From the Bookshelf of RMFAO (Reading My Frigging A** Off)…

Caraval (Caraval, #1)

Stephanie Garber

Start date: December 1, 2018

Finish date: December 31, 2018

Discussion: Buddy-Reads

Discussion leader: Heena Rathore Rathore-Pardeshi

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What Members Thought

Dec 12, 2018 Heena Rathore Rathore-Pardeshi rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, romance, adventure, high-fantasy

2.5/5

Caraval by Stephanie Garber is one book that I had waited for a long time to read before, finally, I was able to read it for the buddy read of RMFAO's Buddy Read for December’s Fantasy Month. To say that I had monumental expectations from this book would be a complete understatement. I’ve always loved reading immersive and elaborate fantasy books, but after having read The Night Circus, I was completely enthralled to have discovered magic in such a conventional form – Circus. And that was t 2.5/5

Caraval by Stephanie Garber is one book that I had waited for a long time to read before, finally, I was able to read it for the buddy read of RMFAO's Buddy Read for December’s Fantasy Month. To say that I had monumental expectations from this book would be a complete understatement. I’ve always loved reading immersive and elaborate fantasy books, but after having read The Night Circus, I was completely enthralled to have discovered magic in such a conventional form – Circus. And that was the reason why I was so eager to read Caraval which, to me, seemed a lot like The Night Circus.

Unfortunately, as it turns out, comparing both these books would be an insult to The Night Circus as Caraval miserably and unapologetically failed on more fronts that I even care to count. The only reason I even completed the book was the plot because somehow (unbelievably) the plot managed to keep me interested and I wanted to find out how the book ended.

I was appalled to see that the characterisation was so lifeless that I don’t even remember the names of the leading heroine even though I finished the book only a couple of days ago! And this was not even the fault of my huge expectations because I really feel that if a book is a Sunday Times Bestseller, it has to have something going for it, shouldn’t it??

The descriptions were very forced and sounded repetitive, the characterization was weak and immature and the progression of the plot felt weak too. The pacing was not great as at some places it was so slow that I had to skim over portions. The world building was okay but not as it should have been and the dialogues were outright bad at some places.

I do feel that this book had a lot of potentials but it failed miserably for me in almost every aspect. I won’t be recommending this book to anyone. Though if you love reading fantasy genre, you should really give The Night Circus a read because that book is simply MAGIC!

You can also read this review on www.thereadingbud.com ...more

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Nov 01, 2017 Galit Balli rated it it was amazing

Amazing and most magical story - wow <3

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Mar 12, 2017 Maria Isabel Samonte rated it it was amazing

This book is so good! I thought I had it all figured out and then the author slapped me in the face with the twists. You never know which direction this book will take you.

I need the second book now!!!!

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