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For once, I'll write first what I liked about this book : the worldbuilding and the atmosphere. This was really well done and the whole story felt like Alice in Wonderland but much darker. I was constantly surprised and really enjoyed myself in this regard.
However... The characters' psychology was another thing. I know I'm in the minority here, but I didn't like Scarlett. I know, she had her reasons, but she was really pusillanimous. Truth is, she evolved - but she really had to ! The characters were rather formulaic as a whole.
My other problem was with her sister, who more or less (I won't go into details) faked her death in front of Scarlett to... make her evolve. Scarlett was a bit mad, but not for long. Julian died in front of her too (same evening) and once he was revived (I know), was she mad at him ? Nope.
I've read an excerpt of Caraval #2 and in the first pages, the sister was angry at some people for having been cruel with Scarlett while she did so-much-worse.
While I'm ranting, both girls are willing to flee far away from their brute of a father, but do they have plans ? Money ? Means of supporting themselves ? Family somewhere ? They're nobility. Good luck to them out in the whole cruel world.
So no. I had borrowed the whole series from the library, just in case, but I didn't read the rest.
Kudos for the worldbuilding, though, that why this novel is rated 3 stars.
However... The characters' psychology was another thing. I know I'm in the minority here, but I didn't like Scarlett. I know, she had her reasons, but she was really pusillanimous. Truth is, she evolved - but she really had to ! The characters were rather formulaic as a whole.
Spoiler
One of my problems was with Scarlett who, among other things, just threw a guy out of her bedroom at night, a bleeding guy wounded at the head, because, I quote, him staying there was "not proper". The guy wasn't even walking straight when he got out of her room. And he wasn't even mad at her later, because he was in loooooove. Scarlett is apparently loved among readers. If a guy had thrown a wounded woman out of his bedroom, he'd be hated.My other problem was with her sister, who more or less (I won't go into details) faked her death in front of Scarlett to... make her evolve. Scarlett was a bit mad, but not for long. Julian died in front of her too (same evening) and once he was revived (I know), was she mad at him ? Nope.
I've read an excerpt of Caraval #2 and in the first pages, the sister was angry at some people for having been cruel with Scarlett while she did so-much-worse.
While I'm ranting, both girls are willing to flee far away from their brute of a father, but do they have plans ? Money ? Means of supporting themselves ? Family somewhere ? They're nobility. Good luck to them out in the whole cruel world.
So no. I had borrowed the whole series from the library, just in case, but I didn't read the rest.
Kudos for the worldbuilding, though, that why this novel is rated 3 stars.