skeptic_hecate's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This has more twists than the Amazon river, except that, unlike the Amazon river, the twists here are pointless and full of plotholes. I didn't like the protagonist at all, Scarlett Dragma reads like an anime filler episode monologue:
"I should do 'x', but if I do 'x' then I cannot do 'y', but perhaps people will expect me to do 'y' so I shouldn't do 'y', unless when two dimensional and pointless side character hinted that doing 'x' is better..." and so on.
The only character I liked was Donatella, and she was in a few pages of the book. The decisions taken by the characters are very stupid to the point of being random, and the clues are designed to be solved by something that happens to appear out of thin air rather than forshadowed.
The climax is meh, there are no real consequences to the actions of the characters. I had to force myself to finish this book. The outfits and setting are nice.
"I should do 'x', but if I do 'x' then I cannot do 'y', but perhaps people will expect me to do 'y' so I shouldn't do 'y', unless when two dimensional and pointless side character hinted that doing 'x' is better..." and so on.
The only character I liked was Donatella, and she was in a few pages of the book. The decisions taken by the characters are very stupid to the point of being random, and the clues are designed to be solved by something that happens to appear out of thin air rather than forshadowed.
The climax is meh, there are no real consequences to the actions of the characters. I had to force myself to finish this book. The outfits and setting are nice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual harassment
anielabooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The world of this book absolutely captivated me. I truly enjoyed observing Scarlett throughout her time in Caraval. The ending made me feel satisfied while still yearning for more time with the characters. One character I felt very drawn to was Legend, he has absolutely amazing character traits. Somehow he is ever-present in the game while also feeling distant. I will absolutely pick up the next book in this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Violence, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Kidnapping, Injury/injury detail, and Physical abuse
Minor: Abandonment, Confinement, and Rape
fka_bix's review against another edition
3.25
It was very much so “okay” I didn’t get into it much until 60% through and the ending was decent. likely will read Legend + Finale, but in no rush (mostly waiting for Jacks to show up because I read OUABH and BONA first and I LOVED those two books, but I’m actually glad I read those first even though they’re somewhat meant to come after)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Blood, Physical abuse, and Death
tays_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Pregnancy and Alcohol
booking_along's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
reread 2023:
i don’t really have any other things to say or thoughts to add to my first ones.
this is very strange.
sometimes very overwritten and too much and trying a bit too hard to not say anything while filling pages with nonsensical words.
i love the idea and the characters and plot idea isn’t bad overall but i wish it wasn’t as flowery and nonsensically written in a way that one never really knows what’s going on and if something is happening or not.
it’s not bad but i think it’s a specific type of writing that you have to be a specific reader to love.
as in if you don’t mind not understand how why or what even after finishing it all and having things described to you in colors for no real reason (dead is apparently purple) fantastic.
look i enjoy description and i like flowery writing but there is a point where i just want a clear answer to things. and in this first book that never really happens
i will continue on with this series this time and see if this writing continues as it’s been done here or if at some point an actual story is being told in a clearer and more easily understandable way.
first read 2018:
3 stars
this is such a strange book!
i really loved parts of it, but the other parts that i didn’t enjoy, those i REALLY did not like!
in some ways this book reminded me a lot of alice in wonderland.
a lot of strange things are happening that make no sense and that are not getting explained at all.
there are also way more overused stereotypes in this book especially gender wise than there should be especially for such a super strange book!
but the writing is so good, and the plot ideas that i could understand and made sense were fantastic...
a very strange mixture!
i know that i will only define my personal option of this book - if i enjoy it or not- when i reread it someday.
for books this strange i need a reread to really form my option and decide how i feel about them.
or in other words: i need a reread in hopes that i will either understand more of it in that go around OR not like it because it will be just as strange and not understandable to me as this time around.
for now i can only say: super strange and over the top whimsical and unexplained reading experience!
i don’t really have any other things to say or thoughts to add to my first ones.
this is very strange.
sometimes very overwritten and too much and trying a bit too hard to not say anything while filling pages with nonsensical words.
i love the idea and the characters and plot idea isn’t bad overall but i wish it wasn’t as flowery and nonsensically written in a way that one never really knows what’s going on and if something is happening or not.
it’s not bad but i think it’s a specific type of writing that you have to be a specific reader to love.
as in if you don’t mind not understand how why or what even after finishing it all and having things described to you in colors for no real reason (dead is apparently purple) fantastic.
look i enjoy description and i like flowery writing but there is a point where i just want a clear answer to things. and in this first book that never really happens
i will continue on with this series this time and see if this writing continues as it’s been done here or if at some point an actual story is being told in a clearer and more easily understandable way.
first read 2018:
3 stars
this is such a strange book!
i really loved parts of it, but the other parts that i didn’t enjoy, those i REALLY did not like!
in some ways this book reminded me a lot of alice in wonderland.
a lot of strange things are happening that make no sense and that are not getting explained at all.
there are also way more overused stereotypes in this book especially gender wise than there should be especially for such a super strange book!
but the writing is so good, and the plot ideas that i could understand and made sense were fantastic...
a very strange mixture!
i know that i will only define my personal option of this book - if i enjoy it or not- when i reread it someday.
for books this strange i need a reread to really form my option and decide how i feel about them.
or in other words: i need a reread in hopes that i will either understand more of it in that go around OR not like it because it will be just as strange and not understandable to me as this time around.
for now i can only say: super strange and over the top whimsical and unexplained reading experience!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child abuse, Death, Confinement, and Suicide
lily_june's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Death
emilymdh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death, and Blood
jess1059's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Blood and Death
anneliedip's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
I enjoyed reading. Scarlett and Julian are great together and I Iiked the way Scarlett got more and more courageous. The game itself was not what I expected. It felt dark, twisted and dangerous, but that might be because you experience it through Scarlett's eyes and she is almost constantly scared, worried or full of doubt.
Spoiler
The way the book dealt with suicide and death didn't sit right with me. Scarlett's sister Tella was like: "I am gonna kill myself, but you just have to love me enough to bring me back..." Please No!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Suicide, and Abandonment
abbypeekreads's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Caraval was a mysteriously intriguing and adventurous read that I had a lot of fun with! The premise--a magical game filled with riddles and puzzles--really hooked me in, and I enjoyed the historical feel of the setting. My only complaint was that I had hoped the writing and characters would feel a bit more upper-YA than it did, as that's what typically prefer when it comes to YA these days, but it didn't take away or distract me too much from the fun of the story. The ending got me super curious about the next book as well, and I'm looking forward to continuing the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Blood, Suicide, and Murder