Caraval

When I first saw Caraval on another blogger’s site, I was intrigued. “A legendary game” and “dangerous intrigue” grabbed my attention. Caraval is a story about two sisters, an abusive father, and how they finally escape. BUT it’s so much more than that. It’s a story about magic and distortion of reality. You can trust nothing and everything at the same time….confusing? You bet but it is such an amazing read.

Scarlett is an easy character to like. Her motives are simple. As the older sister, it is her job to protect her sibling, her duty to marry, and her responsibility to stay her father’s hand. This girl has one focus and one focus only: marry the fiancé she’s never met and take her sister with her. Scarlett is not really living her life. Her fear rules her, and it is heartbreaking. She sacrifices much to protect her sister, including her dreams.

I’ll admit Tella wasn’t my favorite character. She was portrayed as selfish, uncaring about the consequences of her actions. Our first encounter with her, she is holed up in the wine cellar with a sailor. Do you see why it’s hard to like her? Scarlett sacrifices so much for her and this is what we see. However I do love what the author does with her character.

The plot of the story revolves around the events of Caraval. Scarlett has always dreamed of attending and has written to Master Legend every year since her mother disappeared. He’s never responded. Now she is getting married and he finally responds with tickets. That is how the story begins and I’ll be honest I was shocked at how fast the pace moved. I felt like I couldn’t keep up. I loved the mystery surrounding Caraval which reminded me a bit as a cross between an elaborate circus and Wonderland. There isn’t much known about the game except rumor, yet the mystery and excitement holds the reader captive. And the imagery….loved the imagery! It is so vivid, the colors and scenes bleed from the page.

As I’ve been writing this review, I’ve been trying to put into words why I loved the story so much and I feel I’m doing a poor job. Caraval is billed as a game, but it isn’t a game like The Hunger Games was a game. There isn’t really competition per se. It’s like a puzzle game, one that no matter how many times you read it, I think you will catch different clues. It isn’t a story that contains dramatic irony, where the reader knows something the character doesn’t. We learn things at the same speed as the character and the author does a fantastic job of keeping us guessing right to the very end. I personally was shocked and awed at every turn. I cried when Scarlett cried, I fell in love when Scarlett fell in love, and my heart broke with hers. That is a true marker of a great author!

Overall I love this book! I can’t say that enough. I found myself engrossed. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about the events that had happened so far. Even now that I’ve finished the book, I’m still thinking about the events and characters and can’t help but wonder what life has in store for them next. I think I missed the memo that they are fictional. If you enjoy fantasy, excitement, and a touch of romance, I highly recommend you grab a copy of Caraval as soon as it is on the shelves!

*This review appeared first on Mom with a Reading Problem: https://www.momwithareadingproblem.com/2017/01/weekend-reads-90-caraval-stephanie-garber/

Caraval is the kind of book that has an abundance of amazing, gushing reviews about how glorious the writing is and how magical the story itself is, and how brilliant the characters and their development are. All the hype definitely intrigued me, as if the synopsis wasn't enough, and I was scared of being disappointed going in. I found very quickly that I agreed with the gushing reviews though, and proceeded to immerse myself in the spectacular journey Scarlett finds herself embarking, which I very much enjoyed! All the trickery and deceit, magic and twists and surprises no one sees coming, really entwine together perfectly to give us this magical, thrilling, and mind-twisting tale full of intriguing characters and situations.

"He'd been plying the role of a villain for so long, he'd become one in real life." (97%)

No matter how amazing my predictions were, they never happened. It made reading so much more fun, to think so certainly that you know exactly what's coming, and then BAM! it's nothing you could have expected, and it's so much better than anticipated! The game felt so real and tangible, as if I was there as a watcher, watching Scarlett lose her mind in some situations and dominate in others. Everything felt real. It was so difficult to remember it was all a game, even with all the reminders, and Scarlett felt that way too. It is honestly amazing how the author executed the game, with all the twists and plays, the devious little mind tricks, the hunt for clues mixed with all these paths that have destruction and chaos on them. This is a deadly, violent and dark game; but remember, it's just a game.

I was actually very surprised to find romance in this book, even though I expected there to be some. Perhaps it is just who it was between that surprised me. Either way, it was very enjoyable to read. The romance is a slow, sweet burn that blossomed into this marvelous rose of adoration and affection, one you can't help but enjoy. I definitely want more of this in the sequel!

"Don't look at me like that," Scarlett said. "It doesn't work on me."
"That's why it's fun." (22%)

As for character development, I can see why everyone enjoys it. Scarlett grows a lot in this book, and the more we learn of Julian and Legend, the more we see how they could have changed as well. Donatella however, didn't seem to change at all. She is still the devious, bright, happy girl she was in the beginning, only now Scarlett realizes how far she would go to protect Scarlett as well. Suffice it to say, I am definitely looking forward to seeing them in the sequel and how they might continue to grow.

Overall, Caraval is a quick, engrossing read. I recommend trying it!

Caravan tells the story of Scarlett, who's sister went to the mysterious Caraval with a boy she has just met. Scarlett chases her, of course, and finds herself to be in trouble almost immediately. She is engaged, has a violent father and is now stranded on an unknown mysterious island. On the island, Caraval takes place. An event full of magic and danger, and with a great price: a wish. But when her sister disappears, she has to do everything in her power to save what is most important to her. But does Scarlett really now what, or who, that is?

The most outstanding of Caraval is the setting. The story is set in a world we don't know. Stephanie Garber is really creative and did awesome things with names and places that made me think of Pirates of the Caribbean. Tropical, magical and super interesting. It is completely different from any YA book I've read this year and I totally appreciate the originality of the story. It's told as if you're watching a movie. It will make you keep reading, even when the storyline isn't really going anywhere (at some points, it didn't).

Like I said: the story was a bit slow sometimes. At some moments, I could just put it down and do something else. I could put it down. But the way the story was told, kept me picking up the book over and over again. Halfway through the book, the pace picked up. All of the sudden there was loads of action and the ending really surprised me. Some big plot twist happened which I didn't see coming and that I liked. The ending of the book swept me away and got me all excited about the book.

The characters in the book are good. Julian, the guy who takes the sisters to Caraval, really is annoying. He doesn't listen, he just wants to do things his way and doesn't take Scarlett's feeling seriously. There is some tension between Julian en Scarlett, but I just hoped they wouldn't end up together. After finishing the book, I liked Julian a whole lot more. Somehow, these characters work together. Scarlett's sister, Donatella, is a dreamer. She sees the best in everybody which makes her a bit naive at some points. At the end, they make a good team.

Like I said: the book didn't start out too well for me. But the ending really surprised me and got me all psyched about its sequel (which will come soon, I hope). It's an easy read once you get to know the characters and read through the first couple of chapters. Stephanie's writing style is really captivating and I think the book speaks to a bigger audience. If you like Julie Kagawa, or maybe Maggie Stiefvater, you will adore this book!