Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

246 reviews

estellec13's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I enjoyed it but I felt it dragged on too much in the middle. The last 100 pages were so good so I would still recommend it and I will read thé next one

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence

seren's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Kidnapping, Blood, Violence, and Domestic abuse

neliadiedenise's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical content, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Violence, Torture, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, and Murder

hannahmarkby's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with Caraval, but it’s been on my TBR for quite some time, and I was pleasantly surprised! I’ve been in a reading slump for the past several months, starting many books and finishing none, but Caraval was able to break that. 

The first book was a lot of fun to read, especially since I couldn’t predict what was going to happen. Every time I developed a new theory, it was soon disproven, and Garber did an excellent job convincing me of a false story so that I was completely shocked when the true ending was revealed. Caraval itself was fascinating, reminding me of Wonderland and Holly Black’s version of Faerie, with deals that were too good to be true and magic that made it difficult to distinguish what was real. My favorite aspect of this was the way that secrets and time were the preferred currency, especially how time was transferred through blood (and the resulting scene between Scarlett and Julian). 

There were definitely a few YA clichés sprinkled throughout, such as the abusive father/dead mother, the adultification of the eldest daughter, and Julian’s personality, but in general I did not mind. Scarlett and Tella’s quest to get away from their father at all costs added an extra level of depth to the story, and I really appreciated Scarlett’s personal growth as she learned to take risks and no longer be ruled by fear and overcautiousness. Also, I’m unashamed to admit just how much I loved Julian. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Death

Moderate: Kidnapping, Grief, and Blood

Minor: Death of parent and Sexual assault

val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• 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

4.0

I’ve been waiting for months to get this trilogy in Libby and I’m so happy I ended up really liking it! 

This might be the 10th audiobook that I’ve listened narrated by Rebecca Soler and she never disappoints. 

Scarlett and Donatella Dragna are two sisters who live with their abusive father in the Isle of Trisda. The girls have always dreamed of leaving and being free, and the opportunity finally presents itself in the name of Julian Marrero when this boy comes to the island and offers them to take them to Caraval, this magical place where they can play the game and if they win they can ask for anything they want.
 

I really liked the sisters, but especially Scarlett because I feel I would be more like her in this whole situation. I loved seeing her romance with Julian and how she had to learn to trust him. I did not expect that many plot twist and surprises in the book, especially in the end I was loving that. I was having such a great time with this book. 

By the end we got so many emotions and information that just convinced me this is a 4 ⭐ 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Blood, Murder, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Death

- Child abuse / Physical abuse: The sisters are 16 and 17 years old now, but for 7 years they’ve suffered at the hands of their father.

- Death / Blood / Murder: There’s at least like three deaths in this book alone.

- Suicide: There’s mentioned of someone jumping from a high place in the last Caraval, and then something similar happens in the end.

la_reina_lil_ari's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Mental illness

Moderate: Death

Minor: Blood

There was a lot of physical abuse from the father, so just beware of that

aureolyn's review against another edition

5.0

I may have found myself a new favorite author. How enchanting and bewitching. It truly felt as if we also entered into the game and were players too—never truly knowing what was real and what wasn’t. As if the magic of Caraval was seeping out of the book and enveloping us too. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, Death, and Suicide

Moderate: Blood

seaflower2009's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Minor: Blood and Death

druzyquartz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Torture and Abandonment

naluminum's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

Garber uses rich descriptions and imagery in this novel. I was always on the edge of my seat because the MC was thrown into an unexpected quest in Caraval that was mentally challenging and tested her wits, bravery, trust, and love for her sister (who was the one who dragged her out to compete in Caravel in the first place). TBH, the female MC was annoyingly stubborn in her thinking and refused to accept guidance from those who tried to help her, but she came through stronger than expected.  The plot twists were unexpected which I liked, but I didn’t love any of the characters though I enjoyed the mystery aspect. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Blood, Adult/minor relationship, and Gaslighting

Minor: Emotional abuse and Sexual harassment