Alright, if I suddenly check myself into anger management, just know it was these books that forced me to do it. I swear, I have never known frustration (or self-hate) like these books have made me feel. I know that’s an interesting way to start a book review, but we’re in for a ride. Buckle up, kids!
Like I said, this book (and the entire series, if I’m being honest) has put me through it. For the first 200 pages, give or take, of each book I was honestly super uninterested and frustrated by the books. They felt childish and not well written and frustrated me with their lack of creativity. But, I was gasping a few times by the end of each of the plot twists, which surprised me each time. Now, unexpectedly enjoying a book by the end of it may be welcomed by most readers, but for me, I feel blind-sided and without taste whenever that happens. It’s like I thought I had a rigid, superior opinion about something and then caved and enjoyed something that’s not sophisticated. It’s a bad superiority complex, but I feel justified with it.
Having just read Crooked Kingdom and left the authentic, beautiful, complex world of SOC Leigh Bardugo created, it feels boring and uneventful to jump into a world like the one Stephanie Garber created in Caraval. I hate being a hater because I hate hating, but I’m just being honest when I say that there are different levels I saw clearly when I switched between both series.
Anyway, I did enjoy some parts of the story and the writing, especially most of the love story (Legend and Tella, NOT Julian and Scarlett—when did they become literally toxic?). Also, I’m intrigued with Jacks and have officially added him to my roster of fictional BFs. But, I realized his series is a trilogy as well and I don’t think I can put myself through another three books of Stephanies writing quite yet—sorry, Stephanie—so I don’t think I’ll jump right into them.
However, I would recommend this series for a certain type of person; specifically young girls (ages 10-13) who are just beginning their reading journey and are about to find their emotional support series that never leaves them. I saw a TikTok (haha, I know) the other day that said something along the lines of how the bond between a girl and the series she read when she was just falling in love with reading again is one of the strongest bonds. It’s so true; I’ll never forget reading the Off-Campus Series or Ranger’s Apprentice. They truly stuck with me and I think Caraval could do that for a whole other generation of girls today.
Genre: Y/A, fantasy, fiction, romance
Age: 11+
Rating: 6/10