My rating: 4.75 of 5 stars
In many ways, loving Tella was a source of constant pain.
The latter quote perfectly describes what Caraval is about: a girl who goes through a lot of suffering because of her sister. In a way, this book is another tribute to Frozen. The plot mainly revolves around Scarlett desperately trying to find Tella, who is kidnapped by the mysterious Caraval Master Legend. With the help of another secretive man named Julian, Scarlett follows the ever winding trail towards her sister. In this magical, carnivalesque world, only three things are for certain: love, deception, and sacrifice.
When I finished this book, I did not know what to do with myself. I was on the verge of having a book hangover because the story just took my breath away. I am strongly tempted to start a gush fest now, but I shall restrain myself and simply tell you three reasons why I loved Caraval.
1. The Epic Sisterly Love
Scarlett and Tella’s relationship rekindled my ardent desire to have a sister (whom I could turn into a bookworm like me). Although it often seemed that they did not love each other equally, I admired how they strove to protect each other from a particularly diabolic character. Just like Elsa and Anna of Frozen, Scarlett and Tella proved that nothing could sever the bond between sisters.
2. The Beautiful Writing
Although it took me a month to finish Caraval, it introduced me to the satisfying pleasure of speed reading. I was able to read the second half of the book in one sitting because the writing was flowery yet comprehensible. Every scene was vividly described, and the language had this unique, conversational tone that sped up my relatively slow reading pace. It felt like my best friend was telling me a story, and I could not get enough of it. Finally, this might sound irrelevant, but I was also amused by the author’s fondness for “spidery” metaphors.
3. The Phenomenal Plot Twists
When she enters Caraval, Scarlett is warned that she shouldn’t get too carried away by her experiences. After all, everything that happens in Caraval is supposedly just a game. In retrospect, I really should have listened to the warning myself, because the plot twists in this book left me astounded. GAAAAAH! I CANNOT GET OVER THEM UNTIL NOW! I applaud the author for successfully blurring the distinction between literary fantasy and reality. I am usually able to predict plot twists in YA novels, so I loved how Caraval defied all of my suspicions and expectations. With that in mind, this book is perfect for buddy reading because it will surely make you want to share a lot of feels!
Even though I loved this book, I was bothered by how it reinforced the “Bad Parent” trope in YA. Seriously, I’m exasperated whenever I read books featuring parents who are unworthy of their title (and authority). I admit that there are parents in real life who get in the way of their children’s happiness. Nevertheless, I do not appreciate this trope because it can be interpreted as a pessimistic view of parenting or family life.
All things considered, Caraval is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I’m so thankful that it didn’t turn out to be overhyped. In light of its wonderful and breathtaking content, I’m amazed that this is Stephanie Garber’s debut novel.
High Literature 