A review by jadeinksandreads
Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun by Guillermo del Toro, Cornelia Funke

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Pans Labyrinth takes us on a journey not that dissimilar to the decent of the maze itself. Ofelia and her mother are taken to live in an old mill with Ofelia’s new step father, a war Captain with a penchant for violence. The mill is located in a mysterious forest which seems to beckon the young heroine as soon as she sets foot outside. Armed with a love of fairytales and adventure, Ofelia soon discovers a secret, and is charged with tasks by the faun of the labyrinth. A perilous and gripping tale. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t seen the movie first. But to my delight I found reading this macabre story far exceeded my expectations. All familiarity with the works of Del Torro are sure to be found in the book but married with the excellent writing skills of Funke (Inkheart…). This book pieces together the interconnecting fables which guide young Ofelia through her tasks and the history and tragedy tied to everything around her. It is beautifully sad and a most definite recommend to anyone who enjoys the dark and whimsical works Guillermo Del Torro produces. 
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