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parsonsfiction10's review against another edition
5.0
This was the first of what was a suggested trilogy from Barker, now exploring and telling a very creative, inventive fantastical and spiritual while dream-like tale.
Not as truly mind blowing and stunning in scope as his immense Imajica novel, this first part of this tale-which can be read as a single book, is strange, unusual, adventurous and almost unpredictable.
It draws in elements of fantasy, religious tale, spirituality, dream and reality and also at times horror and terror as well written as Barker is known for.
This is not at all pure classic fantasy as known in that genre, it does not really very often have regular horror elements, but it does hold a strong, bizarre and epic tale, some fascinating characters which move along through a unique personal fantastical journey. Like some modern new myth, this is very strange, some times funny, disgusting, wild, and amazing from the first to last page.
Not as truly mind blowing and stunning in scope as his immense Imajica novel, this first part of this tale-which can be read as a single book, is strange, unusual, adventurous and almost unpredictable.
It draws in elements of fantasy, religious tale, spirituality, dream and reality and also at times horror and terror as well written as Barker is known for.
This is not at all pure classic fantasy as known in that genre, it does not really very often have regular horror elements, but it does hold a strong, bizarre and epic tale, some fascinating characters which move along through a unique personal fantastical journey. Like some modern new myth, this is very strange, some times funny, disgusting, wild, and amazing from the first to last page.
jvanfleet's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Deeply bizarre yet arresting; a sprawling fantastique journey; sometimes verging into camp (villain Jaffe upon transcending dubs himself “the Jaff”), other times stunning in its dark beauty (one man “collects” dead spirits until he’s eventually trailed by a tornado of voracious death). Barker’s brick-by-brick development makes room for a talking monkey, cosmic mountain-sized “fleas,” and a few ordinary people in way over their heads.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Regarding rape, it’s more spiritual than physical; like something out of an old-school myth, not a rape-revenge story.snideghoul's review against another edition
1.0
I should have known from the beginning, with my general distaste for fictional conspiracy theories, that I would throw this book across the room in frustration before too long. As usual, I finished the whole thing despite the intense eye-rolling it engendered. I prefer characters that seem more human than godlike wannabes.
jvar's review against another edition
5.0
This was the first of Barker's books I read. It's when I learned of the sea of Quiddity. And how you visit it three times in your life. Full of horror and the most fantastic of characters. This is a book I have read and re-read without ever becoming bored, though I would not recommend it at bedtime reading. Unless you enjoy nightmares. It is an amazing epic story.
nickbaldassare's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
eclecticemily's review against another edition
Just wasn't really grabbing me. Some of the concepts were interesting but the characters felt a bit distant and I didn't really feel invested in anything that was happening.
dheberer's review against another edition
4.0
Clive Barker writes stories on a really grand scale when he's going for a novel. There is an enormous amount of world building that goes into it and it's fantasy at scale hard to conceive of. This isn't an exception, detailing the pursuit of mystical power by a lone man unsuited for it. The arc of his rise and fall is pretty great.
I don't like the coda setting it up for the ongoing saga of Trello battling evil, so I dock it a star.
I don't like the coda setting it up for the ongoing saga of Trello battling evil, so I dock it a star.
noonday's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25