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craftysnailtail's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Funny enough, I had no idea who Barker was before I read this eons ago. The cover caught my attention at the library and that was it- I read it and fell in love. My partner gifted me the set with the original art and that's really the best way to read it. His art is amazing and added so much to the experience.
This book is Alice in Wonderland meets Neverwhere and I adore it. Barker's world building is so trippy and fantastical that sometimes the plot seems to be completely lost in the oddities of his world, but not in a bad way. I REALLY hope he eventually finishes this series, but even if he doesn't, I'll continue to recommend them. There is a horror sort of undercurrent to them, but nothing like his adult works. I scare very easily, but this is more... disconcerting with mildly disturbing elements every once in a while. If the rest of the trippy fantasy vibes seem like your type of book, then definitely give it a try! It's truly in a class of its own.
This book is Alice in Wonderland meets Neverwhere and I adore it. Barker's world building is so trippy and fantastical that sometimes the plot seems to be completely lost in the oddities of his world, but not in a bad way. I REALLY hope he eventually finishes this series, but even if he doesn't, I'll continue to recommend them. There is a horror sort of undercurrent to them, but nothing like his adult works. I scare very easily, but this is more... disconcerting with mildly disturbing elements every once in a while. If the rest of the trippy fantasy vibes seem like your type of book, then definitely give it a try! It's truly in a class of its own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Bullying and Body horror
Minor: Child abuse and Toxic relationship
fanboyriot's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.0
This was a lot more random than what I was expecting, with lots of adventures with almost an Alice in Wonderland vibe to it. Candy getting an escape from her abusive household and her traveling into the world of Abarat. It was a lot to take in, to be honest, lots of places and people to remember but it was entertaining and a good fantasy read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Bullying
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Confinement, Death, and Kidnapping
zoe_archambault's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Recommended by a coworker and it was cute but not really my kind of story. Really gorgeous abstract and weird oil pastel pictures throughout the book which was a nice addition. But plot wise it was a lot and it mostly felt like filler? Guess I’m not the target audience cus I’m not 12
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Bullying, and Child abuse
Moderate: Blood and Violence
Minor: Slavery and Animal cruelty
isstar's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.75
Abarat made me wish I had a time machine to read it back when I was a child. It surely would have been my favorite. Even as an adult, I find the book charming and I had no problem being carried away in Barker's wild imagination. Abarat's worldbuiding is rich and uncompromisingly weird, brought to life by the beautiful illustrations that make the book (and its archipelago) so alive and vivid.
I could argue about the thinness of the plot but to quote Clive Barker : " Sometimes you need to let things strike your heart and not your head. "
I could argue about the thinness of the plot but to quote Clive Barker : " Sometimes you need to let things strike your heart and not your head. "
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism and Child abuse
ladydisdain's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is so difficult to find and so worth it that I stole it from the library (and then claimed to have lost it and paid the full retail value to the returns desk instead). The internal logic of the world of Abarat is so precarious that readers have no choice to fully surrender to the story and the character, a gift in a world so desperate that I feel comfortable suspending my disbelief. Will the series ever be finished? Who can say. Will I reread the few published books every year until it is? Absolutely.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Alcoholism, Trafficking, Slavery, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Confinement and Death
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