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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BOTM-2-October'20 - My Dark Vanessa
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last updated Oct 22, 2020 08:04AM

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What Members Thought

Jan 23, 2020 〰️Beth〰️ rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-scifi-fantasy, fantasy, romance

Don’t believe the hype.

I have no idea why this book was hype in 2018. Sure there are some flowery prose sprinkled in but overall a train wreck. Poorly developed character arcs. Cardboard characters and a woefully lacking world building.

I had such high hopes dashed. Not sure I can muck thru another predictable, boring book. A wasted opportunity.

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Apr 23, 2017 Angelika rated it liked it

Shelves: 2017, expectations-not-met, modern-fantasy, 3-stars, plot-twists, terrible-mc, terrible-world-building, circus, overhyped, insta-love

3 stars

I'm kind of disappointed. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it like I thought I would either. I hoped for a 5 star read, but well... A lot of things in this book could be done way better. It's not even the situation where a book is just not my cup of tea - this one is exactly what I though I'd love!

To begin with, a couple of things I liked. The premise is super interesting. A crazy circus magical game that plays with your mind? Sign me up! I liked how you could never be sure if what you 3 stars

I'm kind of disappointed. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it like I thought I would either. I hoped for a 5 star read, but well... A lot of things in this book could be done way better. It's not even the situation where a book is just not my cup of tea - this one is exactly what I though I'd love!

To begin with, a couple of things I liked. The premise is super interesting. A crazy circus magical game that plays with your mind? Sign me up! I liked how you could never be sure if what you were reading was actually happening or was just a trick. Contrary to a lot of reviewers I really liked the language. I know the metaphors might seem overdone, but I really enjoyed them. The main charcter, Scarlett, said again and again that she sees every emotion as a colour - to me it looked like synesthesia rather than overly flowery writing. I really liked the imagery it created.

"She didn't realize how toasty it had been in the tavern until she escaped into the brittle evening. Crisp, like the first bite of a chilled apple, smelling just as sweet, with hints of burnt sugar weaving through the charcoal night air."

I liked the twists and turns of the plot, though after a while I though it was a little bit too much. If one twist keeps getting overshadowed by the next, they start to lose a shock value. But I liked it nevertheless, the confusion between what's real and what isn't.

Now onto the things I didn't enjoy as much. The world building was atrocious, practically non-existent. The action takes place in a world made up from scratch, yet we don't get to know anything about it. Nothing's told about the magical system, nothing about the empire Scarlett lives in. The only thing we learned is that there are a couple of conquered islands and nobody can leave them, there's the empire and people who live there don't like those that live on the conquered islands. Let's face it, it's not very complex. Maybe more of the world building will be developped in the second book.

I didn't like Scarlett as a protagonist. She seemed very dependant on every male character in her life, all she seemed to care (despite of what she said) was finding love and her marriage to the count. She talked about herself as an intelligent woman, but we didn't get any proof. It took her way too long to solve simplest mysteries and understand clues. (view spoiler) At the beginning of the book she raved about how she loves the idea of Caraval, how she always wanted to go there, but once she actually does, she's not excited in the least. (view spoiler) The rest of the characters aren't that strong either. We don't know anything about Tella (Is it just me who constantly saw the ninja turtle?) except that she's reckless and likes to chase after boys. Julian is so mysterious nothing about him seems real. Villiains aren't the best either. Scarlett and Tella's father is just inexplicably reckless without any motivation except losing his wife. Legend is okay I guess.

I didn't enjoy the romance, it was way too insta-lovey for me. All Scarlett seemed to be interested in were Julian's brown muscles.

I would've given it a lower rating but I actually kind of enjoyed it, it was a very quick read. I don't think it lived up to the hype though. I don't know if I'll read the next book (even though this one kinda ended with a cliffhanger), even if I decide to read it, it won't be on the top of my tbr list. ...more

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