The Prince of Mist
by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Release Date: 27th May 2010
Publisher: Orion
ISBN: 978 0 2978 5642 9
RRP: £9.99

Average Customer Rating:

(5.0 based on 1 rating)

A wondrous tale of imagination and ghostly goings on...

May 2010 sees the publication of the eagerly awaited English version of this multi-million best seller from the Spanish author, Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

A watchmaker transplants his family from the city of London to the coast in an attempt to provide additional safety during the final gasps of the Second World War. Maximillian Carver and his family find themselves in a sleepy coastal village that hides a mysterious and sinister side, and it is his son, Max, who launches the Carvers into the path of an age-old legend: The Prince of Mist.

Encompassing spectral statues that move, the murky remains of a sunken cargo ship and one scary ginger cat; The Prince of Mist absolutely lives up to the expectation and intention to provide a solid adventure book that will entice the old and young reader. Whilst touching delicately on the fear and impact of war (Max meets a boy named Roland who is due to be enlisted at the end of the summer), it is the imminent rising of a dark force that consumes the narrative and its characters. The Prince of Mist himself remains an enigma – a shape-shifting mass of evil that enslaves his victims by tricking them into forming a pack with him, only the price he demands in return for wishes come true is far too high.

Unfazed at the prospect of terrifying his readers, nor of meting out a bittersweet ending; The Prince of Mist is charming, hugely enjoyable and has the distinct whiff of a classic about it. Zafon is justifiably proud of his debut novel.

Your Reviews:

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03 April 2011: Anonymous wrote:
After reading both 'The shadow of the wind ' and 'angel's game', when I saw another Zafon book I just had to buy it.
It turned out to be a great choice, I read it cover to cover, marvelling in the author's fantastic imagery and language.
Though aimed at young adults, I really think this book could appeal to most readers. There is a lot of fantasy but it is not so fantastic as to seem like a fairytale. The book is very creepy, but that just makes it even more difficult to put down. The characters are beleivable and likeable, so the book drags you in, and there is no way to escape Zafon's imaginative ( and ingenious) story.

I loved this book, and have heard there are more to be released, I can't wait!
My one issue is that it was too short, if only there had been more, I could've kept reading it for days.