Customer Reviews
Note I did receive an audio and e-arc for this book.Beasts of Carnaval is a rich story about the effects of colonialism on an island society and ultimately how their magic and culture fights back.Following Sofia, a newly freedwoman who has spent her years on a nearby island, inspired by the island of Puerto Rico, she is determined to find what happened to her dear twin brother who she hasn't seen in 5 years after he traveled with his slaver to the nearby shores of Isla Bestia. A place known for its ultimate revelry. As a practical woman, she is not taken in by all the Carnaval has to offer, at least not at first.Rosalia Rodrigo does a masterful job of weaving native mythology into this lush magical world. Since we are in Sofia's head for the duration of the book, we are spiraling down the rabbit hole with her. The narrator Inés del Castillo does an impeccable job bringing this story and Rosalia's lyrical prose to life. This was additionally so helpful because I'm not a Spanish speaker, and hearing Ines pronunciation helped keep me in the story, vs struggling in my head how something might be pronounced.You won't want to miss this one!
I got this book through Netgalley. The beginning of the book really takes after Caraval to the point it makes the book seem like it's going in a totally different direction. The writing is very descriptive to the point it's more of the focus than the plot I would say. I found the MC to be a little ridiculous at times but overall was ok. This book is very different in the first half than the 2nd half I too. We go from a hazy dream to a more historical vibe to an adventure vibe which created a bit of a disconnect for me. I think they could've been woven together a little better.
Beasts of Carnaval follows Sofia and Adelina as they embark on a journey to find their loved ones (Sofia's twin brother, Sol, and Adelina's father, the enslaver). With that said, you have surely recognized that Adelina and her family are colonizers, dealing in the enslaved people(s) of the Caribbean nations. Sofia (a freed woman) and Adelina (Sofia's former owner) grew up as sisters; therefore they handle themselves differently as they travel to Isla Bestia.This story started off slow, as most books with big messages often do, and I almost DNFD it as a female Sherlock Holmes (Sofia) and a Steampunk Princess (Adelina) were building their personalities. I am glad to say that I hung in there. The twist, turns, and dark corners with whispering shadows finally came lurking through, and I soon found myself cheering for the native Caribbean diaspora in one breath, and feeling disproportionate levels of compassion for the colonizers (who were basically going insane in their own version of Jordan Peele's Get Out) in the next breath. This book is a reminder that some stories take time to get going. Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC.
This novel begins with Caraval vibes. Getting to know the characters and learning about the setting is fun and comprises the first third of this book. Unfortunately, the rest tries for Get Out but doesn’t quite make it. The remainder of the story slogs on and, save for a few highlights here and there, could’ve done with about 100 pages less. The world building is interesting and the ideas, while not original, are well presented.
This definitely felt like a fever dream from start to finish. While the setting is fictional, I enjoyed the immersive world-building and the rich folklore inspired by Caribbean cultures. I also liked our two main characters, who each had their own distinct personality and background. They’re opposites but they balance each other out.However, I struggled with the pacing and felt the story could have been condensed. The Carnaval added a strong sense of atmosphere, but there wasn’t much plot progression until the final third of the novel. The prose was quite lovely though, I can’t fault that. Overall, the glamorous Carnaval and island mythology stood out, but the slow pacing kept me from fully connecting with the story.
