Legendary

Written By: Stephanie Garber

Publication Date: May 29, 2018, by Flatiron Books

Date Finished: March 24, 2018

Would Recommend To: high fantasy fans, readers who love roller coasters in their YA

Rating: 5/5 stars

Dude. This book has messed me up!

Ok, so Caraval (the game, that is) is back at it again, but this time, Tella is our freaking heroine. OMG she kicks butt!
I was hesitant about this book being from Tella's point-of-view because I didn't like her in the first book, but she's so strong and determined and hilarious there is no way I can't like her.

Legendary basically starts where Caraval left off. Scarlett and Tella are still staying with the Caraval performers, and this year, Caraval is happening twice in a year - we're getting some world-building, guys. The sisters travel with the performers to Valenda, the capital of the Meridian Empire, to celebrate the empress' birthday with an honorary game. Turns out, though, Tella doesn't want to sit this one out like Scarlett does, for she has a "friend" who she has been exchanging letters and favors with for a while. Her friend wants something Tella must play the game to earn: Legend's real name. But is nothing as it seems, like the last game? Or is this game a little too believable to be imaginary?

First thing, the only thing I could criticize about the literary content, itself, is that the world-building was a little sudden. The series is known for its mysteriousness, but in the first book, there is close to no actual world-building, just learning about Caraval. Now, the scope is widening a bit to encompass magic and a little politics. As far as magic goes, we learn that there were Fates who had magnificent yet terrifying abilities and who oppressed the entire world, but a powerful witch banished them from the earth centuries ago... or so the legend says. However, there weren't any hints to this whatsoever in Caraval, so it seemed to me a little unrealistic and like Garber came up with the legend while writing the second novel. Normally, that would be fine, but personally, it didn't feel very well-executed or developed. Plus, I still want to know what the actual world looks like!

On a brighter note, that's really the only aspect I have to criticize. (Minor Spoiler in next sentence).

I love Tella and Dante together! I'm getting tired of the whole dark, brooding, handsome, "bad boy" love interest, but Garber does it differently. He would probably not be my type, but I didn't roll my eyes like I do sometimes with this overly-used trope, and I think that's because Tella gives him a run for his money. She doesn't let his "bad boy" persona seduce her any - when she does fall for him, it's because she loves him, not because he is a handsome bad boy; he's a really genuine guy on the inside. I have to say, though, that ending... UGH I don't know what to think about him - the situation just got a whole lot more complicated.

Legendary made me super anxious, I have to admit. It took me about a fifth of the book to really get hooked, but once I did, there was no holding back! I wanted to know how it was going to end because I know that Garber had done something super genius with this novel: she turned the plot of Caraval up on its head. In the first book, we had no idea so much was going to be part of the game, so there is where the shocking twists came in. In this one, however, we're expecting that now... so Garber makes the game REAL, and none of the characters outside of Legend's posse believe that, including Tella.

Personally, I thought this book was A LOT better than the first one, so GUYS GO READ THIS BOOK (though you kinda have to read Caraval first 😉 ).

Thanks for reading, and au revoir, my fellow bookworms!

And thanks, NetGally, Stephanie Garber, and Flatiron Books for getting this arc to me in exchange for an honest review.