An intriguing follow on from Caraval if a little predictable but I didn't enjoy it any less! I love the lore of the Fates and I can't wait to hear more about them in Finale!

I still cannot get over how good this book is first time around i loved it, second time around it's for sure one of my all time favourites! Tella is just such a fantastic character and I couldn't get enough of her story, and the fact that the fates are in here too just made this all the more fantastic and slightly sinister.

I really loved Caraval even more upon re-read but everything about Legendary is just so much more, more magical, more mysterious, more dangerous and much more is at stake. I love Tella and Dante and I cannot wait to see how this will all end and I'm so intrigued to see more of the fates as they can only get more wicked. Beautifully written with a captivating story, this was just such a magical read.


Thank you so much to Netgalley for the E-arc in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed Caraval but enjoyed Legendary even more.
The change of the main character was jarring at first but I quickly grew to love Donnatella. She was sassy, ballsey and wonderfully confident.

Although more suited to a 'younger' young adult I still really enjoyed the setting and plot, however cheesy some parts may have been.

Legendary was mystical, magical and fantastically entrancing, a definite step up from Caraval full of all the usual YA tropes.

I had an e-ARC of this book via Netgalley however I actually listened to this book on audible. As soon as I finished Caraval I started Legendary. I was so excited to start this book as it was all about Tella. I loved Tella in Caraval but we didn't get to see a lot of her so knowing this I couldn't wait to get started!

I thought that Tella was impulsive in the first book but in this book, we see that for her this is so much more than just a game. Tella has been through so much more than we thought in Caraval and in Legendary she goes through a hell of a lot more! Tella is strong, brave and determined.

Dante and Tella had such great chemistry and I loved their banter. I definitely fell for Dante in this book. We also meet Jacks in this book. Jacks is arrogant, There'sno other way to describe him. I was suspicious of Jacks from the minute we met him. There is just something about him that makes him untrustworthy.

As in Caraval this book is full of beautiful locations, magic and grandeur. Stephanie does an excellent job of creating a world that you can completely escape into. I also have a hardback copy of this book and the map on the inside is just beautiful.

Finally, I want to talk about the ending. Well it surprised me that is for sure! I am so damn excited for Finale!

The sequel to Caraval, Tella throws herself into the competition again... what could go wrong?

Great story and so many twists it kept me reading. The world building is really descriptive, rich and wonderful.
A good second book.

Legendary is a YA fantasy novel that follows the same two sisters that are in the previous book, Caraval. While the first book follows Scarlett's perspective, this second instalment gives us Tella's point of view from just after the end of the events of Caraval. The reader is treated to another game of Caraval, except this time, everything is much more real and the stakes are higher than before.

Caraval was one of my favourite reads of last year, as I fell in love with the world and the characters, so coming back to it all in Legendary was like visiting some old friends. To begin with, I was disappointed to discover this book follows Tella, rather than Scarlett, though Tella did grow on me as the story progressed. She is much tougher than her sister, and more stubborn too, and she just incredibly feisty and great fun to get to know better.

I loved the world in the first book, and Legendary was able to build upon that as well as providing us with another game to get sucked into. This time around everything was different, as obviously we already know how Caraval works, and how the game tricks both the protagonist and the reader. This time around, you are aware of that, but it still messes with your head because you are told time and again that it isn't a game this time, that everything is real. Tella questions this often, and so did I while reading. It can't really be real can it? Though at the same time, there is too much at risk to believe it is just a game, with lives at stake.

The romantic tension between Tella and Dante played a big role in this book, and I was there for it. I felt drawn to Dante, and whenever he wasn't around I found myself wishing he was there, not unlike Tella herself at times. When key characters are actors in Caraval though, it's difficult to know who and what is real. I even questioned Scarlett at times, was she really not playing? Did she play a bigger part than what was being shown to us? Was she somehow Legend? The sibling connection is so strong in the first book, and it was great to see the dynamic between them from Tella's point of view this time around. Secrets can build up easily, but do they sometimes come from meaningful places, such as protection?

Perhaps the biggest drive for page turning this novel so quickly, was the desperation to find out who Legend is. Legend is a strong magical, but mysterious person who creates the Caraval games. No one will say who it is, either because they feel so loyal to Legend, or because of some sort of magic. If Tella wins Caraval though, she can finally find out who Legend is. I had a firm guess in my head, which turned out to be correct. I didn't keep the guess at that all the time though. I would swap my mind around regularly, and I enjoyed the thrill of clue hunting.

Now I know who Legend is, I'm not disappointed. More than that, the ending of this book has left me with so many questions, both for Legend, and for other plot points and world building questions too. I cannot wait to see what the next instalment has to offer, and I'll definitely be picking it up as soon as it comes out. If you haven't yet started this series, I highly recommend giving it a read, as it's fast paced, addictive and thrilling.

Legendary is the sequel to Caraval and follows Scarlett's sister, Donatella (better known as Tella) as she investigates what happened to her mother all those years ago whilst the aftermath of the previous Caraval game complicates matters. I found this book even more enjoyable than Caraval as it expanded the story, answered a lot of the questions I had and gave us insight to a complex character that didn't get a lot of time in the first book. If you enjoyed Caraval, or perhaps even wanted more than the original story, Legendary does deliver.

Thankyou so much for a copy of this book and the chance to read such an amazing book i loved the first story and the second was no exception brilliant magical mesmerising

A wondrous second book in the Caraval series. I adored being back in the dark but mystical world of Caravel with the sisters. This book delivered from beginning to end and I can't wait to see what book 3 will hold! It's sure to up the ante even further!

I received a copy from Netgalley.

I had also pre ordered a hard cover copy after finishing the first book last year. I had to reread Caraval before starting this one to refamiliarise myself with the world and the storyline. I think I actually liked Caraval more after a reread.

However, I was very disappointed in this lacklustre sequel. It took me forever to get through and was frankly, boring.

Spoilers for the first book.

The sequel takes place just after the first book finishes, the night Caraval ends. The sequel is told from Donatella’s POV. After her sister Scarlett spent the first book trying desperately to save her sister, I was curious to know more about Tella’s character. While Scarlett was quite sensible and almost timid during Caraval Tella seemed to be the more lively sister. Scarlett’s character grew tremendously throughout her story.

I didn’t like Tella at all during her book. I found her vapid and irritating. She’s headstrong and acts without thinking, she lies, she manipulates and finds herself in trouble a lot. She’s supposed to be stronger sister, yet I found she whined and pined far more than Scarlett ever did. She makes stupid decisions and doesn’t seem to know how to deal with the consequences of her actions.

We find out a little more in this book about the disappearance of the girls’ mother – Tella knows a few things Scarlett never did. She’s kept the secret and makes a bargain with a mysterious stranger to help her find some answers. In the sequel, the stranger wants to collect his payment – Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

As it’s the Empress’s 75th birthday, there is a special Caraval game to celebrate, so Tella figures this is the opportunity to get what she needs. The only clue she has to her mother is a special deck of cards – a Deck of Destiny.

The story revolves around something to do with Fates who are trapped in the cards and a fiendish plot to release them and wreak havoc. Tella tells a lie to get into an exclusive party and her lie causes her to become involved in a very dangerous plot with a scary evil Prince, with a deadly and dark secret.

The writing is beautiful and lyrical just like the first book, the descriptions are vivid and so clear and there were some truly amazing passages. There were moments when Tella’s inner strength shines through but then she’ll go and do something stupid and make her irritating all over again. The romance in this one revolves around Dante (we met him briefly in Caraval) and he seems like the male version of Tella.

They flirt, they kiss, Dante appears throughout the book helping Tella out. He can be hot one minute – seem like there’s something more to him than a handsome flirt – then he acts like a total jerk. He has secrets of his own. (Of course) Tella spends a great deal of the book pining over him. She can’t decide how she feels about him and it gets very tiresome.

The other problem I had with this story was while the mystery with Tella’s mother and the Fates story was interesting enough, it takes place during a Caraval game. There’s more mysteries to solve, but it felt no different from the first book. It had all been done before and without the magic. It felt boring and long winded.

It did have its moments, some of it was pretty good, but there was just too much I found irritating. And it took a long time to get through as well.

Though despite the fact that I didn’t like this one much, I will be reading the finale to find out how it all ends.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for approving my request to view the title.

Legendary was one of my most anticipated reads for 2018. I absolutely loved Stephanie Garber's debut novel Caraval and couldn't wait to get my hands on the second book of the series. I was extremely lucky to receive an ARC of Legendary which is just a miracle in itself. I was honestly so happy to receive a copy and it's safe to say I really, really loved this book.
Caraval gave us a great introduction to this series and really set the tone but I feel like Legendary really took the series up to another level. In Legendary, we follow Scarlett's bit of a rogue sister, Tella. Tella is a young woman who loves to push the boundaries but lives and deals constantly with the pain of losing her mother when she was younger. She loves to play games and I found her playful nature to really shine in this book. Our story follows Tella as she plays Caraval this time and navigates through the game. Tella is determined and clever but also has fun. Although I say she is clever, she does manage to get herself into a rather sticky situation in this book.
We don't see as much of Scarlett in this book which was a little sad but it wasn't a huge issue. There is one character that we really get to know more throughout this book that was present in Caraval. I won't mention who it is but I'm really glad that we got to see this character more.
Stephanie's writing is always a joy to read and has quickly given her a spot in my top author list. I love how the magic really comes off the page and how I feel like I am fully immersed in the book. The writing makes it so easy to imagine the characters, settings and makes this book a memorable read.
The setting was similar to the setting of Caraval but different. We travelled to the Valenda which had a whole host of new places to explore and visit with new and intriguing characters. I love that the books include a map at the front as this helps to really make the book a more immersive experience. I felt like Legendary went further by having an added magical and mysterious element, but I won't say too much as you'll just have to see! All I will say is that it involves fate.
Legendary ended with the biggest twist of the series so far. Although a little predictable, I was still happy with the turn this book had, especially since there were so many throughout the book.
Legendary, in conclusion, was a wonderful read. I'm so glad that books like this exist and I'm ecstatic that there will be a third and final book to (sadly) close this series.

This has to be one of the most strange and twisty books that I have ever read. But it was so good that it was impossible to put down.

For me Legendary was 100% better than Caravel, there was more darkness, more glitter and twisty plots than you could shake a stick at. It was also a pretty intense read, so that helped with keeping the suspense going.

To be honest words cannot really describe how awesome and amazing this book is. It was darkly edgy and delicious tale that I did not want to end. Tella is thrown into the deep end as she plays Legend's deadly game in the hope of rescuing her mother. But is Tella ready to accept the consequences?

Also I need to mention that ending, but it was perfection, but also role on Finale next year because I have no idea how it ends.

This was a fantastic read, that sucked me in and made me devour this book as quickly as possible.

I have to be honest with you, I struggled a little with Caraval. A lot of people were raving and I wasn't 100% sure that I wanted to read Legendary when I requested it. BUT, I'm so glad I did! All my issues with Caraval were overturned, to the point where I think I may need to go back a read it again. A brilliant ya series, and I can't wait until book 3!

I loved this book just as much as caraval. From the moment it started I was enthralled in the story and love the characters. Loved all the twists and turns and want to reading the next book to find out what happens next

I adore this world, and this book is definitely an example of why. I am so in love with everything Stephanie writes and I can't wait for the final book!

4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2018/06/14/legendary-caraval-2-by-stephanie-garber/
Legendary is the second instalment of Stephanie Garber’s Caraval Trilogy. It’s another colourful confection with sumptuous descriptions of balls, palaces and tricky games played out following a trail of cookie crumbs.

I think it’s probably safe to say that if you liked Caraval you’ll almost certainly like Legendary. I admit that I enjoyed both books although on balance I probably liked the first the most. I found myself having reservations along the way and both books definitely led to a feeling of indulgence – which, I think stems from the fact that I’m aware of the issues that I have and yet I still can’t help reading in fairly short order and just plain enjoying the read.

To the plot. The story this time around is told from Tella’s POV. Tella has her own reasons for wanting to succeed and it seems that she’s made a pact with an unknown man who seems to be of a risky persuasion. Tella and Scarlett’s mother disappeared from their lives many years ago and until now her whereabouts have been a mystery. Winning Caraval could change all of that. Names are powerful things and it seems that somebody is very keen to have Legend’s true name. Can Tella succeed in finding out about the man behind the spectacle.

The characters. Well, as mentioned, this time the story is told from Tella’s pov. She’s playing the game and although Scarlett wanted to join in she seems indisposed for the majority of the story. We do have the addition of two extra characters. One called Dante who seems determined to follow in Tella’s footsteps. Dark of hair and of nature Dante is a conundrum and yet somehow he feels fair rather than foul. The other character, Jack, has a more dangerous feel. Both of them are mysteries when it comes to their identities. Of course we have other secondary characters who are there as props of the game and we of also have a few flashbacks to Tella’s mother.

The writing is again lush and although I can see how some might find Garber’s flowery prose a bit too much I find myself wallowing in it. I just like her style and find it very easy to read. It’s sugary sweet and uses all sorts of colours, feelings and food to pull together descriptions.

My criticisms are probably similar to the first book. I don’t really buy into the strength of feelings between the two sisters – which might be simply because they barely spend any time together in either of the books. I thought Legendary lost some of the fun of the game itself – but again, I think that’s because the author is taking things down a slightly darker route – the potential outcomes certainly seemed a lot more dangerous, in fact when I really think about it there was very little of the actual game involved this time. And, there is a romance taking place – not really a criticism to be honest just thought it worth mentioning.

In terms of what I really enjoyed. I liked the introduction of the Tarot cards and the fates all being intertwined. As with the first I loved the creativity and magic around Caraval itself. I thought we had a real opportunity to find out more about Tella and her strengths and weaknesses. And, can’t tell a lie – I enjoyed the romance elements and I think plenty of other readers probably will do so as well. The conclusion leaves the way open to a number of possibilities and I’m certainly intrigued to see what comes next – not least of all who the POV of the third instalment will be.

Overall, I had issues with this book but at the same time I found myself completely unperturbed by them. This was an easy read for me and an enjoyable one in spite of any quibbles I picked up along the way.

I received a copy through Netgalley courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Apologies for the delay - I posted this a couple of weeks ago but forgot to send feedback.

I absolutely loved Caraval and Legendary was one of my most anticipated books of 2018. Legendary picks up right where Caraval finishes, although this time the focus is Scarlet’s sister Tella. The book is full of magic and mystery and I raced through this book, I just couldn’t put it down.

The second book in the series is much more complex, as this time it’s even more difficult to tell what is real and what isn’t. The book was well paced and I enjoyed the glimpses of characters from the first book as well as the introduction of new characters. I did feel the book was a little too romance heavy, but overall I thought it was a really terrific read.

The world building and character development are truly excellent and I definitely felt that Stephanie Garber upped the ante this time around. Tella is a really fascinating character, she’s wilful and stubborn and has to make some really difficult decisions in the story. Although I preferred Caraval, I definitely felt like Tella was a more interesting protagonist.

Legendary is full of magic, excitement and beautiful writing. If you loved the first one then you will not be disappointed. If you haven’t had the chance to pick it up yet you should definitely do it now – plenty of time to binge read both books before Finale is released.

In all honestly, Legendary can probably be read without reading the first in the series – as it’s a different sister’s perspective and Garber explains the events of the first book throughout – but please do not take that as an excuse because both are spectacular and magical.

Legendary shows us Donatella’s perspective as, this time round, she’s the one playing Legend’s infamous game. I adored her part in the ending to Caraval, when we had a glimpse into just how smart and brave she is, so I’m grateful that the whole book is from her point of view. She’s definitely one of the most interesting, multi-faceted characters I’ve read too – not quite good, but definitely not bad.

The whole story centres on Tella needing to win Caraval in order to find her long-lost mother. We see more of one of Legend’s players, Dante, as he’s trying to help Tella throughout. First up, we’re told from the beginning that it’s not just a game anymore, and a lot of additional lore is added into the mix (including another main character, which I’ll get to soon). But Dante. Dante is a smirking, tattooed, mysterious and funny character and his times with Tella were either heartbreaking adorable or the funniest parts of the book (I quite like Dante, in case that isn’t obvious).

Now, for the newbie, we’re introduced to Jacks who’s basically a cold-hearted, power hungry heir to the Elantine Empire. He’s definitely the villainous type, but at the same time I couldn’t help but like him a little? His head-to-heads with Tella were quick and sometimes also quite funny. There’s so much depth to his character too, Garber did a marvellous job at introducing him in the sequel but having him be as strong of a character as other main characters.

We don’t see as much of Scarlett and Julian in the book owing to the change in POV, but the bits we did see were pretty interesting. I probably would have missed them a lot but I loved Tella’s character, and I guess I got so engrossed in her side of the story that I didn’t really wonder about them as much. Scarlett develops a little through the book, she’s much braver following the events of Caraval and a part of me felt super proud of her by the end of Legendary.

When I read Caraval, I was excited for Legendary… but I didn’t imagine I’d love it even more than Caraval. And yet… here I am. I can’t wait for Finale.

I quite enjoyed this book at times, but at others it left me feeling rather frustrated. It tells the continuing story of the Dragna sisters, this time focusing on Tella, as she attempts to free their mother and win Caraval. Garber has a real eye for interesting concepts and ideas. I thought that the introduction of the Fates into the story world was fantastic, but I felt frustrated at the way in which they were under used, in my opinion. Similarly, I was really pleased to see that a lot of the issues I had with the first book in terms of representation of female agency, or the lack thereof, seemed to have been resolved. Tella is by far a much more self-reliant girl and I found it easier to support her choices throughout. However, I also felt that a lot of the book played the same beats as the first, with clues and misdirection. There was much of the book, particularly in the middle section, that just seemed like a re-telling of the first book, which left me a little flat. The narrative did pick up again towards the end, but again, I thought the ending lacked any punch. I also found one particular plot contrivance, which I won't detail as it is a spoiler, incredibly annoying. All in all, I think that the potential of this series just hasn't been thoroughly realised. The books are enjoyable enough, but they could have been truly great. Some of the ideas are incredibly original and they are unfortunately hampered by some romantic stereotypes.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me this book to review

Legendary is the excellent sequel to Caraval which was a real page turner and kept me guessing. Maybe because after reading the previous book and expecting the unexpected but I found this one a bit more predictable. I like that we got to see more of the world and life outside the Caraval and the perspective of someone who I feels understands the game better than Scarlett. While I am not upset by this, I was expecting a bigger time gap between the books, but it took place the day after Caraval and some of the fallout from the book.

I completely miss judged Tella in the first book as, while she is still a bit self-centred, she is so much more complex than we got from Scarlett’s point of view, showing that while Scarlett is protective of her sister, she doesn’t think much of her really. I loved Tella as she is intelligent, cunning and knows what she wants, just what I like in a main character. Scarlett is also in this book and it appears that her story is also not complete, but I had little interest in her, as she was making decisions which left me wondering what she was thinking, and either she didn’t notice or care that her sister was in trouble as she didn’t pay much attention to her. Dante was an interesting character as I could tell if he was helping and protecting Tella because of his character in the game, he truly cared about her or for some other nefarious reasons, but he did keep me guessing. Jacks was similar as I knew his plans, but I couldn’t quite figure him out.

I thought this was a duology but was pleasantly surprised to find out there is at least one more book in this series and I can’t wait to read it. I would recommend Legendary to fans of the first book Caraval.