This book is captivating, wondrous! I havn't felt so affected by a good piece of fiction in a while. Set in one of my favourite cities, the mystery, intrigue, thrill & suspense had weaved in a fair bit of thought-provoking wisdom learnt by the characters after undergoing the greatest sufferings. I sympathised with all of the cursed characters from Julian Carax's past- his best friend who adored him and sacrificed everything he could, including his life; Nuria Monfort, his lover who loved him while knowing that he only thought of Penelope (who turned out to his half-sister?!); his beloved Penelope who died in childbirth as punished by her furious father; his long-suffering mother and father trapped in an unhappy marriage; and also himself who eventually morphed into a devil due to pure self-hatred. I was so relieved to see him find self-redemption at the end of the story. Anyhow, I'm contemplating about the different memorable bits sprouted within the book. It mentioned that one only loves truly once in one's life, even if you don't know it. How can you be sure of it? If it's true, how do you know that someone is the right one whom you're devoting true love to? How ironic for me to take these words so seriously when Nuria lamented that there are worse prisons than words. Memories for one, is definitely a good example. Nevertheless, you exist to the extent that someone remembers you. This was Nuria's last beseech to Daniel before she died in Fumero's hands. Memory is a sharp double-edged sword glinting in the light streaming in from the end of tunnel. It'll only cut deeply when fallen into the wrong hands, so please use it prudently and guard it fiercely.
