Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Scarlett Dragna has never left the island where she lives with her beloved sister, Tella, and their spiteful father. Her father has arranged a marriage for her to a man she’s never met but who will benefit her father politically, yet this forced marriage is her only hope of escaping the island with her sister to safety away from their abusive father. 

One week before her wedding day the invitation she’d been waiting for her whole life arrives, an invitation to attend Caraval for Scarlett, Tella, and one guest. But going would mean missing her wedding, the one certain way Scarlett knows she can rescue her sister from their father. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella kidnaps Scarlett. Only when they arrive at Caraval,Tella is abducted by Legend, the mastermind behind the show. Whoever finds Tella first will win this year’s Caraval. While Scarlett has been told everything in Caraval is a performance, she falls into a game of intrigue, love, and magic. Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of Caraval are over or her sister will disappear forever!

This story takes you through a fantastic magical world, where you never know what is real, magic, or performance. But the heart of the story is love, Scarlett’s love of her sister and Scarlett falling in love. By the end of the story you believe you have finally unraveled the game to realize you had no idea.

Caraval is the first installment of the "Caraval" series; the second installment is slated to be out in 2018.