Jamie Davis Writes

This was Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s very first novel! He wrote it in 1992, but it did not get translated into English until 2010. The Author’s Note in the book explains that his first four novels (preceding the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series, containing: The Shadow of the Wind; The Angel’s Game; and The Prisoner of Heaven) are young adult novels, but that he hoped the books would appeal to all ages. This one will, though I would venture to rate it PG-13 for adult situations.

My expectations were high going in because the series of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books are some of the best three books I have ever read in my life! Mr. Zafon as a first time novelist gave a chilling and sad ghost story. The subject involves: A clock that goes backwards; a mysterious shipwreck; an evil magician; a garden of statues that move; and a family with young children who move into an abandoned beach house – one where the previous owner’s son drowned. The character of Cain has elements that share commonalities with the character of Andreas Corelli in The Angel’s Game, although in this tale Cain is called a “magician” versus outright making him the devil incarnate.

In other news, I got an email blast the other day announcing that the fourth book in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series will be translated into English in 2018. The book is titled “The Labyrinth of Spirits.” I marked my calendar. That is the first time I have ever had to do that for a release so far in advance! I do not want to miss that book. Meanwhile, I still have the other three young adult novels he authored to read: The Midnight Palace; Marina; and The Watcher in the Shadows.