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.
Published May 29, 2018 by Flatiron Books
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My Thoughts
For those who loved Caraval, be prepared for an even crazier journey when you're taken through the world again through the point of view of Scarlett's younger sister, Tella. While Scarlett is still a main character, she is no longer the star of the show, and her little sister has stepped up to play Legend's game this year. This is Tella's time to shine and to grow into the character that we were fighting for in Caraval.
It's amazing again to see how Stephanie Garber creates such a vivid and amazing world that I would love to get lost in. The setting is believably drawn out, and all the various parts of Legend's game are explained and described in great detail that you feel like you're right alongside the characters. I'm not much of a settings person, because I often picture my own scenes, but Stephanie Garber makes it hard when she's carefully planned out every scene and the importance of what is happening.
What I really love about these books is the mysteriousness of Legend and the world he has created. The twist and turns of this book were strategic, and they were just the right amount of predictable. It was where secrets were hinted at, but it wasn't blatantly obvious. I was always excited to see if my predictions rang true – sometimes they did, sometimes they didn't.
Also, Tella and her relationship with all the other characters is believable and well-executed. Unlike her sister, Tella is more stubborn and reckless, so there are moments when you're screaming in your head for Tella to slow down or take caution. She's a character that you root for and feel for – no matter what she's going through. This made the experience much different than reading Caraval, because you weren't reading about the cautious Scarlett playing Legend's games. There was less questioning of actions, and more doing, which made more happen in the book altogether.
Not to give away too much, but Legendary is a great novel to follow Caraval. It doesn't fall into the sequel slumps, because it takes a new route with a new main voice. It brings a story that's similar, yet very different than Scarlett's which makes it even more interesting..
I can't wait to dive back into Stephanie Garber's beautifully crafted world and characters with the final book of the series, Finale!
Stars: 5 out of 5
What I Liked: continuation of a story from a different point of view
What I Disliked: that it ended! Can't wait to see where the story goes from here!
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