Legendary (Caraval #2)by Stephanie Garber
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Synopsis:
Stephanie Garber’s limitless imagination takes flight once more in the colorful, mesmerizing, and immersive sequel to the bestselling breakout debut Caraval
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.
“What have I always told you about the future?”
“Every person has the power to write her own.” Tella said.
Please God. Let there be a third book. There has to be a third book. Right? RIGHT?! THIS WAS SO GOOD. I spent a good four hours this morning finishing this book, completely ignoring everything else around me an I can’t say that I regret it. I mean seriously, the only part of this book that I didn’t like was when it ended…
Dante looked up and gave her a fallen star’s smile.
“You should always wear flowers.”
Would it be bad if I said I hoped the next book (IF there is one) was also centered around Tella? I liked the first book BUT this one was just so much better in my opinion. I thought Garber’s writing had seriously improved, the plot was even more twisty than in book one AND Tella was just so damn likeable!
Tella might have been many things, but she was far from silly or worthless or whatever labels people liked to affix because a person was young and female.
I only read Caraval once as an ARC so it’s been quite awhile but from what I can remember, Tella is so much fiercer than Scarlett. I loved her sass and how even in the moments where she knew she should be scared of the people and things happening around her, she put on a brave face. She always had a retort ready for Dante and Jacks or anyone else trying to stand in her way. I couldn’t get enough!
But Tella didn’t believe in impossible choices. In her experience one path was always clearly worse than another.
I was a huge fan of the plot centering around the Fates, too. I’ve always thought that the concept of fate was an extremely interesting thing so the fact that Tella had to worry about them AND a new game of Caraval made the stakes even higher this time. It was all so incredibly twisty and complicated and of course you never can tell what’s real or fake—who’s working for Legend and who’s genuinely trying to help Tella. I LOVE IT.
But Tella didn’t want to look at the stars. She wanted to see him.
There also might be a love interest in here that I am completely obsessed with. Extremely broody and obviously I will not be saying more, just know that I am all for this ship. 100%. That’s basically why I need another book if we’re being honest with one another, lol.
Tella claimed she didn’t want love—she liked to say loved trapped and controlled and ripped hearts apart. But the truth was she also knew love healed and help people together, and deep down she wanted it more than anything.
Overall I was THOROUGHLY impressed, you guys. While the first one was good, this one was GREAT. All the stars!
“Don’t be like me and settle for the ease of an almost-ending, when you could have the true ending.”
“I’m not sure I understand what that even means,” Tella said.
“It means most people give up at the part of the story where things are the worst, where the situation feels hopeless. But that’s when hope is needed most.”
ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication. THANK YOU NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the chance to read this early. ♥
Great review! I can’t wait to read this book! It’s one of my highly anticipated reads of this year and I’m so glad to hear that you loved it. Your review has made me even more excited for this book.
Raven recently posted…Daughter of the Siren Queen (Daughter of the Pirate King #2) By Tricia Levenseller [Review]
Thanks! It seriously was one of those books that had me immediately wanting to go back and reread number one to see if I could pick up on anything I had missed the first time around. I think I’ll definitely be rereading both in the near future. I hope you love it too!
Ooh this is the first review I’ve seen for this one!I’ve been wanting to get to Caraval and now I definitely need to move it up, so I can get to this one! Nice to hear that this one is even better- plus the twistiness sounds awesome!
Greg recently posted…Vault of Dreamers
Yes!! I think it would be best if you read it closer to when Legendary comes out. It’s great because it literally picks a day or so after Caraval ends so you wouldn’t be missing a beat. Plus then you’ll have everything fresh in your mind and be able to maybe pick up on more clues about who Legend might be. 🙂
Yay! I am so happy to hear we have no sophomore slump here. Great review!
Sam@WLABB recently posted…Discussion: Irrational Book Envy
Thank you! I was JUST as happy to find out the same thing 😀 I feel like people either really liked Caraval or didn’t so I hope those that didn’t like #1 come back for a second try!
I loved Caraval and still vividly remember the book, even though it was my first book for 2017 (preordered!). I can’t wait to read Legendary.
Oh Danielle I hope you love it then! Like I said in my review her writing and storytelling abilities improved so much from Caraval to Legendary. I was so happy with it. All of these comments are making me want to go back and re-read it already lol
Ahhhhh so lucky that you got to read this already! And I’m glad to hear that it’ll be SO GOOD! 😀
Flavia @ Flavia the Bibliophile recently posted…Indigo Teen Staff Pick of the Month: March 2018
Yeahhh I consider myself VERY lucky because I’m a librarian so I think they give me a few more ARCs so I can get them into my library (not that I’m complaining lol).
That’s amazing 😀
Flavia @ Flavia the Bibliophile recently posted…Indigo Teen Staff Pick of the Month: March 2018
Woo hoo! I can’t wait to read this one!! Hope you get your wish for a third book, too.
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction recently posted…Sunday Post & Giveaways Galore – 3/11/18
Meeee too or I’m going to be a very sad reader!!!
OMG I’M SO EXCITED! I loved Caraval and this review, that premise… I need it.
Plus I love the idea to see Legend destroyed. I never liked him. But maybe Garber is gonna try to twist him 😉
MUAHAHA you’ll seeeeee 🙂 and thanks! I hope you end up loving where it all goes.
I loved Legendary too! I really didn’t like Caraval. It was so hyped up but was really meh for me. I read Legendary for Tella! Obvs, she’s my favorite sister. Must read for me!
I can kind of agree..I did like Caraval but I thought overall Legendary was 100% better, including the writing which made me SO happy!!! I can’t wan’t for the final book!!!!!!