Reviews with content warning for Kidnapping - Caraval

This was the book club’s pick of the month for August. This has been on my TBR for a while, and I always walk past it in bookshops and just never caught my eye enough to start it. I’m really glad I started this book, even if it did mess with my head a little bit.

This book is based on Scarlett, and she has never left the tiny isle of Trisda, pining from afar for the wonder of Caraval, a once-a-year week-long performance where the audience participates in the show. Caraval is magic. Mystery. Adventure. And for Scarlett and her younger sister Tella it represents freedom and an escape from their ruthless, abusive father. When the sisters’ long-awaited invitations to Caraval finally arrive, it seems their dreams have come true. But no sooner have they arrived that Tella vanishes and is kidnapped by the show’s mastermind organizer, Legend. Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But nonetheless she quickly becomes enmeshed in a dangerous game of love, magic and heartbreak. And real or not, she must find Tella before the game is over, and her sister disappears forever.

I liked the storyline; it reminded me a lot of Alice in Wonderland meets Willy Wonka. The way that this book kept twisting and turning. It was magical and the game had me stressed. I didn’t want to trust anyone – Dante, Julian, no one. It had me on EDGE. I wanted to hug Scarlett throughout the whole book, she was going through it and all she wanted to do was enjoy the games and then she was more worried about her sister that she couldn’t enjoy it. Also, the way that she stood up for her father was so brave and I was screaming and dancing for her at that point and I'm glad that her and Tella got out and are safe. Julian took a while to grow on me, mainly because I didn’t trust anyone from the games and thought he was going to betray Scarlett which he kind of did but for good reasons, so I'll forgive him.

Is it bad that I was more intrigued on who was Legend rather than if Tella was going to be saved? Like I understand Tella’s behaviour because her father is a jackass, but she still needs to warm up to me because her character was annoying me throughout the book especially with the reveal at the end and how she had a plan the whole time but couldn’t trust her sister? Like Scarlett was getting married to save you and you were plotting behind her back? I feel like Tella needed to grovel for forgiveness more for what she put Scarlett through, the first thing she was focusing on after all that was going to the party and bringing Scarlett, like girl. Scarlett might want to sleep, or you know take a breather not go to a party. I am aware this is a young adult book, but their father got off WAY too easy for my liking. I wanted him punished or even killed for what he did, and I hope he doesn’t get a redemption arc because he doesn’t deserve it. If I see that man again in this series, I'll cry.

The ending left more questions than answers and I have a feeling Tella is going to become a problem rather supporting her sister with whatever they do next.

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sadie_g's review

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adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I was obsessed with this book from the start and just kept thinking about it.

Loved the banter and the romance in this, and the bond between Donatella and Scarlet is so strong and beautiful. This is such a magical and unique setting and I could imagine it all through the writing. I really thought I knew where things were going but it kept surprising me in the best ways. I’m so excited to read the rest of this series.

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deadly_kitten777's review

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adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Defiantly worth a read for sure, was throughly surprised by how much i liked this one, one other note is they really excuse Tella's actions but she does some really terrible things and is in general kind of a bad person

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jesse_jellyfish's review

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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bri__'s review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

This was alright. I'm reading this series to get to OUABH. This was a pretty quick read with a whole lot of plot twists, however, some of the magical things fell a bit flat for me. I hope I enjoy the next one.

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kristina_12's review

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adventurous tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I LOVED this book but I feel like the next one in the series will be better. Also if u like romantasy/fantasy you will love this book it's so adventurous and it feels like you're in another world I could not put this book down and the clothing choices in it are beautiful. some people don't like Stephanie garbers writing style but I would try cuz u never know. This is in 3rd person btw which I don't like that much but this THIS is a phenomenal exception.

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nina_bookkura's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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muff1n_reads's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

July/24/2024

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

First i would like to say I LOVE THAT HE CALLS HER "CRIMSON"❤

And can i just say the way stephanie writes is so beautiful i LOVE the way she explained stuff with the colours and feelings 😍 AHHHWKBEJSNWBEH i love it soo much

Overall its a really good book about sisters, freedom and falling in love for the first time and it all takes place in a "everything is not what it seems"/wonderland type world *chefs kiss*

(I read it right after heartless by marissa meyer and 👏IT👏KEPT👏THE👏VIBES👏GOING👏
Caraval was just what i needed im in LOVE with the crazy worlds these books gave me)

There were so many plot twists they were all done so well i can say a audibly gasped multiple times lol it was fantastic

This whole book was a roller coster man so many plot twists and gosh did i enjoy every single tiny minute of it

This is one of the twists that blew my mind it came out of nowhere i stared at a wall for a long time

*Ahem*

THE HECK HE DIES WHO WAS GOING TO TELL ME THAT!!! WTFRICK

"julian!" Scarlett cried, pushing harder against his chest as blood soaked through the cape onto her hands. "I dont care if you lied. If you dont die, i'll forgive you for everything."

Julian's eyes shut, as if he didn't hear her

"Julian, please keep fighting. You've been fighting this whole game, dont stop now."

Slowly his eyes lifted. For a moment it looked as if he was coming back to her. "I lied about how i got bashed in the head," he mumbled " i wanted to get your earrings back. But the man was stronger than he looked. . . . I got into a little trouble. But it was worth it to see your face. . . ." A ghost of a smile moved up his lips " i should have stayed away from you . . . But i really wanted you to succeed. . . . I wanted to -"

Julian's head fell back.

"No!"
Beneath her hands, scarlet felt his chest fall a final time. "Julian. Julian. Julian!" She pressed her hands to his heart but nothing moved.

Scarlet didn't know how many times she repeted his name. She said it like a prayer. A plea. A whisper. A good-bye.
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

What the heck did i do to deserve that i was NOT prepared for that

I relly hated their dad he was really annoying and he has serious issues

Chapter 28
Ahhhh when she FINNALY realizes she loves him and he loves her❤❤
And they kiss *melts into a puddle of awe*😍

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

✨Fave quotes✨

●She imagined loving him would feel like falling in love with darkness, frightening and consuming yet utterly beautiful when the stars came out.
-Scarlett about julian

○She remembered thinking falling for him would be like falling in love with darkness, but now she imagined he was more like a starry night: the constellations were always there, constant, magnificent guides against the ever-present black.
-Scarlett about julian

●The boy who’d saved her from drowning in more ways than one
-Scarlett about julian

○"I forgive you," she whispered.
-Scar to Julian

●"Welcome, welcome to Caraval! The grandest show on land or by sea. Inside you’ll experience more wonders than most people see in a lifetime. You can sip magic from a cup and buy dreams in a bottle. But before you fully enter into our world, you must remember it’s all a game. What happens beyond this gate may frighten or excite you, but don’t let any of it trick you. We will try to convince you it’s real, but all of it is a performance. A world built of make-believe. So while we want you to get swept away, be careful of being swept too far away. Dreams that come true can be beautiful, but they can also turn into nightmares when people won’t wake up."
-Jovan

○"I love you Tella."
"I know you do." Tella looked up with an indescribably tender expression. "I wouldn't be here if you didn't."
-Scar and Tella

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Idk what else to say its 3 am and im basicly sleeping lol

Only this that i hate is ITS A CLIFHANGER (not that im entirely upset abt that now i have an exscuce to get more books)
BUT i am REALLY looking forward to reading book 2 "legandary" 😁and i am excited to see where that takes me

With that said

I hope you enjoy/enjoyed this book as much as i do

Happy reading✨
-Muffin❤

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