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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: Gore, Violence, and Blood
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: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, and Dysphoria
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, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
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: Child abuse, Gore, Suicide, Blood, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Violence and Murder
izzie_chamomilletea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
bookishgoob'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think there were a lot of things that this book tried to do that just didn't work for me though... I still enjoyed it, just not as much as I had hoped.
Let's start with the things that I did like:
- I loved the plot and pacing. There was a good mix of fast-paced sections, with slightly slower paced scenes, and it worked really well to drive the story and to keep me interested in the goings on of the Caraval competition. Not to mention how intriguing the set up of the competition was! I found the idea unique and intriguing, and it had some good twists to how things worked or worked out. I will say the ending seemed a little rushed to wrap everything up, but it still explained everything. I just think after the whole competition was most of the book, the explanation and wrap-up was like two chapters...
- The magic! There was an element of mystery and magic that worked so well for a competition and performers who relied on magic to drive the story forward. I thought some of the uses of the magic were well-done and unique.
The things that made it difficult for me to really enjoy this book:
- Scarlett... and well, most of the characters who were main to be honest. I will admit that I was intrigued by Julian, enough that I could overlook at parts how annoying and frustrating both Scarlett and Tella were to me... I'm sorry, but we get it, Scarlett loves her sister more than anything. I don't need it written like 25 times in the book... (that might be an exaggeration but definitely what it felt like) The only characters I was interested in were Julian, Aiko, and Dante - side characters we don't get much from... also there was one reveal at the end that left me a tad bit uncomfortable.
- The weird colour descriptions for emotions... I really didn't like these. I am so confused why the author felt she had to constantly describe the colour of things that don't have colour? It actually became frustrating to me and I started recording some of the more ridiculous ones down: panic is described as "shades of hemlock green - the color of poison and terror;" "Scarlett had an emerald-green premonition;" "Sour shades of yellow-green made her stomach roil;" disappointment is described as "forget-me-not blue;" I think panic is described later on as purple instead of green; and don't even get me started about how a kiss is described as tasting like "shades of rich brown and light blue." This might work for someone who sees the colours in everything, but it gives me NOTHING for describing emotions and abstract things... Honestly I just found it an annoying attempt at descriptions that I wish had been taken out...
I did enjoy the book overall - it was an easy read. I am not entirely sure if I will continue the series, unless someone can confirm for me that Scarlett gets a little less annoying... but I am glad that I read it!
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, and Murder
frumpkin_'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: Child abuse
Moderate: Gore, Blood, Grief, and Murder