If you’re familiar with recent YA hits, you’ve probably heard of Caraval by Stephanie Garber. This book was flying off shelves when I heard about it a few months ago, and it actually took me a while to track down a physical copy for sale. Ordinarily, I would’ve bought a digital copy, but this book is such a beautiful object in and of itself, I wanted a hardcover. Fans of Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Gardens trilogy will enjoy this richly immersive world and it’s compelling characters.
Greatest Hits:
I personally love stories that spotlight sibling ties and the lengths characters will go to in order to protect their loved ones. The sisters in this story are unforgettable in their fierce love for one another, and their drive to protect one another propells the story forward. Their backstory serves to inform every aspect of their personalities and actions, which I think is a real strength in this novel. Many times with characters who have tragic or difficult backstories, the background information feels seperate from the characters themselves, almost as though it were about someone else completely. With Garber’s characters, everything in their backstories influences the way they behave and interact with each other and the world.
Another great triumph of this story is the setting. The details are rich and varied, giving the reader a real sense of the sensory experience of the setting. In fact, the setting almost becomes a character of it’s own rather than simply a backdrop. Garber describes the setting and characters with such fine tuned technique that the overall effect feels cinematic. Combined with the suspense, the clever misdirects, and the aura of mystery, the story takes on a life of its own. Readers can hardly help but be engrossed by every new piece of information.
The characters the audience roots for are not the only ones who are skillfully fleshed out. Villains so often fall into two categories: flat characters with very simple motivations and little emotional depth, and well-rounded characters who are at least partially redeemed at some point in the narrative (Think Snape). The villains in Caraval are a species of their own. Like the protagonist, they have fully fleshed out backstories that inform their actions and reactions in the world. In the case of at least one character, redemption is far out of reach. This, however, does not make the character any less compelling or interesting to read about, and I find it very impressive that Garber achieved this in one novel.
My Conclusion:
I await more from this author with great anticipation. Her mastery of fiction writing is evident in every aspect of the novel, and I have no doubt that her future works will be equally gripping. Fans of Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma will likely enjoy the intensity of the sisters’ relationship, and anyone in need of a good, immersive story world should check it out. Garber’s world is an opulent escape from reality, and the characters will stay with you for years to come. Happy Reading!
-Kat
Kat Pollock 