Caraval by Stephanie Garber was quite an interesting trip down the rabbit hole. Scarlet and Donatella are sisters that are incredibly different - as many sisters are. Scarlet is looking for a way to safely escape their horrible father, but Donatella is looking for adventure.

And adventure is what they find - but it's not the adventure either of them really thought it would be. Separated before they can enter Caraval - the story follows Scarlet as she searches for her sister through the crazy twists and turns of the game. And if she wins - she will be rewarded with one wish.

I loved the atmosphere of Caraval. It was a very well-balanced mix of the dark and dangerous with the bright and spectacular. You never know who is really a player or a performer, who is telling the truth and who is lying, and which way the clues will lead you next.

The ending was quite a surprise. While I had figured some of the mysteries out, there were still several that I to find out right along with Scarlet - which is always nice. There's just enough left unknown at the end that you will NEED to get book two started, so you might want to have that on hand.

I loved the little nods to Alice in Wonderland along the journey. Just enough to notice, but not so much that Caraval didn't remain it's own unique story and place.