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littlelindsey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Suicide, Domestic abuse, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Blood
siglerbooknook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Violence, Suicide attempt, and Torture
Minor: Confinement, Abandonment, Blood, Death, and Kidnapping
prof_pelon's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Kidnapping, Abandonment, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Physical abuse
mir_frog73's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Suicide, Physical abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Confinement, Child abuse, Blood, and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual assault
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Misogyny
writtenbydnicole's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Self harm and Sexual content
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
- 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 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!
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, and Vomit
baexlee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Time in the world of Caraval feels a bit strange, and maybe this is why I was unable to fully get behind the timeline of some of the relationship developments but that was the area that I struggled the most. While I loved the romantic relationship and I enjoyed Scarlett and her own character growth, I felt like the relationships moved quickly, trust felt too easily gained or lost in some scenarios and overall the character development didn't feel like it had been earned, even after 200+ pages.
Overall a fun fantasy read, I will likely continue the series but after coming off of another series that was heavy with character development the characters just felt like they left something to be desired. The world felt more vibrant than Scarlett herself.
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Child abuse and Confinement
sophieduncan's review
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
Moderate: Confinement and Toxic relationship