I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Legendary by Stephanie Garber Series: Caraval #2
Published by Flatiron Books on 5/29/18
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Young Adult
Pages: 464
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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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.
Short and Sweet
It’s time for another game of Caraval and this time it’s Donatella Dragna playing. After making a deal with a criminal for the whereabouts of her mother who disappeared years ago Tella must now win the game and learn Legends name to fulfill her end of the deal with the unknown criminal she’s been corresponding with.
Characters
Tella: Our main character and the focus of this book. I loved getting to know more about Tella in this book especially, because in Caraval we only read about how Scarlett thought of her. Tella is determined, fearless, and still impulsive. She’ll do what she thinks is right to get what she wants. Her heart is in the right place and we get flashbacks to her childhood before her mother leaves so we get to see why she’s so important. What I loved the most about Tella was how intelligent she was and how she was bold enough not to back down from a challenge.
Scarlett: Tella’s older sister. Scarlett takes more of a backseat role in this book, we still see her in some scenes but she’s not even playing Caraval this time. Scarlett is still protective over tella and is wary of most of the decisions her younger sister makes.
Jacks: Jacks is the Heir of Elantine, and also a fate. Jacks is cruel and makes rude comments and he frankly doesn’t care that he comes across as cold blooded. Jacks is next in line for the throne and he also has some other priorities on his mind.
Dante: Dante is one of Legends actors and though theres not much known about his past I loved his character. He’s so mysterious and theres just something about the way he’s written that’ll draw you to him and make you want more of him in every scene.
Romance
Tella and Jacks: This relationship was one of the relationships that are faked. Jacks needed a fiancé and needed Tella to be convincing about it, and Tella and Dante lied about Tella being the Heir of Elantines fiancé so that she could get a room to stay in. I mentioned earlier that Jacks was cold that definitely didn’t change when he was around Tella she probably got the worst of it. Jacks just wants to get to the throne and Tella is the pawn he’s going to use to get there.
Tella and Dante: Ahh I love these two. It was hard to read about these two not because they weren’t good for each other but because they were perfect for each other in my eyes and Tella would keep pushing Dante away. I will give Dante credit for not giving up he was persistent and what I loved most was how he tried to protect Tella the whole time.
Scarlett and Julian: Our couple from the last book. We don’t see much of them but when we do they’re either happy or not so much. I liked this couple too, and I think they can make it work if they try.
Quotes
~ “Tella would destroy the world before she allowed anything to happen to her sister.”
~ “Unfortunately Tella wasn’t the sort of girl people saved – she was the one they left behind.”
My Thoughts
~ Caraval this time around is different because its not just a game where you’ll be swept away, some aspects of it are very real.
~ There’s so much going on in this book and its so exciting to read about. We learn what happened to Scarlett and Tella’s mother, we learn about the fates, we meet Elantines heir, and the winner of Caraval gets to meet Legend.
~ Caraval takes place in Valenda this time and I love the setting and all of the places that Tella visits the writing makes it seem amazing and like you could bee there with the characters.
~ I liked that Tella had to make a choice between winning Caraval to help Legend or to help set the fates free, it was interesting to weigh the options and see the pros and cons of both.
~ It was interesting to see some of the fates the prince of hearts who has a killer kiss and the undead queen and her handmaidens. The fates were all trapped in playing cards and some of them are free but they’re not to their full power.
~ When we learn about Tella’s mother we see that she has a history in Valenda and that she wasn’t what she seemed back when she was with the girls on Trisda.
Overall
Legendary was just as magical as Caraval if not better! I loved getting to read from Tella’s point of view and seeing how much she would sacrifice during this game. She’s definitely a strong character and willing to do what she has to for those she loves. All of the risks and characters in this book are what make it great. I’m so glad that I got the chance to read this book and I can’t wait until the third book comes out! If you haven’t read Caraval its one book I recommend reading and its perfect for the summer!!!
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