Title: Caraval
Author: Stephanie Garber
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: YA Fantasy
Synopsis: Remember, it’s only a game…
Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.
But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.
Welcome, welcome to Caraval…beware of getting swept too far away.
This book is a heart stopping, roaring adventure combined with a mystical and mysterious air all bathed with lots of glitter, flouncy dresses and laughter paired with a few screams. Just a few 😉
The hype for this book was unbelievable. It was like this single shriek of people gasping as if someone had thrown cold water over them, gushing over this book. It really is a spectacular read, and in the beginning I was very unsure I was going to like it, but I really ended up loving it.
The one thing I didn’t like was a personal preference – and that was the amount of romance spooned into the pages. If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’ll know I’m not a fan of romance, and I prefer to avoid it in books if I can. I probably wouldn’t have ended up reading this book if I had known there was that much romance in it, but thank goodness, it was easily skippable, so I didn’t let that knock a star down 🙂
One thing I absolutely loved in this book was the sisterly relationship between Scarlett and Donatella. Totally awesome. My favourite character has to be Scarlett, she’s just so determined to take care of her sister, even if it means sailing off to an island she’s never been on before and risking her rather promising looking future.
The twists in this book were just… stunning. As in stunned. I love so many things about Caraval, like how you have to trade secrets to buy things, that there’s apple cider to make things clearer and how everyone is provided with luxurious rooms. Do not be fooled while reading this book! Unfortunately, you have no choice. With this book, you will be fooled whether you like it or not! I picked up on some of the hints, but never really got to the ultimate conclusion before it got to me.
In conclusion, hype can disappoint, but it can also astound 🙂
Who is your favourite, Donatella or Scarlett? I’m so excited to read the next book, Legendary!
Speak to you all soon!
many things bookish 