Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

111 reviews

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

cowboylikebrie15's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Murder, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent and Kidnapping

booknerdcoco's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Overall, I really enjoyed this boom. I loved the Carnival/magic theme. And found it refreshing.

I found the mysterious element intriguing, and it made me want to continue reading whenever I had a free moment.

Though it is far from a typical fairytale due to the themes, I was drawn to the innocence of the FMC.

My only downside: I felt like the ending dragged out a little. But this certainly won't deter me from reading the rest of the trilogy.

Plot: 5/5
Spice: 0/5
Book boyfriend: 3/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Kidnapping, and Violence

vnavarro's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

bbmaan's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Child abuse

Minor: Child death, Drug use, Death of parent, and Sexual assault

sweetchocolatez's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Death, Grief, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood

Moderate: Gore, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Suicide

Minor: Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Panic attacks/disorders

shadikb's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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? No

4.0

It was good but Scarlett annoyed me, and her seeing emotions in colour, was very confusing as well as annoying too... but a very enjoyable story overall.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Murder, Kidnapping, Suicide, Death, Self harm, Grief, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Gaslighting and Abandonment

cas_reads_anything's review

mysterious slow-paced

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

2.75

This felt like if a CW teen show had one fever dream of a season and then ended with a happy ended & minimal character growth.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Suicide

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Abandonment, Torture, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Sexual violence

mysterybindsme's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.0

- Definitely intended for a younger reader (probably about 13-15)
- Main character is incredibly naive and has like two personality traits: protecting her sister, and having trust issues. Oh and the third trait of being incredibly quick to trust things she hears despite trust issues
- Becomes way more interesting about 2/3s in (which at that point is a bit late really)
- Far too many plot twists. Like I'm not kidding, past the half way mark the entire situation changes context about five times
- The ending ruined the entire thing. All the stakes were gone and it made me absolutely hate most of the characters (aside from Aiko who was genuinely helpful but there for like five seconds and Scarlett who was just a normal girl in an awful situation)
- Yes I'm planning on reading the next two books (unless the second one's worse). No I would not recommend
- The prose is beautiful tho

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Murder, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, and Suicide