Though not quite as good as the first book, I enjoyed reading about Tella, the plucky heroine of this novel. It was fun returning to the world created by Legend and fun to watch the high-stakes game between the players.

UGH. I wan't to love this book but I don't think I can give it my full support after the ending. I felt like the tension was exquisitely built throughout the novel but the pay-out didn't exactly work for me. Loved exploring new sides of old characters and meeting new characters. Definitely a good read!.

JEEEEZ this book was good! Caraval was one of my favorites from last year so I was really excited to read Legendary, and it absolutely lived up to my expectations. This book was so creative and unique, really well-written, and just yanked me all over the place with emotions. We saw little of Scarlett in this sequel, as it focused on Tella, and the game of Caraval was very different this time around, so Legendary felt fresh and new. I loved the characters of Tella and Dante, and I loved their funny and fiery relationship (although the ending left me wanting to pull my hair out). I really hope there's a third book in the works because I can't wait to see where things go from here.

So, I was really excited for this book as it focuses on Tella this time around. I like Caraval, but man, I thought Scarlett, as a character, was very annoying. But that is neither here nor there.

I have to admit that there were points where I felt the writing was really redundant. I understand this is a YA book, but you don't have to repeat things over and over just to have something to fill the pages. I think teens are able to pick things up the first time around. I don't want to gives spesifics as it would be spoiling things....but once you read the book, you'll know what I mean.

Now, while the writing wasn't the greatest, the plot of this was very good. I actually enjoyed this story more than the first, and that usually isn't the case. I love stories that rely on myths and legends and this story does that. Of course these are myths and legends linked to this story and world, but they are there nonetheless. There are talks of gods (who are now the stars) and The Fate like those in a deck of tarot cards. (That's a hint for you there.)

This is an e-arc copy that I am reviewing and I am hoping that the actual release format is better than the one I read. Paragraphs and sentences were spaced all funny and chapter titles popped up in the middle of the page.

Overall I enjoyed the story and give it a 4 star rating. Like I said, some of the writing wasn't impressive and the formatting of the ebook was wonky for me, but it was still an enjoyable read.

I'm a huge, huge fan of book one, Caraval . The twists and turns, the unpredictable nature and magical adventure was like nothing I had read before. I never would have thought it was possible to top that reading experience, and I must admit I was a little nervous for disappointment in the second book. After all, I'm no novice. I know what to expect from this deceptive game now. Right?

RIGHT?!...

Wrong.

Check your confidence at the door before stepping foot in the Meridian Empire's enchanted city of Valenda. Once again, Stephanie Garber had me questioning everything I thought I knew, and turning the world on its head. In Valenda you'll discover a city of flying carriages, and crumbling columns. Imprisoned immortal fates whose cruelty must never be unleashed on the world again. A city blanketed by lavender skies, stardust, and more danger than your imagination could conjure.

It all started with a Deck of Destiny and a curious little girl who couldn't resist tempting fate. Tella Dragna has always been bold, courageous, and maybe a little too impulsive for her own good. With one innocent choice, she set a chain of events in motion that she may never be able to break.

In Caraval, Tella was a wild card with questionable motivations. Scarlett's younger sister seemed flighty and whimsical, and I had no idea what to think of her. Then she looked death square in the eye, and risked everything for the sake of her sister. With a cruel father, and a mother who didn't care enough to stay, Scarlett was the one person she could depend upon. That forged a solid bond, and fierce loyalty between the sisters that couldn't be broken. But their mother's disappearance seven years before left a gaping hole that needed to be filled. She would have answers, even if she had to bargain with the devil to seek them out.

Not only is she up against Legend's wit and magic, a new sinister player is revealed that may have the power to be her undoing.

Even with an unexpected ally, (Or are they really?) she's working with a physical handicap that's like a ticking timebomb preparing to detonate. You can try to guess her friends and foes, what's real, and what's a trick of the mind. I dare you. Even with the unveiling of Legend, will Tella find the answers and the future she seeks? Or is she doomed to fulfill the destiny that's been foretold that she refuses to accept?

Tella won me over completely with her determination and bravery. She was nothing like I expected, and much more than she believed herself to be. Along the way she faced countless challenges, crushing disappointments, and heartache. Underneath that fiery stubbornness was a vulnerable side that she tries to hide, but comes peeking out at the most inopportune times. You could see that this entire adventure was her desperate attempt to recapture control of her life after being powerless for so long. Flitting from boy to boy was self-protection from the belief that she wasn't meant to find true love. That love was alluring, but destroyed everything it touched.

These characters have a depth and dimension to them that make the story so vivid you can't tell where the pages end and you begin. The plot is layered with mystery, desperation, and when everything comes together it will leave you gasping. I'm not exaggerating, my heart was actually pounding from excitement as she raced towards the final confrontation. I could not read fast enough for my spinning mind.
The story told from a fresh point of view, a glittering, sprawling backdrop, and filled with a new ensemble of completely fleshed out characters. I can tell you without hesitation that this is one of the best crafted fantasy books you'll ever read.

The number one rule of Caraval is to Remember, it's only a game. I kept chanting this most basic rule. It's a game! These are actors playing a part on the grandest of stages! I STILL DOUBTED. I theorized, guessed, second guessed...well...you get the picture. Just don't expect things to be wrapped up in a cozy, tidy bow. Hold your breath, take the leap, and experience the wonder that awaits you.

Oh my gosh...best book ever. I love this series so much.
The characters, the environment, it's all so well written and built and truely gives off a magical sense.

Last year, Caraval was one of my most anticipated reads of 2017. And I enjoyed diving into the mystical world, which was filled with twists and romance, but Legendary was the book I expected to read last year. It is extremely rare for me to enjoy a sequel more than the original, bu Legendary was everything I wanted Caraval to be. With a fierce heroine, high stakes, and a killer romance (literally lol), Legend will be sure to impress readers of all ages.

I don't want to spoil the first book, so I'll summarize Legendary in vague terms. Tella is still trying to move on from the events of Caraval. And although she's happy about the ending, she now has a price to pay. A price that may cost her her life. Tella has only option to get what she wants- play the game.


I'm not going to lie, Scarlett wasn't my favorite protagonist. She seemed weak and unmemorable, but Tella is the exact opposite. She fights with fiery and wit, but still holds a certain vulnerability that most readers will relate to. Tella has a goal and nothing will stop her from achieving it, not even Legend.

Legendary still consists of the magical awe of the first book while throwing a few twists to keep the pace fast and the story interesting. The biggest difference between this sequel and the first book was the stakes. While trying to save her sister in the first book was a fine and dandy goal, the sequel deals with higher stakes that could change the world.

The mystery of Legend is also a constant question that appears throughout the game. I'm sure readers will have their suspicions (some correct and some incorrect) but overall, the guessing game was just as fun as the story.

We're also introduced to some new characters, some good and some bad. Once again, it became a guessing game of who was good and who was bad. Who can Tella trust? And, what it will it cost her if she's wrong?

Overall, I enjoyed Legendary more than Caraval, which was a shocker. My only complaint would be that ending. You can't end a book that way. Just please, no, I beg of you.

Ok, so my thoughts on this book are sort of stuck in a place of limbo right now. It really comes down to whether this book will truly be the stories conclusion as it was initially planned or if it is now intended to be a middle installment to a trilogy/series. On it's own this book is every bit as magical and enchanting as Caraval. Ms Garber truly has a gift for taking her readers to her world where adventure, romance, and magic radiate of the pages...BUT...! As fun and exciting as this book was it would still be nothing short of infuriating if it truly is meant to be any kind of conclusion. As of right now I'm going to base my review on the assumption that there is more to come, I haven't been able to find any mention or suggestion that a third installment but who knows. That being said, if it turns out this truly was meant to be the conclusion to the overall story started in Caraval, I'd be forced to drop my rating considerably. There's just too much left by the time the reader comes to Legendry's final page. A quick rundown of this book. There's another edition of Caraval going down although it's not as vital to the plot as the first game was, there's a maternal scavenger hunt, much like her sister Scarlett, Tella finds herself playing Legend's game, creating serious romantic tension with one of the games actors, as well as picking up her own 3rd party fiancé. There's also a seriously problematic Tarot(ish) deck made up by demigod like characters who are all appear to be created by combining unhealthy levels of narcissism and sociopathy. Other stuff happens. Honestly, so much of how I feel about all the various storylines is dependent on the need for a third book (assuming an additional book would come with the gift of resolution.) Too much of what happens ends up feeling pointless without the satisfaction of some kind of cohesive resolution to pretty much any or better yet all the main plots, subplots, mysterious backstories that just stayed mysterious, &the character relationships that went down through out these books. As it stands right now we are left with … nothing. Scarlet-Julian=??? Tella-Dante=??? Julian-Dante=??? Scarlet-Nicolas=??? Why are you even back, Nicolas?=??? Comatose prodigal bandit mother=I can't even Legend/Fates/Return of the heir-??? I assume you all are seeing the problem here. All the beautiful writing a world building in the world can't erase the pointlessness of a story that's feels so unfinished it wouldn't even qualify as anti-climactic. The idea of that makes me pretty grumpy. Then again a third book might be announced tomorrow and *poof* all my discontent would vanish. I was able to enjoy Caraval so much more for that exact reason. It was pretty vague in its ending but I knew there was more story on the way so I didn't worry on that but now it's like quadruple levels of vague and I'm just over here in my 5-star/angry book review limbo.

Legendary was a book that I was really looking forward to reading - I enjoyed the first book, Caraval, for its magical setting and fast-paced adventure. The one thing I did not care for in Caraval was the main character, Scarlett, who I thought was weak and underdeveloped. I thought that the book would be much better if it focused on a more interesting character, like Scarlett's sister, Donatella. So for that reason I eagerly began reading Legendary. Unfortunately, many of the same problems that plagued Scarlett in Caraval were present for Tella in Legendary. No longer the thrill-seeking sister who flouts the rules, Tella is channeling her inner Scarlett throughout the entire book. Every time she finds herself in trouble, she is immediately rescued by a male character, exactly how her sister was rescued in Caraval. This was frustrating, because it seems like Stephanie Garber can really only write about one type of character, a damsel in distress who is constantly in need of rescue.

The game this time around was seemingly much higher stakes, although the plot relied less on the game and more on possible love triangles and a plot to rescue Donatella and Scarlett's mother. The plots involving the Fates and the Deck of Destiny came out of nowhere, having been completely absent from the first book. I didn't realize Fates were even a part of this world, which seems like a fantasy world developed just for the sake of being a fantasy world. There is no world building, only throwaway mentions of the Fates used mainly as setting for the game that Tella is playing, and introducing the Prince of Hearts.

One small-ish issue that I just could not get past, however, was the constant use of smell to describe the world. Tella is constantly using her apparently superhuman sense of smell to describe the world around her, and it never smells like...actual scents. It's always smelling like "despair and broken dreams" and the character of Dante is forever smelling like ink. I almost wanted to smell ink while reading this just so I could know how this supposedly swoon-worthy character smells. It was irritating and took me out of the book every time it happened, which was just about every third paragraph.

All in all, if you enjoyed Caraval, you might like this book. Maybe give it a shot. The game elements are fun at times, and it is still a fast-paced read. Just don't go in expecting much improvement from the first book, or any answers to some of the larger questions about Legend and magic that remain annoyingly unanswered.

Legendary delivered everything I was expecting after Caraval and then some! If you think you know what will happen since you read Caraval think again! This book follows Tella on her journey in Caraval. This book had me on the edge of my seat. I could not get enough of it and can not wait to read the next installment!

Wonderful sequel to Caraval! Now I'm left wondering if there will be a part 3! Once again, Stephanie Garber's writing lives up to my expectations and beyond!

This will be posted on my blog, Keep Reading Forward, on 5/19/2018

In Legendary, the story now shifts into Tella's perspective as she hunts down some answers about the game and Legend himself. As part of a bargain, Tella now needs to find out who Legend really is and deliver his name to some mysterious criminal. As it appears, the only way to find the answers she needs, Tella must participate in the next Caraval games, right after the previous game concluded.

I was not on the best of terms with Caraval, so I was really unsure if I was going to like Legendary. There were bits and pieces in Caraval that I enjoyed and some I thought were lacking. I did enjoy the story enough where I wanted to continue to Legendary. Legendary has succeeded my expectations big time.

In this book, there's a certain mythology behind everything and serves as the basis of the game and the story itself. It is completely different from the first book and I have loved every single second of it. I'm not sure if mythology was an original idea created by the author, or if the mythology was the author's take based on the history of tarot cards. I don't know a lot about tarot cards, but I'm sure there's more to it than just cards. This whole part of the story was really enjoyable.

All of the characters were interesting to read and learn about. Obviously the characters were introduced the first book, but different characters are now in the spotlight, like Tella for example. The switch of characters were interesting and a good way to learn more about the other characters. I really loved how some of the characters became who they are in this story, or was it apart of the game?

There were shocking twists in the story that was not unexpected. The ending was completely unpredictable. Garber has said that series is a duology so far, but is always willing to return to the world. I can definitely see her hopes for the series to continue because that ending gave me some questions that I want to see answered. There must be a third book. If you enjoyed reading Caraval, then you will definitely love reading Legendary. (It answers the many questions from Caraval left us, if that helps!)

First line: While some rooms on the estate had monsters hiding beneath the beds, Tella swore her mother’s suite concealed enchantment.

Summary: At the end of Caraval it appears that Scarlett and Tella are now safe from their evil father. But this is far from the truth. Tella is entangled in a bargain with a mysterious friend. This friend plans to help Tella find her mother, who disappeared years before, but it comes at a price. Tella must find out the Legend’s real name. However, the truth could bring about the end of Caraval and Legend himself.

Highlights: Once again I cannot help but rave about the beautiful cover! But the language and story make it even more wonderful. I was a little weary about reading Tella’s story when in the previous novel she was a minor character that caused much of Scarlett’s troubles. However, I was surprised by how much more I enjoyed this book than the first one. Tella is a tough girl who does not think that love is anything she is destined to experience. This is quite a change from many YA novels where the girl only wants to find love. She is smart and tricky. She is not scared to get her hands dirty.
I loved the Fates! So creepy and detailed. I was truly terrified of the Undead Queen and her Handmaidens but not more than the Prince of Hearts. Everything about him makes my skin crawl. The addition of these supernatural beings expands and makes the story even more elaborate than Caraval.
That ending! Throughout the story, we follow Tella as she tries to figure out what is real and what is not. I felt like I was slowly going mad along with her trying to piece together all the clues. As we reached the last few pages, I kept wondering if we were going to get another book and we certainly will! I wonder if it will follow Tella some more or expand on another minor character. Either way I am in!

Lowlights: That I have to wait a year for the next book!

FYI: Book 2 in the Caraval series.

"Legendary" is the sequel to "Caraval", a hugely hyped young adult novel that was released last year. I enjoyed "Caraval," so I was interested to see how I'd like it's sequel... especially since I've been liking YA novels less and less recently. My quick thoughts? It reads a heck of a lot like its predecessor: flowery language, confusing analogies, and a plot that is relatively simple but is complicated when viewed through the lens of Garber's writing.

What I enjoyed about Legendary: 

1. I really liked the characters that this novel focused on. Dante, Tella, and Jacks all allow the novel to take quite a different turn from Caraval. They often left me questioning who was good and who was bad, who was doing the right thing and who was in the wrong. It's a fun place to be when reading a story.

2. Following Tella's perspective instead of her sister's, Scarlett, in this story was also a good change. She obviously had more of a story to tell since she was a Caraval participant this year, and her story was quite enjoyable (especially the little love triangle bit, because y'all know I'm a sucker for that stuff!).

What I didn't enjoy:

1. My biggest complaint was the language/writing. It was a little trying in the first novel, but I found it endlessly exhausting in this one. The analogies made little sense and the adjectives often weren't appropriate. It made for a convoluted read at times.

2. Since I have started writing, one of my concerns is whether or not the motives of my characters are appropriate for the actions that they take. Now in my reading I notice when the motives aren't well hashed out, and this book is full of them. There are so many places where it's obvious that Garber wanted something specific to happen, but didn't know how to get the characters to that point organically. It made the story feel sloppy.

The bottom line: Read this book if you loved "Caraval." If you were lukewarm about it or simply liked it, I don't know that I'd really push you to read it.

This book was such a fun read. I'm not much of a fantasy fan but there's something about this world that's so much fun to be in. Loved seeing characters get fleshed out. Can't wait to see where the series goes after this (please tell me more books are in the works)!

This was a great example of how to propel a story forward in a sequel instead of just retelling the same story through a different character's perspective. Tella's POV is compelling and as a reader it is easy to relate to her and to follow her through the game of Caraval.

Legendary picks up right where Caraval ends, only this time with Tella as the plucky protagonist. Tella is everything I didn't know I wanted in this novel. She is cunning, smart, and daring--all qualities she must utilize if she wants to win Caraval; and win it she must because this time the game is real. Stephanie Garber has thrilled me again with this novel! It is perfect for fans of The Night Circus and Sarah J. Maas, Highly Recommend.

Goodreads Reviews; This was every bit as good as Caraval! This time Donatella is our main character and Legend's Caraval is back with a vengeance!

ARC from Netgalley. Pub Date: May 29, 2018

Summary: Stephanie Garber's limitless imagination takes flight once more in the colorful, mesmerizing, and immersive sequel to the bestselling breakout debut Caraval, following Scarlett's younger sister, Tella, on a journey to the empire's capital to fulfill a mysterious bargain.

Thank you to Flatiron Books for the chance to read and review this novel.

After reading Caraval not long ago, I was ecstatic to see Legendary available on Netgalley. Though Caraval didn’t quite live up to the hype for me, I was still anxious to continue with the series and hopefully be able to find out just who the mysterious Legend was. I was happy to learn the follow-up would feature Tella’s perspective as opposed to Scarlet’s in the first book. Though I didn’t mind Scarlet’s point-of-view, I found her to be a bit of a lackluster character. Tella seemed to steal the show and was the more exciting of the two sisters, in my opinion.

I felt rewarded with a great start to this story with the mysterious “friend” Tella is indebted to, and I was eager to see where the plot would go. I must say, I was impressed with the pace of the first half of the novel and found it to be more interesting than its predecessor. I really enjoyed the addition of the Fates, playing cards, and the excitement Tella’s personality brought to the story. This time, she was able to experience what it’s like to play the game of Caraval, only to discover the consequences of this game seem much more realistic. Unfortunately, some of the writing, particularly in the beginning, came across as a tad juvenile, mainly in the vivid descriptions of the colors Tella was witnessing. Palatial Pink turned into purple prose.

Much like the first novel, I found the excitement toward the end of the story dwindling. As with Caravel, I was enthralled by the imagination of Stephanie Garber and the entire concept of the book, but the execution left me wanting once more. The last two days of Caraval not only plague the characters, the author seems to find herself stuck as well. Instead of loads of action, as there should be in the conclusion, the characters go somewhere and discuss their goals or what they expect the outcome of the game will be OVER and OVER again. The repetition of the same descriptions became excessive and boring. I wanted to yell at the characters to DO SOMETHING instead of chatting about what would happen.

Now, all of this is not to say this is a terrible novel. I loved parts of this story, as I loved parts of Caraval. I never wanted to stop reading and I didn’t want to give a bad review. One of my favorite characters was the antagonist, which is something that rarely happens for me! I also think fans of Caraval will be exceptionally pleased with the follow-up. Unfortunately, the fact of such imagination not being executed to its fullest potential is incredibly disappointing to me. I want to be swept away and once again it wasn’t possible, thanks to the flat second half. Reading this novel felt like attempting to watch a movie with a blank screen while only hearing the dialogue. Something was missing and I wanted to see more.

Once again, we are left with unanswered questions meaning only one thing: a third book must be in the works. As much as I would like to know more, I don’t know if I have it in me to continue with a third three-star-read. I want all of the details, but my expectations of getting it are quite low. Overall, I was satisfied with finally learning Legend’s identity, Tella’s perspective, and the new characters. I actually enjoyed this more than Caraval, but I think my disappointment with the story fizzling out during the last two days of the game overshadow my enthusiasm for the novel on the whole.

If you enjoyed the first book, definitely pick this one up on May 29th!

Sometimes a sequel can really fall flat, but LEGENDARY DID NOT DISAPPOINT. While Caraval was through Scarlett's view, Legendary takes the reader through Tella's POV and at first I was hesitant, but I loved it after just a few pages in.

The first book had me completely unable to predict the plot, but Legendary was more predictable (not in a bad way, in the way that I finally understood how this world works). I did guess a couple of large points, but it only made it more rewarding when it turned out to be true. I think the plot was actually more interesting in the book, because the first book was all about this beautiful introduction to the crazy, gorgeous world of Caraval. This book also had lots of stunning descriptions, but the plot moved quicker and with more intensity, picking up the pace from the previous novel.

The characters not really touched upon with Scarlett's POV, come to life in this sequel. It is absolutely amazing to delve into more characters than Scarlett and Julian. Tella has a whole different outlook on life and her circle of people in this book is so different and unique that we barely see Scarlett. And though I missed Scarlett, the new characters and plot twists took all of my time and energy I couldn't really have a moment to miss Scarlett.

Also the romance, as much as I loved the romance in the first novel, something about this novel was even more enthralling. I won't reveal who's with who, but let's just say I was fangirling the entire time (butterflies and everything).

Overall, if you're scared Legendary won't live up to Caraval, don't worry it's even better. If you haven't read Caraval yet, then go go go!