The Prisoner of Heaven: the horrors of Montjuic Castle

The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon converges the characters from The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel’s Game. We met up with Daniel Sempere, enjoying life after the events of The Shadow of the Wind. He soon hears the story of his friend’s Fermin’s past as a stranger comes to tear his life apart.

The story opens at Christmas time 1957, when a stranger comes in to the bookstore and buys an expensive copy of Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo. He leaves a message for Fermin which leaves him frightened and looking over his shoulder. Fermin reluctantly tells Daniel his story. The story is transported back to Barcelona, 1939 where Fermin has begun his time at the infamous Montjuic Castle. He soon befriends a fellow prisoner named David Martin, known as the Prisoner of Heaven. The evil Governor Mauricio Valls persuades Fermin to find out where another prisoner has hidden a treasure. Fermin recognizes that he must find a way to leave the castle. Together with Martin, they hatch an escape plan a la Dumas. Daniel hears this story and he realizes who is really responsible for his mother’s death and seeks revenge. Who is the stranger? What does he want with Fermin? Will Daniel be able to avenge his mother’s death?

I enjoyed this book so much as it was a great culmination of the other two books and leads to the fourth and final book in this series. The fourth book, unfortunately, has not been published and there’s no word yet when it will be. The Prisoner of Heaven was an easier read than the other two books but I enjoyed finally seeing more in depth of the infamous castle which was mentioned in the other books. I highly recommend these Carlos Ruiz Zafon books. There are a great Gothic adventure told in the beautiful but tragic backdrop of Barcelona in the early 20^th century. 

The Angel's Game: a Gothic novel of mystery and suspense

The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is another exciting mystery thriller in the heart of Barcelona in the days leading to Spanish Civil War and the dictatorship of General Franco. Told in three acts, the story follows David Martin, a young writer who becomes entangled in the mysteries of the underworld and his fight to break free.

The story opens in 1917, David Martin has led a harsh life. His mother abandoned him and his father. He is abused at the hands of his father until his father is brutally murdered in front of him.  He writes short stories for the local newspaper until he is approached to write Gothic novels. He is soon able to rent a home and he chooses a tower house which no one wants and everyone warns him against living in. He moves in anyway and he soon meets the mysterious Andreas Corelli, who commissions a book. His deal is almost too tempting to resist. He soon receives devastating news that he throws caution to the wind and agrees to write Corelli’s book. Soon strange events occur and David doesn’t know if he is going mad or if someone is playing a cruel game. He begins to research the previous owners of the house and he becomes entangled in a murder mystery which someone fights hard to keep buried. Will David find his way out? Or will he become another victim of the mysterious Andreas Corelli?

The Angel’s Game is a prequel to Zafon’s The Shadow of the Wind (another awesome book). The Angel’s Game is thrilling adventure where shadows lurk and alternative motives are everyone. Like a great Gothic novel, The Angel’s Game answers the main question of the mystery of the tower house but leaves open the question of who the mysterious Andreas Corelli is. I like that the author leaves that question to be answered by the reader. I can’t really say who I think he is without giving too many details. I highly recommend The Angel’s Game. It will have you hooked.