Fantasy

Review: Caraval by Stephanie Garber

October 22, 2025

I read the (main) series already a long time ago and the physical book were no longer part of my collection. When a Novella got released last year, I got interested in the series again. I remember a bit of what was happening, but not enough to read the Novella without also reading the series again. When I saw this beautiful special edition of all 4 books combined, I took the opportunity to emerge in the World of Caraval again. So, let’s start from the beginning 🙂

Synopsis

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.

Review

I read the first Book in the series in 2018. That is quite a while ago so I was curious, if I would still enjoy it.

Since Scarlett was a child, she heard stories of Caraval from her grandmother and writes letters every year hoping for an invitation. She and her sister lost her mother when they were young and living with their cruel father isn’t easy. Ten days before Scarlet is to be wed, she finally receives an invitation.

After her sister Tella goes missing, Scarlet goes after her and must enter Caraval for a chance to find her and be back before her wedding day. Things do not go as planned and she finds herself in a world of magic, betrayal, and a boy on her side, that becomes more than just a companion offering his help.

Yes, years later it feels YA, which is not a bad thing here. It never goes too deep but stays interesting enough to got me hooked (again) in Scarlet’s pursuit to find her sister. I enjoyed Julian and Scarlet’s interactions a lot and their friendship evolving felt believable. I enjoyed returning to the world of Stephanie Garber and look forward to the rest of the series.

🌙 Recension: Caraval (Caraval #1) by Stephanie Garber
📚 Genre: Fantasy & Romance
📅 Release Date: 7. November 2024 (Box Set)
📖 Publisher: Gollancz
📗 available in Boxset
📱 Read as: Hardcover
💸 Bought
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 416
⭐️ 4/5