Days of Magic, Nights of War

Abarat, Book 2

By: Clive Barker

Narrated by: Richard Ferrone

Length: 14 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Candy Quackenbush's adventures in the amazing world of the Abarat are getting more strange by the hour. Christopher Carrion, the Lord of Midnight, has sent his henchman to capture her. "Why?" she wonders. What would Carrion want with a girl from Minnesota? And why is Candy beginning to feel that the world of Abarat is familiar to her? Why can she speak words of magic she doesn't even remember learning?

There is a mystery here. And Carrion, along with his fiendish grandmother, Mater Motley, suspects that whatever Candy is, she could spoil their plans to take control of the Abarat.

Now Candy's companions must race against time to save her from the clutches of Carrion, and she 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. And Candy is going to need to make some choices that will change her life forever.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

;Don't miss any of the magic in the world of Abarat.

©2004 Clive Barker (P)2004 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"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." (Booklist)

Imaginative but predictable

This sequel picks up where the first book, Abarat, left off. I would recommend reading the first book before this one. Candy Quackenbush continues to travel without much guidance or reason to many different islands. She meets many new and interesting characters and puts her life in jeopardy on several occasions. Meanwhile, she is slowly (and I mean slowly!) discovering what purpose she really has with the Abarat. You should know this is only book two of a four part series; however, the last two books have yet to be published. Like book one, it ends with much still to be resolved. I doubt I’ll read or listen to anymore of this series. It was interesting enough, but the predictability of this story became its undoing for me. I am a big Clive Barker fan, but this is not his best work.

Even better than the first one!

I liked the first one, but boy did I like the second one. blew my mind. can't wait to begin the last of the series.

Great, but one part was wonky

I enjoy this story so much! This is a revisit for me since I read the books when I was in high school.
There is a part in the first chapter - I believe it was the first chapter - that was out of order, which is disappointing because it messes up the flow of the book. And a couple times a chapter would end and in the same breath, the next chapter would begin...so, splicing issue?
Also, for some reason - maybe it was more me than him - I couldn't get into Ferrone's voices for the characters. Old characters seemed a little different than how he did it in book one, and several new characters sounded alike... I know there are a billion new characters that we come across in the Abarat, so I can't really hold it against him, but I just thought I'd note it.
What I loved was that there was a PDF with Barker's art!! Abarat is definitely a visual read, so it was nice to get the drawings along with the narration.
It's a great book! Can't wait to listen to the third!

childhood favorite

easily my favorite book, and I feel like the voice person did very well with the characters.

Majickal and fantastic while being so very great.

I loved this story. I don't like anything as much. Fantastic narration. Feel so close to all of them.

The Abarat Gets a Bit Darker

If Clive Barker's first book in this series was designed to introduce the world of the Abarat, this sequel digs even deeper into some of the darkness that exists there. In addition to listening to the audio book, I also purchased a hardback copy of the book. Barker illustrates the entire story with the most amazing--and disturbing--images. The story stands up well on its own, but the illustrations take the story to another level that is just creepy--and brilliant!

This was better than the 1st. 2nd of 3

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I've never met a book I didn't like. Even the worst are time well spent. It broadens your view of your world or theirs. Either way it's a new experience. The best of them wrap you in a bubble and trap you in their world. It's the thing that all readers search for. This book was better than the first. The characters gave up more of themselves, their worlds, their ambitions. Some of the questions raised in the first book. Although this still isn't living up to Mr. Barkers other works that I've read.

Would you recommend Abarat to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, it's a journey. You may not like all aspects as with any journey; however you can't really judge it until you've arrived at your destination.

What about Richard Ferrone’s performance did you like?

He really breathes life into the characters. He gives real dimension to the characters without making them feel the same.

Do you think Abarat needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS! This series has so much moreto offer. I want candy to grow into her potential. I want to see more of the Abarat. I want to know all about the Abaratarata lol, probably mispelled that one. That is one thing I can say as been the same in both book thus far. I want more.

Any additional comments?

I'm willing to stay with this series as I've read others by Mr. Barker and really enjoyed them, so I'm hoping this will end the same.

Almost 10/10

Love this series, but I've been reading it since 2011, and we are only on book 3....I wish Barker could give us some more writting from inside the Abarat!

Great reading.

Richard Ferrone was outstanding with the reading; I could hear each character's voice and attitude. The audio quality changed occasionally which was a little disappointing but had little effect on the co titration of the story.

Much better than Narnia ever dreamed of being

This volume is much better than the the Narnia books ever dreamed of being. It is Mythopoeic literature and an artistic exploration of the power and magic of the imagination. I thought the reader's performance has depth and adds to the experience of the story. Please, please, please write the other two volumes of the quintet.