It’s that time of year everyone! The birds are starting to chirp, the weather is getting warmer…and Finale is hitting shelves in just a week! So, to take part in all the excitement, I’m posting my thoughts about reading Legendary for the second time. Flatiron Books on Twitter is doing a wonderful Caraval Reread to help prepare for the release of Finale (which comes out NEXT WEEK!!). I can barely contain my excitement for this world and the final book (though I will admit I am sad to see the story end).

Title: Legendary (Caraval #2)

Author: Stephanie Garber

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Release Date: May 29, 2018

Pages: 451 pages

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Summary:

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.

If you would like to see my Reread review of Caraval, click here.

I thought Caraval was magical and that nothing could surpass the first book. But I was wrong. Legendary is twice as magical and twice as romantic. Legendary is such a fantastic sequel to Caraval.

Legendary follows Tella on her journey to save her mother while also trying to uncover who Legend really is. She knows that if she gives up Legend’s true name to the person she bargained with, Caraval and all the magic of the game with cease to exist. But if she doesn’t, her mother will be lost to her forever. In order to find out Legend’s true name, she must win the second game of Caraval, while also trying not to lost her heart in the process.

Legendary is one of those sequels that will capture your attention from the first line and keep you hanging until the very end. I never wanted to put this book down, especially the second time reading it because there were so many things I missed during the first read. Stephanie truly knows how to capture an audience’s attention and keep them wanting more.

In Caraval, the reader is experiencing Scarlett’s journey. In Legendary, we experience Tella’s journey. Tella is almost the complete opposite of Scarlett. Tella is brave and sassy and sometimes impulsive, and she’s about to learn what it really means to sacrifice, especially for those you love. Tella’s characterization in Legendary is extraordinary. She has so much hope throughout this novel that her hope gives me hope that there will be a happy ending for all the characters. She’s a breath of fresh air, and experiencing her journey with her was amazing. I loved Scarlett in Caraval, but Tella, in my opinion, brought so much more to the series.

There is still that beautiful bond of sisterhood with Scarlett and Tella, but in Legendary, we get to experience who Tella is when she’s not with her sister. Tella comes into her own and, as the reader, we really see her develop into a strong and intelligent young woman. And her relationship with Dante, one of the Caraval players, brings a sense of fun and adventure and romance to her life, something that she never thought she would get to experience.

In Caraval, the Deck of Destiny was barely mentioned, mainly just an after thought for what’s to come in Legendary. But Legendary explores more of the Deck of Destiny and what it actually means to Legend and the people in Valenda (and what it means to Tella).

Caraval and Legendary were both spectacular books, so I can only imagine what Finale will be like. I’m luckily almost done with Finale, and let me tell you, it’s everything I hoped it would be and more. Stephanie Garber is truly a gifted writer and I am so glad she created this beautiful world that means so much to so many people.