Caraval is about a teenage girl named Scarlett Dragna, who, from a young age, has always been deeply interested in the Caraval games. Her grandmother used to tell her and her sister, Donatella, stories of these magical games, and Scarlett has always dreamed of being able to attend one. They seem straight out of a fairytale. These games are hosted by a mysterious man named “Legend”, also known as Caraval’s Game Master. Scarlett sent letters to Legend each year, requesting an invitation to the games. Finally, she receives a response from him and is able to achieve her lifelong dream of attending Caraval. Before beginning the games, Scarlett believes that it is a magical and fun experience that will all end when the event is over. However, she begins to see the dangers of being swept up in the magic, and she struggles to differentiate between reality and fantasy. The consequences of the game become evident as she explores and discovers more of the secrets hidden throughout Caraval.
I rate this book 5 stars because it is one of my favorite reads ever. From the fast-paced plot to the lovable characters, I enjoyed this thoroughly. Stephanie Garber does a great job of keeping the reader invested in Scarlet’s perspective, but still keeps the true intent of the games hidden. At times, I myself did not know which parts of the book were truth versus lie. Caraval kept me constantly guessing at each page-turn.