Challenge Corner discussion

Remember, it’s only a game…

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her 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 faraway, 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 the show. 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. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval…beware of getting swept too far away.

Started late, sorry!
CH8/End of Part 1 (view spoiler)[There is something about Julian. Is he a part of this? (hide spoiler)]

Ch 12(view spoiler)[I think Julian is a part of it.Everyone is acting odd to him though. Is he Legendary himself?. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 17 (view spoiler)[This place sure does work off of intel/secrets. What interesting payments.. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 29 (view spoiler)[Jeez her father is so evil! And what a great fiance'! Is the fiance real or part of the 'game' since so much is suppose to seem real I wonder.. (hide spoiler)]

Done (view spoiler)[What has Tella gotten herself into. What does her mother have to do with this? Farther down the rabbit hole I must go!. (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING APRIL 18TH, 2018

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The Isle of Trisda

(view spoiler)[ I don't know how I feel about Scarlet. She's too hesitant about every little thing. I prefer Tella's spontaniety even though I'm sure it'll get her in trouble. Julian calling Scarlet Crimson is kind of cute. (hide spoiler)]

The Night of Caraval Eve

(view spoiler)[ Oh boy, now she has Dante interested. He seems sweet but might end up even more trouble than Julian! Kinda sad Tella hadn't even been looking for Scarlett clearly. (hide spoiler)]

Night One of Caraval

(view spoiler)[ Okay that little dungeon under the Castille is super creepy. And I want to know how Julian got all beat up. I think the guy with the black heart is Dante. (hide spoiler)]

Night Two of Caraval

(view spoiler)[ OMG Julian is Legend?!?! I really thought he was a good guy. I'm so disappointed. (hide spoiler)]

Day Four and Night Four of Caraval

(view spoiler)[ So Legend is a sadistic and terrible person. If Julian is really dead I will lose my mind. (hide spoiler)]

Finished

(view spoiler)[ Who is Legend?! And their mom is alive?! And everyone is just alive again?! This is too much! I need the next book. (hide spoiler)]

25%: (view spoiler)[ I hate how Tella takes the punishment meant for Scarlett when their father finds Tella and Julian out in the garden. I was happy when Scarlett received the letter inviting her to caravel. (hide spoiler)]

50%: (view spoiler)[ I don't really know what to think of Julian right now. He seems to want to help Scarlett, but also at the same time he is almost playing against her. I hate how Scarlett loses one day of her life, and was glad when Julian helped her and lost one day of his life as well. (hide spoiler)]

75%: (view spoiler)[ I am truly confused now. Like is Julian Legend then. And who is Dante, and where does he fit in. (hide spoiler)]

100%: (view spoiler)[ I really hate Legend, and how annoying, arrogant, and evil he is. I hate how he makes it look like Scarlett is going to jump out of the window. Is Julian dead? I am glad that the sisters got reunited. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 1-8 (view spoiler)[what on earth is wrong with donatella?does she have a death wish or something?she seems to love running towards trouble.the girl really reallly really has a death wish....facepalms.hate their fathers abusive behaviour.why did their mother run away.tella is also cunning af (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9-16 (view spoiler)[ why do i feel like julian is lying somewhat?i love the nickname crimson though.seems to me that the game is designed to make people go mad.someone died in the game before&scar still is stupid enough to sign a contract in blood.joy.legend is such a creepo (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17-25 (view spoiler)[ a wrong answer on the scale at a shop equals to a number of death days?thats just fucked up.and now dante's sister is missing?oi vay!dante's winning previously cost him his fiancee?how did her father arrive at the caraval?my head hurts....stupid annalisa had to be so greedy and set a curse on her family. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 26-34 (view spoiler)[ leap of faith means scar needs to marry whom now?or do something weird?also how did her fiance get there?was her father pretending to cry or really cared for them?plot confusing af.yay took julian and scar long enough to kiss.hate legend all the more (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ yup tella is really cunning coming up with the plan to escape from their fathers clutches.i was about to cry when i saw tella died but then got confused when she came alive.and thank god julian finally told scar the truth.still shipping them (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING JUNE 23RD, 2018

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20% (view spoiler)[ Scarlett is kinda dumb. I don't get why she wants to be married so badly to some stranger. The count is high on the "Do Not Trust" list for me. It's super suspicious her father won't tell her who it is either. I don't like him. I'm excited to see Caraval and figure out how this game is played. Not sure how to feel about Julian tho. Clearly, he has ulterior motives. (hide spoiler)]

50% (view spoiler)[ I'm honestly so bored and I kinda hate Scarlett. I don't get why she cares so much about marrying some dude she's never met! He's probably nothing like his letters ugh. The magic of Caraval also isn't hitting me as much through the audiobook, so I just don't care as much. I hope something interesting will happen soon! (hide spoiler)]

65% (view spoiler)[ Scarlett's father is a monster and I hope he dies. They really shouldn't have gone in that hat shop! Julian has less appeal this time around too. She doesn't know this guy either! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I think a lot of the magic was taken out by rereading this for me. Which makes me really sad. I did enjoy the last ~30% a lot more. Things started happening, however, Scarlett trying to put clues together was kinda painful to watch. I'm super curious about Legend and their mother and what's to come next! (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING MAY 11TH 2020

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I'm so excited for this! I've had this book on my shelf for ages, but I haven't been able to fit it in any categories for the challenges... Fortunately that won't be the case for May! :D

Salha wrote: "I'm so excited for this! I've had this book on my shelf for ages, but I haven't been able to fit it in any categories for the challenges... Fortunately that won't be the case for May! :D"

Same here!!

25%
(view spoiler)[ "She'd disappeared like a broken star, leaving the world untouched, save for the bits of missing light that no one would ever see again"

This description is so heart breakingly beautiful!

Wow, so Scarlett running by all these weird and whimsical shops makes me think of some weird Alice in Wonderland/Mad Hatter-esc world.

Something in me wants to suspect Julian is actually Legend with the way he was there magically when Scarlet got the tickets, his eagerness to help them 'escape', and now his eagerness to help Scarlett to the Crystal Serpent... (hide spoiler)]

50%

(view spoiler)[ Okay am I the only one squealing that Scarlett's dress appears almost like a mood ring! As she has the confrontation with Dante the ribbons begin to turn black over her white gown as she weeps.

Also, I soooooo want to know what is actually going on in those tunnels there is definitely something dark about this show or circus if you will and I can't wait.

Super creepy that Aiko's book is filled with pictures of Scarlett especially ones when the only other person around should have been Julian.

What is the shop keep getting out of 2 days of Scarlett's life? This whole paying with time thing reminds me of an old movie called In Time where they were all chipped with the time left they had to live and paid for good via this time transaction often shortening thier lives. (hide spoiler)]

75%

(view spoiler)[ Ha! So Julian is Legend! Called it! Also, now it makes so much more sense why Dante was so pissed Scarlett is 'engaged' to Julian, but doesn't he know Julian is Legend? So many questions...

Okay well now I'm confused Dante and Julian were working together?! And Rosa was Julian's sister? But I'm still not sold on his story.

Oh my god... did thier mother disappear because of legends vendetta with the family because of their grandmother?!

I really want to know ehat this sinister deal is between D'Arcy and her father and it has to be tied to Legend or how else would they have known where the girls disappeared too!

My heart is breaking over Scarlett's infatuation with Julian and the fact that I don't think they will have a happy ending. (hide spoiler)]

100%

(view spoiler)[ Oh my god! Can we talked about all the twists at the end of this book and the emotional roller coaster I just went on... I started this book thinking it would take me much longer to get through because it was on my list but not a 'high interest' read if you will but it fit one of the prompts for this months quarterly since I already read The Night Circus, but man I was happily wrong! This book was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed it front to back! I loved the mind games and Alice in Wonderland-esc feel that this book had (one of my fave movies). It was so whimsical but also so dark and both those pieces were married together so well. I loved all of the characters as well, none of them seemed hollow if you will. I am very excited to read the next one and am dying to see how they meet their mother/where she went and what this deal was she made with Legend. I feel we may not find out hes truly turned a new leaf.

Also, end note, I don't even like dresses but the magical dresses they described in the book so badly made me want to experience one lol (hide spoiler)]

Gotta finish a few of my CR before starting this one. Luckily I have a copy ready to go!

10% (view spoiler)[ I wonder how prevalent magic is in this world I'm reading about. Also, I already love the characters' names. Hope it keeps up! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

25% (view spoiler)[ This island is fun! I can just imagine walking through the shops. I do wonder what would've happened if he had stayed out there... (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

65% (view spoiler)[ This game is crazy! Scarlet’s clues feel like she is grasping straws but I guess we will see. Aiko seems shady and this magic is daaarrrkkk. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

100% wow! I loved this!! (view spoiler)[ what a perfect way to end this quest! the magic makes things feel a little too well wrapped up but the epilogue made it so worth it. i'm super pumped for the sequel (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING MARCH 9TH 2023

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Chapters 1-7:

(view spoiler)[ I may be going way out on a limb but what if Julian was Legend? and man the Isle de los Suenos sounds amazing. It would be nice to escape to that place for a while. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 1-7
(view spoiler)[So far this book has been fine. I'm not sure about the characters yet as not much has been shown about them.

I'm curious about the magic. It keeps mentioning colours, and different imagery so I'm wondering if the magic is about seeing auras or illusions.
(hide spoiler)]

Carrie wrote: "Chapters 1-7:

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I haven't even thought about that, but it's true that he's sort of appeared out of nowhere and at such a convenient time.

Also, where is Tella? Has he really dropped her off already?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 8-14
(view spoiler)[I'm starting to get a bit annoyed with Scarlett - her constantly thinking about her sister and her stupidity.

I don't like Tella. Maybe everything shown about her so far has been an illusion/trick, but I think she's very self-centred so Scarlett's single-mindedness when it comes to her is annoying.

Why does Julian want to play again? When he played last time, was he in a similar situation to Scarlett's but he didn't win so his relative/friend was lost? Does he want the wish? Or is he Legend like you said?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15-24
(view spoiler)[I'm not sure what to believe as things happen and then it's not certain if it's true or a lie. For example, is Scarlett's father really there or is it just an illusion? How did he get in?

I want more scenes where Julian and Scarlett interact, or more scenes where they are actually doing something to find the clues. So far it seems like Julian and Scarlett stumbled upon all the clues by accident, and they didn't really have to do much to earn them.
(hide spoiler)]

CHAPTERS 8-19
(view spoiler)[ That's funny because yes I am getting annoyed too. I can't stand the I'm too cautious so I can't do that.

Tella seems to be a little self-centered and do we really think that the end of the game will bring her sister back to her? I'm beginning to wonder if she's even there at all.

And let me chime in on the marriage thing. To have your father promise you to another man is gross and the fact that Scarlett is all for it makes me question her sanity but who knows, maybe that is common on that Isle.

I am still on the fence with Julian. I want to honestly believe he is Legend. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 20-21
(view spoiler)[ I KNEW IT WAS JULIAN (hide spoiler)]

That's all I want to say.. LOL

Chapter 25-33
(view spoiler)[So Julian has been working with Legend. Why? What does he get out of it? Is he really dead? He can't be. Is it another illusion?

I agree. They keep talking about Tella, but is she even on the Isle?

Also, Scarlett just said that she wants to get Tella and go home. But where? She just disobeyed her father so the consequences will be horrible, and that is where she plans to return?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 34-Epilogue
(view spoiler)[I still don't like Tella. I understand why she wouldn't even listen to Scarlett, but she never says anything about caring about Scarlett. She always just talks about how Scarlett loves her and would do anything for her.

It was obvious why Legend told Scarlett to walk on the edge of the balcony, and she was stupid to do it.

I didn't really expect the ending, although I knew that Julian couldn't be dead.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 22-23
(view spoiler)[ Okay so I was wrong or maybe jumped the gun on Julian being Legend after reading about Scarlett's dream and how in the world did her father get on the island? Last if Dante and Julian were working together why is it that Dante would go frigid every time Julian came around Scarlett while Dante was talking to her? Can't wait to read what's next. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 24-31
(view spoiler)[ again, how did her father get to the island and not only that but with her fiance? I want to believe that the count has a good heart but he is very easy to get let astray. Did I miss something, maybe Legend invited him because he's so set on revenge. (hide spoiler)]