The Prisoner of Heaven (El cementerio de los libros olvidados #3)

Peter Kenny narrated this installment and I thought he did a very good job, I do wish Jonathan Davis would have narrated the entire series but each book has a different narrator and I liked Peter better than I liked Dan Stevens who narrated Angels Game but still not as much as Jonathan Davis. Love how this book ties in all the stories and characters from the previous 2 books it makes me want to go back and re-read the whole series again. I loved this one almost as much as Shadow of the Wind and now with the details in this book I think I would enjoy Angels Game more. It was so nice to be back with these characters as the truth of the past is revealed to Daniel and how that affects his current life. I just love this mans writing he can transport you into a story so fast that it was so hard to let go. There were a couple times I wanted to shake Daniel (when it came to his wife). I enjoyed Fermins story and liked how it unfolded. This one didnt have as much suspense to it just because it pulled in the stories from the first 2 books and it was more ah-ha moments of how everyone & everything fit together. This didnt feel like an ending of this series though so I hope there is another one! Although it was like the end of a chapter I would love more stories from these characters. Also this one seemed to be over quickly and left me wanting more. This is a great series and this was a short but satisfying addition. 4 Stars

While it is the shortest of the \”Cemetary of Forgetten Books\” series, The Prisoner of Heaven weaves the tales of The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel\’s Game seamlessly. When I initially read it, I thought it was the last of the series and was a bit disappointed at the questions that were left unanswered. Then I realized, that it is the third installment of the quartet. While the first two installments stand on their own, the 3rd needs its successor though it ties the first two in such a way that you would never want to read them in isolation without reading the rest of the series. The author insists that the series can be read in any order and The Prisoner of Heaven demonstrates that. Zafon\’s poetic writing returns and brings to light the characters we were so deeply invested in from previous books. However, it should be said that Peter Kenny was not my favorite narrator. Not that he was bad (I gave him 4 stars), but Jonathan Davis was far more animated and really brought Fermin Romero de Torres to life. Can\’t wait for the final installment of this wonderful series.

I was so excited to learn there was a third book in the Sempere & Son saga that I purchased and started listening to \”The Prisoner of Heaven\” as soon as I finished \”The Angel\’s Game\” and \”The Shadow of the Wind.\” Unfortunately, I was immediately disappointed with the publisher\’s choice of narrator. The combination of Peter Kenny\’s rhythm (i.e., hurry, hurry, wait, wait), the breathiness of his voice, the way he fades on the last word in a statement, and his seemingly unnatural pauses mid-sentence all add up to a feeling of whimsy that directly conflicts with the darkness of this gothic novel. Contrary to the narrators of the two previous novels, which were somber, strong, and exceptionally appropriate, this narrator seems to approach this novel as though it were poetry rather than prose. (I can practically \”hear\” a waltz playing to the rhythm of his voice as I listen.) On a positive note, the softness in the narrator\’s voice lends itself well to the youthfulness of Daniel and makes his character even more endearing. I am currently only a short way into the novel (chapter 3). At this point, the narrator is so distracting, I\’m not sure I will even finish the audiobook. I may switch instead to a hardcopy.

I love Zafon\’s writing and his skill in creating a dream-like sense of reality. The Shadow of the Wind was wonderful, with The Angel\’s Game close behind. Both of those books had the strength of being marvelous stories which could each stand on their own. Unfortunately, this is not the case for The Prisoner of Heaven. I have read both of the earlier books, but it\’s been a while, and my less than perfect recollection of the plot intricacies of the first two books definitely detracted from my enjoyment of this one. The story itself is something of an homage to Dumas\’ Count of Monte Cristo, and definitely has its magical moments. However, it lacks much of the mystery and complexity of the earlier two novels. I understand Zafon intends to write one more book for this collection. I certainly plan to read it, hoping that he returns to the form which so entranced me in The Shadow of the Wind.

I have no words… Shadow of the Wind was so great that, I expected nothing else of Prisoner of Heaven… maybe the next one will conclude it… left me wondering…

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