I read a decent amount of thrillers, but I have been making an effort to branch out into other genres to give myself a break. I find that my opinion becomes skewed because I read so many thrillers and find myself judging stories harshly because that's what I'm constantly consuming.

I don't hate the fantasy genre but I will say that waiting for a series to complete is maddening to me. So I found "Caraval" and realized the story was finished and bought the entire series. To say this is now an all-time favorite book of mine would be an understatement. 

This story starts with Scarlett finally receiving her invitation to the legendary Caraval. But there's only one problem: she's supposed to get married in one week's time. Her father is cruel and Scarlett sees this arranged marriage as a chance to save not only herself but her younger sister, Tella. But Tella isn't letting this opportunity pass them by, and in collusion with a sailor named Julian, they kidnap Scarlett to get her to Caraval. But once there, Tella goes missing and Julian and Scarlett are left to play the game in order to find her. 

I am a big-time fair/carnival lover, so this story naturally appealed to me. If the Minnesota State Fair could add some Caraval aspects, I might die of happiness. But this story is much deeper than a trip to a magical event. 

There is some chemistry and romance between Scarlett and Julian. However, this story has no smut in it. I'd consider this book steamy at most. But the story is much more about Scarlett's devotion to Tella and trying to find her and get back home so she can appease her father and go through with her arranged marriage. 

Caraval follows players through clues and riddles and if successful, they can solve the mystery and win the coveted prize. The clues cause the player to think critically and for Scarlett, each clue seems to not only help her get closer to finding Tella but also to learn more about herself. Some require honesty, others require leaps of faith. 

The twists in this book were not at all what I expected. I was surprised and pleasantly so. The end has a lot of chaos and moving pieces but everything makes sense, and it does not end on a cliffhanger. There is an epilogue that alludes to the second book, "Legendary", but I'd consider it more the setup for the second book vs truly impacting the "Caraval" story itself.  

I would highly recommend this book if you're looking for a story with action, loyalty, a little romance, and magic to keep you guessing the whole way through.