Caraval (Caraval, 1)
Welcome, welcome to CARAVAL, Stephanie Garber's enchanting, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling fantasy debut about two sisters swept up in a mysterious competition filled with magic, heartbreak, and danger
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful and cruel father. Now Scarlett's father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over. But this year, Scarlett's long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to attend. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval's mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season's Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner. Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, and her sister disappears forever. Continue the adventure in Legendary and Finale--out now!BUY THE BOOK
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Readers say *Caraval* is a captivating, quick read with a magical and mysterious atmosphere that keeps you guessing. Many praise its unique world-buil...
On my original review I rated this 3 stars because I wasn't sure how I felt. Now that I've slept on it and still am angry at this book, I've rated it 1 star.
This book has me so angry and I just want to rant and scream and get my hours back so I can go read a different, better book.
Ok, you know the general synopsis by now, so let me just tell you how much I dislike this book and why!
What even is this setting?
Our main characters are from the Conquered Isles which sounds kinda cool, but we don't learn anything about them. Instead we go to the "mysterious" Island of Dreams where the "mysterious" Caraval is being held. Which is actually being held inside a "magical" victorian home? Did anyone else notice this??? They walked into a house and MAGIC its actually a balcony over looking a town because MAGIC. And this town has lots of cute lil buildings and canals and ITS INSIDE A HOUSE. Also tunnels running under everything that are "not part of the game" but also super accessible? No like, employees only signs?
And then there are a host of forgettable characters who do forgettable things that leave me feeling vaguely annoyed.
Our main character... I didn't mind AS much. She was judgmental and kinda dumb but also I understood her motivations. She was to be married to someone<--??? as part of an arranged marriage in 10 days when she gets KIDNAPPED by her sister and the Hot Guy her sister was fooling around with and forced to go to Caraval. When she gets there SURPRISE! Her sister has been kidnapped and set up as the "mystery object" that must be found by the end of Caraval. Though did we ever hear what would happen if she wasn't found? Death? Disappearance? IDK.
So now Scarlet is freaking out about finding her sister and her upcoming wedding. Some people find her obsession with the marriage weird but it didn't bother me only because she saw this marriage as a way for her and her sister to escape their abusive father. I didn't even mind Scarlet's weird thing about propriety and sex and her shame around her sexuality (much) because I understood she needed to maintain her "properness" in order for this wedding to go through. I just wish she hadn't also been weak and foolish and INCAPABLE of making decisions for herself.
In contrast we have the sister Donatella (and yes, I thought of Ninja Turtles the entire time) who I guess is supposed to be the brave, liberated one? She is the one who wants to LIVE HER LIFE and BE FREE and "I'd rather die at the end of the world than live my whole life safe here". Romantic notions but not entirely practical? Are we supposed to see her as the strong female character we want to emulate?
But in reality, Tella is just more interested with finding her own pleasure than actually caring about anyone around her. We find her in the beginning making out with a guy when she KNOWS that if she is found, it won't be Tella who is punished, but Scarlet (remember abusive father from earlier? yeah he hurts the other when someone makes a mistake that needs to be "punished" so Scarlet living in constant fear of making a decision and acting on her feelings and desires? I understand that) And the plot twist at the end involving Tella? It caused me to HATE her. If I were in Scarlet's shoes I would have just walked away from everyone at that point.
WTF is wrong with Tella? I honestly seriously hate her right now. Scar should have let her die for real. REALLY? She was in on it the whole time???? She let her sister worry and stress and go through confusion and heartbreak and facing down her dragon of a father for a GAME?! For a CHANCE that "oh we could live happily ever after. you love me enough to bring me back to life. because I CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR LOVE FOR ME! NO MATTER WHAT BULLSHIT I PUT YOU THROUGH, YOU'LL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR ME LIKE A WHIPPED PUPPY DOG BECAUSE YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS DON'T MATTER SCARLET! WHY DON'T I JUST MAKE YOU BELIEVE A LIE FOR A WEEK AND GO THROUGH ALL THIS SHIT?! WHY DON'T I MAKE YOU THINK I'M DEAD WHILE I'M AT IT?"
Just, no. Screw Tella. I don't like her. Yeah ok, it ended up ok? We are free from our dad and you found your love <3 But this wasn't a given. You put your sister through too much shit for her to just forgive you like she did. Scar should have beat her. I would have beat her. I'm too intense on this. Because screw Tella. She spent a week in comfort and giggles and in the know, watching her sister freak the f out.
Basically, the moral of this book is:
IT'S OK IF YOU LIE IF
A. YOU REALLY LOVE THE PERSON AND ARE DOING IT FOR THEIR "BEST INTEREST"
B. THIS IS JUST A JOB TO YOU BUT WAIT TURNS OUT I HAVE FEELINGS FOR YOU BUT MUST STILL LIE
C. IT MAKES SOMEONE HAPPY (no really, one of the characters advises our main character "just lie to them to make them happy. that's what they are here for.")
This book has me so angry and I just want to rant and scream and get my hours back so I can go read a different, better book.
Ok, you know the general synopsis by now, so let me just tell you how much I dislike this book and why!
What even is this setting?
Our main characters are from the Conquered Isles which sounds kinda cool, but we don't learn anything about them. Instead we go to the "mysterious" Island of Dreams where the "mysterious" Caraval is being held. Which is actually being held inside a "magical" victorian home? Did anyone else notice this??? They walked into a house and MAGIC its actually a balcony over looking a town because MAGIC. And this town has lots of cute lil buildings and canals and ITS INSIDE A HOUSE. Also tunnels running under everything that are "not part of the game" but also super accessible? No like, employees only signs?
And then there are a host of forgettable characters who do forgettable things that leave me feeling vaguely annoyed.
Our main character... I didn't mind AS much. She was judgmental and kinda dumb but also I understood her motivations. She was to be married to someone<--??? as part of an arranged marriage in 10 days when she gets KIDNAPPED by her sister and the Hot Guy her sister was fooling around with and forced to go to Caraval. When she gets there SURPRISE! Her sister has been kidnapped and set up as the "mystery object" that must be found by the end of Caraval. Though did we ever hear what would happen if she wasn't found? Death? Disappearance? IDK.
So now Scarlet is freaking out about finding her sister and her upcoming wedding. Some people find her obsession with the marriage weird but it didn't bother me only because she saw this marriage as a way for her and her sister to escape their abusive father. I didn't even mind Scarlet's weird thing about propriety and sex and her shame around her sexuality (much) because I understood she needed to maintain her "properness" in order for this wedding to go through. I just wish she hadn't also been weak and foolish and INCAPABLE of making decisions for herself.
In contrast we have the sister Donatella (and yes, I thought of Ninja Turtles the entire time) who I guess is supposed to be the brave, liberated one? She is the one who wants to LIVE HER LIFE and BE FREE and "I'd rather die at the end of the world than live my whole life safe here". Romantic notions but not entirely practical? Are we supposed to see her as the strong female character we want to emulate?
But in reality, Tella is just more interested with finding her own pleasure than actually caring about anyone around her. We find her in the beginning making out with a guy when she KNOWS that if she is found, it won't be Tella who is punished, but Scarlet (remember abusive father from earlier? yeah he hurts the other when someone makes a mistake that needs to be "punished" so Scarlet living in constant fear of making a decision and acting on her feelings and desires? I understand that) And the plot twist at the end involving Tella? It caused me to HATE her. If I were in Scarlet's shoes I would have just walked away from everyone at that point.
WTF is wrong with Tella? I honestly seriously hate her right now. Scar should have let her die for real. REALLY? She was in on it the whole time???? She let her sister worry and stress and go through confusion and heartbreak and facing down her dragon of a father for a GAME?! For a CHANCE that "oh we could live happily ever after. you love me enough to bring me back to life. because I CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR LOVE FOR ME! NO MATTER WHAT BULLSHIT I PUT YOU THROUGH, YOU'LL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR ME LIKE A WHIPPED PUPPY DOG BECAUSE YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS DON'T MATTER SCARLET! WHY DON'T I JUST MAKE YOU BELIEVE A LIE FOR A WEEK AND GO THROUGH ALL THIS SHIT?! WHY DON'T I MAKE YOU THINK I'M DEAD WHILE I'M AT IT?"
Just, no. Screw Tella. I don't like her. Yeah ok, it ended up ok? We are free from our dad and you found your love <3 But this wasn't a given. You put your sister through too much shit for her to just forgive you like she did. Scar should have beat her. I would have beat her. I'm too intense on this. Because screw Tella. She spent a week in comfort and giggles and in the know, watching her sister freak the f out.
Basically, the moral of this book is:
IT'S OK IF YOU LIE IF
A. YOU REALLY LOVE THE PERSON AND ARE DOING IT FOR THEIR "BEST INTEREST"
B. THIS IS JUST A JOB TO YOU BUT WAIT TURNS OUT I HAVE FEELINGS FOR YOU BUT MUST STILL LIE
C. IT MAKES SOMEONE HAPPY (no really, one of the characters advises our main character "just lie to them to make them happy. that's what they are here for.")