Caraval trilogy

I have finally finished the Caraval trilogy, comprised of Caraval, Legendary and Finale, by Stephanie Garber. There were a few books read between each of these but they were the 26th, 29th and 34th books I read this year!

An attempt at summarising

At Caraval it’s important to remember nothing is real…

Scarlett has been writing to Caraval’s mysterious leader, Legend, her whole childhood. First begging him to bring Caraval to her remote isle, then to begging to visit the island where Caraval is hosted once a year, after it stops traveling from place to place. Just before Scarlett’s wedding to a Count she’s never met, she writes to Legend one more time and this time he responds with three invitations, one for her and her sister, Tella, and one for her fiancé. The only problem is, Caraval is happening 10 days before the wedding, so the cautious Scarlett decides it’s not worth the risk. Her impulsive sister has other plans, however, and recruits a handsome sailor to help her kidnap Scarlett and sail to Caraval.

It soon becomes apparent that Julian is more than he seems when he takes the blank invitation intended for Scarlett’s fiancé and poses as him. Tella arrived at the island first and is nowhere to be seen, the reason for which becomes apparent when the first clue of the game is revealed: find Donatella = finding Legend and receiving a wish.

Scarlett is pushed beyond everything she thought possible as she navigates the strange magic of Caraval in order to find her sister. But once the game is over, it soon becomes clear that there is more at stake here than there would be at an ordinary Caraval. The girls follow Caraval and its performers as it travels for the first time in years to the capital, for a special Caraval in celebration of the Empresses birthday. The question of whether Caraval is really just a game this time becomes the biggest puzzle they must solve, as old Gods stir and the true identify of Legend is discovered.

My thoughts

My feelings about this series are a little nuanced because, on the face of it: interesting concept, cool magic system, good characters, vivid imagery, puzzles, intrigue and tall, dark and handsome men, and yet… I found this series quite hard to get through. When I was reading it I was enjoying myself but they were just incredibly easy to put down, for reasons I can’t really figure out. I think this is a series that is very much in keeping with the 2010’s era of fantasy fiction (especially with the large age gaps between two 16 year olds and two love interests that are three hundred years old) and if I had read it as a teenager, I’m sure I would have eaten it up. The way the ending to the series wraps everything up is quite satisfying but I don’t know that I liked it, I feel like the big bad gets defeated too easily and Scarlett’s conclusion is a little contrived.

I think, if you’re interested in reading some of the big series from that 2010’s era, these are worth a read, or, if you’re a fan of the author but I do think they are a little overhyped.

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