Review: I cannot believe I only just read "Caraval!" Stephanie Garber’s debut novel is so magical and incredibly entertaining. 

Garber’s imagery fully immerses the reader into the world of "Caraval." I was blown away by how each line of description managed to appeal to every sense. In addition, the vivid language created a clear picture of how the performers work their magic. 

Though the novel felt a bit rushed at times, the storyline kept me engaged throughout! I love a good mystery and "Caraval" delivered on that front! I was especially impressed by the way Garber introduced subtle details relating to the mystery and diverted the readers attention from those details. The ease with which Scarlett found clues was unrealistic, yet I was still completely caught off guard by the twists and turns. I never knew how much I needed both the fantasy genre and the mystery genre to mesh until I read this book! 

The different formatting throughout was extremely refreshing. The novel opens with letters written by Scarlett to Caraval Master Legend over the years which immediately captured my attention, helped me further delve into the world, and gave me insight on Scarlett’s character. I also loved how the book was split up into different sections to mimic the passage of time!

I appreciated how the book emphasized the concept of sisterly love. Both Scarlett and Tella suffered from their father’s abuse, which drew them closer. The reader learns through Scarlett’s perspective that she is willing to sacrifice her own happiness to keep her sister safe. In fact, the only reason Scarlett decides to take part in Caraval is to win her sister back from Legend, who stole her away. The fierce love Scarlett has for her sister is admirable. 

"Caraval" truly has it all: mystery, romance, magic and an extraordinary cliffhanger. I cannot wait to see how things unfold in "Legendary!"