Caraval (Caraval #1)

Author: Stephanie Garber
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Year: Jan 2017
Pages: 402
ISBN: 9781473629141
Series: Caraval #1
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Time: Jan 12 - 14
Binding: Hardback
Goodreads

Blurb:
 Welcome to Caraval, where nothing is as it seems.
 Scarlett and Tella have never left the tiny isle of Trisda, pining from afar for the wonder of Caraval, a once-a-year week-long performance where the audience participates in the show.
 Caraval is Magic. Mystery. Adventure.
 When the sisters' long-awaited invitations finally arrive, it seems their dreams have come true. But no sooner have they arrived then Tella vanishes, kidnapped by the show's mastermind oraniser, Legend.
 Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is an elaborate performance. But she quickly becomes entangled in a dangerous game of love, magic and heartbreak.
 And real or not, she must find Tella before the game is over, and her sister disappears forever.

Review:
 I'm so glad to finally get my hands on this book! It's been getting mentioned for what seems like ages and I didn't get to read it on publishing day as I had to hunt for my favourite design. You have no idea of the trouble I went through to get that clock! Calls and reservations and all sorts of nonsense! The artwork that went into this is amazing, the exterior designs are excellent (yes, I got the Tesco exclusive as well!) but on the inside... The letter designs are so real, the chapter designs intricate and time separating pages just as thought through!
 I think the anticipation that got built up in the time I was waiting to finally read this truly added magic to my experience. I'm finally allowed in on the story and the wait made the experience more enjoyable than I think it would have if I'd picked Caraval randomly off the shelves.
 So, two days to read and the first day I was weeping after finishing King's Cage and only read the first chapter of Caraval to get my reading in motion. It was an easy read so I tore through this book. Waterstones have put this in the Adults rather than Young Adults section, which I have to question. The way the romance carries chapters of this book makes it YA. Nothing was that bad to make it teen inappropriate. Especially if ACOTAR is allowed on the shelves!
 The characters were what I expected and as someone without a younger sister I despised Tella for her inability to really take care of herself, much as I did Prim in The Hunger Games trilogy. I know, I'm cruel. The way Scarlett attaches colour to emotions added to the magic. Julian calling her Crimson was the icing on my cake for his character, loved him! Dante, oh the tattoos. You'll have to read it... The males were interesting and I'd like to see more of them in future books. And that cliffhanger - uh! I had no idea what was happening, couldn't guess right at any part, which impressed me. It's hard not to know what to expect at the ed of a YA book recently.
 Therefore, you must join the magic. I'm expecting more character depth in future books, this was a fantastical introduction to the world of Caraval. Garber's got to reveal it's secrets in the end or what fun would that be?