Caraval by Stephanie Garber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
September 8-27
Whatever you’ve heard about Caraval, it doesn’t compare to the reality. It’s more than just a game or a performance. It’s the closest you’ll ever find to magic in this world . . .
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.
But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.
Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . beware of getting swept too far away.
Review: I loved this book it was beautiful and magical. Scarlett has been obsessed with Caraval since she was a kid and her grandmother told her stories about it . Scarlett started writing to Legend and he finally answered and gave her tickets. But she can’t go cause she supposed to marry some count her abusive father set her up with . Her sister tella is determined to go and her friend Julian helps kinda kidnap Scarlett to get her to the island . Caraval is very magical . Julian and Scarlett start working together and part of the game this year is a wish and Legend takes Tella as part of the game. We learn their grandmother was the woman Legend fell for but then married another man. We also learn about Rosa a woman who fell for Legend but after the game was over she killed herself. Julian and Scarlett get closer. Julian is definitely an interesting character I could tell he was hiding something. Dante a guy Scarlett met and who helped Scarlett somehow was working with Julian because Rosa is Julian sister. The count and her father shows up. Julian gets caught in the crossfire and the father tries to kill Julian he freaking nuts .Scarlett knocks the count out with some perfume and ties him to a bed . Scarlett finally meets Legend and he says him and Julian have been working together and the whole Rosa is sister is fake and Legend kills Julian. Scarlett finds Tella and Tella is trying to tell Scarlett it was all fake and that she isn’t in danger. Tella tells her she fell for someone but its really Legend and their father and the count shows up and Legend threatens the father and Tella kills herself. Scarlett tries to save her and Scarlett goes to see Legend who isn’t really Legend and is an actor whatttt. Scarlett talks with Julian and apparently Legend is Julian brother.
I loved this book onto the next one Tella gets a letter from Legend on their end of the deal.
Quotes:
Some would probably call him a villain. Others would say his magic makes him closer to a god.”
No one is truly honest,” Nigel answered. “Even if we don’t lie to others, we often lie to ourselves. And the word good means different things to different people.”
Whatever you’ve heard about Caraval, it doesn’t compare to the reality. It’s more than just a game or performance. It’s the closest you’ll ever find yourself magic in this world.”
She imagined loving him would feel like falling in love with darkness, frightening and consuming yet utterly beautiful when the stars came out.
He tasted like midnight and wind, and shades of rich brown and light blue. Colors that made her feel safe and guarded.”
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