Sample Sunday with Caraval (Untitled #1) by @sgarbergirl

This week we have Caraval!  I so can't wait until its time to read this one!! 

    Before you enter the world of Caraval, you must remember that it’s all a game . . .

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their ruthless father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the legendary, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

Then, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation to Caraval finally arrives. So, Tella enlists a mysterious sailor’s help to whisk Scarlett away to this year’s show. But as soon as the trio arrives, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nonetheless soon becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with her sister, with Legend, and with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

Stephanie Garber loves Disneyland because it’s the one place on earth where she feels as if the fantastical stories she loves to write about could actually come to life. When she's not writing young adult fantasy, she teaches creative writing at a private college in northern California, where she’s known for turning assignments into games and taking students on field trips that involve book signings. Caraval is her first novel for young adults. She would love to hear from you on social media.

"All opinions are 100% honest and my own." 

The first chapter in this is nothing but a few letters so this is a sample of Chapter 2!

Scarlett's feelings came in colors even brighter than usual.  The urgent red of burning coals. The eager green of new grass buds.  the frenzied yellow of a flapping bird's feathers.  He'd finally written back.  She read the letter again.  Then again. And again.  Her eyes took in each sharp stroke of ink, every waxy curve of the Caraval master's silver crest- a sun with a star inside and a teardrop inside of the star.  The same seal was watermarked onto the enclosed slips of paper. 

This was no prank. 

"Donatella!" Scarlett plunged down the steps into the barrel room in search of her younger sister.  The familiar scents of molasses and oak snaked up her nose, but her scoundrel of a sibling was nowhere to be found. 

"Tells-Where are you?" Oil lamps cast an amber glow over bottles of rum and several freshly filled wooden barrels. Scarlett heard a moan as she moved past, and she caught bits of heavy breathing as well.  After her latest battle with their father, Tella had probably drunk too much, and now dozed somewhere on the floor. :Donna-"

She choked on the last half of her sister's name. 

"Hullo, Scar."

Tell flashed Scarlett a sloppy grin, all white teeth and swollen lips. Her honey-blond curls were a mess as well, and her shawl had fallen to the floor. But it was the sight of the young sailor, with his hands wrapped around Tella's waist, that made Scarlett stutter. "Did I interrupt something?" 

 Disclaimer: Thanks to Goodreads and Amazon for the book cover, about the book, and author information. Buying via these above links allows my site to get a % of the sale at no cost to you. This money gets used to buy items for giveaways. In accordance with FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials for bloggers, I would like my readers to know that many of the books I review are provided to me for free by the publisher or author of the book in exchange for an honest review. I am in no way compensated for any reviews on this site. All donations are to help keep this site running via costs from shipping, .com charges, and other giveaways.

Comments are DELICIOUS! and now that were using this new format for comments the TOP 3 Commenters will all win bookish goodies each month! So that is just one more reason to comment!  This is open to everyone!  So get commenting!  

Don't forget to check out our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest! 

@CrossroadReview 

Posted in: Sundays