Caraval (Caraval #1) by Stephanie Garber

From Goodreads

Welcome to Caraval, where nothing is quite what it seems...

Scarlett has never left the tiny isle of Trisda, pining from afar for the wonder of Caraval, a once-a-year week-long performance where the audience participates in the show. Caraval is Magic. Mystery. Adventure. And for Scarlett and her beloved sister Tella it represents freedom and an escape from their ruthless, abusive father.

When the sisters' long-awaited invitations to Caraval finally arrive, it seems their dreams have come true. But no sooner have they arrived than Tella vanishes, kidnapped by the show's mastermind organiser, Legend. Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But nonetheless she quickly becomes enmeshed in a dangerous game of love, magic and heartbreak. And real or not, she must find Tella before the game is over, and her sister disappears forever.

My thoughts

I am not sure what made me grab a copy of this book from my local Library, but all I can say for certain is that I did grab it!

This is the first in the Caraval trilogy series, followed by Legendary and then finally the last in the trilogy Finale.  The book series is aimed at the YA market and has had mixed reviews.  

Telling the story of Scarlett and her sister Donatella, known to her friends as Tella as they accept their invitations to Caraval.  As they take up the invitations they don't know what to expect as everyone's experience of Caraval is different.  To find out how they dealt with their joint experiences of Caraval, you will have to read it and suspend all belief in what may be real and what may not, as this is a fantasy read that will take you on an adventure along with them.

This is pure escapism and as you're reading you may not know what is actually happening in real time and whether or not it may be a dream or worse still a nightmare.  I read this for what it was pure escapism and as you finish the book things are revealed and concluded well in my opinion.  

I look forward to reading Legendary the second in the series to see what the Author has in store for the characters and the readers.