So I thought I'd start with the map because these two parts span across a few different islands and character points of view.
As usual, we have Candy, but we also have the main villain, Christopher Carrion. Christopher Carrion is the Prince of Midnight who lives on Gorgossium (the Midnight Island, the island with the red clouds on the right side of the map next to the island of pyramids). I really like the way Barker has chosen to write Carrion because he's supposed to be the ultimate evil, the very epitome of darkness and danger. However, there are somethings in his back story and manner that sometimes, definitely not all the time, make you kinda sorta maybe feel a bit bad for him and understand, perhaps, why he does some of the bad things that he does. It is in no way an excuse or a free pass to all of the awful things he does, such as terrorize everyone he sets eyes on and want to murder Candy, but it is a sort of explanation and insight into his head. To me that is the best kind of villain; the villain that you're not sure about, that one some level you can relate or sympathize with, and it's possible they may have one or two redeeming qualities. I don't know about you but I love villains. They're so essential to so many stories that they have to be very well written and given just as much depth as the main character(s) and their supporting players. Well written and sympathetic villains are my weakness, and I love them just as much as I hate them. There's also times I would find myself rooting for Carrion (not when he was against Candy obviously). His grandmother, Mater Motley, is an awful, poisonous, cruel, abusive women (who, honestly, is awesome in her own way because she doesn't take shit from anyone but I digress) and there were times when they would be going head to head and I would be firmly on Carrion's side then have to take a step back and think "was I really just on this guy's side?" And that makes me happy, because seriously. Well written, fleshed out villains are so cool. (Also, I love love loved that his last name is Carrion, it's just so fitting.)
Another thing I've already talked about but still really like is Barker's descriptions of his characters and his self-made illustrations of said characters. Now, this book is YA so the language isn't overly sophisticated or complex, but he does have a way with words,
"The voice was deep and-even in the simplest of questions-was somehow tinged with despair. It was the voice of someone who had walked in the abyss."
(Okay, so sometimes it's a little overly dramatic and cliched, but this is the Prince of Midnight's voice so I guess that's alright.)
One of the most intriguing characteristics Barker gave Carrion was his ability to "channel every nightmarish thought and image out of the coils of his brain and bring them into this semi-physical form." He keeps these nightmares in a clear glass bowl he wears around the bottom of his face and releases them when he wants to torture someone. It was a really cool idea (and kinda badass), in my opinion, and it was just the sort of thing I could see Christopher Carrion wearing.
Carrion is unpleasant to look at, pretty gross actually, and apparently his smile makes people wanna jump off a cliff, but all in all I think he may be one of my favorite parts of this book.
Another thing I've already talked about but still really like is Barker's descriptions of his characters and his self-made illustrations of said characters. Now, this book is YA so the language isn't overly sophisticated or complex, but he does have a way with words,
"The voice was deep and-even in the simplest of questions-was somehow tinged with despair. It was the voice of someone who had walked in the abyss."
(Okay, so sometimes it's a little overly dramatic and cliched, but this is the Prince of Midnight's voice so I guess that's alright.)
One of the most intriguing characteristics Barker gave Carrion was his ability to "channel every nightmarish thought and image out of the coils of his brain and bring them into this semi-physical form." He keeps these nightmares in a clear glass bowl he wears around the bottom of his face and releases them when he wants to torture someone. It was a really cool idea (and kinda badass), in my opinion, and it was just the sort of thing I could see Christopher Carrion wearing.
Carrion is unpleasant to look at, pretty gross actually, and apparently his smile makes people wanna jump off a cliff, but all in all I think he may be one of my favorite parts of this book.
Christopher Carrion
I also find myself loving the villains like the joker. I always feel bad for them because they always have a reason to be evil. They start terrible and try to be successful on their plans but end up back with shit or dead. But you're correct, their terrible beginning doesn't mean they have a free pass to do whatever. Love that you included the picture of Christoper, it shows how terrifying he looks. I don't know if I like the picture, it's different nothing I've ever seen before, or freaked out.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the map of the story, helps with visualizations. I just loved the blog I really want to read the book now.
Next time try talking about the main character, what they're like or why Christopher hates Candy. It would be nice if you just included character development throughout the book of both Christopher and Candy. But overall just an amazing blog post, good job.