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The Prince of Mist  By  cover art

The Prince of Mist

By: Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
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Editorial reviews

Carlos Ruiz Zafon is an award-winning Spanish novelist, not particularly known for young adult fiction, and until recently, not widely read in English. That's about to change, thanks to a wonderfully faithful translation by his frequent translating partner, Lucia Graves. The Prince of Mist, Zafon’s timeless first book, originally published in 1993, has finally been given the attention it deserves. Complimenting this elegant work of mystery is the voice work of Jonathan Davis, who has over 150 audiobooks to his credit, and the production work of Michele McGonigle, who contributed a wonderful array of sound effects in addition to a seven-minute interview with the author at the end of the audiobook.

Everything about this story is on the checklist for young adult genre cliché, but between the author's graceful Spanish flair, the narrator's lively telling, and the producer's spot-on background sounds, the entire thing manages to delight where similar books have been doomed. You've got a brother and sister who are coming of age, forced to move to a sleepy seaside town by the war encroaching upon their city, and the charming local boy next door who befriends them. You've got the tragic death of a young boy who once lived in the house, the father who fixes clocks, the reclusive grandfather harboring a secret, the eerily vigilant stray cat, the creepy clown, the mythic traveling magician, and rumors of a deal made with the devil. Don't forget to throw in an overgrown garden where the statues seem to move, some terrifying old home movie projector interruptions, and an abandoned shipwreck inhabited by a fearsome sea monster.

Taken together, these conventional bits are a recipe for surprising success as Davis gives real spirit and charm to the teens menaced by this mystery. When The Prince of Mist finally makes his grand entrance, his grizzled taunts are some of Davis' best work. Through the book, there is a gentle undercurrent of sounds that give the story a wonderfully cinematic feel. From moving trains to stormy seas, and meowing cats to screaming girls, the effects really kick the adrenaline up a notch. In addition, the opening and closing music is written and performed by the author himself, a very fitting dirge of piano and violin that perfectly conveys the mood of his story. What should be a light and cheesy mystery for kids is, in the end, somehow actually quite a magical piece of audio that will satisfy grown-ups as well. Megan Volpert

Publisher's summary

It's war time, and the Carver family decides to leave the capital where they live and move to a small coastal village where they've recently bought a home. But from the minute they cross the threshold, strange things begin to happen. In that mysterious house still lurks the spirit of Jacob, the previous owners' son, who died by drowning.

With the help of their new friend Roland, Max and Alicia Carver begin to explore the strange circumstances of that death and discover the existence of a mysterious being called the Prince of Mist - a diabolical character who has returned from the shadows to collect on a debt from the past. Soon the three friends find themselves caught up in an adventure of sunken ships and an enchanted stone garden - an adventure that will change their lives forever.

©2010 Carlos Ruiz Zafon (P)2010 Hachette

What listeners say about The Prince of Mist

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  • Overall
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    2 out of 5 stars

starts off great

but just when the story reaches its pinacle it just drops off at the end. disappointing after reading The Shadow of the Wind but you can see the elements that Zafon expirements with to build up his Cemetery of Forgotten Books series.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Most enjoyable

Have read all of Carlos's other books. This is the 1st Audio book. Enjoyable although I didn't know the content is for the teenage reader.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Felt real

What did you love best about The Prince of Mist?

The presentation was great. The sounds of the storms and sea were a very nice touch. It made the story have an entirely new dimension. The narrator and sounds made the story feel real and sucked you in.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Really for teens but good!

I enjoyed this book though I was surprised as I got into it that it's really for teens. I will let my teen son listen. No bad language. No real violence. Reads like a teen novel as far as action and character development. I really enjoyed it though. Reminds me of Something Wicked this Way comes - sort of eerie carnival type story with ghosts etc. Fun listen and great narrator.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Prince of Mist Strains Credulity

Would you try another book from Carlos Ruiz Zafon and/or Jonathan Davis?

Yes, both the author and the narrator are excellent.

What could Carlos Ruiz Zafon have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Maybe it's just me, but I like a story that's believable. This one was just too "out there" for me, especially when the ship supposedly rose out of the ocean - come on!!! That was like the straw that broke the camel's back!

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Davis’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I listened to "Shadow of the Wind" and loved his performance. As usual, Jonathan delivered a wonderful performance throughout. However, the over the top music was a little bit heavy and kind of weird at times, it took away from the performance to some degree.

Did The Prince of Mist inspire you to do anything?

Yes, it caused me to pay more attention to the reviews. Most of them relayed the same info I referenced earlier (i.e. don't bother listening to this one), but I went ahead and wasted my money on it anyway!

Any additional comments?

I think that other than this particular work, Carlos is an outstanding author and I will try some of his other books. Hopefully they won't be as fantastically over the top and incredulous as this one was.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Epic battle between good and evil!

Acting was superb and the story was fantastic. My only wish is there were more feel good moments before the plot turns...

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Lovely book...and a good narrator!

I love all of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's books, I hope there will be more available soon! Mystical, magical mayhem...I loved everything about this story, absolutely everything.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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A great author paired with fantastic translation

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Carlos Ruiz Zafon is one of my favorite authors. I have read and listened to his books, both are stellar formats since Carlos is a fantastic writer and the translations from Spanish are rich and fluid.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Zafon Will Be Missed

The first book that I read of Mr. Zafon’s was The Shadow of the Wind. I have read the entire “Cemetery of Forgotten Books” series and other of his books.

I am now reading his young adult books, which is the genre where he started. For me, they are every bit as good, starting with this, his first one, The Prince of Mist.

In the end, I will read all of his books, or I should say, listen to them. I would encourage you to do the same.

If, however, you are an adult, I would encourage you to begin with The Shadow of the Wind. You will not be disappointed. I suggested it to my sister recently, and, according to her, she was hooked immediately.

Mr. Zafon was not only a great writer, he was also a fine composer and pianist, who you will hear on some of the audio books such as The Prince of Mist.

Rest In peace, Carlos Ruiz Zafon. You left us much too early at 55. May God bless your loved ones you have left behind, and may you see them again.

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5 people found this helpful