I am extremely conflicted about this book. On one hand, I found the story really original and unique, blessed with a great setting and Ruiz Zafón's usual breathtaking prose. On the other hand, however, I just could not shake the feeling that the whole thing was just a bit too rushed to satisfy me.

The suspense and mystery were constructed very well, with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. The way it was delivered, however, really disappointed me, mainly because the solution to every enigma came from very long scenes of character speech rather than action. To me, this just seemed a bit too convenient and really not as engaging as it could have been. For the rest, I had the same problem with this novel as with The Prince of Mist: sometimes, I just could not understand why certain things were happening, and I was left slightly confused and wondering just what the characters' reasoning behind some of their choices was.

As for the characters, I really liked the kids. The members of the Chowbar Society were everything I would expect from children of their age, each with their own set of talents and peculiarities that made them unique. The only thing is I would have liked to see them more developed, both as individual characters and in relation to each other as a group. The adults in this book, instead, were markedly absent, coming in only to provide the explanations necessary to keep the story going, which would really bother me if this weren't a YA novel where children are typically the main focus of the story. As for the villan, he was creepy in all the right moments and, although he too lacked some depth and the story of his origin left me with more questions than it answered, he performed his role incredibly well.

Overall, this was a rather enjoyable read. It's a good story, with enough mystery and suspense to keep you going until the end. If, unlike me, you're not too bothered by the fact that not everything is explained, you'll probably love it. If not, I think it's still worth reading, if only for the author's beautiful writing style.

You can read this review and more on my blog. ( )

Di Carlos Ruiz Zafon avevo letto “Il gioco dell’angelo” e rivedendo la recensione mi era piaciuto. Ed avevo iniziato questo libro, “Il palazzo della mezzanotte” con un certo entusiasmo, la trama descritta sul retro mi aveva intrigato, una sorta di giallo nei bassifondi di Calcutta, immaginavo un romanzo semplice ed avvincente. Non sono in un grande momento di lettura, ma oggettivamente questo libro mi ha veramente annoiato, mi è sembrata una di quelle cose scritte tanto per scrivere, inutilmente melenso, non sono riuscito neanche a seguire bene la trama. L’ho terminato per orgoglio, ma con grande difficoltà, più volte sono stato tentato abbandonarlo. ( )

Ambientada en la Calcuta de los anos treinta, El Palacio de la Medianoche comienza una noche oscura en la que un teniente ingles lucha por salvar las vidas de dos niños de una amenaza impensable. A pesar de las insoportables lluvias del monzón y el terror que lo asedia en cada esquina, el joven británico logra ponerlos a salvo, pero no sin perder su propia vida...
Años mas tarde, cuando los dos niños, Ben y Sheere, están en víspera de celebrar su decimosexto cumpleaños, la amenaza reaparece en sus vidas y esta vez no los dejara escapar tan fácilmente. Con la ayuda de sus valientes amigos, los dos hermanos deberán desafiar el terror que los acecha en las sombras de la noche y enfrentarse al enigma mas aterrador de la historia de la ciudad de los palacios.

I liked it, but the fantasy element was not well done. It remained foggy and unclear, and at times a little unnecessary. The writing was beautiful, though. ( )

For the past few years the Midnight Palace has been home to the secret club of the Chowbar Society, a select group of people who live by two hard and fast rules. The first is to share all knowledge they possess, learn and come by. The second is to protect each member of the group with their lives. Now at sixteen years of age and legally adults, the members of this group are meeting up for the last time.

Growing up as orphans in 1930's Calcutta, the seven members of the Chowbar Society all believed themselves to be children with no past and therefore the future was free and open. However one of these members was about to discover not only a dark past filled with lies, murder and the family he never new existed, but there was still the threat of danger alive today from a man long dead out to kill again.

The Midnight Palace is a tale of friendship, family and demons from the past. While the ghost of those long dead return, restless and seeking out the living for their own haunted purposes, it is the living that will have to sacrifice one of their own for a chance at peace. A dark and tragic tale of friendship, loss and love written as only Carlos Ruiz Zafon can produce. ( )