I admit I'm a little conflicted about Caraval. I was inclined to give it two stars, but since it kept me gripped through most of it, I'll say it's a decent book. 
 However... 
 The writing was one of the most unpolished I can remember from a published book. I was constantly fixing the prose and the wording in my head. And it was not because I didn't like the author's stylistic choices, because there was no style whatsoever to speak of! Though it was a quick read, particularly in the second half when the plot started thickening, I think this book needs a thorough round of editing. 
 There was this thing the author did that I found bizarre. She kept saying that her protagonist could "see" emotions as colors. While I found that to be an interesting idea, it was so poorly executed it was almost cringeworthy. Colors were just sort of listed, paired with some emotion and random things like "dreams" and "hope" and stuff like that. It was as if someone had challenged the author to put all the colors she could name into one single book . It just didn't work. 
 But leaving the writing aside, I wasn't particularly impressed with this book in other areas either. The characters were mildly interesting at best, tolerable but forgettable. The only character I was intrigued about was Legend (view spoiler)[BUT HE WASN'T EVEN IN THE BOOK! And boy that was disappointing. (hide spoiler)] 
 Scarlett, the protagonist, was dull and barely had a personality. I understand that her father's abuses would contribute to her being passive, fearful and prone to blame herself for everything. But for a girl that finally gets her lifelong dream of visiting this carnival-stage show Caraval, she experiences no wonder at ANYTHING she sees or lives there (except for the love interest's touch and I'll get to that in a second). And her internal monologue... it was one of the most infuriating, tiring and repetitive I've had the displeasure of encountering in a book. I had to make a conscious effort to let that go and keep reading. 
 The love story had potential, but at the end, it's something I've read many times before--mostly from the words of inexperienced writers, I might add. The love interest I found a little cliched. He's dashingly handsome, a cheeky scoundrel, lies constantly, has super-defined muscles, and falls instantly in love with the plain female protagonist because she has this "something" he can't resist. Authors, please stop doing this. That "something" might be what attracts you first to a person, but it won't make you fall endlessly in love. If you want me to buy your book's love story, you have to work for it. 
 Also, I found Scarlett's relationship with her sister underdevelopped. 
 The plot I found a little too complicated and--unnecessary? I'm not sure how to put this. It's one of those books with a plot that feels forced and when it all ends you can't stop thinking everything could have been solved in a much easier, reasonable, and less dramatic way. But then, if that had happened, there would be no book at all. I have to admit I was on the edge of my seat, heart pounding, through the whole second half of the book. I wasn't expecting many of the plot twists and were genuinely good. But while the mystery and intrigue caught me, the plot resolution did not. I was a little disappointed with the direction the author decided to take at the end, mostly because I can imagine a million, different and far more interesting paths she could have chosen. 
 On a sidenote, people (mostly around the internet) were comparing this book to The Night Circus, and while I can see why the connection was made, I can tell you there's no ground to compare the two. While Caraval was entertaining, it was more of an intrigue-based story that happens to have a carnival-circus backdrop. Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus is magic trapped inside a book. 
 I found the descriptions and general atmosphere of Caraval lacking. Garber wasted a great opportunity to create an unforgettable, whimsical, out-of-wild-dreams setting and seep creepy undertones through it to match the suspense and drama of the plot. Again, the book felt as if it needed a little more work, editing and thinking through. Or at least that's what I kept thinking all the while I read. 
 I know I've mostly listed flaws, but that's because nothing about this book really impressed me that much. And I found this so frustrating because the book had so much potential. 
 Overall, the biggest impression Caraval left on me was that the author has a lot to learn. I am not sure I will read the next book (since apparently this is a series). Maybe if I have nothing on by tbr list I rather read. We'll have to wait and see.