Caraval Episode 1 | Author Highlight

A magical game, a missing sister, and a man we absolutely do not trust but also, would follow anywhere?!  If the Night Circus and a fever dream has a dramatic child, this is it. Welcome, friends to Caraval by THE Stephanie Garber. A tragically underrated author who has been passed over for far too long, and we NEED to talk about it. And her wildly imaginative worlds that we're obsessed with, of course.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hello, bookworms. I'm Kate. And I'm Jess. And this is Books Books, Spruce, and Banter. If you're new here, hi. Hello. We love to talk about all things books-ish. And on today's episode, a magical game, a missing sister, and a man we absolutely do not trust, but also would follow anywhere. If the night circus in a fever dream has a dramatic child, this is it. Welcome, friends, to Caravelle and the world beyond. Okay, first of all, before we dive into Caravelle, this book is written by an author named Stephanie Garber. And the reason we're covering this series is because we love Stephanie Garber. Jess and I have fallen in love with her books, and she's only written this series, as well as a spinoff series called Once Upon a Broken Heart, which you probably have heard of. So we might end up talking about on this podcast eventually, because we love it. Um and then she's also has written started a new series called Alchemy of Secrets. Alchemy of Secrets. Oh, get it debut series into the adult genre of fantasy romantic. And she is an incredible author. She's so underrated. We haven't talked about her enough in the romanticy book community, in my personal opinion. And so that's why we decided to cover this series because we loved it and we are probably going to talk about her spinoff series as well.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

Absolutely. It was definitely one that we both were just we grasp onto and it was like, I can't put this down. Caitlin texted me one night and was like, I can't put this down. I was like, okay, I'll try it. Yep. And I picked it up and I was like I can't stop.

SPEAKER_01 1:44

I can't stop. Right. Stop won't stop. So the thing about Stephanie Garber, the reason that we think she's so underrated, which we'll get into more detail about that towards the end of this episode, because as you saw from our last structure, our new restructuring, one of our uh sections in this new structure is why we like this book series. So we'll get into a little bit more then. But she does such a good job of drawing you in and keeping you engaged. And so we'll talk about that more then. But just know that she is an author we want to highlight because we love her and she's so underrated. So if you haven't read anything by her, start here and then go to once upon a heart. Just trust us in this process.

SPEAKER_00 2:17

Yes, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 2:20

Uh, but this uh book, Caravel, we're just talking about Caravel. This is book one of a three book series, a trilogy. And we'll talk about books two and three next episode because they're more intertwined plot-wise. So if you want to just read this or listen to this podcast and read that book and start here, that's great. Um, but we will be talking about everything in regards to even plot twists with book one. So be prepared. Spoiler warning. You heard it now. You can't say anything later. You cannot. Sorry, don't come at me, please. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 2:51

I'll come at you in the best of ways. In the best of ways, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 2:57

And Jess is gonna kick it off with our plot summary.

SPEAKER_00 3:01

All right, so our lovely little Scarlet over here. She has spent her whole life wanting to go to Carabel, um, which Carabel is a magical once-a-year performance slash game. So, like you can choose to, if you get invited, you can choose to attend and just watch, or you can be a part of this game and you have no freaking clue what this game is gonna be. It changes every year. You don't know what what your goal is. You know nothing going into this. You just know that you're entering into a magical land where things could be real or they could not be real, and you never know what is real or what is not until the game is end. What?

SPEAKER_01 3:41

Right, that's what makes it so intriguing. So it's cool because it I got the vibe when we were reading it that it's like there are only rumors about the game. You don't get details and you get like rumors about it, and you don't really know like what actually happened or if it like this actually happened or this actually happened.

SPEAKER_00 3:56

Like, is this carabill even a thing?

SPEAKER_01 3:58

Is it even a real thing? Right, exactly.

SPEAKER_00 3:59

So I know. Yep. So she finally gets invited after years of writing to legend. Legend. We love legend, maybe. Who knows? Question mark. Um but she finally gets invited and immediately goes off the rails. Um, the game ends up being that her sister Tella has been kidnapped as part of the game. How rude! Like, finally invited, finally going. And your sister's a part of it. Yeah, you think you're s you think you're going to enjoy this little sisterly time, and then your sister freaking disappears the second you get to the island. What are the odds? Uh-huh. So Scarlett has to try to solve clues, navigate illusions to try to find her. Nothing is as it seems, as we've said. Like literally anything and everything could be real or fake, even people. Yeah. And that's what we love about it.

SPEAKER_01 4:49

And that's what we love and hate about it. It's so confusing.

SPEAKER_00 4:52

It really is. But in the best way. Yes. And then enters Julian. Is he helpful? Is he suspicious? Is he hot? Yes.

SPEAKER_01 5:02

Just a yes. Walk away with that yes, put it in your pocket, keep reading.

SPEAKER_00 5:06

It's just check yes, Juliet. But check yes, Julian.

SPEAKER_01 5:09

Yes. I literally put as a side note check yes for all of the above.

SPEAKER_00 5:15

It's true. And we love it. The game is high stakes, emotional manipulation, and confusion at all times. And we love it.

SPEAKER_01 5:24

It's like you're speaking our language. Are we high stakes emotionally manipulative and confusing all the time? We just enjoy the ride. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 5:35

It's the greatest statement ever. Yes. Maybe we should tagline that.

SPEAKER_01 5:38

Yes. If if that gives you any idea to the type of books we enjoy reading, you're welcome if you're along for the ride.

SPEAKER_00 5:45

Yep. Uh, we wish you the best. We wish you the best. So going into uh the main character breakdown, we first up have our lovely Scarlett. Um, her role and vibe is basically she is the anxious, rule following older sister trying her best. This girl is stressed. Yes, she is this whole time. Like stressed.

SPEAKER_01 6:09

Like every other one of her thoughts is worried. Poor girl. But she's loyal to a fault. Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:16

Also blink twice if you're okay, girl.

SPEAKER_01 6:18

Oh, don't make me cry. If you don't know that reference, retalk.

SPEAKER_00 6:23

I didn't even do it for that.

SPEAKER_01 6:26

It's just a part of language now. It's fine. We're all home.

SPEAKER_00 6:31

That hurts. Oh, my heart now. You're gonna have to take the next kid.

SPEAKER_01 6:36

Okay, moving on. The next character is Sweet Tella. She is the younger sister. And as Jess would probably describe her, she's chaotic, impos impulsive, mysterious, and relatable. That is how I would say it. We love her, but also girl, what are you doing?

SPEAKER_00 6:54

Loki in some ways, not always. Scarlet is Caitlin, like the older sister, and I am the impulsive younger sister. I think that's why we both related to these books so well. We loved them. Which actually Caitlin even texted me and goes, I feel like Tella has your sarcasm or something about relating it to me. And I was like, Oh, and then I read it and I was like, Oh. Um, because Tella is a girl that like she said plot twist and she meant it. Right. And if that's not me, I don't know what it is, right? Yes. Um, and thanks to good old Tella. We have Julian. Is he morally grey? Is he charming? Is he lying constantly? Yes. Who knows? We shall see. Like I trust him, but I don't. We love to not, but we love to. Um, this man could ruin my life, and I would be like, Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 7:49

Yep. That's exactly the type of character he is because when you first meet him, him and Teller are having an interesting moment. And then he totally interrupts the story and becomes one of the main characters of the plot, which is hilarious because at the beginning of the book, the first few chapters, you're like, oh, he's just gonna be a fun side character. I never expected him to continue. Same, literally, same. So he becomes really fun, and I really enjoy him as a character, but you don't know whether or not you can trust him, and we'll explain why later.

SPEAKER_00 8:16

I love it so much. Which also kind of leads to a legend. You think she's just gonna write to him, and maybe you see him, maybe you don't, but he don't. Um he's an exclusively the mastermind of this and a massive drama king. Master drama king. I mean, you have to be to put on a whole caravel. You do think wild. Everything revolves around him, yet we know nothing about him. And it's just like, sir, show yourself, right? Who are you?

SPEAKER_01 8:44

I want to know. So Legend is the master of Carabael. He is the one who created it, he's the one who um is involved with it. He is the magic behind the scenes. And so what's so incredible is that literally everything revolves around him, like Jess said. But we know nothing about him as a character in this book, really. You think you do, you think you're getting to know him, you think you have some hints here and there. But again, because the way this is written, you don't know what you can trust or what you can believe. And so the the ending of the book is so so good, so so sweet, because it's it is a huge plot twist that you're like, wait a second, I thought I had this figured out. Never mind.

SPEAKER_00 9:19

So, so true.

SPEAKER_01 9:21

So, which leads us to the emotional damage scale scale.

SPEAKER_00 9:27

Um, so for me, I have this at a 7.5. Yeah. Um, and the reason there's a few reasons for that, obviously. But the moment that Scarlett realizes who Julian is, and she has to decide if it changes absolutely everything for her, or if she's gonna allow it to change nothing, and the whiplash of this is just it's brutal.

SPEAKER_01 9:55

And Stephanie writes that part so well because she does literally in her mind and Scarlett's mind go back and forth and back and forth and back and forth. And every other page, you're like, wait, do you are you gonna forgive him or not? Like, I don't get it. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 10:07

It's intentionally confusing, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:10

And I literally put as my notes here, I was like, Yes, the way my brain had no idea how to process this. It was like, wait, do I trust him? Do I not? I don't know what to do here.

SPEAKER_00 10:20

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 10:21

Like that's the point.

SPEAKER_00 10:22

It was like very well written in that way. I completely agree. And the it reveals at the end like whether you should try. Um, and the reveal at the end, it's just plot twists, plot twist, plot twist, plot twist. Um, but you want to be a part of it. And I added a part here where it says, Did you ugly cry? And for me, no sobs. I'm not a crier even when they're supposed to cry. So, like, what does that say about me? Anyways, um, but emotional stress. Oh, this book gives you that. Um as the kids would say, the book gaslit me emotionally. But you're not wrong.

SPEAKER_01 11:00

You are not wrong. What emotional damage scale would you put this on? I would put it at a seven. So I didn't give the the the half point there, but I put it at a solid. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. We're all I will say I was tempted to give it an eight, so maybe I should stick with the 7.5, but I gave it a seven because there were a few moments in the book where I did question. So again, so the way Stephanie writes this book is that at the very beginning of Caravel, literally they tell you in the beginning when they're telling you the rules, how to play, and there's a warning and a signature you have to sign. Like you have to sign a waiver. That should be your first hint. But it says literally everything the fine print. Always reading the fine print. It says literally everything is a game, and to be wary of that and to question everything. And yet, so there was there were a few moments throughout the story. I was like, wait, is this real? Is this not real? Should we be questioning this? You know, so I think there was a point where it's like she did a good job of like giving you hints there and making you question, but yet the end was still devastating. So I would definitely say, Yes, it's a solid seven because I did not see that devastation coming. Um, and if you don't know what I'm talking about, it is the betrayal of Julian. Did not see that coming. And it wasn't even like intentional because in a way I don't think he really meant to, but he is a player of Caravel, and so you have to kind of give him some some points for that. So it was good, it was good. I didn't see it coming, but it was good.

SPEAKER_00 12:28

We hate it so good. I agree. So another thing with our lovely little switch up of our how we're doing this is we have a date 'em, send them to therapy or call them 911. Um, so the first up, Julian. Uh, date, date, date. I don't think there's some plot twists, there's some secretive. Yeah. Don't we all have a little secret with us? Like, he's charming, he's protective, he's dangerous in a hot way. Like, give me your number, sir.

SPEAKER_01 13:03

Thank you very much. And I will also say, he is a player of caraba, he is doing a job. So, like, and he told Scarlett at the very beginning, you can't trust who people are here. They're not, they're not who what they seem. Exactly. That is literally a quote. Yeah, he's very up front, but she's the one who chose anyway to believe the lie. So I gave him points for that total date. I did not put therapy because I don't think he needs that much growth yet. He has some growth later on in the series that was needed, but it wasn't needed immediately.

SPEAKER_00 13:31

So I agree. Um, speaking of therapy, Scarlet and Tella's dad. I mean the fact that you added him here and not in the character analysis. I really keep giving you plot twists with who I'm gonna have in the datum sex. Emotional journey over here, guys. I really put her the roller coaster. I really put her through it. I don't know why she's still on the ride. But I'm glad we're all here for it, guys.

SPEAKER_01 13:58

It's fine.

SPEAKER_00 13:59

So for him, he's definitely call 911, call FBI, call squat, like whatever you want. He's gotta go. Just no notes straight to jail.

SPEAKER_01 14:08

Yeah. And I will say that Stephanie uh did a good job with the plot with Tella's dad because he gets pulled into Caravel. Yeah, and he doesn't even know it. And that's the best part, is that like he is this terrible character that you hate for good reason. Bye-bye, Papa. We don't need to see you again. Bye-bye, Papa. Forgot their last name, so I was gonna add our last name, but it's solid. But I agree. 911, 10 out of 10, he's go straight to jail. He's a terrible character. And it's interesting that he gets a little bit more depth later on in the series than he really needs. Like, we didn't need to bring him back. We don't care, we don't care about him. But yeah, he was a terrible character. But I do think Stephanie did a good job with writing the Caravel story for making it believable for Scarlet. And so, legend, kudos to you for bringing him in to make it believable. Because that's the whole point, is that he wants to draw people in to make it believable.

SPEAKER_00 14:57

But absolutely. And I really don't like you. I really love your note here. It says, also send a therapist to his cell. He's got some issues he needs to work through. Does though his call in jail is to the therapist?

SPEAKER_01 15:10

I don't want you out of jail and therapy. I want you in jail and therapy. You need to punish, you need the punishment as well as the therapy.

SPEAKER_00 15:16

It'd be like that sometimes. Talk out your feelings, bro. Speaking of talking out your feelings, legend. Who is he? We don't know, but we'll date him and go to couples therapy together. Because I think that's needed.

SPEAKER_01 15:29

Definitely needed. Oh, legend. We get more into him into the next book. But I what I loved about his character too is that, like, again, like you said earlier, we don't know much about him, but he's pulling all the strings, and you don't even realize how many strings he's pulling until the end of the book when you think you've met him. He's but you have it.

SPEAKER_00 15:49

I want to be him in some aspects, you know. Like, how fun I s I don't the therapists don't don't read into this, okay? Um, if you're a therapist, just ignore this, okay? Okay, fast forward. Um, like how intriguing would it be to put on this whole thing, not knowing because you're putting all this on, but you don't know how people are gonna react. Right. And you just get to be alongside them. Right. Or are you beside them? Who knows? Right? Nobody knows. Nobody knows you can do whatever the heck you want. You can be a part of the plot, you cannot be a part of the plot, and nobody knows about it. Right.

SPEAKER_01 16:27

Yeah, because part of the setup in the first couple chapters when they're talking about Caravelle and Scarlett's um infatuation with it, they talk about legend quite a bit, and I didn't realize that until um she mentions those thoughts again in the second book, I think it is, or maybe it's the third, whenever they switch POBs. But um, they she talks about legend quite a bit and how like he that no one knows who he is, no one knows his identity, they just know that he wears a top hat, you know, but he plays different characters in each game, and sometimes he won't be involved at all, but sometimes he will be. And that's what makes it so intriguing when you're reading the story because you're like, Is this legend? Is this legend? Am I meeting him? Do I know him at all?

SPEAKER_00 17:04

And and I go ahead. Go ahead. I feel like part of it too with legend, because at one point in the book it says that as he plays characters, especially villains, he becomes part of that and forgets who he is. So, like, for me, anyways, like part of the time it's like, does he even know who he is anymore? Yeah, does he recognize legend from a character? Right. Um, and I think that's just that's such a cool reveal once you get to that.

SPEAKER_01 17:33

It's good storytelling because it has you constantly on the edge of your seat of like, is he a villain? Is he not a villain? That's the morally gray part that's kind of fun. But yeah, we'll play more into that next series for the next book.

SPEAKER_00 17:46

Absolutely. All right, favorite quotes. We love quotes, yes, we do. Um, so the first quote that I have is she didn't know what she wanted, but wanting felt dangerous, and I just felt that in my soul.

SPEAKER_01 18:05

Soul deep over here.

SPEAKER_00 18:10

Because Scarlett, I mean it's Scarlett in one sentence. She had been taught that desire leads to punishment, and for her to do what she wanted was if it was not as what someone else wanted for her, that it was unacceptable and she would literally be punished for it. So watching her unlearn that is just a whole arc that I felt I felt deeply.

SPEAKER_01 18:32

Yeah, so part of the dynamic with Tella and Scarlett and their dad and why it was so toxic is that Scarlett's dad would punish them by punishing the other sister often with physical force. And the fact that that was such a casual add-in, but it was such a dark part of their story, and that's why this line is so powerful because she didn't know if she could want it. Like it felt dangerous because who's gonna get punished for it if I want it, if I get it, right? And that's just so sad. Like I remember getting to know Scarlett because it's this is written from third person, but Stephanie does a really good job of making you feel like you're still entwined in her thoughts. Uh you just feel for her because there's a lot of trauma there that she has to work through, which is why this three book series is really well written because she lets them kind of go on their own character art journeys, but they end up being intertwined in a way, which is really cool because of what they've been through.

SPEAKER_00 19:23

But absolutely how about we hear your quote?

SPEAKER_01 19:27

Okay, my first one is be careful who you trust. Most of the people here aren't who they appear, which is what we talked about earlier. Yeah. Um, this was part of the um, this is actually part of what Julian said, I think, when they were about to enter the gates of Caravel after they got to the island.

SPEAKER_00 19:44

I believe you're correct.

SPEAKER_01 19:45

Um, because he's the one who warns Scarlet that most of the people here aren't who they appear. Um I put this because it's almost like a reveal at the very beginning that you can't trust him, but you don't realize it until after because he's deceiving her as well. He's part of the he's part of the game.

SPEAKER_00 20:01

And especially with how he like knows little bits and pieces of things, and she's like, How do you know this about the game? Right, he plays his character. Like he literally even tells you, I've been in Carabel before. Right.

SPEAKER_01 20:14

He didn't say how many times he didn't say anything else, but but it's believable enough, right? Yeah. Um, and then I also put that it's almost a metaphor for real life. I think a lot of times, um, especially with social media being so prevalent these days and in our daily life that you don't always know if people are real, not only from bots, but also if people are just putting on a show. Absolutely. I have a lot of highlight reel. Right. I'm a mom of two little boys, and I have a lot of friends who compare a lot of their lifestyle to moms online. And it's like, I don't think we always remember that like that is a highlight reel. It's not real, it looks perfect, it looks pristine, but people are showing you what they want you to see. They're not showing you the mess on the floor, the crying toddlers at 3 a.m. Like, and so I think a lot of times it is a metaphor for real life because I think sometimes, again, with the way that she writes these two characters, they're very different, but because of their father, they're more well aware and self-aware that you can't always trust people, right? But so I liked that about it because there are other characters she's written that are a little bit more naive in other books that she's written that drove me nuts. So I liked that part of this of their character of like Scarlet should know that better than anyone, and yet she falls for this betrayal of Julian.

SPEAKER_00 21:27

Which I mean, she fights that she doesn't necessarily. She's like, Do I trust him? Do I not trust him? And then to finally trust and just to get happy burned, like poor girl.

SPEAKER_01 21:40

Like my heart broke for her. I was like, I understand why this is so hard. Because I would be too. I'd be like, I trusted you and I shouldn't have.

SPEAKER_00 21:46

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 21:47

So anyway, I like anyone else. Preach it.

SPEAKER_00 21:53

Preach it.

unknown 21:54

Maybe I should have said that out loud.

SPEAKER_00 21:56

Um, speaking of my next quote. Is uh every person has the power to change their fate if they're brave enough to fight for what they desire more than anything. And in my opinion, this is the heart of the entire series. It is, I agree.

SPEAKER_01 22:12

Because it keeps coming back to that.

SPEAKER_00 22:13

It's repeated multiple times in the books. Exactly. And like Scarlett Scarlett spends the entire book learning to actually believe this about herself too. And that's one reason why I picked this quote. Because not only is it relatable to our lives, um, because as you can tell, we love relating things to our lives. It's kind of a theme for us. Yeah. But it just it really goes to show Scarlet's arc as well. Like it when you read that, especially after you've read the series, you're like, dang, yeah, that that's what Scarlet was. That's what she had to do.

SPEAKER_01 22:49

Yeah, it's so good. Yeah, and her story and then tell the story, the way they take that on in different ways is really cool. My second quote is she remembered her first impression of him tall, roughly handsome, and dangerous, like poison dressed up in an attractive bottle.

SPEAKER_00 23:07

We love that one.

SPEAKER_01 23:08

We love that. Um, and I loved this because it's kind of like enemies to lovers in one line. Um and I liked that because I think sometimes I just liked the way she worded it. And this is a highlight again to Stephanie, why she's an underrated author. She does such a good job with imagery and using like flowery, flowery language in a different way. But I think a flowery language, I think a lot of like painting pictures and dropping in in settings, but the way she uses it is usually related to feeling, and so I like the way she uses it here of like it's this roughly tall, dark, and handsome and dangerous, but it's like a poison in a bottle. You know, you shouldn't have it, but it's pretty to look at. And so I liked that because that's really what enemies to lovers is in one line.

SPEAKER_00 23:52

She does such a good job doing that throughout the book, too. I just I adore it, and that quote, I don't know, there's something about that quote, it it draws you in too like yes, I'm imagining it happening. Yes, I recognize what that says of poison in a bottle that makes you want to grab it and read a label, right? But there's something about the way that flowery, for lack of a better term, like verbiage that's just poetry to your ears that it's like I'm in this. Yeah, your mind just connects immediately.

SPEAKER_01 24:24

I agree, and so I know that it's kind of like describing a love interest, but I just thought I loved that imagery because I'm like, oh, that really is what enemies to lovers is. Like you you're tall, doc and tall dog and handsome, but you're dangerous, and I know I shouldn't want you. Like, I love that, it's so good. So I'm a I'm an enemies to lover girl. I know you are. I don't hate it, I will say that, but it's not my favorite trope. So that's valid. But I liked that imagery.

SPEAKER_00 24:48

She does such a good job. I agree. All right, so why we liked this book and series. Um, so what sets this one apart to us is uh the atmosphere. It's whimsical yet dark. Yeah. And I never thought I could use both of those. One book. I know. Same, same thing. It's people, people who love vibes over rules, you're gonna love this book. Yes. It feels like you're truly inside the performance because you literally, like, as you're reading it, you're like, are they real? Are they fake? Is this the one? Is this not the one? Is he legend? Is he legend? Is he legend? Is the dog legend? Like, you just is this real or is this just making fun of me?

SPEAKER_01 25:29

I don't know. Because there's a moment where she's like, Is this really happening to me right now? Is this something I should be worried about? I probably would think this is like the moment when she like has to pay in a day of her life for a dress, and I'm like, this should be your question mark red flag right here, but that's okay. Anyway, but yes, who we'd recommend it to? Um, fantasy beginners, fans of magical settings, and romance intention, 100% agree with that. But kind of going back to what you said earlier, I definitely loved the writing style and the magic in this bookslash series. The way the magic is so different from other series. I just always applaud authors who can do like a unique world world building experience. Um and I'm not gonna put out point any fingers or bandwagon anything because I don't think there's anything wrong with having similar settings by any means. But I just applaud authors like Stephanie who take a risk and like create a world that's very different, very unique, very whimsical and dark. Because again, there's a lot of darkness in this book, but it makes it feel very magical at the same time. And so it draws you in fast paced, back to back, you keep going, and it takes you for a ride. And that's the kind of vibe you like. You're gonna love this book. And so, again, if you are a fantasy beginner, I also would recommend this book because it is YA, but in a good way, and it feels darker than it is for YA or for what it seems for YA.

SPEAKER_00 26:54

That's true, but it's the same for it's dark, but it's not, oh my gosh, what's around the next corner in a I'm gonna die way. Right. It's what's around the next corner in a what's gonna shock me way. Right, exactly. And I love what's gonna happen next. Yes, it's a blink twice, like it'll drag you in before you blink. Like you blink and it's a whole nother world. Yeah. I just adore that feeling.

SPEAKER_01 27:14

Whenever I hear people talk about like, oh, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, that's what I think of. It's like you literally want to know, like, you're gonna be up till 3 a.m. reading this book, probably, as well as her other series. Like, and she does such a good job at that. She draws you in and takes you for a ride, and you don't want to let go. No, and you have a hard time stopping. I know I always do when I read her books.

SPEAKER_00 27:32

So I would purposefully, I told Caitlin this earlier. I would purposely not read it at night because I'm a night reader. I am too. But if it was like nine o'clock or nine thirty, I was like, I can't start this because I know I will not stop till it's done. Yep. Um, so if you're like that, just pay attention to the time when you start, okay? Okay, okay. Would we read the next one? Yep. Yep. Already started, already finished. And I would say by the time we finish that first book, we needed answers immediately. Immediately.

SPEAKER_01 28:08

Yes, yes, yes. I 100% agree. Because this is one of those books where if you don't read the epilogue, it probably could be a standalone if you really didn't want to finish the series. So if you don't want to finish the series, just read the end and don't read the epilogue and you're good. But if you want to read a wild ride, read the epilogue because you'll have to have book two immediately.

SPEAKER_00 28:25

100%, which is actually kind of funny because I feel like maybe I've missed a lot in books now because I don't normally read the epilogue. Really? No. And then Caitlin texted me to read the epilogue, and I was like, that's weird. Yeah. Um, because I maybe I'm dumb, but in my book, yeah, in my world, not my book, but you know, um, the epilogue is them just being like, thank you so much to to you reading this, and thank you to this person, and thank you to that person. And I read it this time, and I'm like, this is this is laying the ground for a whole other book.

SPEAKER_01 29:02

You mean yeah, are they all like this? Yes, most of the time. Oh man. Sometimes they're just like, especially if it's like the end of a long series, it's just like, okay, here's like 10 years later, here's a happy ending. But there are times, a lot of times, if it's like middle of a series, it's like, oh no, here's some hints for the next book. And so I'm so surprised to hear you say that. Cause I'm like, you've missed a lot, my friend. Or maybe I maybe I have and haven't realized what you've done. Haven't realized, yeah, maybe. Because typically, like, if I read that it's the epilogue, I don't. It's kind of reminds me of, you know, um, I'm not gonna give spoilers here, but I will mention another book series. But the end of Iron Flame from the Fourth Bing series, the very last chapter where it's from a different POV, and there's some things revealed there, yeah, and you're like, oh crap, it's like that.

SPEAKER_00 29:49

Oh well. Maybe I need to go back and reread all the epilogue of all the books I've ever read. And that's fine. Anyway, we're gonna need to wrap this up so I can do that.

SPEAKER_01 30:00

That's fine. All right, so thank you guys for listening. This was an introduction to the Caravel series. Our neck next episode will be books two and three of the Caravel series. They are titled Legendary and Finale, I believe this last one. Um, and the reason we're doing those together is because the plots are a little bit more intertwined. Um, but there are a lot of plot twists, and like we said with Stephanie Garber, she takes you for a ride. So buckle up, buttercups. Come on the ride with us. With us. Be sure to like and subscribe to our podcast and follow us on social media.

SPEAKER_00 30:33

Rate us a 10 out of 10, five stars. Please and thank you. Thank you, thank you. All right, it's been fun, friends. Thanks for coming along on the ride, and we'll see you next time. I'm Kate. I'm dress. See you later.