Title: Legendary

Author: Stephanie Garber

Blurb:

A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister’s. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval…the games have only just begun.

Review: Wow. I really can’t say enough about this book. Garber has amazed me with yet a more enticing plot than the first book–which I believe is seriously hard to do. I LOVED Legendary far more than Caraval, and it surprised me how much I adored the depth and transformation and personality of Scarlett’s sister, Tella–who is the main character in book two.

Her plot got deeper, more layered, more beautiful and more heart wrenching.

Unfortunately, I fear giving away spoilers so I cannot tell you very much except, this book, guys, was gorgeous.

Characters/Voice: Donatella, as I mentioned in my Caraval Book Review, has a completely different and unique voice to her sister. They are worlds apart and yet they are obviously family and sisters in every way.

Scarlett has a lesser role, and yet she remained steady in her voice.

Dante was very different to Julian, dark and sinister, an enigma, and yet we can’t stay away from him any more than Tella can. *His development is worth everything.

Legend–let me just say he lives up to his name in every way. (MAJOR HEART EMOJI!)

The Prince of Hearts has yet another voice, so raw and real, and unnerving. But again there is so much depth to barber’s characters that you can’t help but feel attached to them.

Pacing: Book two is just like book one–CAN’T PUT IT DOWN. Every page, whether action, or mystery, or romance, or world building, it makes you wonder and dream and fall deeper into this world.

Plot: In the very simplest terms, Tella must discover Legend’s true identity or she will lose people dear to her and even herself.

Setting: Garber took us to another very colorful and rich part of the world she has created–the capital city of Elantine. It’s the perfect setting for the unique Caraval game that must take place–a city full of secret places, ancient magic, and illustrious streets. Garner also created a whole set of cards that come to life–The Fates. These Fates–adn the trouble they cause–significantly raise the stakes. I love to see another writer’s imagination as they weave their plots together.

Themes: Freedom from past wrong beliefs, love, strength, sacrifice, family, coming of age.

Last note: To say that I am super (dying) excited for her last book in the trilogy, Finale, is just not enough.

 

Signing off, Nova