Review: Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Welcome, welcome to this Caraval Review! The grandest show on land or by sea. You can sip magic from a cup and buy dreams in a bottle whilst reading this honest review. Will this whimsical story wind up on your TBR?

You’ll Love Caraval if You Love…

Older Sister Vibes

You can definitely tell Scarlett is an older sister, and as an older sister, I loved seeing a little bit of myself in her. Her compassion towards her sister is so special and Scarlett and Tella’s relationship is so Anna and Elsa core.

Magical Games

The whole premise of the book is Scarlett playing the wondrously magical game of Caraval, and sometimes you might get caught up in the magic and forget everything is just a game…

Good Girl, Bad Boy/Enemies to Lovers

The relationship between Scarlett and Julian is one that starts as enemies. They’re relationship is also reflective of the good girl and bad boy trope, with Scarlett being very type-A follow the rules and Julian being a sort of a rascal. I think they’re relationship is so underrated in the BookTok community, and it’s one of my favorites.

Review

Reading this book felt like a breath of fresh air for me. It’s been a while since I’ve read fantasy, and I think Caraval was the best way for me to get back into the genre. Garber’s writing was just absolutely beautiful. The world-building of this book is out of this world, and the writing allows readers to be immersed in this magical world, as well as offer a view into the character’s intimate thoughts and feelings. I adored the setting of the game. Rivers flowing everywhere, much like Venice, which I really appreciate because I’ve always wanted to visit Italy. 

Scarlett is the protgaonist of the story and the older sister to Tella. I admired Scarlett’s character a lot, especially the way she cared so deeply for her sister. I can definitely say that I see myself in her. I’m a dreamer, much like she is, but I haven’t been able to chase after those dreams, yet (the key word). Her character was well-written, and her values were firmly established, however, it was fun to see how Scarlett’s journey through the game further shaped her values while still keeping the core of it. 

In the beginning of the book she started off as a dreamer, but too scared to leave her island in search for a better life, but during Caraval we got to see Scarlett take risks she never would’ve taken before, and make trades that took more than she bargained for. And to wrap it up in a neat package, Scarlett’s world expanded beyond her sister, to Julian, a character that I love, and their relationship is something to die for. 

On that note, Julian was a mysterious character in the beginning of the book, who was painted as a scoundrel. Who was he? What did he want? Why did he offer his help? But, as the novel continues, we learn more about Julian. We see Julian’s love for Scarlett through his acts of kindness. As you see the two interact throughout the story it just makes you want to kick your feet back and forth with giddyness. 

The plot was amazing as well. I loved the twists at the end, and it was something that was completely unexpected. When you think you’ve been hit by one twist, you get hit by another. I thought the book was well paced. It was very steady in the beginning, but it did get faster towards the end. 

I loved this book so much, and it was a great change from the dystopian, thriller, and depressing books that I’ve been reading lately (I’m looking at you John Green). It was such a great debut novel from Stephanie Garber, and I’m so excited to read the rest of the trilogy!

Is Caraval Spicy?

No Caraval is not spicy. It is part of the young-adult genre, so there are no explicit and descriptive scenes. Although, there are scenes where there is tension between characters, nothing explicit ever happens.

Caraval Notable Quotes

…she imagined loving him would feel like falling in love with darkness, frightening and consuming yet utterly beautiful when the stars come out.”

-Caraval pg 211

“She remembered thinking falling for him would be like falling in love with darkness, but now she imagined more like the starry night: the constellations were always there, constant, magnificent guides against the ever-present black.” -pg 273

“Some things are worth pursuit regardless of the cost.” -pg 191

“Every person has the power to change their fate if they are brave enough to fight for what they desire more than anything.” -pg 149

TLDR: So magical, breathtaking romance, earth-shattering plot twists!