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emmjay's review against another edition
fast-paced
2.5
Lovely Christmas imagery to start but the most bizarre and non-chrismassy plot. Tella drugged, robbed, dressed up as a showgirl then presented like a present to a creepy dude she thinks MIGHT be her boyfriend to be kidnapped bound and blindfolded and then he touches her and makes out with her? and in the end that’s… romantic? What even happened here?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Sexual harassment
abbyreadsbigbooks123's review against another edition
1.0
um ew the consent was so dubious like this is disgusting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
gremlin24's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Gaslighting
britwalsh16's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I just love going back into the world of Caraval! Seeing more of Tella & Legends story! And more of Scarlett & Julian!! Only thing that would have made it better would be if Jacks & Evangeline were in it! I love them most of all!! But seeing Legend actually show his love for Tella! That is definitely the best part of this book! Oh and the illustrations!! Those are incredible!! & the Audiobook! I listened to the audiobook while I read along & it was the best decision I ever made! I highly recommend!!! ❤️🤍❤️🤍
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Infidelity
Minor: Toxic relationship and Alcohol
annesbookishtravels's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
+ 1⭐ for the beautiful illustrations!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Kidnapping
Moderate: Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A fun Christmas novella that brings us back to the world of Caraval with sisters Donatella and Scarlett Dragna and their lovers Legend and Julian. A bit romance, a bit fantasy, a bit mystery this was a nice, fun holiday story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment
j_day's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Started off fine... but the kidnapping/sexual assault plot was really uncomfortable. Even if it did turn out okay , it felt so wrong and Legend is no longer a much loved character
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Drug use, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
boba_nbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Spice Rating: 🌶️ / 5
Stephanie Garber's novella combines the whimsy and mystery of Caraval with the joy and wonder of the holiday season.
Re-enter the magical Meridian Empire where it's the Great Holiday Eve Eve. Scarlett and Julian are busy preparing for the castle's Great Holiday celebration, and Donatella is in search of the perfect gift for Legend. Will she be able to find it in time? Or will she be outdone by Legend yet again?
Spectacular is full of gorgeous imagery and even more beautiful illustrations. It definitely put me in the holiday mood and had me dreaming of sugar plums and gum drops. However, though it is still classified as young adult, this novella does teeter into the category of dark romance as a kidnapping element is involved.
There are definitely some concerns about consent in this novella. Tella is drugged and assaulted by an unknown kidnapper, who ends up being Legend, but is unsure who her kidnapper is at the time of the assault. This could definitely be problematic for a younger audience. It takes the dark allure of the original Caraval trilogy to the next level.
I still enjoyed this novella, but I would exercise caution and be aware of the content warnings going into it and don't recommend it for readers under the age of 18. I'm excited to see where Tella and Scarlett's stories go from here.
Stephanie Garber's novella combines the whimsy and mystery of Caraval with the joy and wonder of the holiday season.
Re-enter the magical Meridian Empire where it's the Great Holiday Eve Eve. Scarlett and Julian are busy preparing for the castle's Great Holiday celebration, and Donatella is in search of the perfect gift for Legend. Will she be able to find it in time? Or will she be outdone by Legend yet again?
Spectacular is full of gorgeous imagery and even more beautiful illustrations. It definitely put me in the holiday mood and had me dreaming of sugar plums and gum drops. However, though it is still classified as young adult, this novella does teeter into the category of dark romance as a kidnapping element is involved.
I still enjoyed this novella, but I would exercise caution and be aware of the content warnings going into it and don't recommend it for readers under the age of 18. I'm excited to see where Tella and Scarlett's stories go from here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexual harassment
Minor: Drug abuse, Infidelity, and Blood
readwithnyah's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
As someone who absolutely loves the caraval series, I was SO excited for this book.. but what the actual fuck was this? I was expecting a cute, fluffy, comfy Christmas book.. this was not any of that.
I don't know what was going on here while it was written but please do not ever do that shit again.
I know this will be different for everyone, but a big warning to anyone that is expecting a fluffy romance book, scrap that idea and think more of like.. dark romance kinda book vibes for 80% of the book.
I don't know what was going on here while it was written but please do not ever do that shit again.
I know this will be different for everyone, but a big warning to anyone that is expecting a fluffy romance book, scrap that idea and think more of like.. dark romance kinda book vibes for 80% of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Drug abuse
caleykapowski's review against another edition
2.0
I'm going to pretend this book didn't exist because I love love loved Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart. I loved the first third of this and the last third, but the middle was where the book took a turn.
This novella included some darker romantic scenes which were unexpected and pretty different to the vibe and content of other books in this world. I actually had to go and check that my audiobook hadn't somehow flipped to another story because it was so out of character
This novella included some darker romantic scenes which were unexpected and pretty different to the vibe and content of other books in this world. I actually had to go and check that my audiobook hadn't somehow flipped to another story because it was so out of character
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping and Sexual harassment