Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over. But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner. Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever. Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . beware of getting swept too far away.
When the world's most annoying sisters go to a Magical Carnival only to become even more annoying as they attempt to navigate their way to the carnival finale.
Okay, I have seen this book on SO many bookstagrams saying it was amazing. I even succumbed to the peer pressure and read this even though it is the first book of a series and a recent release. THIS. BOOK. WAS. AWFUL.First of all, the way everything is spelled out for the reader. Whew. We get it- your dad is a bad guy. The first chapter REALLY goes on an on here.Also, how many storylines are we going to have? Abusive father, grandmother's tales of the awe-inspiring circus, arranged marriage to a mysterious stranger, flirtatious sailor, secret threats from daddy about the sister.Next gripe- the protagonist is awful! She reminds me of the main girl in Hush Hush, except the HH one was somehow likable! (Check out our must read guilty pleasures for the review of Hush Hush!). Is her cheesy nickname throughout the book really necessary? Her thought process is juvenile. "Does he want the wish? Surely not. No way. Okay, I won't ask him bc he definitely doesn't want it." To be fair- that's not a direct quote from the book, but I feel like I definitely captured the thought process.Oh did you want a quote from the book after that teaser? Okay, I won't leave you hanging. "It was the kind of night where she could smell the moon...." What?! What does that even mean?Spoiler question I want answered:She was so worried about her sister and then hasn't seen her in days and just assumes she's fine and at the Caraval
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