Scan barcode
sashaalexis's review against another edition
2.0
I really want to read the once upon a broken heart series and I heard you have to read caraval first.
I hated this book. There was no character development. You don’t get to know the characters at all. Somehow I still have to read 2 more from this series.
I hated this book. There was no character development. You don’t get to know the characters at all. Somehow I still have to read 2 more from this series.
mbarber's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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
4.5
Really good! Almost 5 stars!
kaleyamo's review against another edition
5.0
I’m way late to the Caraval series, I know. I used to see it EVERYWHERE a few years ago, but I just never picked it up . . . Until my sister harassed me into reading the Once Upon a Broken Heart series and I decided I wanted to go back to this one to get even more backstory.
✨✨✨
Scarlett Dragna has been dreaming of Caraval ever since she was a little girl, inspired by stories her grandmother told. After writing to Caraval Master Legend for years, Scarlett, her sister Donatella “Tella,” and Scarlett’s unnamed fiancé — who she has never met, and does not even know the name of, since her abusive father who arranged the match always tears off any personal details included in his letters — secure invites. Scarlett is hesitant, knowing what her father will do if they leave home, but Tella … uh … “convinces” her to go anyway.
But when Scarlett arrives, Tella is nowhere to be found, and eventually Scarlett learns that this year’s Caraval game is all about finding Tella. But nothing you see or hear within Caraval can be trusted. It’s all a game. And Scarlett will have to find her sister without going mad first.
✨✨✨
I really liked the first book in this series! For this being the author’s debut, it’s really spectacular. I’m so impressed by the world-building and the characters — and by how even I was tricked by the mind games played during Caraval. I just started the second book, Legendary, and I’m still learning things I thought were true in Caraval were not!
✨✨✨
Scarlett Dragna has been dreaming of Caraval ever since she was a little girl, inspired by stories her grandmother told. After writing to Caraval Master Legend for years, Scarlett, her sister Donatella “Tella,” and Scarlett’s unnamed fiancé — who she has never met, and does not even know the name of, since her abusive father who arranged the match always tears off any personal details included in his letters — secure invites. Scarlett is hesitant, knowing what her father will do if they leave home, but Tella … uh … “convinces” her to go anyway.
But when Scarlett arrives, Tella is nowhere to be found, and eventually Scarlett learns that this year’s Caraval game is all about finding Tella. But nothing you see or hear within Caraval can be trusted. It’s all a game. And Scarlett will have to find her sister without going mad first.
✨✨✨
I really liked the first book in this series! For this being the author’s debut, it’s really spectacular. I’m so impressed by the world-building and the characters — and by how even I was tricked by the mind games played during Caraval. I just started the second book, Legendary, and I’m still learning things I thought were true in Caraval were not!
parvaneh's review against another edition
3.0
i don't know if it's just because i read it over the span of like a week, but it started of stronger than it ended in my opinion ngl – aka i was more into it in the beginning; i also found the writing to be underwhelming for the setting?
coopertm's review against another edition
4.0
It definitely kept me guessing what was going on and who Legend really is. It left me a little confused on what was real and what was fake, but that might also be the goal of the book.
milzy_23'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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
pandasbookclub's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
3.75
leilaxx's review against another edition
2.0
This book had so much potential and could've been delivered more beautifully. If the writing was different and more detail was attached to the characters and their chemistry, this would have wound its way into my favourite, but unfortunately, it didn't. The brilliance diminished the more I read it. Pages and stories turned lacklustre. Indeed events occurred, I cannot deny that, but it just did not flow with how the story was written. None of the plot twists and character revelations, the world building and attempt at tragedy. None of it pieced together the way it should have. I had no connection to any of the characters or events playing out. I love the concept; I wish it had been executed better. Everything was too coincidental, everything played out too well, and the shock factor was not delivered. The ending did not leave me intrigued, only annoyed. I'm not putting myself through another one of these trying mind games.
deannasbookclub's review against another edition
4.0
Caraval is such a popular and hyped up book and unfortunately I think that is what has made me a little bit dissatisfied with this novel. The story is interesting and I found the plot to be unique, however I think it is let down by a few things.
Firstly, the writing style. I have read OUABH and thought the style of that book was good, very whimsical and interesting. This one attempts to be the same but it ends up feeling a bit bloated and nonsensical. Some of the metaphors make 0 sense and feel like they have been thrown in there to make it sound more magical than it actually is.
Also, the story to me felt a little bit convoluted. There didn’t seem to be an easy flow to the plot. The author was obviously trying to be clever with the reasoning behind things but it just meant that it felt over complicated.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. The story is magical and unique however I don’t feel overly invested in the characters and because of this I don’t think I will rush to read the other books in the series.
Firstly, the writing style. I have read OUABH and thought the style of that book was good, very whimsical and interesting. This one attempts to be the same but it ends up feeling a bit bloated and nonsensical. Some of the metaphors make 0 sense and feel like they have been thrown in there to make it sound more magical than it actually is.
Also, the story to me felt a little bit convoluted. There didn’t seem to be an easy flow to the plot. The author was obviously trying to be clever with the reasoning behind things but it just meant that it felt over complicated.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. The story is magical and unique however I don’t feel overly invested in the characters and because of this I don’t think I will rush to read the other books in the series.