My head is spinning! Right from the start you are kept on the edge of your seat. The descriptive details were so vivid it felt like you were standing in each scene. Throughout the whole story, all these questions were constantly swirling around you. Who is Legend? Who can Scarlett trust? Is her mind playing tricks on her and you? Can she trust her own instincts and sense? It was a whirlwind of a ride

CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber is an enchanting debut. Truly magical.

I was hooked from the very first line and was kept on the edge of my seat with all of its fabulous twists and turns.

Garber’s writing makes it incredibly easy to get swept up in the world of Caraval. I felt like I was living and breathing each moment with stunning clarity. I couldn’t put it down.

This is hands down one of my favorite reads of 2017—not to be missed! I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Oh my goodness… you guys, this was SO GOOD and so magical and amazing. I read it 9 months ago and I still can’t stop thinking about it. I also have not been able to figure out how to review it because I LOVED IT SO MUCH that I have no idea what to say. I can’t tell you everything I loved because then I’d just be typing out the book for you. There was nothing I didn’t love to pieces, so writing a review is a truly overwhelming task that I’ve been scared to even begin. lol. I was truly and utterly captivated by and immersed in this story from the first page, and even though it’s over it has not yet let go of me. Part of me is still in that story, unable to let go of it and eagerly anticipating the next book.

Caraval is a magical, whimsical, quirky, convoluted, mysterious, romantic, captivating ball of beautiful words and imagination. The story is dripping with danger and unknowing, with mischievous and ominous characters. Stephanie’s writing is on point, and her imagination and storytelling ability are on FIRE. I wonder if she rents out rooms in her mind…? The world of Caraval is bigger than our world, and the game has so many layers and mysteries that it’s basically ingenious.

I was fully expecting and intending to write a detailed, organized, and coherent review. But… I don’t want to say anything more than this because it’s honestly better if you have no idea what to expect. I went in very skeptical (hello hype, and the book had not even been published yet!) and not quite sure what to expect. Best decision ever. The less you know about Caraval, the more mysterious and exciting it will feel to you. So don’t read any reviews. Just don’t do it. My review is vague enough that you’re pretty much just going to leave my blog knowing Caraval is a book you’ve got to read. If I’ve convinced you of this, I’ve done my job! If not, write to me and I’ll talk your ear off until you can see there’s no other option.

After reading this book, I hyped it so much to my book club that the book was constantly checked out with at least 6 people waiting.

The quick-paced action, the plot twists, the suspense-building centered on characters you love and love to hate . . . it's all wrapped up in this amazing book!

Wonderful book for young adults. The idea of something that has always seemed mystical suddenly coming true is exciting. The heroine Scarlett is strong and clever and manages to have adventures while still taking care of herself and looking out for her beloved sister. YA readers will love the romance and the themes of betrayal and things not being what they seem. Caraval is the ideal fantasy book--dreamlike descriptions with very real-world emotions.

Garber has created one of the most lyrical and beautiful books I have had the pleasure of reading. The story was suspenseful and unexpected without feeling gimmicky or over-the-top. It was gripping, edge-of-your-seat mystery from page one, and had me skipping sleep to finish it. I enjoyed never knowing who or what to trust was real. It was a well-crafted story from beginning to end.

I went into this book thinking it was a stand-alone title, and even though the main plot was brought to a satisfying conclusion, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there will be a sequel. I will (and already have) be recommending this book to every teen and adult I come across with even a hint of an interest in fantasy.

I will do my best to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, but discussing what makes and breaks this book will require discussing some vague details, although not enough to ruin the story.

All good? Okay.

When it comes to reviewing a book, I take in to consideration a wide range of factors, but what ranks highest on my list is definitely "enjoyment." I always have to ask myself: "did I enjoy this book?" It is one of my biggest drives when it comes to a book, I read because I like to enjoy good storytelling, so I feel like it makes sense. when it came to rating Caraval, it was my enjoyment of the story that pushed this one over to a 4 star rating. I truly enjoyed the experience of reading it, and am probably going to read the second if there is one.

What is somewhat baffling to me is actually the fact that I look back on this book so highly. It took me roughly a week to finish this one, not because it was overly long (about 407 pages), but because it took at least 100 pages to get into the story. The "Hook" was great, I loved the way the book was introduced, but the first 100 pages, where the characters backstory was introduced and the scene set was somewhat difficult to get through.

I think in part this was due to my own perspectives getting in the way with how Stephanie Garber chose to portray the family situation that Scarlett and Tella grew up in. Within the first few pages or so you realize that the sisters did not grow up in the happiest of homes, their mother passed away when they were younger and their father became angry and abusive afterward. This is the main driver for Scarlett getting engaged to a man she has never met (all of this happens before the story begins) so as to escape the totalitarian-like grasp that her father has on the lives of her and her sister Tella.

Now, maybe this is because this is a YA novel and they didn't want to have the story be harsh, but the "abuse" in the book did not seem realistic, nor do I feel that Scarlett acts like a victim of child abuse. It felt like the way children play acting scenes felt, when the one child directs the other as to how this is, and the other is supposed to go along with it and accept that is how their pretend scenario plays out, like childhood imaginings. This made it difficult for me to get into the text because I kept questioning the reactions. I never truly felt Scarlett's fear of her father, it all felt like a farce to me. Simply play acting.

I should have prefaced this with the fact that I am a full grown 27 year old, and that maybe I am just too... experienced? tarnished by the world? and so perhaps I see these things differently than someone younger or closer to the intended audience would and so therefore they wouldn't be as distanced by the text as I was.

But what exactly is the intended audience of this novel? I ask because I can't remember a time when Scarlett mentions her age (granted, I am writing this a month post read) and throughout the story I kept asking myself how old she was. I knew she still lived at home, that she was old enough to get married, and had a younger sister who seemed old enough to get herself into her own situations. But how old exactly was she? Now, I actually appreciated this quite a bit. As you probably know, many readers of YA lit, are not between the ages of 14-18, many are in college or later in their lives (like me!) and an ambiguously aged character can help make her more relatable to readers of all ages. It also allowed her to act more like an adult without making the reader question whether a teenager would actually act in such a way.

What bugged me was that it didn't give me a reference for how old her sister Tella was, and Tella was making some very adult and somewhat destructive decisions in the beginning of the book. Now, I understand that different people mature at different rates, but I struggled to imagine a young teen doing some of the things that she was doing. But again, the ambiguity of age allowed the reader to play with that knowledge make the call within their own imaginations.

Where ambiguity became slightly frustrating to me was when it came to the setting. The setting of a story provides to much context that when it is not a clear;y described or even generalized where and when a story takes place, it can leave your reader grasping. In those first 100 hundred pages I couldn't decide if I was reading historical fiction or fantasy. The world felt older, where women had to marry to escape parents, and exploration and conquering new worlds was a thing, and ladies wore big poofy dresses and had to follow certain rules of course, and yet, these rules were being broken (mostly by Tella) and the characters didn't act like historical fiction characters would act in accordance with their time period.

When I first heard of this book, it was described as a carnival type story. I was expecting a weird, quirky, maybe spooky carnival tale, but it was not quite like that, and I think perhaps this it what led me astray. While the world felt older there were elements that made it somehow magical (unexplained) especially when it came to the one man, Legend, and this magical game show type deal that he put on. It was frustrating, because I didn't know what to expect or how the world worked. One of the descriptions stuck with me, when Scarlett describes the sea as Pink, and for the life of me I couldn't figure out if that was a strange figurative description (I don't know how) or if it was telling me that the Sea was genuinely pink. Their was no explanation, just and expectation that the reader with take what the character says and treat it like fact.

Which leads to the relationship with color and Scarlett (hah, get it? Scarlet IS a color). Scarletts moods, she sees as colors, I guess? This was somewhat discussed but I would have loved to understand better what was meant by that. The focus on color led to some little frustrations but also allowed some really beautiful descriptions to take place. I loved so much of it. Here I kind of feel that Stephanie was taking a risk and, you know what? I didn't hate it. I have never read something like that before, but also, I had never read anything like that before and could have used more explanation.

Can you see why I am somewhat baffled that I enjoyed this book so much? The thing is, the story is a good one, and all stories have their faults. I stuck it out the hundred pages I needed to get through the aforementioned items, and was well rewarded. The game "Caraval" was pretty interesting and new. Their was this fantastic urgency behind finding her kidnapped sister and she stumbles around the game trying to decipher clues and solve the mystery. The game is dangerous, cutthroat and I was swept along with the story from that point forward. I can honestly say that I did not anticipate the ending and as I said before, I look forward eagerly to the second installment. The game is why you read this book. I think that what Stephanie Garber has created is a different kind of story in a market where there it a lot of that same, and that alone makes it worth reading.

TLDR: Good book, though contains some flaws but new and different enough to make it worth checking it out.

This was definitely different than anything out on the market right now. The closest "read-alike" I could come up with would be *The Night Circus,* and that's purely for the setting. Two sisters getting caught up in a battle between good and evil, and getting sucked into the romanticism of Caraval.

The main character Scarlett is well developed, and I enjoyed searching for the next piece of the puzzle with her. This type of storytelling keeps the reader guessing at what is going to happen next. This book has been compared to “The Night Circus,” but “The Night Circus” has great world building, and “Caraval” does not. In my opinion world building is one of the best parts of a fantasy novel. Despite the lack of world building “Caraval” was an enjoyable read. I would recommend to fans of the Wintersong series by S. Jae-Jones.

Fans of The Night Circus will enjoy this book. While the story line is similar it is a unique story, full of romance, fantasy, and danger.

Flatiron Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Caraval. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Scarlett Dragna and her sister Donatella live on the conquered isle of Trisda with their abusive father. In a letter writing campaign that spans several years, Scarlett unsuccessfully tries to get Legend, the ringmaster of Caraval, to bring his once a year performance for her and her sister to become participants. Just as Scarlett is on the brink of marriage, the invitation finally arrives. When she is forced to participate, will Scarlett finally open her eyes to the deception that has lurked in the shadows her whole life? Will love and loyalty win out over all?

Caraval, like many YA romance/fantasy novels, is way too overdramatic and overdone. The little bits of magic and mystery that surround Caraval were overshadowed by the drama queen worthy dialogue from both Scarlett and her sister. The indecisive and ridiculous behavior on the part of Scarlett just increased my dislike for the character. She simply did not act like a person who has been told cautionary tales regarding Legend and his dislike for her family. The overall world was worth exploring, but it was just not enough to carry the story.

What can I say about this that hasn't already been said somewhere else? Possibly and probably nothing. But, I'll try.

First off, I loved that the romance is second fiddle. This is about love, but familial love. Sisterly love. And that is so rare these days, I couldn't help but get a bit giddy about it. And I get that some people may be annoyed at times, because Scarlett DOES mention her sister constantly, but that's who she is there for. The reason she's playing is to find and rescue the girl.

And then there's the mystery, the constant guessing at what is going on. Wondering who to trust (no one, haha). With so many twists and turns, I really had no idea what was going to happen next. Or how it would all end. Each time I thought I had a handle on it all, things would get flip-turned and I'd be clueless again.

While it may seem misleading, the book isn't really set in a carnival or circus atmosphere. But the world-building is enchanting. I could envision exactly how everything looked. And, it made me want to play the game, too! This might seem crazy, but at times it almost felt like a Wonderland-type world. Everything seems topsy-turvy, inside out, upside down.

The weakest aspect was probably the character building. I didn't really know any of them very well. And though Scarlett and Tella had a close bond, I only knew that because I was told. It wasn't ever SHOWN. Then, there's Julian...I liked him okay, but the romance was so scarce that again, the connection was weak. It really didn't matter to me by the end if they were together or not. To me, the romantic aspect could have been left out completely.

Barber does write beautifully, however. Her descriptions are amazing, fantastic, and it's easy to get lost in this little world she's created. I think the ending was a bit rushed (and perhaps confusing). But I will definitely continue the series!

I am not sure how everyone loved this book so much. For all that did, I am sorry for all the things I am about to say.
I need to stop reading things that say they are similar to The Night Circus because they aren't. Nothing can ever compare to that book. And this one had more of a crazy Alice in Wonderland feel than Night Circus.

This book was just crazy and twisted and weird. There wasn't enough world building to make me fall into that world. And it was actually super creepy and dark. I felt like it had a very Wonderland feel with the top hats and everyone going "mad". It was not a beautiful and magical place like Scarlett had expected and everything was mad and twisted.

I really didn't like Scarlett and Tella that much either. And Julian, man what was up with him. He was a liar and a sneak. And sure maybe he seemed to have feelings for Scarlett at some point in there but it always seemed to lead back to him lying to her some more. At least he wasn't abusive like her father.

And Scarlett and colors? How can something taste like midnight and wind? "He tasted like midnight and wind, and shades of rich brown and light blue." I get that you can taste the wind when it blows up around you and can get in your mouth but her reference to colors was kind of weird and didn't totally make since. I didn't feel like they added to the story.

And everyone didn't come together to have a happy ending it was everyone hurting each other while they are "protecting" them. I don't know about anyone else, but if I am trying to protect the people I love I don't fake kill someone in front of them.

It was all just a twisted game and it was too much. At least in Wonderland it was all a dream and in her imagination but this is all supposed to be "real" for Scarlett.

If there are more books after this one I will not be reading them. As you can see from my read dates that it took me more than a month to read this book. At first I couldn't get into it, so I read some other stuff in between, then figured I needed to go back and finish it. And once I got going it moved pretty quick, but it was because I was hoping that something good would happen, but it just got worse throughout.
I know that I don't like when someone says bad things about a book I love and for all the people who loved this book I am sorry, but I am not sure how you loved this book so much. It was filled with villains and liars and sneaks and just didn't do it for me

One of the best books I've read so far this year! Magical, mysterious, and full of one of the most colorful settings I've read, this book had me captivated from the first page. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book. Highly recommend!

I received a free advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley.

the story is MOSTLY great. there are bits of originality and good world building and characters. but then also there's a lack of follow through or development or world fleshing out.

my impression of Julian and Scarlett:
S: you're a man whore.
J: my eyes whisper secretssss, Crimson. and they have a roguish gleam.
S: stop touching me like that. no...don't....stop...
J: all right, I won't stop. *gleam*

this is to say that their love story is pretty weak.

she sees emotions in colors. that's a trifle odd, don't you think? it's never explained.

I have zero - literally zero - interest in the quest to save Donatella. I never see any redeeming qualities in her and other than being constantly told that the sisters love one another and would do anything for one another and are best friends and confidantes, the words are never really born our in their actual interactions or anything we see of their lives together.

there are a lot of unreliable characters with ulterior motives and secret purposes - which are character traits that I despise in both real life and literature.

there are some odd plot holes/plot leaps that don't make a ton of sense but which I can't write about here in any detail because they would be complete spoilers.

the end is a serious cliff hanger set up for the sequel AND YET I'm not sure if I care to read it. I probably will. but I'm not sure that I CARE, you understand.

Scarlet can't wait until her wedding day, where the mysterious Count will come and whisk Scarlet and her beloved sister Donatello away from the cruel life they have been living with their abusive father. But when tickets shows up for Scarlet, Donatello and a "guest" for Legend's Caraval, Scarlet feels her childhood desire return to go to Caraval and play for a chance to win a wish. Sensibility tells her to marry the stranger who could give her safety but her heart is unsure... but the choice may not be hers.

I have been excited to read this book since I first heard it was coming out, it sounded good and the cover was so pretty and lets be honest, I am a sucker for an attractive cover. Add in the fact some friends had already read the book and raved about it, and I knew I was going to read it the first chance I got (which happened to be May for book club). I was a little leery that my expectations might be too high, but I am happy to report that the book lived up to it's hype. I was lost in the pages, counting the minutes until I could get back to the story and escape real life, tangled in the twists and mysterious and imagery that was Caraval.

This was such a fantastical world the author brought to life, full of magic, mystery and the most amazing of settings. The author was able to describe this fanciful world in detail, bringing it to life from the pages, making me immersed in Caraval just as much as Scarlet. The smallest details were so painstakingly created (but not in an overbearing kind of way) that I could not just see the events unfold, but I could smell them, taste them, experience them right along with the characters. And everything was so creative, be it the shape of the shops, to the items they sold, and especially the payment methods collected (for example, a secret for a cider).

The characters were the next best part. Scarlet was strong and goal oriented, not a damsel in distress who needed saving (even though she may have had a gentleman around to help facilitate things. Donatella was harder for me to pin down, she was only in the book a few chapters and I did not like what I saw, but to be fair she had her reasons (which I would love to know more about). Julian was mysterious, courageous, dreamy, frustrating and a great character overall- I was kept on my toes the whole time about his motives and purpose, which I enjoyed. There were tons of side characters that added flavor to the book such as Dark Dante, the Count and my favorite Iko. I really hope to see more of the cast of characters and more behind the scenes of Caraval to come.

I loved the ending and how the book set up for another adventure. I did not know if this was a standalone or the first in a series, but it seems as if there will be more to come...

Side note, I listened to the aubiobook version of the book and the narrator was AMAZING! I would gladly listen to more books narrated by her, she puts on such a good performance.

For more reviews visit my blog at http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

Sometimes you will do anything to escape the life you are living. For the last 7 years Scarlet has written to Legend begging for either Caraval to come to her town, or for her and her sister to be invited to Caraval. Many of my fellow readers assumed Caraval was a circus or carnival with a fancy french name. But it is missing that pesky letter n. A real carval was a sailing ship in the 18th century. So I guess that does come into play. I mention this because I was expecting a book about a wild carnival and got less and more than I was expecting.

Scarlet and Donatella live in an abusive home. Donatella is the younger daring sister of Scarlet the rational protective older sister. Their mother disappeared seven years ago and ever since, Scar has wanted to take Tella to Carval to make her happy. After sending her last letter to Legend, the leader of Carval, stating that she no longer wishes to go, she finally gets tickets. But being the rational sister, there is no way she can skip off. She is to be married in a week and that is the only way she can see to escape her household and protect her sister.

When I said Tella was daring, I meant it. She enlists the help of Julian, a roguish seaman to kidnap Scar and abscond to Caraval. Everyone attending Caraval makes the choice to watch, or to play. For those who play, they are told over and over again to remember that it is just a game. Play wrong and you could go crazy, play well and you could win a wish.

This is a crazy world and a crazy book, that while a little slow reading, is thoroughly engrossing. Magic is all around, and the world is practically turned upside down. You play at night and rest in the day, give secrets to pay for new dresses, etc. It is almost like an expanded Wonderland, but animals don’t talk (at least not in this book). While a sequel has not been formally announced, you can not get the end and not go “sequel please” because there are big unanswered questions. It has an ending like first Tom Cruise Mission Impossible movie where right is left, left is right, and who is who? While the twists and turns are mind bending, you are ready and waiting for more. So please, don’t make us readers wait too long.

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Caraval was a magical book that had me intrigued up until the very end. I have a bad habit of figuring plots out early on, and this book very much surprised me in the end. Garber's writing is paced well, her character and scene descriptions pull you into the book, and you don't ever want to leave this beautiful and terrifying world. I am so excited for book 2.

Scarlett has been writing to Legend for years. She dreams of seeing Caraval after hearing stories about it from her grandmother. Scarlett doesn’t have a lot to dream about since she lives with her abusive father and is always protecting her impulsive sister Tella. Her father has arranged a marriage for Scarlett to a count on another island and Scarlett dreams of getting away and taking Tella with her. Then days before her wedding, to a man she has never met and doesn’t even know his name, Scarlett receives invitations to Caraval. Conveniently, Tella has just met a sailor named Julian who is willing to take the sisters to Legend’s island.

Caraval is nothing like Scarlett imagined. She is immediately separated from her sister and stuck with pretending Julian is her fiance. Then she learns that not only is she a special guest of Legend, her sister is part of this year’s game. In order to win the magical wish, the players must locate Tella before the end of the five night game. Scarlett pairs up with Julian and follows the clues given to her by Legend in the hopes that they will lead her to Tella. Of course, along the way she develops feelings for Julian and maybe a backbone of her own.

So world-building is one of the things I find essential when reading fantasy. If you are going to set your story on another world, you better develop that world. Garber barely creates a world and has no consistent rules for that world. Half of what she says is true in the world turns out to be lies and the other half is misty and undefined. She would have been better served setting this story in the real world and focused her attention on creating Caraval. Here is what I know about the world: there are islands, some are conquered, Scarlett lives on a conquered island and her dad is the governor. Legend has an island. There is magic on Legend’s island. Yep, that is about it. Really poor world-building.

Another thing I hate is bad character development. The characters are far from interesting or developed in this book. Scarlett claims to love her sister more than anything, yet spends most of the books swooning over Julian who she has known for literally 5 days! Tella seems to be the most flighty, self-centered creature imaginable but then at the end it turns out she did it all for her sister? Seriously! Then you have Legend who is one of the main characters of the story, but never seen and whose motivations seem to change with the wind. Scarlett’s dad is a villain with no clear motivations except being cruel to his daughters. Then we meet Scarlett’s fiance, who claims to want to protect her but is more than willing to rape her on her father’s orders. Gross!

I knew I wasn’t really into this book when it took me 5 days to read it and when I found myself skimming most of the chapters. It didn’t feel very original or interesting. I couldn’t sink into the story or the characters. Things kept popping up that made me question whether I wanted to really read this book or not. I also left it sit on a shelf for months before even picking it up! I can see why readers may enjoy this book. If they can look beyond the world that doesn’t make sense and the insta-love and the boring characters, they will find a nice, little romance with a bit of magic. For me the inconsistencies and the fact that by the end of the novel everything you thought was true turned out to be lies really turned me off.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publishers.

This was an immersive reading experience. The writing was beautiful, but occasionally lacking in helpful descriptions regarding the world they're actually living in.