lizikc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
fanboyriot's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Definitely not even on the same level as the first book. This book was just disappointing. I just couldn’t get into the way the story was told, it just seemed like it was written with no logic in mind. The effort seemed to be lacking with the plot and characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Blood, Murder, War, Death, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Gore, Violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
mrssoule's review against another edition
4.0
So after waiting seven years for this book to be released
Spoiler
Barker's going to make us wait for more?!? I was so hoping this was a trilogy because I cannot take the suspense!!paintedgiraffe's review against another edition
1.0
Huh. Thought this was a trilogy. Not going to be reading the next book, though. I feel like this entire book was written by a high person, or otherwise that it's very bad fanfic. Was repulsed by the "instalove" that came out of nowhere, and there were many gaping plot holes and dropped storylines. I've always disliked that the reader is supposed to be sympathetic to Christopher Carrion; being abused is no excuse to continue the cycle and hurt others. Book was a lot gorier, but I didn't mind that.
allie_love's review against another edition
4.0
I LOVED IT but when I saw the ending made way for another book I felt myself deflate a little. I waited YEARS for this book to come out, and I loved reading it and finished it in two days, but I cannot help but be disappointed knowing I have a few more years to wait and see how the story ends.
heathercatherineo's review against another edition
4.0
As with some other notable young adult series, Absolute Midnight makes it clear that this series is growing up and growing out, increasing not only in its imagination but its complexity as well. I have a few minor complaints, and sometimes Barker's prose is a bit hard to follow due to the way he splits up his sentences, but overall the book was a strong piece of literature. It read as much more than a simple fantasy novel, and his artwork for this third installment of the series was brilliant: dark and chaotic, like the nature of the events happening in the world of the Abarat.
Only a few complaints...
The first complaint I have is of the Abarataraba, the ancient, most powerful form of Abaratian magic. It's mentioned within the first few chapters of the book, and Candy admits to having had heard of it, and yet this is the first time we the readers are hearing of it. It pops up out of nowhere, and we don't understand what it really is until later, only getting bits and pieces of information about it. But then again, maybe that's meant to reflect the nature of the Abarataraba itself, in which case, kudos to Barker.
The next two complaints I have
Second, Gazza, the fisherman (who doesn't have his own portrait, though Barker is quick to give us illustrations of many of the other major characters) who seems to come out of nowhere. He suddenly pops up, and with hardly any interaction that the reader witnesses, suddenly he and Candy are soulmates and it feels as though the readers are left to just go with it and just accept the fact that suddenly Gazza is a major character.
Neither of these complaints would be as prominent if Barker hadn't done such a wonderful job in the first two books (and even this one, with some other characters) creating an intricate portrait of each major player in this world, both with words and art. But the fact that these things pop up with no background other than what is hastily supplied on the spot and afterwards leaves a bad taste of shallow plot devices in my mouth.
I suppose I could summarize my complaints by saying, as another reviewer put it, that I feel as though I missed a step between the second and third Abarat books, that there is an "Abarat 2.5" out there that explains all these things that seem to pop up out of nowhere and the increasing detachment that at least I felt from the character of Candy as she becomes exponentially more abstract. Yes, the third book begins right where the last one left off, but suddenly all these new elements are introduced and I'm left scratching my head and struggling to keep up.
Overall, however, I find that though it seemed a bit rushed at times, Absolute Midnight is a well-written, creepy and complex chapter in this epic story.
Only a few complaints...
The first complaint I have is of the Abarataraba, the ancient, most powerful form of Abaratian magic. It's mentioned within the first few chapters of the book, and Candy admits to having had heard of it, and yet this is the first time we the readers are hearing of it. It pops up out of nowhere, and we don't understand what it really is until later, only getting bits and pieces of information about it. But then again, maybe that's meant to reflect the nature of the Abarataraba itself, in which case, kudos to Barker.
The next two complaints I have
Spoiler
are, as I've found, fairly common among people who have read the book. First, Boa is evil? I'll agree with many other readers in saying that that felt like it came out of left field. As the book progresses, Barker gives an explanation as to why she's evil and has been, but it feels like a weak filler for such a big revelation, especially when an entire section of the book is devoted to her true evil nature.Second, Gazza, the fisherman (who doesn't have his own portrait, though Barker is quick to give us illustrations of many of the other major characters) who seems to come out of nowhere. He suddenly pops up, and with hardly any interaction that the reader witnesses, suddenly he and Candy are soulmates and it feels as though the readers are left to just go with it and just accept the fact that suddenly Gazza is a major character.
Neither of these complaints would be as prominent if Barker hadn't done such a wonderful job in the first two books (and even this one, with some other characters) creating an intricate portrait of each major player in this world, both with words and art. But the fact that these things pop up with no background other than what is hastily supplied on the spot and afterwards leaves a bad taste of shallow plot devices in my mouth.
I suppose I could summarize my complaints by saying, as another reviewer put it, that I feel as though I missed a step between the second and third Abarat books, that there is an "Abarat 2.5" out there that explains all these things that seem to pop up out of nowhere and the increasing detachment that at least I felt from the character of Candy as she becomes exponentially more abstract. Yes, the third book begins right where the last one left off, but suddenly all these new elements are introduced and I'm left scratching my head and struggling to keep up.
Overall, however, I find that though it seemed a bit rushed at times, Absolute Midnight is a well-written, creepy and complex chapter in this epic story.
trash_reader_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
This felt like a completely different book than the others in the series. It was as if Clive Barker forgot almost everything about the first two books but still continued to try and finish the series without refreshing his memory. Which wouldn't surprise me, considering it was 7 years between this book and the second one. At this point I'm convinced he isn't going to finish the series, and that's okay with me. As much as I enjoyed reading all three of these books, this one deviated way too much from the premise of the first two for me to want to continue. Since that'll probably be the case as well if the 4th book ever gets published.
alibrareads's review against another edition
4.0
My feelings about this third book are all over the place but are still biased towards wanting to love it overall because of the immense goodwill I have for the first book. Of the three, this one has the darkest writing so far. There are some scary and disturbing imagery and scenes, so if you’re someone who scares easily or is disgusted easily, you might not enjoy this.
It still has that dreamy and otherworldly quality to it that I adore, and you have to just go along for the ride and not think too hard about it. That is definitely something that can be criticized about the book though: there is a lot of stuff happening, and some of it feels like it comes out of nowhere and the reader is expected to just accept it. Many things brought up in previous books are addressed here, so I have to assume that the same goes for this book: there are two books left in the series, and there are still unanswered questions that are almost off-putting because Clive Barker just moves forward without even vaguely trying to explain them (like, what the heck is up with the character Gazza?!).
Most of the characters are still 2-dimensional, except Candy. If you’re a character-driven reader, hopefully by now you’re not still trying to push your way through this series and have already stopped reading because Abarat is really all about the setting and the world-building.
And I’m really confused about Christopher Carrion to be honest! He started out as the villain, a little sympathetic which I liked, but his characterization fluctuates throughout the second and third book to the point where I don’t even know how to feel about him anymore. Who is he? What motivates him? Is he crazy or is he not? Am I supposed to like/care about him or not? And that was frustrating, because Carrion was my favorite character in the first book, and it feels like he was done dirty by the author not really knowing what to do with him.
And then there’s Boa: I’m led to believe certain things about her, and then they’re turned upside down in a confusing way and I still don’t understand what she’s about/why she is the way she is. It doesn’t feel good as the reader to not understand the characters you’re reading about or their motivations in this way.
There are some really cool and intense sequences that are gritty and dark and full of magic and excitement, so I did have run reading this overall. You have to be okay with the Alice In Wonderland type of story that this is: the dreaminess, the surrealism, the characters and the dialogue that aren’t particularly realistic. All I can say is I hope I managed to wait long enough to finally read this that I’m not left waiting a decade for the next book!
It still has that dreamy and otherworldly quality to it that I adore, and you have to just go along for the ride and not think too hard about it. That is definitely something that can be criticized about the book though: there is a lot of stuff happening, and some of it feels like it comes out of nowhere and the reader is expected to just accept it. Many things brought up in previous books are addressed here, so I have to assume that the same goes for this book: there are two books left in the series, and there are still unanswered questions that are almost off-putting because Clive Barker just moves forward without even vaguely trying to explain them (like, what the heck is up with the character Gazza?!).
Most of the characters are still 2-dimensional, except Candy. If you’re a character-driven reader, hopefully by now you’re not still trying to push your way through this series and have already stopped reading because Abarat is really all about the setting and the world-building.
And I’m really confused about Christopher Carrion to be honest! He started out as the villain, a little sympathetic which I liked, but his characterization fluctuates throughout the second and third book to the point where I don’t even know how to feel about him anymore. Who is he? What motivates him? Is he crazy or is he not? Am I supposed to like/care about him or not? And that was frustrating, because Carrion was my favorite character in the first book, and it feels like he was done dirty by the author not really knowing what to do with him.
And then there’s Boa: I’m led to believe certain things about her, and then they’re turned upside down in a confusing way and I still don’t understand what she’s about/why she is the way she is. It doesn’t feel good as the reader to not understand the characters you’re reading about or their motivations in this way.
There are some really cool and intense sequences that are gritty and dark and full of magic and excitement, so I did have run reading this overall. You have to be okay with the Alice In Wonderland type of story that this is: the dreaminess, the surrealism, the characters and the dialogue that aren’t particularly realistic. All I can say is I hope I managed to wait long enough to finally read this that I’m not left waiting a decade for the next book!
ivy_the_snail's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
cmrams's review against another edition
4.0
I was fully aware of how dark these books could be, but they were also full of color and wonder and hope. This one got so much darker than I expected though, and I felt surprised at my surprise. After waiting so many years to finally read this one, I was not satisfied with the ending here. Not at all.