Caraval (October 2024) Buddy Read Discussion - Shabnam & Aikaterine, Sophie

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Welcome to the Caraval Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on October 8th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 10/8
8th: chapters 1-5
9th: chapters 6-8
10th: chapters 9-12
11th: chapters 13-16
12th: chapters 17-19
13th: chapters 20-23

Week of 10/14
14th: chapters 24-28
15th: chapters 29-34
16th: chapters 35-38
17th: chapters 39-end


PARTICIPANTS
~ Shabnam
~ Aikaterine
~ Sophie

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Chapters 1-5

I'm really enjoying this one so far. It already has a magical feeling to me despite not yet hitting the circus or seeing any magic. The pacing is very fast which is always a win.

Scarlett is coming across as a little naive to me and I hope that changes soon. Part of me thinks Scarlett's fiance is Legend, the other half of me just thinks he's some old, ugly guy.

What do you guys think?

[shabnam]

chapters 1-5

another amazing book by stephanie!! if any of you have read the incredible once upon a broken heart series, you'd know how great of an author she is!

there was an immediate hook with this book, and i'm all for that. Scarlett and Tella have an *interesting* relationship. They would do anything for each other, but something feels strained, like forced? i'm not sure how to describe it, but i'm sensing a betrayal in the near future..

I have a feeling julian is going to turn out to be someone completely different than he says he is, and i'm so excited.

once again totally loving the pull this book has had, and as you mentioned, sophie, the pacing is fast which is always something good about books. BUT, i feel like it's slightly too fast. We're only on chapter five and we've ventured to another place, which is amazing i love it, but i would've liked to get to know the characters a little more, get a sense of their personalities and whatnot.

Other than that, i'm really into this book!

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Chapters 6-8

Ok so I think that Julian is either working for Legend, or he may be her fiance as he did make some sort of odd remark about being her betrothed. Either way I don't trust him.

I have a feeling that Tella may be part of the circus act/competition (unwillingly) and that's why Julian wanted her to go down the pathway where you take part.

Legend doesn't age......well I wonder what that is going to lead t lol.

I haven't actually read the Once upon a broken heart series as it was recommended that you read this series first and both were on my tbr anyway.

@Shabnam I agree with you about getting to know the characters a little more, it feels like we've just headed straight into the action.

[Sarah-Vanessa]

Although one day late, I have to join this Buddy Read. Caraval is on my TBR for a while now. So definitely looking forward to.

Chapter 1. - 5.:

Well first and foremost, I‘m not native English speaking. So it took probably the first 4 chapters to get into the writing style and language. I‘m still not there yet 100% but I‘m sure it will work out for me. Definitely love how beautifully everything gets described.

As for the story, there’s quite happening a lot already in the first 5 chapters. Love it and can’t wait to explore and get to know more about Caraval. Also I‘m curious about Legend, he seems so mysterious. I would have wished for the author to describe Scarlett and Tella a little bit more in detail.

Also I personally prefer MC‘s with a stronger character- Scarlett doesn’t seem like she’s one of these - but I think she has potential to grow and step out of her shadow. Love Tella so far.

Chapter 6-8:
Oh, I‘m loving all about Caraval. Seems like it’s going to be tough to find out who is trustworthy and who isn’t.
And I believe Julian is lying about something, maybe about Tella being there. Or maybe he’s working for Legend. Something is suspicious there.

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Chapters 9-12

Okkkk I have no idea how to feel about Julian. He's like a yoyo. We've now had the introduction of Dante, another one I have no idea how to feel about.

I felt bad for Scarlett when she heard Tella through the door, perfectly fine with a guy. Tella's carefree nature comes across as reckless and selfish at times. Although, part of me thinks that Tella was never in there and it was all an illusion.

@Sarah-Vanessa I also prefer to have a strong MC and Scarlett definitely doesn't come across that way, hopefully that does change though as the story progresses.

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I ended up reading ahead so I'm going to mark them as spoilers

Chapters 13-16

(view spoiler)[ As much as I don't typically love a weaker MC like I was saying, I can't help having a soft spot for Scarlett. She has had quite a tough upbringing when you look at it from a wider eye, and it almost as if she has been thrown from one mess to another.

Dante is a pig, I have to say it. The comment he made towards Scarlett at the end of chapter 16 was so nasty.

Scarlett's conversation with the fortune teller(?) was interesting. When he answered her question about her future husband, I don't think he was referring to her arranged engagement......

I do wonder where Julian has go to. I have mixed feelings when it comes to him. Part of me thinks he is involved in the behind the scenes of the whole 'challenge'. For Scarlett's sake though, I hope not. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah-Vanessa]

Chapters 9 to 12:

@Sophie I totally agree with you in terms of your thoughts about Julian and Dante.

I can‘t make up my mind about Julian. One moment I like him and he seems genuine, the next moment it seems like he has ulterior motives that aren’t genuine. Dante seems nice at first glance, but I‘m not yet sure about that.

I kind of believe the voice behind that door wasn’t really Tella, but maybe it’s just me wanting her not to ditch on her sister for a guy. Tella seems kind of unpredictable, who knows.

Might go and read ahead now…

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Ok so I'm continuing to read ahead as I'm reallyyyyy into this one. It's also unlikely that I'll have a lot of time to read over the weekend.

Chapters 17-19

(view spoiler)[ It was really sweet that Julian got Tella's earrings back for Scarlett, but where did all of that blood come from? He had no wound and his hands didn't suggest that he'd been in any fight. I just hope he hasn't gone and stabbed someone lmao.

Is Dante her supposed future husband? It was insinuated that that was the case with the black heart tattoo and the fortune tellers prophecy. Also I'm curious to know what Dante lost in the previous game and why is he so mad at Scarlett?

I have no idea how Scarlett is going to find her sister now that she has lost the next two days. Unless Legend ends up bringing Tella to her, she's kinda screwed. (hide spoiler)]

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Chapters 20-23

(view spoiler)[ A lot has happened in these last couple of chapters.

So Julian gave up a day of his life for Scarlett, but I'm still very unsure regarding his true intentions. Despite opening up about working with Dante and that Rosa was his sister and I still don't find him to be trustworthy. Scarlett did say that she felt he wasn't being truly honest. And how do you explain Scarlett's dream?

Legend wearing a different face every game does lead me to believe that there is a minute possibility that Julian is Legend, but it would just be weird considering Legend supposedly had an affair with Rosa, and Julian is claiming that he's Rosa's brother.

Valentina going missing is an interesting one. I don't know what's going to happen to her now that Dante is dead. Did Legend kidnap Valentina because he was on to Dante and Julians plan like the note suggested? (hide spoiler)]

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Chapters 24-28

(view spoiler)[ We've finally had a fiance reveal and it's literally just some random guy that tricked Scarlett a day or two ago. I am curious to know how Scarlett's father tracked her down, I think he's a lot more involved than we know. Maybe Scarlett's father has competed in the games before and lost, he could possibly owe someone something? At least that was what was hinted at as Scarlett was escaping in the boat and she said her father looked fearful.

I'll be honest I do find it a little weird that Legend and Scarlett's grandmother Annalise, you know.....unless Annalise was exaggerating?

So Julian and Scarlett kissed at the end of chapter 28 and I do really like Julian, but I don't trust him whatsoever. I also still can't believe we haven't met Legend (at least that is what is assumed). (hide spoiler)]

[Dia]

hi everyone, jumping in this BR. Caravan has been in my tbr for so long but I never got around to it.

I'm up to Ch 11.
I'm not really fond of Scarlett. I know she's only 20 so I should forgive her but her naivety and worry about her father and fiancé when it's already too late to worry given she's left the island!! I feel like she needs to let lose, she's wanted this for years and finally has the chance but she's fearful of everything.

Julian is definitely fishy, and what's up with calling her by a wrong name, that has to be annoying.

and because I remember the blurb. I already know Tella has been kidnapped and Scarlet has to find her. I'm very intrigued by Caraval and can't wait to discover more of its secrets. The other characters are quirky too, I wonder how frequently we'd see them.

[Sarah-Vanessa]

13-16:

Finally we get to find out the game is about Tella. Wonder if Julian had something to do with her getting „kidnapped“. Still feels like he knows a little bit too much about the game and Caraval, that he might be involved somehow. Just like @Sophie mentioned.

The scene with the „pregnant girl“ made
me smirk. Of course the girl would disappear with all the clothes….

The fortune teller situation was kind of weird. No idea what to make out of it. But I believe the boy with the black heart isn’t Julian. Maybe it‘s Dante… His behavior is way to mean and harsh for just being someone who just met Scarlett.

[aikaterine]

Chapters 1-8

Have fallen so behind due to work fatigue, but I’m still swept away!!!

This is a reread for me, which I haven’t revisited since 2017. But, even though I *think* I have some sense of where things are going, I’m still swept away by the story and mesmerized by Caraval. And, well, I don’t remember much from my first read of this book anyway, only the most major spoiler perhaps, haha.

I agree with all of you that it’s giving magical read vibes, and I’m glad I still think so through the reread.

[aikaterine]

Chapters 9-12

Done with Part 2, and I don’t know how to feel about any one character in this book, haha. I am also thinking that Tella’s voice was an illusion, because that behavior seems outrageous even for her!

I love the vibes sooo much, and the dress that keeps changing is chef’s kiss, haha! So excited to dive into the next day of Caraval!

[aikaterine]

Chapters 13-17

(view spoiler)[Night one is over!!

@Sophie, your comment about the fortune teller made me question everything I perceived and now I’m even more intrigued. I just assumed he meant the arranged fiancé, but now I don’t think so, too! Ooooh, I can’t wait to see what happens!

@Sarah-Vanessa, I also think that maybe Julian is not the one with the black heart. But, I don’t know if it’s Dante either.

In any case, I just can’t stop reading! Haven’t felt that way about a book in awhile, and I’m sooooo excited! (hide spoiler)]

[Dia]

Up to 16

I'm intrigued by Dante and if he was a winner before, as Julian said, he must not be as nice as he seemed. At first I also thought he could have been the count but it would mean the count is not an honest person either if he's after Scarlett despite being engage because he woulnd't have know how she looked like,

@Sophie I agree about Dante, he was being mean but perhaps it is in response to being "deceived"

For the moment I'm still not a fan of Scarlett (I realised I referred her to Sophie in my previous edited comment I'm sorry lol)

17-19
oh my I wonder what happened for Julian to be covered in blood. and I don't trust him but that was nice of him to retrieve Scarlett's earrings.

I like what Aiko said - about Scarlett being on this magical island and all she thinks about are things she doesn't have. It is a very good reminder, and also for Scarlett to enjoy herself while she still can. (funnily enough, maybe I don't like Scarlett because I'm similar to her , if this happened to me, I would be worrying most of the time instead of enjoying myself and I would use the excuse of just trying to be realistic about things)

OH so the clue referred to Dante? wtaf is that trade omg I didn't think they'd take 2 days of her life now as well. so Scarlett will lose 2 days and can't find her sister in that time.

[aikaterine]

@Dia, I would totally be a worrier, too, if I was participating in Caraval, haha! Maybe that’s why I’ve always liked the story, I can relate to Scarlett’s behavior a little too much 😅

Chapters 18-21

(view spoiler)[Night two was PACKED!

Huh, I didn’t remember any of it, or how we find things out anyway.

I loved so much the scene between Scarlett and Julian and how quick he was to try to protect her and give up a day of his life (although, did he, really?) for her.

But, the way Scarlett found out about Dante and Julian, wow! I can’t wait to see what happens when she confronts him. (hide spoiler)]

[Dia]

20 - 26
(view spoiler)[ huh that's interesting that Dante found her and is helping her, again. oh wow I never even noticed his sister was missing. could it be the woman Scarlett saw in the dungeons...
oh hello Julian, I was not expecting this exchange of bodily fluids. i'm surprised how he's proven himself selfless when it comes to Scarlett. I wonder what is his real identity.

OH, I wonder if Rosa's fiance was Dante, and he's trying to bring her back to life. OH it is Dante. But I don't believe that Julian is Legend, especially if people only saw each of his face once. So perhaps all these while Scarlett was dreaming about Julian but thought it was Legend instead.

Well I was not expecting Dante to die. and how did Scarlett's father get here? How did he get in without tickets? umm so if Julian really came from a well connected family, he's the count?
(hide spoiler)]

chapters 24-26 were definitely much more face paced, I didn't even realise I'd read ahead this much.

[aikaterine]

Chapters 22-26

(view spoiler)[What is it about this book and I just can’t stop?!

Anyway, I’m still not 100% convinced that Julian has revealed all his cards. I also thought he might be the count, just like @Dia.

At this point, I have zero clue what’s going on, what’s real and what not. Haha. And, what I thought I remembered from my first read…I’m not so sure anymore! (hide spoiler)]

[aikaterine]

Chapters 27-30

(view spoiler)[So, Julian isn’t the count either, haha.

But, just when he and Scarlett started getting somewhere of course her father had to appear with the real count. I’m not sure how that elixir worked on the count. Was that permanent damage? Most probably, no?! (hide spoiler)]

[aikaterine]

Chapter 33 (view spoiler)[for me is a NOOOOOOO! (hide spoiler)]

[shabnam]

chapter 9!!

i'm VERY far behind on this one, but hopefully i'll get to it more tomorrow!!

Julian is giving me bad vibes, and i'm not a fan of it. He seems like he should be trusted but there's definitely something else there. I feel like he might just be using scarlett, but i'm hoping that not all that it is.

I can already sense the amount of character development scarlett's gonna go through, and i'm all here for that.

So excited for this series!

[aikaterine]

I just finished my reread of this!! I just couldn't stop turning the pages! I totally jumped ahead on this one, but I'm so happy for this experience.

Overall, I thought I remembered all the spoilers, but they were all wrong, haha!

What I got right was (view spoiler)[just the balcony scene with Tella, although I didn't remember the exact details, just a vgaue sense of seeing her there for the first time since Caraval started.

And, for some reason I remembered that Julian was Legend, but I'm so glad he wasn't.

I don't know what the next book in the series is about and now I'm left wondering... Could it be about Tella and Legend? From that letter it would seem so! (hide spoiler)]

If anyone wants to BR Legendary I'm all in!!!

[Sarah-Vanessa]

@aikaterine It’s definitely easy to read. Definitely understand you finished it already.

Chapter 17-19:
Still so in love with this book. It’s magical.
I definitely also wonder what happened with Julian returning full of blood with a head injury. Did he get this retrieving Scarlett‘s earrings, which is kind of cute though.

Aiko was right about what she was telling her. @Dia Definitely agree with you here. And luckily Scarlett was telling that lie about the fountain, if not her last lie would expose Julian.
I wonder when Scarlett finally will admit to herself, that her biggest desire is not rescuing Tella, but one that is about herself.

Chapter 20-23
So finally we find out that Julian and Dante know eachother and Julians sister was Dantes fiancé. Still feels like there are some unsaid things. For example why would Dante get upset seeing Scarlett with Julian if they are on good terms? I hope Dante being dead is just an illusion.
Also Scarlett seems to finally admit that she is having feelings for Julian.

How terrible though that Scarletts father appeared around Caraval. I believe it’s an illusion and not really true.

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Chapters 29-34

(view spoiler)[ I knew that we couldn't trust Julian, even at the end, despite him claiming that he did love her, he deceived her and betrayed her trust. I must say though I was not expecting Legend to just outright murder Julian. Maybe he didn't though, maybe it was just an illusion.

I honestly can't predict the ending at this point, I have no idea what's going to happen. (hide spoiler)]

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Chapters 35-38

(view spoiler)[ Noooooo poor Tella. And poor Scarlett. It was frustrating having Tella not believe Scarlett, I could really feel her desperation.

Maybe Legend actually doesn't have magic anymore and that's why he opted against granting Scarlett her wish.

I do just feel really bad for her, losing the only two people you love in such a short amount of time must be awful. (hide spoiler)]

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Chapters 39-end

(view spoiler)[ Ok so not the ending I was expecting. I’m happy that Tella and Julian are alive and well for Scarlett’s sake. I think Scarlett had good character development; she started off naive and timid, and came out the other end courageous and brave.

I still kinda don’t like/trust Julian👀🫣. That may be an unpopular opinion but I just don’t get the hype.

Caraval was just so magical and enchanting, I understand why many love it . I’m a little wary going into book two, I’m not sure how I feel about it being from Tella’s pov or the possible romance being between her and Legend. (hide spoiler)]

@Aikaterine, I’m definitely down to buddy read Legendary. Next month would probably be better for me.

[aikaterine]

@Sophie, yay!!! I’m in for a Legendary BR next month! I admit I read the first 2 chapters last night because I was just so curious 🫣 but I’m stopping myself from getting any further, haha.

(view spoiler)[I was a bit hesitant to jump to the next book, as well, as I didn’t particularly love Tella‘s actions in Caraval. And, a romance with Legend, I don’t know, it feels a bit weird, but we’ll see!

I liked Julian but I didn’t particularly love his character or the romance. I just enjoyed it for what it did to the story. Does that make sense? 🤣

Lastly, I definitely agree about Scarlett‘s growth throughout the story! I think it was a very prominent part of this book and I loved it for it! (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah-Vanessa]

@ailaterina & @sophie I‘m also in for the second book! Although I‘m behind on this one due to work.

[aikaterine]

@Sarah-Vanessa, awesome!! Don’t worry at all, take your time and enjoy the book! 😉

[Sarah-Vanessa]

Finally finished this morning! Yey, it was so good and the plot twists at the end.

Already got volume 2 and volume 3. So ready for Legendary Buddy Read!

[aikaterine]

Yay!!! I can't wait for us to start the BR!

When in November would it work better for you @Sophie & @Sarah-Vanessa?

[Sarah-Vanessa]

aikaterine wrote: "Yay!!! I can't wait for us to start the BR!

When in November would it work better for you @Sophie & @Sarah-Vanessa?"

I‘m quite free besides work in November. Whatever works for both of you is fine