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Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War
Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War
Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War
Audiobook14 hours

Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War

Written by Clive Barker

Narrated by Richard Ferrone

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

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About this audiobook

Clive Barker, author of The Thief of Always, delivers an epic battle filled with fantasy and adventure that readers won't want to put down!

All things in their time . . .

Candy Quackenbush's adventures in the Abarat are getting stranger by the hour. Why has the Lord of Midnight sent his henchman after her? Why can she suddenly speak words of magic? Why is this world familiar?

Candy and her companions must solve the mystery of her past before the forces of Night and Day clash and Absolute Midnight descends upon the islands.

A final war is about to begin. . . .

Don't miss this second book in Clive Barker's New York Times bestselling Abarat series.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperCollins
Release dateJan 11, 2005
ISBN9780060820596

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Reviews for Abarat

Rating: 4.439024390243903 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

41 ratings20 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    The second book of Abarat isn't bad plot-wise. The book continues Candy's Abaratian adventures, just about where the first one ended. Some old characters drop out (get murdered) and new ones join her (several of those get murdered too) as Candy begins to realize just who she is and where her destiny is taking her. She revisits Chickentown with the idea that she belongs there, but is happy, in the end, to return to Abarat, where her real life is just beginning. We are warned of the problems and the Darkness looming in her future, but that's another story. "So ends the second book of the Abarat." I guess I have come to realize that this book, as well as Abarat, is just as much of the horror genre as of fantasy, and while I love the fantasy, I just don't much like horror. I don't care for the hopelessness of many of the characters in these books. I don't see the characters as being particularly well-drawn, and maybe that's just as well, because so many of them die. They all seem to be confused, unhappy people - whether they are good, bad or just indifferent. In fact, the author has made this a spiritual horror story. There is a definate thread of spirituality running through both books, with the characters looking for something beyond themselves. His characters do a lot of desultory praying when they are in tight spots, but Barker lets you know that their prayers are usually not answered. Seemingly he would like to unveil the mysteries of life, but he simply doesn't know how.Still, the illustrations are absolutly georgeous, and blend in with the story brilliantly. For that reason, if for no other, I'd like to finish the series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book is a great second book. This one left me hanging, groping for more, as a second should do, so Im eagerly waiting for the third!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    In the second book of the Abarat series continues the adventures of the little girl Candy. What can I say? Barker's fantasy is simply fascinating... I can hardly wait the sequel.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    See everything I said for Abarat without the bit of plot drag at the beginning. (And, honestly, don't read this one without reading the first one anyway.) More characters come into the picture, but they are just as well-developed as the ones from the first book. The ending sets up the sequel well while not leaving the reader feeling unfulfilled. Am definitely looking forward to the next installment.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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 piece of fiction.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Eh. Way too much of Clive Barker being impressed with himself in this book. I wanted to skip over all of the descriptions because they weren't adding anything to the storyline, just taking away.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The continuing adventures of one Candy Quackenbush making her way through the Abarat. She finds more friends and allies, continues having to evade the Lord of Midnight and Mater Motley, and connecting more and more to this world she had not even known existed scant weeks before. Why do these places seem to familiar? Why is it she knows such powerful magic? Will she ever return home?I highly recommend finding a copy which includes Barker's artwork. They add a hefty dose of enchantment to an already mythic tale.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    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 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.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    An excellent addition to the Abarat series. The first book leaves you hanging, and so does this one. Give me more!!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Now I'm not a huge Barker fan, however I enjoyed the first Abarat book and was looking foward to the continuing adventures of Candy Quackenbush. "Days of Magic, Nights of War" covers another handful of Hours (islands) from the world of Abarat, giving Barker free reign to be inventive, bizzare and, as ever, all tinted with an edge of possibility. It's the hint of realism that keeps you reading - it's written in such simple narrative how can it not be fact. As far as the style, I found it to be less dark that the predecessor, and although Carrion and Mater were still very much present, their malign characterisations were not as strong. Without offering any spoilers, I believe Barker attempts to fix this at the end of the book. The book introduces a strong central story which will propel us through the next volume and has created the idea of a Tolkein "company" to fight the evil menaces from the Midnight Hour, almost all of the characters you'll already know from the first book. Overall, there's a great movie like feel to the book. It's fast paced, surreal and nightmarish in parts; a page-turner with lots of surprises and a brilliant plotted end.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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; 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.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A strong sequel to the enchanting Abarat. This volume in the series is a little less picaresque than the first book, as events in the Abarat are starting to come to a head. One of the strongest things about this series is Barker's apparently limitless sense for the bizarre and unique -- the basic plot of the series thus far has a lot of fairly typical fantasy elements, but Barker still manages to surprise, as he turns things on their head over and over again. The illustrations are lovely, as well.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Like a REALLY trippy version of Alice in Wonderland with Clive Barker's flavoring. Excellent.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One thing the best books I have ever read!????love this book so much.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    As always, his paintings are lovely and stirringFebruary 11, 2008Barker does fantastical so well, that for a while I come to believe it and my mind lives there in hope. I would love to visit those islands, (both of night and day), befriend her shipmates, creatures, circus folk, Monkee, swim in the sentient sea Isabella, and wander the ruins.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Reminiscent of the Wizard of Oz Mirrormask Legend and other fantastic journeys Abarat is an exciting delightful read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    If you read my review of the first book of the Abarat series, you can see me raving like a lunatic. Here, less drool. This book is very consistent with the first: beautiful pictures, great setting, and great characters. The momentum is the only problem. I think Clive Barker (the author) maybe stretched this too thin in order to bang out another sequel. This is not to say that it isn't a great book. I would still recommend buying it, just be prepared to pick it up and put it back done. Overall, quite satisfying though.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is one of my favourite books ever. There are characters from the first book, and new ones, but they are all great, and each more fantastical then before. The story starts a few months after the first finished and Candy and Malingo have been travelling around the Abarat. However they are still pursued by Christopher Carrion's henchmen and they are seperated, and have to make their own seperate journeys. Their adventures take them through more of the hours, from Twilight to Three in the afternoon and more.