As a child, Daniel Sempere discovered a book that would change his life forever. Now a grown man, he is just one step away from solving the mystery of his mother's death when a new plot is revealed, much deeper and darker than he could ever have imagined. That is when Alicia Gris appears, a soul born from the shadows of war, to lead Daniel to the heart of darkness and reveal the secret history of his family ... at a terrible price.

This is the final chapter in the story that began with The Shadow of the Wind and brings it to a grand finale. It is a tribute to the world of books, the art of storytelling and the magical link between literature and life.

Carlos Ruiz Zafón is the internationally bestselling author of the 'Cemetery of Forgotten Books' series, including The Shadow of the Wind, The Angel's Game and The Prisoner of Heaven. His works have been translated into more than fifty languages and honoured with numerous international awards.

Lucia Graves is an English writer and translator. Her translations from the Spanish include the worldwide bestsellers The Shadow of the Wind, The Angel's Game and The Prisoner of Heaven. She has also published a novel, The Memory House, and a memoir, A Woman Unknown.

'This is explicitly, and joyously, a book about books, about what can be learned from them (say, how to follow someone in the street), and what is lost when they are lost.' Guardian

'Full of stylish writing, Gothic atmosphere and love letters to 19th-century novels.' Washington Post

'A romantic fantasy for book lovers.' Sydney Morning Herald