Are you ready for a surprise? I actually finished a series! Not only did I finish a series but I competed the entire trilogy within 35 days which feels like a record for me . It’s not because I finished The Hunger Games series over one weekend in 2011 but that was almost another life! I don’t remember completing a series so quickly in recent history.
Hugging the books to show them my love
I absolutely loved this series! I gave each book 5 shiny stars.
I felt that the character development was so strong as the series followed sisters Scarlett and Donatella who really grew and came into their own. I enjoyed seeing them gain independence and acceptance that they had so sorely desired. Their sisterly bond was so strong and was beautifully written.
The world of Caraval was one of the strongest examples of world building in a series that I have read in recent memory. The world continued to expand as the series continued but I wasn’t left waiting for explanations in the earlier chapters. The world felt real and rounded and just grew to reveal new locations.
I loved the wee romances that were introduced but they felt like a second plot to the main quest element of the series.
Each book had their own mission and I found each book to be fast paced and exciting. I was left wanting more despite everything being tied up quite nicely, I just wanted more because I adored it. I feel like there wasn’t a weak link, usually there’s a slightly weaker book in a trilogy but these all felt strong and I had a great time reading this series!
A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.
After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister, Scarlett, from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.
The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister’s. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice, but now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever…
Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . the games have only just begun.
I started reading the Caraval series last month as a buddy read and we all enjoyed it so much that we agreed to read the next book together. We were supposed to wait until next month to read book three together but we’re pulling it forward because this series is so good! So I can’t feel too guilty about not making much progress in my existing series as while I have started a new series, I’m going to finish it this month.
I absolutely loved this book. Yes, it was the second book in a series but if you wanted to jump into book two without reading book one, it could work as a first introduction to the world. Although I’d highly recommend starting with book one as a be more of this world, the better! This book was told entirely from Tella’s point of view and I enjoyed getting to know her a lot better as she was a side character during the first book.
This time it was Tella’s turn to participate in Caraval and she had a secret task. It turned out that she had a secret and had made a deal. A very risky deal!
I loved that we got so much more of characters that had been introduced in book one, Tella and Dante took leading roles. Jacks, The Prince of Hearts was also introduced and he is my favourite character in Once Upon a Broken Heart so I was delighted! I loved the relationship between Tella, Dante, and Jacks. Morally grey brooding characters were very enjoyable to read about.
I feel like a lot of questions from Caraval had been answered and more questions asked. I found this to be such a fast based and exciting adventure.
The book took place in a gorgeous and opulent empire which had various quarters. I enjoyed this new area and I’m a sucker for a creepy castle setting which did get introduced.
There’s a new baddy introduced in this book. The Fates. Previously locked away but they wanted to be released. I enjoyed learning more about the fates and what had happened to them.
There wasn’t a lot of Scarlett or Julien in this book, they had taken the lead roles in book one so it was strange seeing them as side characters. I feel like they didn’t really have a lot going on this time but I was still happy to have the other characters get their turn in the spotlight.
This world was just fantastic and I loved being brought back to it. This was a thrilling adventure and I was gripped! This was a buddy read that we had intended to read over a week…I read it in 5 days and some of my pals read it quicker. Very few of us lasted the full 7 days without reading ahead. I think that’s a sign of a beloved book. I’m so excited to read the next book and see if some questions I have will be answered. I may have found a new favourite series!
A legendary competition. A mesmerizing romance. An unbreakable bond between two sisters.
Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her 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 faraway, 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. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.
Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . beware of getting swept too far away.
First let me just address that yes, I did start another series despite having a goal of making my way through my existing series…but hear me out…whoops, I started another one.
I am a huge fan of Stephanie Garber! I am in love with the Once Upon a Broken Heart series and during my wait for the third book in that series, I decided to pick up the original Caraval series. I buddy read this book and we all enjoyed it so much that we’re buddy reading the whole trilogy, what a sign of a great series!
I absolutely love the world of Caraval. The majority of the book took place inside a game called Caraval. This was a magical and fantastical world where nothing felt real. I loved this and my love of this author’s world building was part of the reasons that made me want to read this series.
I enjoyed the characters so much in this book. Scarlett’s strength and her protective nature towards her sister was so beautiful. She was very much the big sister. Her number one goal was to protect her sister Tella. Tella was a little wilder, unpredictable and impulsive. Their dynamic felt relatable as siblings.
There were two sort of love interests- Julian and Dante. They sounded dishy and dreamy and I loved seeing Scarlett loosen up and start to think about what she wanted for herself. What she wanted for her future.
In this world, it was made very clear that you couldn’t trust everyone. So I trusted nobody! I felt so tense just waiting for something to go wrong and for somebody to get hurt. I enjoyed knowing that things were not what they seemed.
I did find part of this book to be a bit difficult to read. There was a scene that involved a sacrifice which was similar to The Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode The Gift. When I first watched that episode, my sister turned to me and told me that she would do that for me. If ever I were a key to unlock a hellmouth, good to know! This year marks the ten year anniversary of my sister’s death so this part of the book affected me quite greatly. I still loved book though, I just also think my sister would have loved it too.
I laughed, I swooned, I cried. I loved this book and I’m so excited to read the next two books in this series and see where it takes me! I want good things for Scarlett and Tella!
In this vlog I read a book for my Elf prompt, a book with a map. I chose to pick up The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber. I absolutely loved Once Upon a Broken Heart and preordered this book but only just go it around to reading it. What a fool I was,‘I should have read this straight away because I utterly adored it!
My Vlog featuring the most gorgeous hardback!
We also got some snow, I did some self care, and I spent time with friends. Ultimately, I feel like I lived my best life in this vlog and am delighted.
Kapowski Reads 