Sunday 31 July 2016

The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon


The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Published in 1994. Translated by Lucia Graves.

Featured in Cover Characteristics: Railways and WorldReads: Spain

How I got this book:
Purchased a second-hand copy from Oxfam

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I didn't realise The Midnight Palace was a young adult title when I bought it. I loved Shadow of the Wind and was hoping for more of the same strong writing as I had encountered there. Midnight Palace does not have the beautiful poetic prose of Shadow Of The Wind as is far more concentrated on relaying action and suspense than on extended description. However, it does have good atmosphere with a strong sense of place, and is a gripping adventure story.

Set in 1930s Calcutta, the story follows the mysterious and magical adventures of teenager Ben and his friends as they leave the security of St Patrick's Orphanage where they have grown up. Zafon creates fabulous locations, especially the Palace itself which is actually a formerly fine and now disused railway station. I would recommend this to adults as a light fantasy thriller and a good holiday read.


Search Lit Flits for more:
Books by Carlos Ruiz Zafon / Young adult / Books from Spain

2 comments:

  1. I've actually never heard of this one (though I've read Shadow of the Wind and own the rest of the series). I'd be interested to read this just based on the fact that Zafon wrote it- I tend to read books by authors I've read before. Great review!
    ~Litha Nelle

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Litha!
      I meant to get more of the Shadow Of The Wind series but they're still on my TBR list at the moment

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