This is the sequel to Caraval and this book lives up to the expectations of the first. Once you open up the book, it is hard to put down.

Legend has decided to hold another Caraval. Scarlett and her sister Donatella decide to return. This time it is Tella who is determined to play the game. This time the game entails finding their lost mother who is trapped in a card of the Fates.

There is romance, magic, and of course danger throughout the novel. I strongly recommend this book to those who enjoyed the first and enjoy magical dark adventures.

Stephanie Garber has crafted a world that feels deep, lush, and utterly enchanting. As much as I loved Caraval - and I LOVED Caraval; I read it in one sitting - Legendary feels even stronger with the change in narrator. Tella is a different, more interesting point of view character than Scarlett. She's brash, daring, plays with people's expectations of her, and she has more agency as she moves through the story. I really enjoyed one quote in particular:
"Tella might have been many things, but she was far from silly or worthless or whatever labels people liked to affix because a person was young and female. Tella liked to think that was where much of her strength came from. She was bold. She was brave. She was cunning. And she was going to come out of this triumphant - no matter the cost."
And the story! One of the things I adore about these books are how well Garber sows seeds of doubt and plots her twists and turns. Allies have dark secrets, adversaries have hidden depths of compassion, lovers are also liars, and though we've been told over and over that Caraval is just a game... is it really?
My only complaint is that I need more! I would happily get swept up in the game of Caraval for many, many more performances.

Welcome, Welcome to Caraval where everything you thought you knew is a lie.
Legendary picks up the morning after the wrap party from the last game of Caraval. Legend has offered or agreed to host another game weeks later for the 75th birthday of Elantine the ruler of Meridian. This in and of itself is unusual as Legend normally only plays one game a year. After the events of the last game Scarlett is not sold on the idea of playing again, but Donatella needs to play and win to pay back her mysterious friend. Before the start of the last game Tella promised to trade Legend’s true name for the location of her missing mother. Sounds simple enough but Legend’s true identity is a closely guarded secret bound in magic preventing players from revealing it. He could be absolutely anyone.

The most important thing to know about this game is that it’s no longer just a game. All the rules from last time mean nothing. The consequences of failing to win the game are the highest they’ve ever been as Tella is told the mythical Fates that once ruled the world have returned. To destroy these creatures who wreaked havoc on humanity long ago only an item needs to be found to win the game. Nothing is ever that simple in the world of Caraval though.

Legendary is the wildest book I’ve read this year and will easily be one of my favorite reads. Just like its predecessor it’s perfect for conspiracy theories and questioning everyone and everything. Legendary is a story of growing up, learning to trust yourself, and making your own fate. I made the terrible mistake of getting 30% through it and going to bed. I slept horribly tossing and turning trying to work everything out and gave up sleeping to go back to it. This is definitely a one sitting book. I seriously hope Stephanie continues this series even though Scarlett and Tella’s stories could technically be considered done. I want to know so much more about how Caraval started, I want to know the story behind the bleeding black heart, and I need to know what happens after that ending.

Legendary told from the point of view of Tella, Scarlett's spirited sister, takes the reader on a new magical adventure through Caraval. Tella must play to win, but will risk her life in the process. Through interesting new characters and a marvelous new setting, this exciting tale will have you riveted until the very end.

I wasn't the biggest fan of Caraval, so I was pleasantly surprised by Legendary. I didn't love it. All of the romance aspects definitely leave something to be desired, but the world is wonderful to read about and I really liked most of the characters. There's an atmosphere to Legendary that is just really great.

Noteworthy experiences while reading this book: Best one yet!

Check out author's other books? YES
Recommend this book? YES YES YES YES YES YES

Notes and Opinions: Well this one is fabulous! Garber has done it again with this book two to the Caraval series and man it was unputdownable! If you haven't read Caraval you need to then you need to pick this one and read it to! Maybe just start it all over again when you're done. If you think book one was good with its twists, turns, and surprises. Then you are in for a treat with this one!! Becuase OMG this was amazing! The pacing, characters, and story are all out of this world.

Go Into This One Knowing: MUST READ NOW! MORE THAN ONCE!

Tella and her sister Scarlet are headed back for another week of Caraval and more of Legend's cruel pranks and mysterious game playing. After their first experience with Caraval you would think that both sisters would shy away from the possible danger but Tella has a mission to find and free her mother. The setting is mysterious, the characters masks hide what they want hidden and Caraval's illusions are just that or maybe the danger is very real and the game deadly. The second book is just as well crafted and rich in world building as the first. This is for any lover of "The Night Circus" or anyone who just wants to be swept up in the magical illusion of Caraval. Not just for young adults. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

I just want to say that...

THIS BOOK'S VERY AMAZING!

The ending guys, fiuh, i love Stephanie so much that i can't sleep overnight just to thinking is there a book 3 or this is definitely the ending of the series

And i like Stephanie's writing style, it's beautiful. To be honest, i want to share aaalll of in the books but i don't want to spoil anything. But i can say...this books was very hoott. Tella is my fav heroine so far. Well, she was not as clever as i thought, buf better than Scarlett.

And you'll be falling in love with Dante. He's hot.

I received an ARC of this book from NETGALLEY.

It was amazing! I throughly enjoyed reading this. I think I liked it more than the first!

No spoilers, but I loved the fates, the empresses, and all the characters.

Great read!!!

I'll admit I was one of the rare birds who wasn't head over heels for the first book, from mostly personal reasons. Don't get me wrong, I liked it a lot, but I just could not get into Scarlet as a main character. But because Garber's world building was fantastic, I wanted to stay along for the journey. Man, I'm glad I did! I really loved this second installment in a way I didn't love the first.

Now we focus on Tella, who is a much stronger protagonist and has other weaknesses, but she is much more fun to follow around for a book. The love interests are hot (Dante!! The Prince!!), and the world is just as spellbinding as the first, and now it augments the story instead of overwhelm the story. The prose is also stronger in this one than the first, and I think Garber is just going to get better and better. I loved the additional details that we get from this and it clarifies the first book as not just a sequel but also sort of a parallel story, because we see that Tella is much deeper than Scarlet gave her credit for.

Overall, I'm thrilled with this sequel, and it feels like there is probably going to be a third. I wonder if it will alternate storylines between the girls, which I can only hope that Scarlet with all her growth in the first two books will be easier to read along with. What I would absolutely love and know will likely not happen, is for the story to alternate between the two guys. AGH! That would be a dream come true. The hype is real, folks. Pick this one up!

Full disclosure: even after two books in this series, I’m still not clear on what kind of game Caraval even is. Before reading Caraval I had a picture of a magical “Survivor” type thing. But no. It seems like it’s all tailored to one specific player! I mean, are there even other players ever? Lol

Anyhow, I liked book one, Caraval okay. I think it was slightly overhyped. Enjoyable, but nothing I could read over and over. So, I was hoping Legendary could change my feelings, because I really loved the idea of the story, the game, etc. And I admit that Garver delivered this time around.

The companion novel is STELLAR. I didn’t feel we ever really got to know Tella the last time around. She seemed like an incredibly selfish character. This book definitely changed my opinions on that. She’s probably even more loving than Scarlett. More sacrificing. And yeah, less selfish. Not that either of the sisters were, but I think Tella gets the edge here. She’s not as timid. She’s independent. Smart. She’s much like her sister in many ways, but she is different in even more. I found her refreshing. A happy change from Scarlett’s character.

As for the story: INCREDIBLE. Truly. It starts off with a bang and never really slows down. Whereas its predecessor had loads of ups and downs, this one remains steady. It definitely kept me on my toes. There’s a lot of mysterious elements as well. Trying to uncover Legend’s identity. Wondering what Scarlett is sneaking around doing. Questioning who Dante truly is...

And that brings me to THE ROMANCE. Now, I know I’ve said it’s not all about romance. And it’s not. I do think that was one aspect that could’ve made Caraval shine brighter. Scarlett was more worried about her sister than herself. And I loved that. I think I’d have liked her to find her own love, though. I know it was kind of there, but it for sure took a backseat. This time around, I got the chemistry, tension, and swoon-worthy moments I’d been needing and wanting. Dante is heart eyes. I could not get enough. And whether or not he was just playing the game—I didn’t even care. At all. I remembered him being quite unlikable last go-round. My opinion completely changed. I was crossing my fingers that he and Tella would be end game.

But the game itself was far more interesting and exciting in Legendary. There was far more at stake. It made Tella’s choices harder to decide upon. Everything felt monumental. Could she save her mother? Or would she save the world and give up the Fates? I didn’t see her ultimate choice coming.

The ending was...not what I hoped for. As the pages wound down, my heart sunk as I realized I probably wasn’t going to get what I wanted. It is sort of an open ending, I think. To where you can draw your own conclusions about what happens after. I’m okay with it, but I also think I’d have liked full disclosure on a few pieces of the story. Overall, it’s a great story. Lots of fun, drama, romance, and familial bonds. Plenty of magic, too. It’s superior to its companion book, for sure.

Caraval was enchanting and breathtaking, a definite fresh book amongst many YA novels that repeat the same storylines and character arcs. Legendary picks up right where Caraval ended, but the story is told from Tella’s point of view as she embarks through another game in hopes to win and appease her mysterious friend who demands the winning prize as payment. Tella is much different than Scarlett since she makes rash decisions without thinking through the pros and cons. She continuously got herself in debacles because of her impulsiveness which was frustrating because if she just thought before she acted then things would have ended up differently. Multiple times Dante would warn her not to do something, and instead of listening to him Tella would cut him off and dash head first into the bad idea which always ended with trouble.

She spends the whole story battling her secret feelings for Dante. Every time she thinks about him she scolds herself and says that she doesn't like him then thing counters by saying his tattoos are beautiful and her heart flutters when he's around, and so on. This process repeated almost every chapter which was tiring to endure since it is common sense that she likes him.

I wanted to love this as much as Caraval, but it fell short. Maybe it’s because I don’t like Tella has a narrator. She tends to drift off in thought quite a bit which dragged the story down from its minuscule amount of plot and action. Much of her internal dialogue and descriptions could have been reduced to add in action scenes. The writing was beautiful as well as the world building, but the plot moved slowly to the point where Tella doesn’t begin the game until just about the halfway mark. It didn't pick up much until after the 75th mark, and even then I knew how it would end and what Tella's decisions would be.

Tella repeats herself. A lot. She keeps reminding us about the pros and cons about choosing Jacks or Legend when she wins the game. I understood everything the first time. I didn't need to be told again and again and again and again why she should choose Jacks and then why she should choose Legend.

There was so much telling instead of showing, and Tella always would "know" something. There wasn't a point in inserting Scarlett and Julian into this story since they added nothing but background noise that didn't apply to the plot. In fact, I'm not even sure what the plot was since there was so much going on that had nothing to do with the game. The game is another backstory which should have been removed as well.

None of the reveals were a shock since I predicted every single one. I knew the characters' real identities, who the lost heir was, how the game would end, and the mysteries surrounding Tella's mother. There weren't any twists and after every predicted reveal I would think "Is this it?"

I didn't feel that the magic from Caraval was transferred over to this one.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Very addictive, story. Touching, adventurous, and exactly what I needed. With magic and family this book captured me.

Legendary leaves right off right where Caraval ended and it was so seamless that I went back to read the end of Caraval. Stephanie Garber's writing is so pretty, I just love the flow. I think I liked Legendary a little more than Caraval just because there wasn't a slow part in the book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital arc of "Legendary" by Stephanie Garber. I absolutely loved "Caraval" and so was a little nervous about this book because it seemed so different. I should not have been worried! This story is full of the imagination and originality that I loved in the first novel. The characters are relatable and full of personality. The setting is gorgeous! I can't wait to share this book with all my students when it comes out!

After finishing Legendary I had to keep repeating to myself: this isn’t real, it’s just a book, this isn’t real, it’s just a book, this isn’t real, it’s just a book. I felt like Scarlett and Tella trying to remind themselves that Caraval is only a game.

Before I started reading I was worried that Legendary would suffer from second-book-syndrome and be a let-down. I was also worried that I wouldn’t enjoy Legendary as much because it’s told from Tella’s POV, and it’s always scary to read from a new character’s POV. But literally five pages in I knew this book would be just as good as the first, and I loved Tella just as much as Scarlett. So I’m sure many of you are worried about the same things I was, but don’t be! Seriously, you will love this book.

Stephanie Garber’s writing in Legendary is just as beautiful as it is in Caraval. Her descriptions are so magical. She transports you into her novels and makes it so easy to imagine what’s happening. I read this on my Kindle and I don’t think I’ve ever highlighted so many favorite quotes as I did in Legendary.

The one thing I really want to talk about is the plot, but it’s hard without giving away major spoilers, but I will try! One part of Legendary that I really enjoyed was the history and background Garber gave on the world and its myths and folklore. It was such an interesting part of the story, and I loved seeing how it all played out. The point of this game of Caraval was for Tella to discover Legend’s true name. Let me just say that the journey to (possibly) getting there was insane and so stressful.

I have read so many wonderful books this year, but Legendary is by far my favorite. I give it a million stars, and I’m already planning on rereading the duology once Legendary is officially out. Also, I will end this review by saying what my final thought was when I finished the book: This can’t be last book can it? Let’s just say Stephanie Garber loves a cliffhanger…

Some of the things I loved most about CARAVAL were missing from LEGENDARY for me - I expected more twists and surprises toward the end, and more eagerness to keep reading throughout the middle. The magic and cool setting were definitely still there though. I love Garber's writing style and storytelling ability. It doesn't feel like much is happening as the book goes on but still feels like there are so many places things can go; I'm always wondering what could happen next.

Tella as the narrator in this one was interesting and a welcome change from Scarlett in the last book. Her internal debates were a little repetitive, but I liked her drive and personality more. I wish Scarlett and Julian were around more throughout though? I know Tella wasn't in the first book much because she was a part of the game, but there was really no reason for Scarlett to be completely MIA in this one.

As for the ending, it was definitely predictable? I mean, I some things were hinted throughout the book and other parts I assumed would happen. I wish there was more of a shock factor like CARAVAL had. Without that ending, CARAVAL wouldn't have been a five-star read for me. As a result, LEGENDARY is a solid dour stars I guess. I would be super curious to know what happens next but also feel like the ending was a solid one, if this is truly the end! I think there are a lot of things that Garber could cover if she moved forward with more books but as of right now, this is just a duo.

Someone hold me. You guys.....Garber has taken my heart, ripped it out, and then it to shreds. LEGENDARY WAS SO FREAKING GOOD OMG. So I LOVED Caraval. But holy batman, Legendary is where its at. Tella....Legend... I just....wow! I need to sit on this. There are so many emotions brewing through me right now.

It's rare nowadays for a sequel to surpass its predecessor, but I think this one succeeds. Everything that made Caraval stand out plays to advantage in Legendary, because the stakes are higher, things are more real, and we have a gutsy, fearless heroine leading us around. There was of course much kissing and impossibly handsome love interests. The reveal up to Legend's identity was played just right, I thought, and I felt satisfied as a reader. I also think there can't help but be more books in this series: yay!

This second installment in the Caraval series is unlike any sequel I have ever read. It starts immediately where the first book ends and doesn't waste any time jumping into the story. I loved that there is no explaining the entire plot of the previous book. Rather than continuing the story from Scarlett's point of view, we now see the story from the point of Tella who I now love. She is smart, witty, resourceful and brave.
Tella and Scarlett find themselves drawn to another Caraval but, this one has the stakes set higher- or does it? Tella finds herself questioning what is real and what is part of the game as she teeters between certainty and confusion. As she searches for answers about her past, she doesn't know who she can trust including her sister. She has to make impossible choices and be willing to sacrifice everything in order to win the game with the lingering question- is it worth it?
Legendary takes Caraval to a whole new level. The characters and the story move so fast that I couldn't put it down from start to finish. The world of Caraval is brilliant, creative, and so well designed I feel I could go there if I dared. Garber's descriptions and images are amazing and have surpassed even the first book, in my opinion.