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gmtn96's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Murder, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Suicide
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Sexual assault
happyhippielinds's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Body horror, Confinement, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Rape and Toxic relationship
luna_lovelace's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Julian was by far my favorite character! He went through so much character development that I was questioning if I really knew him! Poor Scar, no wonder she was losing it!
I wish there was more spice but that's just personal preference. :)
I wish there was more spice but that's just personal preference. :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Blood, Self harm, Suicide, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
booksandstardust's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Murder, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Death, and Abandonment
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, and Gore
katelynprice's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed the gameplay and puzzle aspects of the book as well as the setting (major Alice in Wonderland vibes!), but I was also really confused and frustrated for most of the book. Not knowing who you can trust gets old to me, so it started to feel very one-note. I did like Scarlett and was rooting for her, and I liked the family/sister bond, but I'm not sure if I want to continue with the series or not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Murder, Death, and Blood
Minor: Suicide
unboundbooklover's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Kidnapping, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Mental illness, Confinement, and Violence
cardlikecredit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
4.75
Very interesting concept and world building. There was just something about the plot that it was too slow. It built up nicely at the end but took a while to get there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Kidnapping and Confinement
mysterious_and_spooky's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I feel like I can see what the vision was for this book, but it's pulled off in a very clunky sort of way. It was very much a story that was happening to the main character, not even that she had much say in what was happening. Which made for a frustrating read. Tbh it felt like published fan fiction for Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. But I did see what the vision was, but I don't think it was quite executed effectively. I'm not really interested in continuing. 3.5 stars DNF series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping
hazybee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really like how the letters were included. This was the prefect fast paced, adventure, fantasy, mystery, romance novel
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Suicide, and Blood
boba_n_books's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Spice Rating: 🫑
Stephanie Garber created one of the most creative and magical worlds I've ever read about in Caraval. I absolutely DEVOURED this book (just ask the friends I "buddy read" it with... I didn't stick to the reading schedule 😂 ).
Scarlett and Donatella (Tella) are sisters who have been stuck on a small island their entire lives. Once their mother abandoned them, their father became abusive, which caused Scarlett to dream of a world beyond the island. She begins to write letters to the famous Legend, who she's heard of through her grandmother's stories, pleading him to let her and her sister attend Caraval--a magical game where the winner receives a wish. After years of no response, Legend finally responds to Scarlett a few days before her wedding to a man her father arranged for her to marry. Scarlett and Tella argue whether or not they should attend, but once a mysterious sailor arrives, Tella decides for Scarlett that they're going to Caraval. Once she arrives, Scarlett finds out that Tella has been kidnapped and that Scarlett needs to win the game to get her back. Scarlett finds an unexpected ally in the sailor, Julian, and quickly learns that Caraval is much more dangerous than she originally thought. The problem is she doesn't know what's real and what is created by Legend.
I went into this book pretty blind and am glad I did because the twists and turns were so exciting. I was fully immersed into the world of Caraval and couldn't read fast enough because I was so invested in Scarlett's quest. The sisterly love was a huge bonus of this novel, but I also really loved how Scarlett was able to find herself and realize that she has agency and choices in life. After years of abuse from her father, she finds it hard to trust anyone--especially in the tricky world of Caraval. I loved seeing her complete transformation throughout the book and look forward to seeing her character grow in the next two books.
Stephanie Garber created one of the most creative and magical worlds I've ever read about in Caraval. I absolutely DEVOURED this book (just ask the friends I "buddy read" it with... I didn't stick to the reading schedule 😂 ).
Scarlett and Donatella (Tella) are sisters who have been stuck on a small island their entire lives. Once their mother abandoned them, their father became abusive, which caused Scarlett to dream of a world beyond the island. She begins to write letters to the famous Legend, who she's heard of through her grandmother's stories, pleading him to let her and her sister attend Caraval--a magical game where the winner receives a wish. After years of no response, Legend finally responds to Scarlett a few days before her wedding to a man her father arranged for her to marry. Scarlett and Tella argue whether or not they should attend, but once a mysterious sailor arrives, Tella decides for Scarlett that they're going to Caraval. Once she arrives, Scarlett finds out that Tella has been kidnapped and that Scarlett needs to win the game to get her back. Scarlett finds an unexpected ally in the sailor, Julian, and quickly learns that Caraval is much more dangerous than she originally thought. The problem is she doesn't know what's real and what is created by Legend.
I went into this book pretty blind and am glad I did because the twists and turns were so exciting. I was fully immersed into the world of Caraval and couldn't read fast enough because I was so invested in Scarlett's quest. The sisterly love was a huge bonus of this novel, but I also really loved how Scarlett was able to find herself and realize that she has agency and choices in life. After years of abuse from her father, she finds it hard to trust anyone--especially in the tricky world of Caraval. I loved seeing her complete transformation throughout the book and look forward to seeing her character grow in the next two books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Blood, Murder, and Suicide