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A review by booking_along
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
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: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Gaslighting