Crimso--I mean Scarlet is set to be married to a count who had promised she and her sister refuge and safety from their cruel fatber. A wrench is thrown in that plan when Scarlet receives a letter from her dear, revered Legend, the master of the magical Caraval. Scarlet quickly finds that Caraval is not just fun and games, but has more devious nuances, ones she must befuddle her way through the game to save her sister Tella from uncertain doom. The only person she can trust is a sailor who is equally as handsome as he is deceptive.
So I may have really REALLY liked Caraval. I'm a long time hater of plots that have anything to do with circus-esque themes. I finally took a (small) leap of faith (into my desperation) and got Caraval as an audiobook. I was not dissapointed; I WAS THRILLED. Trading in secrets, deadly magic that remains unexplained, devices of the most dastardly kind with the purest of intentions, and a love story that is wrapped in lies and deceit for the...to meet certain ends, for better or worse? Yes, I am here for all of that.
Caraval keeps you on your toes, twist after twist leading to only more questions rather than answers. When everything is all said and done, the magic quickly unravels and takes a bow. It puts on a show that
will leave you reeling in it's dust, asking yourself "holy shit, did that just happen? What is even real anymore??"
I would love a continuation of Caraval still from Scarlet's perspective. I loved Julian as a character. He was the "devil may care" to Scarlet's over-caution.Tella, while a brilliant character in her own right...is a little too superfluous for my liking and I cannot see myself slogging through an entire book from her POV. We shall see though, maybe I'll be surprised.
I'll leave you with one last note: time moves differently in Caraval. You have no choice but to devour this book before the magic is up and the spell comes to an end.