It’s been a while since I’ve read a series I’ve absolutely loved. I should probably stay away from Kindle Unlimited as I’m struggling to find anything really good. Hopefully I’ll find some great ones soon.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
I am completely in awe at Caraval by Stephanie Garber, this series had me reading in a trance-like state – I could not pull myself away from these books.
I was completely hooked on this series following the adventures of the world-famous festival, Caraval with the Dragna sisters. Scarlett and Donatella Dragna live on a tiny island with their cruel and controlling father. Ever since she was a little girl Scarlett dreamed of visiting Caraval however now with a marriage arranged by father to a mysterious count, her dreams of this are over. This, however, is not the case as she finally receives her invitation to Caraval and with the help of her sister Tella and a strange sailor, the sisters escape the clutches of their father to participate in a game that will change their lives forever.
Stephanie Garber has created a stunningly magical world full of twists and turns. Like seriously the plot twists in these books are incredible and totally not guessable. The first book focuses on Scarlett and her playing of the game, with the second book Legendary following Tella and the third switches between the two.
Something that I find really interesting about this series is that Scarlett is not a character you would expect to be the heroine, being more subdued and doubtful due to her father’s abuse. Tella who is more outgoing and rebellious would have been a more obvious choice. When playing a game of wits it is interesting to see from the point of view of a heroine who questions every move they make. In some ways, it is refreshing to not have a heroine who jumps into everything without giving it a single thought. Surprisingly this does not make the story any less interesting but instead leads to you rooting for Scarlett to become a confident person who can break free from her self doubt.
Synopsis: A legendary competition.
A mesmerizing romance.
An unbreakable bond between two sisters.
Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.
But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.
Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . beware of getting swept too far away.
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
This series holds a very special place in my heart. I have always loved fairy tales (especially the Disney kind) and Marissa Meyer has retold them in a way that I have never read before. With also being a big science fiction fan Cinder was perfect for me.
A cyborg Cinderella sounds pretty cool, right? Definitely right. Cinder, a mechanic living in New Beijing, is a cyborg – the result of an accident that orphaned her as a child. Cyborgs are treated poorly so only a select number of people know Cinder’s secret. Similar to the original fairy tale Cinder lives under the tyranny of her stepmother and stepsisters, who have been invited to a ball at the palace. Once again Cinder is not permitted to go, even though all citizens of New Beijing are invited. Her stepmother, Adri, treats Cinder as her property and shuns her for being a cyborg.
Running her booth at the market Cinder and her android Iko encounter Prince Kai who is in disguise. Prince Kai, who has heard of the famous mechanic Cinder but was not aware that she is a teenage girl, has brought his android Nainsi who has suddenly broken to be repaired. Soon after Prince Kai leaves the market a plague that has been raging across Earth, Letumosis, hits the market and one of its vendors starts showing symptoms.
In the world where Cinder is set, there are two colonies one on Earth and another on the moon. Those living on the moon are known as Lunars – evolved humans who now possess the powers of mind control used for deceptions in thoughts and appearances. The Lunar Queen Levana is a cruel woman who is said to have killed her sister to gain her position of power and murdered her three-year-old niece so her position could not be threatened.
This whole world is something that amazed me more and more as I read each book. Marissa Meyer shows amazing character development, especially with Captain Thorne – who you meet in book two; Scarlet. She writes funny and witty characters who you can’t help but love and cruel and evil characters who you love to hate.
Book one synopsis: Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg.
She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the centre of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
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