Title: Caraval
Author: Stephanie Garber
Series/Standalone: Caraval Series (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 404
Publisher: Flatiron
Year Published: 2017
Format: Hardcover (Own It)
First Line: "It took seven years to get the letter right."
"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 the 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 sept too far away."
My Rating: 3.75/5
So I went into this book not expecting to enjoy it, but I loved it more and more as I read. The more I read though I also found the twists and turns becoming a little less impressed. I think that the author worked really hard to make you keep guessing about who was who, as well as what was real and fake. By the end though, I was feeling a little tired by all the twists and turns. What really intrigued me and made me want to continue the series is the note at the end of the book. I'm looking forward to seeing how our characters continue life after the events of Caraval.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
This book was surprising to me. I wasn't a huge fan of the Night Circus and I knew that this had been compared to it (that being said I didn't hate the Night Circus it was just ok for me). But this book has a very different element than the Night Circus. We are a player in a mysterious tradition on a seemingly magical island. It also appears that the more we watched the story unfolding the more we saw how everyone was a freaking liar and a player. No one told the truth and did what they were expected to do. I enjoyed the setting and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Characters:
Scarlett: I understood her need to leave her home, especially after seeing how manipulative and abusive her father was. But the idea of marrying someone who could be worse than her father was horrifying. I don't even want to think about that. I also think that she got a little in over her head during the "game" especially in her relationship with Julian. It was frustrating. I'm curious to see how their relationship plays out.
Tella: I'll be the first to admit that I underestimated her. I thought that she was more beauty than brains, but by the end of this first book, she proved to be daring and intelligent. She worked hard to get herself off the island and to save her sister. I worry about the note I read by the end of the book. What else could she owe and where in the world is her mother?
Julian: His character was frustrating to me. I wanted to love him, as I'm usually fans of mysterious seemingly bad boys who have a heart of gold. But I just couldn't get on board with their romance. The more Scarlett fell for him the more I felt like she was making a mistake.
Legend: What is his deal and what really happened over the years of his performances? Why did he chose to be a great performer rather than have the love of his life?
Dante: Will we know his truth?
Marcello: He's deserved how everyone left him and he deserves to lose his fortune. He's rude and a terrible father.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
