Caraval

A book that made me stop and think about it.

Twist on fairy tale

Stephanie Garber’s romantasy novels are incredibly popular with our year 9’s currently. Lots of slightly dark magic, obsession with appearances and costumes, various romance tropes such as enemies to lovers and mild sexual content. Caraval is no exception as two sisters escape from their violent father with tickets to the famed Caraval annual event. A magical treasure hunt for a prize of a wish to be granted to the winner. Everything about Caraval and its creator Legend is mysterious, slightly unreal and the girls soon get separated. Scarlett falls in with the enigmatic Julian who takes them to Caraval but who can really she really trust? A page turner but I didn’t quite get the big reveal at the end which didn’t seem very convincing. Too much kept from the reader through the book to suddenly reveal all the plot at the end for my liking. Mild sexual threat and some violence with a simmering relationship throughout. Suitable for year 9 up I’d say.

One of my favourite books! Despite having read it so many times already, I still feel shock, awe, excitement and heartbreak at each twist and turn.