Scan barcode
carrotnyx's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I don’t know how to feel about this book… The beginning felt so slow and I honestly I was getting kinda bored. For the entire first half of the book I didn’t care about any of the characters. Literally none. Scarlett was kinda bleh, Donatella was annoying in all of her scenes and Julian seemed like a douchebag.
-
However, I know it felt a bit out blue but I enjoyed reading Scarlett’s and Julian’s relationship. I loved (past tense) their dynamic. And when the plot picked up I couldn’t stop reading. Then the plot twists went little overboard. Basically every other page had another twist and I started getting desensitized to it. I think that was the downfall of this book.I wish it just had a sad ending where it ends after Tella dies.
-
Julian became bland because we find out he was acting this whole time aND HE DIDNT ACTUALLY GIVE UP HIS LIFE FOR HIS CRIMSON. HE STARTED CALLING HER “SCARLETT” (which absolutely broke me) AND HE DIDNT EVEN HAVE THE SAME SMILE. YOU’RE TELLING ME HE DIDNT HAVE A CUTE TWISTED GRIN THIS WHOLE TIME???? To me, the Julian Scarlett fell in love with is dead. Hah. Sorry got a bit heated there . Their chemistry just vanished. Yet they still ended up together (-_-).
-
And omg Donatella. I don’t even care if she ‘did what she had to do’. She still put her poor sister through SO MUCH TRAUMA.That is not “sisterly love”. She didn’t respect Scarlett’s choice and she came off selfish. ESPECIALLY when she expected Scarlett to pick her over Julian.
-
Well the only character I actually enjoyed reading about was Julian before the plot twist and, surprisingly, Legend.EXCEPT IT WASNT LEGEND IT WAS SOME GUY NAMED CASPER. Reading about madness is so fun.
-
I didn’t mean be so negative but I swear I enjoyed a good part of the book when the plot twist started kicking in
-
However, I know it felt a bit out blue but I enjoyed reading Scarlett’s and Julian’s relationship. I loved (past tense) their dynamic. And when the plot picked up I couldn’t stop reading. Then the plot twists went little overboard. Basically every other page had another twist and I started getting desensitized to it. I think that was the downfall of this book.
-
Julian became bland
-
And omg Donatella.
-
Well the only character I actually enjoyed reading about was Julian before the plot twist and, surprisingly, Legend.
-
I didn’t mean be so negative but I swear I enjoyed a good part of the book when the plot twist started kicking in
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexism
hexxchen's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A random find, that absolutely came through for me.
The prose has its weaknesses (in German), but the synaesthetic descriptions were something different. I had a fun challenge trying tofigure out what was happening the wholeway through, as the revelations just kept coming.
The prose has its weaknesses (in German), but the synaesthetic descriptions were something different. I had a fun challenge trying tofigure out what was happening the wholeway through, as the revelations just kept coming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Domestic abuse
dealfea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
pamfletcher's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Liked the twists in the story, I didn’t guess the storyline and who was who so that was nice. The book kept me guessing and kept revealing more and more, but didn’t go where I thought the story would.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
madmaddie0_0's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book sucked me in from the first pages. I loved the way the magic was, more in a twisted "you don't know whats real" way, I thought that was intruiging. I think the ending was a bit rushed and the writer could've spend some more time on Scarlett having to deal with all the things she saw and all the betrayal.
Overall it's a great book that I read in a couple of hours, I didn't want to put it down
Overall it's a great book that I read in a couple of hours, I didn't want to put it down
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Suicide
ashboutiette's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
ashley_briana26's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Caraval is a magical adventure seen through the eyes of a protagonist who has bad anxiety. She’s not going around making stupid choices. This is a book about sisterly love, misguided adoration, and finding yourself when you’ve had your personality smacked out of you your whole life. And, of course, no book would be complete without a little romance sprinkled in as well!
Since this is a YA book, there is no spice but the romance is super cute and sweet even without it. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone 14+ who loves magic and solving mysteries.
Since this is a YA book, there is no spice but the romance is super cute and sweet even without it. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone 14+ who loves magic and solving mysteries.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Abandonment and Alcohol
milzy_23's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
booksandstardust's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, and Gore
bibliophine's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
“Welcome to Caraval. Trust no one. Everything and nothing is real at the same time.”
I really enjoyed reading this once I got settled into the plot, but it did take me a while to get to that point.
The heart wrenching story of Donatella and Scarlet Dragna, two sisters who can’t catch a break. From the very beginning it was clear that these two sisters were quite opposite to each other. Tella a free spirited, thrill seeking adventurer Scar a reserved, careful over-thinker.
The invitation to the Caraval changes everything, especially the future Scarlet carefully forged and prepared for both of them to escape their tyrannical father.
Diving into a world of illusion, mystery and danger Scarlet has no other option but to win.
When getting send on a wild goose-chase to find her sister, I especially appreciated Scarlets character building. Faced with seemingly impossible situations, and unable to trust anyone this book was eating away at me. She was confused, scared in an environment that was build to be confusing and scary, which that made her incredibly relatable.
I liked Scarlet a fair bit in retrospect, yet the plot let me to disliked Donatella. Which is why I probably will not be reading the second novel.
As far as romance goes, while it certainly makes the story more interesting to have Scarlet travel with a companion, I am rather disappointed. JULIAN YOU LYING LIAR WHO LIES🤬 It felt as though Julians Character was just used for people coming to read about some hot guy. And after reading over 400 pages the reader still doesn’t know anything substantial about the male lead.
The type of ending this book had was unexpected. I anticipated a big reveal of some sort, and was not disappointed. But i was certainly shocked.
Will I ever reread it? Probably not. Will i read the second or third part? Also no.
Was this something entirely different to what i am used to? YES
Will I ever reread it? Probably not. Will i read the second or third part? Also no.
Was this something entirely different to what i am used to? YES
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt