An excellent start to a YA trilogy - I’m disappointed that I took so long to read it as it was very good indeed. I have a rocky relationship with fantasy, but this ticked all the right boxes for me and reminded me a little of Showstopper by Hayley Barker.

This book has been on my radar ever since it came out 6 (!) years ago, and I can't believe it's taken me this long to get round to it! I think because of this, I did have quite high expectations going into my reading of it, and unfortunately they just weren't fully met. It was a massively enjoyable book, but I don't feel the need to continue on with the series. I always enjoy books concerning family dynamics, especially between 2 sisters, so that element of this was great for me, but I do feel as though Scarlett's mission to find her sister was lost at times, and while I understand this was so as to introduce the romance element, I felt like this also got lost at times within the story. I also felt it could be quite predictable at times, with the plot twists not surprising me like they intended, which isn't necessarily the worst thing, but just didn't propel me through the story too much.

I received this ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!!

Ive posted a full review on Goodreads and I look forward to reading more from this author!

Despite finding Scarlett frustrating at times, I thought Caraval was written incredibly well for a debut. It was brilliantly descriptive, making every scene seem magical and full of all kinds of twists that I really enjoyed reading. I loved this and can't wait to continue on with the series!

I don't tend to like books that are too whimsical but in this case I loved that about caraval, the writing the setting, the characters, the game, everything in here was just so magical and mysterious. As always with me though my favourite thing was the characters, I really loved Scarlett and Julian they made such a great team, and Scarlett's determination to find her sister no matter the cost was brilliantly written. I also loved the little magical touches in here the enchanted dress, a stolen day, the hidden tunnels and the game itself. A great read ful of enchantment, wonder and magical moments.




Thank you so much to the publishers at netgalley for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Now, before I go further, I am not saying this book is awful. I'm not. I have read and watch a ton of reviews where people are singing this book's praises. And I have read and watch a ton of reviews where people are more judgemental. This book is very much a marmite read, from people's reactions (I always like these type of books, truth be told).

But my reasons for putting the brakes on this reading experience. The first was I wasn't enjoying reading this book. I am still in that heavy-fantasy reading mood. I want to read fantasy that has an edge or a bite to it. Hence why I kinda wanted to read The Bone Season or Invasion of the Tearling (as well as a few others). It's very difficult when you're in that headspace, I find. To jump from one extreme of one genre to the other end of that genre. It's jarring.

There are other reasons linked to my brain going "Where's the meat" to this story. But the main thing I thought while I was reading the first 100-odd pages was "This would have been an awesome middle-grade book". I kept thinking that this was written as a middle-grade story - the style and the ideas just fitted middle-grade for some reason in my head - but, somewhere along the way of writing/edit, they tried to YA it by adding a possible love interest (it felt like it was going to go down the insta-love/lust route). Why, oh why, do we need another insta-love story in YA novels? I thought we were done with this troupe!

There is potential here.

Whilst the premise was intriguing, I found I didn't connect with any of the characters and the plot to be frustrating. I will not be continuing with this series.

I was very impressed with this absolute star of a debut. It's juicy, mind-twiddling plot made me feel like I had entered one of my dreams. This is a story about Scarlett and Tella, two oppressed young sisters living in fear of their abusive father.  Ever since she was a child, Scarlett had wanted to join the spectacular show called 'Caraval'. This is a once in a year mystery game where the audience take part, gathering clues and interacting with actors to solve it. This game is so popular that participants have to be invited to play by the elusive game-maker 'Legend', who is surrounded by a smog of rumours and scandals. The show also has a reputation of danger and excess when players become too involved and forget that it is all fake. There is also a connection with 'Legend' and Scarlett's family and a secret involving the mother that left them-another reason why Scarlett longs to be closer to Caraval.

Scarlett's long awaited invitation finally arrives, at a time when her father's tyranny is on full steam. With the help of a dashing but strange sailor Tella befriended, they both manage to escape. But as soon as they arrive at 'Caraval', Tella goes missing. Scarlett soon discovers that her sister is the mystery of this season's game, with Scarlett desperately wading through an unreal world to find her. As she becomes more involved in the game, she too believes in its reality. She begins to piece together links to her family history and fears for her sister's life. As stabs of danger begin to threaten her, I also started to take the game seriously.

Julian, the mysterious sailor, is not only heroic, charming and kind. He is unpredictable, untrustworthy, which means he is undoubtedly exciting. He has an intensity and sensitiveness that irrevocably attracts Scarlett, despite her base instincts. He alone stays by her side throughout the game and becomes a pillar of support through the madness. However, the more Scarlett opens her heart to him, the stranger his character becomes and the more involved he is with the game.

The setting of 'Caraval' felt like a recurring sub-conscious about being lost or trying to find something that's always out of reach. The author was spot on with the irrational trickling of time- sometimes speedy, sometimes painful, like walking through honey. Tella was always frustratingly in the distance but never fully seen. Events unfolded like a slow moving kaleidoscope with strange characters popping up and then melting away. This is by no means a chaotic sequence of plot. The author controls and contains the game enough to lure the reader with keyholes of revelation. But just when Scarlett gets close to unmasking a clue, it changes. It keeps morphing right to the ending sentence, just when we think the game is over, a new one has begun.

Can. not. wait. for. sequel.

This new YA fantasy has been highly anticipated in the blogosphere for quite some time. The premise of an annual performance that blurs fantasy and reality is enough to get me excited and I was very happy to receive an e-ARC of it from NetGalley.

Scarlett and her sister Tella live on the isle of Trisda with their ruthless father. It’s Scarlett’s dream to see Caraval, the annual live performance with audience participation but as she is about to enter an arranged marriage to a man she has never met, she believes her dream is over. However, a beautiful mysterious sailor arrives on the island and takes both Scarlett and Tella away to Caraval, where the girls become the centre of the show. Together with the enigmatic Julian, Scarlett must solve the clues within five nights in order to save her sister and win the game before succumbing to madness.

Caraval is certainly a book that keeps you guessing. Like Scarlett, I was really unsure what was true and what was performance. As the book goes on, it gets harder to discern. Although the world of Caraval appears beautiful and fascinating, it’s also incredibly dangerous. The reader discovers this with Scarlett and through her eyes, we go on the heart-pounding race with her.

There are many moments of philosophical reflection where Scarlett has to remember what she’s there for. Her love for her sister drives her to continue through the game but she is not short of distractions. It has a profound dimension that stuck with me when I put the book down. The idea that I can change my future if I focus on my dreams seems an obvious truth but it’s something that you forget if you get caught up in a mundane life of necessity.

Garber has a talent for beautiful magical descriptions, shown in Scarlett’s metaphorical musings on the intriguing Julian. She uses a lot of colour and astral imagery which is mesmerising in itself but it adds a glow to Julian and to the idea of true love. It’s describing first love in an accurate but unique manner.

In contrast to these magical romantic scenes, there is also a lot of trickery and secrecy in Caraval. None of the side players are who they appear to be and there is certainly a shortage of likeable characters. There was a constant stream of hidden agendas and darker intentions being revealed. Blood and tears were shed and there were several moments where I felt that hope was lost. However, Scarlett remained determined to save Tella. The deep love and devotion between the sisters was, in essence, the only part of Caraval that was most definitely real.

Having led a life of abuse and isolation, Scarlett learns a lot about herself and sees how her life can be different. As well as a fantastical race against time, Caraval is a story of self-discovery. By the end, she is no longer the girl who was excited about the prospect of life as a kept wife. She wants to go out into the world and discover dreams with a man she loves by her side. Her growth was so lovely to read and I can only hope that she gets her wish in any future sequels.

Scarlett and her sister Donatella live on a small island, where their father is the Governor, and he controls their lives through fear.

Whenever Tella, who is rather rebellious, misbehaves, it is Scarlett who receives the punishment. This could be a punch to the stomach, a full beating, or murdering a servant as a “lesson”.

Scarlett is desperate to leave the island with her sister, and for years dreamed of being able to attend Caraval – the magic show/game controlled by the mysterious Legend. As a child she wrote him letters, begging him to come to their small island, since she and her sister were not allowed to leave. Then there was an accidental death during the game, and Caraval didn’t seem like such a good idea.

This year Scarlett is seventeen, and has agreed to marry a man she had never met, so that she and her sister can finally be safe. Of course, this is the year that Legend writes back, inviting Scarlett and Tella to his island, where Caraval will be taking place this year.

Scarlett doesn’t want to leave – she is almost free, and doesn’t want to risk the wrath of her father and soon-to-be husband. Tella takes matters into her own hands, and with the help of a young sailor named Julian, kidnaps her sister, and takes her to Legend’s island.

When Scarlett awakes Tella is gone. Legend has taken her as the “prize” to this year’s game. With her sister missing, Scarlett has to decide whether to play, or go back to her fiance. Should Scarlett risk everything for her sister and her freedom? Is it really only a game, or does Legend have another agenda?

I found this book to be rather delightful overall. I hated Tella with a fiery passion- she was selfish, impulsive and generally seemed quite stupid. The romance angle was quite predictable, you could see the twists coming a mile away, but I quite liked seeing everything turn out how I predicted. I know some reviewers had problems with the authors descriptive writing style, but I thought it added to the atmosphere and the plot kept moving forward. Unlike The Night Circus, which was all description and no story… gah!

I gave this 3/5 stars on Goodreads, and am excited for the next book in the series.

One of my favorite books ever!!! Great imaginary and complex plot. Perfect for fans of fantasy. Magical and enchanting! An absolute joy to read!

I love love love this book. I was completely swept away by the world-building, characters and the plot. Stephanie Garber writes beautifully and definitely knows how to build suspense. Super excited for the rest of the series.

I am working through and clearing out my list of galleys and unfortunately not interested in reading this any more.

Ignoring the fact that Scarlett may be the most irritating narrator alive I absolutely loved this. Caraval surpassed all my expectations and more. It was whimsical, magical, ethereal, mysterious, surprising... I could go on. Nothing was ever what it seemed and it kept me gripped until the very end.

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley.

This is a book I have seen hyped for sometime now, which has kept me continually nervous to pick it up. Imagine my surprise when I read this in one sitting!

This is a YA fantasy novel, which follows two sisters named Scarlett and Tella. They live with their father, who is a truly nasty and manipulative man, and Scarlett is counting down the hours to escape him by marrying a man who she has never met, and has only had written correspondence with, yet she is sure seems a sweet man. Their worlds get turned upside down, when they find themselves attending Caraval, which is almost impossible to describe concisely. Think of it as a competition where everyone has to try and find Tella, who has been hidden as part of the event. Scarlett is told to remember that nothing in Caraval is real, yet this becomes increasingly difficult as events unfold.

I fell in love with this story. The writing was gripping, the characters interesting, loveable and mysterious. Meanwhile I loved the whole idea behind Caraval, and the mysterious host named Legend. I fell for a certain character early on, yet didn't trust him at all. I came up with many elaborate theories about who he was, and what was happening, which was so far from the eventual truth, I couldn't help but laugh at myself. There is so much mystery and tension in this book. I picked this up with the intention of reading a few chapters before bed. I ended up reading it all in one sitting until 5am because I just couldn't find an appropriate spot in which to put it down for the evening. This is a real page turner, and honestly if you love fast paced YA, I highly recommend going into this knowing as little as possible. I can't wait to continue on with the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me this book to review

Caraval is a twisty and turning fantasy book where everything is a game, and no one knows what to believe. Half of the time I had no idea who to trust and had no clue what would happen next. There was romance, action and magic, and a story I really enjoyed, but I wish there was more world building.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of Scarlett as she seemed a bit bland and there was nothing really unique about her as she was loyal and protective towards her sister Tella and just plain good. Tella I also didn’t like, even though she wasn’t in the story bit as she was so self-centred and didn’t seem to care about everything Scarlett does for her. I like Julian as he kept me guessing and he pretended not to care about anyone but himself, but he had hidden depth.

I enjoyed the ending and the teasing it had towards the next book Legendary which I will definitely be reading. I would recommend to fans of Daughter of the Burning City or other twisty YA fantasy books.

I found this to be a little bit of a mixed bag, with a lot to like but a few things that gave me pause. It tells the story of Scarlett and her sister Donatella as they try to escape from their lives on the island of Trisda by joining the game at Caraval. Firstly, I thought the concept was really interesting. As someone with a bit of a weird passion for tournament-style plotting, I enjoyed the structure of the book. I thought some of the descriptive prose was excellent and really brought the scene viscerally to life. I was also quite pleasantly surprised by how dark some of the themes of the book were. Garber tackles abuse, obsession and deception, which I thought was quite a gutsy move in what is ostensibly, a magical fantasy about a game. With that being said, my real issues arose with the characterisation of Scarlett. I felt that she was depicted as longing to be rescued by a man from another man, which left me a little cold. I would have preferred her to have more agency and be shown to be self-reliant, which doesn't mean she couldn't also be warm and compassionate. All in all, I thought the story was good and will definitely read the next instalment in the series hoping that some of the issues I had with the depiction of women have been resolved.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Loved it! It's got the perfect amount of magic and emotion to really suck you in. Read the whole book in a day because I couldn't put it down.

This was book was incredible and I am now eagerly awaiting the second novel. I loved the storytelling and the world building. Stephanie Garber created a rich and detailed world and I can't wait to jump back in. I became really invested in the characters and their relationships, the book took me on lots of twists and turns that I didn't expect but thoroughly enjoyed. I would highly recommend this book to all.

Caraval was incredible, great characters and world building. Caraval is a original story, with many twists and turns. I loved every single part of it.

Cannot wait to read book 2