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erasmios's review against another edition
3.0
Alice in Wonderland, Spirited Away, His Dark Materials and Coraline are some of my favourite stories that share the same premise: a girl gets lost in a fantastical and scary realm. In Abarat, the protagonist Candy Quackenbush is forced to enter the (fantastical and scary) archipelago of Abarat. There she must try to survive and find her way back home. Although Abarat is aimed at YA readers, I enjoyed it and will likely read the next one too.
myclutteredbookshelf's review against another edition
3.5
I'm quite upset that I didn't get into Clive Barker's writing earlier, because I know my Labyrinth and MirrorMask obsessed teenage self would have devoured this series in less than a month.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Body horror, and Slavery
sayyayzel's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bookwormmay's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
cody_reads_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
augusto_aaa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The characters and setting are fantastic. The world of Abarat is like nothing else I’ve ever read. But judging the story of this book separately from the rest of the series I think it’s pretty predictable and it just ENDS without any major character development or any questions being answered. You also don’t get to explore many of the Islands but I’m guessing you get to see the rest in the other books. Any a very enjoys whimsical read, despite its flaws!
gatonolivro's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
soniagracelm's review against another edition
5.0
Somehow, Clive Barker succeeds in describing a world and its people even more vividly than the images can express. The plot is intricate and the world is complex, (think Cirque Du Soleil meets Inkheart meets HP Lovecraft meets something else twisted and ancient and a little familiar, like you’ve known about The Abarat all along and were waiting with your sextant to see the ocean spread out over the prairie.) In fact, that strange feeling of familiarity is how the first book starts. ......The story incorporates modern technology on some islands and good old-fashioned children’s adventure book magic on others, and in Candy’s adventures through the islands people who seem genuine can be evil bastards while truly ugly creatures save the day. This is not a sweet little story, and the sequel, Days of Magic, Nights of War is even darker. However, despite all the corruption, the danger, horror, and images which could only be inspired in us lesser folk by a tumbler or two of absinthe, The Abarat will always be better than Chickentown. I, for one, would do anything to suffer through Candy’s adventures.
FULL REVIEW at http://darkladyreviews.tumblr.com/post/5665109250/a-review-of-abarat-by-clive-barker
FULL REVIEW at http://darkladyreviews.tumblr.com/post/5665109250/a-review-of-abarat-by-clive-barker
caden_t5052's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0