Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun
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
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
Pan's Labyrinth is what one expects it to be a novelization of Guillermo Del Toro's fantastic movie of the same name. Except there is so much more to it. Following Ofelia, the novel follows the same path as the film, with minor differences.
The vivid imagination here embodies Del Toro's visual aesthetic beautifully. By translating his work into a novel, with the teamwork and style of Funke's storytelling, there is a much needed in-depth analysis of the characters, giving them new dimensions, as well as providing their history and the respective narratives a stronger voice. The reader can understand the characters a little more and see them in a different light. Funke and Del Toro came together to provide each character and the story as a whole, with a haunting atmosphere that is both enigmatic and fearful at the same time. It is a wonderfully dangerous beauty what this novel is, capturing the pain, fear, and heartbreak in the film and translating it with such vivid wonder into the novel. By giving each character a voice in the scenes, together, the authors create a balanced and thoughtful representation of the story, highlighting the haunting illustration of the traits and insecurities behind each of the characters.
Del Toro and Funke also added more to the story that breaks up the overall plot and yet influences it so heavily. The small inserts of the magic and history of the novel. They are unique to the novel but have an incredible bearing on the smallest of elements of the film. It provides the novel with this powerful, vibrant intensity, highlighting the magical realism of the novel. The added illustrations also give the novel a feel of the fairy tale magic. They are done in style similar to those of Grimm Fairy Tales, and gives the story an eerie feeling to it, allowing the magic and mysticism to bleed off the pages.
This novel gives readers and fans a new appreciation of the film as a whole as it adds dimensions to the story as a whole.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
Ofelia explores a place called a Labyrinth. She meets magical creatures who speak to her such as fairies and a Faun. There are also creatures who aren't so nice, such as the poisonous toad and the Pale Man who eats the children. The fairies and the Faun are looking for the princess who disappeared a long long time ago and they believe that Ofelia is the missing princess. The Faun gives Ofelia three tasks in order to prove she is the princess. The tasks include getting the key from the poisonous toad, the knife from the Pale Man. And finally the last task is to get her baby brother and take him to the Labyrinth as quick as she can.
Ofelia's mother Carmen dies during childbirth, she gave Vidal a son. A son he wanted to be just like him. The maid Mercedes tries to get Ofelia the now orphan away from the monster. But Vidal catches them, he takes Ofelia and puts her in a room, while Mercedes gets taken to the barn and attacks Vidal. He sends his men to get her but the rebels protect her and kill the men. Mercedes gets away and the Faun helps Ofelia escape. It was time to fulfil the last task. She tried to do the last task but was shot and killed by Vidal. Then he met his match, he gave Mercedes his son and then Vidal was killed. Mercedes finds Ofelia's body and cried and cried.
Ofelia heard someone say "arise my child". It was her mother sitting on a throne and next to her was Ofelia's father. They were the king and queen who lost their princess. Their Ofelia she was back and love filled their hearts once again.
What can I say I loved this book.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.