Title: Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War
Author: Clive Barker
First published September 21, 2004
569 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780060596385 (ISBN10: 0060596384)
Rating: 4.21
Overview
Journey with Candy Quackenbush once again as she navigates the mysterious and fantastical world of Abarat. As her adventures intensify, she finds herself facing even more perilous challenges.
The Lord of Midnight has sent his most fearsome henchman after Candy, and she can suddenly speak words of magic. But why?
As Candy and her companions delve deeper into the secrets of her past, they discover shocking truths about the world of Abarat. With the forces of Night and Day on the brink of war, Candy and her friends must race against time to prevent absolute chaos from descending upon the islands.
The fate of Abarat hangs in the balance, and Candy must summon all of her strength and courage to face the final war. Don’t miss this thrilling and enchanting sequel to Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War.
About the Author
Clive Barker, a renowned author and artist, was born in Liverpool, England to Joan Rubie (née Revill) and Leonard Barker. Joan was a school welfare officer and a painter while Leonard worked as a personnel director for an industrial relations firm.
Clive attended Dovedale Primary School and Quarry Bank High School before studying English and Philosophy at Liverpool University. His picture now adorns the entrance hallway to the Philosophy Department.
In 1975, he met his first partner, John Gregson, with whom he lived until 1986. His second long-term relationship was with photographer David Armstrong, which ended in 2009.
In 2003, Clive Barker was awarded The Davidson/Valentini Award at the 15th GLAAD Media Awards. This prestigious award is given to openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals who have contributed significantly to promoting equal rights in any of those communities.
Although Barker is critical of organized religion, he believes in God and the afterlife and admits that the Bible influences his work.
Fans have noticed that Barker’s voice has become gravelly and coarse in recent years. In a December 2008 online interview, he explained that his polyps were so severe that a doctor told him he was only taking ten percent of the air he was meant to be getting, and he had to undergo two surgeries to remove them.
Barker’s voice improved after the surgeries, and he clarified that he did not have cancer and had given up cigars. However, on August 27, 2010, he underwent another surgery to remove new polyp growths from his throat.
In February 2012, a visit to the dentist led to blood poisoning, causing Barker to fall into a coma for eleven days. He eventually woke up, but he experienced strange visions during his recovery.
Barker is one of the most highly regarded authors in contemporary horror/fantasy. Although he started his career writing horror short stories (collected in Books of Blood 1 – 6) and the Faustian novel The Damnation Game (1985), he later moved towards modern-day fantasy and urban fantasy with horror elements in Weaveworld (1987), The Great and Secret Show (1989), Imajica (1991), and Sacrament (1996).
His works explore the concepts of reality, the nature of the mind, dreams, and the power of words and memories.
Barker is also interested in movie production, although his films have received mixed reviews. He wrote the screenplays for Underworld (aka Transmutations – 1985) and Rawhead Rex (1986), both directed by George Pavlou.
Displeased by how his material was handled, he directed Hellraiser (1987), based on his novella The Hellbound Heart. His early movies, The Forbidden and Salome, are experimental art movies with surrealist elements that have been re-released together to moderate critical acclaim.
Barker returned to write and direct Lord of Illusions after his film Nightbreed (Cabal) was widely considered a flop. He was also an executive producer of the critically acclaimed film Gods and Monsters.
Barker is a prolific visual artist who works in various media, often illustrating his own books. His paintings have been featured on the covers of his official fan club magazine, Dread, published by Fantaco in the early Nineties, as well as the collections of his plays, Incarnations (1995) and Forms of Heaven (1996), and the second printing of the original UK publications of his Books of Blood series.
As a longtime comics fan, Barker was thrilled to publish his own superhero books when Marvel Comics launched the Razorline imprint in 1993. The four interrelated titles were Ectokid,
Editoral Review
In Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War, Clive Barker takes readers on another vivid and imaginative journey into his fantastical world, continuing the story of young Candy Quackenbush as she navigates the strange and wondrous landscape of the Abarat. Barker, known for his horror fiction and dark themes, brings his trademark style to the young adult fantasy genre.
His skillful prose and intricate world-building make Abarat a delightfully immersive experience for readers of all ages. The plot of Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War picks up where the first book in the series, Abarat, left off.
Candy is still on her quest to save the Abarat from the evil sorcerer Christopher Carrion, but she finds herself facing even greater challenges and dangers than before. Along the way, she meets a cast of fascinating characters, including John Mischief and his brothers, and the mysterious and alluring Princess Boa.
The setting of the Abarat is a marvel of imagination, with each of its twenty-five islands representing a different hour of the day. Barker’s vivid descriptions and colorful illustrations bring this magical world to life, making it easy for readers to lose themselves in its beauty and wonder.
Despite being marketed as a young adult novel, Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War does not shy away from complex and mature themes. Barker explores the nature of power, the meaning of identity, and the consequences of war, all while entertaining his audience with a thrilling and suspenseful story.
However, the book is not without its flaws. At times, the pacing can be slow, and some of the characters feel underdeveloped or one-dimensional.
Additionally, the book can be somewhat confusing for readers who haven’t read the first installment in the series. Despite its shortcomings, Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War is a captivating and inspiring read.
It offers a refreshing and imaginative take on the young adult fantasy genre and serves as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling. For fans of Clive Barker, Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War is a must-read.
For readers looking for a thrilling and thought-provoking adventure, full of magic, wonder, and danger, this book should not be missed. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
