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The Angel's Game

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The Angel's Game

By: Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Narrated by: Dan Stevens
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About this 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 existed - a book with the power to change hearts and minds. In return, he will receive a fortune, perhaps more. But as David begins the work, he realises that there is a connection between this haunting book and the shadows that surround his home.

Set in the turbulent 1920s, The Angel's Game takes us back to the gothic universe of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, the Sempere & Sons bookshop, and the winding streets of Barcelona's old quarter, in a masterful tale about the magic of books and the darkest corners of the human soul.

©2008 Dragonworks, S.L. (P)2009 Orion Publishing Group Ltd Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Horror Magic Magical Realism Mystery Psychological Thriller & Suspense United States World Literature Scary Heartfelt Fantasy

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Most relevant
The author spoke recently on BBC radio about there being 4 interlocking stories planned in the Shadow of the Wind series. Here is the second and it continues the mood of the first: of a rambling and brooding Barcelona peopled by Peakesque characters who are at once both ugly and beautiful, repellent yet beguiling.

The line between reality and the supernatural blurs a little more in this second book that charts a writer's history a couple of decades before the Shadow of the Wind. We meet up with old friends and encounter new heroes and villains.

It is just as powerful as Shadow, if not quite as wonderful, and let's us see further, both into the depths of Zafon's imagined old Barcelona and the duality and complexity of the human spirit. Evil and love swirl in a dance of chance or purposed misfortune and opportunity ? one is never sure.

If you loved Shadow, you must listen t this too. If you haven?t read Shadow, then read that first before coming here but then come straight here.

The pre-shadow

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I loved the Shadow of the Wind book so was interested to see if this was as good and indeed it is, I also liked the narrator, I had actually read The Shadow and found the spanish words and places to be quite confusing, so was delighted to have purchased the Audio version of The Angels Game which made the understanding of the spanish words much easier, can't wait till book 3. Would say to you to get The Shadow first then get this book.

Great book

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Would you consider the audio edition of The Angel's Game to be better than the print version?

I had previously read the print version, but much preferred Dan Steven's rendition

What other book might you compare The Angel's Game to, and why?

The Angels Game is similar to Shadow of the Wind and the Prisoner of Heaven due to a mix of magical realism, fine insights and gothic elements

Have you listened to any of Dan Stevens’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I have also listened to Marina, and they are equally good performances

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book made me sigh with emotion at certain poignant points when I could identify with David's emotions

Any additional comments?

Highly recommended

Zafon and Stevens;the perfect combination

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Admittedly, I list the thread during act 2 and had to rewind a bit, and initially found it harder to go back in time. Loved it nonetheless and it keeps you guessing, and thinking. Many thanks

Still spellbound

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Layered and mysterious, with a wonderful backdrop of 1920/30s Barcelona. You’re pulled along by unfolding events and challenged by the complexity of trying to understand what’s real.

Engrossing and complex

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