#ABARAT CHRISTOPHER CARRION SERIES#

Instead, there are many small dramatic scenes throughout. There doesn’t feel to be really any rising of conflict, climax, or resolution in this book.

Yes, that is the basic plot of not only of this book, but the second book as well. Yes, we learn a little more about the world and Princess Boa, but most of the book is Candy learning about the world and Christopher Carrion trying to capture her. Very little happens in this first book (and the next two books) when it comes to plot progression. Unfortunately, while Clive Barker shines in developing worlds, the progression of the plot and characters feels flat. However, there are some issues with this book. The concepts are easy to understand and new information gets introduced at a good pace. We see from Candy’s perspective in the beginning so being thrown into such a weird world seems as strange to her as it does to us. The information about the world is introduced very well.

Some might dislike this, but I enjoyed the focus being away from romance and focusing on the world and plot. She does not have a main love interest (in fact, little romance is involved, which is a breath of fresh air from the majority of YA fiction). While Candy is the protagonist, her part in the world never feels cliqued. It’s easy to make a villain evil, but to instill such fear and disgust at their presence and yet still feel sorry for them is something I have rarely seen an author do with any success.Īlso, slight spoiler, the idea of the soul of a princess being within Candy is personally, I think, a much better way to connect her with this other world rather than simply “she is the savior” or something like that. From Christopher Carrion himself to his grandmother Mater Motley (that woman is creepy!), all the villains are a perfect mix of horror but also pity, which is very hard to do as an author. Each new character brought in is new and different, and the world is definitely the main strength of this book. From each island being a certain hour (Gorgossium-the Island of Midnight-being my favorite) to the characters unique descriptions (like John Mischief having seven brothers on his antlers), the world is one of the most interesting and disturbing fantasy worlds I have ever read about. One of the best things I love about this book is the world itself. There, she begins to piece together her destiny while meeting many interesting creatures and running from the Prince of Midnight, Christopher Carrion. Synopsis: Candy Quackenbush is an unhappy teen living in Chickentown, Minnesota who gets magically transported to Abarat, a fantasy archipelago comprised of twenty-five islands.

#ABARAT CHRISTOPHER CARRION SERIES#

While I’ll be focusing on the first book of the series, I have read all three of the books released, so at the end I’ll give my general thoughts on the series as a whole. Let me just say, to most people Clive Barker is a horror writer, but since this is the only series I have read by him, he’s a fantasy writer to me.ĭespite me having great memories of this book, I would be the first to concede how many problems the book has from an analysis perspective.

Way back in my middle school days (well, what would have been my middle school days if I hadn’t been homeschooled), I picked up this book from the library, knowing nothing of the author or the series.

Abarat christopher carrion