Caraval (Book 1)

“Welcome, welcome to Caraval! The grandest show on land or by sea. Inside you’ll experience more wonders than most people see in a lifetime. You can sip magic from a cup and buy dreams in a bottle. But before you fully enter into our world, you must remember it’s all a game.” ~ Stephanie Garber

I first saw Caraval at a bookstore here in Israel. The title and cover caught my eye, and when I read the synopsis, I really wanted to read it. Thankfully, it was on Hoopla (an American app for audiobooks, ebooks, and the like), and I got the chance to dive into the mysterious world of Legend! It’s safe to say that I’ve had an adventurous four days!

Caraval follows two sisters, Tella and Scarlet, who dream of escaping their abusive father and attend Caraval, a show that takes place every year by a magical man named Legend, where the audience becomes a part of the show.

Many years ago, Legend was given a wish. He could choose to have the woman he loved or become famous and beloved by all. Can you guess which one he chose? However, did this choice make him the villain, or is he just another piece in the show that takes over people’s lives for five long nights? Scarlett will have to find this out as she is plunged into the center of this year’s show after her sister, Tella, is kidnapped soon after they arrived at Caraval!

Caraval was a magical book full of twists and turns. I never knew who would turn up next or whether or not we would meet the infamous Legend. It reminded me a bit like The Hunger Games, but this book was in a category of its own. Just when you think the book has ended, another chapter is awaiting you on the next page, and the story takes another dive into the deep end! I’m looking forward to reading/listening to the next book, Legendary.

Book Rating [yasr_multiset setid=0] Ages: 14+