Three reasons you should read this Fairy Tale Retelling:
- Caraval by Stephanie Garber really captured the feeling of wonder. and at many times confusion. of Alice in Wonderland.
- Garber twisted the truth and hid the lies within lies to make you doubt everything and wonder if you ever really knew the truth to begin with.
- Scarlet and Donatella make a great duo, and their bond as sisters is very apparent and meaningful.
Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.
But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic.
My Review of Caraval:
Caraval by Stephanie Garber was quite an interesting trip down the rabbit hole. Scarlet and Donatella are sisters that are incredibly different – as many sisters are. Scarlet is looking for a way to safely escape their horrible father, but Donatella is looking for adventure.
And adventure is what they find – but it’s not the adventure either of them really thought it would be. Separated before they can enter Caraval – the story follows Scarlet as she searches for her sister through the crazy twists and turns of the game. And if she wins – she will be rewarded with one wish.
I loved the atmosphere of Caraval. It was a very well-balanced mix of the dark and dangerous with the bright and spectacular. You never know who is really a player or a performer, who is telling the truth and who is lying, and which way the clues will lead you next.
The ending was quite a surprise. While I had figured some of the mysteries out, there were still several that I to find out right along with Scarlet – which is always nice. There’s just enough left unknown at the end that you will NEED to get book two started, so you might want to have that on hand.
I loved the little nods to Alice in Wonderland along the journey. Just enough to notice, but not so much that Caraval didn’t remain it’s own unique story and place.
