Abarat

Started out with a great premise - an ocean in Minnesota? - and fantastical travel to another world. Fantasy, with little bits of horror evident. Then, Oz-like, it became a series of small adventures. Then, it rather abruptly ended.

High marks for fantastic setting and prose, middle marks for no solid plot visible, and very low marks for not making this a standalone book. Clearly Clive Barker can write for the young adult audience.