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

[Ariel]

Andrea wrote: "@Ariel [spoilers removed]"

I know, I'm way too excited to see what the next one will be about!!

[Johanna]

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ I must say that I'm enjoying this book so far. A little annoyed that Scarlett is pretty but doesn't want attention for it - isn't that how ALL main characters in stories like these are?

Also, you obviously can't write a novel like this without featuring a muscular boy that the girl doesn't want to like, but will still most likely end up loving, because he just looks sooo good and he's doing something really thoughtful for once.

Eh. Sorry about that rant. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 8 (view spoiler)[ Ooh! This is getting interesting. I feel like ANYTHING can happen inside those gates. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[ I think Dante is the boy with the black heart. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 17 (view spoiler)[ It's nice that she's finally admitting to herself how she feels about Julian. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ They falling in love already??? What IS this (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 21 (view spoiler)[ WHAT THE HECK!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 17 [spoilers removed]

Chapter 20 [spoilers removed]

Chapter 21 [spoilers removed]"

Your chapter 21 spoiler is pretty much how I felt the entire time lol.

[Johanna]

Chapter 30 (view spoiler)[ It's hard to not dislike the Count, but I think he has a point. When has Legend ever done anyone any favors? (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Finished: So. Many. Plot. Twists. I enjoyed reading Caraval, but I didn't find it amazing. (view spoiler)[ it was just so obvious from the beginning where Scarlett and Julian's relationship was going to go. No one would ever say "Oh! They fell in love. What a s u r p r i s e!", because it was TOO obvious that it was going to turn out that way. Didn't take long after he was introduced to figure that out.

This isn't a fantasy novel nearly as much as it is a romance novel. (hide spoiler)]

Another thing that bothered me was the writing. Some metaphors that I'm guessing were supposed to be beautiful were just ridiculous to me.

The characters in general felt flat. I'd loved some real character development, but nope!

[Dr. Andy]

I think I treated it as more of a mystery than anything. I'm curious enough to see what happens in the second book if it ever comes out lol.

[Johanna]

Andrea wrote: "I think I treated it as more of a mystery than anything. I'm curious enough to see what happens in the second book if it ever comes out lol."

Same, haha. The magic stuff was very intriguing in this book, and I loved that enough to want a sequel.

[Dr. Andy]

So far it doesn't even have a release date! :(

[Amanda]

Sarah wrote: "**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆..."


Sarah, could I have this restarted for tomorrow, July 12? Thanks!

[Sarah]

Could we actually have this restarted for July 20th? I think that's the date we agreed on. :)

[Abi]

****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Reading from the 20th of July 2017

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[Elii.]

Can't wait to start this book with everyone :D

[Shae]

Me too!! :)

[Amanda]

Page 54: So far, I'm not completely sold on this story. Maybe it will get better as I get deeper into it. (view spoiler)[ Scarlet and Tella have a horrid father. Obviously Julian wasn't the most respectable guy, but I'm glad he took them out of that situation. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa]

me too... but it's only the beginning. stay positive :)

[✨Skye✨]

Probably going to have to start this a day late but will start asap :)

[Dee Dee]

Just getting started. (view spoiler)[After all those letters, he chooses to answer the one that asks him not to come? Seriously??? (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

A few pages in. @Dee Dee, I agree, (view spoiler)[ it makes me suspicious of him already. (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee]

(view spoiler)[These poor girls are so desperate for escape that they're jumping at any chance they get. How sad (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee]

21% - I really hope this picks up soon

[Aida]

Is there a certain pages amount i should read in the day ? Or just keep reading?

[Dee Dee]

Aida wrote: "Is there a certain pages amount i should read in the day ? Or just keep reading?"

How much ever you feel comfortable with. No limits

[Dee Dee]

Ch16 - (view spoiler)[Scarlett is so torn between her heart and her loyalty to her sister. It's sad, but also realistic, because as much as we want to be everything to everyone, we're only human. Our wants and needs sometimes war with each other. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Ch 10 - Also hoping this picks up soon. (view spoiler)[I'm getting the very strong feeling that Julian and Scarlett are going to end up together. Garber couldn't have made it more obvious if she'd taped a sign to them announcing it. (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee]

Sarah wrote: "Ch 10 - Also hoping this picks up soon. [spoilers removed]"

IKR, and I'm not sure if I'm here for that development...

[Sarah]

Maybe I'll get into it later, but right now, I'm just rolling my eyes at how obvious it is.

[Aida]

I'm so bored o.o is it any hopes that this book will be more interesting? 😂

[Dee Dee]

Aida wrote: "I'm so bored o.o is it any hopes that this book will be more interesting? 😂"

I really hope so. I don't care about their story...not like I thought I would

[Aida]

SAME HERE!! The characters really frustrate me i have no idea why the the story so far is meh

[Dee Dee]

Ch19-20 (view spoiler)[Honestly, I know why Scarlett is so desperate to get married but come on girl! (hide spoiler)]

[Aida]

Is it getting better?

[Dee Dee]

Aida wrote: "Is it getting better?"

It's not horrible...and there was just a twist...which I kinda guessed

[Lisa]

i'm kind of disappointed... it's such a hyped book and everyone seems to like it... but... i expected more.
still hope it gets better :)

[Amanda]

Page 130: This is just a crazy story. Nothing seems to make any sense yet. (view spoiler)[ I have a feeling Julian is much more than he seems. The book justs has such an eery feeling to it. Not really enjoying yet. (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee]

Amanda wrote: "Page 130: This is just a crazy story. Nothing seems to make any sense yet. [spoilers removed]"

Yeah I feel like they kept hinting that (view spoiler)[Julian has a bigger part to play than Scarlett first notices. (hide spoiler)] It's certainly gotten a lot more interesting now, there are a few revelations that make you go 'oh? alright then.'

[Sarah]

Page 142: It's picked up a bit. (view spoiler)[Very very suspicious of Legend. And Julian. I wouldn't be surprised if Julian was connected to Legend somehow. (hide spoiler)] Also, Scarlett kinda annoys me. I can't really explain why, she's just so ... frustrating.

[Dee Dee]

Sarah wrote: "Page 142: It's picked up a bit. [spoilers removed] Also, Scarlett kinda annoys me. I can't really explain why, she's just so ... frustrating."

Yeah, I don't care about her at all.

[Aida]

I'm in ch 13

I don't think it's horrible but for now all i can see that it didn't deserve all that hype

[Dee Dee]

Ch36 - I reeeeeally wanna (view spoiler)[shake Tella so hard till she gets some sense. She's so naive and spoilt. Good grief (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee]

Okay...that took a very dramatic turn. And I'm so close to the end (more than 90% in)

[Elii.]

I have started this book a bit later than the expected time. I'm in chapter 11 but hoping to finish 10-15 chapters today. :D I really don't like Scarlett but I like her sister and Julian better.

[Genevieve]

Im starting a bit late whoops! :) Im starting this book right now so hopefully i can catch up to you lot!

[✨Skye✨]

Chapter 9 (19%) (view spoiler)[ I'm really liking the writing and the plot so far, but the characters are quite weak for me. I'm pretty unattached to them all right now and actually really dislike Tella, I find her selfish and rude. The only one I mildly like so far is Julian. Scarlett is just entirely boring for me. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

Chapter 18: Still not enjoying this book at all. Probably wouldn't finish if it weren't for the challenge. (view spoiler)[ I understand it's a game, but not one single thing coincides with the other. Was Julian truly hurt trying to help her out, or was it even Julian? Even though he is crass, I wouldn't say he has a black heart. Timing was so important when they went into Castillo Maldito, but they didn't even touch on it when she left. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

Chapter 25: (view spoiler)[ Maybe I'm just lost because I really dislike this book, but how is Julian and Dante so young if Rosa died 50 years before? (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa]

i just can't get myself to continue reading... trying again tomorrow :)
just happy that i'm not the only one whose struggeling with the story :)

[✨Skye✨]

Chapter 22 (55%) (view spoiler)[ I think I'm enjoying this more than some of you are but I am still quite unimpressed. It's okay, but comparisons to The Night Circus are unfounded, it is nowhere near as good. I would not be surprised if Julian was Legend, though I can see their relationship working out regardless of who he is. I also continue to hate Tella and thought Scarlett's thoughts at the fountain were actually pretty accurate. I pity Dante and hope he isn't entirely evil, and I actually like Aiko. The thing with this is you never know if a character is genuine and everything is uncertain. You can't trust any of it, which I guess is the book's intention but is quite disorientating. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End: It's over! Finally! (view spoiler)[ I actually liked the end with Julian and Scarlett. Legends brother! And I'm so glad he explained the aging issue. I have to say, I don't like the letter to Donatella. I probably won't be reading the sequel. (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee]

Amanda wrote: "End: It's over! Finally! [spoilers removed]"

The ending redeemed the book for me and I definitely want to continue out of sheer curiosity.