El Príncipe de la Niebla

Por Carlos Ruiz Zafon

El nuevo hogar de los Carver está rodeado de misterio. En él aún se respira el espíritu de Jacob, el hijo de los antiguos propietarios, que murió ahogado. Las extrañas circunstancias de esa muerte sólo se empiezan a aclarar con la aparición de un diabólico personaje: el Príncipe de la Niebla, capaz de conceder cualquier deseo a una persona a un alto precio...

• Idioma: Español
• Editorial: Editorial Planeta
• Fecha de lanzamiento: 12 jul 2010
• ISBN: 9788408095484

Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Carlos Ruiz Zafón is the author of eight novels, including the internationally bestselling and critically acclaimed Cemetery of Forgotten Books series: The Shadow of the Wind, The Angel’s Game, The Prisoner of Heaven, and The Labyrinth of the Spirits. His work, which also includes prizewinning young adult novels, has been translated into more than fifty languages and published around the world, garnering numerous awards and reaching millions of readers. He lives in Los Angeles.

Vista previa del libro

Índice

PORTADA

DEDICATORIA

UNA NOTA DEL AUTOR

CAPÍTULO UNO

CAPÍTULO DOS

CAPÍTULO TRES

CAPÍTULO CUATRO

CAPÍTULO CINCO

CAPÍTULO SEIS

CAPÍTULO SIETE

CAPÍTULO OCHO

CAPÍTULO NUEVE

CAPÍTULO DIEZ

CAPÍTULO ONCE

CAPÍTULO DOCE

CAPÍTULO TRECE

CAPÍTULO CATORCE

CAPÍTULO QUINCE

CAPÍTULO DIECISÉIS

CAPÍTULO DIECISIETE

CAPÍTULO DIECIOCHO

EPÍLOGO

CRÉDITOS

DESCUBRE LA OBRA DE CARLOS RUIZ ZAFÓN EN EBOOK

¡ENCUENTRA AQUÍ TU PRÓXIMA LECTURA!

Gracias por adquirir este eBook

Visita Planetadelibros.com y descubre una

nueva forma de disfrutar de la lectura

¡Regístrate y accede a contenidos exclusivos!

Primeros capítulos

Fragmentos de próximas publicaciones

Clubs de lectura con los autores

Concursos, sorteos y promociones

Participa en presentaciones de libros

Comparte tu opinión en la ficha del libro

y en nuestras redes sociales:

Explora Descubre Comparte

Para mi padre

UNA NOTA DEL AUTOR

Amigo lector:

Quizá lo más aconsejable sería que te saltases estas palabras y fueras directamente al arranque de la novela, ya que un libro debería hablar por sí mismo, sin necesidad de preámbulos. Pero si sientes curiosidad acerca del origen de la historia que tienes entre manos, prometo ser breve y apartarme de tu camino en pocas líneas.

El Príncipe de la Niebla fue la primera novela que publiqué, y marcó el inicio de mi dedicación completa a este peculiar oficio que es el de escritor. En aquella época tenía veintiséis o veintisiete años, lo que por entonces me parecía un montón y, a falta de editor, se me ocurrió presentarla a un concurso de literatura juvenil (terreno que desconocía por completo), tuve la suerte de ganar.

A decir verdad, de chaval no acostumbraba a leer novelas etiquetadas como «juveniles». Mi idea de una novela para jóvenes era la misma que mi idea de una novela para cualquier lector. Siempre he tenido la impresión de que los lectores jóvenes son, acaso, más espabilados y perspicaces que sus mayores, y que si algo tienen son pocos miramientos y menos prejuicios. Con ellos, el autor gana lectores o los lectores lo despachan sin contemplaciones. Son un público difícil y exigente, pero me gustan sus términos, y creo que son de justicia. En el caso de El Príncipe de la Niebla, a falta de otras referencias, decidí escribir la novela que a mí me hubiese gustado leer con trece o catorce años, pero también una que me siguiera interesando con veintitrés, cuarenta y tres u ochenta y tres años.

Desde su publicación en 1993, El Príncipe de la Niebla ha tenido la suerte de ser muy bien recibido entre los jóvenes, y también entre los no tan jóvenes. Lo que nunca ha tenido, hasta el día de hoy, es una edición digna, que hiciese justicia a sus lectores y a la propia obra. Después de las no pocas miserias que han lastrado este libro y a su autor durante casi quince años, la novela llega ahora por primera vez a las manos de sus lectores de la manera en que debería haberlo hecho en un principio.

Al revisitar un libro que uno escribió hace ya tantos años, el novelista se siente tentado de aprovecharse de algunas de las cosas que ha aprendido en el oficio para reconstruir y reescribirlo casi todo, pero en este caso me ha parecido que había que dejar la obra tal como es, con sus defectos y su personalidad intactos.

El Príncipe de la Niebla es la primera de una serie de novelas «juveniles», junto con El Palacio de la Medianoche, Las Luces de Septiembre y Marina, que escribí años antes de la publicación de La Sombra del Viento. Algunos lectores más maduros, llevados por la popularidad de esta última, tal vez se sientan tentados de explorar estas historias de misterio y aventura, y espero que algunos lectores de nuevo cuño, si disfrutan con ellas, tal vez inicien así su propia aventura en la lectura de por vida.

A unos y a otros, lectores jóvenes y jóvenes lectores, sólo me queda transmitirles el agradecimiento de este contador de historias, que sigue intentando merecer su interés y desearles una feliz lectura.

CARLOS RUIZ ZAFÓN

Mayo de 2006.

CAPÍTULO UNO

Habrían de pasar muchos años antes de que Max olvidara el verano en que descubrió, casi por casualidad, la magia. Corría el año 1943 y los vientos de la guerra arrastraban al mundo corriente abajo, sin remedio. A mediados de junio, el día en que Max cumplió los trece años, su padre, relojero e inventor a ratos perdidos, reunió a la familia en el salón y les anunció que aquél era el último día que pasarían en la que había sido su casa en los últimos diez años. La familia se mudaba a la costa, lejos de la ciudad y de la guerra, a una casa junto a la playa de un pequeño pueblecito a orillas del Atlántico.

La decisión era terminante: partirían al amanecer del día siguiente. Hasta entonces, debían empacar todas sus posesiones y prepararse para el largo viaje hasta su nuevo hogar.

La familia recibió la noticia sin sorprenderse. Casi todos imaginaban ya que la idea de abandonar la ciudad en busca de un lugar más habitable rondaba por la cabeza del buen Maximilian Carver desde hacía tiempo; todos menos Max. Para él, la noticia tuvo el mismo efecto que una locomotora enloquecida atravesando una tienda de porcelanas chinas. Se quedó en blanco, con la boca abierta y la mirada ausente. Durante ese breve trance, pasó por su mente la terrible certidumbre de que todo su mundo, incluidos sus amigos del colegio, la pandilla de la calle y la tienda de tebeos de la esquina, estaba a punto de desvanecerse para siempre. De un plumazo.

Mientras los demás miembros de la familia disolvían la concentración para disponerse a preparar el equipaje con aire de resignación, Max permaneció inmóvil mirando a su padre. El buen relojero se arrodilló frente a su hijo y le colocó las manos sobre los hombros. La mirada de Max se explicaba mejor que un libro.

—Ahora te parece el fin del mundo, Max. Pero te prometo que el lugar adonde vamos te gustará. Harás nuevos amigos, ya lo verás.

—¿Es por la guerra? —preguntó Max—. ¿Es por eso por lo que tenemos que irnos?

Maximilian Carver abrazó a su hijo y luego, sin dejar de sonreírle, extrajo del bolsillo de su chaqueta un objeto brillante que pendía de una cadena y lo colocó entre las manos de Max. Un reloj de bolsillo.

—Lo he hecho para ti. Feliz cumpleaños, Max.

Max abrió el reloj, labrado en plata. En el interior de la esfera cada hora estaba marcada por el dibujo de una luna que crecía y menguaba al compás de las agujas, formadas por los haces de un sol que sonreía en el corazón del reloj. Sobre la tapa, grabada en caligrafía, se podía leer una frase: «La máquina del tiempo de Max.»

Aquel día, sin saberlo, mientras contemplaba a su familia deambular arriba y abajo con las maletas y sostenía el reloj que le había regalado su padre, Max dejó para siempre de ser un niño.

* * *

La noche de su cumpleaños Max no pegó ojo. Mientras los demás dormían, esperó la fatal llegada de aquel amanecer que habría de marcar la despedida final del pequeño universo que se había forjado a lo largo de los años. Pasó las horas en silencio, tendido en la cama con la mirada perdida en las sombras azules que danzaban en el techo de su habitación, como si esperase ver en ellas un oráculo capaz de dibujar su destino a partir de aquel día. Sostenía en su mano el reloj que su padre había hecho para él. Las lunas sonrientes de la esfera brillaban en la penumbra nocturna. Tal vez ellas tuvieran la respuesta a todas las preguntas que Max había empezado a coleccionar desde aquella misma tarde.

Finalmente, las primeras luces del alba despuntaron sobre el horizonte azul. Max saltó de la cama y se dirigió al salón. Maximilian Carver estaba acomodado en una butaca, vestido y sosteniendo un libro junto a la luz de un quinqué. Max vio que no era el único que había pasado la noche en vela. El relojero le sonrió y cerró el libro.

—¿Qué lees? —preguntó Max, señalando el grueso volumen.

—Es un libro sobre Copérnico. ¿Sabes quién es Copérnico? —respondió el relojero.

—Voy al cole —respondió Max.

Su padre tenía el hábito de hacerle preguntas como si se acabase de caer de un árbol.

—¿Y qué sabes de él? —insistió.

—Descubrió que la Tierra gira alrededor del Sol y no al revés.

—Más o menos. ¿Y sabes lo que eso significó?

—Problemas —repuso Max.

El relojero sonrió ampliamente y le tendió el grueso libro.

—Ten. Es tuyo. Léelo.

Max inspeccionó el misterioso volumen encuadernado en piel. Parecía tener mil años y servir de morada al espíritu de algún viejo genio encadenado a sus páginas por un maleficio centenario.

—Bueno —atajó su padre—, ¿quién despierta a tus hermanas?

Max, sin levantar la vista del libro, indicó con la cabeza que le cedía el honor de arrancar a Alicia e Irina, sus dos hermanas de quince y ocho años respectivamente, de su profundo sueño.

Luego, mientras su padre se dirigía a tocar diana para toda la familia, Max se acomodó en la butaca, abrió el libro de par en par y empezó a leer. Media hora más tarde, la familia en pleno cruzaba por última vez el umbral de la puerta hacia una nueva vida. El verano había empezado.

* * *

Max había leído alguna vez en uno de los libros de su padre que ciertas imágenes de la infancia se quedan grabadas en el álbum de la mente como fotografías, como escenarios a los que, no importa el tiempo que pase, uno siempre vuelve y recuerda. Max comprendió el sentido de aquellas palabras la primera vez que vio el mar. Llevaban más de cinco horas en el tren cuando, de súbito, al emerger de un oscuro túnel, una infinita lámina de luz y claridad espectral se extendió ante sus ojos. El azul eléctrico del mar resplandeciente bajo el sol del mediodía se grabó en su retina como una aparición sobrenatural. Mientras el tren seguía su camino a pocos metros del mar, Max sacó la cabeza por la ventanilla y sintió por primera vez el viento impregnado de olor a salitre sobre su piel. Se volvió a mirar a su padre, que le contemplaba desde el extremo del compartimiento del tren con una sonrisa misteriosa, asintiendo a una pregunta que Max no había llegado a formular. Supo entonces que no importaba cuál fuera el destino de aquel viaje ni en qué estación se detuviera el tren; desde aquel día nunca viviría en un lugar desde el cual no pudiese ver cada mañana al despertar aquella luz azul y cegadora que ascendía hacia el cielo como un vapor mágico y transparente. Era una promesa que se había hecho a sí mismo.

* * *

Mientras Max contemplaba alejarse el ferrocarril desde el andén de la estación del pueblo, Maximilian Carver dejó unos minutos a su familia con el equipaje frente al despacho del jefe de estación para negociar con alguno de los transportistas locales un precio razonable por trasladar bultos, personas y demás parafernalia hasta el punto final de destino. La primera impresión de Max respecto al pueblo y al aspecto que ofrecían la estación y las primeras casas, cuyos techos asomaban tímidamente sobre los árboles circundantes, fue la de que aquel lugar parecía una maqueta, uno de aquellos pueblos construidos en miniatura por coleccionistas de trenes eléctricos, donde si uno se aventuraba a caminar más de la cuenta podía acabar cayéndose de una mesa. Ante tal idea, Max empezaba a contemplar una interesante variación de la teoría de Copérnico respecto al mundo cuando la voz de su madre, junto a él, le rescató de sus ensoñaciones cósmicas.

—¿Y bien? ¿Aprobado o suspendido?

—Es pronto para saberlo —contestó Max—. Parece una maqueta. Como esas de los escaparates de las jugueterías.

—A lo mejor lo es —sonrió su madre. Cuando lo hacía, Max podía ver en su rostro un reflejo pálido de su hermana Irina.

—Pero no le digas eso a tu padre —continuó—. Ahí viene.

Maximilian Carver llegó de vuelta escoltado por dos fornidos transportistas con sendos atuendos estampados de manchas de grasa, hollín y alguna sustancia imposible de identificar. Ambos lucían frondosos bigotes y una gorra de marino, como si tal fuera el uniforme de su profesión.

—Éstos son Robin y Philip —explicó el relojero—. Robin llevará las maletas, y Philip, a la familia. ¿De acuerdo?

Sin esperar la aprobación familiar, los dos forzudos se dirigieron a la montaña de baúles y cargaron metódicamente con el más voluminoso sin el menor asomo de esfuerzo. Max extrajo su reloj y contempló la esfera de lunas risueñas. Las agujas marcaban las dos de la tarde. El viejo reloj de la estación marcaba las doce y media.

—El reloj de la estación va mal —murmuró Max.

—¿Lo ves? —contestó su padre, eufórico—. Nada más llegar y ya tenemos trabajo.

Su madre sonrió débilmente, como siempre hacía ante las muestras de optimismo radiante de Maximilian Carver, pero Max pudo leer en sus ojos una sombra de tristeza y aquella extraña luminosidad que, desde niño, le había llevado a creer que su madre intuía en el futuro lo que los demás no podían adivinar.

—Todo va a salir bien, mamá —dijo Max, sintiéndose como un tonto un segundo después de pronunciar aquellas palabras.

Su madre le acarició la mejilla y le sonrió.

—Claro, Max.

Comentarios para El Príncipe de la Niebla

[amaliagavea · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

''One time in a million, someone who is still very young understands that life is a one-way journey and decides that the rules of the games don't agree with him. It's like when you decide to cheat because you know you can't win. Usually you're found out and you can't cheat any more. But sometimes the cheat gets away with it. And if, instead of playing with dice or cards, the game consists of playing with life and death, then the cheat turns into someone very dangerous indeed.''

Undoubtedly atmospheric, with a few haunting moments, but in my opinion. the writing felt dry and clumsy and the dialogue seemed almost naive and lifeless. I don't know whether the fact that it was Zafon's first novel or the possibility of a truly soulless translation is to blame but I am not particularly eager to try my luck with the rest of his work.

A YA novel (or whatever you want to call it) is no excuse for pure boredom, predictability and ridiculous remarks. Our teenagers deserve better than today's writing which wants to treat them like fools. Don't be idiots.

[jfranklin592262 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

For those reviewing this book as predictable and adolescent.......its a YA book, so, yeah.

I actually read YA books pretty regularly. I have 5 children, so they often want me to read books behind them so we can have book chats. I also occasionally reread books I enjoyed in my youth.

I find that I usually enjoy the simplicity of YA books. The easy reading style can be refreshing amidst the verbose rambling prose, and overdone artsy play of many " adult" books.

One should consider the deliberate writing method in YA readers before reviewing. Baring these things in mind, all said, this was an enjoyable read. My oldest daughters read and enjoyed it as well.

[marklacy-355086 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

I have a habit of reading a number of books in parallel. But when I discover one that really grabs me, I'll stick with it and quickly finish it. Such was the case in 2005 when I decided to try Spanish author Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind. In Barcelona in 1945 a boy discovers that someone is methodically destroying every book ever written by an author named Julian Calax. The mystery behind Calax's true identity grips the boy and won't let go. Ruiz Zafon does a fantastic job of characterization and really kept my interest. Few books that I read do I ever rate so highly.

The Prince of Mist by Ruiz Zafon is a much different book but still very enjoyable. This is a relatively short horror novel for young adults. The author states in an introductory note that he hopes the young adult books he's written will appeal to readers of all ages. Like The Shadow of the Wind, the story takes place during World War II. To me, there was the barest hint of the movie Summer of '42 - wartime setting, a beach, adolescents trying to understand their feelings for the opposite sex. And the evil behind the story reminded me of something I would expect Stephen King to write, were he writing something for young adults.

[ma_washigeri · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

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.

[pdcread · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I hadn't intended on reading this as I normally avoid the young adult genre, but it was 20p!

The father of the family decides that they need to move from the city to the coast because of the war. They move into a house that has already known tragedy.

Max starts to explore the immediate vicinity and finds a odd garden with creepy statues. He befriends Roland, adoptive grandson of the lighthouse keeper, and they explore a wreck just off the coast that his grandfather survived.

Strange things start to happen in the house, ending with a sister in hospital in a coma. Max, Roland and his other sister start to learn more about the truth and are told about the Prince of the Mist, a nasty character who was thought to have drowned on the ship as well.

Some of this was good, Zafon make it really creepy and disturbing at points. But I found the ending really implausible and not in fitting with the rest of the book.

[edwinkort · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Samen met zijn ouders en zusters verhuist de 13-jarige Max van de grote stad naar een rustige kustplaats, waar zijn vader een winkel wil openen voor het repareren van horloges en andere machines.

Als Max en zijn familie in hun nieuwe huis arriveren, ontdekt hij vreemde dingen. Klokken die achteruit lopen, het gevoel dat er iemand op zijn gezicht ademt en standbeelden van circus-artiesten die van vorm en plaats veranderen. Het huis zelf heeft een tragische geschiedenis. Als een nieuwsgierige jongen begint Max rond te neuzen.

Al snel raakt Max bevriend met een oudere jongen (Roland), die het op zich neemt om hem alles in het stadje te laten zien, en vertelt over de geschiedenis. De volgende dag gaan ze gedrieën (ook Max's oudere zus gaat mee) duiken bij een oude wrak vlak bij de kust.

Max ontdekt dat hun nieuwe huis eerder bewoond werd door een dokter en zijn vrouw, wiens enige zoon vele jaren eerder was verdronken.
Na een ongeluk, waarbij Max's jongste zus in een coma raakt, blijven hij en zijn oudere zus alleen in het huis, terwijl hun ouders naar het ziekenhuis gaan.

Samen met zijn oudere zus en Roland begint hij langzaam maar zeker het geheim te ontrafelen.

Er zitten wat plotholes in het verhaal:

- Hoe zijn deze standbeelden hier gekomen;
- Wat is er voor vreemds met de kat;
- Waarom loopt de tijd op de klok achteruit;
- Het is oorlog, waarom zijn de vuurtoren-lampen aan;

Hoewel dit verhaal zich afspeelt in de Tweede Wereldoorlog, heeft dit maar weinig invloed op het verhaal.

Het verhaal leest lekker weg, en is gericht op de jong-volwassen lezer, maar kan zeker ook de oudere lezer bekoren. Sommige karakters zouden wat dieper uitgewerkt kunnen worden

[linnnnie · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This was a very suspense filled story. Gave me chill bumps more than a few times.

[ellegato · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This book was a lovely dark fairy tale set amidst the confusion and fear of World War II. It was written for children but I found it incredibly enjoyable to read as an adult. There is a timelessness to the story and the arbitrary, almost inexplicable nature of the villain was very well handled by the narrative. I really loved how the relationship between Max and his sister, Alicia, was developed and I think that relationship is the real heart of the book: how their bond is built on understanding and shared experiences and how they go from almost strangers at the start to close friends. I don't think there's enough of that in young adult fiction to be honest--magic serving as more of a backdrop to the development of relationships rather than the other way around.

Definitely a wonderful story.

[s_shane_thomas · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Prince of Mist, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is a title I rented from the local library and listened to while driving via blue tooth and the app Overdrive. I listened to the English translation, the author is from Spain and it was originally written in Spanish. I don’t usually pick up horror titles, but Prince of Mist is about an undead magician set during World War 2 and that caught my attention. I was not disappointed!

Max and Alicia Carver’s family move from the city to a small coastal town to avoid the effects of the war. In the small town there were a couple points of local history that play into the siblings’ discovery of magical and their confrontation with the evil Dr. Kain also known as the Prince of Mist.
Max learns that something strange is afoot and uses two unreliable sources, damaged film and an old man who only tells some of what he knows, to try and learn what the Prince of Mist is, and how he, his family, and friends and avoid lurking danger.

Perhaps it was because I was driving and could not really reread parts, but it seems like the timeline of the history and then the story is a little off. At three or four points I questioned how the back story lined up with the “present day” action, but the fact that some sources of information Max is exposed to are unreliable mean it could have been an intentional plot device. There were multiple references to Dr. Kane’s freedom from time.

Around the middle of the book there is a scene in a room with a wardrobe and the suspense was great! It was a really high tension scene and well written/ translated/ recorded. The sound effects on the audio book were also a great touch. Not many audiobooks have extra production stuff like music and sound effects and I thought it was pretty cool.

Not like it was a deal breaker, but I think if the story had all been from Max’s point of view, limited to his thoughts then it would have created a more intense experience. There were some story elements that would have been harder to bring to the surface, but he was the main protagonist and some of the scenes he wasn’t a part of could have been handled through dialogue.

[mamzel_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

What a great ghost story! Sunken ships, evil clowns, lighthouses, and kids weave together in this book. Max and his family move to the coast to escape the bombing of the city. His younger sister, Irina, fell down stairs and landed in the hospital in a coma. Max and his older sister, Alicia, meet another boy named Roland who take them out to a sunken ship. Strange stuff happens including a mysterious grouping of stone statues (DON'T BLINK!) and a strange story told by the lighthouse keeper.

Fun and suprises.

[altheaann · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

In the introduction to the book, Zafón admits that this was initially written as a book for 12 & 13 year-olds, but hopes that adult audiences will like it as well. Hmm. Well, it wasn't bad, but I would've liked it a lot more if I was twelve.
It's a fun horror story, set in a small seaside town in the 1940's, and featuring the devil in the guise of an evil clown.
A lot of the elements of the plot seem to be there just for the sake of being spooky, and aren't ever explained or tied in to the story. I'm not necessarily objecting to that - after all, the supernatural is often unexplained - but it's an unusual technique.
I liked it, but it was nowhere near as good as Zafón's more recent books aimed at adults.

[theyodamom · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

(YA) Defiantly a horror novel, scary and thrilling, slowly creeping up behind you. : ) Clowns, it had to be clowns ?!?!?!? OK, they are only a small part but they pop up from the beginning on and they are just pure creepy.( Think-Poltergeist, the movie type clowns) The story starts with the main character a 13 year old boy and his family that has to leave his home because of the war. His family heads to a small beach town, where our boy Max meets Roland a lifelong resident that befriends him and introduces him to life in the town. Roland has a mysterious past and lives with his hermit grandfather in the lighthouse. Ah but there is more, Max's family reside in an old beach house with a dark history that is slowly revealed to them. Real Estate nightmare plus ! For more you have to read the book, it's a quick read.
This is my first read from this author and and his first novel. If his first was this good I can't wait to get to his later works.

[bagpuss-3 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This young adult novel, which started Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s writing career, starts with the words "Max would never forget that faraway summer when, almost by chance, he discovered magic." And so begins the haunting tale of Max’s new life away from the city he grew up in. At first he is unhappy about moving away from his friends and starting again, but he quickly settles into the new house, despite feelings of apprehension about the house itself, and soon becomes friendly with a young boy called Roland.

But tragedy strikes when one of Max’s sisters has a sinister accident and the past is unleashed and Max, his sister Alicia and Roland are caught up in a spooky adventure which will test them to the extreme and change their lives forever.

The writing is excellent. The book is so atmospheric and the author captures the essence of all of the characters so well, especially the ‘creepiness’ of the titular Prince of Mist. At one point something happens relating to water (I won’t say what as I don’t want to spoil things) and I found I was holding my breath whilst reading!

Bizarrely, although this book is set during WW2, it had a feel of the 1970s about it to me. Maybe it was because I had the same freedoms that Max did and spent lazy summers on my bike! There is mention of the war, but somehow it didn’t really make me think of the 1940s. One day I will get round to reading The Shadow of the Wind to enjoy some more of this author’s lovely prose.

[juva_3 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

When Max's family moves to a remote village to escape the encroaching dangers of war, they encounter an entirely other danger. Their new home is full of ghosts, whispers, and ominous history. The village by the shore was once the location of a devastating shipwreck. Ever since the town has been haunted by the apparition of the circus's ringleader - a powerful and evil magician.

Max must race against time to defeat the magician's specter before it claims the soul of his best friend.

[danielalgara · Calificación: 1 de 5 estrellas]

Just not good. This thing had more holes than Julius Caesar's toga.

Too soon?

[lilywren · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

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 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.

[bluepigeon-1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

What I liked about El Principe was that all doesn't end well, though one can think of things getting worse. Nothing here is sugar coated, but certainly there is some suspension of belief involved whenever little children can do hard, physically challenging tasks. The complete lack of adults, or the incompetence of the one, frail grandpa, is perhaps exaggerated. Though the characters are well developed, there are perhaps too many unexplained loose ends. What about the cat? And the wardrobe? (How many times can wardrobes be involved in fantasy books, really?) And the statues? Where's Eva? And as far as I understand, the remaining two books of the series have nothing to do with this story, so these questions will never be answered. I think I am OK with that, since I do not need everything in life to be explained with sensible reasons, but those who need complete closure should avoid this book. Anyone who likes ghost stories, a touch of horror, and a touch of coming-of-age might like the book.

The level of Spanish is not too hard. I was able to read the book without a dictionary, though at times some naval terms and the descriptions of the sunken ship make it a bit tough. I would recommend the book to intermediate to advanced Spanish readers.

[meganelizabeth-1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Started but did not finish. As a complete wimp, I was a little bit freaked out by this book in a "bump in the night" kind of way. However, I didn't find the prose (or perhaps it was just the translation?) as captivating as his other work, and the plot did not grip me enough. Even though the tone was of a mystery/thriller, I didn't feel any urgency to finish reading to book, or an particular engagement in the plot. Still better written than a lot of teen books out there, but would recommend more for a thriller fan than a general reader.

[chrisbookarama · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Pretty good. Zafon's first book.

[lemurkat · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

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 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.

[johngrant1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

It's hardly a secret that I'm nuts about Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind and very fond indeed of his The Angel's Game. Apparently he published four novels in Spanish before those, all for a YA/adult audience, of which this was the first. During WWII young Max's dad decides the family would be safer living away from the big city, and so he rents them a house in a seaside village, dominated by a huge lighthouse. Even before they get there, strange things start happening: the station clock runs backwards, a malign cat attaches itself to the family, and so on. Soon Max discovers an isolated sculpture garden filled with effigies of circus characters that seem to change position when no one's looking and one of which seems to be the embodiment of evil -- which indeed he proves to be: the satanic Prince of Mist, Dr. Cain. Along with his older sister and the adoptive grandson of the lighthouse keeper, Max succeeds in driving back Dr. Cain -- at least for now, and only at a very great cost.

This book's an astonishingly fast read -- despite having to contend with a full workload, I started it one afternoon and had it finished by the time I put the light out the next day. As seems to be the case with almost all modern Spanish-language novels, there were occasional plot conundra, but I waved those merrily away as I continued on the helterskelter ride. The tale doesn't have the sheer storytelling, mythopoeic power of The Shadow of the Wind, but it certainly has me panting for the translated publication in May of Zafon's next YA adventure, The Midnight Palace.

[lindap69 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Some adventure, mystery and macabre. The language is accessible for the struggling/reluctant reader but the content is mature enough to not be condescending.

[akmargie · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

A good, solid, horror story. But the ending, le sigh. Quick read/listen.

[kasthu_1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

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 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.

[sharon_t_4 · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

This was good creepy stuff, I liked all but the ending. It just sort of fizzled to an unsatisfying end.

[susiesharp_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

As a huge fan of Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s Shadow of the Wind I was curious about his first novel , which is a Young Adult (actually I would say 5th grade and up) book.

I found this book a great read it is a fantasy with a ghost story feel which I think younger readers will enjoy very much. It may not be as beautifully written as Shadow of the Wind but is well written none the less. There were a few times I wanted to yell at Max and say why are you going there alone? But it made for a great story.

This book was hard to put down I had to find out what was going on and what would happen next. I liked all the characters and even though this is a short novel I was wrapped up in the characters and the story.

What I found refreshing was the ending ** No Spoilers** much different than most. And actually would have loved an epilogue, but was completely satisfied when I finished.

I would recommend this book to 5th grade and up including adults because I am way way past that age and enjoyed this book.

4 Stars

EDT:Just found out there is a second book must find now!!

[steph_adcock · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

The Carver family moves from a big city to a small town near the ocean during the war. Max, a young boy of thirteen, and his sisters (one older, and one younger) are apprehensive about leaving the only home they’ve ever known to a strange town they’ve never been to. As soon as they arrive in the mysterious new town Max notices some oddities: a clock that goes backwards, a malicious cat (that his younger sister adopts), and a courtyard behind his house full of creepy carnival statues (a malevolent clown in particular). From there, the fast-paced plot unfolds into a nightmare of murder, secrets, and evil spirits.

The Prince of Mist is extremely well written. While it is targeted towards the young adult audience, Zafon does an excellent job of keeping the story timeless and accessible to a wide range of ages. One of the strongest elements of this book is the imagery. It reads almost like a movie, with locks slowly unlocking all by themselves, and creating unbearable suspense. This is a book to read under the covers with your favourite teddy-bear. For anyone who enjoys a quick scary read, you may wish to invest your time in The Prince of Mist.

[karenball_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

"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 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.

[tulstig_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

An enjoyable and easy read, although I found it to be ,ore of a children's short story than a full novel. Great summer beach read but not at all taxing.

[bookwyrmm_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This haunting tale starts as a eerie gothic, but by midway morphs into a terrifying horror. Warning: if you are scared of clowns, DO NOT READ! Zafon sure knows how to reel the reader in slowly and then sink the books teeth into them in some scenes of pure horror.