Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

73 reviews

rhm04's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Violence, Blood, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Grief and Abandonment

mayas's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It's been a day since I finished this book. And as the hours have passed, I've felt more grateful that I read it. I was able to see parts of myself in this story, and I've also learnt more about me. 

I experienced so much joy and excitement reading this. The kind of ADHD joy/excitement that dances through your whole body and feels euphoric. The kind that makes you scream and cackle because the tension is just right, the twists are endless, and you just figured out that clue right before it was revealed. 

I love the concept of this book. I love the setting. The characters. The descriptions. I have synesthesia, and so it was a DELIGHT to read the senses blend so many times. One of my favourite synesthesia-like moments in this book was the comparisonred velvet red curtains to chocolate cake
soaked in wine. I've never tasted that, or thought about this, but I SO understand this comparison!!! So much. Heheh

I was a little disappointed with the ending at first, and sort of still might be? But I also find it SO COOL. What Stephanie Garber did and how she did it was very clever and I love it. I really love it.

Thank you, Stephanie, for this story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide, Murder, Blood, and Death

Minor: Alcohol, Sexual violence, Drug use, and Sexism

rape threat, anxiety

angstifies's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense

• 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

4.75

this book was so unique and magical, i had a lot of fun trying to unravel the mystery which turned out to be very different than i thought it did.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Death, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, Abandonment, Blood, Torture, Violence, and Suicide

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Confinement, and Grief

laurataylor's review

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, and Violence

hope_sky321's review

adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense 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

Graphic: Kidnapping, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Murder, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

bethy_joy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Child abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

mir_frog73's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, Suicide, Physical abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Confinement, Child abuse, Blood, and Abandonment

Minor: Sexual assault

keysmashhh's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.0

Plot: 2/5
Character: 2/5
Relationships: 3/5
World-Building: 4/5
Genre: 2/5

Plot: I had major issues with the pacing of this book, some parts of it were wayyyyyy too slow and others were extremely rushed. I understand that "time works differently inside Caraval" but the poor pacing meant most of the plot was lost on me. The final confrontation and resolution made no sense to me and the reveal that Tella and Julian were alive felt just... wrong - the backtracking just didn't feel right with me. The series of reveals felt jaunty and disconnected and by the end, I was just so confused as to who was good and who was evil. 
Character: I didn't resonate with any of the characters, I found most of them to be annoying, to be honest. None of them felt likeable to me (maybe that's just me), some of the other side characters were a bit more interesting, Aiko for instance. I spent most of the time wanting to know more about Legend and became increasingly frustrated whenever the conversation diverted from information about Caraval. 
Relationships: I have to say seeing a strong sisterly relationship in YA fiction (that isn't unprioritised when a romance plotline comes about) was refreshing - I was feeling the Katniss and Prim vibes. The actual relationship was complex and they didn't agree/love each other all the time but it worked. The romance was... alright I guess. I didn't exactly find myself rooting for them but the alternative of her fiance wasn't any better. I felt super uncomfortable about the father and the fiance though, I understand the violence was a strong incentive for Scarlett to leave but something just felt a bit *weird* when reading some bits. 
World-Building: The world-building was my favourite part of this book - I loved the magical atmosphere and the descriptions of Caraval. My favourite aspect of the world was her dress, the descriptions of her outfits were amazing! (honestly my 2 star rating is mostly down to this detail) 
Genre: In terms of YA fantasy, it was pretty disappointing. The premise felt very similar to The Night Circus, which if I had to choose, I would choose The Night Circus over this book any day. I don't think I will continue this series which annoys me because I want to know who Legend is.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Emotional abuse, and Death

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Toxic relationship and Kidnapping

whatswithrandy's review

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Murder, Gaslighting, Death, and Child abuse

Minor: Blood, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Torture, and Violence

mel_s_bookshelf's review

adventurous mysterious 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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Blood, Torture, Kidnapping, and Grief

Minor: Abandonment and Body horror