Stephanie Garber

Stephanie Garber’s Caraval didn’t just pull me into a story—it swept me off my feet, spun me through a kaleidoscope of illusions, and left me breathless in the best way possible. I picked it up expecting a whimsical fantasy, but what I got was a full-body immersion into a world so lush, so intoxicating, it felt like falling into a velvet-lined rabbit hole where every twist shimmered with danger and delight.

From the very first page, Garber’s prose casts a spell. Her writing is show more decadent and cinematic—colors bloom, scents linger, and emotions crackle like fireworks. The setting of Caraval itself is a masterpiece: a performance where the audience becomes the players, and nothing is quite what it seems. It’s part masquerade, part mind game, part fever dream. I found myself second-guessing everything, just like Scarlett, the protagonist, who is both relatable and refreshingly complex. Her fierce love for her sister Tella is the beating heart of the novel, and watching her unravel the secrets of Caraval while navigating her own fears and desires was utterly gripping.

And Julian. Oh, Julian. The mysterious sailor with secrets stitched into his smile. The chemistry between him and Scarlett is electric, but never overshadows the deeper themes of trust, autonomy, and sacrifice. Their dynamic is layered and slow-burning, and I was completely invested in every stolen glance and sharp exchange.

Garber’s genius lies in how she balances whimsy with menace. Caraval is beautiful, yes—but it’s also dangerous. The stakes are real, the consequences chilling, and the line between performance and reality is razor-thin. I loved how the book constantly challenged my assumptions. Every time I thought I had it figured out, Garber flipped the script and left me gasping.

This is not just a story—it’s an experience. A sensory overload in the best way. I felt like I was living inside a painting made of secrets and starlight. And when I turned the final page, I didn’t just want more—I needed it.

If you love stories that feel like they were written with a paintbrush dipped in moonlight and mischief, Caraval is your ticket. Just remember: don’t get swept too far away.

Welcome, welcome indeed. show less

A solid 4.5 stars!

I’m a Stephanie Garber fan for life. She’s officially an auto-buy author for me.

I love her world building. In both Caraval and OUABH she creates this complex world, magic system and religion but reading it is so easy to comprehend. I really enjoy her writing style and I think she’s a fabulous storyteller.

The plot, the twists, the schemes were all so creative and fun to read. The second I thought I knew how things would unfold, she comes at you with the 1-2 punch. show more

I’m obsessed with Stephanie Garber and the entire world of Caraval.

Now onto the book! Evangeline making a deal with Jacks has been the best experience. While the world is familiar (if you’ve read Caraval), the story feels completely unique. Stephanie has woven several layers on top of each other to create an intricate mystery that has you guessing what will come next.

I loved that we get to meet more Fates as well as a Vampire! There’s were more than a few scenes that had me on the edge of my seat wondering what else could POSSIBLY happen.

I love these books. I have thoroughly enjoyed every second reading these and very excited for The Ballad of Never After!

PS I am OBSESSED with Jacks calling Evangeline Little Fox 😍 show less

Welcome, welcome to CARAVAL! 🎪✨

Scarlett and Tella live under the rule of their extremely cruel father, who has decided it's time to marry Scarlett off. (What is it with these horrid fantasy fathers??? 🤣) She has spent her whole life dreaming of Caraval, but with her future now decided, she believes that dream is over. Until an invitation finally arrives.

Next thing you know, a mysterious man helps Tella whisk Scarlett away, and then they step into a place where nothing is quite what show more it seems. And of course, because fantasy heroines are apparently allergic to relaxing, Tella gets kidnapped. And becomes this season's prize, the winner of Caraval will be whoever finds her first.

Scarlett has always believed Caraval was just a magical performance, an adventure meant to be watched rather than lived. She quickly discovers that whether it's real or not, she has to find her sister before someone else does.

Fair warning: if you don't like cliffhangers, do not start this without the next book waiting for you.
If, however, you enjoy mysteries, impossible magic, broody and seemingly dangerous men, and spending an entire book wondering what is real...

Please, step right in and enjoy the show. 🎭🖤 show less

This book is utterly intolerable.   I managed to get to 41% before i simply couldn't take it any more.

After Legendary lead me to believe that there was hope for these two sisters, that they have grown up a bit and learned something from their previous experiences, in Finale it's like we've gone back to the childish romantic stupidity of the first book, but this time it's both sisters who are just being utterly ridiculous.

While i can accept that there are plenty of people in the world who show more act like these two sisters do, continuously allowing their immature, undeveloped emotions to get the better of them, they wouldn't be able to survive in an environment like the one in these books.   No one who makes such ridiculous, pathetic, nonsensical decisions in such an environment would survive for more than 10 minutes.   So the idea that the immortal greats of the universe would fall in love with such pathetic creatures is as utterly ridiculous as these sisters are, as utterly ridiculous as Stephanie's writing has become.

I'm not sure what audience this trilogy is aimed at, certainly not anyone who has had any life experience, certainly not anyone who enjoys good fantasy and certainly not anyone who thinks Night Circus is good.   If you enjoyed Night Circus, if you like good fantasy, or if you've had any life experience at all, stay away from the Caraval trilogy, it's woeful.

I'm certainly glad i only paid 99p for each book in Kindle deals: i'd be rather grumpy if i'd paid the full asking price for these.

It's so bad i simply don't care how this all ends as i simply can't read any more of this rubbish.   I'll be deleting all three books from my Kindle and my Amazon account as i certainly won't be finishing this one or reading the other two ever again. show less