A review by sophs_mood_reading
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
Two sisters (Tella, an impulsive younger sister and Scarlett an older protective, conservative sister) flee an abusive father to take part in an annual, mysterious magical game to secure the prize, a wish. Throw in a handsome man who helps one minute and disappears the next, actors whose aim is to help and deceive you (you just don’t know which) and a kidnapping and you have a whole lot of thinking to do.
This novel (although a little slow to get the the action at first) pops the reader into a magical world where anything is possible although non of it is real (or so you are told). Every chapter comes with twists and turns and just when you think you (and the protagonist) have figured it out, suddenly you have it all wrong again.
The last 1/3 of the book really gets action packed and even in the end you have questions and still want to know more.
The descriptive writing was beautiful, I really felt I could picture the beautiful sets of the game. And the way in which the protagonist could see colour with her feelings made for such beautiful imagery and really got the sentiment across.
There were really clever and fun magical elements such as how the fortune teller discovered peoples inner desires and the affects of the drink to see clearly. I also loved that I didn’t guess what was going on at all as this is often a let down when reading fantasy books. I can’t wait to continue the series.
This novel (although a little slow to get the the action at first) pops the reader into a magical world where anything is possible although non of it is real (or so you are told). Every chapter comes with twists and turns and just when you think you (and the protagonist) have figured it out, suddenly you have it all wrong again.
The last 1/3 of the book really gets action packed and even in the end you have questions and still want to know more.
The descriptive writing was beautiful, I really felt I could picture the beautiful sets of the game. And the way in which the protagonist could see colour with her feelings made for such beautiful imagery and really got the sentiment across.
There were really clever and fun magical elements such as how the fortune teller discovered peoples inner desires and the affects of the drink to see clearly. I also loved that I didn’t guess what was going on at all as this is often a let down when reading fantasy books. I can’t wait to continue the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Suicide, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse