Caraval | Review

Synopsis

Whatever you’ve heard about Caraval, it doesn’t compare to the reality. It’s more than just a game or a performance. It’s the closest you’ll ever find to magic in this world . . .

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved 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 far-away, 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. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . beware of getting swept too far away.

Review

What a freaking mind-trip this book was. Here are a few of my notes that I feel sums up my feelings well:

• What’s real! What’s not!
• Who can I trust?
• Despite all the warnings, I fell. Hard.
• Wait, no. NO!
• I’m fine. Everything’s fine.

I would like to point out a couple of thing I loved about this book. One being the obvious I HAD NO IDEA WHO TO TRUST. I know that was the point, but the author just wrote things so well that I had no inkling of knowledge of what was real, what was an act, who was an actor, etc.

Second, Scarlett’s character development was excellent. I really loved seeing the person she was at the beginning, on the island with her father, and then seeing her at the end. Wow. What a change.

Overall, this was a fabulous book! I can see what all the hype is about! There was a slight something missing for me which is why I didn’t give it 5 stars. I’m not sure what that something was, but if I figure it out I’ll update it here.

Rating

To check out my other reviews, click here. Or to check out more books by Stephanie Garber, go to her Goodreads profile or visit her website.

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