Reviewed by M. Koopmans, June 2021
Caraval by Stephanie Garber is a young adult fantasy novel. This fantasy novel takes place in a fictional world and revolves around two young girls, Tella and Scarlette. The two sisters are trapped by their father who became abusive and manipulative after their mother left. However, Scarlette has hope that they can escape. Every year Scarlette writes to Legend, the master of a huge magical performance/game called Caraval. She asks him to work his magic and help her and her sister escape. Soon enough she has tickets and a ride to La Isla de Los Sueños, Legends magical island where Caraval takes place. Everything is going as planned, until Tella gets kidnapped and becomes the person that they need to find to win the game.
Personally, this was one of the best fantasy stories I have read since Harry Potter. The author does an amazing job of keeping readers on the edge of their seats, wanting more and twisting their minds in ways that make the story even more exciting. I recommend this book to teenagers who enjoy fantasy stories with strong characters, an amazing world, and an interesting plot.