Caraval (Caraval #1) by Stephanie Garber - Restarting June 15th 2025

[Maddie]

Join in Anna!

[Anna]

Danique wrote: "Chapter 25
Oh so her grandmother was Legends lover then, since she was called Annalise. Quite anticlimactic if that’s the big reveal that'll come at the end or something. Tella is definitely sleepi..."

(view spoiler)[I totally also think that Julian is her fiancé!! the way he said his family is well connected is too suspicious (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

Danique wrote: "Chapter 34
Why do I feel like the leap of faith is her marrying her fiancé? Which means Julian because he’s posing as her fiancé? Oh lord her real fiancé is here!! Oh my oh my!!! And now her father..."

(view spoiler)[every twist seems to be totally out of the blue! there's the odd one that actually makes sense but stabbing Julian? why? (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

I finished it! it was.......... not great

(view spoiler)[the ending had so many unnecessary twists, like Julian's death then not-death, and tella setting up the whole thing. it's like the author wanted to do too many things in one book (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Anna wrote: "I finished it! it was.......... not great

[spoilers removed]"

I feel the same way! (view spoiler)[It just felt a bit.. Off or something. It just wasn't what I expected from all the hype it got haha! (hide spoiler)]

[Lia]

Anna wrote: "I finished it! it was.......... not great

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I think about Julian's death is to show reader that Caraval is only a game. No matter how bad things happened, at the end everything is going back to normal. And for Tella's involving in Caraval, now that was too much 😅 (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I've got to read Vespertine and then I'm jumping into this one :D

[Maddie]

Sooo I'll be getting to this in 2 days or so AHHHH sorry I'm so late!

[Maddie]

Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[For a while there I couldn't believe these despicable girls, blaming the other! And then it all made sense. And Julian 'tasting' one of the girls, feels gross (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I like all of the updates I have to reply to! :o I'm going to fly through Garber's 4 books before the end of Jan :D

[Danique]

Maddie wrote: "Chapter 2 [spoilers removed]"

I felt the same, (view spoiler)[I immediately thought they were bitches lol, before I understood what they were really trying to do :') (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Maddie wrote: "I like all of the updates I have to reply to! :o I'm going to fly through Garber's 4 books before the end of Jan :D"

Sounds good, have fun!

[Maddie]

Danique wrote: "The night of Caraval eve/chapter 9
The way she describes emotions as colors is really weird, so I’m guessing that’s some sort of magic..?

Julian rowed them all the way there???? How the crap is t..."

Yeah Scarlett is just a dumb YA character, but dang Tella's no better

[Maddie]

Anna wrote: "hey guys! hope you don't mind me joining in!

up to chapter 9: [spoilers removed]"

I love seeing all of the autocorrect Caravan hahaha

[Maddie]

Chapter 11 (view spoiler)[God Scarlett's annoying. Clearly she should know by now that Julian doesn't mean harm.. And surely there's a couch or somewhere that she can sleep on. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Danique wrote: "Chapter 14
Everything is so shady lol, I don’t know who to trust. I feel like someone that Julian loved died at Caraval or something? I really thought he was with them, but it now sounds like he’s ..."

(view spoiler)[Ohhh good point with stealing the voice! :o

I love how much you think about all of this stuff haha I don't think while I read, it's almost like I spoil it for myself so I sometimes skim over your theories.

But I agree Scarlett is just so stupid. I kind of needed this shock of dumb character to shake me out of YA. Next month's a romance/adult month for me (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Maddie wrote: "Anna wrote: "hey guys! hope you don't mind me joining in!

up to chapter 9: [spoilers removed]"

I love seeing all of the autocorrect Caravan hahaha"

Lol mine kept doing Carnaval, which is the Dutch carnival XD

[Danique]

Maddie wrote: "Danique wrote: "Chapter 14
Everything is so shady lol, I don’t know who to trust. I feel like someone that Julian loved died at Caraval or something? I really thought he was with them, but it now s..."

It's a curse lmao, I keep sprouting theories in my mind while reading - I blame my childhood filled with watching detectives with my mother XD I agree, I feel like I've passed the YA age, adult is more my thing now..

[Maddie]

I've read some really good YA lately, I'm getting back into it. There's just nothing else like it at all and it's a pallette cleanser.

[Maddie]

Chapter 22 (view spoiler)[Okay I'm confused... It says In Chapter 21 that a woman loved Legend enough that she broke up with her fiance for him. Legend then said that it wasn't real and it was a game, and that she threw herself out the window. That fiance was Dante...
And then in C22 it's saying that she thinks her grandmother is the woman who broke Legend's heart? What's the story behind that, I clearly missed something. I didn't think Legend had his heart broken. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Danique wrote: "Chapter 25
(view spoiler)[Oh so her grandmother was Legends lover then, since she was called Annalise. Quite anticlimactic if that’s the big reveal that'll come at the end or something. Tella is definitely sleepi..." (hide spoiler)]

Yes there was a lot of information in those few chapters! This was where it started getting good I think

[Maddie]

Danique wrote: "Chapter 34
(view spoiler)[Why do I feel like the leap of faith is her marrying her fiancé? Which means Julian because he’s posing as her fiancé? Oh lord her real fiancé is here!! Oh my oh my!!! And now her father..." (hide spoiler)]

See more twists OMG I liked that, but when we found out (view spoiler)[Julian was with Caraval all along I was like -_- ugh really (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Danique wrote: "Chapter 42
It’s really annoying how Tella is dismissing everything that Scarlett says. She has been in this room for the entire game, so what the fuck does she know? And who was she sleeping with??..."

I'd love to see them as (view spoiler)[performers!(view spoiler)[ I enjoyed all of the reveals thrown at us, it was interesting, but damn I can't believe Tella. Her sister literally took punishments from their father FOR HER and has always put her first, but as soon as she dislikes a boy she met 5 days ago, she doesn't trust her? WHAT THE FUCK (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Danique wrote: "Finished
(view spoiler)[Oh I didn’t expect Julian to be Legend’s brother, that’s cool. So I’m guessing he looks like him then? I’m also glad that he and Tella never kissed, because that would’ve been weird. Quite..." (hide spoiler)]

I agree! One thing I hated though was all of the descriptions of dresses, it was done in a very info dumpy way that I couldn't picture anything and I didn't really care to.

[Danique]

Maddie wrote: "Chapter 22 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Now that you mention it, I don't have a clue! I think it was mentioned that there was a story floating around that Legend started Caraval, which turned him into a different person, and then the woman that he loved left him because he'd changed so much? Something along the lines of that. Maybe that's why it was mentioned that it was her grandmother? They never really explained that afterwards now that I think about it.. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Maddie wrote: "Danique wrote: "Finished
[spoilers removed]

I agree! One thing I hated though was all of the descriptions of dresses, it was done in a very info dumpy way that I couldn't picture anything and I didn't really.."

Ahhh yes I agree, I'm not much of a visual reader lol, so I don't really care for descriptions like those ones.

[Maddie]

Danique wrote: "Maddie wrote: "Chapter 22 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Oh okay thanks! That makes sense!

[Julianne]

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Date changed. Restarting March 2nd 2022. Happy Reading ☺

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

[Brigia]

Thanks Julianne! I'm at chapter 26.

(view spoiler)[ This is so easy to read, I keep being amazed how fast it goes for me. I enjoy the classic fairytale vibe and I think it's beautifully written.
I'm not sure what to think about the characters, yet. I had suspected Julian to be Legend, but apparently, he really is not. I wonder if he could be Scarlett's count, though? Maybe he orchestrated the wedding in order to force Legend to act?
I also don't know what to think of Tella. She did protect her sister in the beginning and I agree that Scarlett needed to be pushed out of her comfort zone by drastic means, but still, she seems so immature. And I don't get why she steels Scarlett's beautiful things?
Scarlett on the other hand can be a bit of a bore, can't she? ;-P I hope she ends up with someone a little dangerous and mischieveous like Julian. I do get her desire to feel safe and protected and I like that best about her.
My favorite scene so far was Julian getting her earrings back for her. (hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

I have a bit of catching up to do

Chapter 9 (view spoiler)[ so they made it to Caraval and Julian has played before??? And he's not just a sailor but something else?! Something very tricky is happening (hide spoiler)]

[Brigia]

Chapter 32

(view spoiler)[Ok, so Julian is not the Count, but the Count is actually there! All of this seems so unlikely. How did the Count and Scarlett's father get into Caraval? They must have come at the same time as her and Tella and they must have had an invitation. Right? Is it all just part of the game as we were informed several times at the start? Also, who is Legend and what are Julian's other secrets?

I don't know what's going on, and I'm loving that - it feels like we only see the tip of the iceberg, somehow. (hide spoiler)]

[Brigia]

Finished

(view spoiler)[Wow, that's a very unlikely ending! I'm not sure I understand what was going on the whole time - everyone seems to have had some kind of secret agenda. I was wrong so many times and I could never have guessed this outcome!
I'm still so curious about Legend, I hope to learn more about him in the next book... (hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

Chapter 19 (view spoiler)[ not gonna lie, I thought this whole exchange was hilarious. 'how am I supposed to know when you're going to die?' (hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

Brigia wrote: "Thanks Julianne! I'm at chapter 26."


(view spoiler)[ yeah I feel pretty much the same about all of the characters. I still don't trust Julian though, because everything is a game and this feels like part of it.

Aiko was interesting though. She even said that this game was all about Scarlett, so that's part of why I still think Julian might be Legend
(hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

Brigia wrote: "Chapter 32"

(view spoiler)[HER DAD SHOWING UP OUT OF NOWHERE BOTHERED ME SO MUCH!

I wish it was even a little explained how and why he and the count were there! It was just like surprise and I thought she was still dreaming/dead

(hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

Finished!
(view spoiler)[Well, I guess Caraval truly was all an act! Instead of it being a game, it seemed like it was hugely scripted for Scarlett and Tella to escape their father, which is probably for the best.

I'm now thinking that the Julian at the end isn't the real Julian! Because of the Scarlett/Crimson thing. And I truly wonder if Tella will have to die for real since she got her wish.
(hide spoiler)]

I requested the thread refresh for Legendary!
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Brigia]

Julianne wrote: "Chapter 19 [spoilers removed]"

That was really funny - the whole thing was so absurd!

[Brigia]

Julianne wrote: "Finished!..."

(view spoiler)[ Dire predictions :-) The whole Scarlett/Crimson thing has bothered me, too. Also, what was up with the old man who operated the carousel? I feel like he must be important - he was the only one to take money. And the only one who was awake during the day.
I hope Scarlett and Tella get their happy endings! (hide spoiler)]

Thank you - I'm heading over to Legendary now!

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Date changed. Restarting June 4th, 2022. Happy Reading ☺

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

15%

(view spoiler)[OMG, their father is a monster. Punishing one girl in the other’s place is exceptionally cruel.

I wonder why Legend wrote back to her finally?

I think that Tella is the sister making the most sense. I would want to run away too. And I think that Scarlett is putting too much faith in a stranger when Tella is sounding more and more right about her fiance. She doesn’t even know his name and she thinks that he will save them.

Okay, I think that I like Julian. Mostly, anyway. I wonder if he will be the endgame love interest of one of the girls?

I wonder if the story that their grandmother told them about Legend has any truth to it? (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Chapter 7
(view spoiler)[ Well this is off to an adventurous start so soon. I think I am much more of a Scarlett than a Tella. I would always choose the safer route, so I find her more relatable as a character. Julian definitely brings out the bolder side of her though so far. There is definitely some chemistry there or at least potential friendship. The stores sound amazing and I'm so curious about them. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

♛Vanessa♛ wrote: "15%

OMG, their father is a monster. Punishing one girl in the other’s place is exceptionally cruel.

I wonder why Legend wrote back to her finally?

I think that Tella is the sister making the mo..."

(view spoiler)[ I agree. Their father is horrendous, obviously cares more about ambition than anything else. I think Scarlett wants to believe that the Count is a good man, because her only other alternative (before leaving) was more misery. I think she was just trying to be optimistic. Julian sounds like a fun character so far, who will be good in an adventure, getting them out of (and probably into) trouble. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Ashley wrote: "♛Vanessa♛ wrote: "15%"

(view spoiler)[I think you are right. It's hard to have hope when you are being abused and I think that the Count is just that for her. Hope. And yes, Julian is great. I hope that he continues to be a part of the story. I like him. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

53%
(view spoiler)[ Oh wow. That explains the animosity that Dante feels toward Julian, but why does Julian not like Dante? I just knew there was something more to Julian and explains why he is so cryptic, assuming he really is Legend. I'm really loving the atmosphere and magic of the Caraval. It's so whimsical! It reminds me a little of Alice in Wonderland, because it doesn't really make sense but still sounds amazing. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

28%

(view spoiler)[The cyclist’s reaction to Julian was odd, right? And why wasn’t his name on one of the tickets? When Scarlett received them did they have names on them then? I don’t recollect but I don’t think they did.

Julian is definitely hiding something. Though, I don’t necessarily think that it is for nefarious reasons.

I’ll be honest, I don’t know if I like Tella very much so far. She is reckless and I think that she takes her sister for granted. Maybe I am reading too much into it though. But she is off bedding a man she clearly doesn’t know while her sister is frantic to find her? I am just sitting here shaking my head at her at this point. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

53%

(view spoiler)[Why does Dante dislike Julian and Scarlett so much? Is it wholly to do with Julian? Because he didn’t seem to dislike Scarlett until Julian said that he was her fiance. It’s weird.

Everyone in Caraval is so mysterious. I honestly wouldn’t be able to trust anyone. Did Aila trick her? I am not even sure.

Why does Julian keep disappearing? What’s up with that? (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

70%

(view spoiler)[Well, Julian being Legend would make sense. He does know an awful lot about Caraval, he seems to be hiding things, and he keeps disappearing.

Holy crap, her father is there? OMG, and the Count too? How did they get there?

Julian is definitely still hiding things from Scarlett but I think that his feelings for her are real.

If nothing that happens in Caraval is real then is all this really happening with her father and the Count? (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Ashley wrote: "53%
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Caraval is indeed very whimsical but it also reminds me of the fae. How they can't be trusted and are dangerous. Because Scarlett can't trust anyone there and everything seems dangerous. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

♛Vanessa♛ wrote: "70%

Well, Julian being Legend would make sense. He does know an awful lot about Caraval, he seems to be hiding things, and he keeps disappearing.

Holy crap, her father is there? OMG, and the Cou..."

(view spoiler)[That part confused me so much. Her father shouldn't even have been able to get in after the game started, I would have thought. And to meet the count that way is so bad. I would have thought her father would want to keep all this secret from him. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Chapter 37
(view spoiler)[ OMG Tella is dead? What? And the same way as in the Rosa story? Something is wrong with all this. (hide spoiler)]