The Prince of Mist

July 26, 2010
When 13-year-old Max Carver and his family move into a long-unoccupied—and possibly haunted—house on the Spanish coast during WWII, they learn of the evil magician known as the Prince of Mist, who went down in the ship that can be seen below the coastal cliffs. Jonathan Davis is excellently cast; his voice throbs with understated menace, which slowly intensifies toward the dramatic conclusion. Sound effects subtly add to the suspense and pleasure of listening. The audio performance is also accompanied by haunting original music written and performed by the author. A Little, Brown hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 12).

Be careful what you wish for. One summer in 1943, as war threatens the rest of the world, the Carver family leaves the city and moves to a coastal village. Once there, things turn ominous. Teenaged Max and Alicia Carver learn about the Prince of Mist, a magician who grants wishes in return for a "favor." This superb young adult novel crosses into supernatural realms, and Jonathan Davis's performance offers its own kind of magic. Davis makes the transition from commonplace teen angst to paranormal regions naturally and believably. Carlos Ruiz Zafón's lyrical prose creates plausible characters and thrilling situations, all given substance by Davis's spot-on narration. A conversation with the author (who also composed and performed the incidental music) follows this engrossing tale. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

October 1, 2010

Gr 7 Up-Max, Alicia, and Irena are vexed when their father transplants the family to an old house in a seaside town. It's 1943, and with World War II raging, Mr. Carver believes his family will be safer away from the city. However, he is unaware that the move places his family in grave danger from diabolical, supernatural powers. Irena, the youngest child, is critically injured in a bizarre accident. Max and Alicia befriend Roland, grandson of the enigmatic lighthouse keeper. The family gets caught up in an aura of secrecy that involves a shipwreck, drownings, strange dreams, old debts, and animated garden statues. Spanish novelist Carlos Ruiz Zafon's story (Little, Brown, 2010) is slow to take off, but once it does, there's plenty of adventure, suspense, and mystery along with a touch of romance that entwines with the creepy, malevolent forces at play. At times, the dramatic orchestration and sound effects overpower Jonathan Davis's well-done narration. Still, young adults will enjoy this audiobook.-Patricia McClune, Conestoga Valley High School, Lancaster, PA

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 12, 2010
Originally published in 1993, Ruiz Zafón’s (The Shadow of the Wind
) first novel, unavailable in English in the U.S. until now, is a melancholy horror tale that explores the implications parents’ choices can have for their children. During WWII, Max and Alicia Carver, 13 and 15, move with their family to a coastal Spanish village and meet an older local boy named Roland. As the three spend their time diving and exploring the town, they become aware that an unsettling force is lurking nearby. Visits to Roland’s adoptive grandfather fill in the story of the Prince of Mist, who has been bargaining for souls for decades. As the children learn more about the mysterious figure, they find themselves in greater danger. In gorgeously translated prose, Ruiz Zafón maintains a sweet, believable relationship among the characters when dealing with mundane concerns (a conflict over cleaning out a room full of spiders could be taken from any contemporary family film), but still conveys a sense of adventure and danger. The bittersweet ending suits the theme and setting, offering both hope and tragedy without any pretense of fairness. Ages 12–up.