There's often a lot of talk about the quality of films based on a book that has been converted to the big screen, but what happens when a much respected film gets transformed into the written word? Pan's Labyrinth, a Spanish-language film by critically acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro is my favourite film and when I saw this book I knew I had to see what it was like. Cornelia Funke, an illustrator and storyteller, is the given the task of transforming the dark fairytale to life... and on the whole, I'd argue she succeeds.

Pan's Labyrinth closely follows the plot of its big screen counterparts, with the only additions being extra stories that open each section of the book and give a bit of history to some of the events or objects that are present in the story. These seem largely unnecessarily and in some ways undermine some elements of mystery contained within the film, but they do add to fairytale vibe throughout.

The rest of the book really does feel as though you are watching the film, with the tale written in a way that helps the reader recall each scene that has been previously watched. In this case, I think this is a good thing. What I have always loved about Pan's Labyrinth is that it is a gothic fairytale with the post-Spanish civil war backdrop. The combination of history and fairytale is enthralling and I think this novel version captures that adequately. Perhaps some of the magic created by the film being in Spanish is lost when reading English words, but that is ultimately a minor complaint.

You can tell that Cornelia Funke is a master at her craft and there really is a sense of childlike wonder steeped throughout the words she chooses to bring to life the story. This really does read like a fairytale and the gorgeous illustrations throughout are a nice addition. I enjoyed this and it's a welcome read for those who have seen the film. I would be interested to hear the opinions of those that hadn't seen the film, but I think the story is strong enough to capture anyone's interest.

Guillermo del Toro yet again shows himself to be a master of the gothic tale. In this novelisation of the 2006 film, Pan’s Labyrinth, he weaves the fairy-tale story of a young girl, Ofelia, who is taken by her mother to live with her new stepfather, a sadistic captain in the Spanish army during World War II.

Unwanted and ignored by the Capitán, Ofelia explores her new home and discovers a huge stone labyrinth and the impossible creature within, who tells her that she is the lost princess of the realm below. All she must do is complete three tasks and she can be restored to her rightful kingdom. Can she trust him, or is she better off adapting to life with her cruel stepfather?

I have to admit that I have never (yet) watched the film on which this novel is based, but from clips and trailers I have seen over the years I was expecting something much creepier than this. The novel is marketed as adult fiction, but I would say that it is suitable for a younger audience. Nevertheless, it is a lovingly crafted fairy-tale. I have not come across Cornelia Funke before, but she and del Toro work well together.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic tale of tales. Beatifully written and full of wonder.

The best fairytale i have read in decades

I absolutely loved everything about this book! I could read it over and over again and never get fed up.
I read this in one sitting, I just couldn't put it down, though I did try to distract myself so as not to finish it too soon. I was disappointed that it wasn't longer, but that said, I could have read this story for days and still wanted more. This is the kind of book that made me develop a love of reading in the first place. Amongst the hundreds of books I have read this is one that really stands out for me and it will definitely be a repeat read.
The characters were brilliantly portrayed in the best fairy tale style, with a few additional details, which placed them beautifully in their respective roles. The war played out well in the background, clearly defining each character's place in the battle of good versus evil. Exactly what I am looking for in a fairy tale.
The plot was full of magic, mythical creatures and quests. There were kings and queens, witches and monsters, fairies, soldiers and a lost princess. Everything you could possibly ask for in this kind of story. I loved the little side stories that introduced different chapters and felt they added an extra dimension. The setting was beautifully drawn, well described and totally appropriate to the plot.
A deliciously dark, well written fairy tale. This book reignited my excitement at discovering whole new worlds within it's pages and I am really hoping for more like it. It reminded me of the well loved books of my childhood, which are not often seen anymore. It has the makings of a classic

I thought this was a very good achievement considering the book is written based on the film, I really enjoyed it.

It's quite consistent with the film, and tells the story of Ofelia who discovers a fantasy world. This world somehow links to the one she lives in, which is Franco's Spain,. Things are quite violent with civil war at the time. There are interesting characters, and they are more fleshed out compared to the film, which was good actually. The book has a good pace as well.
Overall, I found it well written and definitely worth a read.

Thanks a lot Netgalley and the publisher for granting this copy in exchange for an honest review.

I watched the film of Pan’s Labyrinth just over 10 years ago now and remember really enjoying it so was excited to receive the ARC for the book. I think, judging from other reviews I have read that watching the film a long time ago was actually a really nice way to enjoy the book. A few reviews have lamented the fact that this is just a straight retelling of the film, but for me I couldn’t really remember how the story ended or what happened in particular detail which meant I still enjoyed it and got to experience it freshly again. Having seen the film however, meant that I still had some of the great creepy imagery in my head (particularly of The Pale Man and the Faun) which would pop up in my mind and add depth to the story on occasion.

Pan’s Labyrinth is probably best described as a dark, adult fairy tale with teeth. I loved the juxtaposition and changing perspectives between the gritty reality of Ofelia and her mother Carmen moving in with her new partner Vidal, Mercedes and her rebellious brother Pedro, Ofelia’s quest from the mysterious Faun and mythological fairy stories which were woven throughout. I really liked how the fairy stories were standalone and contained stories in their own right but also referenced and intertwined with the wider plot in small and clever ways. I thought the book on the whole was very well written and kept me hooked throughout with atmospheric passages and scary descriptions – I read it in two sittings and could not put it down.

I think my only criticism was that on my kindle advanced readers copy only the first two beautiful illustrations were visible – the rest just appeared as blank boxes. I hope this is fixed for the actual version as the ones I did get to see were lovely.

Overall Pan’s Labyrinth is the perfect dark fairy-tale – if you’ve never seen the film (or like me, it was a very long time ago) you will certainly enjoy it. Thank you to NetGalley & Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so happy I got to read the arc of this, I loved the film for years!

The writing is so beautifully poetic. I felt like I was reading a well loved old fairy tale.

The story is dark and disturbing at times, it has the worst of humanity but it also shows the bravery and courageousness of people who fought for their freedom.

The fantasy elements are so well woven into the real world history. It shifts between the fantastic and historic seamlessly.

Even though it follows the film very closely it also adds depth to the characters and their actions and motivations. I loved the extra fairy tales that they included, they show how the labyrinth came into being, the history of the mill and how the key came to be where it was. They really added that something extra.

If you're a fan of the film I highly recommend this and if you haven't watched it and like a dark beautifully written fairy tale set in a horrible time in history give this a go (and then enjoy watching the film)!

Thank you to Netgalley, the authors and Bloomsbury publishing for my arc of Pans Labyrinth in exchange for an honest review.


Synopsis: based on the hit film Pan’s Labyrinth follows the story of Ofelia a young girl living in a war torn world and unsure where to turn. It has magic and whimsy in a backdrop of terror and despair.


Ok, confession time, I haven’t seen the film this book is inspired by, I know a lot of people sing its praises but I’ve just never got around to it. Perhaps if I had seen the film I might have enjoyed this more.

First up, let me say that the writing was beautiful, I love Cornelia Funke so I wouldn’t expect any less where she’s involved. But the story itself was a bit lacking for me. I liked the first third of it, the backdrop of wartime Spain, the evil stepfather, the despair of Ofelia and how smart she was for a young girl ‘Only books talked about all the things adults didn’t want to ask you about – life, death. Good and evil. And what else truly mattered in life.’ But the rest of the book went by very quickly with events taking place very fast. I think if I could put my finger on the problem, it was that the story was only short but told from multiple perspectives, it could have benefited from being about twice the length it actually is, in order to fit in those perspectives as well as the folklore type stories told inbetween as well.

Fantasy novel based in post-Civil War Spain - just like the film - very good

This novel was written after the success of the film and tells the story faithfully (from what I can remember) and tells the story of Ofelia, a girl plucked from her home by her mother and her military stepfather, as she discovers a fantasy world linked to the cruel one in which she lives. There are a fair amount of interesting characters and the whole story moves along at a good pace, interlacing the fantasy background chapters with the reality of Franco's Spain. Enjoyable but the film is more effective for the images that it creates. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Pan's Labyrinth" is one of my favourite films of all times, so I was really excited about reading the book and it does not disappoint.

It manages to capture the spirit of the film, adding an extra layer of depth to this modern fairy tale of a girl who discovers she may be a lost fairy princess and has to battle through three trials to prove her identity. Set against the backdrop of a Spain divided by civil war, tragedy hides behind every corner as we learn that fairies are real and they have a dark side.

Whether you've seen the film or not, this beautiful fantasy is a must read. It'll whirl you into a different world, leaving you breathless and emotional when you turn the last page.

Yes, I cried.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

This was as glorious as I suspected it would be. I didn’t even feel like I was reading; I felt transported into the world.

I recieved a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really, really enjoyed this. It sucked me in from the very beginning with rich descriptions and fantastic characters.

I loved reading from Ofelia's pov. It was interesting to see her take on everything that happened... Interspersed with pov's from the adults around her and the creatures from the Underworld.

I think it stayed in line with the film really well - and I really enjoyed the film.

I'd love to read more by these authors I think they could do some amazing work

Are you a fan of the 2006 film El laberinto del fauno? Then you’ll love this book. Not seen the film? Then there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this book anyway.

Based on the film, this novelisation is a dark and heartbreaking fantasy set in Spain, 1944. A young girl called Ofelia arrives with her pregnant mother Carmen at a military post in an ancient forest. Ofelia’s new father, the evil Captain Vidal, is focused on only two things: hunting down the rebels and passing on his cruel vision of the world to his baby son. Ofelia is sought out by fairies, who lead her to the Faun (also known as Pan). He tells her that she’s actually a princess, Moanna, who found her way out of the Underworld a long time ago and whose spirit can return there on the completion of three tasks.

This is one of those stories where you can have your own interpretation. It can mean different things to different people, although clearly there are messages about the evils of fascism, oppression of women and how we can learn from children’s belief in magic. Although the writing style is simple, the meanings are complex. The story is unforgettable. I think it’s skilfully written and structured. The style can feel strange at first, because of the fairytale tone and yet it’s a book for adults. It’s a tragic and violent with hints of Alice in Wonderland, Narnia and the Brothers Grimm. As a book of the film, it’s perfect. As a book in its own right, it’s something very special.

The book includes illustrations by Allen Williams but I can’t comment on these, as my advance copy did not include most of them.

Thank you to the publisher Bloomsbury for the advance copy via Netgalley. This book will be published on July 2nd.

Note: review to be published on my blog on June 11th.

I want to start by talking about the gorgeous illustrations that start each section. I know this doesn't necessarily impact whether or not you'll buy, read, or enjoy a book, but as someone who hadn't seen the film before reading it was nice to get a glimpse of the aesthetic. Obviously, the fairytale vibe comes through in the writing, but the addition of those illustrations took me back to the old books of fairytales I had as a child, with little drawings at the start of each story. I'm not sure if that was the intention but it was certainly the feeling I had. 

I am a sucker for that fairytale writing style. I know not everyone enjoys it, but in a book like this, I'm not sure it could have gone any other way. Yes, it is steeped in allegory and metaphor but it manages to not feel silly (maybe this is coloured by the fact that I recently read Finale and that has a lot of silly similes. This manages to feel utterly timeless, despite the fact that it has such a clear historical setting. Again, I haven't seen the film, but the clips that I have seen also manage to capture that 'a world apart' feeling so I would imagine this is true to the aesthetic and the mood of the film. 

It's hard to deny that it is a good plot. I like that it pulls those fairytale tropes of three tasks, guardians and guides and so forth into a historical setting that is still comparatively modern. I wasn't sure if that would work in a book, whether it would throw off the pacing of the book, more often than not stories start with the premise of three tasks and then spin off into something completely different, with the tasks as a framework for a wider plot. I'd say this is less true here, the tasks have more importance to the main plot, though there is an element of 'more is going on here than meets the eye'.

While you get a good sense of the childlike quality of Ophelia, nonetheless she still feels quite generic to me. In another story, I might see that as a negative, but in this case, I think it hearkens back to that fairytale nature (drink every time I reference fairytales?) and that sense that this could be anyone, that this could be you. I'm not suggesting I'd want to take Ophelia's place in the story, and I'm certainly not suggesting I'd make some of the choices she makes (you were given clear instructions how did you manage to mess this up?) but I would certainly like a peek into this strange world. 

This would be a great book if, like me, you have yet to see the film. I'll be interested to see how those who adore the film find the novelisation. I personally thought that some of the prose felt a little stilted but wonder if that might be part of the process of going from screen to page? 

My rating: 4/5 stars

I received a free digital advanced review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. 

Pan's Labyrinth comes out July 2nd!

Reading this was a cinematic experience - all the joy of the much-loved film combined with the dark and twisty stories Cornelia Funke is such a master at writing.

I am completely and utterly in love with this book!

I've watched the Pans Labyrinth film several times over the years, a perfect blend of fantasy, history and horror. This made it easy to mentally conjure the imagery of the book as I've already seen it unfold. Not to worry if you've not seen the movie, GDT & Funke have reproduced the bleak, foreboding atmosphere beautifully.

The story is perfectly accurate to the prior film release but with all the additions the movie couldn't provide.
In particular I adored the many short stories intertwined with the main plot; Explanations of how and when some of the artifacts came to be, such as the watch, the knife and the book.
Tales of past lives, the toad, the pale man/child eater, the witch who instructed the labyrinths creation and so much more add tremendous depth to a story I already loved.

The insight into Capitan Vidal's mind made him an even more formidable antagonist. A cruel twisted man, the book gives us further development by exploring his weaknesses and feelings of inadequacy.
Pan himself takes on new qualities and his character had more impact for me in this written version.
Ofelia's mother remains as feeble and desperate as first perceived but now we are able to understand her motivations and see the childlike hope she clings to.

Pans Labyrinth is written just like an old fairytale. The prose is so authentic I could actually hear the narrator reading it to me.
Unfortunately the ARC ebook I received was not formatted well and only two of the images were present. Not that it really matters since I will DEFINITELY be purchasing a physical copy of Pans Labyrinth, I truly cannot praise it enough!

I’ll start my review by getting this out in the open....I preferred the movie. Yes I know that’s blasphemy but the movie presents itself a lot better.
I was hoping to have the storyline fleshed out a little but this is a direct copy of the movie with some short underground fairy tales thrown in.

Don’t get me wrong this isn't a bad book at all, I just wanted more. Just a reminder that if you haven’t seen the movie this is not a kids book and it’s gruesome!

I received this from Net Galley as a proof reading copy in exchange for a fair review. If you have seen the film of Pan's Labyrinth then you will know what to expect. I was very interested in reading this as a fan of both Guillemo Del Toro and Cornelia Funke. The book did not loose any of the fairy tale magic of the film and the interspersed fairy tales are actually better written down. If anything I felt that the story was too short. I would have like to know more about Franco's Spain and the rebels in the woods. I would love to use extracts from the novel for AQA English Language paper 1 as it is beautifully written and full of rich imagery.

Pan's Labyrinth, I loved the film so I was rather excited when I saw the book appear on Netgalley.

Now it's been quite a long time since I watched the Pan's Labyrinth film and I'll admit that as much as I loved it, I did struggle with the foreign side of things.

To be honest I always prefer a book so I was hoping that this tale would live up to my expectations and it absolutely did.

A wonderful telling of a dark, emotive fairytale.

The characters were written just as I'd imagined them and actually complimented the movie quite well although if you haven't seen the movie I would recommend reading this book first as it allows the reader to create the worlds spoke about in their minds.

This story isn't that long but the slow pace and build of it makes you really want to take your time over each and every word.

Sort of poetic in places.

Highly recommended.

Pan's Labyrinth is one of my favourite films, so I was both excited and apprehensive about a new book depicting the story coming out. My apprehension disappeared within the first chapter. This book reads beautifully and it brings the magic of the film with it. Both Del Toro and Funke's writing makes the fairytale so real the words feel almost enchanted somehow. The story follows the movie so if you loved the film you will love this too. It's emotional and poignant. A beautiful story to add to my collection and one to read to my children in the future.