Book 1 of the Caraval series
Summary
Scarlett Dragna and her sister, Donatella, have never left their small island of Trisda where their father was governor. It was, in fact, because of their father that they were scared to leave the island because of the retribution he threatened. Scarlett's just been set up in an arranged marriage and she feels like it's something she must do. That doesn't prevent her from trying one last time to ask the master of Caraval, Legend, to come to her little island. Turns out, he has heard her plea and invites her and her sister to come and play in Caraval!
Caraval is an annual, magical performance that people go to for awe and an adventure. Hearing about it all their lives, the Dragna sisters have dreamed of going to Caraval and experiencing the magic themselves. Now their wish has been granted.
Donatella and Scarlett, with the help of a mysterious sailor, go off to Caraval for one adventure only to find something unexpected waiting for them. After one day of being there, Donatella is kidnapped by Legend and now Scarlett needs to follow clues to rescue her so that they can get back before the wedding. All around her, Scarlett is bombarded with magical objects and people, colors, and intricate designs, all this magic that she can't believe she's seeing. All she has to remember to save her sister is that all of this is a game and not to trust what you see as truth. Easier said than done...
With one thing after another, Scarlett and her traveling companion, a man named Julian, overcomes hurdles and problems just so she can get to her sister. Can she save her in time before the end of Caraval? What and who can she trust in this world of distractions and false trails? Remember, it's only a game.
Opinion
Scale of 1-10:
9
I was honestly shocked by how much I loved this story! It flowed amazingly and I can't even begin to describe the imagery. Okay, I'll try my hardest! I feel like I was actually standing there with Scarlett as she explored Caraval. I could practically see, feel, and taste what she was experiencing because of the vivid imagery and description that Stephanie Garber employed when writing every chapter of this excellent book.
The one thing that I wasn't a fan of is that there were a couple of moments when the dialogue seemed cheesy and unrealistic. In the big picture that wasn't a problem when compared to the astonishing setting. There were also a couple of situations where I didn't believe that people would actually do certain things. But like I said still an awesome book!
The character development in the romantic part of the story was really cool, in my opinion. The way it was written was different than what I'm used to and it was just really fun to watch progress and grow in both the characters. It was one of those romantic tropes that you can predict but that didn't take away from any of the magic of the story.
Anyway, definitely, an amazing book, and I sincerely hope that you consider reading it. I plan on reading the second book soon because I honestly just need to know how she keeps this magical story going!
Age Rating
14+
There was little language in this book and it was mostly just sexual content that causes me to rate it 14+. There are also multiple dark themes.
Language:
The only word that's used a little bit is the word "bastard". It's only repeated a couple of times.
Sexual Content:
There are a few instances where sex is implied. It's never between the main character and her romantic interest. It's implied that Donatella has been with multiple men and that's normal for her. There are times when Scarlett is describing how intimate she wants to be with her romantic interest. Nothing in the book ever goes beyond heavy petting. Like the rest of the book, it is fairly descriptive, though.
Violence:
There is quite a bit of violence and death in the book. Descriptions of blood pooling and coming out of people. Part of the game of Caraval is that you can die for a day and then come back as part of a trade. Another thing is that Scarlett and Donatella's father is very physically abusive and it's made known that he beats his daughters when they step out of line. Throughout the book, there are people that get stabbed and cut. One scene has a hand that's cut off... which is a lovely image...
Here's the link to the book on Goodreads:
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