Scarlet and her sister Tella live on an island as virtual prisoners of their abusive, cruel father. To save herself and Tella, Scarlet agrees to an arranged marriage to an unknown suitor. Following the wedding, both girls will leave the island and face the unknown. Scarlet fears staying far more than committing her future to a stranger. For years the sisters have repeatedly tried to save one another, often at a cost to their own well-being. When an invitation to the elusive, once-a-year Caraval game arrives, Tella insists they go and Scarlet very reluctantly agrees. The girls get separated as they arrive for the game and Scarlet spends all of her time searching for her missing sister. The game is mysterious and even dangerous. Lies are told and people pretend, so no one really knows what to believe. All Scarlet wants is to find Tella and leave the game. Garber’s magical world of Caraval is complex and mysterious, and inventive and exotic. As romance blossoms, Scarlet and her companion Julian are caught up in the frenzy of the game. The pace is swift and the tensions are palpable as the game progresses. There’s so much to like in this story of duplicity, lies, threats and challenges.