Book Review | THE MIST TRILOGY by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

The Prince of Mist | The Midnight Palace
The Watcher in the Shadows

La Trilogía de la Niebla
by Carlos Ruiz Zafón | Translator: Lucia Graves
Little, Brown | GENRE: YA Fiction

Ghosts of the Past

Carlos Ruiz Zafón is one of my favorite authors. I have read The Cemetery of Forgotten Books trilogy, and The Prisoner of Heaven turned out to be my best read in 2012. So, I decided to give his earlier trilogy a try too.

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REVIEW 1 OF 3

The Prince of Mist

★★★★

In the summer of 1943, the Carver family moved to a small coastal village to escape the imminent war. From the moment they entered their new home, a different kind of war was waiting for them. It didn't take long for them to settle in when Irina had her baffling accident and was hospitalized. Both Max and his sister Alicia were left to their own devices for a few days while their parents looked after Irina.

I want to say that the mystery started with the cat that Irina insisted on taking home with them, or with Max's discovery of the sinister walled garden beyond their property, or with the symbol of a six-pointed star within a circle that prompted Max, Alicia, and Roland to seek out answers — but, of course, the mystery started a long time ago with the Prince of Mist and his deathly desire to claim his end of the bargain.

"In an infinite universe,
there were too many things that are out of hand and human understanding."
This is a hauntingly descriptive story that made my skin crawl. Zafón's creepy characterization of the Prince of Mist truly captured my attention.

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REVIEW 2 OF 3

The Midnight Palace

★★★★

For years, the Midnight Palace had been both a sanctuary and a secret of the Chowbar Society. To enter, one must share a story precious enough for the society to keep. The group upholds two objectives: first, to help, protect, and support one another in times of adversity; and second, to share all the knowledge they have acquired to equip themselves for when they are sent out to face the world alone as adults. This summer — May 1932 — the society was meeting for the last time, for in a few days they would officially be adults.

Growing up in St. Patrick's Orphanage in Calcutta, the members of the Chowbar Society have no memories of their past or families, yet they are determined to make a future for themselves. Unbeknownst to them, though, a dark past is slowly creeping up on them — memories of lies and death — and it is threatening to kill again. A revenge sixteen years in the making.

"Delving into the past had unveiled a cruel lesson
— that in the book of life it is perhaps best not to turn back pages;
it was a path on which,
whatever direction we took, we'd never be able to choose our own destiny."
The story is narrated by Ian, a member of the Chowbar Society — a story they swore never to forget. The Midnight Palace is a tragic tale of friendship and family. For the price of peace, the living must make a sacrifice and stop the ghost of the past from seeking its revenge.

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REVIEW 3 OF 3

The Watcher in the Shadows

★★★★★

After the demise of Armand Sauvelle, his family was left destitute; debtors had seized their assets one after the other. Following that year of darkness, a grand offer came to Simone — a position as housekeeper for the palatial home of Lazarus Jann, a famous toymaker. Along with the offer came a house perched on a headland: the Seaview. In June 1937, Simone Sauvelle and her children, Irene and Dorian, moved into the small fishing village of Blue Bay, Normandy.

The family slipped easily enough into village life until one of Lazarus's servants was found dead in the woods surrounding his residence, Cravenmoore. The Sauvelles unwittingly entangled themselves in an evil secret that watches from the shadows.

Again, you can call me a coward, but this made the hairs on my nape stand up and sent goosebumps all over me. Perhaps it was the ominous atmosphere and the vivid description of Cravenmoore, and the ever-present life-like automatons that populate its halls. Nevertheless, this is my favorite of the three. After this tragic tale, a love story is waiting to happen.

"Ever since that dream I've known that one day,
no matter when, our moment would come.
That in some distant place the September lights
would shine again for us
and this time there would be no more shadows crossing our path.
This time it would be forever."

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Although these books were forged as a trilogy, each story stands entirely on its own. The author is remarkably consistent with his themes throughout, however. You will notice that all three books are set in the summer, near a body of water, and each involves a character with mechanical skills. Since these were Zafón's earliest works, the progression of his writing prowess is impossible to miss. And like the rest of his books, this trilogy will capture your imagination. Each summer is rendered so vividly that his prose will transport you there — and you will know the story is happening all around you.

These are books that young readers will certainly enjoy for their mystery, adventure, and Gothic undertones; but Zafón's skill in crafting eerie atmospheres and weaving together wonderful prose means this trilogy may be savored by readers of all ages. I highly recommend these books.