Description
When a mysterious threat reenters the lives of twins Ben and Sheere, separated as babies and reunited as teenagers in 1930s Calcutta, the siblings must confront an unspeakable terror, with the help of their secret society of fellow orphans.
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Collection
Publication
Little, Brown (2012), Edition: Reprint, 321 pages
Media reviews
There's a lot to like about this novel. It's fast-moving and never hesitates, and it quickly sketches the eight young people who inhabit its pages as quirky and likeable individuals, from the taciturn artist, Michael, to the fiery and intelligent Isobel. It's also a story about stories: tales from
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the past are woven into the narrative in an elegant way, with the whole book framed by the narrative of the last surviving member of the group.
The book is not without its flaws, however, containing some simple contradictions that can be an irritation to the reader: to give an example, one moment we're told that Ben and Sheere are worried when they learn that Jawahal has penetrated their father's secret house, while a few pages later, they settle down to sleep in that house, safe in the knowledge that "if . . . Jawahal had been able to get in, he would have done so already".
Despite this, however, The Midnight Palace is an enjoyable novel, with a wonderfully sinister villain, plucky and resourceful heroes and some visually arresting imagery, most notably in the depiction of the Firebird, a deadly weapon whose fire engulfs a phantom train of murdered orphans. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member tymfos
Those places where sadness and misery abound are favored settings for stories of ghosts and apparitions. Calcutta has countless such stories hidden in its darkness, stories that nobody wants to admit they believe but which, nevertheless, survive in the memory of generations as the only chronicle of
Twins, separated by birth in an effort to hide them from a terrible danger. An architectural landmark, far ahead of its time, sitting charred after its destruction by a terrible catastrophe. A secret weapon, also dangerously ahead of its time, fused with a supernatural power. Calcutta, India, in 1916 and 1932, the year the above-mentioned twins were born and the year they turn 16 and are considered adults. A ghostly train piloted by a specter, carrying the souls of dead children.
What is [The Midnight Palace]? It's YA, historical fiction, horror, a ghost story, a fantasy wrapped in mythology with perhaps a trace of steampunk thrown in. There were some things I didn't like about it, some things that weren't quite consistent. How did the narrator know all that he knew, given the ending of the story? How did one character who provided vital information know what she knew? And, of course, there were aspects that didn't fit my worldview at all. And about 3/4 of the way through, it took a turn I neither expected nor particularly liked.
Yet the quality of the writing, the scope of the vision, and the flow of the story moved me to give it 4 stars.
I listened to the audio version, occasionally enhanced by atmospheric background music composed by the author of the book.
* The "Trilogy of Fog," or at least the first two installments of it, are not really related except for the fact that they are stories of the supernatural, in historical settings, dealing with battles between good and evil. There are not common characters or settings, at least in the first two that I've read. I do plan to read the third, however.
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the past. It is as if the people who inhabit the streets, inspired by some mysterious wisdom, realize that the true history of Calcutta has always been written in the invisible tales of its spirits and unspoken curses. (from The Midnight Palace)Twins, separated by birth in an effort to hide them from a terrible danger. An architectural landmark, far ahead of its time, sitting charred after its destruction by a terrible catastrophe. A secret weapon, also dangerously ahead of its time, fused with a supernatural power. Calcutta, India, in 1916 and 1932, the year the above-mentioned twins were born and the year they turn 16 and are considered adults. A ghostly train piloted by a specter, carrying the souls of dead children.
What is [The Midnight Palace]? It's YA, historical fiction, horror, a ghost story, a fantasy wrapped in mythology with perhaps a trace of steampunk thrown in. There were some things I didn't like about it, some things that weren't quite consistent. How did the narrator know all that he knew, given the ending of the story? How did one character who provided vital information know what she knew? And, of course, there were aspects that didn't fit my worldview at all. And about 3/4 of the way through, it took a turn I neither expected nor particularly liked.
Yet the quality of the writing, the scope of the vision, and the flow of the story moved me to give it 4 stars.
I listened to the audio version, occasionally enhanced by atmospheric background music composed by the author of the book.
* The "Trilogy of Fog," or at least the first two installments of it, are not really related except for the fact that they are stories of the supernatural, in historical settings, dealing with battles between good and evil. There are not common characters or settings, at least in the first two that I've read. I do plan to read the third, however.
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LibraryThing member lawral
If you are a fan of Carlos Ruiz Zafón's adult novels (which I am, go read Shadow of the Wind right now!), this may not be the book for you. It lacks some of the magic of his adult work. However, if you are the kind of reader who likes to see the evolution of a writer's work as he hones his skill
The Midnight Palace is not the kind of book I usually read. It's an action/horror/paranormal-type hybrid that leans toward the scary/creepy end of things, and it is not at all character-driven. No one really grows or changes because of what happens. It has both a prologue (not my fave) and a where-are-they-now epilogue (one of my pet peeves). And yet, I really enjoyed reading it. While I was reading, I was scared and jumpy right along with the rest of Ben's gang. I was concerned for everyone's safety because they were so concerned for each other. I was nodding along with Sheere when she longed to be part of a group like theirs. It looked like fun (until it looked like a house of horrors), and I wish CRZ had let me, the reader, a bit more into the group. I never felt like I got to know any of the characters, Ben and Sheere included. Frankly, almost as soon as I finished reading, they were gone from my mind. What they went through and what they did, though, that stayed with me.
Looking back, there were holes and a few things that could have used an explanation, but I didn't notice at the time. I was too caught up in the bowels of a burnt-out train station with the rest of the gang. There was plenty going on to keep my attention. In addition to the ghost train there is a pool of blood that never dries, a grandma who operates strictly on a need-to-know basis and fails to realize that Ben and Sheere Need to Know it all, court records in vast archives, an architect's dream house, and a guy whose hand burst into flame on a disturbingly regular basis. The action is quick, the consequences are severe, and the reasons behind it all are shrouded in mystery.
In short this is a quick, fun read. It's certainly not light and fluffy summer reading, but it's the dark and stormy night equivalent.
Book source: ARC provided by the publisher.
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(guilty again), this is most definitely the book for you. Written before his adult works but translated into English later, The Midnight Palace shows the beginning of CRZ's talent for layering stories, juggling a large cast of characters (though none are very well rounded in this one), and placing the unbelievable in the middle of a believable place and time. Unfortunately, his ability to turn a place into a character in its own right is not on display here, which is a shame because Calcutta would have been a good one. Here, it is incidental rather than integral to the story. If you're not already a fan or CRZ, really, go read Shadow of the Wind. Also, the rest of this review is for you.The Midnight Palace is not the kind of book I usually read. It's an action/horror/paranormal-type hybrid that leans toward the scary/creepy end of things, and it is not at all character-driven. No one really grows or changes because of what happens. It has both a prologue (not my fave) and a where-are-they-now epilogue (one of my pet peeves). And yet, I really enjoyed reading it. While I was reading, I was scared and jumpy right along with the rest of Ben's gang. I was concerned for everyone's safety because they were so concerned for each other. I was nodding along with Sheere when she longed to be part of a group like theirs. It looked like fun (until it looked like a house of horrors), and I wish CRZ had let me, the reader, a bit more into the group. I never felt like I got to know any of the characters, Ben and Sheere included. Frankly, almost as soon as I finished reading, they were gone from my mind. What they went through and what they did, though, that stayed with me.
Looking back, there were holes and a few things that could have used an explanation, but I didn't notice at the time. I was too caught up in the bowels of a burnt-out train station with the rest of the gang. There was plenty going on to keep my attention. In addition to the ghost train there is a pool of blood that never dries, a grandma who operates strictly on a need-to-know basis and fails to realize that Ben and Sheere Need to Know it all, court records in vast archives, an architect's dream house, and a guy whose hand burst into flame on a disturbingly regular basis. The action is quick, the consequences are severe, and the reasons behind it all are shrouded in mystery.
In short this is a quick, fun read. It's certainly not light and fluffy summer reading, but it's the dark and stormy night equivalent.
Book source: ARC provided by the publisher.
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LibraryThing member lilibrarian
In Calcutta in the 1930's, a man fights to save newborn twins from a monster. The twins are separated and hidden, but when they turn 16, they are found. Ben knows nothing of his family history, having been raised in an orphanage, but he and his best friends are determined to solve his family's
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mystery and save himself and his sister. Show Less
LibraryThing member edenjean
Review WIP
Despite it's intriguing plot and unique setting, "The Midnight Palace" is a poorly written novel with no redeeming qualities.
Calcutta in the early Twentieth century, the novel follows the lives of a group of teenage orphans, two of which are twins separated at birth and pursued by a
The dialogue is stuffy and unnatural, the descriptions are forced and dull, and the timeline is confusing. Jawahal, the villain, instead of being interesting in his mysteriousness, is actually quite vague and cliche. I suspect the author intended to leave the reading wanting more information about the villain, making the reader want to continue the book, but instead it simply leaves gaping plot holes and undeveloped characters.
Despite it's intriguing plot and unique setting, "The Midnight Palace" is a poorly written novel with no redeeming qualities.
Calcutta in the early Twentieth century, the novel follows the lives of a group of teenage orphans, two of which are twins separated at birth and pursued by a
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mysterious killer. Ben and Sheere were born to "The Princess of Light," their mother who died, without explanation, at the time of their birth. The twins' father was a world-famous engineer who died in an inexplicable accident during the unveiling of his famous new train system for Calcutta, even before the children were born. The boy, Ben, was raised in a Calcutta orphanage by Thomas Cutter, while his sister Sheere was raised by her grandmother as they traveled around the country trying to evade the aforementioned mysterious killer. The night before the twins' sixteenth birthday they meet for the first time, and the killer, Jawahal, returns to take their lives. The dialogue is stuffy and unnatural, the descriptions are forced and dull, and the timeline is confusing. Jawahal, the villain, instead of being interesting in his mysteriousness, is actually quite vague and cliche. I suspect the author intended to leave the reading wanting more information about the villain, making the reader want to continue the book, but instead it simply leaves gaping plot holes and undeveloped characters.
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LibraryThing member mamzel
Orphans raised in the St. Patrick's Orphanage in Calcutta plan a party to celebrate their sixteenth "birthdays", the anniversary of their arrival at the orphanage and the eve of their release back to the streets. Strange events unfold, however, around one of them, Ben, who is stalked by a faceless
I loved the setting, the sense of growing danger, the references to British rule and the atrocities thereof. The teens raised in the orphanage by a European and given a heady European education, have talents and abilities that make it hard to remember that these are Indian children rescued from the dredges of Calcutta's slums.
The language of this book is outstanding, far above the dross that has flooded YA literature of late. It is a treat. I only hope that teens will find and appreciate this book.
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menace waiting for him outside. An old woman shows up with another 16-year old girl demanding to speak to the director of the orphanage. The group invites Sheere to join their party and membership in their secret group called the Chowbar Society.I loved the setting, the sense of growing danger, the references to British rule and the atrocities thereof. The teens raised in the orphanage by a European and given a heady European education, have talents and abilities that make it hard to remember that these are Indian children rescued from the dredges of Calcutta's slums.
The language of this book is outstanding, far above the dross that has flooded YA literature of late. It is a treat. I only hope that teens will find and appreciate this book.
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LibraryThing member Breathwork
Very nice tale. Also very typical of this author and the good quality of the translation. I highly recommend this book as another ripping yarn from the pen of Mr Zafon!
LibraryThing member LemurKat
Eloquently written, a dark novel with horror overtones. Ruiz Zafon writes lyrically, with beautiful descriptions and a dark and quite gritty feel. This was a better story than the "Prince of Mists" but still left me feeling somewhat unsettled and unfulfilled.
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Ben and Sheere are twins that were split up at birth to keep them safe. Sheere has lived with her grandmother for 16 years and Ben has resided at St. Patrick's an orphanage. Ben and his friends have created a secret society called the Chowbar Society and on the eve of the society's disbandment,
This was a great book. If I hadn't been so busy I would have finished it much sooner then I did. The story is narrated by Ian, one of the society years and years down the road. The society members are all wonderful although some stand out more then others. There are ghosts and horrors here but they don't over take the adventure part of the story. I also didn't see the ending coming from a mile away. It's a sad but wonderful twist for the reader.
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Sheere comes into their lives and the society must pull together one last time to help Ben and Sheere survive the demons of their past. This was a great book. If I hadn't been so busy I would have finished it much sooner then I did. The story is narrated by Ian, one of the society years and years down the road. The society members are all wonderful although some stand out more then others. There are ghosts and horrors here but they don't over take the adventure part of the story. I also didn't see the ending coming from a mile away. It's a sad but wonderful twist for the reader.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Ben and Sheere are twins that were split up at birth to keep them safe. Sheere has lived with her grandmother for 16 years and Ben has resided at St. Patrick's an orphanage. Ben and his friends have created a secret society called the Chowbar Society and on the eve of the society's disbandment,
This was a great book. If I hadn't been so busy I would have finished it much sooner then I did. The story is narrated by Ian, one of the society years and years down the road. The society members are all wonderful although some stand out more then others. There are ghosts and horrors here but they don't over take the adventure part of the story. I also didn't see the ending coming from a mile away. It's a sad but wonderful twist for the reader.
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Sheere comes into their lives and the society must pull together one last time to help Ben and Sheere survive the demons of their past. This was a great book. If I hadn't been so busy I would have finished it much sooner then I did. The story is narrated by Ian, one of the society years and years down the road. The society members are all wonderful although some stand out more then others. There are ghosts and horrors here but they don't over take the adventure part of the story. I also didn't see the ending coming from a mile away. It's a sad but wonderful twist for the reader.
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LibraryThing member 68papyrus
The Midnight Palace is the second book in the Trilogy of Fog series. I read the Prince of Mist as well and enjoyed it but thought this second book was better. Both books are excellently written and hold your interest but The Midnight Palace provides more fleshed out characters and depth. This book
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tells the story of twin orphans who are separated to protect them from an evil entity that is in pursuit of them. Zafon does a wonderful job of keeping the suspense ratcheted up and keeping the reader engaged. There is also a plot twist midway through that I didn't see coming at all. Great read! I recommend this to those who enjoy paranormal fiction or historical fictions. 4 stars! Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Ben and Sheere are twins that were split up at birth to keep them safe. Sheere has lived with her grandmother for 16 years and Ben has resided at St. Patrick's an orphanage. Ben and his friends have created a secret society called the Chowbar Society and on the eve of the society's disbandment,
This was a great book. If I hadn't been so busy I would have finished it much sooner then I did. The story is narrated by Ian, one of the society years and years down the road. The society members are all wonderful although some stand out more then others. There are ghosts and horrors here but they don't over take the adventure part of the story. I also didn't see the ending coming from a mile away. It's a sad but wonderful twist for the reader.
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Sheere comes into their lives and the society must pull together one last time to help Ben and Sheere survive the demons of their past. This was a great book. If I hadn't been so busy I would have finished it much sooner then I did. The story is narrated by Ian, one of the society years and years down the road. The society members are all wonderful although some stand out more then others. There are ghosts and horrors here but they don't over take the adventure part of the story. I also didn't see the ending coming from a mile away. It's a sad but wonderful twist for the reader.
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LibraryThing member lillibrary
A secret society of orphans, twins terrorized and hidden at birth from a demon, a mysterious house and a burning train with children aboard--should have been a creepy read but was instead slow and unsuspenseful. While "The Prince of Mists" was haunting and sad, this book doesn't succeed in evoking
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that same atmosphere and tension. Show Less
LibraryThing member Lschwarzman
Beautifully written. I believe some credit must go to Lucia Graves as well; some of the beauty of the translation has to be hers as well.
LibraryThing member Booklady123
FTC Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in the hopes that I would provide a review. I did not receive any compensation for my review.
Product Description from Amazon
In the heart of Calcutta lurks a dark mystery....
Set in Calcutta in the 1930s, The Midnight Palace begins on
Years later, on the eve of Ben and Sheere's sixteenth birthday, the mysterious threat reenters their lives. This time, it may be impossible to escape. With the help of their brave friends, the twins will have to take a stand against the terror that watches them in the shadows of the night--and face the most frightening creature in the history of the City of Palaces.
This book did not have the passion and exciting pace that I normally find in young adult books. I've seen it listed in a few places as part of the series with The Prince of Mist. That might explain why I often felt as though I was missing a great deal of the story. This book just didn't interest me. I had to force myself to finish and based on the reading habits of the teens that I provide Reader's Advisory for - I'm afraid they would feel the same way.
Some of the "story telling" by characters was just too long. The author seemed to have spent more time just throwing in details without truly connecting them to the story. The characters felt underdeveloped as well. It was difficult to make a connection with the characters in order to care about what happened to them.
I had considered reading The Prince of Mist in hopes that it would help me understand this story better. However, my to read list is too long to add a book when it is questionable that it would be enjoyable to me or my patrons.
Product Description from Amazon
In the heart of Calcutta lurks a dark mystery....
Set in Calcutta in the 1930s, The Midnight Palace begins on
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a dark night when an English lieutenant fights to save newborn twins Ben and Sheere from an unthinkable threat. Despite monsoon-force rains and terrible danger lurking around every street corner, the young lieutenant manages to get them to safety, but not without losing his own life. . . .Years later, on the eve of Ben and Sheere's sixteenth birthday, the mysterious threat reenters their lives. This time, it may be impossible to escape. With the help of their brave friends, the twins will have to take a stand against the terror that watches them in the shadows of the night--and face the most frightening creature in the history of the City of Palaces.
This book did not have the passion and exciting pace that I normally find in young adult books. I've seen it listed in a few places as part of the series with The Prince of Mist. That might explain why I often felt as though I was missing a great deal of the story. This book just didn't interest me. I had to force myself to finish and based on the reading habits of the teens that I provide Reader's Advisory for - I'm afraid they would feel the same way.
Some of the "story telling" by characters was just too long. The author seemed to have spent more time just throwing in details without truly connecting them to the story. The characters felt underdeveloped as well. It was difficult to make a connection with the characters in order to care about what happened to them.
I had considered reading The Prince of Mist in hopes that it would help me understand this story better. However, my to read list is too long to add a book when it is questionable that it would be enjoyable to me or my patrons.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Ben and Sheere are twins that were split up at birth to keep them safe. Sheere has lived with her grandmother for 16 years and Ben has resided at St. Patrick's an orphanage. Ben and his friends have created a secret society called the Chowbar Society and on the eve of the society's disbandment,
This was a great book. If I hadn't been so busy I would have finished it much sooner then I did. The story is narrated by Ian, one of the society years and years down the road. The society members are all wonderful although some stand out more then others. There are ghosts and horrors here but they don't over take the adventure part of the story. I also didn't see the ending coming from a mile away. It's a sad but wonderful twist for the reader.
Show More
Sheere comes into their lives and the society must pull together one last time to help Ben and Sheere survive the demons of their past. This was a great book. If I hadn't been so busy I would have finished it much sooner then I did. The story is narrated by Ian, one of the society years and years down the road. The society members are all wonderful although some stand out more then others. There are ghosts and horrors here but they don't over take the adventure part of the story. I also didn't see the ending coming from a mile away. It's a sad but wonderful twist for the reader.
Show Less
LibraryThing member TheLostEntwife
Carlos Ruiz Zafon is one of my favorite authors for a reason - he knows how to start a story out, how to give it "flavor". The beginning of The Midnight Palace has a deadly chase, a set of babies crying and the backdrop of Calcutta in the early 1900's. Mix in rain, a good dose of mystery and a
Sheere and Ben are twins, but they do not know of one another due to an incredible tragedy in their background. Both are raised in different styles, Ben in an orphanage and Sheere as a sort of gypsy, but their worlds collide on their 16th birthdays.
Something that Zafon does so well is create gothic settings and they were in abundance in The Midnight Palace. From the house Sheere has been searching for to the old train station, I never stopped feeling as if I needed to look over my shoulder. This isn't sweet romance-y paranormal young adult fiction, this is a bit edgy, ghost-horror stuff. And it's thrilling.
While I didn't enjoy The Midnight Palace(Niebla #2) as much as I did The Prince of Mist (Niebla #1), I did enjoy it and found it difficult to put down - even at night when every little sound had me looking around the room. My only regret is that I'm unable to read the books in the language they were originally written. That said though - the translation is magnificent, as all of Zafon's books are, and there is more than one phrase that had me reading and re-reading it, enjoying the beauty of the writing.
Though this is an older book in its original language, it's fresh and something new to read in the YA genre and I welcome it.
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smattering of horror and you have a perfect beginning to a book.Sheere and Ben are twins, but they do not know of one another due to an incredible tragedy in their background. Both are raised in different styles, Ben in an orphanage and Sheere as a sort of gypsy, but their worlds collide on their 16th birthdays.
Something that Zafon does so well is create gothic settings and they were in abundance in The Midnight Palace. From the house Sheere has been searching for to the old train station, I never stopped feeling as if I needed to look over my shoulder. This isn't sweet romance-y paranormal young adult fiction, this is a bit edgy, ghost-horror stuff. And it's thrilling.
While I didn't enjoy The Midnight Palace(Niebla #2) as much as I did The Prince of Mist (Niebla #1), I did enjoy it and found it difficult to put down - even at night when every little sound had me looking around the room. My only regret is that I'm unable to read the books in the language they were originally written. That said though - the translation is magnificent, as all of Zafon's books are, and there is more than one phrase that had me reading and re-reading it, enjoying the beauty of the writing.
Though this is an older book in its original language, it's fresh and something new to read in the YA genre and I welcome it.
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LibraryThing member LarissaBookGirl
For the past few years the Midnight Palace has been home to the secret club of the Chowbar Society, a select group of people who live by two hard and fast rules. The first is to share all knowledge they possess, learn and come by. The second is to protect each member of the group with their lives.
Growing up as orphans in 1930's Calcutta, the seven members of the Chowbar Society all believed themselves to be children with no past and therefore the future was free and open. However one of these members was about to discover not only a dark past filled with lies, murder and the family he never new existed, but there was still the threat of danger alive today from a man long dead out to kill again.
The Midnight Palace is a tale of friendship, family and demons from the past. While the ghost of those long dead return, restless and seeking out the living for their own haunted purposes, it is the living that will have to sacrifice one of their own for a chance at peace. A dark and tragic tale of friendship, loss and love written as only Carlos Ruiz Zafon can produce.
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Now at sixteen years of age and legally adults, the members of this group are meeting up for the last time.Growing up as orphans in 1930's Calcutta, the seven members of the Chowbar Society all believed themselves to be children with no past and therefore the future was free and open. However one of these members was about to discover not only a dark past filled with lies, murder and the family he never new existed, but there was still the threat of danger alive today from a man long dead out to kill again.
The Midnight Palace is a tale of friendship, family and demons from the past. While the ghost of those long dead return, restless and seeking out the living for their own haunted purposes, it is the living that will have to sacrifice one of their own for a chance at peace. A dark and tragic tale of friendship, loss and love written as only Carlos Ruiz Zafon can produce.
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Awards
USBBY Outstanding International Book (Grades 9-12 — 2012)
Original language
English
Original publication date
1994 (Spanish)
2011 (English translation)