Caraval out now from Flatiron Books; 448 pages
Content Warning: Parental abandonment and kidnapping
About the Author: “Stephanie Garber is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart series. Her books have been translated into more than thirty languages. Alchemy of Secrets is her debut novel for adults and will be published around the world” (Bio from author’s Goodreads profile).
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For seven years, Scarlett Dragna has written to Legend—the mysterious mastermind behind the annual magical competition known as Caraval—in the hopes that she would be able to take part in his fated game one day. But, when her dream invitation finally arrives at her fingertips, Scarlett finds herself chained to her father’s cruel demands and her upcoming marriage to a man she utterly detests. With no choice but to escape with a very handsome shipman and use a little help from her younger sister, Tella, Scarlett reaches the shores of the magical island with her ticket in hand, only to be put through a greater test—one where her sister’s life hangs by a thread.
I am still in awe of the way Garber managed to perfectly elevate both the elements of danger and intrigue in her creation of the Caraval world. From the kidnapping of Tella to the very mystery behind the grand host, Legend, the entirety of Caraval had me on my toes, leaving me wanting more of all the characters—especially the heated relationship forming between Scarlett and Julian, her love interest. I love that Garber didn’t lean too much into the romance, which allowed for the mystery of Julian’s character and background to really develop. As more mysteries came to light and more questions were answered, I started to fall in love with the unpredictability of the plot as well as Garber’s smooth delivery of descriptive elements and world-building. Specifically, the unexpected betrayals by Julian and Scarlett’s confusion about what Tella experienced during the game cleverly weaves in the mystery that propels the plot for the next book in the series. Garber’s writing is almost lyrical, which allows for the magic of the world’s colors and music to really bleed through the pages, and I found it easy to imagine a lot of the miniature puzzles and challenges that Scarlett had to solve. Overall, Caraval is a soft YA fantasy with a complex plotline, intricate world, and manipulative characters that will keep all readers on the edge of their seats.
Alysa Jacob, Pine Reads Review Writer & Social Media