Reviews with content warning for Police brutality - The Shadow of the Wind

I think I overhyped this in my head, unfortunately. While it’s still a 4⭐️ primarily because of the feat it is to write so many plot lines and books within books, my enjoyment during it was just *fine.* One thing that kept coming back to irk me were the romantic relationships — I didn’t buy into any of them enough for how much they completely controlled where this story went. I know Daniel started out young in the beginning of the book, but even towards the end, I can’t tell you how many times I rolled my eyes at him. As Isaac Monfort says, Daniel is an idiot for most of this long book.

For all of my complaints, however, I was still impressed by this. I loved the writing style, the discussions on books and what they mean to each person, and the stories within stories within stories. After the first few chapters, I wondered how everything would come together without it feeling almost too fantastical. But it did. And the last ~10% or so when everything came out / came together? I literally gasped at 👀that👀 reveal.

Also — the audiobook is great! There are fun little interludes.

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vilde_a's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

It took a couple of chapters getting into it, but in return, there were several chapters I just had to complete no matter time or place. If you like books about books, you’ll love this!

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bookish_bry's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This book was very good when it was good, but honestly dragged a bit in some places. The story and mystery is great, but there felt like there was a lot of filler. Also, I was often ripped out of the narrative when we were listening to a part of the story from a particular character's perspective and suddenly zoomed out to third person omniscient giving us information that the character we were following could not know. Sometimes that sort of thing works, but it didn't really feel like it worked here. I also wish we'd spent a little more time getting to know Bea. There were also a few annoying loose ends.

Spoiler

Wasn't... Fermín wanted for murder? Clara just disappeared into nothing. even though I expected her to at least have some baring on the plot at some point.

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_qwert's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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kiana_hi's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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desireewoodwhite's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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manish003's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

If beauty was a book instead of a word!

One among the few best books i have read todate. I read this wonderful book containing nearly 600 pages through my practicals and end semester exams for it's enchanting grip too strong to escape. The prose is beautiful. Words of Carlos Ruiz Zafon felt like butter and i felt like a hot knife cutting through it while reading them. I started loving this book even before crossing 20%. Inspired me to research more about the author, sad to know that he died only recently. Will try other books from Cementry of forgotten books series but now i will read some light hearted book next.

This is a book of suspense, thrill and mystery. This is book of love and also heartbreak. It is about hope and optimism while also about living in the past and self hatred, and all other fealings love can inspire. It is not a single love story but multiple. It also has more than one protagonists. It has well sculpted characters each unique in their own way. Most in one way or another has a sad backstory. This book happens in the midst of and the years following the spanish civil war, focussing on state of Barcelona. Really loved the ending. Read it yourself for you may experience the beauty of the book and understand me who is trying in vain at a loss of words to describe its beauty.

"There are worse prisons than words"
- I don't think so

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