snx_234's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Blood, Death, and Gore
Minor: Domestic abuse
racerreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Suicide attempt, and Gore
Moderate: Rape
kiranev's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’m not a big fantasy reader but this book really drew me in. The world of Caraval is so magical and I love the concept of this big performance. Not knowing what’s real and what’s fake. But also knowing that what you’re reading is probably fake? But wanting to believe it anyway. I was so intrigued the whole time.
Scarlett annoyed me a lot at the beginning but her character development was so perfect and great to read through. And ugh I love Julian. This was such a great book to get me into fantasy and I will def be reading the rest of the series and the spin-off :)
Minor: Gore and Blood
eatingbrains's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.25
There was enough mystery and world building to keep me interested in reading more, though the characters were a bit one dimensional they managed to hold my attention.
Other books I've read with this vibe did not have strong enough characters to keep me engaged and since this was a debut novel it has a lot of promise for what comes next.
Minor: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Violence
kcmg710's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really loved this book so much, the writing as a whole was so beautiful it was like a feast for my eyes and some of the descriptions/metaphors I re-read over and over again because they were so beautiful.
Loved the characters and the development (well Scarlett’s - I’m assuming we will see the others in the rest of the trilogy).
Like in the beginning Scarlett really bugged me
Spoiler
with how obsessed she was with her sister and getting married and all that palava I actually (stupidly) thought she was quite boring and I understand because of her trauma and stuff and in reflection I was probably abit too harsh on her just because of my views on marriage but that doesn’t mean that other peoples are wrong // I saw on TikTok one of the characters from little women? Say something similar and thought she has a frickin point actually) and seeing how brave and resilient she was in the end and strong for standing up to her father and going after her actual dreams (adventure and stuff)Even though I loved this book and it didn’t really have many faults but it’s just not quite 5*for me and I can’t figure out why ☹️
As you can tell from my rambling I am not a writer but I hope my review was helpful
(I also don’t know if I’ve used the spoiler tags properly so sorry in advance)
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Gore, Gaslighting, Death, and Murder
Minor: Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
linneaalgemon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Blood, Death, Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, and Suicide
dannilmp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
What made this book even more interesting for me was I read it as a buddy read, so I was constantly looking for answers to questions and trying to puzzle out the bigger plot points of the book, without this I don't think I would have rated Caraval 3 stars. I enjoy worlds with magic and as Caraval appears to be the only place within this world setting that magic exists makes it more intriguing and drives a want to understand why and how it can happen in this world. It was an easy read and felt like you were flying through the pages!
On the other hand, some of the characters could have been more thought through, Donatella's character was just straight up unlikable for me, but so where aspects of Scarlett's personality, though I think her character growth over the novel does help make up for this. I would have liked to have seen other characters given more "screen time" and not just be around for a few pages for a massive plot point and then to just disapear.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Blood, Violence, and Gore
Minor: Sexual assault and Abandonment
g4bby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Death
Moderate: Dysphoria, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Murder
Minor: Violence and Suicide attempt
rhm04's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Violence, Blood, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Grief and Abandonment
zoepagereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Gore, Child abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Violence and Murder