Caraval
Author: Stephanie Garber
Published by: Hodder & Stoughton Books
Pages 405
Format Paperback
My Rating ★★★★1/2
‘Remember it’s all a game.
What happens beyond this gate may frighten or excite you.
But don’t let any of it trick you.’
Once a year the infamous Master Legend hosts Caraval – open only to those who have been invited. This year the week-long game is on Legend’s glittering Isle de los Seunos, where the winding streets are an elaborate snow-covered maze and the people are never who they seem.
At midnight on the first day, the show begins and the visitors become players. Each of them is vying for the coveted prize: a single wish. All they must do is unravel the mystery of Caraval. But in a game where danger hides behind every charming smile, winning isn’t without loss, and their wish might be their last…
My thoughts:
I’d say Caraval was certainly one of my most anticipated reads of the year so far, and I’m so glad I finally got around to reading it. Combining an enchanting mix of fantasy, beauty, adventure, magic and mystery, there was never a dull moment while reading Caraval. The story felt completely unique and really pulled me in right from the start, holding my attention throughout, and making it very tough to put the book down. I found myself constantly saying “just one more chapter”, desperate to know what was would happen next.
Is it just a game? Is any of it real? Similar to the way the players experience it, the week-long Caraval honestly didn’t feel like a game a lot of the time, with instances of violence, deception, lies and secrecy popping up at every turn to add to the various twists and surprises throughout the story.
I really enjoyed discovering new clues alongside the lead character Scarlett, who did great at worrying constantly, stumbling into difficulties, forgetting the early advice to “remember it’s all a game” and overcoming seemingly life-threatening problems.
The plot is set in this mysterious, often dangerous, carnival-type island world, and gave the book a kind of nightmarish feel to it. It felt like tumbling down the rabbit hole with Alice, but into an even darker and more perplexing world. The Isla de los Suenos was described with such imaginative detail, and in my mind it felt like I was imagining Venice in the dark. Overwhelmed by this dark and intoxicating game, every strange element of the setting was being controlled by the infamous Master Legend; a character who enhances the game into something fascinating and appealing to so many.
There were times that I just felt a little frustrated with Scarlett, and especially how she often appeared a little slow to figure things out despite the obvious hints and help received along the way. Because of Scarlett’s hardships, I felt the story dragged just a tiny bit towards the last night of Caraval, as the truth began to eventually unravel, and Scarlett was finally able to understand. It was perhaps because of this that I just couldn’t quite give the book a complete five stars, despite greatly enjoying Caraval overall.
I was delighted to finally read and experience such adventure and excitement in Stephanie Garber’s Caraval, and I highly recommend giving it a read if you haven’t already! It’s magical…
Overall reaction:
Published by: Hodder & Stoughton Books
Pages 405
Format Paperback
My Rating ★★★★1/2
‘Remember it’s all a game.
What happens beyond this gate may frighten or excite you.
But don’t let any of it trick you.’
Once a year the infamous Master Legend hosts Caraval – open only to those who have been invited. This year the week-long game is on Legend’s glittering Isle de los Seunos, where the winding streets are an elaborate snow-covered maze and the people are never who they seem.
At midnight on the first day, the show begins and the visitors become players. Each of them is vying for the coveted prize: a single wish. All they must do is unravel the mystery of Caraval. But in a game where danger hides behind every charming smile, winning isn’t without loss, and their wish might be their last…
My thoughts:
I’d say Caraval was certainly one of my most anticipated reads of the year so far, and I’m so glad I finally got around to reading it. Combining an enchanting mix of fantasy, beauty, adventure, magic and mystery, there was never a dull moment while reading Caraval. The story felt completely unique and really pulled me in right from the start, holding my attention throughout, and making it very tough to put the book down. I found myself constantly saying “just one more chapter”, desperate to know what was would happen next.
Is it just a game? Is any of it real? Similar to the way the players experience it, the week-long Caraval honestly didn’t feel like a game a lot of the time, with instances of violence, deception, lies and secrecy popping up at every turn to add to the various twists and surprises throughout the story.
I really enjoyed discovering new clues alongside the lead character Scarlett, who did great at worrying constantly, stumbling into difficulties, forgetting the early advice to “remember it’s all a game” and overcoming seemingly life-threatening problems.
The plot is set in this mysterious, often dangerous, carnival-type island world, and gave the book a kind of nightmarish feel to it. It felt like tumbling down the rabbit hole with Alice, but into an even darker and more perplexing world. The Isla de los Suenos was described with such imaginative detail, and in my mind it felt like I was imagining Venice in the dark. Overwhelmed by this dark and intoxicating game, every strange element of the setting was being controlled by the infamous Master Legend; a character who enhances the game into something fascinating and appealing to so many.
There were times that I just felt a little frustrated with Scarlett, and especially how she often appeared a little slow to figure things out despite the obvious hints and help received along the way. Because of Scarlett’s hardships, I felt the story dragged just a tiny bit towards the last night of Caraval, as the truth began to eventually unravel, and Scarlett was finally able to understand. It was perhaps because of this that I just couldn’t quite give the book a complete five stars, despite greatly enjoying Caraval overall.
I was delighted to finally read and experience such adventure and excitement in Stephanie Garber’s Caraval, and I highly recommend giving it a read if you haven’t already! It’s magical…
Overall reaction: