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“This book was surprising in many ways. Just as suspenseful, gothic, and foreboding as its predecessor, The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafón's Angel's Game wound its slow way through a Barcelona seemingly of another age, though the story takes place in the twentieth century; and through lives of people who never lived but could have, and might have but were forgotten. It is a tragedy of sorts, a mystery almost religious in nature (and indeed there is much to be said within about religion). An author is commissioned by a sinister figure. A house soaked in mystery, madness, and murder is investigated. A wealthy mentor weds the love of his young friend's life. Ruiz Zafón's characteristic mark is that he is able to tell a story that seems at once rich and textured and luxurious, as well as urgent and sinister and stained by human nature.
One interesting aspect of The Angel's Game is that it takes place in the same Barcelona as does The Shadow of the Wind, with some of the same characters and locations. We have, again, Sempere and Sons' bookshop, and while the booksellers of course do not play a central role, they are much more important to the story than might be expected. One of the best plot twists is when one realizes just what chronological relation this novel has to Shadow, and just which of the Semperes one has met before. Gustave Barceló makes minor appearances, as do Isaac Monfort and his Cemetery of Forgotten Books. Interestingly, the idea of a character who may or may not be the very Devil himself is again played with.
As said before, religion and discussion of religion plays a significant part of the story, and as someone interested in this matter, I want to comment a bit on its usage in The Angel's Game.
Ruiz Zafón clearly holds (or at least his protagonist does) the economic view of history, and of religion as well. This would not be so bad if it were not for the way in which David Martín is portrayed studying religion and mythology so diligently (giving the impression that this view is vindicated by such study) without the author's having done so himself. That he has not is clear. Much of what he says about myths and religion is extremely simplistic at best, and completely wrong at worst. Even worse, Andreas Corelli openly criticizes those who read texts about religion instead of reading the actual holy books themselves; and then immediately proceeds to state that "They're all tales about characters who must confront life and overcome obstacles, figures setting off on a journey of spiritual enrichment through exploits and revelations." This reeks of religious interpretation, not religion itself. And while it is true in a very general way, it is not always the truth, and to make such a blanket statement after just having criticized others for doing the same thing strikes me as exceedingly off. Most of Corelli's criticisms of religion's role in society correspond more to how religion is misused and manipulated, and he never notices that his ideas about religious nature and values are all but in opposition to what most religions are actually saying.
However, Martín does at least have the humility to say (the best thing he ever says about the subject), "perhaps [it is] because I'm unable to understand beyond my own prejudices or because there is nothing else to understand and the crux of the matter lies in simply believing or not believing, without stopping to wonder why." This is a very wise thing to say, and it hints that things might not be as reducible as the narration would otherwise suggest. That the source of these views seems to be the Devil also hints toward the wisdom of not taking them at face value. Ruiz Zafón as well seems quite cognizant of the nature of Myth and Story, that they are important forms which inspire and convert us much more readily than merely propositional accounts. However, the implications of this truth are not nearly as cut and dry as they are presented. Some of the twentieth century's greatest fantasists, namely Tolkien and Lewis, held the same belief about Story (see the former's essay "On Fairy-stories") and yet drew wildly different conclusions.
Above all, despite its flaws, The Angel's Game is a worthy sequel to The Shadow of the Wind. As a confirmed fan of Carlos Ruiz Zafón, I cannot wait for the next installment. ”
