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haley_j_casey's review
3.0
Eh.
This could have been a really cool story laced with Candy's confusion and emotional state after she's torn from Boa and realizes that pieces of herself weren't her after all. Instead, Barker skipped past all that nonsense and didn't dwell on it for an instant. Something that could have brought depth to his amazing heroine was abandoned in favor of instalove--a trap Candy had NOT fallen into yet in the series which made her even more awesome.
I felt like this book, much as I love Barker's writing and magic and other worlds, left behind the epic fantasy of the rest of the series without much explanation and expected cool magic to fill in the gaps. I had higher hopes. It lacked the emotional depth it should have had in everything from love to loss.
Also, literally no one ever dies. Not the good guys, not the bad guys... I'm a little exhausted by the constant, miraculous, magical escapes from death's clutches.
The cover under the dust jacket is very pretty, however, and that makes me feel a little better. As does the fact that the first half of this book was excellent, as does the fact that there is a fourth book in the works that will (God willing) answer some questions and do it well.
This could have been a really cool story laced with Candy's confusion and emotional state after she's torn from Boa and realizes that pieces of herself weren't her after all. Instead, Barker skipped past all that nonsense and didn't dwell on it for an instant. Something that could have brought depth to his amazing heroine was abandoned in favor of instalove--a trap Candy had NOT fallen into yet in the series which made her even more awesome.
I felt like this book, much as I love Barker's writing and magic and other worlds, left behind the epic fantasy of the rest of the series without much explanation and expected cool magic to fill in the gaps. I had higher hopes. It lacked the emotional depth it should have had in everything from love to loss.
Also, literally no one ever dies. Not the good guys, not the bad guys... I'm a little exhausted by the constant, miraculous, magical escapes from death's clutches.
The cover under the dust jacket is very pretty, however, and that makes me feel a little better. As does the fact that the first half of this book was excellent, as does the fact that there is a fourth book in the works that will (God willing) answer some questions and do it well.
peppypenguin's review against another edition
2.0
A solid read, but lacking compared to the previous two novels.
It feels like the author completely lost interest in the series, which seems plausible since a sequel still has not been published.
It felt like between this book and the previous the author's mind set changed. Elements suddenly came into play that were not presented in the previous books. There are also strong religious symbols and plot elements that suddenly made their way into the story.
The imagination put into this, and the sheer joy of adventure, are still present, but I feel not as strong.
I would honestly recommend reading the first two books and leaving it at that. Absolute Midnight begins so many more plot threads and fails to tie them off with a sequel, leaving the reader sorely wanting more. It is also too strong a change from the previous books to leave the story as it is without feeling a little empty.
It feels like the author completely lost interest in the series, which seems plausible since a sequel still has not been published.
It felt like between this book and the previous the author's mind set changed. Elements suddenly came into play that were not presented in the previous books. There are also strong religious symbols and plot elements that suddenly made their way into the story.
The imagination put into this, and the sheer joy of adventure, are still present, but I feel not as strong.
I would honestly recommend reading the first two books and leaving it at that. Absolute Midnight begins so many more plot threads and fails to tie them off with a sequel, leaving the reader sorely wanting more. It is also too strong a change from the previous books to leave the story as it is without feeling a little empty.
thatgirlwiththeteapot's review against another edition
3.0
After the first two books, I found this one slightly disappointing. The art so beautifully strewn through out the first two now appears disorganized. Pictures would appear two pages before the scene/item/character the described appeared, and sometimes the pictures would have no relevance what so ever to what was going on.
And then, Candy fell in love! Now, don't get me wrong. I believe that love at first sight can happen, especially in books. But Candy isn't a Bella Swan, and even love at first sight (Or in this case, love at first fight), should take more then 3 pages. Until she meets Gazza. Suddenly, her life and the future of the islands no longer matter unless Gazza is Safe. Did I mention that Gazza is also the first main character to not have a portrait? We have, up until this point had a portrait for many characters, both main and background. But the one that Candy falls in love with doesn't get one. Al we know id that he has white and purple marble skin, golden eyes, and is the same height as Candy. We don't even know what hair color her has.
And then we have the fact that in the middle of the biggest fight to ever hit the Abarat, only 1 character dies. And the other two main characters that die don't actually die. Geneva actually dies, and her death is written of almost like a side note, Where Malingo, who is beheaded, and Christopher, who had drowned at the end of the last book, are both completely fine. Because apparently, his nightmares can suck life force out of crabs to give to their master, and Geshrats are born with out bodies, so he can just grow a new one.
Now, I'm not saying to give up on this series. I'm just saying that for a book that took 7 years to write, it simply didn't show that much effort.
And then, Candy fell in love! Now, don't get me wrong. I believe that love at first sight can happen, especially in books. But Candy isn't a Bella Swan, and even love at first sight (Or in this case, love at first fight), should take more then 3 pages. Until she meets Gazza. Suddenly, her life and the future of the islands no longer matter unless Gazza is Safe. Did I mention that Gazza is also the first main character to not have a portrait? We have, up until this point had a portrait for many characters, both main and background. But the one that Candy falls in love with doesn't get one. Al we know id that he has white and purple marble skin, golden eyes, and is the same height as Candy. We don't even know what hair color her has.
And then we have the fact that in the middle of the biggest fight to ever hit the Abarat, only 1 character dies. And the other two main characters that die don't actually die. Geneva actually dies, and her death is written of almost like a side note, Where Malingo, who is beheaded, and Christopher, who had drowned at the end of the last book, are both completely fine. Because apparently, his nightmares can suck life force out of crabs to give to their master, and Geshrats are born with out bodies, so he can just grow a new one.
Now, I'm not saying to give up on this series. I'm just saying that for a book that took 7 years to write, it simply didn't show that much effort.
hacen0125's review
4.0
The instant love connection and the sudden change with Boa kept me from giving this five stars
moneyispizza's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lizikc's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
fanboyriot's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Definitely not even on the same level as the first book. This book was just disappointing. I just couldn’t get into the way the story was told, it just seemed like it was written with no logic in mind. The effort seemed to be lacking with the plot and characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Blood, Murder, War, Death, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Gore, Violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
mrssoule's review
4.0
So after waiting seven years for this book to be released
Spoiler
Barker's going to make us wait for more?!? I was so hoping this was a trilogy because I cannot take the suspense!!paintedgiraffe's review
1.0
Huh. Thought this was a trilogy. Not going to be reading the next book, though. I feel like this entire book was written by a high person, or otherwise that it's very bad fanfic. Was repulsed by the "instalove" that came out of nowhere, and there were many gaping plot holes and dropped storylines. I've always disliked that the reader is supposed to be sympathetic to Christopher Carrion; being abused is no excuse to continue the cycle and hurt others. Book was a lot gorier, but I didn't mind that.
allie_love's review
4.0
I LOVED IT but when I saw the ending made way for another book I felt myself deflate a little. I waited YEARS for this book to come out, and I loved reading it and finished it in two days, but I cannot help but be disappointed knowing I have a few more years to wait and see how the story ends.