This book did not held the magic found in the two previous book and it could have certainly gone in a different direction. However, there were things that I genuinely found enjoyable. The Fates, Fated objects and fated places were a very interesting concept.

The Fates themselves were eerie, particularly the greater Fates and I thought mysticism and horror blended well. The Fated objects had a very interesting history, in particular Scarlett’s enchanted dress.

The book itself was divided into chapters between Scarlett and Donatella and it shifts from a normal to a colorful perspective. As mentioned in the previous two books, Scarlett is able to see the world in colors and this is a concept I think the author touches brilliantly upon. Positive emotions are described as “…excited aquamarine.,” while the more negative portions fall under “frustrated gingersnap”.

The ending was not spectacular to me. It felt rushed and cliché and all the magic gathered lost their enchantment as we neared the last bit. All loose ends were tied and new mysteries introduced. Finale was probably my least favorite book of the series despite the fact that I’d been looking forward to it.

I would like to add that I’m not huge on romance and therefore that might have downplayed the ending for me a bit. Other than that, this was still a very enjoyable read.

This series has gone a completely different direction than what I expected it to. I'm not saying that's bad and I'm not saying that's good. The series as a whole was good and I'm excited to see what else Garber has in store.

Caraval is over and the Fates are still free. Legend is preparing for his coronation, but not everyone is ready or excited for this to happen... Scarlett is finding a different game to play this time around and Tella is still making her own rules. But of course, nothing goes according to plan. It never does.

Although I liked this one, I did feel like it was a bit long. It seemed like there was only what was mentioned in the synopsis and y'all know how I am about that. And it just seemed like even though it was going through exactly what was in the synopsis, it was still really long. I really felt like I was reading it forever.

I did like finally figuring all the characters out. I had so many questions about Legend and Julian and they were all answered. I loved that she answered all questions and didn't leave any secrets about any of the characters unanswered. It was definitely a plus to have chapters from everyone's POVs. And I hate to say it, but I loved seeing all the turmoil that they all went through too. I wanted more for some others, but in the end I was satisfied with what happened to each person. It's not something I can say with all series enders.

This series wasn't what I was expecting it to be and I think that's what I liked most and least about it. I was surprised by the Fates and their roles in the second book, but I really wished this one had been more Caraval and less Legendary if that makes sense. The game was what intrigued me about this series and taking it out made it just ok for me. *dodges tomatoes* I know others won't agree with that, but its how I felt mostly while reading it. The mythology kept it interesting, but the game was what originally kept me glued to the pages.

I remember wanting to grab Caraval when I first heard about it at BEA 3 years ago. Fast forward to now and I still have the same excitement for the series as I once did. Although it didn't go as I thought it would, it was still an enjoyable series and I'm glad I was part of the hype for it.

In a word: FABULOUS!!!

While I'm exceptionally sad to see this one end, I'm delighted that it ended so well. And maybe "ended" is a misnomer - despite the fact that this has been reported as the final book in the trilogy/series, it seems to me that Garber has (cleverly) left herself some wiggle room with the ending. I, for one, am hoping like mad that she will take advantage of it, because she's devised a brilliant and original world that she has populated with fantastically detailed, intricate, unusual, deliciously complicated characters, and it would be a shame to let them all walk off into the sunset...

I kept thinking the adventures couldn't possibly get more intense, dramatic, or colorful in each successive book, and Garber managed to surpass my expectations (no small feat, that!) each and every time. The plots are intricate and interwoven to the perfect degree. The characters are magnificent in their quirks, foibles, secrets, and twisty turny motivations. The attention to detail is spot-on, balancing description with action in the perfect blend to keep you furiously turning pages and second- (and third-, fourth-, and fifth-) guessing yourself until the bitter end.

It has been a glorious ride - exactly what one would expect from Legend and his crew - and here's hoping that the reception the books has received will convince the author not to walk entirely away just yet!

This series is so fabulous and this was a great end to it all. I highly recommend the entire thing to students frequently and for classroom libraries in our school.

Overall, I enjoyed this end to the trilogy. However, I was dissapointed that the two main characters, who are women, seemed extreamly preoccupied with their love lives and men while catastrophe was happening. It was sad to see, it could have been better.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

I’m pretty sure Stephanie Garber is related to Legend. She is full of magic and I was swept away by her storytelling. This trilogy is now one of my most recommended series. From the moment I finished Legendary, I knew I needed more. There were so many secrets that needed to be uncovered. Finale did just that.

Finale takes place about two months after Legendary ends. Scarlett and Donatella’s stories aren’t finished yet. They must choose how they wish to live their lives. Will they settle for what they’ve been given or will they fight for what they truly want?

I was so torn while reading Tella’s chapters. Her heart was being pulled in opposite directions. As a 17 yr old, that was a lot to put on her. Her heart was telling her one thing but her mind was pushing her in the other direction. I got whiplash right along with her. Her journey was one of self discovery and who did she really want to be. And I believe she chose correctly, even as her heart was squeezed a few times. She was definitely stronger than most people would be.

He didn’t kiss her as if he’d simply come back to life. He kissed her as if he’d died, been buried, and clawed his way out of the grave and through the dirt just to get to her.

Scarlett’s story took a complete different route than I thought it would. I wanted to shake her a few times. I wanted her to be with Julian and leave everything else alone, but she just couldn’t. As it turns out, her story took a drastic turn that I never saw coming. She had to dig down deep and find the strength to be able to stay on top of everything that was thrown at her. I’m glad she worked through it and made the choices she did in the end.

Now it wasn’t all trials and tribulations, there was also love. So much love. These girls’ hearts were being fought over and it was a battle to the death. AND I LOVED IT. So many swoony moments that had me grinning like a fool. I just love this book and I can’t wait to have it on my shelf!

Yay! The third installment of the Caravel is here and boy does it deliver. Its always tricky finding a series that is entertaining. Often times they become lackluster or drone on, but Garber's series is so magical and captivating, I love every game she plays and and willing to take the ride with her delightful characters. FINALE is a winner. It has a great ending and keeps you guessing the whole time! I really enjoy Garber's style of writing, it is both beauitful and majestic, which compliments the plot if each of her stories.
I will admit a few tears were shed, but well worth the read!!

The best book I have read in a while. I feel like it was a satisfying end to a wonderful trilogy. Will definitely re read this trilogy again very soon.

**Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **

Stephanie is a master at descriptive language and world building. Even if I did not love her characters and twisty plots (which I love both!) I would keep coming back to her stories for the world building alone. I feel as if I experience everything right along with the characters, be it the smells, sights or even the tastes. Caraval and everything surrounding it becomes my place too. The costuming is gorgeous and I have never been into elaborate dresses but I would make an exception in this case. But Stephanie is not so verbose and over the top with her language to lose my interest, but instead she immerses me and I never want to leave. And I'm gonna need to get my hands on Scarlet's mood ring of a dress because it is still my favorite.

I found Finale to have so much going on it was hard to put the book down to adult, I was afraid I would miss something. There was danger, mystery, deception, tons of surprises, amazing scenery, magic galore...and did I mention time travel?? Yep, time travel- if I hadn't been sold on the book before, that would have sealed the deal. I have no idea how Stephanie was able to weave so many strands and ideas together to create such a cohesive story, but the end result was incredibly successful.

And my favorite part- the romance. Mixed in the middle of the danger was some pretty freaking swoony romance that made me ever so happy. I loved seeing suave Julian blush over his feelings or aloof Legend be thrown off his game (I have so many moments I want to discuss but will hold off for fear of being a spoiler jerk- but feel free to contact me to chat). Let's just say if you like romance and feelings then you will enjoy what Finale brings to the table.

I loved that Finale was told from both Scarlet and Donatella's points of view, it made it really feel like this was a conclusion to everything that had transpired over the course of the trilogy, for both the sisters. I would love to have another Caraval book, be it a Fate spin off (cough, cough Poison?? Yes I know the Fates are basically evil and all but I loved them all so much, they were such cool characters and a concept in general!) or another adventure with Legend and the Dragna sisters, but I am incredibly satisfied with the conclusion to the series.

Stephanie has succeeded in making a fan girl out of me and I will gladly read whatever world she wants to write about next.

This book was a disappointment to say the least. This story was meant to be a dark and mysterious carnival and it turned into more of a story about immortality. But instead of that, it was literally all about the men. This story has not one but two strong women who've been crafted over two books, only to have them literally only care about their love lives while the world is ending. This book did not pass the Bechdel Test.

"Oh em gee this truly terrible shared traumatic experience just happened, but let's talk about the BOYS!"

This book was repetitive, telling us the same details over and over again, hitting us over the head with information we, as readers, already know. It was poorly edited. They added different elements in that did not make sense with the world that was crafted. I want to say what it is, but it's spoilers so, I won't.

All in all, I am incredibly disappointed with the conclusion of this series.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful conclusion to this whimsical trilogy!

I am a sucker for the romance in these books, and it was so great finally getting to read from both of the sister's perspectives!

Seriously, Julian and Legend give me heart palpitations.

I also loved getting to know and see the Fates in this one. It was really interesting and there could honestly be an entire series on them and I would devour it.

The only thing that that stops me from giving it more praise or a higher star is the pacing of the book (and it wasn't just this one, it was the trilogy). Things happen very swiftly, but not in a natural way.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and the series as a whole. I'm sad to see it end!

Finale is everything I expected and so much more. This was the perfect conclusion to the trilogy. I can not wait to read this again with my monthly book group. I am sure everyone will love it just as much as I do!

It is no secret how much I love the Caraval series from Stephanie Garber. I have devoured each book in less than 48 hours and have no shame in saying that I skipped sleep to do so. Finale is the final book in the trilogy about the Dragna sisters and the mysterious Caraval ringmaster Legend. Y’all if you’ve enjoyed the previous two books of the series, you will love its conclusion.

If you have not read the previous books in the series, there are minor spoilers to those books in this review. Read at your own risk.

Finale begins two months after Tella completed her Caraval and Legend claimed Valenda’s throne. The only interaction Tella has with Legend is in her dreams, where he appears as Dante, the boy she fell for in the last Caraval. Tella knows it was all part of the game, but tell that to her heart! Meanwhile Scarlett is writing to the count, her true fiance, and trying to not think about Julian, the boy who she misses. When he turns up on the day she is to meet the count, Scarlett devises a game for the count and Julian to win her hand. Finale is a whirlwind, unlike the first two books in that it focuses on events that are truly happening as the games have ended and lives are at risk.

I really like Tella and Scarlett. I love their relationship and how the two balance each other. Tella is headstrong and acts without thinking where Scarlett is her opposite, thinking too much and with her heart not her head. Both sisters feel deeply and love fiercely and it’s why I love them so much. Tella is a bit lost in this book. She never intended to give her heart away, and Legend shattered it. Now she hangs back, afraid to offer it again to anyone. Scarlett plays a larger role here than she did in Legendary. Scarlett is central to the plot, and I love how Garber weaves her story together. It’s heart-wrenching and beautiful all at the same time.

The plot is two fold as the story is told from both Tella and Scarlett’s points of view. I love the dual POV. It gives a full picture of what the sisters face. In this final installment of the series, Legend continues his work to defeat the Fates who were fully introduced in the previous book. The question and main plot focus is how. Without spoiling the story, the how refers to why Tella, Scarlett, and their mother Paloma fit into Legend’s game. Y’all it is fantastic! I love the history and backstory that is added to this already lush fantasy.

Now I’d be remiss in not mentioning the romance. Y’all we get a double dose in Finale. With the dual POV, we get Tella’s heartache and Scarlett’s romance. It’s a callback to Caraval when Julian had me fall for him the first time. My only complaint about the whole book is the love triangle….really love triangles. In Legendary, Tella enters into a fake engagement to the Prince of Hearts, Jacks, while pining for Dante, erhm….Legend. Well it carries over to this book and drags out til nearly the end which is frustrating to me. Scarlett’s triangle begins because of Julian’s lie about the count. Now she is torn between the man she used to dream of and the man who holds her heart now. Thankfully, the main plot eclipses the triangle, and it resolves early in the story.

Overall, I love this book! I have enjoyed every moment of the series, even the sad and haunting ones. The vivid imagery, the lush fantasy, the history and world-building that makes Caraval magical is perfection. Finale encompasses everything a fantasy should be while staying unique and memorable. If you’ve enjoyed the series thus far or enjoy fantasy, I highly recommend it.

What a great conclusion to the series! I felt like the story flowed well from what was set up in the first couple of books and the characters are well thought out.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this prior to release (even though it took me til release day to finish)

Such an epic conclusion to this trilogy. It was everything I wanted and more! Stephanie Garber has a way of tugging at your heart strings and yet making the world so magical.

I look forward to anything Stephanie Garber puts out in the future!

Finale is the final book in the Caraval trilogy. It would be advised to read the prior two books before starting this one. The story follows two sisters ( any many other characters) who couldn't be more different if you tried.

Scarlett doesn’t just play in Caraval, she wins Caraval. During the game she finds true love and discovers the power of a wish. But Caraval is more special than that to Scarlett. It teaches Scarlett how to be strong after years of thinking she could settle for being safe.

Tella has always been bold, if not reckless. She easily barters away anything she may need in order to get what she wants. However, will Tella be able to trust Legend after everything she has been through. And how are the Fates going to affect her goal?

I love this series so much. The magic and darkness are mesmerizing. I fell in love with Scarlett in the first book! I was so invested in her and Julian, but that second book left me so unresolved. Luckily, the second book brought me Tella, Dante, and Legend, which was a crazy amazing story line. Now we get book three and we can find out what happens to them all! I love that the characters are messy and struggling with difficult choices throughout the Caraval.

The world Stephanie has built is so magical and unlike anything else I've ever read. Each small facet adds to this spellbinding story. The twists and turns will keep you enthralled to the last second. I don't want to spoil anything, so I would recommend that you read this whole series ASAP!

Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A stunning trilogy that will leave you breathless! Finale was definitely my favorite book in the series, but I'm sad it's over. This story weaves such an enchanting tale that has you mesmerized with it's magic. I won't give any spoilers, but I can't wait to do a re-read and dive into the world all over again.

“Every story has four parts: the beginning, the middle, the almost-ending, and the true ending. Unfortunately, not everyone gets a true ending. Most people give up at the part of the story where things are the worst, when the situation feels hopeless, but that is where hope is needed most. Only those who persevere can find their true ending.”


~FINALE by Stephanie Garber



Do you ever regret reading a book you desperately want to read from Page 1 because it will never be the first time again? My heart isn't ready to say goodbye to this fantastic series just yet. It wasn't when I started, and it isn't two weeks after I finished reading, either. I love this series so much, and want the world to flourish and expand forever. CARAVAL was my third favorite book of 2017 and LEGENDARY was in my top five last year -- and even better than its predecessor! The expectations on FINALE were huge for me, and thankfully, it lived up to all of them.

For those of you reading this review, I do want to let you know there is a misconception out there that this is a series about the circus. It isn't. One of my friends recently said she wouldn't read it because of that. It has been compared to THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern, but that's more due to its atmosphere and the way setting and objects are brought to life so visually than it is due to a circus being involved. She also recalled one of the UK covers having a circus-like design. So if this is what's keeping you away from the series as well, I highly recommend trying it out anyway. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is about a game both lovely and vicious. It is about sisters. It is about discovering who you are. It is about falling in love. It is about Fate and magic and whimsy. It is about so many things, and I can't describe them all fully or properly here. Check out my review of CARAVAL and sneak peek, spoiler-free look at LEGENDARY for more!

I will say that, while I promise not to spoil FINALE in this review, I can't say the same for previous books, especially when it comes to LEGENDARY. There's some stuff that happens in the back half that impacts the entirety of FINALE, and it's impossible to talk about this new book without spoiling those secrets. So if you haven't read the series and don't want to hear spoilers, I would stop reading this review now!

I have loved different things about each book in this series. In CARAVAL, I loved the worldbuilding and the fact that Scarlett has a form of synthesia, making the world vibrant and extra visual. In LEGENDARY, my fairy tale/mythology loving heart was enamoured by the Fates and the possibility they could be real. Stakes were higher and I couldn't turn pages fast enough. In FINALE, the encounters are vicious and deadly, and the world is on the line.

FINALE begins about two months after the events of LEGENDARY. The beginning is slow-moving as roads are being built and the Fates have yet to awaken and grounded a bit more in "reality" than other books. As magic and curses and danger ramp up, so does the story, and the back half will hold readers captive as they hurl toward the finale.

The whimsy is still there, too -- and so is the breathtaking wardrobe. There is a dress with butterflies that I wish I could see in reality. There is a library full of animals created from the pages of books that I would love to live in. The truth behind Scarlett's magical dress was stunning, and a shining moment of the book. And I'm going to stop there before I start giving away secrets and let you experience the magic for yourself.

What I loved the most, aside from reuniting with beloved characters, was the fact that Stephanie Garber laid down the possibility of Fates in LEGENDARY --and brought them to life in FINALE. They are real. Cruel. Vicious. Deadly. Legend's decision to free them from their cursed deck resulted in a huge blow for humanity. The death toll is rising and it may not be possible to defeat these gods and goddesses now that their powers have returned to them. Sisters Scarlett and Donatella never dreamed that by taking part in Caraval, they would unearth secrets from their past that could destroy everything they ever wanted and hoped for and loved....

I am truly not ready to say goodbye to this series. I also have a lot of thoughts that I can't discuss just yet. All I can do is wait with bated breath for you to catch up to me so we can discuss all the things.