Review – Legendary (Caraval, Book 2) by Stephanie Garber (4.5/5 stars)

Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 464 pages
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Release Date: May 29, 2018
ISBN-13: 978-1250095312
Stand Alone or Series: 2nd book in the Caraval series
Source: Borrowed from Library
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

“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.”

This is the second book in the Caraval series by Garber. The third book hasn’t been released yet. I really enjoyed this book, just not as much as Caraval. This book was intriguing but lacked some of the magic and wonder of the first book.

This book is all told from Tella’s point of view. Tella has been conversing with a mysterious person in an effort to make sure Scarlett is happy and to find their lost mother. Imagine when she finds her correspondence has been with one of the Fates. Tella also finds out that if she doesn’t win this special session of Caraval she won’t survive to see another day.

I loved the addition of the Fates to the story. The idea of the Fates getting free and destroying the world was intriguing and really raised the danger factor of this story. I enjoyed Tella as a character, but not as much as Scarlett. I think my favorite character throughout was Dante; him and Tella have quite the thing going on throughout the story.

There are a number of interesting mysteries and twists and turns to the story. I didn’t find Caraval quite as magical this time around; maybe because things were so serious for Tella. I also got a little sick about Tella bragging about how she could save herself, yet time and time again Dante had to come to her rescue.

The story ends at a bit of a cliffhanger but it wasn’t horrible. I am curious to see how everything will be resolved in the third and final book, Finale (expected out in May 2019).

Overall this was a wonderful continuation of the Caraval series. While it wasn’t quite as magical and wondrous as the first book in this series, it was still very well done and I enjoyed it a lot. I would recommend to those who enjoy intriguing mysteries in a magical carnival-like setting.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– New Release Reading Challenge
– Goodreads Reading Challenge