Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun
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4.7 • 31 Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
A New York Times Bestseller!
Fans of dark fairy-tales like The Hazel Wood and The Cruel Prince will relish this atmospheric and absorbing book based on Guillermo del Toro’s critically acclaimed movie.
Oscar winning writer-director Guillermo del Toro and bestselling author Cornelia Funke have come together to transform del Toro’s hit movie Pan’s Labyrinth into an epic and dark fantasy novel for readers of all ages, complete with haunting illustrations and enchanting short stories that flesh out the folklore of this fascinating world.
This spellbinding tale takes readers to a sinister, magical, and war-torn world filled with richly drawn characters like trickster fauns, murderous soldiers, child-eating monsters, courageous rebels, and a long-lost princess hoping to be reunited with her family.
A brilliant collaboration between masterful storytellers that’s not to be missed.
“Perfectly unsettling and deeply felt, this reminded me of the best kind of fairytales wherein each chapter is a jewel that, when held up to the light, reframes how we see the world around us.” —Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen and Aru Shah and the End of Time
“A fearless and moving adaption of the film, and a gorgeously written, emotional, frightening parable about the courage of young women amid the brutality of war.” —Michael Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Gone
But in a world of monsters, both real and imagined, which path leads to salvation?
Historical Fantasy: Set against the backdrop of 1944 Spain, this tale weaves magical realism with the grim reality of a nation torn apart by war.A Dark Fairy Tale: Face a labyrinth of trickster fauns, child-eating monsters, and soldiers more brutal than any beast as Ofelia undertakes three perilous tasks.Choices and Consequences: A haunting coming-of-age story where a lost princess must decide who to trust and what she is willing to sacrifice to find her way home.Haunting Illustrations and Folklore: Deepen the immersion with stunning illustrations and enchanting short stories that expand the lore of this spellbinding world.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this dark fantasy, Funke (the Inkheart trilogy) revisits Pan's Labyrinth, del Toro's acclaimed 2006 film in which a girl undergoes a series of fairy tale inspired tasks set against the backdrop of 1944 Spain. Ofelia, 13, must adjust to her new surroundings after she and her pregnant mother move to the north of Spain to live with her new stepfather, the evil Capitan Vidal, who is obsessed with hunting down local resistance fighters. Then, the mysterious Faun visits Ofelia and informs her that she is the long-missing daughter of the Underworld's king. In order to return home, she must prove her worth by completing three tasks. The film's storyline interwove Ofelia's challenges in a mythical labyrinth with scenes in the real world, and Funke's expansion reveals further backstory through a series of fairy tale vignettes touching upon relevant people, items, and themes, including the enigmatic Faun who sets everything in motion and Capitan Vidal's prized razor. Fans of the film will enjoy this in-depth exploration and reimagining of the source material, while newcomers will have no trouble getting into the story, though its dark themes and occasional gruesome scenes aren't for the fainthearted. Ages 14 up.
Customer Reviews
Dominic Navarrete
I am in love with the movie and I am extremely impressed with how this book came out. When my brother showed me this was going to come out I couldn’t wait to get it. Toro and Funke really out did themselves with turning the movie into a book and the artwork is absolutely gorgeous especially The Faun And Pale Man. They nailed it 100%. The book is exactly like the movie and it goes from the story to little short stories and comes with haunting, beautiful artwork. This is an absolute masterpiece and I highly recommend it if you’re a fan of the authors or the movie.
Excellent read, but...
...it has its flaws.
I fell in love with the movie the first time I saw it. Which is saying something because, I avoid subtitles like the plague.
This book, paints an even better image of the storyline, than the movie. The included fairytales, added information that the movie lacked. They’re not necessarily vital to the actual narrative, but they do answer a few questions for those who are a bit more curious.
It’s definitely something I will read again. Probably sooner, rather than later.
However, I do find issue with one thing. There are several grammatical errors in the text, breaking the flow. You may find yourself having to reread certain parts, to make sure you’ve understood what the authors were trying to convey.
Then again, this is an exceeding common issue with nearly every book that has been published in recent years. I’ve even found a number of them in one of the most popular series there is these days. (Think witchcraft, wizardry, and schools.)
So, really, it’s nothing major, in comparison with recent literature. It’s simple editing error, but it did bring my rating from 5/5, to 4/5. It is a published book, after all. It should be held to a higher standard. It’s not a social media post, a fan-fiction, or a book review.
But don’t let its grammatical shortcomings stop you from reading it, especially if you enjoyed the movie. It’s well worth it.