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  • Days of Magic, Nights of War

Days of Magic, Nights of War

Abarat #2 / 5
by Clive Barker
Days of Magic, Nights of War (Abarat #2) by Clive Barker
★ 8.26 / 12
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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...

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FantasyYoung AdultBram Stoker Award
Release date: 2004

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Clive Barker

Clive Barker

Clive Barker is a name synonymous with boundary-pushing imagination and a mastery of blending horror with the fantastical. From his early days as a writer and artist in England, Barker's creative journey has been one marked by daring narratives that explore the darkest corners of the human psyche while celebrating the beauty of invention. His work is not just about fear—it's about transformation, the collision of desire and dread, and the uncharted territories of the mind.

Born in Liverpool in 1952, Barker’s love for storytelling began at a young age, where he would often turn to the gothic, the grotesque, and the mythical to feed his imagination. His early exposure to both the arts and the horror genre shaped the unique voice that would later captivate audiences worldwide. Drawing inspiration from his own experiences and his deep love for the supernatural, his stories offer a rich tapestry of vivid imagery and intense emotion. His novels, short stories, and plays all reflect a mind that refuses to be limited by genre conventions, instead choosing to blend the horrific with the beautiful in ways few authors dare.

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Barker is perhaps best known for The Hellbound Heart, which introduced readers to the now-iconic Hellraiser franchise. This chilling tale of pain, pleasure, and otherworldly realms set the stage for his ongoing exploration of the realms beyond our own. His Books of Blood series demonstrated his keen ability to craft short, sharp shocks that left readers questioning the very nature of existence. And The Thief of Always, a dark fairy tale for adults, showcased his tender yet unsettling exploration of childhood, desire, and the passing of time.

Throughout his career, Barker has explored themes of transformation, identity, and the duality of existence. His writing is often infused with rich symbolism, mixing eroticism and horror, and navigating between the grotesque and the sublime. Whether creating the notorious Cenobites or diving into complex mythologies, Barker’s work challenges readers to confront their own fears and desires, often forcing them to see the world through a lens they hadn’t considered before.

Beyond writing, Barker is also an accomplished visual artist, further adding a layer of depth to his writing. His ability to merge the visual with the literary creates a world where imagery and narrative are intricately entwined, adding a haunting, almost tactile element to his tales.

Barker’s influence on modern horror and dark fantasy is undeniable. His work has inspired filmmakers, writers, and artists alike, creating a lasting legacy that continues to grow with each new generation of fans. In a world where the macabre and the beautiful intersect, Clive Barker remains a true pioneer, continuously pushing the boundaries of horror and fantasy. For those willing to take the plunge, his stories are an invitation to explore the deepest, most fascinating realms of fear, art, and imagination.

Photo: Steven Friederich

Abarat

In the Abarat series, Clive Barker crafts a world where reality and imagination collide in a breathtakingly vivid way. Set across twenty-five islands, each representing a different hour of the day, this fantastical realm is as much a journey through time as it is a plunge into the darkest recesses of the human soul. With Abarat, Barker creates a world of boundless adventure, but also one where danger lurks just beneath the surface, waiting to consume.

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The series begins with Candy Quackenbush, a seemingly ordinary girl from the quiet town of Chickentown, who finds herself thrust into this strange and marvelous world. As she navigates the islands, she discovers a complex tapestry of magic, myth, and peril, all while seeking to uncover the mysteries of her own identity. With its fantastical creatures, eccentric characters, and a sense of both wonder and dread, Abarat defies easy categorization. It’s a coming-of-age tale set against a backdrop of dark fantasy and eerie beauty, where dreams and nightmares are as real as the ocean that separates the islands.

At its heart, the series delves into themes of fate, free will, and the eternal battle between light and darkness. The landscapes of Abarat, painted in lush detail, echo Barker’s talent for melding the grotesque with the beautiful, creating a dreamscape that feels simultaneously familiar and completely alien. From the terrifying to the whimsical, the inhabitants of Abarat reflect the full spectrum of humanity’s desires and fears, making each island an exploration of a different facet of the human experience.

What sets Abarat apart is its striking balance between immersive world-building and deeply emotional character arcs. The series isn’t just about the grand adventures that unfold but about the quiet, personal battles each character faces—whether it’s the unraveling mystery of Candy’s role in Abarat or the darker, more sinister plans of the evil Master of the Hour, who seeks to plunge the islands into darkness.

With its intricate plotlines and richly detailed universe, Abarat invites readers into a world where the lines between the imagined and the real blur, and every page reveals a new, strange corner of this incredible land. At once whimsical, terrifying, and poignant, the series is an unmissable odyssey into the heart of a fantastical universe that only Clive Barker could create.

In Abarat, nothing is ever quite as it seems, and the journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about adventure. For those who are ready to lose themselves in a place where time, magic, and reality bend, Abarat is a portal to a world like no other.


Abarat consists of three books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of two more books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

Abarat (Abarat #1)
★ 8.00 / 19
Days of Magic, Nights of War (Abarat #2)
★ 8.26 / 12
Absolute Midnight (Abarat #3)
★ 8.62 / 8
Kry Rising (Abarat #4)
⧗ 10.00 / 7
Until the End of Time (Abarat #5)
⧗ 10.00 / 1


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