Abarat by Clive Barker - Fable | Stories for everyone

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Publisher Description

Clive Barker, author of The Thief of Always, delivers an epic battle filled with fantasy and adventure that readers won't want to put down!

A journey beyond imagination is about to unfold...

It begins in Chickentown, USA. There lives Candy Quackenbush, her heart bursting for some clue as to what her future might hold.

When the answer comes, it’s not one she expects.

Welcome to the Abarat, a vast archipelago where every island is a different hour of the day. Candy has a place in this extraordinary land: She is here to help save the Abarat from the dark forces that are stirring at its heart—forces older than Time itself, and more evil than anything Candy has ever encountered. She’s a strange heroine, she knows. But this is a strange world.

And in the Abarat, all things are possible.

Don't miss this first book in Clive Barker's New York Times bestselling Abarat series.

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205 Reviews

4.0

Natalie 🍓

Created 9 days ago

“Clive Barker’s Abarat is a book of stunning contrasts—both mesmerizing and frustrating in equal measure. As a preteen, I adored it. Returning to it now, I find my feelings more complicated. The novel follows Candy Quackenbush, an outcast in the mundane town of Chickentown, where life revolves around the poultry industry and little else. When she stumbles upon the impossible—ocean remnants in her landlocked Midwestern town—she is swept away to Abarat, a fantastical archipelago where each island exists in a fixed hour of the day. It’s a world teeming with surreal creatures, vibrant landscapes, and an ever-present sense of wonder. Where Abarat succeeds is in its worldbuilding. The setting is nothing short of extraordinary—dreamlike, eerie, and wholly original. Barker’s artwork, which accompanies the text, only heightens the immersion, bringing Abarat’s strange inhabitants and striking locales to life in a way words alone might struggle to. The book is, in many ways, a visual and atmospheric triumph. Unfortunately, the narrative itself doesn’t hold up as well. The characters feel flat, failing to match the depth and intrigue of the world they inhabit. Candy, while a serviceable protagonist, is granted far too much unearned assistance from conveniently helpful strangers. The villains, though visually striking, feel more theatrically sinister than genuinely menacing. And while Abarat as a setting begs for rich cultural and historical depth, the novel only scratches the surface, often prioritizing spectacle over substance. That said, Abarat is still an enjoyable read, if only for the sheer wonder of its setting and the beauty of its art. It may not have retained its place among my favorites, but it remains an unforgettable experience—one worth revisiting, if only to lose oneself in its strange, kaleidoscopic world once more.”

Belle

Created about 1 month ago

Marcioch

Created about 2 months ago

About Clive Barker

Clive Barker is the bestselling author of twenty-two books, including the New York Times bestsellers Abarat; Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War; the Hellraiser and Candyman series, and The Thief of Always. He is also an acclaimed painter, film producer, and director. He lives in Southern California.