Title: Caraval (#1)
Author: Stephanie Garber
407 pages
ISBN: 1250095255
Published January 31, 2017
by Flatiron Books
Buy it now here.
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.
“Every person has the power to change their fate if they are brave enough to fight for what they desire more than anything”
First thought
A YA book did it again HOW GORGEOUS is this cover WOW! Just by looking at it you feel transported to an imaginary world filled with wonder and hope (oh how wrong I was).
“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.”
Can we take a moment to compose ourselves over this breath-taking end of a summary?
“People think no one sees all the nasty things they do in the dark. The foul acts they commit, or the lies they tell as part of the game. Caraval takes place at night because you like to watch, and see what people do when they think there are no consequences.”
Strength
Our secondary character, Julian, was a real eye catcher throughout the book. He’s the real reason why I fell hard for this book is characters development was strong and emotional. When the spotlight was on him whether his personality was good or bad I was always secretly on his side no matter the outcome. The lies, manipulations and plots make you guess what will happen next and what is actually real from start to finish. The constant mind games that this book makes you do is unbelievable, it’s the only game, oh wait maybe not, AAH who are we kidding it’s not real, WAIT SCARLET DON’T DO THAT…. Still at this day is she still stuck in a time table of this game!!! Quel suspense!
“Remember, it’s only a game…”
Weakness
Our main character Scarlet was so whinny it was driving me crazy. Instead of taking matters into her own hands she was just feeling sorry for herself and that she has to save her sister where she reminds us on every single page. PLEASE JUST STOP! The author’s choice of wording was not always the best cue sentence:
“It tasted like the moment before night gives birth to morning; it was the end of one thing and the beginning of something else all wrapped up together.”
….. WHAT??? As this story came more alive with magic and wonder the characters lack of sense of that. They were just there without having their own spark of curiosity.
“She imagined loving him would feel like falling in love with darkness, frightening and consuming yet utterly beautiful when the stars came out.”
Conclusion
So, the sequel (Legendary) is out and it is sitting on my book shelf at this exact moment but, am I ready to jump into it? I am so afraid to get side tracked and disappointed since Caraval can be a perfect standalone novel I guess there’s only one way to find out. I give this book 4 stars since the main character was so whinny and always repeating the same thing over and over again! What sold me were all the twisted lies and plots of the Caraval’s world.
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