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faeire_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Well at the beginning I found the book infuriating at times it feels like it talks down to the readers and some of the metaphors do not make any sense at all. It repeats a lot of the same things which feels demeaning, for example it felt the need to explain a sailor could swim 3 times. At first I wanted to strangle the main character since she continually makes stupid decisions and acts selfishly a lot of the time. And is the exact opposite of what the book is trying to tell you she is which can be annoying at times. She gets more bearable near the end thankfully. And it can be a bit cringy sometimes too. Even though I had many problems with the book I was never bored at all while reading it in fact it was quite fun and I learned a lot while reading The environment she creates is incredible and is worth the read just for that. It was a fun read and I will read the sequel. If you plan on reading this book precede with caution.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Suicide, and Sexual assault
prof_pelon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Abandonment, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Physical abuse
littledosesofrandomness's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexism, Murder, and Kidnapping
simplyv375's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence
lozzo_bozo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Death, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Murder, Violence, and Suicide attempt
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I went into this book a little cautious of the hype, but hoping I would love it. I adored The Night Circus when I read it years ago, so I was looking forward to giving another "travelling circus" story a try.
I think there were a lot of things that this book tried to do that just didn't work for me though... I still enjoyed it, just not as much as I had hoped.
Let's start with the things that I did like:
- I loved the plot and pacing. There was a good mix of fast-paced sections, with slightly slower paced scenes, and it worked really well to drive the story and to keep me interested in the goings on of the Caraval competition. Not to mention how intriguing the set up of the competition was! I found the idea unique and intriguing, and it had some good twists to how things worked or worked out. I will say the ending seemed a little rushed to wrap everything up, but it still explained everything. I just think after the whole competition was most of the book, the explanation and wrap-up was like two chapters...
- The magic! There was an element of mystery and magic that worked so well for a competition and performers who relied on magic to drive the story forward. I thought some of the uses of the magic were well-done and unique.
The things that made it difficult for me to really enjoy this book:
- Scarlett... and well, most of the characters who were main to be honest. I will admit that I was intrigued by Julian, enough that I could overlook at parts how annoying and frustrating both Scarlett and Tella were to me... I'm sorry, but we get it, Scarlett loves her sister more than anything. I don't need it written like 25 times in the book... (that might be an exaggeration but definitely what it felt like) The only characters I was interested in were Julian, Aiko, and Dante - side characters we don't get much from... also there was one reveal at the end that left me a tad bit uncomfortable. I was not a fan of the reveal about Julian's age... It made sense for his connection to Legend and how he knew the games of Caraval so well, but that means that he is close the age of Scarlett's grandparents!? That just felt kind of icky to me, even if he doesn't age because of magic... It's not the same as if he were some magical creature who lives a long time, he is still human and has aged in everything except looks... and Scarlett is supposed to be what? Under 20? I just didn't like that very much...
- The weird colour descriptions for emotions... I really didn't like these. I am so confused why the author felt she had to constantly describe the colour of things that don't have colour? It actually became frustrating to me and I started recording some of the more ridiculous ones down: panic is described as "shades of hemlock green - the color of poison and terror;" "Scarlett had an emerald-green premonition;" "Sour shades of yellow-green made her stomach roil;" disappointment is described as "forget-me-not blue;" I think panic is described later on as purple instead of green; and don't even get me started about how a kiss is described as tasting like "shades of rich brown and light blue." This might work for someone who sees the colours in everything, but it gives me NOTHING for describing emotions and abstract things... Honestly I just found it an annoying attempt at descriptions that I wish had been taken out...
I did enjoy the book overall - it was an easy read. I am not entirely sure if I will continue the series, unless someone can confirm for me that Scarlett gets a little less annoying... but I am glad that I read it!
I think there were a lot of things that this book tried to do that just didn't work for me though... I still enjoyed it, just not as much as I had hoped.
Let's start with the things that I did like:
- I loved the plot and pacing. There was a good mix of fast-paced sections, with slightly slower paced scenes, and it worked really well to drive the story and to keep me interested in the goings on of the Caraval competition. Not to mention how intriguing the set up of the competition was! I found the idea unique and intriguing, and it had some good twists to how things worked or worked out. I will say the ending seemed a little rushed to wrap everything up, but it still explained everything. I just think after the whole competition was most of the book, the explanation and wrap-up was like two chapters...
- The magic! There was an element of mystery and magic that worked so well for a competition and performers who relied on magic to drive the story forward. I thought some of the uses of the magic were well-done and unique.
The things that made it difficult for me to really enjoy this book:
- Scarlett... and well, most of the characters who were main to be honest. I will admit that I was intrigued by Julian, enough that I could overlook at parts how annoying and frustrating both Scarlett and Tella were to me... I'm sorry, but we get it, Scarlett loves her sister more than anything. I don't need it written like 25 times in the book... (that might be an exaggeration but definitely what it felt like) The only characters I was interested in were Julian, Aiko, and Dante - side characters we don't get much from... also there was one reveal at the end that left me a tad bit uncomfortable.
- The weird colour descriptions for emotions... I really didn't like these. I am so confused why the author felt she had to constantly describe the colour of things that don't have colour? It actually became frustrating to me and I started recording some of the more ridiculous ones down: panic is described as "shades of hemlock green - the color of poison and terror;" "Scarlett had an emerald-green premonition;" "Sour shades of yellow-green made her stomach roil;" disappointment is described as "forget-me-not blue;" I think panic is described later on as purple instead of green; and don't even get me started about how a kiss is described as tasting like "shades of rich brown and light blue." This might work for someone who sees the colours in everything, but it gives me NOTHING for describing emotions and abstract things... Honestly I just found it an annoying attempt at descriptions that I wish had been taken out...
I did enjoy the book overall - it was an easy read. I am not entirely sure if I will continue the series, unless someone can confirm for me that Scarlett gets a little less annoying... but I am glad that I read it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, and Vomit
crystal_e_fall's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Positivt:
- Mystiken. Jag hade ingen om vart handlingen skulle gå, vilket var kul.
- Miljöbeskrivningarna - Caraval kändes väldigt levande och färgsprakande och jag kunde föreställa mig det mesta med stor klarhet.
- Scarletts utveckling. Jag gillade hur hennes självaktning och självförtroende växte och hur mycket mer hon förtjänade än det liv hon getts.
- Några riktigt fina interaktioner mellan Tella och Scarlett som berörde mig!
Negativt:
- Jag trodde dock inte på systrarnas relation? Alltså, man fick berättat att de älskade varandra, men eftersom de särades så tidigt kände jag mig inte så investerad i deras relation - jag önskar att det funnits fler scener i boken med båda två för att visa deras band till varandra (vi fick typ en scen!).
- Kanske för många plot twists? Kände att det blev lite förvirrande i slutet. Hur fungerar ens det magiska systemet? Jag har ingen aning. Upplägget på slutet gör också (i min mening) att en stor del av spänningen försvinner (mini-spoiler: eftersom det mesta som händer och görs inte får några konsekvenser typ).
Meh:
- Romansen. Den var okej, jag hade inget emot den, men tyckte inte upplösningen var logisk. Den tog också över handlingen ganska rejält. (Spoilers (typ): Hur kan man bara låtsas allt är bra när man inte vet om man kan lita på sin partner? Inte ens är säker på att man känner dem?)
- “Skurkarna”. Det kändes inte som om de hade så mycket djup, men de skapade några spännande och intressanta scener i alla fall!
Betyg: 3,5 av 5. Mitten gillade jag mycket, men början och upplösningen föll lite platt. Magin var kul, Scarlett var en bra huvudkaraktär och miljöbeskrivningarna förhöjde läsupplevelsen. Jag känner dock inget behov av att läsa resten av trilogin.
- Mystiken. Jag hade ingen om vart handlingen skulle gå, vilket var kul.
- Miljöbeskrivningarna - Caraval kändes väldigt levande och färgsprakande och jag kunde föreställa mig det mesta med stor klarhet.
- Scarletts utveckling. Jag gillade hur hennes självaktning och självförtroende växte och hur mycket mer hon förtjänade än det liv hon getts.
- Några riktigt fina interaktioner mellan Tella och Scarlett som berörde mig!
Negativt:
- Jag trodde dock inte på systrarnas relation? Alltså, man fick berättat att de älskade varandra, men eftersom de särades så tidigt kände jag mig inte så investerad i deras relation - jag önskar att det funnits fler scener i boken med båda två för att visa deras band till varandra (vi fick typ en scen!).
- Kanske för många plot twists? Kände att det blev lite förvirrande i slutet. Hur fungerar ens det magiska systemet? Jag har ingen aning. Upplägget på slutet gör också (i min mening) att en stor del av spänningen försvinner (mini-spoiler: eftersom det mesta som händer och görs inte får några konsekvenser typ).
Meh:
- Romansen. Den var okej, jag hade inget emot den, men tyckte inte upplösningen var logisk. Den tog också över handlingen ganska rejält. (Spoilers (typ): Hur kan man bara låtsas allt är bra när man inte vet om man kan lita på sin partner? Inte ens är säker på att man känner dem?)
- “Skurkarna”. Det kändes inte som om de hade så mycket djup, men de skapade några spännande och intressanta scener i alla fall!
Betyg: 3,5 av 5. Mitten gillade jag mycket, men början och upplösningen föll lite platt. Magin var kul, Scarlett var en bra huvudkaraktär och miljöbeskrivningarna förhöjde läsupplevelsen. Jag känner dock inget behov av att läsa resten av trilogin.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexism
Minor: Blood
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