“Tella, if we try to leave on our own, Father will hunt us to the edge of the world.”
“Then at least we’ll travel to the end of the world.”
Caraval invites you to a gorgeous kaleidoscope of a world and takes your hand as it spins an unforgettable, otherworldly adventure.
The tale begins with the main character Scarlett writing for years to the esoteric Caraval Master Legend. Caraval is a traveling carnival that hosts an exclusive game with unforgettable prizes for the winner. Scarlett’s last-ditch letter to play the game before she enters an arranged marriage is finally answered, granting her entry to play. Eager to escape their abusive father, Scarlett, Donatella, and the rogue Julian escape to the isle and enter the game. From the moment they step foot on the isle, nothing is as it seems, and Scarlett is forced to question how much is really a game.
With gorgeous language and clever passages, Stephanie Garber makes the reader feel like they are playing alongside Scarlett. Time moves capriciously, with “A second in Caraval seemed richer than an ordinary second, like that moment on the cusp of a sunset, when all the colors of the sky coalesce into magic” (Garber 142). It brings you to those moments in your own life when you felt time worked differently, and that you perhaps saw something outside of the ordinary. When the book is put down, you will resist the temptation to pen your own letter to Legend to get that coveted ticket in. Garber brings Caraval to life through distinct and vivid characters and a magical world, unlike any other that I have read. The magic system feels a little erratic, which I found while reading was something that I loved. It doesn’t make sense, but it helps us make sense of our own reality. The twists moved the story along effectively and (at least to me) were not obvious. Once when I thought I had it all figured out, Garber turned the world again, and I fell back into the mystery, “If you’ve noticed, the nights and days on this isle are shorter… certain types of magic are fueled by time, and this place uses a lot of magic, so make sure you use your minutes wisely when you go inside” (Garber 141). Floating somewhere between a dreamland and a genie's lamp, Caraval helps you fill each of those minutes with its own special kind of magic.
My biggest complaint was that the descriptions could feel a bit forced. When looked at individually, they were beautiful and added spectacular imagery to the story. But there were just too many. Perhaps it was a strategy to convey how overwhelming Caraval is but could make the reading quite heavy to get through.
If one or more of the following apply to you, Caraval should be on your To-Read list...
- You love scavenger hunts
- You made potions or cast spells in your backyard as a child (or yesterday)
- When writing fiction you always want to describe more than you should
- Are intrigued by synesthesia
- Are thrilled by being surprised by characters
- Would like to see a magic show
- Fantastical games/competitions draw you in (Ace of Shades, The Selection, The Testing, The Hunger Games, The 39 Clues etc.)
- Like fantasy
Comments