sunsetxcocktail

I received a copy from Netgalley.

I’m really not sure what to make of this book. In a word? Weird. But at the same time completely absorbing and fascinating.

This is a strange case for me as I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, I found the main character Scarlett to be incredibly timid and dull, the sister she was willing to give up everything for was obnoxious, selfish and a big brat. The potential of the love interest Julian was interesting but there were too many questions surrounding his character - good or bad? It’s impossible to tell for definite. So many questions and very few answers, that didn’t turn into completely different twists.

The story itself was brilliant, the world building of Caraval was one of the most unique fantasy novels I’ve come across in a long time. Scarlett lives on a tiny island with her sister Donatella under the iron fist of their horrible abusive father. When one is caught doing wrong, the other is punished and punished violently. Which is shown right off in the first few chapters. It was horrible.

Scarlett’s dream has been to be invited to the magical game of Caraval, intrigued by it’s Master, a man known only as Legend. Her letters have gone unanswered for years, so she gives up. On the final letter, she tells Legend she's now engaged. And she gets her invitation.

There’s a handsome sailor who comes to the island, Julian who’s flirty with the sister, and before long, Donatella vanishes. Shortly after Scarlett has told her about the Caraval invite arrives, which is actually for Scarlett and her new fiancé. Whom Scarlett has never actually met as it’s an arranged marriage. She sees it as her chance to escape her father (which all becomes a big part of the plot later on in the novel).

Scarlett is torn between staying for the wedding and giving up on her dreams of Caraval, but she can’t abandon her sister, and with the help of Julian, Scarlett decides she can go rescue her sister and get back in time to meet the Count she is engaged to and get married.

Arriving in Caraval is not an easy thing. It’s one disaster after another and one mysterious twist after another. This is what makes the novel so engaging. Even if I did find the characters very dull, the mystery and whimsy of Caraval is pretty damn amazing.

Scarlett is warned nothing is as it seems and not to get too swept away into the game, there can be deadly consequences. She must decipher clues to win the game and win the grand prize. Of course everything unravels very quickly as Scarlett is caught up in the game.

My biggest problem with Scarlett was she came across to me as deeply, deeply dull and ridiculously timid. She’s wanted to go to Caraval most of her life - she’s there and she’s so obsessed with her sister, she can’t even seem to enjoy the wonder surrounding her. She’s scared of so much and seems to have very little regard as to her own needs and desires, other than saving her sister and marrying a man she’s never met arranged by a father she’s terrified of. Given the fear and violence she grew up in in a way it’s understandable why she’s so timid, but it did get a tad bit repetitive and annoying after a while.

It’s impossible to guess what’s going to happen in this novel, and that’s really what kept me interested, just when you think you know what’s going on, bam! plot twists and every perception changes. Lots and lots of twists and turns in the plot, right up to the very end.

I’m very very intrigued to know where this is going. Though I can actually see myself reading this one again. I will definitely be getting a finished copy of this one.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for approving my request to view the title.