot and settings from Zafon. This YA might fall short for some of Zafon's fans, but not me!
This was a well crafted ghost story worthy of any flashlight! Then again, you may want to keep the lights on. It's suspenseful, exciting, and scary. I loved every minute of it!
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LibraryThing member lilywren
I start the review with a disclaimer! Please bear in mind the following points when you read my review as these no doubt have an influence on any concluding thoughts on the book which I present here.
- My mum gave me the book a couple of years ago.
- I would not have bought it myself.
- The 'Young
- I do like mystery and horror genres though.
- I just wouldn't have bought it myself.
So, we need to keep these points in mind as I continue. The Prince of Mist is the debut novel for Carlos Ruiz Zafon who has since developed an extremely successful writing career. The book is primarily classed as 'young adult genre' but Zafon hopes that adults of any age will enjoy the book.
The story is set in 1943 and follows 13 year old Max and his family as his father moves them from their home in the city (we are never told where in the world this is) and out to a picturesque coastal village primarily as a perceived threat of war approaches. In his new home Max is confronted by anticipation, fear and wonder as mysterious happenings start to arise. These are linked to the story of the previous home owners, a strange walled garden filled with unusual statues (for Doctor Who fans think 'Blink') and the spooky shipwreck of The Orpheus which Max gets the opportunity to visit with his older sister Alicia who is 15 and his new friend Roland.
Zafon writes extremely well in that he has created an easy to read, captivating book with a wonderfully chilling and mysterious atmosphere. I would say that the strength in his writing lies in this development of atmosphere and scenery. However, I found the character and plot development to be a little 'thin' at times. Whilst I found the book to be a page turner, in that it was so easy to read and had great atmosphere, there were elements of it that did niggle to the extent where I didn't really care about the characters and thus I wasn't really bothered about what the outcome would be.
Max, the main character, is 13 and, without wishing to go too far into the story to provide spoilers, he and the other young characters seem to have almost superhuman strength, power and emotions. I do realise that this is fantasy and so need to suspend an element of my disbelief, however, as odd as it sounds, I do like some of my fantasy to follow a certain logic, particularly when it comes to human nature and ability. If the characters portrayed here were muted to be superheroes then all would be fine but they are not. They are young teenagers and we are led to believe that they would do certain things which command superhuman powers.
Max is 13, he has been uprooted from his family home and all that he has known to a strange place. He and his family go on to suffer an incident early on in the book which lead to his parents having to leave him and his 15 year old sister alone for a few days in these unfamiliar surroundings. Again, without wanting to give too much away, I can understand the reason for his parents absence however, both? at the same time? for a number of days? With a war on? Max and his sister seemed nonplussed at this and we have very little discussion between them about the matter which appears to be of no consequence to them so I guess I should just take this as read. I do find it odd that I can easily believe in the creepy happenings in the story but not in the characters who I feel are 'thinly' drawn and almost comic book in style. Maybe this was the intention. To create role models and super heroes, characters that young adults reading the book can relate to and want to be. Unfortunately, for me, this just detracted from the enjoyment of the book.
Oh dear. I feel I am being way too critical and analytical about this. If I was more used to the young adult genre then maybe I would think differently and I would be giving 4 or 5 stars which a large number of the reviews do give. Ultimately, I can't help wondering if it is more of a personality clash between me and the book. We didn't really see eye to eye on a lot of the points and I just don't get some of it. As with personality clashes, other people can, do and will get on famously with him, it's just that it wasn't to be for me and The Prince of Mist.
- My mum gave me the book a couple of years ago.
- I would not have bought it myself.
- The 'Young
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Adult' genre is not something I usually read, well, not for many years.- I do like mystery and horror genres though.
- I just wouldn't have bought it myself.
So, we need to keep these points in mind as I continue. The Prince of Mist is the debut novel for Carlos Ruiz Zafon who has since developed an extremely successful writing career. The book is primarily classed as 'young adult genre' but Zafon hopes that adults of any age will enjoy the book.
The story is set in 1943 and follows 13 year old Max and his family as his father moves them from their home in the city (we are never told where in the world this is) and out to a picturesque coastal village primarily as a perceived threat of war approaches. In his new home Max is confronted by anticipation, fear and wonder as mysterious happenings start to arise. These are linked to the story of the previous home owners, a strange walled garden filled with unusual statues (for Doctor Who fans think 'Blink') and the spooky shipwreck of The Orpheus which Max gets the opportunity to visit with his older sister Alicia who is 15 and his new friend Roland.
Zafon writes extremely well in that he has created an easy to read, captivating book with a wonderfully chilling and mysterious atmosphere. I would say that the strength in his writing lies in this development of atmosphere and scenery. However, I found the character and plot development to be a little 'thin' at times. Whilst I found the book to be a page turner, in that it was so easy to read and had great atmosphere, there were elements of it that did niggle to the extent where I didn't really care about the characters and thus I wasn't really bothered about what the outcome would be.
Max, the main character, is 13 and, without wishing to go too far into the story to provide spoilers, he and the other young characters seem to have almost superhuman strength, power and emotions. I do realise that this is fantasy and so need to suspend an element of my disbelief, however, as odd as it sounds, I do like some of my fantasy to follow a certain logic, particularly when it comes to human nature and ability. If the characters portrayed here were muted to be superheroes then all would be fine but they are not. They are young teenagers and we are led to believe that they would do certain things which command superhuman powers.
Max is 13, he has been uprooted from his family home and all that he has known to a strange place. He and his family go on to suffer an incident early on in the book which lead to his parents having to leave him and his 15 year old sister alone for a few days in these unfamiliar surroundings. Again, without wanting to give too much away, I can understand the reason for his parents absence however, both? at the same time? for a number of days? With a war on? Max and his sister seemed nonplussed at this and we have very little discussion between them about the matter which appears to be of no consequence to them so I guess I should just take this as read. I do find it odd that I can easily believe in the creepy happenings in the story but not in the characters who I feel are 'thinly' drawn and almost comic book in style. Maybe this was the intention. To create role models and super heroes, characters that young adults reading the book can relate to and want to be. Unfortunately, for me, this just detracted from the enjoyment of the book.
Oh dear. I feel I am being way too critical and analytical about this. If I was more used to the young adult genre then maybe I would think differently and I would be giving 4 or 5 stars which a large number of the reviews do give. Ultimately, I can't help wondering if it is more of a personality clash between me and the book. We didn't really see eye to eye on a lot of the points and I just don't get some of it. As with personality clashes, other people can, do and will get on famously with him, it's just that it wasn't to be for me and The Prince of Mist.
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LibraryThing member craso
Maximillian Carver decides to move his family to a seaside village to get away from the war. The Carvers have three children; Alicia, Max, and Irene. The house they move into has a tragic past which fascinates Max. He is drawn to a creepy garden with statues of circus performers. Max meets a young
I enjoyed the story and found it fast paced and exciting. The storyline was not as complicated as Zafon's adult novels, which made it a faster read. In "A Note From the Author" at the beginning of the book, Zafon mentions that he wanted to write a book full of the things that interested him when he was reading as a child. The story has an evil clown, a sunken ship, carnival rides, a magician, and a fortune teller; all the things that are classic in children's storytelling.
I thought it was unusual that the parents left the teenagers all alone for most of the novel. I also found some strange switching of perspective by the author; shouldn't the perspective be first person and not third person omniscient when a character tells there own story? I also started to read a chapter thinking I was following Max and then realized I was reading about Roland. A lot of things in the novel are left up to the reader to figure out and are never fully explained. I know it's 1943 and the author is Spanish and since the Spanish Civil War is an important part of his other books, I concluded that was the war the family was escaping from. This could just be the mistakes of a new author since this was Zafon's first book. I still liked the story, even if the execution was flawed.
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man named Roland and they become fast friends. When Max introduces Roland to Alicia sparks fly. The three young people are left on there own when Max's parents stay in town with Irene after she is injured. Roland is obsessed with diving to a sunken ship. His adoptive grandfather is the local lighthouse keeper and he tells Alicia, Max and Roland the story of the lost ship and the sinister Prince of Mist.I enjoyed the story and found it fast paced and exciting. The storyline was not as complicated as Zafon's adult novels, which made it a faster read. In "A Note From the Author" at the beginning of the book, Zafon mentions that he wanted to write a book full of the things that interested him when he was reading as a child. The story has an evil clown, a sunken ship, carnival rides, a magician, and a fortune teller; all the things that are classic in children's storytelling.
I thought it was unusual that the parents left the teenagers all alone for most of the novel. I also found some strange switching of perspective by the author; shouldn't the perspective be first person and not third person omniscient when a character tells there own story? I also started to read a chapter thinking I was following Max and then realized I was reading about Roland. A lot of things in the novel are left up to the reader to figure out and are never fully explained. I know it's 1943 and the author is Spanish and since the Spanish Civil War is an important part of his other books, I concluded that was the war the family was escaping from. This could just be the mistakes of a new author since this was Zafon's first book. I still liked the story, even if the execution was flawed.
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LibraryThing member bibliovermis
The book begins with a family who move to the ocean in 1943, in order to hopefully escape the worst of the war in the city. It becomes a coming of age story with supernatural elements, focusing on Max Carver, the only boy of the family, and eventually his older sister Alicia as they meet a new
The author has an interesting voice and manages to paint a captivating picture of his characters and their location. The story is suspenseful and not very long, but it moves at a slightly slow, dreamlike pace, which is a good choice for the story.
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friend, discover a mystery, and encounter a deadly, mystical enemy.The author has an interesting voice and manages to paint a captivating picture of his characters and their location. The story is suspenseful and not very long, but it moves at a slightly slow, dreamlike pace, which is a good choice for the story.
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LibraryThing member Kasthu
Carlos Ruiz Zafon is best known in the US for his bestselling adult novels, The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel’s Game. The Prince of Mist is a young adult novel, published before his adult novels. The novel is the story of Max Carver, a 13-year-old boy who’s watchmaker father moves his family
It’s definitely a first novel, and even though I kept the fact that this is a YA novel in the back of my mind as I was reading, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. The characters are pretty one-dimensional; none of them really grow in any way. Max seemed way too mature and intuitive for a 13-yer-old (even for a novel of this type), and there were some plot elements and coincidences that didn’t make a lot of sense to me—the first of which is that the eponymous Prince of Mist chooses to make his appearances as… a clown?
The book takes place in 1943, but it might as well have taken place in 1993, the year the book was published, because there’s very little to no historical detail. The theme of the passage of time is interesting, and I wish the author had explored that more instead of trying to create cheap, gimmicky suspense. I wish that Zafon had fleshed out his characters more, too, because there was a lot of promise here in the idea for the book. Zafon’s writing style is definitely not developed with this book; luckily, his adult novels are much, much better.
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from an unnamed city to an unnamed seaside town. Once there, Max discovers a garden with strange statues and his sisters begin having unexplainable visions.It’s definitely a first novel, and even though I kept the fact that this is a YA novel in the back of my mind as I was reading, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. The characters are pretty one-dimensional; none of them really grow in any way. Max seemed way too mature and intuitive for a 13-yer-old (even for a novel of this type), and there were some plot elements and coincidences that didn’t make a lot of sense to me—the first of which is that the eponymous Prince of Mist chooses to make his appearances as… a clown?
The book takes place in 1943, but it might as well have taken place in 1993, the year the book was published, because there’s very little to no historical detail. The theme of the passage of time is interesting, and I wish the author had explored that more instead of trying to create cheap, gimmicky suspense. I wish that Zafon had fleshed out his characters more, too, because there was a lot of promise here in the idea for the book. Zafon’s writing style is definitely not developed with this book; luckily, his adult novels are much, much better.
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LibraryThing member bell7
In the summer of 1943, Max Carver and his family move to the seaside. Their new home has been empty for some time, and was built by the Fleishmanns, a couple whose son, Jacob, drowned. The house seems creepy and full of secrets, including a garden of statues surrounded in mist that Max discovers
This debut novel of the author best known for The Shadow of the Wind has been newly translated into English. Though not as polished as his later works, The Prince of Mist definitely has moments of atmosphere that reminded me of Ruiz Zafon's adult books. The backstory is introduced kind of clunkily and the prose doesn't flow as well, but the deliciously creepy mystery kept me reading quickly. This is a story I can recommend to fans of The Ruby in the Smoke and other mysteries with a taste of the supernatural.
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nearby. Max also meets Roland, a boy who promises to take him and his older sister, Alicia, diving to see the Orpheus, a ship whose demise has a mystery of its own.This debut novel of the author best known for The Shadow of the Wind has been newly translated into English. Though not as polished as his later works, The Prince of Mist definitely has moments of atmosphere that reminded me of Ruiz Zafon's adult books. The backstory is introduced kind of clunkily and the prose doesn't flow as well, but the deliciously creepy mystery kept me reading quickly. This is a story I can recommend to fans of The Ruby in the Smoke and other mysteries with a taste of the supernatural.
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LibraryThing member LemurKat
I loved "Shadow of the Wind" and enjoyed "Angel's Game" and whilst I will admit to enjoy this story - it did felt like a shallow, hurried affair. Some of the sentences were poorly structured and the plot was somewhat weak. The ending left me feeling deflated and unsatisfied and not just for the
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obvious reason. There were a lot of irrelevant things thrown into the book and I felt the atmosphere could have been developed further and fleshed out. Overall, a disappointment. Show Less
LibraryThing member LarissaBookGirl
Max was thirteen when his eccentric watchmaker of a father decided to move the family out of the city and to a beach house in a small town on the coast. There was war coming and it was a move to keep them from danger. However danger found them but it wasn't the war, it was something much more
Hidden behind a high wall at the edge of a forest is a garden full of statues, but these are not ordinary statues. A sunken ship sits at the bottom the sea, but it did not sink naturally. The clock at the old station was not just slow it was moving backwards, but that was not the only clock to be moving back time.
A new friendship, a hidden secret and a promise that must be kept will lead to a summer that will change lives forever. A summer that would bring fear to your very core, a summer that would break your heart, a summer that would never be forgotten.
The Prince of Mist is just one name this sinister being goes by. It is also a dark and haunting tale of danger, magic, friendships and love. One of the most eerie and gripping mysteries that will leave a chill down your spine and so unforgettable that will stay with you long afterwards.
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sinister.Hidden behind a high wall at the edge of a forest is a garden full of statues, but these are not ordinary statues. A sunken ship sits at the bottom the sea, but it did not sink naturally. The clock at the old station was not just slow it was moving backwards, but that was not the only clock to be moving back time.
A new friendship, a hidden secret and a promise that must be kept will lead to a summer that will change lives forever. A summer that would bring fear to your very core, a summer that would break your heart, a summer that would never be forgotten.
The Prince of Mist is just one name this sinister being goes by. It is also a dark and haunting tale of danger, magic, friendships and love. One of the most eerie and gripping mysteries that will leave a chill down your spine and so unforgettable that will stay with you long afterwards.
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LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri
It wasn't really ok. It was trite and predictable and adolescent. Never mind. It doesn't stop Shadow of the Wind being one of the best books ever.
LibraryThing member eejjennings
Well-written and atmospheric, this book kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next. Probably a good recommendation for a younger teenage boy.
LibraryThing member RachaRolla
Quite an enthralling young adult novel. An easy read but one that kept me interested and appropriately written for the age group intended.
LibraryThing member YAMaven
I really enjoyed this book. It's a good friendship story, mystery, young love/relationship and creepy supernatural yarn all rolled into one. I loved Zafon's "The Shadow of the Wind" and this YA book didn't disappoint. It was a page turner!
LibraryThing member allthesedarnbooks
This eerie little young adult book has some of the same magical intensity as Ruiz Zafón's The Shadow of the Wind, which I loved. The prose is sparer and less lush, but it works as a book aimed at a younger audience. There are some genuinely creepy happenings, and the setting, in an unnamed town by
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the sea, is superb. A lovely mix of fantasy and a classic coming of age story. Recommended. Four stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member Alinea
ax Carver's father - a watchmaker and inventor - decides to move his family to a small town on the coast, to an old house that once belonged to a prestigious surgeon, Dr Richard Fleischmann. But the house holds many secrets and stories of its own. Behind it is an overgrown garden full of statues
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surrounded by a metal fence topped with a six-pointed star. When he goes to investigate, Max finds that the statues seem to consist of a kind of circus troop with the large statue of a clown at its centre. Max has the curious sensation that the statue is beckoning to him. As the family settles in they grow increasingly uneasy: they discover a box of old films belonging to the Fleischmanns; his sister has disturbing dreams and his other sister hears voices whispering to her from an old wardrobe. They also discover the wreck of a boat that sank many years ago in a terrible storm. Everyone on board perished except for one man - an engineer who built the lighthouse at the end of the beach. During the dive, Max sees something that leaves him cold - on the old mast floats a tattered flag with the symbol of the six-pointed star. As they learn more about the wreck, the chilling story of the Prince of the Mists begins to emerge. Show Less
LibraryThing member WisteriaLeigh
THE PRINCE OF MIST
by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Little, Brown and Company
$17.99/$21.99 Can; 200 pages
ISBN 13 : 978-0-316-04477-6
On Sale: 5/4/2010
Age 12 & up
Synopsis:
"In 1943, Max Carver's father - a watchmaker and inventor - decides to move his family to a small town on the coast, to an abandoned house that
As the family settles in they grow increasingly uneasy: Max’s sister Alicia has disturbing dreams while his other sister, Irina, hears voices whispering to her from an old wardrobe. With his new friend Roland, Max also discovers the wreck of a boat that sank many years ago in a terrible storm. Everyone on board perished except for one man - an engineer who built the lighthouse at the end of the beach.
As they learn more about the wreck, the chilling story of a legendary figure called the Prince of Mist begins to emerge..."
Review:
Carlos Ruiz Zafón wastes no time prepping the reader for doom. From the onset, when Max arrives in the village where they will live, he notices several oddities, a clock at the station ticks backward not forward. A black cat lands in his little sister’s lap. When she convinces her parents they should keep it, the cats piercing black slitted yellow eyes appear to follow challenge Max. Then, he sees the shape of a black ship, a mirage that disappears over the horizon as he looks out over the water. Zafón easily teases you into the story like a cat and mouse game and you can’t escape the taunt.
When Maximillian Carver opens the front door to their new home....
“a musty smell wafted out through the opening like a ghost that had been trapped between the walls for many years.” (18)
This can’t be good. As they all stand aghast at the dust and film that coats all the surfaces, the cat charges in and according to Alicia, unlike everyone else, appears to like it. Evil lurks everywhere. Mysterious black misty shapes, voices, and a statue that looks like a clown but is anything but.
His imagery is pure word artistry as he leaves no doubt what he sees is what you see. Take for instance this passage:
“Max could hear the storm creeping in behind him, its shadow casting a gloomy shroud over the surface of the road. He turned around briefly and caught a glimpse of the darkness clawing at his back. In just a few minutes the sky changed into a vault of lead and the sea took on a metallic tint like mercury. The first flashes of lightening were accompanied by gusts of wind that propelled the storm in from the sea.” (42)
Written for age twelve and up, this will fly off the shelves in bookstores and libraries. Reluctant readers will embrace this adrenaline releasing rush of horror. There is no doubt that Zafón will command a YA audience with the enthusiasm equal to his adult audience. The Prince of Mist is chilling enough to caution readers they may have to cover there eyes, or at least leave the lights on.
© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2010]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Little, Brown and Company
$17.99/$21.99 Can; 200 pages
ISBN 13 : 978-0-316-04477-6
On Sale: 5/4/2010
Age 12 & up
Synopsis:
"In 1943, Max Carver's father - a watchmaker and inventor - decides to move his family to a small town on the coast, to an abandoned house that
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holds many secrets and stories of its own. Behind the house Max discovers an overgrown garden surrounded by a metal fence topped with a six-pointed star. In the centre is a large statue of a clown set in another six-pointed star.As the family settles in they grow increasingly uneasy: Max’s sister Alicia has disturbing dreams while his other sister, Irina, hears voices whispering to her from an old wardrobe. With his new friend Roland, Max also discovers the wreck of a boat that sank many years ago in a terrible storm. Everyone on board perished except for one man - an engineer who built the lighthouse at the end of the beach.
As they learn more about the wreck, the chilling story of a legendary figure called the Prince of Mist begins to emerge..."
Review:
Carlos Ruiz Zafón wastes no time prepping the reader for doom. From the onset, when Max arrives in the village where they will live, he notices several oddities, a clock at the station ticks backward not forward. A black cat lands in his little sister’s lap. When she convinces her parents they should keep it, the cats piercing black slitted yellow eyes appear to follow challenge Max. Then, he sees the shape of a black ship, a mirage that disappears over the horizon as he looks out over the water. Zafón easily teases you into the story like a cat and mouse game and you can’t escape the taunt.
When Maximillian Carver opens the front door to their new home....
“a musty smell wafted out through the opening like a ghost that had been trapped between the walls for many years.” (18)
This can’t be good. As they all stand aghast at the dust and film that coats all the surfaces, the cat charges in and according to Alicia, unlike everyone else, appears to like it. Evil lurks everywhere. Mysterious black misty shapes, voices, and a statue that looks like a clown but is anything but.
His imagery is pure word artistry as he leaves no doubt what he sees is what you see. Take for instance this passage:
“Max could hear the storm creeping in behind him, its shadow casting a gloomy shroud over the surface of the road. He turned around briefly and caught a glimpse of the darkness clawing at his back. In just a few minutes the sky changed into a vault of lead and the sea took on a metallic tint like mercury. The first flashes of lightening were accompanied by gusts of wind that propelled the storm in from the sea.” (42)
Written for age twelve and up, this will fly off the shelves in bookstores and libraries. Reluctant readers will embrace this adrenaline releasing rush of horror. There is no doubt that Zafón will command a YA audience with the enthusiasm equal to his adult audience. The Prince of Mist is chilling enough to caution readers they may have to cover there eyes, or at least leave the lights on.
© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2010]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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LibraryThing member patrickdjoyce
A boy dances with the devil in this coming-of-age story set on the Spanish seashore during WWII. Many scenes are cinematic, classic, even iconic, although some imagery (e.g. scary clown) feels worn. First half of the book is eery, gothic, mysterious; second is romantic, thrilling; both are a
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pleasure to read. Show Less
LibraryThing member souloftherose
This was an enjoyable enough light read but the writing and characterisation felt a little clumsy at times. Although this book has only recently been published in the UK it's actually Zafon's first novel, published in Spanish back in 1993. It has the same gothic feel as The Shadow of the Wind and
It was interesting to read an earlier example of Zafon's work and I would still like to see his other books translated into English so that I can read those but for me there was no comparison between this and The Shadow of the Wind.
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The Angel's Game along with a mysterious, supernatural bad guy but it just didn't quite work. It was interesting to read an earlier example of Zafon's work and I would still like to see his other books translated into English so that I can read those but for me there was no comparison between this and The Shadow of the Wind.
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LibraryThing member KarenBall
"It's a mistake to think that dreams can come true without having to offer anything in exchange..."Seriously creep-tastic! Originally published in Spain in 1993, this earned the Edebe prize - the top young adult fiction award in Spain. Translated into English by Lucia Graves, this is an incredibly
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well-written paranormal story. Set during World War II, Max and his family move from a large city to a tiny seaside village. Very strange things start happening in the house, and Max's little sister has a suspicious accident that puts her into a coma. Max thinks the house may be haunted by the previous owners' son who drowned, but there are much darker forces at work here. Max, his older sister Alicia, and his new friend Roland start unraveling a 25-year-old mystery that involves Roland's grandfather, the previous owners of the house, a shipwreck, a set of possessed circus freaks who've been stuck as statues for years, and a dastardly, vile spirit known as the Prince of Mist. He's a dealmaker -- your dearest wishes and fondest dreams, available to you for a price. There's an old debt that hasn't been paid, and the Prince of Mist is aiming to collect... Spooky, with literary quality writing! 6th grade and up for those who enjoy a good scary tale. Show Less
LibraryThing member Bellydancer
Max and his family move from the capital city to escape from the dangers of the war. Little know to the family they have moved into a small seaside town that holds an abundance of secrets. Time in the town moves slowly, an evil-eyed cat adopts the family; an abandoned garden beckons Max inside it
Max and Alicia befriend Rowland, a local teenager, and with his help they explore the town. But things are not always as they seem and they teens find themselves in the middle of and age-old debt that needs to be settled.
A haunting and beautifully written story filled with colourful description that embraces the meaning of a memorable horror/thriller. With a fast-paced and mysterious storyline this is sure to be a hit with teens.
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walls, and from the shadow emerges the Prince of the Mist.Max and Alicia befriend Rowland, a local teenager, and with his help they explore the town. But things are not always as they seem and they teens find themselves in the middle of and age-old debt that needs to be settled.
A haunting and beautifully written story filled with colourful description that embraces the meaning of a memorable horror/thriller. With a fast-paced and mysterious storyline this is sure to be a hit with teens.
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LibraryThing member Eyejaybee
An enjoyable and well-crafted story, though patently not of the same calibre as "The Shadow of the Wind". Still, I am glad that I read it, and the themes underlying the plot were very cleverly constructed.
LibraryThing member christinelstanley
After a bit of a slow start, this turned out to be spooky good fun. darker than I anticipated.
Love Carlos Ruiz Zafon's writing, it's full of intrigue, imagination and atmosphere.
Love Carlos Ruiz Zafon's writing, it's full of intrigue, imagination and atmosphere.
LibraryThing member allison.sivak
There was a lot of "telling," not "showing," in this novel, mostly at the point of action. That is, there was much less subtlety in the setup of the characters and plot than I tend to like. It meant that I felt the characters' actions and motivations were not established in a satisfying way. It
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also meant that I felt the pace of the book was rushed, because any unusual dialogue or action was qualified at the moment it was being described in the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member sedelia
This book isn't bad. It's certainly very creepy and the storyline was enough to keep me wanting to know more. However, readers (or listeners!) should be aware that this is no Shadow of the Wind. You can definitely tell that this is his first book. The setting is somewhat vague and there are far too
However, it is undoubtedly a creepy, chilling book. With evil clowns, clocks and watches that freak out and start going backwards, a haunted garden, and a sunken ship, there are plenty of things to give you a chill. The storyline is also interesting and I liked the characters. I didn't relate to them as completely as I could have, but I did relate to them. There is also a lot of mystery involved, and I was certainly surprised when a certain mystery was revealed.
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many coincidences in the book. Max's parents just happen to be gone for most of the novel, and of course that's exactly when trouble arises. I think it would have been much more interesting if they had been there, but that's just me. Also, there are a lot of issues left unresolved and many points in the story when I was confused because things just weren't explained very well.However, it is undoubtedly a creepy, chilling book. With evil clowns, clocks and watches that freak out and start going backwards, a haunted garden, and a sunken ship, there are plenty of things to give you a chill. The storyline is also interesting and I liked the characters. I didn't relate to them as completely as I could have, but I did relate to them. There is also a lot of mystery involved, and I was certainly surprised when a certain mystery was revealed.
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LibraryThing member khager
I really wanted to love this book, because he wrote my favorite book ever (The Shadow of the Wind), but this just didn't do it for me. I enjoyed it, and I'm glad I read it. But...just not that great.
It's about Max, a 13-year-old who has just moved to a small town with his parents and sisters (one
There's a mystery in the town and spooky goings-on (there's a statue of a clown and it moves. IT MOVES!) and it's definitely entertaining. But read Shadow of the Wind instead. :)
It's about Max, a 13-year-old who has just moved to a small town with his parents and sisters (one
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older, one younger). Not long after they move, his younger sister has a weird accident and the parents pretty much move into the hospital with her, leaving Max and Alicia to their own devices.There's a mystery in the town and spooky goings-on (there's a statue of a clown and it moves. IT MOVES!) and it's definitely entertaining. But read Shadow of the Wind instead. :)
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LibraryThing member bclanphere
Plot Summary:
From the minute Max's father tells him they are moving, he has an eerie sense that something is about to happen, something bad. The Carver's new home has a history as mysterious as the surrounding grounds. Built by an eccentric doctor and his wife as a vacation home, the grounds
Comments:
This is the first paranormal book for young adults that I have read that actually had me a little spooked. Everything about this books is precise and exact, like clockwork, which to plays a big part in the story. Max's father is a watchmaker, and Zafron uses that to create beautiful imagery and insightful references to the passage of time, military precision (the story is set during wartime), coming of age, and the mysteries of life. Max fits all of the pieces of the mystery together, much like a watchmaker would construct the intricate workings of a timepiece.
I would recommend this book to students, ages 10 and up, that are interested in ghost stories, mysteries, and possibly a younger, more advanced reader looking for a challenging book. I was thoroughly entertained by the book's narrative and creativity. It was highly entertaining and well-written. The intentional ambiguity of the time and location of the story allow the reader to interpret the book as having either a historical setting or a futuristic one. Zafron skillfully leaves numerous clues along the way in the images that Max sees, and the objects that he finds, to help uncover the truths lurking in the mist. The reader's imagination is engaged by the clues and is driven forward in the story by connecting them, along with Max.
**The books was originally written in Spanish, and later translated into English. The author chose to leave out specific references to time and place in this translation. The subject headings refer to the Spanish version of the book, which contains the references to Europe, WWII, etc.
From the minute Max's father tells him they are moving, he has an eerie sense that something is about to happen, something bad. The Carver's new home has a history as mysterious as the surrounding grounds. Built by an eccentric doctor and his wife as a vacation home, the grounds
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include a strange walled garden with spooky statues of circus performers. Max and his sister Alicia befriend local-boy, Roland, who has lived in the seaside town all his life, to help unravel the secrets behind the sunken ship in the harbor and its connection to the Carver's creepy garden. Comments:
This is the first paranormal book for young adults that I have read that actually had me a little spooked. Everything about this books is precise and exact, like clockwork, which to plays a big part in the story. Max's father is a watchmaker, and Zafron uses that to create beautiful imagery and insightful references to the passage of time, military precision (the story is set during wartime), coming of age, and the mysteries of life. Max fits all of the pieces of the mystery together, much like a watchmaker would construct the intricate workings of a timepiece.
I would recommend this book to students, ages 10 and up, that are interested in ghost stories, mysteries, and possibly a younger, more advanced reader looking for a challenging book. I was thoroughly entertained by the book's narrative and creativity. It was highly entertaining and well-written. The intentional ambiguity of the time and location of the story allow the reader to interpret the book as having either a historical setting or a futuristic one. Zafron skillfully leaves numerous clues along the way in the images that Max sees, and the objects that he finds, to help uncover the truths lurking in the mist. The reader's imagination is engaged by the clues and is driven forward in the story by connecting them, along with Max.
**The books was originally written in Spanish, and later translated into English. The author chose to leave out specific references to time and place in this translation. The subject headings refer to the Spanish version of the book, which contains the references to Europe, WWII, etc.
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Awards
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (Nominee)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2011)
Original publication date
1993 (Spain)
2010 (UK, US)
Physical description
224 p.; 5.98 inches
ISBN
0316044776 / 9780316044776