Review: Caraval by Stephanie Garber

So, I won this book in a competition after wanting to read it for ages! (although I did also have a kindle version that I never got round to reading). And so, when I saw it waiting in my TBR pile I thought I should finally get round to reading it!

Here it is:

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.

When I started this book I was in a slump (don't you hate them?!) and I just wanted something that would hopefully pull me out of it. I wasn't really sure what to expect when I picked up this book, I'd heard so many great things but I was never sure what would happen in it. But, I was hooked after the first few pages, and it definitely got me out of my slump - which means I doubly love this book!

The world in this book is beautiful, or should I say the world/concept of Caraval? It was so beautiful that I sped through this book in one day, and even put off other things I should have been doing to finish it. (Don't you love a book where you lose sense of time until you finish it?) It was such a magical book, filled with so many twists and turns that I couldn't keep up - which made it all the more amazing.

I had a ship that I was routing for the whole way through - Scarlett and Julian, and I was lead on a merry chase to see what would actually happen between them, and if anything would come of my ship - my favourite kind of relationship in a book is when it doesn't just jump right in and tell you if it will happen or not which is what I got here.

Overall, I am so intrigued where Caraval will go in future books and plots as this was so beautifully written it blew me away - I really do wonder if it can be topped. (I really am so excited for Legendary - the next book in the series!)

I give this book: 5 cats!

Have you read this book? What did you think? Comment below!