Tuesday 20 June 2017

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Warning: Spoilers! (duh.)


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.



Image from The Travelling Bibliophile
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Published January 31st 2017 by Flatiron Books
Hardback 407 Pages

Traditionally, action adventures are for the guys or to an extent - the woman going it alone! She's a heartless, badass with swaggering wit and stellar hair and I'll be the first to admit I love that girl. Scarlett however, is new. She is both the woman we really are the woman we want to be. She does  not possess some chosen one magic or convenient fighting abilities. She is much more like I have been my entire life than any female protagonist. That badass girl is always the one we wish we were, we feed off her energy, but Scarlett is the awkward, doubting teen we still see in our reflection and watching her grow into awesomeness without ninja training or special powers - it's mesmerizing.


Caraval is far different from other YA Fantasy with the importance it puts on sisterhood. Tella is the wild one, and as I've said, Scarlett is the protector. There is drama but there is also so much love I had trouble not thinking of my own sister. The relationship is so realistic with the arguments but the underlying affection, with the protecting each other but also needing to get away and find your own identity without them and the guilt that can cause. Scarlett does not agree with Tella, but by damn does she support her. She relies on her to do so much but protects her at every turn. They are polar opposites but are drawn together and when Tella disappears at Caraval, it is all Scarlett can do to search for her sister and claim the prize of Caraval.

The setting is enchanting, you can feel all the influences blending together in a fine-tuned tapestry - and the best part of it, we barely see any of it...yet. Caraval is a series and so you are pulled into this different and originial world that keeps you guessing. We see the magic of the festival and are awed by it, but it's easy to forget how interesting their homeland is too. They seems to be an overpowering leader and an oppressed people and more going on. It is a testament to Garber's stella writing that we know more is going on, when it is barely touched on. It's a juicy morsol of things to come, 5 stars!


Overall, I adored Caraval. I attended an author event just after reading it at Manchester Deansgate, and Garber's story is the only thing that could make this book better. I would recommend this to any person who enjoys books and especially to anyone who wishes they were Celaena Sardothein- but just don't have it in them. 

Happy Reading.





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