Days of Magic, Nights of War

May 1, 2005
Gr 7-10 -Candy Quakenbush and her chum, Malingo, who first came to our attention in Clive Barker's "Abarat"(HarperCollins, 2002), have surfaced again in this sequel (Joanna Cotler Books, 2004). Candy is on the run from the Lord of Midnight, Christopher Carrion. Carrion and his evil grandmother, Mater Motley, are determined to begin a war that will bring absolute darkness to the Abarat forever. Believing that Candy has the power to prevent their wicked plot, they decide that she must die and Carrion relentlessly pursues her. Candy slowly begins to understand what is going on as she performs magic she hasn't learned and recalls memories of things she never experienced. Along the way, she encounters a succession of both helpful and unsympathetic characters. Candy and the dragon slayer, Finnigan Hobb, are drawn to each other and the shocking reason is revealed toward the end of the tale. The raspy voice of narrator Richard Ferrone serves the novel well. His interpretation of Carrion, in particular, is chilling. The book doesn't stand on its own -listeners should read or listen to the first book before tackling this one to fully understand the sometimes complicated plot. There are two additional titles planned for the series. The series has the potential to become hugely popular as Disney has optioned the story for both movie and theme park rights. -"Tricia Melgaard, Centennial Middle School, Bixby, OK"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2004
Gr. 7-12. The whimsy is back in full force in the sequel to " Abarat" (2002), but this story is quirkier, much darker, and laced with real horror. Candy Quakenbush of Chickentown, Minnesota, and the geshrat Malingo are traveling the islands of Abarat, taking in all the fantastic sights. Unfortunately, the Lord of Midnight and his evil minions are in hot pursuit. He is obsessed with Candy, but he knows she must die to prevent her thwarting his gruesome plans. The mystery of her birth haunts her as she gradually finds herself remembering things she shouldn't know, including magic, and she begins to wonder if the struggle between the Night-world and the Day-world is at the heart of why she is in the strange land. Barker lovingly and graphically describes the wonders of a magical world, and his vivid scenes of near captures, deaths, and a climactic sea battle that ends in Chickentown will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Once again, more than 100 unusual, full-color paintings by Barker enhance the story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2005
Candy Quackenbush's journey continues through Barker's convincingly gothic, if increasingly out-of-control fantasy world. Fans of the first book will be undaunted by the excesses, both verbal and visual, of this sequel; initiates will need to begin with "Abarat".

(Copyright 2005 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

November 1, 2004
Gr 7-10-In this sequel to Abarat (HarperCollins, 2002), Candy Quackenbush is fighting for her life in the mysterious world of the Abarat. The powers of darkness, Christopher Carrion and his murderous grandmother, Mater Motley, plan to overtake it and make it a world of perpetual midnight. As Candy and her friends rush through various adventures, Carrion's obsession with finding her grows, along with his rage and frustration. He hires the Criss-Cross Man, Otto Houlihan, to hunt Candy down. A group of adventurers, including John Mischief and his brothers, continues to look for dragon-hunting hero Finnegan Hob. Candy learns Abarat's history and begins to understand the role she may play in its future. This second title relies on exposition from the first; readers without that grounding may find themselves lost in Abarat's complications. The threads of the narrative take a long time to weave into a unified story, but it's worth the time it takes. With a large cast, a complicated plot, and such varied geography, Barker keeps readers busy juggling, but all that work pays off as the suspense and tension mount. Candy and her allies are engaging characters, if uncomplicated; Carrion and his grandmother are more mustache-twirling than interesting. The Abaratian world is the jewel of this novel, dense and vividly rendered in both striking description and Barker's vibrant artwork. Fans of the first book, as well as of other robust fantasy titles like Garth Nix's Sabriel (HarperCollins, 1996) and Diana Wynne Jones's Dark Lord of Derkholm (Greenwillow, 1998), will enjoy it.-Sarah Couri, New York Public Library

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.