A review by soniagracelm
Abarat by Clive Barker

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