Caraval by Stephanie Garber
First Line: It took seven years to get the letter right.
Summary: Scarlett is a young woman who lives on an island with her sister and cruel father. She is engaged to be married to a man she has never met but has high hopes of him taking her away from her father and the life she has known. But she has dreams of visiting Caraval, the mysterious carnival/game that is filled with magic and wonder. Her grandmother raised her on stories of Grand Master Legend and his amazing magical world. When she suddenly receives an invitation for her, her sister and her fiancé, she is thrust into a game she does not know how to win. Her father forbids her to leave but when her sister goes missing she has to believe that she has left for Caraval and it is up to Scarlett and the arrogant seaman, Julian to find Tella and bring her back before her father discovers them missing.
Highlights: The world of Caraval is beautiful. The descriptions of the island and its inhabitants are as detailed as a painting. I wanted to live in this world apart from the terrors and trials that Scarlett had to endure. I love how strong and passionate Scarlett was about finding her sister. It is great to see relationships like that with strong female characters. And the twist at the end was fulfilling for the whole story.
Lowlights: Some pieces of the story were a little predictable. I was able to guess things before they happened but other pieces I thought I had figured out and was not even close.
FYI: I listened to this on audio while taking the long drive to Colorado and really enjoyed it. It made the dreariness of I-70 fly by.
Being able to work around books is a dream! I read anything but my favorite genres are historical fiction and YA. Give me anything set in Tudor England or teenage fantasy novel and I am set.
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