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adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Caraval is a great read for those who love magic, especially if you have read the Night Circus. A circus type game with high stakes for failure, this book will have you rooting for the main character all the way.
What made this book even more interesting for me was I read it as a buddy read, so I was constantly looking for answers to questions and trying to puzzle out the bigger plot points of the book, without this I don't think I would have rated Caraval 3 stars. I enjoy worlds with magic and as Caraval appears to be the only place within this world setting that magic exists makes it more intriguing and drives a want to understand why and how it can happen in this world. It was an easy read and felt like you were flying through the pages!
On the other hand, some of the characters could have been more thought through, Donatella's character was just straight up unlikable for me, but so where aspects of Scarlett's personality, though I think her character growth over the novel does help make up for this. I would have liked to have seen other characters given more "screen time" and not just be around for a few pages for a massive plot point and then to just disapear.
What made this book even more interesting for me was I read it as a buddy read, so I was constantly looking for answers to questions and trying to puzzle out the bigger plot points of the book, without this I don't think I would have rated Caraval 3 stars. I enjoy worlds with magic and as Caraval appears to be the only place within this world setting that magic exists makes it more intriguing and drives a want to understand why and how it can happen in this world. It was an easy read and felt like you were flying through the pages!
On the other hand, some of the characters could have been more thought through, Donatella's character was just straight up unlikable for me, but so where aspects of Scarlett's personality, though I think her character growth over the novel does help make up for this. I would have liked to have seen other characters given more "screen time" and not just be around for a few pages for a massive plot point and then to just disapear.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Suicide
Moderate: Gore, Violence, Blood
Minor: Sexual assault, Abandonment