The instant #1 New York Times bestseller! 

Stephanie Garber’s limitless imagination takes flight once more in the colorful, mesmerizing, and immersive sequel to the bestselling breakout debut Caraval

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.

Apparently, this is the year of sequels for me. Because, strangely, I seem to be liking several YA sequels just as much as the originals… Which is quite the anomaly? Nevertheless, I am here to report that Stephanie Garber’s Legendary, was in fact, just that (legendary, that is).

As some of you may recall, I was a big fan of Legendary‘s predecessor, Caraval. The series is, honestly, not at all overhyped. Incredibly original and colorful, I have read few things like it. Regardless, I was a bit hesitant about Legendary. I am rarely a fan of sequels that follow a new POV. However, Donatella lived up to my very high standards, and brought the world of Caraval to life once more!

As far as world-building, the issues that I had with this book as the same as I had with the original. It is unclear to me what place magic has in this world, and how it affects the social structure. It is obvious that not everyone has magic–in fact, it seems that few people do at all. However, everyone seems very ready to accept its existence and the fact it plays a part in their world. This is my biggest issue with the series as a whole, as it just leaves some room for questioning in the plot for me. Everything still made sense to me, but I was constantly wondering where magic stood in the eyes of the people.

Regardless, the magic of the world is beautiful. Garber does an incredible job of painting this vibrant world for the readers. Not only is it immersive, but it’s gorgeous. The style and atmosphere of the world are rather unsolidified (I would describe it as borderline steampunk), but that doesn’t mean I can’t adore it. It fits right in with the worlds of Professor Layton and the likes. The characters were equally as interesting and captivating, despite the fact we had gotten to know them a bit already in the first book. They were different enough from the original’s protagonists, but familiar enough to fit into the world.

Overall, I adored Legendary, and cannot wait for the final installment of the trilogy!

4 out of 5.

Maddie