Thank you Netgalley, author, and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this e-arc.

Thank you to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Now available.

If you are a Carlos Ruiz Zafon fan or a fan of Gothic literature, then City of Mist will be a hit. Rooted in 1940s Spain, this collection of stories was published posthumously and bears Zafon's tender, romantic Gothic style. I enjoyed these tales!

Zafon's work continues to be magical. Heartwarming, touching, and dripping in atmosphere, this compendium of short stories will delight any fan.

"The City of Mist -- Stories"
By: Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Amazing, Moody, Mysterious Stories of Mid-Century Barcelona

For readers who are unfamiliar with master storyteller, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, his posthumous collection of short stories set in mid-century Barcelona is a perfect starting point to learn about his unparalleled gift for creating atmospheric tension and drama; unforgettable characters--both human and inanimate; lush, descriptive settings, and page-turning action and dialogue.

These stories familiarize the reader with Zafon's most brilliant and beautiful longer works, beginning with. "The Shadow of the Wind," that explores, among other things, The Library of Forgotten Books.

Zafon's genius will be missed. His books are among my all time favorites. Read these, and I'm sure Zafon will be among your new favorite authors as well.

.The Book Maven’s Journal—Reviews for Word Connoisseurs

REVIEWER: J.Hunt
STAR RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


"The City of Mist""
Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Genre: | Mysteries & Thrillers | Historical Fiction
Publication Date: 23 November 2021

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EXTRA REVIEW-- "The Shadow of the Wind"

"The Shadow of the Wind – The Cemetery of Forgotten Books #1”
By: Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Deftly plotted as a Greek or Shakespearean tragedy, this is an evocatively ethereal Neo-Gothic mystery within mysteries where parallel lives and destinies become hauntingly intertwined.

It is shrouded in secrets, deception and atmospheric locales, all beginning at the Cemetery of Forgotten Books when a 10-year-old boy rescues a novel hidden since the time of his birth—"The Shadow of the Wind"—a discovery that will set his life, and the lives of many others, on an terrifying trajectory into the future.

“…it is about books, about a man who wrote them, about a character who broke out of the pages of a novel so that he could burn it, about betrayal and lost friendship. It’s a story of love, of hatred, and of the dreams that live in the shadow of the wind.”

Zafón’s prose is quote-worthy, dialogue sharp and imagery vivid and poetic: “…the white marble was scored with black tears of dampness that looked like blood dripping out of the clefts left by the engraver’s chisel.” (Nuria Monfort: Remembrance of the Lost 1933-1955, Ch. 10, p. 418)

"The Shadow of the Wind" was the first Zafón novel that I read and was totally enthralled. Afterwards, I found and savored them all—exploring and reveling in Zafón’s distinct literary genius.

"The Shadow of the Wind" will always have a place in my heart as one of my all-time favorite books because it has it all: pathos, humor, philosophy, love, treachery and redemption. It stirs the soul.
If you enjoy masterful writing while being engrossed in a compelling story, you won’t be disappointed. This fast-paced novel will have you hooked from the first page to the last.

The mysteries will compel you to read quickly, and you’ll definitely be tempted. However, try to pace yourself and enjoy the artistry of Zafón’s words—so many phrases and passages should be lingered-over and savored. One of hard copies is well thumbed and densely lined, as I am so profoundly in awe of the wisdom, wit and beauty of the prose.

Hemingway said that, "Paris is a Movable Feast.” I say that "The Shadow of The Wind" is one also because I can carry the book with me and re-read it over and over again in it lushness.

Thankfully, I have a copy of this novel that has not been burned and destroyed, therefore depriving me of this uniquely introspective, cathartic and refreshing experience. Dig in. What a gourmet extravaganza of the senses you’re about to experience!

For now, my volume goes back on its shelf awaiting a future visit to mid-century Barcelona and the characters of "The Shadow of the Wind."

Then soon, once again, I will have travelled the Ramblas when "the dusk fell almost surreptitiously, with a cold breeze and a mantle of purple light that slid between gaps in the street.” (The City of Shadows 1954, Ch. 21, p. 174)

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The Book Maven’s Journal—Reviews for Word Connoisseurs

REVIEWER: J.Hunt
STAR RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


"The Shadow of the Wind"
Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Genre: | Mysteries & Thrillers | Historical Fiction
Publication Date: 2005

I love many of Zafon's work especially "The Cemetery of Forgotten Books" series and "Marina." These short stories are wonderful samples of Zafon's brilliant storytelling and all are definitely standalones so you wouldn't feel like you need to read his previous books. While reading these stories I was immediately transported back to Zafon's historical Barcelona, with my favorite being "Blanca and the Departure" especially since "The Angel's Game" was my favorite in "The Cemetery of Forgotten Books" series. Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

3.5/5

I’m still confused about my feelings for Zafón. I wasn’t fair to The Shadow of the Wind and I really loved The Prisoner of Heaven, and now here I am having finished his short story collection, The City of Mist, and I’m still confused. I can’t tell if it’s genius or mediocre. I found some stories were great and some that were just a waste of time. I won’t tell you which because I don’t want to influence you in any way because, just like all fiction, these stories are meant to be ingested (metaphorically speaking - please don’t actually eat the book) and digested (again, metaphorically) and absorbed uniquely among readers. In the end it was barely above middling for me, like a good, slightly overdone piece of steak.

Like deleted scenes from the cutting room floor. This is a treasure for anyone mourning the loss of Zafon's writing.

I absolutely loved these moody, misty stories. So haunting and atmospheric, Carlos Ruiz Zafon is quickly becoming a favorite of mine (RIP). After reading this I am going to dive into his backlist!

Loved the mysterious writing. The books was a bit heavy for me. The plot isn't simple and requires time and patience. But it felt it was all worth it towards the end.

The city of mist isn't one of those usual fiction. It is well written and has a complex plot. Give it time to enjoy it completely

The Shadow of the Wind is one of my favorite books of all time, and I really enjoyed the other titles in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series. When Zafón passed away last year, I didn't expect to read any new stories by this beloved writer, and I was delighted to slip into these atmospheric stories once again!

This is a collection of stories is great, especially for readers who have read his other novels. Some of the stories connect with other books, and some are standalones. I don't generally read short stories, and I didn't love each of them, but many of them I did.

For those of us who are Carlos Ruiz Zafon fans, this one last book of short stories is a gift. I savored reading these new stories with some familiar characters.

I received a copy of this novel from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Per usual Carlos Ruiz Zafon has mesmerized me and made me fall in love with his work over and over. I have read each one of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books and this one brought me right back into the place that I fell in love with. From the moment I started reading this little jaunt through several stories I knew my heart would be taken away, and I was not let down.

These stories spoke to me in the same way that Shadow of the Wind, Angels Game, and Prisoner of Heaven all spoke to me. My heart bled for the words and my mind was taken away into far off places. I was completely hooked and did not want it to end.

Carlos Ruiz Zafon will be sorley missed by myself and others, and this gave me a last look into the cemetery, one that will stay with me for a very long time.

Highly Recommend

A collection of stories, some short, some longer. Some left me scratching my head and thinking: what was that all about? I haven't read any of Zafón's books (and I now plan to) and I think some of these tales would have made more sense had I read those novels first first. My favorite story was the one about Cervantes and Don Quixote (which I read in college years ago) and Zafón's take on Cervantes' "inspiration" for writing that novel.

Interesting to read this collection of stories published posthumously. As with most short story collections, I enjoyed some more than others. Most seemed dark and mysterious. I loved the author’s Shadow of the Wind and how he took readers to Barcelona. Some of the stories did this as well.

This is a great collection full of little gems. I think I would have appreciated it more if I had already read the Shadow of the Wind series, but nonetheless I can admire Zafon's beautiful writing.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Perennial for an arc in exchange for an honest review. I am eager to read the rest of the series set in this world now.

This book was a wonderful sendoff for Zafon. The return to some of his most beloved characters and the introduction of more beautiful stories, The City of Mist was a treasure to read and a pleasant goodbye to one of the most beautiful writers of our generation. You can feel the love Zafon had for Barcelona and his expertise and creating a visual world from the words on the page—you can feel the sense of walking down gothic corridors, straining to see through the thick mists of Barcelona mornings. • The collection is certainly creepy and will leave you feeling uneasy, but are written in such a way with Zafon’s familiar wit and style that there is some comfort in reading what will possibly be the last of his published works.

The City of Mist is a story collection that Carlos Ruiz Zafon prepared before his death in 2020, and intended for publication after his death. There are eleven stories, most set entirely in the moody, gothic-toned city of Barcelona swept by fog or rain or snow or smoke; any substance to make views less clear.

The stories range from near fable to a fable of Cervantes, one of my favorites, “The Prince of Parnassus.” “Nameless” is has a strong sense of place with evil and malevolence lurking everywhere around the innocent. “Rose of Fire” is a fable on the origin of the labyrinth of books. “Kiss” just a good short story.

Setting is so vital to these stories and wartime damage in Barcelona is a major part of the setting. Characters recall the fighting, recall people lost. It adds to the darn aura as does the gothic architecture.

If you have read any of The Cemetery of Forgotten Books series, I believe you will enjoy these stories. Also, fans of well written, atmospheric short stories with strong, individual characters should add this to their list.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Carlos Ruiz Zafon is a master of beautiful prose, stunning description and can invoke passion and heartache extraordinarily well. The stories were haunting, exotic, and unique. Great read!
Thankyou Netgalley for the ARC, this is my honest review.

I was heartbroken when Carlos Ruiz Zafon passed away last year. While terminally ill, he gathered this collection of short stories to publish after his death as a gift to his readers. I could sense his goodbye and grappling with the end in many of these stories. I started this book with both excitement and a sad hesitation, knowing it would be the last time I'd be reading the work of my favorite author for the first time.

Atmospheric and dark, these stories are stamped with his signature style and further show that he was a master of modern gothic literature. I adored visiting Ruiz Zafon's captivating version of Barcelona again. As with any short story collection I enjoyed some more than others but I always love reading his words.

I strongly suggest starting with the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series and then reading this collection. Many of the characters cross over into these stories and while you don't need that background I feel like The Shadow of the Wind is the best introduction to his work and you will appreciate The City of Mist more after reading his other adult works first.

I’m grateful for this collection as a final opportunity to visit Ruiz Zafon’s world and drink in his words. I couldn’t help but read it as a bittersweet goodbye.

What is the one gift a talented author can give to his dedicated readers… his writing of course. The City of Mist is a collection of short stories intended to be published following Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s death. Sadly, they are now set for publication on November 23, 2021, because those legions of appreciative readers lost Carlos Ruiz Zafon in June of 2020.

“I’m taking with me its memory, for I am bound by the beauty of its streets and indebted to its dark soul, to which I vow I will return to offer my own soul and seek the embrace of its sweetest oblivion.” The City of Mist

Once again, we are in Zafon’s beloved Barcelona, where all the stories take place. However, if you have read any of Zafon’s Cemetery of Forgotten Books series you know it is not simply that he loves Barcelona but utilizes the setting as a key character and you feel the author's almost obsessive all-consuming love for the city. When reading these short stories, you are instantly reminded, as if you could forget, that passion is always the center of his stories either towards another person, creation or protection of books, or Barcelona.

Characters:
As I mentioned above, the largest and most consistent character, the common thread through these stories is Barcelona and passions. When I read these stories, I envisioned everything in sepias and shades of grey. The stories are dark and offer very little light, except the beauty of his turn of phrases. Being a collection of short stories, you spend very little time with the characters, but you feel their anguish, anxiety, and brief moments of hope. We do get to meet along the way famous Spaniards, and you get the sense that Zafon wanted to acknowledge these influential people that came before him. The cumulative darkness of the stories give depth to your brief encounters with the characters.

Overall Impression:
As a lover of The Shadow of the Wind, which I reviewed back in 2016, upon reading the opening sentence I was right back in Zafon’s Barcelona. I mentioned in a recent video, that Zafon was an author that I was “thirsty” for, but I had no idea how parched I have been. Every story read was complete and stood on its own, despite how short they were. The endings made me stop, reflect, and catch my breath before moving to the next. They are perfect to consume one story a day, maybe right before bed. The stories caused me to have strong reactions and want to know more. I say that they were complete but then contradict myself by saying I wanted to know more, which is it? The fact is any of the stories felt like they could have been book proposals for a much longer novel, or the basis for another series. The running themes of “deals with the devil”, creation and protection of books, and moving through the beleaguered history of Barcelona was so familiar. You feel Zafon’s sadness for a city he so adores. The greatest sadness is that in Carlos Ruiz Zafon giving us such a wonderful final gift, he has also reminded us of the stories he still had to tell.