After years of anticipation, we rabid fans of The Shadow of the Wind finally get to welcome Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s new novel The Angel’s Game to the world today!
Almost exactly three months ago, I did a major happy dance when our Random House rep scored me an ARC of this fantastic book. I immediately bumped it to the top of the TBR pile, spent four hours reading it in a crowded Chicago airport—smirking to myself when I noticed the woman across from me was reading The Shadow of the Wind—and then……then I never reviewed it.
I know, I know. A little less conversation and a little more action, right?
But I couldn’t help it. It’s just a book that really needs to speak for itself. It’s that good. Here’s how the publisher describes it:
“The whole of Barcelona stretched out at my feet and I wanted to believe that, when I opened those windows, its streets would whisper stories to me, secrets I could capture on paper and narrate to whomever cared to listen . . .”
In an abandoned mansion at the heart of Barcelona, a young man, David Martín, makes his living by writing sensationalist novels under a pseudonym. The survivor of a troubled childhood, he has taken refuge in the world of books and spends his nights spinning baroque tales about the city’s underworld. But perhaps his dark imaginings are not as strange as they seem, for in a locked room deep within the house lie photographs and letters hinting at the mysterious death of the previous owner.Like a slow poison, the history of the place seeps into his bones as he struggles with an impossible love. Close to despair, David receives a letter from a reclusive French editor, Andreas Corelli, who makes him the offer of a lifetime. He is to write a book unlike anything that has ever existed—a book with the power to change hearts and minds. In return, he will receive a fortune, and perhaps more. But as David begins the work, he realizes that there is a connection between his haunting book and the shadows that surround his home.
The Angel’s Game is a deliciously dark gothic tale. Between its pages are romance, intrigue, murder, and yes, another visit to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. The story draws you in from the very first pages and doesn’t let you go until you discover that you’ve been holding your breath for hours and have completely forgotten where you are. When I occasionally looked up from it during my airport reading session, I was always surprised to see the bright lights and modern hustle and bustle around me because The Angel’s Game had me so thoroughly absorbed in the world of old Barcelona.
You do not need to have read The Shadow of the Wind to be able to enjoy The Angel’s Game, which isn’t really a prequel so much as it is a new book placed in an older setting. Some of the landmarks are the same, and a few of the characters appear as their younger selves, and fans of The Shadow of the Wind will be pleased by these occurrences, but The Angel’s Game stands on its own as a phenomenal new novel for long-time fans and newcomers alike.
If you love books and books about books, you don’t want to miss out on The Angel’s Game.
Filed under: Book Reviews | Tagged: Book Reviews, books, carlos ruiz zafon, reading, the angel's game
I really LOVED The Shadow of the Wind and I can’t wait to get to read this book!
Wow, I can’t wait to read this one now.
I enjoyed Shadow of the Wind so I’m looking forward to this one too. Great post.
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I LOVED this one. I’ve heard mixed reviews but I really enjoyed it.
I haven’t read Shadow of the Wind, but thissounds great! It is better to start with this one or Shadow?
Stacy, I don’t think it really makes any difference which order you read them in in terms of understanding the story….but I tend to believe in reading books in the order they were written, so I’d start with Shadow of the Wind.
This has gotten such good reviews. I read a few pages and couldn’t relate so I put it back down. But maybe I should persevere!
I have this in my TBR pile. I hope that I enjoy it as much as you did!
I’m reading Shadow now but I am also reading 5 other books so I have put it aside until I can give it all of my attention. It kills me to do it but I feel that it deserves it.
You’re totally right to put it aside and come back when you can give it your full attention. It’s definitely one of those books.
I really, really like the look of this, but is it necessary/better to read TSOTW first?
Fern, I don’t think it’s necessary to read Shadow of the Wind first, but I do think some things in The Angel’s Game will make more sense to you if you do.
I’m glad to see that you liked it so much! I haven’t read The Shadow of the Wind yet, but both books are on my list to read.
[...] Big Release Day: The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon [...]
Thank you for clearing it up about whether we can read them out of order and still enjoy them. I intended to read whichever I get my hands on first.
I think you’ll be just fine that way, Sandra….if you read them in reverse order, I’ll be really interested to see if it changes your perception/experience.
I have this book on my ARC-alanche pile. How cool is this: I’ve read a review for Shadow and for Angel’s Game in the same day. I can’t think of the last time I read reviews for two diff books by the same author in the same day
I’m looking forward to eventually getting to this one.
IS it that good? I have an ARC too, but didn’t review it… because I never finished it. I got a good ways in but just wasn’t emotionally involved, which disappointed me because the story synopsis had me convinced I would love it. Guess I just wasn’t in the mood… but I’ll give it another shot.
I’ve read some mixed reviews of it, and I think it might just be a taste thing. Zafon’s style really does it for me. If he’s not your cup of tea, you were wise to move on. I think having read The Shadow of the Wind makes this one more appealing, also.
[...] Ruiz Zafon’s new novel The Angel’s Game was released in the U.S. on Tuesday, and I am very excited about it. Have you read [...]
Hello,
I just got finished reading “Tha Angel’s Game” I had already read “The Shawdow of the Wind”(We used for this months book club) was wondering if anyone can help me with the ending???? You can reply I guess to this post, thanks a bunch. My sister in law read it also and we both had different takes.
Shadow of The Wind was great. Angel’s Game was good. I am guilty of having a clear understanding and a true beginning middle and end. I can really use some help:
1. Who is Christina in The Epilogue?
2. Who is the boss and does he exist ?
3. How was David cured or was he never actually sick?
4. Who committe the murders?
5. Did David and Isabella love one another?
Well, Steven, we don’t really get solid answers to those questions, and Zafon intends it that way. These are books where you just have to sit with the ambiguity. If you revisit Shadow of the Wind, I think you’ll get your answers to questions 1 and 5.
Thanks, if I loved Shadow of The Wind do you have other recommendations?
I think The Thirteenth Tale is a good follow-up. It’s a similarly gothic literary story. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova would also be good.