I took a break from the highbrow stories to dive into a fun, magical series that has been on my radar for a long time. If you like magic, mayhem, and mystery, dive into the Caraval series with me!
The Gist
There is a magical performance that happens once per year, and Scarlett Dragna has been wishing to escape to it with her sister, Tella, ever since their mother disappeared. When their chance to attend Caraval finally arrives, Scarlett is ecstatic - that is, until her sister is kidnapped and held as this year's prize for winning Caraval. In a game where truth and illusion is impossibly intertwined, Scarlett must race to solve the clues and rescue her sister before the game ends and she is lost forever. I won't delve into the remaining synopses, as the plotlines for those books will spoil the first. You'll have to read them to find out more!
The Take
I was initially drawn to this series because of the fun magical aspects of the story, as well as the inclusion of the scavenger hunt. Give me a puzzle or competition in a story and I am a happy reader. Garber's writing has a bit of flourish to it, such as when she describes someone's eyes containing storms or broken stars, which although cheesy does lend to the magical atmosphere of the story. As Scarlett is navigating the games, she meets all manner of magical beings and sees illusions that defy reality, and Garber describes it all with a whimsical touch that makes me want to visit Caraval myself.
The Caraval trilogy has a strong sense of sisterhood between Scarlett and Tella. Though they are separated for much of the story, their bond is shown in their drive to protect one another and in the way they describe each other. Scarlett sees Tella as brave and unashamed of her bold choices, and Tella sees Scarlett as fiercely protective. Their bond drives most of the story and is a great through-line for the events of the series. Their love for one another is its own form of magic, elevating the series beyond the frilly dresses and smoldering glances of the rest of the story.
Because this is a YA fantasy series, naturally there are romantic subplots threaded within the main plot. Thankfully, the intimacy doesn't go beyond clutched waistlines and magical kisses - yes, the kissing has literal magic, not just metaphorical. The romantic heroes in the series are a bit over-the-top in Garber's descriptions, but I was pleasantly surprised at their moral complexity. They have added dimensions to them that complicate their relationships with the sisters, giving everyone a bit more personality than the generic insta-love heroes of lesser series.
There is a phenomenon called the "second book syndrome," wherein the second book of a trilogy is the weakest of the three because it bears the burden of bridging the story to the third and final installment. Stephanie Garber has the opposite effect in the Caraval trilogy; Legendary was by far the strongest of the series. The world has been established by that point, the characters are more interesting, and the structure of the plot itself feels more thought out than the other books. That doesn't mean Caraval or Finale are weak or bad by any means, rather that Legendary is the crown jewel of the series.
There is a follow-on trilogy called Once Upon A Broken Heart, which I would recommend after the Caraval series both in chronology and quality. One of the secondary characters takes center stage in this series, and some spoilers for the previous trilogy are peppered throughout the story. This series also involves magic but has more of a storybook fairytale quality to it. It too is best written in the second book of the set, The Ballad of Never After; the final installment, A Curse for True Love, is a disappointing conclusion to the story as a whole because of its detour into a contrived trope for the whole first half of the story.
I had a lot of fun diving into the Caraval trilogy and can see myself revisiting the series in future years. It is an over-the-top story about magic and the power of true love, as well as the bonds of sisterhood and unleashing your inner strength. Some of the storylines and tropes are cheesy in nature, so it won't be a story that resonates with everyone. I personally had a blast with the series and hope you will, too.
Rating: 8/10
Memorable Moments
“It's better this way, sister. There's more to life than staying safe...” Caraval
“She liked the thrill that came with taking risks. She loved the feeling of doing something bold enough to make her future hold its breath.” Legendary
“She didn’t need to erase her pain; she needed it to propel her into action. Just because it was a negative emotion didn’t mean it wasn’t a valuable one.” Finale
Try It If...
You want a fun, magical reading experience.
You want to read a story about love in many forms - romantic, familial, and self love.
You enjoy YA fantasy stories.
Avoid It If...
You prefer realistic fiction.
You don't like flowery or dramatic prose.
You prefer your romance stories to be on the spicier side.
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