Caraval by Stephanie Garber - Book Review!

Book: Caraval
Author: Stephanie Garber
Genre: YA Fiction
Page Count: 402
Personal Rating: 5/5

Scarlett and her sister Tella have always heard magical stories about Caraval - A mysterious game played only by those who are lucky enough to merit an invitation. Very few have ever been given the chance to play, but that didn't stop Scarlett from hoping and dreaming that one day her and her sister would be one of the lucky ones. Year after year, Scarlett wrote a letter to Legend, the mysterious man behind the curtain, asking if he would allow the girls to be apart of the magic, but she never heard a word back... until now. As shock mixes with confusion and conflicting emotions, Scarlett and her sister are ushered away from their rough life on the isles to the island of Caraval by a mysterious sailor named Julian.

It isn't until Scarlett reaches the island that she finds Tella missing, soon discovering that this year's prize is her sister. Although the stories claim that everything that happens on Caraval is all part of an elaborate act, Scarlett finds it harder and harder to believe as she's thrown into a world of magic, fighting her way through the five nights of Caraval as she desperately searches for her sister before she's lost forever. 

Although Scarlett and Tella come from the same abusive upbringing, their personalities are polar opposites, often leaving them in disagreement. Tella wants to run away, leaving the isle (and her abusive father) behind, while Scarlett wants to wait for The Count (her future husband) to take them away, rescuing them like some heroic knight from a fairytale. Tella is daring, having the tendancy to act first, think later. She craves adventure, love and magic. Scarlett, on the other hand, wants nothing more than to protect her sister from their father's ways, even if it means marrying a stranger. Scarlett seems to have bowed down to her father's abuse while Tella's rebelled from it, leaving the sisters in a constant state of disagreement about life-threatening decisions. 

One of my favorite parts about this novel is watching both Scarlett and Tella's characters grow. Not only do you see them grow individually, but you see their relationship grow as well. I don't have a sister (but I do have a brother), so I can relate to the bickering, the arguing, the constant disagreements, but underneath it all, the love you share for your own flesh and blood trumps all, which is a valuable lesson learned between the two. 

Hands down, Julian is my favorite character! His personality, mysteriousness, and relationship with Scarlett was perfect! My least favorite character was the father, of course. He was just pure evil, from start to finish. There was also a part surrounding Tella that bothered me. I can't go into specifics for the sake of spoils, but how she acted towards the end of the book was kind of a shock.

All in all, I'm happy to say this was my favorite read of 2017! Stephanie. Garber's. Writing. Is. Goals. The way she described the magic of Caraval was inspirational, especially for a writer like myself. Once I picked up the book, I wasn't able to put it down. Two days later, I'm finished and wishing her sequel was out! (March can't come fast enough!) Also, am I the only one hoping it gets turned into a movie? IF DONE RIGHT (emphasis on the IF) it could really be a magical book-movie adaptation. 

Have you read this book? If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Did you like it? Do you think it should be turned into a movie? Comment down below.

Thanks again for reading!