Caraval: A Book of Magical Proportions
Spoilers Ahead.....
Immediately I was drawn to the dynamic between the two sisters, Scarlett and Donatella Dragna. I loved that they looked out for each other which is especially evident in the beginning of the book. Their relationship set up the book and the journey that Scarlett would make, defining and redefining herself throughout.
As soon as Julian was introduced, I knew that he would be an important character. A roguish sailor with extremely good looks never gets swept to the side in Young Adult literature. I admired his character development throughout the novel and especially at the end. And yes, I believed his character arc which is essential for a book to be a success.
Now to the magic. The world of Caraval itself was a delight to read and engage in. A world with an "Alice in Wonderland" sense but more deadly and full of consequences. I liked how it showed the darker side of humanity even though people were merely playing a "game." The imagery was tantalizing and beautifully described.
The Plot Twist: I like to pride myself on knowing novel's plot twists, but in this case, I couldn't have been more wrong. I truly believed Legend was the villain and that Tella was a naive girl who fell in love too easily. I'm very glad I was wrong. By Tella orchestrating the whole game, it shows her true character and more insight into her thinking and character motivations. When "Legend" sat in his chair at the end while Scarlett interrogated him, I thought of Willy Wonka when he's caught in the same position by young Charlie. All the magic and splendor gone with just the bare bones of reality left.
Overall, I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's hard for me to give a book a high rating unless it really impressed me. And this one did. I am anxiously awaiting to read the sequel
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