From the Bookshelf of YAholics Anonymous!…

Caraval (Caraval, #1)

Stephanie Garber

Start date: January 6, 2018

Finish date: January 31, 2018

Discussion: Group Read

Why we're reading this: BoTM, YA Sci Fy Fiction
[close] BoTM, YA Sci Fy Fiction

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What Members Thought

Jan 02, 2019 Angela Blount rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya, fantasy

2.5 Stars

Scarlett Dragna is accustomed to being a passive and compliant daughter—doing whatever she can to protect her reckless younger sister, Tella, from their father’s punishing wrath. Seeing the marriage her father has arranged for her as an escape for them both, she has every intention of going through with a fast approaching wedding to a man she knows only via letters. But an unexpected invitation, and her own sister’s meddling, threatens her plans.

In order to save her (possibly?) endange 2.5 Stars

Scarlett Dragna is accustomed to being a passive and compliant daughter—doing whatever she can to protect her reckless younger sister, Tella, from their father’s punishing wrath. Seeing the marriage her father has arranged for her as an escape for them both, she has every intention of going through with a fast approaching wedding to a man she knows only via letters. But an unexpected invitation, and her own sister’s meddling, threatens her plans.

In order to save her (possibly?) endangered sister, Scarlett has 5 nights to win a game with no clearly defined rules, in a place where reality is never what it seems.

If you’re big on flowery discordant metaphors, this book may be right up your alley.
*“Her Father’s perfume it smelled like the color of his gloves: anise and lavender and something akin to rotten plums.”
*“She could see the sting of her rejection in shades of stormy blue, ghosting over his heart like sad morning mist."
*“Something about him made her feel perilous shades of silky black.”
*”It came in cool shades of forget-me-not blue, which wrapped around her like evening fog, making her feel hidden enough to acknowledge that she wanted to experience more of Caraval’s pleasures than she would ever have admitted out loud.”
*“He tasted like midnight and wind.”

Qualms:

-As a villain, Scarlett’s father is pretty one-dimensional. The fact that he’s rich and controlling is caricature-ish all on its own. But his ruthlessly abusive treatment of his daughters (both mentally and physically) is presented without rhyme or reason. Was he always this way? Is he this way because his wife left him? We don’t really get any answers here, and so readers must accept that he is simply evil for the sake of being evil.

-The worldbuilding is scant enough, I’m tempted to call this light-fantasy masquerading as middle-fantasy. There’s a bit of effort put forth at the beginning with the multiple-island setting and vaguely Italian ambiance. But once we get to the meat of the plot, it steadily becomes apparent that the Magic system sort of languishes about—completely unexplained. As a result, its difficult to find any reason to be concerned when people die. I mean... it seems like Legend's magic can do just about anything, limited only by... daybreak? Whimsy? Convenience?

-Unfortunately, I could not connect with the romantic aspect even remotely. Scarlett’s fast-burn relationship with Julian is essentially based on lies, and she knows this from the get-go. She also knows that he’s basically a castoff plaything of her wild younger sister (a rebellious indiscretion who she first met when she caught him fooling around with Tella in her father’s cask room.) The fact that this never seems to bother Scarlett struck me as jarringly improbable.

Note: I’m admittedly not a fan of the shady manipulative bad-boy trope, so that aspect held no appeal to this reader. Your mileage may vary. ...more

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Apr 22, 2017 Cynthia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own

This book went so fast! You feel like you are really a part of the Caraval Game! I look forward to the next book, and I hope it is out very soon!!!!

3 likes · Like · see review

Jun 06, 2018 Grace rated it really liked it

Shelves: reread, audio

AFTER MY FIRST READ:

This was really good! It definitely deserves more than 3 stars, but it wasn't quite a 4-star book for me. 3.5-3.7 for me. I thought it was really well done and super interesting and creative, but it didn't blow my mind. I understand the hype though because it was so unique and intriguing!

AFTER MY SECOND READ:

I did my reread via audio and bumped it from 3 stars to 4! It's just so good! ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 03, 2018 Manda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, romance, ya-na, mystery

Caraval was just perfect in my opinion and just what I needed to get me back on track with reading. I'm so glad I found it in the library and took a chance on it otherwise I would never have read it and discovered how amazing it is.

Caraval is about two sisters Scarlett and Tella who want to escape there abusive father. Scarlett receives an invitation to Caraval but upon arrival discovers her sister is missing. Now with the help of Julian a mysterious salior Scarlett must solve the clues and fin ...more

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Jan 09, 2019 priya rated it liked it

the setting and plot were so intriguing, but the characters were bland at best and annoyingly shit at worst

i mean tella seems wonderful so i am excited for book 2 (since it’s in her pov) because better lead characters combined with this amazing world seems like actual magic

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Jan 21, 2018 Melissa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-young-adult, 2018

Well apparently I finished this book in one sitting, 4 hours. Sooo I guess I have to rate it 5 stars because I officially couldn’t stop reading it? Lol Better review later but for now, I will say, it was enthralling because you didn’t know what was real, who was dangerous, if there was danger at all, or even why on earth all of this was happening....but I guess a mysterious scavenger hunt on a magical island should leave you questioning everything.

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Sep 20, 2018 Anna rated it really liked it

This was magical. I loved the descriptive narratives and the scenes, the magically moving gowns and the characters. The end was very confusing however I was intrigued enough to want more. I also loved Julian, I want good things for him and Scarlett.

I kind of enjoyed it.

I would love more!

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Feb 03, 2017 Kathleen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: faves

There is really nothing quite like this book.. The wonder and magic it brings just makes me so happy every time! Scarlett and Julian also just make my heart swoon 😍

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Jan 07, 2017 Racquel Kechagias rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: tbr-shelf-books-i-own

Loved it immensely and cannot wait for the next book. I don't know if it's just me but it was giving me phantom of the opera vibes!!! (Which of course was awesome!) ...more

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