Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War

Clive Barker

Barker delivers Days of Magic, Nights of War, the second book in the Abarat series, and I fervently hope he doesn't take as long with the third as he has with the third book of the Art (for which, George R. R. Martin fans take note, we Barker devoted have been waiting for eleven years). Candy and Malingo are still on the run from Christopher Carrion, and here have to gather something of a small army, most of whom we met previously in Book One, to combat his various schemes. Those who have not previously read Abarat will likely have a hard time getting around, as Barker spends no time reacquainting us with things to which we'd already been introduced in the first book (and thank heaven for that). Those already familiar with the world, however, will discover exactly the kind of book one expects from Clive Barker-- rich, fast-paced, with well-drawn characters and clever twists in the tale now and again. There are a few things that seem a bit more transparent than one would expect, but we'll have no idea if we're right until the third book comes out.

A very worthy successor to Abarat. Can't wait for the third book.