Caraval series by Stephanie Garber --> Restarting October 1st, 2024

[Ellen-Arwen]

Elizabeth wrote: "

68% [spoilers removed]

100% [spoilers removed]"

I guess I'm a bit surprised at how popular it is actually - it's all a bit... I don't know. It's not predictable but it's very formulaic? Like, let's find all the popular YA tropes and shove them in one book? (Sorry for being cynical).
I guess listening on audio might make the purple prose less problematic...

[Elizabeth]

It's okay! I also got behind with posting my comments.

[Ellen-Arwen]

I'm going to try and read the sequel this month before I go away, hopefully starting this week! I know it's super late but... better late than never, right? And then you can post your comments too maybe? :)

[Elizabeth]

12% (view spoiler)[I get why they're keeping the truth from Scarlett, but I still think she deserves to know. She's been lied to a lot.

Meanwhile, Tella is a little naive about the price to pay for an important question. But that is the fun in the game. (hide spoiler)]

25% (view spoiler)[I really enjoy seeing Dante realizing he doesn't have the upper hand with Tella. But I do wonder how this whole fake fiancee of the crown prince thing will work out (hide spoiler)]

33% (view spoiler)[Oh, damn. I like the stakes!!! I wonder if Jacks is telling the truth since everyone else has in the past... but they may not have been useful to him. (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth]

51% (view spoiler)[I enjoy tarot and love how it's been incorporated into the story and this scene. The lore is so beautiful! (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

I plan to start Legendary today - just about keeping this thread alive lol

[Elizabeth]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "I plan to start Legendary today - just about keeping this thread alive lol"

lol I have your back. I'm finally posting my comments since the books are due back at the library.

[Elizabeth]

60% (view spoiler)[Ooh, I love the mystery surrounding Paloma. I'm excited to see how it ties together with this Caraval. (hide spoiler)]

66% (view spoiler)[Scarlett is suspicious-- surely she knows that, right? (hide spoiler)]

77% (view spoiler)[Oh damn, poor Tella..... I think Tella could understand the reason, but for Paloma to basically bargain for them to accept Tella instead of Scarlett has to hurt. (hide spoiler)]

90% (view spoiler)[Yes, yes, yes!!! Tella finally knows. (hide spoiler)]

100% (view spoiler)[ I wasn't expecting how it ended, but I love it! I don't know if Legend loves more than wants Tella but I mean, I think he definitely proved he's interested and why he's a villain (to everyone else.) (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Elizabeth wrote: " (view spoiler)[

12% I get why they're keeping the truth from Scarlett, but I still think she deserves to know. She's been lied to a lot.

Meanwhile, Tella is a little naive about th..." (hide spoiler)]

Up to before Night one of Caravel

(chapters 1-10) (view spoiler)[

It's interesting having Tella's PoV - I. think I prefer the style to Scarlett's because it's a BIT less flowery. Definitely agree that they should have told Scarlett about her fiancé - she's been lied to so much.

Tella is MASSIVELY naive. She's very childlike - I forget how young all these characters are. Looking forward to the shenanigans that will ensue with Tella being the crown prince's fake fiancé! (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Elizabeth wrote: "

33%."

(view spoiler)[ It's weird having hardly anything of Scarlett in it! I found Tella super annoying in the first book, but she's not so bad as a PoV character.

Agree that it was pretty awful of them to keep Scarlett out of the loop. Not good!!

Also enjoyed seeing Tella getting the upper hand ;) (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Elizabeth wrote: "51% [spoilers removed]"

Yes! I would love to have a pack of cards like the ones described - they're listed in full at the back, so I wonder if anyone has made a version on Etsy or something? Such cool imagery

[Ellen-Arwen]

Elizabeth wrote: "60% [spoilers removed]

66% [spoilers removed]

77% [spoilers removed]

90% [spoilers removed]

100% [spoilers removed]"

Finished

(view spoiler)[
It was pretty bad when Tella saw that memory of her mother. I mean, that's an understatement but yeah. Like you said, I understand the reasoning but it's not going to feel like that!

I was caught off guard by the end too actually! I had predicted Dante/Legend but the end felt... strange? I'm not sure what I thought of it tbh. Overall, I found this moved very slowly - for what should be a pageturner, it really wasn't for me! It just felt... I don't know! Too much melodrama? Too much stereotypical female MC traits? (How many times did Tella end up basically fainting in Dante's arms...?)

Very different to book one. I wonder whose perspective book three will be from. Legend's?? That would be interesting! (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth]

11% (view spoiler)[I get it why Scarlett is unhappy with Julian's lack of contact but I also can't blame him for not staying in touch while she gets to know her former fiance. This is going to be unfair to both Julian and Nicholas. I understood Scarlett in previous books and while I think this is likely due to a little vanity, I really don't condone making a game of their feelings. (hide spoiler)]

26% (view spoiler)[I love the miscommunication of her being arrested when Legend was just trying to make sure she was safe. (hide spoiler)]

41% (view spoiler)[I don't think he died nut I do wonder how he wouldn't have. (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth]

55% (view spoiler)[I like the parallel of Tella having to make a difficult choice like her mother.

I'm curious to learn more about Tella's future daughter. I wonder why the Fates would be so interested in her. (hide spoiler)]

72% (view spoiler)[Oh, damn. That explains why Jacks said they had a connection and didn't need permission to enter her dreams. (hide spoiler)]

93% (view spoiler)[ I like Jacks as a complicated villain but I don't really like him with Tella. I also don't like how complicated their plot to take down the Fallen Star. Like it's taken so many twists that it feels like they had underestimated him too much in the beginning. (hide spoiler)]

100% (view spoiler)[ I think I liked some key things that happened and the dialogue more than I liked the book itself. It felt dragged on and the unnecessary love triangles annoyed me. It's a shame because I really did like the whimsicalness of this world. But I do think I'll read future books in this world. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

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RESTARTING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024

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[Jamie]

I'm hoping to join in on this one!

[Grace]

Oki doki
Just started .
Off the bat, it is very YA. I think the girls are 17 and 16.

I am listening on audio.

[Grace]

I had a lot of meal prep to do today so I ended up listening to 50% without even noticing.
Some initial thoughts.

The sisters relationship is interesting. I wasn't certain how they feel about it about each other in the beginning but the more I am reading and especially since I'm seeing things from Scarlett's perspective it seems that Tella is not the best sister, but I do think that Tella is really trying to help Scarlet and cope and the best way that she can.

The world building is extremely interesting as well it feels very magical and I think that this is definitely something that I needed right now.
I really want to look for fan art but at the same time I don't want to because I don't want to see spoilers and even though this is still very early to judge but I almost want them to make the book into a movie just so I can see all this magical world come to life.

I am confused who the love interest is but for some reason I'm already rooting for Dante although Julian also feels as morally grey and mysterious as Dante, so Dante it is.
It definitely looks like a love triangle tho.

[Grace]

Up to chp 20

(view spoiler)[I also am wondering if perhaps Dante is Legend.
I think Legend is interested in her for a very specific reason that is not her sending letters and I don't know if it has anything to do with her mother.
Perhaps her mother decided to leave and join Caraval or she is involved with carval world in some way but I definitely see a link between her mother and caraval and why her mother disappeared and why Scarlet was invited that specific year (her wedding year) and ignored before. As if this is a lifeline to get her out.

Also, Legend does not age so he could look her age. I know that's probably far fetched but there's there's definitely one type of link there. That's why I am thinking if it could be Dante.

I don't know if Dante and Julian were in the same games before and that's why there is this animosity between them. It felt like they knew each other.

In the beginning when when Julian was coming with her it felt like he was searching for someone he knows. when he was looking around the people recognised him but also there is far more than recognition it's like something happened and I can't help but feel that it's related to someone, perhaps a sister, or something like that.

I don't know if Tella will have her own the story, if this link to what's going on right now or something else. I really want to know what is going on with her or where Legend is keeping her and I do not think that it's he's just keeping her somewhere he's using her in another way, he's doing something. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

=> chp 23

I am so confused but so here for it.
The book is playing me like the game is playing Scarlett.

(view spoiler)[I still don't think Julian is Legend. Or maybe he is, I am not sure.
But i am certain Dante is not dead. Something is terribly off. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittni]

I've started Caraval today!

Such an interesting read so far. Up to chapter 16...

(view spoiler)[I’m thinking I like Julian for some reason as of right now but I’m just getting to know Dante.

The sister's relationship is interesting. The magic is incredibly intriguing and I’m just so curious how caraval is happening.

I really didn’t know anything about this book beforehand, and didn’t even read a little overview so I was surprised that it was a game of sorts. I didn't anticipate that!

Not really believing the whole, everything at Caraval isn't real thing. (hide spoiler)]

Really excited to continue reading. I'm at 44% of the way through and couldn't stop!

[Brittni]

Grace wrote: " => chp 23

I am so confused but so here for it.
The book is playing me like the game is playing Scarlett."

Wow this book is taking me on a ride!!! What is happening?!

(view spoiler)[Well I started out writing at the beginning of chapter 23 that I thought Julian is Legend but I think it could be Dante. I honestly don't know though. There also has to be a reason why Julian had met them to begin with though. Why was he on their island? He's hiding a lot. I'm beginning to think he's definitely not Legend though.

There has to be more to both Dante and Julian's sisters. There's Rosa and Valentina.

Do we think her father is actually there? I'm assuming it's messing with her but fuck...I don't know.

I also don't think Dante is dead and I'm dying to find out what is happening with Tella. I agree, she's being used in some way.

This entire book is a mind fuck but in the best way haha. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

OMG I was just showering and thought of this and came to write before reading this. I was thinking the same thing!
(view spoiler)[
why did he meet them? if he was already planning on coming, how did he know they'll get the invitation and he showed up on that exact day!

I do think they're working together (Julian and Dante) but to some extent and they're keeping secrets from each other.
Also why was Dante trying to force Scarlett to help and why did Julian hit him if they're working together and partners?
so many fishy things. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittni]

I'm up to chapter 27 now. This isn't really a spoiler for anything, just a thought I'm beginning to have around Legend.

(view spoiler)[Is there a chance that Legend isn't Dante or Julian. I'm beginning to think he's just everyone at Caraval. They said he sees everything that happens at Caraval and I believe they said that he can change his appearance. There are just so many random people popping up, giving her advice or tidmits of information. Could he be all of the people? (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

hmmm interesting theory....
I dont think so though because (view spoiler)[he never ages and he was in love wuth Annalise. so it has to be a person. but we might want to think about the magic linking the workers to him maybe? (hide spoiler)]

[Brittni]

Chapter 28 - At this point I'm just posting thoughts as they come to me haha. This is a spoiler for this chapter.

(view spoiler)[I'm thinking that her fiance was perhaps never real. It maybe wasn't her father you wanted to keep it a secret. Could it have been Legend all along who was pretending to be him? I'm really not sure though because she also said that Legend never wrote back to her until she included her last name in the final letter. I just don't know haha. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

=> chp 26

(view spoiler)[ I am now more convinced that Dante is legend because the cards at d and she knows that it's from Legend I don't think it's from donatella I think it's from Dante.

I also like I was thinking before that maybe there are some kind of family in caraval, maybe they are actually related, maybe Julian and Dante are related and Julian is meticulously not saying who his family is but he knows way too much and said his family is influential so what if he is part of Legend's family? (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

Brittni wrote: "Chapter 28 - At this point I'm just posting thoughts as they come to me haha. This is a spoiler for this chapter.

[spoilers removed]"

Ahhhhh maybe??
But as I comtinue further (now chp 31)
(view spoiler)[why would her father say he sold her? And the dude is very much alive. So who is this man? And if her dad has been keeping her secret to keep hwr safe, how did the count know how she looked like? And why didn'the approach her the first time she saw him? (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

I finished but I still have so many questions

(view spoiler)[ Still don't how Dante & Julian were working together.
I want to know how the mom fits in.
I am uncertain about the ages, it looks like Tella is 16 and Scarlet is 17, but Julian is possibly at least 40 years older then her even if he looks young ...
How does Roca fit in? Why has then so much emphasis on her and why do both Dante and Julian have rose tattoos?
What is happening in the Tunnels? If Julian know, then why did he tell her they need to investigate?
Did Julian know all along about the deal between Tella and Legend? And What indeed was Tella doing thes 5 days? (hide spoiler)]

I think book 2 will answer most of these things.
I will be starting soon Legendary but I have a couple of stuff to get through first.

[Brittni]

Grace wrote: "I finished but I still have so many questions"

So many questions to be answered in the second book and honestly, I'm so excited to dive into it! This book was a wild ride!

[Jamie]

This is still on my list to read!

[Grace]

I guess we're going slow in this one?
You both don't know how grateful I am to you for making pace myself hehe.

@Brittni, didn't you need to return the books to the library, though, or were you in line and had a time limit?

[Jamie]

Keeping the thread open :)

[Grace]

yess! been thinking when I should read book 2

[Jamie]

I just bought book one the other day :)

[Grace]

Great! Then we'll see when to catch up together

[Grace]

I want to try to read Legendary before the end of the year

[Grace]

Keeping this thread alive

[Grace]

Keeping this thread open for Legendary

[Grace]

I am setting myself up for failure but I REALLY want to read Legendary before the end of the year

[Brittni]

Grace wrote: "I am setting myself up for failure but I REALLY want to read Legendary before the end of the year"

Haha! Feeling the same! I would love to get back to Legendary soon as well but we'll see.

[Grace]

maybe if/when we finish ZA

[Grace]

I'm almost tempted to start Legendary, but I am equally hesitant.

I heard so many negative things and hate for Tella.... I'm not sure.
But I really want to read it.

[Grace]

Okayyy I started and I'm actually glad I curbed this because this is so exciting and interesting again.

Obviously there is so much going on
=>chp 10
(view spoiler)[too many things are happening

The cards and ring and her mom.

The fates and witch

I am still convinced that Dante is Legend, and so far Tella said it might be Dante twice...

I'm intrigued of who the friend is and why does he want to know who Legend really is.
With how Caraval ended I thought that the friend who gave her the letter was actually Legend, and her finding out who he is is part of their deal... not sure if something gave me that impression or what.
Maybe the way he appeared and then disappeared all magic and stuff...
Okay just looked
He said "our plan worked" I assumed that it's Legend and Tella's plan to get Scarlett out and fake Tella's death.


I think Armando is lying about telling Scarlett. I think that is part of the game already. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittni]

Oh goodness! You’ve started! Trying to get through Restless Stars and then I might join you.

[Grace]

I knew the moment I start S&S and BTV tandem I'll be sucked
I have 3 arcs to finish (just finished one) and needed a parallel audio so I just nicked this and started

I seriously love StephanieGarbers's writing

I'm 20% in and not sure why people hate on Donatella

i wasn't her biggest fan in Caraval because she acted childish and selfish a lot of times but ultimately she had a good aim.
she doesn't look to be doing stupid things now or acting self-centered. so I don't understand the hate

[Grace]

Legenday
=> chp 17

(view spoiler)[
I was surprised to meet Jacks and find out who he really is!!

So I am assuming Jacks switched places with Tella's mother so he can get out of the card, and he wants Legend for the same reason, but also cz he thinks Legend took someone from him....
But what does the witch have to do with this. Surely, she has a role.
And who is Tella's mother for real? (hide spoiler)]

[Brittni]

Grace wrote: "I knew the moment I start S&S and BTV tandem I'll be sucked
I have 3 arcs to finish (just finished one) and needed a parallel audio so I just nicked this and started

I seriously love StephanieGar..."

Fair enough. You will likely be sucked in! Good idea to get a couple in before you start.

I'm excited to start this. I've really enjoyed the two books I've read by this author so far!

[Grace]

If chp 25 and 26 (view spoiler)[ are not confirmation that Dante is Legend, then I don't know what is.

But did she drink Julian's blood or Dante's?
And how do they have the healing power?
(hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

=> chp 34
This series continously manages to make me doubt myself 😂