Caraval

Caraval
Stephanie Garber
Flatiron, 2017 416 pages
Grades 8-Up
Fantasy

Scarlett has always dreamed that the magical traveling Caraval would visit her remote island as a diversion and escape from her abusive father. After a tragedy strikes the show, the mysterious proprietor, Legend, has stopped traveling, choosing instead to host an interactive magical game yearly by invitation only. Scarlett is thrilled to receive an invitation, only weeks away from her arranged wedding to a gentleman she has never met, which includes a ticket for her beloved sister, Tella. Complications arise as Tella disappears and Scarlett enters the game with a mysterious and handsome sailor, Julian, who poses as her fiancé. The goal of the game is revealed to be a challenge to locate the missing Tella and all of the contestants are racing to claim the prize. For Scarlett the stakes are higher than simply winning the grand-prize of a wish. She is devoted to her sister and determines to find her and release her from the clutches of Legend. Only the world of Caraval is not what it seems. No one is to be trusted, time works differently, and the world shifts and changes before your very eyes. To further complicate matters, Scarlett is reluctantly working with Julien, but is he the ally he claims to be? A new young man, Dante, enters the scene, further adding romantic intrigue, but Scarlett is not here to fall in love. She is here to rescue her sister and to enjoy one last adventure before she enters a life of domesticity and security away from her controlling father, only she must first beat the master showman at his own game.

Debut author, Garber's entry into teen fiction is a real winner. Though similar in theme and mood to The Night Circus, Caraval is a fresh world all of its own. Atmospheric and mystically dark, readers will almost feel as if they are experiencing this crazy game right along with Scarlett. The plot offers a lot of fresh surprises and twists. The reader is never really sure if Julian is a good guy or a bad guy, and feels the same attraction and confusion to the charismatic young man as does our protagonist. Garber, luckily enough, does not leave us dangling, but satisfactorily wraps-up Scarlett's story line, though leaving a teaser about Tella, leading the reader to the next installment, featuring the other sister. Even though this is a work of fantasy, the story is believable and readers will be swept into its world. The romance is also believable and is less love triangle driven than most teen books I have read in recent years. Readers will identify with cautious and timid Scarlett and cheer as she gains confidence. An interesting note is that Scarlett has a condition known as synesthesia, and thus sees color in emotions. This adds a dimension to the story and may alert and educate readers about this ability. The sisterly bound of Frozen proportions is the first theme of the book and readers will either relate or wish they had a sibling that they are just as close with. Tella is very different than Scarlett and, though I don't read sequels, I am very interested in reading the second installment, Legendary, which was released this past May and hints at maybe being even better than the first.