Is reading Young Adult fiction bad if you’re an adult? There’s a common misconception that it is, and I am here to contest this. YA books are an undisputed guilty pleasure of mine. Usually much easier to digest than your average adult fiction, they allow you to immerse yourself in nostalgic comfort of (mostly) carefree youth.
I have a particular soft spot for YA fantasy reads, and so when “Caraval” by Stephanie Garber was recommended to me, I eagerly grabbed it at the first opportunity. I was hoping for the best, but nothing really prepared me for the wild ride that this book is. Do you know that feeling of being stuck in kind of a reading rut? When you are not able to fully enjoy books that you read? If you’re lucky, you will find a novel that will pull you out from that dark place. For me, that was “Caraval”.
“Before you enter the world of Caraval, you must remember that it’s all a game.”
Scarlett Dragna is living on a small island, together with her beloved younger sister Tella and their abusive father, the island’s governor. Set to marry a Count she hasn’t even met, Scarlett never abandons her dream of participating in Caraval – a yearly scavenger-hunt-style game show, full of magic and wonder. When an unexpected opportunity knocks on her door (taking the form of a jaw droppingly handsome young sailor named Julian), she finds herself swept into the world of Caraval, which turns out to be something completely opposite to what she had imagined.
Now, I am aware that this book has some flaws. The writing sometimes feels off and character development leaves room for improvement. But… I just couldn’t put it down, it was too much fun to read! Interestingly enough, this has never happened to me before. I sometimes abandon a book only because there’s a character in it that annoys me, and I don’t give second chances. With “Caraval”, I was so into the magic and mystery of the world that Stephanie Garber has created, that I was willing to overlook much more than the few small issues I had with the novel.
“Caraval” has this perfect mix of elements that make for a great read. There’s a magical fantasy world, a mystery to be solved, about a gazillion plot twists, and a developing romance. The game itself is a creative masterpiece with all the twists, devious little mind tricks, and unpredictable magic. I often caught myself wishing to be transported into this world of wonders.
Word of warning: don’t try researching this book before reading it – it will spoil the fun!
Read if:
- You’re looking for a book that’s easy & fun to read.
- You’re not prejudiced against YA fiction.
Avoid if:
- Fantasy books are not up your alley.
- You like your books deep and meaningful.
