– "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafón is a literary phenomenon and a worldwide bestseller, translated into more than 50 languages and awarded a collection of prestigious prizes in the USA, Spain, the UK, France, and other countries. Critics call Zafón's works "a new cultural phenomenon in contemporary prose." – The plot centers on ten-year-old Daniel, who stumbles upon the mysterious shop "The Cemetery of Forgotten Books" and chooses a novel by the unknown author Julián Carax. From that moment, the boy's life changes: he begins to unravel the mystery of the book and its creator, while a mysterious stranger appears in the city, obsessed with destroying all of Carax's works. – The action unfolds in the mystical atmosphere of post-war Barcelona: the reader walks with the hero through the dark labyrinths of the past, meets sinister strangers and beautiful mysterious women, uncovers the secret of the book that changes the lives of those who touch it. – According to The Washington Post, "Anyone who loves terrifying, thrilling, touching, tragic, and suspenseful novels must run to the nearest bookstore to buy ‘The Shadow of the Wind.’" – The author's style features genre blending (elements of detective, mystery, thriller, coming-of-age novel), a multi-layered plot (Daniel's story intertwines with Julián Carax’s fate, creating a mirror effect), an atmosphere of mystery, philosophical depth, and bright multifaceted characters.