Tag: Fantasy (Page 3 of 117)

Synopsis:

Welcome, welcome to Finale, the third and final book in Stephanie Garber’s #1 New York Times bestselling Caraval series!

A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.

It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.

With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.

Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end.

Review:

Finale was a fabulous conclusion to the Caraval Trilogy!  We alternated between Tella and Scarlet in this story, and I kept my fingers crossed that they would both get their happily ever afters!  As someone who read OUABH first, I lost a lot of the peril that could be found in the pages.  I knew the ending, and how quite a few pivotal moments would unfold.  While it affected my reading of this story, there was still so much to love.  The characters made this final book, and I loved watching them fight for their happiness every step of the way!

Her steps faltered, but she didn’t stop.  If anything, she ran harder.  The Fates had won another round.

Finale was so different from the previous two stories.  There wasn’t a Caraval, so the magic, intrigue, and mystery from the games were missing.  Yet those elements could still be found elsewhere, in the characters and the world around them.  And as someone who adored Scarlett and Julien’s book a little more than Tella and Dante, I was shocked that Tella and Dante stole the stage.  While I still loved my moments with Scarlett and Julien, Tella and Dante felt otherworldly to me.  When they were around one another, it was like the sun shined brightly.  The tension between them was palpable.  I just wanted to push them together!

He smelled like dirt and tears and perfection.  And she decided then that she was never, ever letting go of him.

But then there was also Jacks, and he was the prince of pulling on one one’s heart.  I never knew if I could truly trust him, yet I wanted to!  And the moments that Tella was in the middle of Jacks and Dante, oh it all made me so giddy!  I loved the jealousy and strong emotions that were invoked.  While I only had my heart set on one boy, I loved that he gave her an impossible choice.  Yet Tella had such a strong head on her shoulders and ultimately knew what she wanted.  I loved that she wasn’t willing to bend for her HEA!

Tella had never been attracted to Julian, but for a moment she’d hated how jealous she’d been of what her sister had with him.  Enough would never be enough for Tella.

Finale was filled with revelations, twists and happily evers for both sisters.  While the ending wasn’t exactly perfect in my eyes, I felt like we got to see more of Scarlett’s than Tella’s ending.  Regardless, I still adored how the story ended.  This is a series I’ll definitely want to reread down the road, and I can’t recommend it enough for ya fantasy fans!

PS On page 255, there was something foretold…..does this mean we will get another series in this world?  I have my fingers crossed!

Synopsis:

Welcome, welcome to CARAVAL, Stephanie Garber’s enchanting, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling fantasy debut about two sisters swept up in a mysterious competition filled with magic, heartbreak, and danger

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful and cruel father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett's long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to attend. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season's Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, and her sister disappears forever.

Continue the adventure in Legendary and Finale―out now!

Review:

Caraval was a young adult fantasy that swept me away.  This book completely enraptured me and I had to know what happened next.  With jealousy, trust, betrayal, and love filling the pages, I absolutely adored this story!  But just a heads up, you definitely want to read this before Once Upon a Broken Heart.  I was told otherwise, and I wish I hadn’t read OUABH first.  There was a huge spoiler for me, that made me realize a scene was not what it seemed, ugh.

For the first time in her life, she’d felt special.  Chosen.  But once again, rather than feeling as if she were playing the game, it seemed as if the game were playing with her.

Scarlett was someone I easily liked.  She tried her best to protect her sister from her father’s wrath.  And she thought her arranged marriage would help her and her sister, Tella, escape from the little tiny island they lived on.  So her lifelong dream of attending Caraval was fading away, until she got an invitation to attend this year.  Tella and a sailor took Scarlett to Caraval, yet not everything was what it seemed.  Tella was taken by the creator of Caraval, and whoever found her first was not only the winner, but got a wish too.

Scarlett tried to wiggle free, but the look on his face stopped her.  He’d never stared at her like this before.  Sometimes he gazed at her as if he wanted to be her undoing, but just then it was as if he wanted her to undo him.

From the moment Scarlett found herself on the boat with Julian, I was hooked.  I loved that he called her Crimson.  And while Julian was a complete mystery, I loved the tiny bit that we knew.  He seemed to have a kind heart and his humor cracked me up.  Yet Julian had many shades of gray.  And I wondered what secrets he was keeping from Scarlet, because he seemed to know more than he shared.  So while I didn’t understand why I could be so nervous for a man that seemed to have lies swirling around him, I couldn’t deny I had fallen for him.  He captured me so easily in his web.

“Julian,” she said in a whisper, as if anything louder would destroy the delicacy of the moment, “why are you doing this?”
His amber-flecked eyes met hers, and something in them made her breathing hitch.  “I’d think that answer was obvious.”

The pages were filled with riddles galore, and I was glued to this story.  The world Scarlett found herself in was shrouded in mystery.  And it seemed like there were wisps of magic everywhere.  From her dress, to those she met, to even what her eyes witnessed, it had to be magic.  Or maybe you just weren’t supposed to trust what you saw.  But as the story unfolded, Scarlett learned that this game had a deadlier side.  Death, blood, and loss could be found in the pages.  And scenes left me staring in shock.  I couldn’t believe what had happened.  Who knew Caraval was so dangerous…..

Scarlett didn’t know how many times she repeated his name.  She said it like a prayer.  A plea.  A whisper.  A good-bye.

If you love young adult fantasy, I can’t recommend this book enough!  And if you love romance laced into your stories, you’ll definitely be happy.  The earrings, day of life and message in the clock had my heart soaring!  The moments that Scarlett and Julian were together, were everything!  Now I’m excited to read Tella’s story next!