Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War

It's not very often that I like the second book in a series more than the first. Whereas the first book in the Abarat series felt like a prologue, Days of Magic, Nights of War really takes off. I liked the first book enough to read this one, and I'm glad I did! The illustrations are amazing (but not for young kids!), and the plot really gains in complexity, making it a much more entertaining read and easier to become enamored with this magical world Clive Barker has created.

A good follow-up to the first book, much improved by my having access to the illustrated edition. I liked the development of Candy's family in this volume, particularly her mother. I continue to be a bit concerned that Candy has maybe been hit with some sort of honesty curse that makes her just blurt out her opinions and true identity uncontrollably, but it's gotten a bit better.

This is the second book in Clive Barker's Abarat series and I think he has created a wonderful and fantastical world in these stories. The world of Abarat is a vast archipelago where every island is a different hour of the day.

In the first book, we were introduced to Candy Quackenbush, a young girl from Chickentown, Minnesota who is swept away from Chickentown on a wave that takes her to the Abarat. In this second volume we find out more about Candy's links to the Abarat and the plans the forces of Night have for Absolute Midnight to descend on the islands.

My editions of these books are the hardcover, illustrated editions which each contain over a hundred paintings by Clive Barker of the islands and their inhabitants. I think the show more paperback editions of these books don't include these paintings and I would really recommend trying to get hold of a copy with the illustrations if possible because I think they add so much to the story.

These are children's books so although there are elements of horror and the grotesque in the stories it is toned down to an appropriate level for older children. The books don't have the fast pace of other popular young adult books like The Hunger Games series but I enjoyed being able to take the time to discover the Abarat and the wonderful world Clive Barker has created.

Sadly, book 2 was released in 2004 and there has been a long wait for the third book which still isn't released. But if you can cope with a wait for book 3 I would recommend this series. show less

This is the second Abarat book by Clive Barker and starts shortly after where the last one left off. I listened to this book on audio book and, like audio book of Abarat, the audio book was very well done.

Once again we follow Candy on her efforts to elude Christopher Carrion. Candy bumps into a cast of great new quirky characters as she tries to flee Carrion’s minions. John Mischief and crew are still trying to find Fennigan Hob. Will Christopher Carrion be able to bring about Permanent Midnight? What is Candy Quackenbush’s real identity? These are all things that are visited in this book.

This is a great book, it is very creative, and still reminds me a bit of Alice in Wonderland. This book is definitely written by a horror author; show more there is a sort of cloud of evil or despair over the story as you read it. While this is a great book, really young children would probably find it too scary and some of the ending fight scenes are pretty-darn gory.

I really love Barker’s bad guys. I just can’t emphasize enough how much depth the bad guys have. Especially with Christopher Carrion; you can never figure out if he is really bad to the core or if maybe he was just born into a bad family. The ending surprised me a bit, as the whole mystery surrounding Candy didn’t end up exactly how I thought it would.

There were a couple things that really disappointed me; this book still had a very open ending. There is a lot in Abarat that needs to be resolved at the close of the book. That was very disappointing to me since I haven’t seen (or heard of plans for) another Abarat book. I didn’t like how it ended for Candy’s mother either. I guess I just have to live with that since Barker seems more about realism than happy endings. I was also curious as to why Rojo Pixler and the Commexo kid weren’t mentioned much in this book. In the last book Rojo looked like a big contender for a parallel bad guy; that was dropped in this book.

All the above being said; this was still a very good book and a great follow-up to Abarat. show less

Oh my god! I loved this book just as much as the first! The heroine finally finding the answers to questions all through the first book and bravely taking on villains that you love to hate but can't help feeling sorry for. War, love, family, trust and friendship. This book will send your emotions making you feel as though you just might be bipolar or manic even if you are not. Every character had their own story and they all intertwine in some way. I cannot recommend this book anymore highly!

Darker, longer, not so standalone. Makes you wish it hadn't taken two extra years to get the next one. Loses a bit of wonder in favor of more plot, but should still have enough to go around.

The second in the Abarat series of a planned four (although I doubt we will see any more, at least in a long time). This one has more of a straightforward story than the first and the plotlines are easier to follow. The paintings are still outstanding - the burning of the Carrion Night Mansion being one of the best - and the characters are true Barker, i.e. genius. There aren't enough of them, though - not even close to as many as in the first book. Also, it feels as if the idea of the text following the paintings' lead is wearing out and, although it makes for an easier read, it also takes away some of the magic for me - the fantastic imagination is after all what I read Barker for. Still, for a YA novel, it's still a pretty great show more piece of fiction. show less