Apples and magic princes, games and twisted truths, destinies and wavering fates. What’s not to love?

Stephanie Garber’s Caraval is a world full of wonder, following protagonist Scarlett Dragna as she embarks on a quest that was doomed from the start. Every now and then, a special game is hosted by the mysterious Master Legend in the fantasy Meridian Empire. The prize? A wish come true—literally. The winner would have the power to make even the wildest wish come to life. Scarlett has dreamed of going since she was a little girl, and finally, she is invited. However, the game is a few weeks before her dreaded arranged marriage. As the daughter of a notoriously cruel father, she is restricted from going. Still, her sister Donatella tricks and manipulates her into boarding a small boat with a suspicious (yet annoyingly handsome) sailor, and the story begins.

Nothing is as it seems, yet everything is what she has dreamed of. Each page builds and reinforces a fantasy life that we, living in reality, can only dream of. A stunning storyline keeps our eyes glued to the story as we swoon over our favorite characters.

World-building really does take on a new meaning in this book. Garber entirely creates a different universe with people and places we can vividly imagine while reading. To say it in a cliché, we truly are transported to another universe while reading Caraval. The magic and beauty involved in every tiny detail serve as a breath of fresh air from the sometimes disappointing reality we live in. Symbols are littered deliberately throughout the novel, demonstrating meaning and thought that go beyond superficial elements.

Magic has no bounds here, but Garber still maintains an air of maturity that resonates with teenagers and young adults alike. We feel the characters’ distress, fear, and happiness almost as if it were our own. The plotline is nuanced, a pleasant change from the typical fantasy novels that have depressing storylines or childish fairytales.

Of course, what’s a YA novel without a little bit of romance? Garber writes every character with so much depth and description that it’s impossible not to fall in love immediately. It’s this swoon-ability (as teenagers might describe it) that reels the readers in. Not only this, but readers are able to “choose” teams, rallying behind specific male or female leads. The only negative of reading Caraval is that our expectations are raised beyond reality (life is better with a bit of delusion anyway…).

Don’t be fooled—Caraval is not just another bland fantasy book, rather, it is the sprinkle of magic that makes our lives complete.