Saturday, March 11, 2017

Let's Talk: Caraval

Title: Caraval
Author: Stephanie Garber
Series: "Caraval" Book 1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Length: 404 pages
Publication Date: January 31, 2017
Date Started: March 7, 2017
Date Finished: March 11, 2017
Rating: 5/5 stars
Goodreads Review

*SPOILER FREE SECTION*

HOLY CRAP THIS BOOK! This book messed my mind up so many times. It was so flipping good. You really do have to follow the instructions and "Remember it's only a game" because EVERYTHING tries to convince you otherwise.

I was laughing and then I was mesmerized and then I was crying and then I couldn't put it down. When I first picked up this book I was pretty interested in it, but I definitely wouldn't have picked it up without the hype (and the gorgeous cover...this was a 85% cover buy for me). Even after I bought it, I was skeptical as to if it would live up to all the hype. Let me tell you guys...this book needs MORE hype! I loved it! It was so much better and different than I expected! In my personal opinion, it 100% needs more hype. Everyone should read this book; it definitely has elements for everyone.

Let's talk Julian. I loved Julian. He was so up and down and hot and cold at the beginning but I came to love him at the beginning of the book. I definitely have another Julian to add to my book boyfriend harem. Scarlett was amazing. I honestly can say I would not have been able to be in her situation and do so well in it. She's smart and witty and I loved it. I can't wait to see what book 2 has in store for us.

All of Caraval was pretty freaking awesome. The glamour and the games and the performers. It was fantastic. I highly recommend this book and if you've read it already, feel free to continue on to my spoilery section :)

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

Let me just make a list of things that messed with my mind:
-Julian was Legend, and then he wasn't and was actually trying to get revenge on Legend, and then he ended up being one of Legend's pawns, and then he ended up actually just being a performer and Legend's brother
-There was always different theories on who Legend was and they ALL made sense!
-We never actually met Legend and he was instead being played by a person named Caspar
-Julian was killed and then brought back to life (totally NOT cool! The tears were real!)
-Tella was dead and then brought back to life by love magic from Scarlett
-Everything was a game to get Tella and Scarlett away from their father
-Legend and Tella had been corresponding
-Julian
-The whole freaking book

Alrighty then. I thought I had things figured out pretty early on. I was dead wrong. Everything was so different than I expected it to be. I loved the plot twists (I honestly didn't expect so many; maybe one or two but not the gazillions that we actually got). Everything just shaped up to be a seriously well put together book that could probably spin my brain in even more circles and make me enjoy it.

Let's just talk/theorize/gush about a few quick points:
-The tears were very very real. There was sobbing and I had to put the book down at times because I couldn't see the pages.
-I hate Scarlett's father. He's an abusive manipulative turd.
-Her fiancé is no better--he can go die in a hole or in the depths of the tunnels for all I care. But there was something in the book about Scarlett thinking she would see him again? Will the next book have a retaliation from him?
-The ending note talked about the girls seeing their mom soon. WHAT?! I am totally behind this. What will happen with it though? Is the focus of the next book going to be on them finding their mom?
-I really want to see more of Dante in the next book (I feel like he needs to be there because yes). I also think so much can be done with his character.
-I kind of ship Tella and Legend. I feel like their relationship could go beyond a mystical being who helped her out and blossom into more. Do we think Legend was the one who actually danced with her and slipped her the note? Or was it another one of his performers?
-If Julian and Scarlett have relationship trouble in the next book I will riot.

All in all, I loved this book. I loved the characters, the plot, and the magic of it all. I really connected with these characters, which I always love. I can't wait for book 2 (*sobs* January 2018? *sobs*). I am definitely going to try to get my hands on an arc of book two when I got to ALA this summer. Also, I am definitely going to be buying the UK edition. I'm not sure if I want a specific under the cover design but I know I want one. I also definitely feel the need for a movie or TV show adaption! I would love to see how the world comes to life!

Sorry for this review being all over the place, but my feelings are all over the place. Just a quick ending note: this book was amazing and I loved it so much.

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Thanks for reading
xoxo
Lauren

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