Caraval - Stephanie Garber

Caraval

Author: Stephanie Garber

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Magic, Romance, Mystery, Adventure

Pages: 407

Rating: 5/5

Book in series: 1# (Caraval-trilogy)

ABOUT

"A legendary competition.

A mesmerizing romance.

An unbreakable bond

between two sisters.

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . beware of getting swept too far away."

THOUGHTS

This is the most magical series I've ever read. Before actually reading this first book, I'd had my eyes on it for, like, forever. I'd heard so many great things about it, and it really lived up to the hype. Before even reading the next two, I knew this was going to be a new all time-favourite for me. That's how good this book was. Plot twist after plot twist was thrown at you, and as the reader, you yourself had no idea what was real and what was just pure fake performance. And it kept me on my toes all those 407 pages!

RECOMMENDATION

This book is perfect if you want to experience reading a new all time favourite-series and get as immersed and invested in it as the characters who play the game. With gorgeous writing and detailed descriptions, this book truly feels like a straight up magical fairytale like those you read as a child.

To sum up – a perfect read for those who love those childhood fairytales and want a more grown-up version of those, and want to try to solve a mystery-like quest, while still getting those fantasy-elements that makes the story so magical.

Review writer: Lisen