I hope I'm wrong when I say they don't make books like this anymore. I feel like I haven't read something this captivating and magical in a while. The author sets up an incredibly convincing dark Barcelona in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. The characters are so well structured that the reader can feel an instant connection (which always make it incredibly sad when finishing the book). I would lie if I said I didn't feel emotional at the end of the book (no spoilers ;P).