Minnie's Fiction Addiction

👀 First impressions:
Caraval is the first book in Stephanie Garber’s fantasy trilogy, where magic and illusion blur the line between performance and reality. Sisters Scarlett and Donatella finally get the chance to attend Caraval, a mysterious game where the audience becomes part of the show. But when Tella is kidnapped, Scarlett must navigate a world of dazzling enchantments, dangerous bargains, and shifting truths to win her sister back.

I picked this one up because my bestie absolutely loves it and has been encouraging me to read it for ages. With all the hype and the comparisons to The Night Circus, I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.

✅ What I Liked:
The atmosphere is definitely the novel’s strongest point. Garber paints Caraval as a place dripping with colour, mystery, and temptation, you can practically taste the magic. The relationship between Scarlett and Tella also stood out; even when the romance and illusions take over the narrative, that sisterly bond remains the book’s emotional anchor.

I also liked the constant uncertainty, never being quite sure what was real and what was performance kept me engaged.

❎ What I didn’t Like:
While I could appreciate the imagery, at times the prose felt overly flowery, pulling me out of the story instead of immersing me further. The pacing also wavered: some parts raced along with high tension, while others dragged under the weight of description.

Scarlett, as the protagonist, frustrated me a little. Her hesitancy made sense for her character arc, but it often slowed the momentum and left me wishing for more spark in her decisions.

📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
If you love immersive worldbuilding, lush descriptions, and whimsical-yet-dark magical settings, Caraval could easily be your next favourite. It thrives on atmosphere and escapism, and with two sequels (Legendary and Finale), the series offers plenty more to explore.

💭 Final Thoughts:
While I didn’t love Caraval as much as my bestie did, I can see the appeal. It’s imaginative, dramatic, and filled with twists, but the style and pacing just didn’t click with me. That said, it’s one of those books where if the premise and aesthetic draw you in, you’ll probably fall hard for it.

🛍️ Where to buy
To buy your own copy click HERE

Final Rating ★★★ – An imaginative fantasy that didn’t quite live up to the hype for me