Clive Barker, Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War - Synopsis:
"Candy Quackenbush returns in this second volume of the Abarat series. She is still being hunted by Christopher Carrion, whilst Otto Houlihan, the Criss Cross Man, is still pursuing her through the islands of the Abarat. The Abarat islands are far different from anything we have seen. They are called "The Hours," and each one stands at one position on the clock. However, it is a clock face with twenty-four hours on it. Christopher Carrion, along with his grandmother, Mater Motley, rules the Midnight Hour. Together, they are planning to take over all twenty-four hours and bring them under the rule of darkness. When they are through, if they succeed, there will be no more daylight - no light of any kind. However, there is one thorn in their plans: Candy Quackenbush. Candy does not know why they are pursuing her. All she knows is that Houlihan wants to take her to Carrion. She is not aware of the power she possesses. She thinks she is just a simple, ordinary, almost-fifteen-year-old girl from Chickentown, Minnesota. However, this time, she will find out just what happened to her the night she was born. She will also find out that she is much more than just plain Candy Quackenbush."

Published in 2004 by HarperCollins Publishers, this is the second installation to the 'Books Of Abarat' quartet of novels. Following on from the imaginative and beautifully magical first book of the Abarat, Barker has delivered a longer and just as inspiring novel running for a total of 491 pages. Within these pages are literally hundreds of oil paintings done by Barker himself, to illustrate the novel as the story unfolds. These illustrations are again printed in full colour on thick, glossy pages for the hardback version. With such beautifully painted illustrations it is very advisable to purchase this hardback version, rather than waiting for the release of the cheaper paperback.

Barker's impressive imagination shows no bounds as you are taken on a journey through the wonderful world of his limitless mind. His characterization is superb, delivering such vivid and well-presented characters in the ever-unfolding twists and turns of the novel's plot. The storyline is layered with many depths to each character involved, bringing out an overall richness to the book as a whole. The novel is suitable for adults and a younger audience who will both take a lot from the story in their own unique ways.

It is advisable to read the first book of the quartet before undertaking this adventure, but it is still possible to enjoy the book as a novel in its own right.

Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War
Clive Barker
Harper Collins, Sept 2004, $24.95, 512 pp.
ISBN 0060291702

Beyond the realm of Earth lies the archipelago of Abarat where every island is a different time of day. Candy Quackenbush, originally from the Midwestern town of Chickentown is brought for reasons she doesn't quite understand to this new world where magic works. What she does know is that Christopher Carrion, the Lord of Midnight, wants her brought to his home in Gorgossium, a place where monsters obey their lords' bidding and night never ends. He sends his minion the Criss-Cross man to bring her to him but he dies trying.

Carrion and his grandmother Mater Motley plan to bring war to Abarat so that darkness will reign forever over the land and the champions of light will be defeated. They fear that Candy and her allies will stop them but Carrion has another reason to capture Candy, one that he doesn't understand himself until he recognizes who she really is. While evading Carrion's minions, she has plenty of hair raising adventures on the various islands but always she is forced to move on or be caught in her enemy's web.

Clive Barker has made his mark as one of the best fantasy writers of young adult tales since C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. This book contains 125 illustrations that raise the bar of excellence even more. Candy Quackenbush's adventures can be compared to a magical version of The Perils of Pauline. Candy doesn't know her purpose for being in Arabat is to avert a war but she does her best to help people who are victimized and manages to find a little time to have some fun. DAYS OF MAGIC, NIGHTS OF WAR is a fantasy worth reading by high school students as well as adults.

Harriet Klausner