Legendary discussion

I know the author goes on and on about "oh people go to caraval to get swept away" and "it's the best thing ever", but honestly, it doesn't even seem like it's that much fun if you're not Scarlett or Tella. There's no true puzzles involved and the clues are kind of.. subjective. The most interesting part is the dressing up and the small bouts of magic and sacrifice.. that's absolutely it. I just find the game a bit bland and I would've liked the book more if Caraval had been truly shown as the magical place it was described as.

I think it seems amazing in Book 1 -- though not winnable for everyone. It's not really a competition, it seems. But the Caravel in Book 1 seems like a blast -- like the most fun fair/circus/casino/whatever on the planet, just fun for what it is even absent any chance at winning.

In Finale, it doesn't strike me as being very fun at all aside from a bit of spectable.

Flori wrote: "I know the author goes on and on about "oh people go to caraval to get swept away" and "it's the best thing ever", but honestly, it doesn't even seem like it's that much fun if you're not Scarlett ..."

I totally agree with you Flori, I think the game is strange in the sense that everyone else isn't doing much. They are more like spectators really. It seems like they are all just watching Scarlett and Tella throughout the entire book haha! I guess we will see what happens in Finale, maybe Garber will realize this and write more about the game with regards to others.

I agree! It feels so contrived, like it's not really a competition, it's setting out bread crumbs for Scarlett to follow and then later Tella in book 2. :/ I wish it felt more like a game and not like they were literally shoving clues at them to make it so they couldn't lose.

I like the idea of Caraval, but maybe if SG wasn't going to flesh out the game and truly make it so there's some challenge, then it should have been presented as a show or magical isle you can visit instead of a game. Maybe once you're there you can play certain games, but acting like it's one big game is silly when it's so contrived for the main characters. They couldn't NOT win.

Yes, exactly WinterRose! Great way of describing it by using the bread crumbs analogy lol. As annoying as that aspect is in the two novels, I'm still excited to see what she writes in Finale.

Lol thank you! I am interested in Finale too. I guess I feel like this series SHOULD have more twists and turns, but it ended up being too easy--for the characters and for the readers. I'm holding out that Finale will have some twists.

I guess it depends on who's playing and why they are playing

I feel like Caraval is more of an experience than a game.

I think Caraval is an experience that people can either watch or be engaged in. I found Garber's writing fascinating and vivid. I think for those who engage the experience can be magical and mind blowing, and go to whatever indulgences or dark places their limits will allow. We get a glimpse from Scarlett's view first and next from Tella's, but I think each person has a crazy experience.