Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Title: Caraval

Author: Stephanie Garger

length: 416 pages

Release date: January 31, 2017

Content notes: YA

“What happens beyond this gate may frighten or excite you, but don’t let any of it trick you. We will try to convince you it’s real, but all of it is a performance. A world built of make-believe. So while we want you to get swept away, be careful of being swept too far away. Dreams that come true can be beautiful, but they can also turn into nightmares when people won’t wake up.”

Brief Synopsis:

Scarlett and Donatella (sisters) live with their abusive father. When her father arranges for Scarlett to marry a man she has never met, Scarlett is happy because it means that she and her sister can escape their current plight. Donatella does not think this is a great plan. The girls, with the help of not-so-dependable-Julian, head off to become participants in a magical game called “Caraval.” This game, created by a infamous man aptly named “Legand,” promises the winner a wish. Also, not a great plan for the girls, but maybe they can have some fun before Scarlett get married, so why not?



My thoughts:

The setting in this book is what makes this the story and its plot interesting. Scarlett and Donatella are both living in a nightmare with their father. Then they go on to the Caraval setting which is a dream-like world that can also become a nightmare. Donatella disappears early in the book leaving Scarlett alone, (except for Julian) afraid, and desperate to find her. She weaves her way through the magical and mystical Caraval game where everything, including trust, is uncertain. The decisions she makes there forces (or allows) her to explore herself and her true wishes for her future. She meets strange characters, deals with strange rules, and has strange choices to make. A clue found in the Caraval game can lead to a dead-end, another clue, or to something else altogether, and Scarlett is usually not sure if she is on a solid path or a destructive one. This makes for a sometimes confusing, but fascinating setting.


Scarlett:

I did not dislike Scarlett but she is not always a strong character. She seems to get into trouble whenever she gets away from Julian who has to “save” her over and over. She does not not trust Julian, but she depends on him quite a bit. When she is alone in Caraval, she seems to just aimlessly wander and does not make purposeful decisions. However, that is the point of the book. Scarlett needs to start making purposeful decisions and stop being lead around by her father, Julian, or “Legend” who creates and masterminds this game. She does achieve some growth by the end of the story when she no longer sees her father as a “monster,” and instead sees “a sad, old bully.” She finally stands up to him, tells him he has no control over her, and gains her freedom. However, we know that her future is far from set, and this freedom has cost her plenty. But, I have to say that I enjoyed seeing her finally declare her independence.


Julian:

Julian is a character with lots of secrets, which makes Scarlett leery of him. He is the one who brings Scarlett to Caraval, and she needs him to push her towards making decisions about her future instead of allowing her future to just “happen.” However, the reader knows he is a typical bad-boy-who-might-turn-good at the end of the book.


Donatella:

I loved free-wheeling Donatella. However, she disappears early in the book and does not show up again until the end. Happily, it seems that the next book will be more about her and I look forward to reading it.


Legend:

The creator of the Caraval game is talked about plenty, but we never actually see him. He is a mysterious personality for the characters and the reader. We hear conflicting stories about how the man became the “Legend” of this story, but I suppose not seeing him only makes him even more effective as a magical/mystical and “larger that life” character for the reader.


The few things I did not like about this book:

We know that Scarlett’s and Donatella’s mother disappeared before the book opens. There is a mystery there that is never solved. Also, I felt that Scarlett’s story ended aburptly. At the time, I did not know there would be a new book coming out later so I was a bit frustrated. However, I assume that the next book will not only answer my questions, but will also explore and give us more about Donatella and I look forward to that.


However:

I am glad I read this book because I enjoyed the fantasy, the adventures, and the setting.  I will read the second book coming out in January 2018, and am putting it on my list so I will not forget to look for it. I am hoping to finally meet Legend.