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Niebla #3
The Watcher in the Shadows
A magical read by the bestselling author of The Shadow of the Wind.
A mysterious toymaker, Lazarus, lives as a recluse in a crumbling mansion by the sea, surrounded by the mechanical beings he has created. Strange lights seem to shine through the mists that envelop the small island where the old lighthouse stands, and somewhere in the woods nearby lurks a shadowy creature.
When her mother takes a job as a housekeeper for the toymaker, fourteen-year-old Irene meets Hannah and her alluring sailor cousin Ismael, and what seems like a dream summer begins. But Lazarus's house contains dark secrets and before long Irene and Ismael find themselves entwined in the mystery of the September lights.
Carlos Ruiz Zafon was born in Barcelona. He is one of the world's most-read and best-loved writers. His work has been translated into more than forty languages, garnering numerous international prizes and reaching millions of readers. The Watcher in the Shadows is the fifth of his novels to be published in English.
textpublishing.com.au
A mysterious toymaker, Lazarus, lives as a recluse in a crumbling mansion by the sea, surrounded by the mechanical beings he has created. Strange lights seem to shine through the mists that envelop the small island where the old lighthouse stands, and somewhere in the woods nearby lurks a shadowy creature.
When her mother takes a job as a housekeeper for the toymaker, fourteen-year-old Irene meets Hannah and her alluring sailor cousin Ismael, and what seems like a dream summer begins. But Lazarus's house contains dark secrets and before long Irene and Ismael find themselves entwined in the mystery of the September lights.
Carlos Ruiz Zafon was born in Barcelona. He is one of the world's most-read and best-loved writers. His work has been translated into more than forty languages, garnering numerous international prizes and reaching millions of readers. The Watcher in the Shadows is the fifth of his novels to be published in English.
textpublishing.com.au
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1995
568 people are currently reading
14257 people want to read
About the author
Carlos Ruiz Zafón
62 books26.8k followersCarlos Ruiz Zafón was a Spanish novelist known for his 2001 novel La sombra del viento (The Shadow of the Wind). The novel sold 15 million copies and was winner of numerous awards; it was included in the list of the one hundred best books in Spanish in the last twenty-five years, made in 2007 by eighty-one Latin American and Spanish writers and critics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,060 reviews
December 3, 2025
Nada puedo decir sobre esta historia que haga justicia a la hermosa escritura con la que le dio vida Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
A veces me releo alguna de sus novelas para ver si las estoy sobrevalorando, pero cada vez que las termino, todo tipo de emociones me inundan y muy pocos autores son capaces de hacer eso con todas sus obras. La magia que el autor es capaz de brindar a través de las páginas es única en este mundo. Los personajes y los lugares, así como las historias que engloban cada una de sus obras me absorben de un modo que ningún otro autor puede hacer.
Las Luces de Septiembre es probablemente su argumento más imaginativo, tiene todos los elementos de misterio y suspenso clásico; un personaje enigmático, una casa enorme y llena de habitaciones por descubrir donde cualquier cosa puede salir a espantarte, un pueblo chico, una leyenda de fantasmas y una familia queriendo un nuevo comienzo. Puede que no tenga los elementos más originales, pero si los entrega de una forma muy emocional y terrorífica.
Les aseguro que si lo que quieren es tener una novela rápida con elementos sobrenaturales y una escritura incomparable que te enganche, la trilogía de la niebla debería ser su opción número uno. Altamente recomendado.
A veces me releo alguna de sus novelas para ver si las estoy sobrevalorando, pero cada vez que las termino, todo tipo de emociones me inundan y muy pocos autores son capaces de hacer eso con todas sus obras. La magia que el autor es capaz de brindar a través de las páginas es única en este mundo. Los personajes y los lugares, así como las historias que engloban cada una de sus obras me absorben de un modo que ningún otro autor puede hacer.
Las Luces de Septiembre es probablemente su argumento más imaginativo, tiene todos los elementos de misterio y suspenso clásico; un personaje enigmático, una casa enorme y llena de habitaciones por descubrir donde cualquier cosa puede salir a espantarte, un pueblo chico, una leyenda de fantasmas y una familia queriendo un nuevo comienzo. Puede que no tenga los elementos más originales, pero si los entrega de una forma muy emocional y terrorífica.
Les aseguro que si lo que quieren es tener una novela rápida con elementos sobrenaturales y una escritura incomparable que te enganche, la trilogía de la niebla debería ser su opción número uno. Altamente recomendado.
July 11, 2018
*****4.7 stars.*****
Review in my account bookstagram
En un mundo de luces y sombras, todos, cada uno de nosotros, debía encontrar su propio camino.
Lo primero que tengo que decir es que con los libros de Carlos Ruiz Zafón no puedo ser imparcial. Yo amo todo lo que escribe este señor y aún cuando esta trilogía juvenil es previa a sus novelas más vendidas, El Cementerio de los Libros Olvidados, ya mostraba su gran talento.
Un universo infinito de libros ascendía en espiral babilónica hacia una claraboya de cristal tintado. Miles de mundos desconocidos y misteriosos convergían en aquella catedral de libros.
Francia, verano de 1937.
Aquí el autor nos sitúa en la costa de Normandia y nos presenta un nuevo misterio: un adinerado inventor y fabricante de juguetes, llamado Lazarus Jann, que tiene más de un secreto guardado en la interminable red de pasillos de su mansión, y de como dos jóvenes intentarán resolver el rompecabezas que rodea el bosque de Cravenmoore y a su misterioso dueño.
Las buenas historias necesitan de pocas palabras…
Este libro tiene todos los elementos de misterio y suspenso; un personaje enigmático, una casa enorme y llena de habitaciones por descubrir donde viven criaturas autómatas de miedo, un pequeño pueblo, una leyenda de fantasmas y una familia queriendo un nuevo comienzo.
Debo decir que este libro es una relectura, ya que lo leí a finales del año pasado y y no lo recordaba mucho así que quise releerlo para reseñarlo mejor. La prosa del autor se conserva, asi como sus bellas y bien pensadas descripciones. En esta última entrega de la trilogía de la Niebla ya se notaba la habilidad especial de Zafón para para crear atmósferas tétricas y góticas que te envuelven durante la lectura.
No debes creer en todo aquello que ves. La imagen de la realidad que nos brindan nuestros ojos es sólo una ilusión, un efecto óptico.
Algo que me ha llegado mucho la atención de este autor después de leerle todos sus libros, es que siempre crea un amor prohibido en medio de ese ambiente gótico y de misterio, y este libro no es la excepción. Culmina con un un final lleno de amor, un amor eterno que ni siquiera las sombras pudieron apagar.
Yo lo recomiendo, de la trilogía, para mí este es el mejor escrito.
February 16, 2024
2/5 stars
I’m sorry but this was just… no…
The mediocre romance, the mediocre plot… I didn’t enjoy this at all and was just BEGGING for the book to go faster or to end soon.
I didn’t like the fantasy or the horror aspects. The characters were too blank… so many stuff someone would have to judge for themselves.
This trilogy wasn’t what I expected it to be. But oh well, hopefully my next read is more enjoyable.
I’m sorry but this was just… no…
The mediocre romance, the mediocre plot… I didn’t enjoy this at all and was just BEGGING for the book to go faster or to end soon.
I didn’t like the fantasy or the horror aspects. The characters were too blank… so many stuff someone would have to judge for themselves.
This trilogy wasn’t what I expected it to be. But oh well, hopefully my next read is more enjoyable.
November 16, 2014
I decided to lower the rating.
I always get a great satisfaction out of going into a W.H. Smith’s book shop in any of the English airports and looking to see the latest books on offer. I saw this book the other week and the blurb took my fancy. I rather liked the idea of:
An enigmatic toymaker who lives as a recluse in an old mansion, surrounded by the fantastical beings he has created. An eerie figure that watches from behind the curtains of a locked room. Strange things that flicker through the mist from an abandoned lighthouse. A shadowy creature that hides deep in the woods and has already claimed one life. These are the elements of a mystery that will bind Irene to Ismael during a magical summer in Blue Bay, where her mother becomes housekeeper to the secretive toymaker, Lazarus Jann.
This sounded a marvellous book and I couldn’t wait to leap into it but what a disappointment it turned out to be. Now whether the true essence of the book has been lost in the translation I don’t know but to me it lacked soul and I found the characters Simone, Irene and Lazarus very wooden. There was a childlike element to the book and so I skim read to the end, then returned to the main part of the book and finally abandoned it.
I hate to abandon a book but there are so many exciting books that I’m eager to read and why waste time with one that doesn’t inspire me in the least.
Sorry Mr Zafon. My apologies. I may not like you but there are many who do and that’s the saving grace.
I always get a great satisfaction out of going into a W.H. Smith’s book shop in any of the English airports and looking to see the latest books on offer. I saw this book the other week and the blurb took my fancy. I rather liked the idea of:
An enigmatic toymaker who lives as a recluse in an old mansion, surrounded by the fantastical beings he has created. An eerie figure that watches from behind the curtains of a locked room. Strange things that flicker through the mist from an abandoned lighthouse. A shadowy creature that hides deep in the woods and has already claimed one life. These are the elements of a mystery that will bind Irene to Ismael during a magical summer in Blue Bay, where her mother becomes housekeeper to the secretive toymaker, Lazarus Jann.
This sounded a marvellous book and I couldn’t wait to leap into it but what a disappointment it turned out to be. Now whether the true essence of the book has been lost in the translation I don’t know but to me it lacked soul and I found the characters Simone, Irene and Lazarus very wooden. There was a childlike element to the book and so I skim read to the end, then returned to the main part of the book and finally abandoned it.
I hate to abandon a book but there are so many exciting books that I’m eager to read and why waste time with one that doesn’t inspire me in the least.
Sorry Mr Zafon. My apologies. I may not like you but there are many who do and that’s the saving grace.
June 3, 2010
The stories in this young adult series aren't connected at all. They all have a great sense of mystery and fantasy, but one is set in Spain, the other in India, and this one in France.
How much better than Prince of Mist this book is! I couldn't put it down. His characters are REAL! REAL I tell you. There's so much emotion in his words I don't know how Ruiz Zafon can keep cranking stories like this one.
Easier to relate than The Midnight Palace, this story gives us a glimpse of Andreas Corelli, a pivotal character in Angel's Game. I love to see the origin of the ideas for Shadow and Angel's Game. I wish I had this book when I was growing up. This author is a magician of words. What a gift he has!
How much better than Prince of Mist this book is! I couldn't put it down. His characters are REAL! REAL I tell you. There's so much emotion in his words I don't know how Ruiz Zafon can keep cranking stories like this one.
Easier to relate than The Midnight Palace, this story gives us a glimpse of Andreas Corelli, a pivotal character in Angel's Game. I love to see the origin of the ideas for Shadow and Angel's Game. I wish I had this book when I was growing up. This author is a magician of words. What a gift he has!
March 16, 2023
10*
Extraordinar cum scrie Zafon, misterul din fiecare carte ma tine atenta cap coada cand citesc povestile lui. Simone, se muta cu cei doi copii la cel care o angajeaza. Dar misterul bogatei familii te tine in priza. Iar povestea de dragoste dintre Irene si pescarul romantic este frumoasa.
Extraordinar cum scrie Zafon, misterul din fiecare carte ma tine atenta cap coada cand citesc povestile lui. Simone, se muta cu cei doi copii la cel care o angajeaza. Dar misterul bogatei familii te tine in priza. Iar povestea de dragoste dintre Irene si pescarul romantic este frumoasa.
November 16, 2025
(+5🌟)
En esta ocasión seré breve porque ya he dicho todo lo que tenía que decir en las actualizaciones de lectura. ¡Me ha encantado! No ha habido nada que me haya chirriado en esta ocasión y cuánto más pienso en la historia y en los personajes, más me gusta.
Tal y como he dicho antes, han habido muchísimas cosas que me han recordado a Marina (tanto en la trama como en la ambientación con tintes más "góticas"), y solo con eso ya sabía que este tampoco me defraudaría. De hecho, aún me estoy debatiendo entre cuál de estos dos me ha gustado más. Creo que de momento diría que están a la par porque ¡menudos librazos!
Leedlo, por favor. Aunque los otros dos no os llamen la atención, este vale completamente la pena y no hace falta leer los otros dos para entenderlo porque son personajes y tramas completamente diferentes los unos de los otros. Lo único en común que tienen es la mención a la niebla y que son novelas de misterio con tintes paranormales, por lo demás, nada.
En esta ocasión seré breve porque ya he dicho todo lo que tenía que decir en las actualizaciones de lectura. ¡Me ha encantado! No ha habido nada que me haya chirriado en esta ocasión y cuánto más pienso en la historia y en los personajes, más me gusta.
Tal y como he dicho antes, han habido muchísimas cosas que me han recordado a Marina (tanto en la trama como en la ambientación con tintes más "góticas"), y solo con eso ya sabía que este tampoco me defraudaría. De hecho, aún me estoy debatiendo entre cuál de estos dos me ha gustado más. Creo que de momento diría que están a la par porque ¡menudos librazos!
Leedlo, por favor. Aunque los otros dos no os llamen la atención, este vale completamente la pena y no hace falta leer los otros dos para entenderlo porque son personajes y tramas completamente diferentes los unos de los otros. Lo único en común que tienen es la mención a la niebla y que son novelas de misterio con tintes paranormales, por lo demás, nada.
January 25, 2021
Leer a Zafón siempre es sinónimo de magia.
Es una historia juvenil, sí, pero es tan bonita que perderse en las páginas de este libro es una maravilla.
La forma que tiene de escribir Zafón en única. La forma que tiene de tocar el alma con pocas palabras es sorprendente.
La historia tiene es toque mágico, fantástico, misterioso, encantado, poético, clásico... que tanto caracteriza a este autor. Con su narración, hace que te adentres completamente en su mundo y cada página que pasas es una nueva visita a la costa de Normandía, un nuevo paseo por la Playa del Inglés, una nueva historia de miedo en la Cueva de los Murciélagos, una nueva incursión en el bosque a los pies de Cravenmoore... Puedes sentir el latir de los mecanismos de los autómatas de Lazarus Jann, la sombra maldita del fabricante que surgió de los engaños de Daniel Hoffman y puedes ver las luces de septiembre brillando sobre la torre del faro que se alza sobre las brumas.
No hay más que leer las cartas del principio y del final para que el corazón se encoja de esa forma que solo provocan las grandes historias. Al leer ese prólogo y epílogo no puedo evitar acordarme de esa canción de Coti: Nueces. Guarda grandes similitudes.
En el final, el autor deja que la imaginación del lector que complete la historia y dibuje ese tren procedente de Austerlitz, pero a decir verdad, me hubiera encantado estar presente esa mañana en la estación de Normandía y leer lo que sucedió.
Otra cosa bonita de los libros de Zafón es que siempre te enseñan algo (En realidad muchas cosas). Que se desvanezcan las sombras y que brillen las luces, que hasta en los peores días de la guerra hay que tener sueños.
Es una historia juvenil, sí, pero es tan bonita que perderse en las páginas de este libro es una maravilla.
La forma que tiene de escribir Zafón en única. La forma que tiene de tocar el alma con pocas palabras es sorprendente.
La historia tiene es toque mágico, fantástico, misterioso, encantado, poético, clásico... que tanto caracteriza a este autor. Con su narración, hace que te adentres completamente en su mundo y cada página que pasas es una nueva visita a la costa de Normandía, un nuevo paseo por la Playa del Inglés, una nueva historia de miedo en la Cueva de los Murciélagos, una nueva incursión en el bosque a los pies de Cravenmoore... Puedes sentir el latir de los mecanismos de los autómatas de Lazarus Jann, la sombra maldita del fabricante que surgió de los engaños de Daniel Hoffman y puedes ver las luces de septiembre brillando sobre la torre del faro que se alza sobre las brumas.
No hay más que leer las cartas del principio y del final para que el corazón se encoja de esa forma que solo provocan las grandes historias. Al leer ese prólogo y epílogo no puedo evitar acordarme de esa canción de Coti: Nueces. Guarda grandes similitudes.
En el final, el autor deja que la imaginación del lector que complete la historia y dibuje ese tren procedente de Austerlitz, pero a decir verdad, me hubiera encantado estar presente esa mañana en la estación de Normandía y leer lo que sucedió.
Otra cosa bonita de los libros de Zafón es que siempre te enseñan algo (En realidad muchas cosas). Que se desvanezcan las sombras y que brillen las luces, que hasta en los peores días de la guerra hay que tener sueños.
March 27, 2022
Somewhere on the path of life, when adulthood looms large and we end up seeing the horizons of the impending twilight more frequently than we would wish to, there are stops of childhood sped past that we reminisce the most - they make for some of our best memories, and subconsciously, our best lessons.
Irene and Ismael cast a similar warm, gratifying glance to a decade back in Zafon's magical and twisted world in this book, where the two teenagers accidentally met, and fought, one of their toughest enemies who neither had a face nor a structure. In the rain-washed coast of Normandy, their lives registered a chapter where friendship, love, family, belief, courage and loss were all put to test, amid gorgeous creations and ghastly revelations, and prepared them for the bigger battles ahead.
The story borders on a thriller that kisses the beauty of language every now and then, and appears a tad less menacing, only to rise again in its intimidating but transfixing dance. The reveals towards the final pages turned little weak for me and I felt my boat leaving the coast a tad too soon. But for the love of pace and magical realism, and the inimitable allure of Zafon's lyrical canvas, a visit to Blue Bay wasn't regretted at all.
--
Also on my website.
Irene and Ismael cast a similar warm, gratifying glance to a decade back in Zafon's magical and twisted world in this book, where the two teenagers accidentally met, and fought, one of their toughest enemies who neither had a face nor a structure. In the rain-washed coast of Normandy, their lives registered a chapter where friendship, love, family, belief, courage and loss were all put to test, amid gorgeous creations and ghastly revelations, and prepared them for the bigger battles ahead.
The story borders on a thriller that kisses the beauty of language every now and then, and appears a tad less menacing, only to rise again in its intimidating but transfixing dance. The reveals towards the final pages turned little weak for me and I felt my boat leaving the coast a tad too soon. But for the love of pace and magical realism, and the inimitable allure of Zafon's lyrical canvas, a visit to Blue Bay wasn't regretted at all.
--
Also on my website.
July 14, 2015
Nothing else to add that I haven't said below so I'll second my recommendation for this and add my thoughts on the narrator.
Jonathan Davis has narrated audio-books of Carlos Ruiz Zafon before and each time he has done very well. He has a good instinct for voices and the atmosphere of his works. (Wish he had narrated 'prisoner of heaven' like with the other two). The story comes alive with his loving (for lack of a better word) narration.
I hope Mister Davis continues to narrate for this author, he (and the narrator of Marina) are perfect :).
Successful re-read <3
****
Re-read starting July 5th, 2015:)
First read: July 11th-15th 2014
-----
Carlos Ruiz Zafon is one of my favorite writers, the man has a beautiful way of telling a story... slowly drawing you in and wrapping the narrative around you until your completely immersed and lost in his world. His books always have me thinking about for days afterwards, even if I'm reading something else.. .book hangover that I don't mind :).
I discovered him by chance when I was browsing through Ollie's and saw 'Shadow of the Wind' for $2. It sounded intriguing so I snapped it up and took it home... forgot about it for awhile then I was looking for my next read in my bookshelves and it jumped out at me...
----
Watcher in the Shadows is the next in a series of YA novels Zafon wrote before Shadow of the Wind far as I know... This one is my favorite of the lot, so far ;).
An atmospheric, subtly creepy story... I was gone from the very first page:
"Dear Irene,
Sometimes I think I am doomed never to forget the mirage of that summer we spent together in Blue Bay. You'd be surprised to see how little things have changed since those days. The lighthouse still rises through the haze like a sentry, and the road that runs alongside the Englishman's Beach is now just a faint track snaking through the sand to nowhere."
A character name I remembered from 'The Angel's game' re-appeared and my mouth dropped open , I nearly said "You son of a bitch!" aloud before belatedly realizing I was in public haha... If you remember David's "employer" from that book, you know who I mean. (I won't spoil for you his name in the book that he goes by)
This man has a small but significant part in the book, and he sets in motion consequences that Lazarus Jann doesn't fully understand at the time, not until much later.
*Side note: Makes me wonder if Mister Zafon had this planned out as this characters first appearance, laying the ground for the Angel's game or was just testing him out.*
Each person has a part of the story to tell (Lazarus, Simone, Dorian, Irene, Ishmael, Hannah) and it pieces together things for you and leads you subtly down the path. When everything is tied together at the end, a chill ran down my spine and a tingling came in my hands. Giddy, surprised, and creeped out/slightly horrified at the same time.
The 'battle' at the end in Cravenmoore had me gripping the pages, praying that 'it/' could be stopped and hoping for all my favorites to make it out... I wanted to jump in Cravenmoore and help them but all I could do was bite my lip and try to read faster while not missing a word.
The end for one was sad but made sense in the end after I thought about it... he started it all and in a way, it was up to him to get it set to rights. One final scene Ishmael witnessed broke my heart for Lazarus.
The final narration of Irene cleared some things up and ties in with the beginning and leaves you with a smile on your face. :)
I'll leave you with this quote from the book:
"In a world of lights and shadows, every person, every one of us, needs to find their own way."
Another beautiful book from Mister Zafon, I highly recommend any of his works... I can't praise him enough <3
From 'note from the author' at the beginning of the book:
" These novels deliberately hark back to bygone days. They remind me of what the discovery of reading meant to me. I hope they remind you too, regardless of your age. "
Jonathan Davis has narrated audio-books of Carlos Ruiz Zafon before and each time he has done very well. He has a good instinct for voices and the atmosphere of his works. (Wish he had narrated 'prisoner of heaven' like with the other two). The story comes alive with his loving (for lack of a better word) narration.
I hope Mister Davis continues to narrate for this author, he (and the narrator of Marina) are perfect :).
Successful re-read <3
****
Re-read starting July 5th, 2015:)
First read: July 11th-15th 2014
-----
Carlos Ruiz Zafon is one of my favorite writers, the man has a beautiful way of telling a story... slowly drawing you in and wrapping the narrative around you until your completely immersed and lost in his world. His books always have me thinking about for days afterwards, even if I'm reading something else.. .book hangover that I don't mind :).
I discovered him by chance when I was browsing through Ollie's and saw 'Shadow of the Wind' for $2. It sounded intriguing so I snapped it up and took it home... forgot about it for awhile then I was looking for my next read in my bookshelves and it jumped out at me...
----
Watcher in the Shadows is the next in a series of YA novels Zafon wrote before Shadow of the Wind far as I know... This one is my favorite of the lot, so far ;).
An atmospheric, subtly creepy story... I was gone from the very first page:
"Dear Irene,
Sometimes I think I am doomed never to forget the mirage of that summer we spent together in Blue Bay. You'd be surprised to see how little things have changed since those days. The lighthouse still rises through the haze like a sentry, and the road that runs alongside the Englishman's Beach is now just a faint track snaking through the sand to nowhere."
A character name I remembered from 'The Angel's game' re-appeared and my mouth dropped open , I nearly said "You son of a bitch!" aloud before belatedly realizing I was in public haha... If you remember David's "employer" from that book, you know who I mean. (I won't spoil for you his name in the book that he goes by)
This man has a small but significant part in the book, and he sets in motion consequences that Lazarus Jann doesn't fully understand at the time, not until much later.
*Side note: Makes me wonder if Mister Zafon had this planned out as this characters first appearance, laying the ground for the Angel's game or was just testing him out.*
Each person has a part of the story to tell (Lazarus, Simone, Dorian, Irene, Ishmael, Hannah) and it pieces together things for you and leads you subtly down the path. When everything is tied together at the end, a chill ran down my spine and a tingling came in my hands. Giddy, surprised, and creeped out/slightly horrified at the same time.
The 'battle' at the end in Cravenmoore had me gripping the pages, praying that 'it/' could be stopped and hoping for all my favorites to make it out... I wanted to jump in Cravenmoore and help them but all I could do was bite my lip and try to read faster while not missing a word.
The end for one was sad but made sense in the end after I thought about it... he started it all and in a way, it was up to him to get it set to rights. One final scene Ishmael witnessed broke my heart for Lazarus.
The final narration of Irene cleared some things up and ties in with the beginning and leaves you with a smile on your face. :)
I'll leave you with this quote from the book:
"In a world of lights and shadows, every person, every one of us, needs to find their own way."
Another beautiful book from Mister Zafon, I highly recommend any of his works... I can't praise him enough <3
From 'note from the author' at the beginning of the book:
" These novels deliberately hark back to bygone days. They remind me of what the discovery of reading meant to me. I hope they remind you too, regardless of your age. "
December 21, 2020
"He aprendido que la soledad es a veces un camino que conduce a la paz."
Este libro es el tercero de una trilogía y me siento muy feliz haberla podido terminar antes que acabe el año. Es totalmente sorprendente como el autor narra esta historia, sin dudas Zafón es garantía.
"Las luces de Septiembre" fue mi libro favorito de la trilogía, me atrapó recién después de las primeras 30 páginas, y lo devore en un día! Siendo que, siempre me tomo mi tiempo para leer pero esas ganas de saber que pasaba a continuación no saciaban.
Sinopsis:
Un misterioso fabricante de juguetes vive recluido en una mansión gigantesca poblada de seres mecánicos y sombras del pasado. Un enigma en torno a las extrañas luces que brillan entre la niebla que rodea el islote del faro. Una criatura de pesadilla que se oculta en la profundidad del bosque. Estos y otros elementos tejen la trama del misterio que unirá a Irene e Ismael para siempre durante un mágico verano en Bahía Azul.
5/5⭐
Este libro es el tercero de una trilogía y me siento muy feliz haberla podido terminar antes que acabe el año. Es totalmente sorprendente como el autor narra esta historia, sin dudas Zafón es garantía.
"Las luces de Septiembre" fue mi libro favorito de la trilogía, me atrapó recién después de las primeras 30 páginas, y lo devore en un día! Siendo que, siempre me tomo mi tiempo para leer pero esas ganas de saber que pasaba a continuación no saciaban.
Sinopsis:
Un misterioso fabricante de juguetes vive recluido en una mansión gigantesca poblada de seres mecánicos y sombras del pasado. Un enigma en torno a las extrañas luces que brillan entre la niebla que rodea el islote del faro. Una criatura de pesadilla que se oculta en la profundidad del bosque. Estos y otros elementos tejen la trama del misterio que unirá a Irene e Ismael para siempre durante un mágico verano en Bahía Azul.
5/5⭐
November 20, 2018
5⭐️
Es el que más me gustó de la trilogía !! Y por eso se merece ese puntaje.!!
A pesar del poco tiempo que he tenido estos días para leer, lo he disfrutado muchísimo!!
El autor es un genio!! Te envuelve en unas escenas de película.! Por momentos no sabía si estaba leyendo o estaba con los protagonistas en Cravenmoore.!!
Me gustó TODO.!! Lo recomiendo 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Es el que más me gustó de la trilogía !! Y por eso se merece ese puntaje.!!
A pesar del poco tiempo que he tenido estos días para leer, lo he disfrutado muchísimo!!
El autor es un genio!! Te envuelve en unas escenas de película.! Por momentos no sabía si estaba leyendo o estaba con los protagonistas en Cravenmoore.!!
Me gustó TODO.!! Lo recomiendo 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
January 19, 2021
De esta novela me gusto el agregado de los "autómatas", que son una especie de juguetes mecanizados, que actúan por voluntad propia. Al igual que sus otras dos obras "El príncipe de la niebla" y "El palacio de la Medianoche", comparten la idea de mundos fantasiosos, con drama, misterio, suspenso, terror y romance juvenil, así que es difícil encasillar estas obras con un solo género.
Con este libro cerraría la trilogía de novelas llamadas "juveniles" de Carlos Ruiz Zafón y la verdad ha sido una grata experiencia. Sin duda, continuaré leyendo las obras que me faltan de este gran autor.
Con este libro cerraría la trilogía de novelas llamadas "juveniles" de Carlos Ruiz Zafón y la verdad ha sido una grata experiencia. Sin duda, continuaré leyendo las obras que me faltan de este gran autor.
August 28, 2017
9,5 de 10*
“As Luzes de Setembro” findam a trilogia Neblina e terminam igualmente a minha leitura de toda a obra publicada de Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Ainda bem que terminei com este livro, porque me redimiu da última leitura (“O Palácio da Meia-Noite”) que esteve longe de me encher as medidas… Já esta história voltou a colocar Zafón em lugar de destaque na literatura mundial, na minha opinião! Este autor escreve de uma maneira tão própria e tão boa!
Comentário completo em:
http://abibliotecadajoao.blogspot.pt/...
“As Luzes de Setembro” findam a trilogia Neblina e terminam igualmente a minha leitura de toda a obra publicada de Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Ainda bem que terminei com este livro, porque me redimiu da última leitura (“O Palácio da Meia-Noite”) que esteve longe de me encher as medidas… Já esta história voltou a colocar Zafón em lugar de destaque na literatura mundial, na minha opinião! Este autor escreve de uma maneira tão própria e tão boa!
Comentário completo em:
http://abibliotecadajoao.blogspot.pt/...
September 30, 2021
У мене усе просто: бачу новий переклад Сафона, купую новий переклад Сафона. Не читаю анотацію, бо нашо? Тут, як і в решті мало пов’язаних між собою книг цієї серії, будуть підлітки, смерть і дещо таємничо-жорстоке. Єдина особливість: хотілося прочитати книгу у вересні)))
April 16, 2022
Styl autora jak zawsze mnie zachwycił, niestety sama historia dość mocno rozczarowała. Nie czułam zupełnie tego tajemniczego klimatu, jak w poprzednich tomach.
September 23, 2019
This is an odd one. Any attempt on my part to give a decent synopsis or thumbnail sketch of this book won't do it justice...so, only a little about the story itself. I would suggest that if you like fantasy that actually lives up to that name in that it's fanciful...or if you like horror that actually inspires terror in those solitary alone moments that you try this one.
The book opens up a little slowly giving us background for the players. They are introduced with some of their life clinging to them. We see them move and we see them meet the unusual, even strange toy maker in his oddly spooky house.
There are moments in this book that will flash you back to other things you've read and there are moments where those old stories your grand father or grand mother may have told you (if you were lucky [or unlucky] enough to have "that kind" of grandparent). The house is in many ways a/the quintessential haunted house and the "horror" is a form of horror we've seen before. But it's done so very well.
So, while I can't bring myself to quite go all the way to a 5 star rating I do recommend this one. Good book.
The book opens up a little slowly giving us background for the players. They are introduced with some of their life clinging to them. We see them move and we see them meet the unusual, even strange toy maker in his oddly spooky house.
There are moments in this book that will flash you back to other things you've read and there are moments where those old stories your grand father or grand mother may have told you (if you were lucky [or unlucky] enough to have "that kind" of grandparent). The house is in many ways a/the quintessential haunted house and the "horror" is a form of horror we've seen before. But it's done so very well.
So, while I can't bring myself to quite go all the way to a 5 star rating I do recommend this one. Good book.
September 25, 2025
Luminile din septembrie este cartea mea preferată a lui Zafon, acum când i-am citit integral opera, pot să afirm cu tărie că e cartea sufletului meu în care mă regăsesc în profunzime, în care mă recitesc pe mine însămi și tranzitez diverse stări și mistere, septembrie e cea mai prietenoasă lună din an pentru mine pentru că sunt născută la sfârșitul lui august, mai spre începutul toamnei când totul aproape e intact, frunzele sunt încă întregi și urmele verii sunt atât de proaspete pe asfalt, da, este o perioadă de tranziție pentru mine și încă mi se pare dificilă trecerea de la vacanțele verii la seriozitatea începutului de toamnă...
July 2, 2013
This is the third book by this author that I have read and I should have stopped after the first. I feel like I just read a bunch of stuff and have no idea what happened. I think perhaps something has been lost in translation? Shadows and doppelgangers and toymakers and this child's history and that one's and masks and machines. Lots of broken glass and explosions at the end, and I could clearly envision a movie scene with the automatons burning, but other than that I'm not sure what happened. I'm not sure why Ismael and Irene fell in love except that they were fourteen (though in one spot I thought it said 15 and in another I could have sworn I read she was almost 16). I'm not sure what point the whole cave scene had, or why Dorian was there. It just seemed very disjointed and did not flow from one scene to another, or create any kind of tension. The only creepiness to be had was what I imagined myself when thinking of all the different automatons there could have been. The Prince of Mist was the best of his three that I have read and I don't know that I will be interested in reading any future books by this author.
Book Description:
It was an unforgettable summer...
Fourteen-year-old Irene Sauvelle's family has just moved to the foggy coast of Normandy. There, living on the estate of a reclusive toymaker and inventor, she's immediately enchanted by the beauty of the place and the local wealth of ghost stories.
When a young girl is found murdered, her body at the end of a path torn through the woods by a monstrous, inhuman force, Irene begins to wonder: Is there more to the ghost stories than the townspeople let on? And what, exactly, is the inventor guarding so closely in his mansion? She will have to survive the most terrifying summer of her life, trying to piece together the many mysteries and secrets hidden in a town torn apart by tragedy, amid a labyrinth of light and shadows.
Book Description:
It was an unforgettable summer...
Fourteen-year-old Irene Sauvelle's family has just moved to the foggy coast of Normandy. There, living on the estate of a reclusive toymaker and inventor, she's immediately enchanted by the beauty of the place and the local wealth of ghost stories.
When a young girl is found murdered, her body at the end of a path torn through the woods by a monstrous, inhuman force, Irene begins to wonder: Is there more to the ghost stories than the townspeople let on? And what, exactly, is the inventor guarding so closely in his mansion? She will have to survive the most terrifying summer of her life, trying to piece together the many mysteries and secrets hidden in a town torn apart by tragedy, amid a labyrinth of light and shadows.
November 3, 2020
Ίσως μία από τις δυσκολότερες κριτικές που έχω γράψει, αποκλειστικά και μόνο γιατί δεν μπορώ να δεχτώ πως αυτό είναι το τελευταίο βιβλίο του Carlos Ruiz Zafón που διαβάζω...
Η γνώριμη πένα του αγαπημένου μου ισπανού συγγραφέα καταπιάνεται μ'αυτό που ήξερε να κάνει έξοχα, τη δημιουργία μιας κλειστοφοβικής γοτθικής ατμόσφαιρας, ένα αριστοτεχνικά υφασμένο μυστήριο, ένα εφηβικό πρωταγωνιστικό δίδυμο κι όλα αυτά με μια γραφή μουσική και ανάλαφρη. Ναι, μοιάζει με τα υπόλοιπα της τριλογίας, ως δομή αλλά είναι σα να ακούς τον αγαπημένο σου τραγουδιστή στο δέκατό του δίσκο: δε σε μαγεύει με τις καινοτομίες του αλλά σε κερδίζει με την τέχνη του. Κι ίσως αυτό να είναι αρκετό.
3.5/5
Η γνώριμη πένα του αγαπημένου μου ισπανού συγγραφέα καταπιάνεται μ'αυτό που ήξερε να κάνει έξοχα, τη δημιουργία μιας κλειστοφοβικής γοτθικής ατμόσφαιρας, ένα αριστοτεχνικά υφασμένο μυστήριο, ένα εφηβικό πρωταγωνιστικό δίδυμο κι όλα αυτά με μια γραφή μουσική και ανάλαφρη. Ναι, μοιάζει με τα υπόλοιπα της τριλογίας, ως δομή αλλά είναι σα να ακούς τον αγαπημένο σου τραγουδιστή στο δέκατό του δίσκο: δε σε μαγεύει με τις καινοτομίες του αλλά σε κερδίζει με την τέχνη του. Κι ίσως αυτό να είναι αρκετό.
3.5/5
September 23, 2017
Przeczytałam wszystkie książki Zafona. Jestem gotowa na "Labirynt duchów"....
June 12, 2017
Irene e Dorian perdem o pai e juntamente com a mãe, Simone, mudam-se para Baía Azul, uma pequena cidade no litoral da Normandia. O local mostra-se encantador e hospitaleiro. Simone consegue emprego como governanta em Cravenmoore, um casarão palaciano pertencente a um fabricante de brinquedos chamado Lazarus. Irene conhece Ismael, um marinheiro e os dois vivem uma paixão adolescente. Mas, logo os dois jovens descobrem que estão envolvidos em uma trama horripilante, que envolve Cravenmoore e o próprio Lazarus.
“As Luzes de Setembro” concluem a trilogia da Neblina, inicialmente escrita para adolescentes tornou-se num marco da literatura, podendo ser lida por qualquer faixa etária.
Cada volume conta uma história independente e deste modo podem ser lidos numa ordem aleatória.
“As Luzes de Setembro” concluem a trilogia da Neblina, inicialmente escrita para adolescentes tornou-se num marco da literatura, podendo ser lida por qualquer faixa etária.
Cada volume conta uma história independente e deste modo podem ser lidos numa ordem aleatória.
July 22, 2012
(English translation: The Watcher in the Shadows)
Somewhere between Jane Eyre and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Watcher in the Shadows (third in the Fog trilogy), is a gothic triumph. With elements of The Turn of the Screw, Ruiz Zafon's tale of mystery and Faustian bargains enchants in its eccentric and enigmatic world. Two stories of true love create the centerpiece for this creepy, twisted tale. Set in a picturesque, coastal French village, The Watcher in the Shadows entwines teenage romance with the story of an odd toy magnate and his invalid wife. As the village transitions from almost painstakingly normal to terrifying, teens Irene and Ismael cling to each other and to the mystery surrounding a murder, a ghost story, and the strange shadow which envelopes the nearby woods and the town. The perfect pacing and the moving love stories make The Watcher in the Shadows an enthralling read.
September 3, 2015
Questo romanzo mi è piaciuto dall'inizio alla fine.
L'ho iniziato senza leggere prima la trama, in questo modo ogni pagina era un passo verso una scoperta nuova. Tutto ciò ha fatto si di non avere verso questo libro grandi aspettative.
Questo racconto è iniziato in un ambiente tranquillo che faceva immaginare ad una storia dominata dalla magia più innocente che esista al mondo ma andando avanti il tepore lasciato dai primi capitoli ha lasciato lo spazio all'inquietudine e malvagità delle ombre presenti in ognuno di noi è nel mondo che ci circonda.
A differenza di qualsiasi libro che tratta il mistero e l'ignoto mi sono trovata di fronte a qualcosa di velato ma allo stesso tempo incisivo e coinvolgente capace di strapparmi anche una lacrima per la profondità dell' argomento che compariva tra le righe di questo splendido romanzo. Dentro ogni essere umano buono o cattivo che sia,si nasconde qualcosa di immensamente odioso.
Bellissima lettura.
L'ho iniziato senza leggere prima la trama, in questo modo ogni pagina era un passo verso una scoperta nuova. Tutto ciò ha fatto si di non avere verso questo libro grandi aspettative.
Questo racconto è iniziato in un ambiente tranquillo che faceva immaginare ad una storia dominata dalla magia più innocente che esista al mondo ma andando avanti il tepore lasciato dai primi capitoli ha lasciato lo spazio all'inquietudine e malvagità delle ombre presenti in ognuno di noi è nel mondo che ci circonda.
A differenza di qualsiasi libro che tratta il mistero e l'ignoto mi sono trovata di fronte a qualcosa di velato ma allo stesso tempo incisivo e coinvolgente capace di strapparmi anche una lacrima per la profondità dell' argomento che compariva tra le righe di questo splendido romanzo. Dentro ogni essere umano buono o cattivo che sia,si nasconde qualcosa di immensamente odioso.
Bellissima lettura.
January 22, 2019
No es lo mejor que leí del autor, sin embargo me gustó mucho. Es un libro de misterio para pasar el rato, se lee muy rápido y como siempre zafón nos sorprende con sus palabras que forman imagenes y sentimientos muy humanos.
El libro narra sobre una madre y dos hijos que se van a vivir a un pueblo donde trabajaban para un fabricante de juguetes. Al igual que casi todos los libros de zafón la historia gira en torno a los personajes y su pasado. En especial la de este peculiar señor cuya vida es un misterio y lo llevó a vivir en una casa llena de autómatas y una esposa enferma a la que nunca se la ve despierta.
Si les gusta el misterio con un poco de fantasía se los recomiendo un montón!
Yo leyendo las luces de septiembre: 🤗☺️🤨😮😟
El libro narra sobre una madre y dos hijos que se van a vivir a un pueblo donde trabajaban para un fabricante de juguetes. Al igual que casi todos los libros de zafón la historia gira en torno a los personajes y su pasado. En especial la de este peculiar señor cuya vida es un misterio y lo llevó a vivir en una casa llena de autómatas y una esposa enferma a la que nunca se la ve despierta.
Si les gusta el misterio con un poco de fantasía se los recomiendo un montón!
Yo leyendo las luces de septiembre: 🤗☺️🤨😮😟
Read
October 25, 2023What happens when you mix a toy maker’s automatons and an angry malevolent shadow? Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s writing style is gorgeous and he paints lovely word pictures. Jonathan Davis, the narrator, had a pleasant warm voice yet the ability to ramp up the creepiness was impressive. The story reminded me of The Picture of Dorian Grey and a little of Peter Pan; dark and creepy, yet innocent and playful. I’m not one for scary books, but a book that messes with your mind a little bit and makes you second guess the sound of a ticking clock in a darkened room never hurt anyone…or did it? -Noelle M.
April 7, 2018
Las luces de septiembre, tercera parte de la saga "Niebla" escrito por Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Una trama impactante, engancha desde la primera frase. Sus personajes no paran de sorprender al lector, a evolucionar y a crecer. Desde siempre me ha fascinado la pluma de Zafón, por lo que disfruto al máximo de sus historias y las recomiendo con los ojos cerrados, porque te desarma completamente con la capacidad que tiene de crear historias increíbles.
May 9, 2024
Mai buna decat Marina, Luminile din septembrie a reusit sa ma captiveze de la primele pagini. Are elemente de gotic, mister, horror si spre final, thriller. Mi-a placut foarte mult. Recomand!
http://stildescriitor.ro/blog/2020/02...
http://stildescriitor.ro/blog/2020/02...
October 6, 2025
Reading "Las luces de septiembre" (September Lights - I don't understand the point of changing the title in the English translation) in September, also the month of Zafón's birth, was poetic. With this, I finished his young adult trilogy, and I can finally say I have read all his published books. Unfortunately, it's a short list. Like his other books, this is also an enchanting gothic tale, part mystery, part fantasy.
We're in Normandy, and we follow Irene Sauvelle, a teenager whose father's death has left the family struggling financially. Along with her younger brother, Dorian, and her mother, Simone, she leaves Paris to start a new life on the coast of Normandy, as Simone has found work at Cravenmoore, the mysterious mansion of Lazarus Jann, a reclusive toymaker famous for his intricate automatons. But something unnatural stirs within its walls, an ancient shadow bound to Lazarus's past, that begins to threaten Irene's family.
The atmosphere is where the novel shines. Cravenmoore itself is practically a living character, with its vast corridors, forbidden rooms that appear out of nowhere in places where nothing was before, and mechanical toys at every turn. Zafón plays with classic Gothic tropes (illness, masks, locked rooms, curses) while still weaving them into a modern, fairy-tale-like story. His style is cinematic, including full-on action scenes that I could easily see being transposed into a movie. It starts slow, with descriptions of the quiet village life, almost like a cozy gothic, but it picks up the pace in the second half, feeling like an adventure film. It's not as complex as his famous "Cemetery of Forgotten Books" tetralogy, but he still gave us a story full of mystery. The spirit world here is not the realm of ghosts in the traditional sense, but rather something darker, a force of possession.
My one pet peeve was the use of names that are clearly not French (Bahía Azul, Cravenmoore, Lazarus Jann), despite the story taking place in France. It took me out of the story at times, because my mind feels the need to nitpick and rationalize everything.
Zafón writes characters with a mix of warmth and tragedy. However, I felt them a bit flat. There's soul infused in Irene, in particular, but maybe the YA format didn't allow for more extensive development. They lack growth, we see them defined by just one moment. Together, they create a web of love and obsession, but each of them is rather an archetype (the orphaned girl, the tragic inventor, the innocent boy, the shadow of evil). Still, they remain defining for what we know and love about Zafón's books, with a sense that their lives are stories trapped within larger stories. Especially because we have an easter egg - the presence of Andreas Corelli, the memorable editor from "The Angel's Game".
The Shadow is a collective mirror for all the other characters, a dark reflection of each character's deepest fears and desires. To Lazarus, it represents guilt, broken promises, the price of ambition. To Irene and Ismael, the fear that love can be stolen by darkness. Zafón sets up these mirrors and oppositions to highlight the novel's central theme: every light has its shadow, and every choice, whether born of love or ambition, creates its echo.
I enjoyed "The Watcher in the Shadows" a lot, with its gothic fable about dangerous deals people make with darkness, reminiscent of Faust. It may not have the complexity of his more mature works, but for a shorter novel, it delivers the right mix of mystery and tenderness.
We're in Normandy, and we follow Irene Sauvelle, a teenager whose father's death has left the family struggling financially. Along with her younger brother, Dorian, and her mother, Simone, she leaves Paris to start a new life on the coast of Normandy, as Simone has found work at Cravenmoore, the mysterious mansion of Lazarus Jann, a reclusive toymaker famous for his intricate automatons. But something unnatural stirs within its walls, an ancient shadow bound to Lazarus's past, that begins to threaten Irene's family.
The atmosphere is where the novel shines. Cravenmoore itself is practically a living character, with its vast corridors, forbidden rooms that appear out of nowhere in places where nothing was before, and mechanical toys at every turn. Zafón plays with classic Gothic tropes (illness, masks, locked rooms, curses) while still weaving them into a modern, fairy-tale-like story. His style is cinematic, including full-on action scenes that I could easily see being transposed into a movie. It starts slow, with descriptions of the quiet village life, almost like a cozy gothic, but it picks up the pace in the second half, feeling like an adventure film. It's not as complex as his famous "Cemetery of Forgotten Books" tetralogy, but he still gave us a story full of mystery. The spirit world here is not the realm of ghosts in the traditional sense, but rather something darker, a force of possession.
My one pet peeve was the use of names that are clearly not French (Bahía Azul, Cravenmoore, Lazarus Jann), despite the story taking place in France. It took me out of the story at times, because my mind feels the need to nitpick and rationalize everything.
Zafón writes characters with a mix of warmth and tragedy. However, I felt them a bit flat. There's soul infused in Irene, in particular, but maybe the YA format didn't allow for more extensive development. They lack growth, we see them defined by just one moment. Together, they create a web of love and obsession, but each of them is rather an archetype (the orphaned girl, the tragic inventor, the innocent boy, the shadow of evil). Still, they remain defining for what we know and love about Zafón's books, with a sense that their lives are stories trapped within larger stories. Especially because we have an easter egg - the presence of Andreas Corelli, the memorable editor from "The Angel's Game".
The Shadow is a collective mirror for all the other characters, a dark reflection of each character's deepest fears and desires. To Lazarus, it represents guilt, broken promises, the price of ambition. To Irene and Ismael, the fear that love can be stolen by darkness. Zafón sets up these mirrors and oppositions to highlight the novel's central theme: every light has its shadow, and every choice, whether born of love or ambition, creates its echo.
I enjoyed "The Watcher in the Shadows" a lot, with its gothic fable about dangerous deals people make with darkness, reminiscent of Faust. It may not have the complexity of his more mature works, but for a shorter novel, it delivers the right mix of mystery and tenderness.
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