Caraval, by: Stephanie Garber

Remember, it’s only a game…
       Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her 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 faraway, 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. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.
       Welcome, welcome to Caraval…beware of getting swept too far away.

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my Rating: ★★★★★

       I picked up Caraval on a whim. "Oh, this book is all over bookstagram. Maybe I should pick it up." (By the way, this was one of my best ideas for a while.) This book was so MAGICAL. The blurb describes the game Caraval as an "elaborate performance", but that does not do it justice. The world that Stephanie Garber creates is absolutely amazing. And in this unique world, she places even more interesting characters.
       Did I mention this world was fantastic? Because it was. It was even great before the characters could get to the site of the Caraval game. I didn't realize how much I had been craving a world like this until I started reading this book. Usually, when I am reading a fantasy book, at the beginning there is a lot of world-building that has to happen, which can get boring in a hurry. In this book, the world-building was engaging. This world made me want to know more about it.
       I was also impressed by how Garber not only created a fantastic (and I mean FANTASTIC) world, she created a cast of complex characters. Scarlett was an extraordinary character to see the world of Caraval through. Her story with her father is a unique one, and I believe that's what makes her so unique. The layers that end up getting stripped away from her character are so intriguing to read about. I also loved the relationship she created with Julian. He was a very distinct and lovable character. (The way he called her "Crimson" was so cute. What a pair.)
       This book was great for this time of year. If you are looking for a mysterious read for this fall, you should most definitely pick up Caraval!

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       Have you picked up Caraval? Let me know what you thought in the comments below.

As she catches Fall Fever,
Ashton

Hope is a powerful thing. Some say it’s a different breed of magic altogether. Elusive, difficult to hold on to. But not much is needed.

― Stephanie Garber, Caraval