Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War

Clive Barker continues the saga of Candy Quackenbush, a teenager from Chickentown, Minnesota, who leaves her mundane life behind by jumping into the Sea of Izabella. This act transports her to the Abarat, an archipelago of twenty-five islands representing the hours of the day, along with the enigmatic Time Out of Time. The narrative opens with Otto Houlihan observing two creatures, Lazaru and Baby Pink-Eye, playing a game in a dark room, setting a tone that blends the ordinary with the bizarre. Candy’s journey is marked by her growing familiarity with this strange new world and the friends she makes there. However, peace is elusive as Christopher Carrion, Prince of Midnight, actively pursues her. The story requires Candy to find her place within this complex society while evading a powerful antagonist. Barker, known for his New York Times bestselling work, structures the plot around Candy’s internal search for identity against an external threat. This volume suits readers who enjoy epic fantasy quests and gothic atmospheres. It may not appeal to those seeking straightforward realism or light-hearted comedy. The text relies on vivid imagery and supernatural elements rather than historical accuracy. Readers will find themselves following Candy’s desperate need for change as she confronts the dangers lurking in the shadows of the Abarat.