Reviews

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

stjehanne's review against another edition

2.0

Heads-up: I couldn't quite decide if I should Caraval rate one or two stars. I went with two in the end because it doesn't quite deserve to be among the ranks of my one-star-books.

When I picked this up, I was actually pretty excited about it. The premise sounded wonderful, the setting enchanting - I love carnivals and illusions, so I thought this would be right up my alley. What a devastating disappointment.

Let's start with the setting: The novel comes with a cute little map on the first pages which made me believe that I would see some nice world-building, something that would allow me to truly escape into that magical world. And in the beginning, everything seemed promising as well. I truly loved the first glances into Caraval: Such a stark contrast to the word that Scarlett used to call her home.

And then I realised that nothing even mattered. Everything that happened could be undone in the blink of an eye. This festival that promised dangerous secrets and unforeseen twists had no lasting consequences at all. There was no meaning to be found behind any action, something that really frustrated me. The magic system in this book is not bound to any rules or any reason which frankly, makes for a boring read once you figure out that nothing bad will ever last.

The characters in this one are... unique, to put it politely. The romance parts in particular could only be described as questionable. Proper, modest Scarlett only hesitates a second to make out with the guy who had his hand up her sister's skirt when they first met. The guy who knocked her out and basically kidnapped her. And they say romance is dead.

Spoiler

And of course, Scarlett learns that there was nothing going on between said man and her sister after all but this is something we learn much, much later.

Even if Julian was surrounded by slightly less dodgy circumstances, my man has the charisma of one of those singing fish props. His personality could be summarised as hot and secretive and lacks any sort of depths.

Same goes for Scarlett, if I'm being honest. I don't think she makes a good protagonist since others have to do all the thinking for her. She's naïve to a fault and I still don't quite know how old she's supposed to be - she felt like a child at times. Especially during the last pages of the story, her actions made me constantly roll my eyes and I think I might have irreversibly damaged something.

Conclusion: Wasn't really worth my time. Glad I read it though because the author included her hot music takes at the end of book and it made me laugh a lot.

koutsoukoutou's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

Started this after "Once upon a Broken Heart" and, as expected, I loved it just as much 

booklife08's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

telly96's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

amanyelabd23's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring 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

4.25

whatjillianisreading's review against another edition

3.0

3.5*
i was expecting a circus for some reason? it was like a mystery but also idk. it had that excitement i was looking for, but it did not take me over like others have. it was still good though!

lyor's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

amart560's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

remie_bourque's review against another edition

4.0

That was pretty good but I felt like some things were kinda rushed and a few plot holes but I enjoyed it so I can’t make it 3 stars so a solid 3.75, would still recommend it to someone.

rinale's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

4.75

I was entertained the whole time. Caraval is whimsical and fun. I really like the currency system. It adds so much whimsy and stakes to the whole situation. The romance was questionable to me at first but I ended up believing it so I enjoyed that too. Not 5 stars bc

of how Scarlett’s wish came true. It had potential to be a really heart felt moment but to just have Tella walk through the door felt anticlimactic. I also did not like how nonchalant Tella was when explaining the whole thing to Scarlett. She just put her sister through this traumatic experience. I understand her intentions but I wanted more. I basically wanted the end to rip my heart out and stomp on it 🙂. One more thing and I’m knit-picking now but I wish Julian would have called Scarlett, Crimson, when he greeted her at the end. I think it would have assured her that not everything was a lie and it would have also made her forgiving him so quickly more believable.