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A review by izzie_chamomilletea
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
First of all, finally a fantasy book that doesn’t have an elaborate and borderline incomprehensible beginning!! Now is that due to lack of general development… maybe but oh well. I saw some of the reviews on goodreads and they were pretty harsh but honestly to me this book was really good. It has a mysterious and dangerous mood, and a great romance arc. This book toys with the lines of what’s real and what isn’t which makes the book all the more interesting— it’s a puzzle. The ending did give me a headache and lots of anger like they’re dead then they’re not dead, is Julian even the same if he’s not calling her Crimson anymore??? What is going on with Donnatellla shhdhshshs but that’s just more motivation to read the second book. Don’t forget to check the content warnings :)!
Also yeah a lot of the reviews critiqued the ending and I agree with them. I love a good twist but this was practically nonsensical, it left me frustrated rather than awe struck, didn’t even know what to think.
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting