The Labyrinth of the Spirits (original title: El laberinto de los espíritus) is a fiction novel by Spanish author Carlos Ruiz Zafón. This is the fourth and final book in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series.[1][2] The novel was initially released on 17 November 2016 in Spain and Latin America by Planeta Group. HarperCollins published the English translation by Lucia Graves on September 18, 2018.[3][4][5][6][7][8] The book was translated into more than 36 languages.[9]
 First edition (Spanish) | |
| Author | Carlos Ruiz Zafón |
|---|---|
| Original title | El laberinto de los espíritus |
| Translator | Lucia Graves |
| Language | Spanish |
| Series | Cemetery of Forgotten Books |
| Genre | Mystery |
| Publisher | Planeta Group (Spain) Weidenfeld & Nicolson (UK) |
Publication date | November 17, 2016 |
| Publication place | Spain |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 805 pp (Hardcover) |
| ISBN | 9780062668691 Hardcover |
| 863/.64 23 | |
| LC Class | PQ6668.U49 L3313 2017 |
| Preceded by | The Prisoner of Heaven |
Plot
editDaniel Sempere and Fermín Romero de Torres again appear in the novel set in the Barcelona of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Daniel, overwhelmed by rage and need to avenge the death of his mother, Isabella, will discover a network of crimes and violations of Francoist Spain, and a new protagonist, Alicia Gris, will help him solve the mysteries. The main plot centers on the mysterious disappearance of the minister of culture, Mauricio Valls (introduced in the previous novel, The Prisoner of Heaven), in November 1959. Alicia, a detective for the Spanish secret police, investigates this case together with her partner Juan Manuel Vargas. Their detective work leads them from Madrid to Barcelona, where they discover long-forgotten secrets with the help of the Semperes and Fermin. The novel is arranged into alternate chronologies labeled after liturgical prayers and the Catholic requiem mass: Dies Irae, Kyrie, Agnus Dei, Libera Me, and In Paradisum.[10]
Reception
editThe Labyrinth of Spirits received positive reviews from critics, with many calling it a satisfying conclusion to the Cemetery of Forgotten books series.[11][12][13] According to Book Marks, the book received "rave" reviews based on six critic reviews, with three being "rave" and three being "positive".[14] On Bookmarks Magazine Nov/Dec 2015 issue, a magazine that aggregates critic reviews of books, the book received a 
(4.0 out of 5) based on critic reviews with a critical summary saying, "Zafón brings the reader full circle in this magical novel, completing the story he began with The Shadow of the Wind and
creating “a satisfying conclusion to a grand epic” (Kirkus)".[15]
The Guardian's reviewer wrote that "the final part of Zafón’s historical Spanish quartet The Cemetery of Forgotten Books is a giant, genre-crossing delight." Publishers Weekly called it a" gripping and moving thriller," adding that "fans of complex and literate mysteries featuring detectives with integrity working under oppressive and corrupt regimes will be well satisfied." The Irish Times opined that "this is a novel to lose oneself in, and it promotes the sort of reading experience we remember from childhood – of complete absorption into a fantasy world – but rarely attain in later life."[16]
References
edit- ^ Cowdrey, Katherine (September 22, 2016). "W&N signs 'epic' finale to Cemetery of Forgotten Books series". thebookseller.com. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ El Laberinto de los Espíritus (in Spanish). planetadelibros.com. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ "The new novel Ruiz Zafon appear on November 17". archyworldys.com. August 29, 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ "CARLOS RUIZ ZAFON: How to "Play" a Novel. An Insight into his Books and Mus..." eventbrite.com. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ "La nueva novela de Ruiz Zafón, 'El laberinto de los espíritus', verá la luz el 17 de noviembre" (in Spanish). 20minutos.es. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ ""El laberinto de los espíritus", de Ruiz Zafón, saldrá el 17 de noviembre" (in Spanish). efe.com. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ "Cuatro pistas para entender por qué Ruiz Zafón es una máquina de best sellers" (in Spanish). eldiario.es. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ "The Labyrinth of Spirits". Harper Collins. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ "Zafón, en su nuevo laberinto barcelonés". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 2016-11-13. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
- ^ "The Labyrinth of Spirits by Carlos Ruiz Zafón". World Literature Today. 2019. Retrieved Dec 31, 2021.
- ^ Lawson, Mark (14 Sep 2018). "The Labyrinth of the Spirits by Carlos Ruiz Zafón review – a colossal achievement". The Guardian.
- ^ "The Labyrinth of the Spirits". Publishers Weekly. Sep 2018.
- ^ Hewitt, Sean (29 Sep 2018). "The Labyrinth of Spirits by Carlos Ruiz Zafón: a novel to lose oneself in". The Irish Times.
- ^ "The Labyrinth of the Spirits". Book Marks. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ "The Labyrinth of Spirits" (PDF). Bookmarks Magazine. p. 4. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "It's natural to worry about our children. But are we damaging them by keeping them too safe?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
 | This article about a speculative fiction novel of the 2010s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. See guidelines for writing about novels. Further suggestions might be found on the article's talk page. |