Caraval

This is more suited to the YA market with an appealing darkness that had me gripped from page one.

An allure of illusions, rich description, and magic. I loved this book! Every sentence was beautiful and intriguing–it was quite unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Add in the mystique of a carnival, and this makes for a remarkable read.

Scarlett was a strong female protagonist, and her desperate need to escape had me reading this long into the night. 

I loved the mystical, magical, and taboo nature of the world of Caraval. I was on a constant path of discovery in this book, and its world is filled with such intrigue and questions to solve that it kept me completely immersed in the story.

A rare once-a-year performance or game that you must get invited to participate in seems like harmless fun until Scarlett discovers her twin is part of it, and the danger and treachery occurring is very real. It was hard to put down! I loved the resistant romantic tale woven in this one, and especially how… show more.

I happened upon a pristine hardcover of this book for $2 at the thrift store, and it was one of the best finds I have ever made. Magic is the best way to describe Stephanie Garber’s writing, and she delivers every time. 

Tella receives an invitation to the magical game of Caraval, and the winner receives one wish. Only this game revolves around her sister, and she has to find her before the five nights of the event are up. Each chapter leads you deeper into the game, and it had me at the edge of my seat until all… show more.

This was the book I always wanted to write but just couldn’t quite crack it.

A strong bond between sisters, dark magic, romantically mesmerising descriptions, creative concepts, a subtle twist...it had it all. I was fully immersed in this enchanting tale and I am anxiously awaiting for my paperback copy of the sequel to arrive!

Scarlett has always wanted to attend Caraval, a mysterious game/performance that often incorporates an audience member and blurs the line between reality and fantasy. She finally gets her chance just as she’s on the cusp of marrying and moving away. But Scarlett’s in for far more than she bargained for: the audience member chosen for this round of Caraval is her beloved sister, who is whisked away and must be found before the conclusion of Caraval’s five nights. This first-in-series is chock full of fantasy, adventure, and romance.

I absolutely devoured this lush, evocative fantasy, which tells the story of two sisters who live in a world where a select few are invited to play an immersive, magical game on a remote island. As a writer, I found Garber’s prose to be exquisite; her fantasy world, too – and all of its secrets, spells, and wonders – was crafted meticulously and painted in sumptuous detail. But as a reader, the real driver of Caraval for me was the bond between the main character Scarlett and her sister Tella – such an unforgettable adventure with two unique heroines at… show more.

I would find a way to put this book on every list I make because I love it so much. Caraval is an immersive read, set at a carnival where nothing is as it seems and you can’t trust anyone. It has the sibling relationship trope that I love with two sisters, one reckless and one sweet, and their adventure when they go to Caraval. The book starts and ends with a plot twist, though the first twist is in the blurb—that once they get there, one sister goes missing, and the other realizes that the task of this years’… show more.

Caraval has a unique spin on the whole circus concept. It brings new things to the table, along with a swoony romance and morally gray characters that I couldn’t stop wanting to meet. Morally gray always pulls me in anyway, but the darkness of the Caraval world was amazing and so was the sisterly bond. I love reading about sibling bonds and how one would sacrifice themselves to save the other.