Pan’s Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun by Guillermo del Toro & Cornelia Funke

Pan’s Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun by Guillermo del Toro & Cornelia Funke
Published in: 2019
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★★]

If you want to believe in the power of magic and human goodness read on.

This ARC was provided by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Oscar winning writer-director Guillermo del Toro and New York Times bestselling author Cornelia Funke 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 gorgeous and haunting illustrations.

This book is not for the faint of heart or weak in spirit. It’s not for skeptics who don’t believe in fairy tales and the powerful forces of good. It’s only for brave and intrepid souls like you, who will stare down evil in all its forms.

Inspired by the critically acclaimed film written and directed by Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro and reimagined by New York Times bestselling author Cornelia Funke, this haunting tale takes readers to a darkly magical and war-torn world filled with richly drawn characters like trickster fauns, murderous men, child-eating monsters, courageous rebels, and a long-lost princess hoping to be reunited with her family

Book Worm’s Thoughts: I loved the movie so it was a given that I was going to love the book. For those who have seen the movie the book very much follows that story while allowing the reader to see extra details about the history of all the characters and the situation in Spain, for those who haven’t seen the movie…what are you waiting for?

This is a brilliant dark fairy tale where evil takes many forms but none as scary as humans themselves. It is the action of one heartbroken man that causes ripples down through the centuries and while human hatred is responsible for a lot of evil in the world it is human goodness that will ultimately triumph.

I loved learning more about the Underground Kingdom and how the labyrinth came to be made as well as how the various magical devices fall into the hands they end up in. These devices make the point that the world of the Faun and the world of the humans are not actually that far apart, and they leave intriguing mysteries about the relationships between those who hold them.

Here are some of my favourite quotes:

“Carmen Cardoso believed the most dangerous tale of all: the one of the prince who would save her.”

“Fifteen minutes’ muttered Vidal, who like all monsters – like death – was always punctual.”

“Dead. Did the word become more or less real with every time one had to attach it to a loved one?”

“Love is such a terribly efficient trap, and the cruellest truth about war is that it makes loving a deadly risk.”

Who would like this? If you love the film you will love this, if you love dark fairy tales you will love this, if you enjoy quirky fantasy reads you will enjoy this. If like me you believe you will love this.

We want to hear from you! Have you read this book? What did you think?