Victoria Moschou's Blog, page 96
June 1, 2019
FAIRYLOOT UNBOXING ~ THE FINALE BOX ~ COLLECTOR’S EDITION
Hello wonderful people and happy June everyone! 
May 30, 2019
May Wrap Up
Hey awesome nerds and happy Thursday everyone!
This month was busy and weird, and looking back now I realise that I didn’t do all the things I was hoping I would. On the positive side though, I managed to read 5 books, some of them better than others. 
May 27, 2019
June TBR
Hello awesome nerds and happy Monday everyone!
I’m so happy this month is finally coming to an end, for it was a pretty weird one, and I honestly can’t wait for the summer to officially come. Not only because this means I’ll have more time to focus on my wedding/christening planning business and on my writing projects, but also because I got some amazing books lately and I cannot wait to read them all!
After all, who needs sleep when they can read all night long?
[image error]
So, without any further ado, let’s get to the books that I’m hoping I will get to read in the month of June.
1. FIRE & BLOOD, BY GEORGE R. R. MARTIN
[image error]
Yes, I’m taking my time with this particular book as it seems to be a chronicle of the Targaryen bloodline, and after everything that happened in the series finale of Game of Thrones, I feel like I need to read this book to fully understand where this madness comes from.
2. A GAME OF THRONES (A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, #1), BY GEORGE R. R. MARTIN
[image error]
I will be honest with you, dearies. The series finale of Game of Thrones was the most anticlimactic thing I’ve watched in a really long time. Frankly, this whole season was anticlimactic and rushed. Which is why I feel like the time has come to fully invest on this series, despite the fact that it hasn’t been completed yet.
Who knows? Maybe George Martin will have written AND published the final two books by the time I will be reading the fifth one of the series.
3. FINALE (CARAVAL, #3), BY STEPHANIE GARBER
[image error]
Please don’t tell me that you didn’t see that coming?
Legendary was one of the best books I’ve read so far in 2019 and now I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen in Finale! All I ask is for my babies, Julian and Dante, to be happy! 
May 25, 2019
Book Haul ~ My May Books
Hello everyone and happy Saturday!
I can’t believe that May is almost over. I can’t believe that we’re almost halfway through 2019. And I can’t believe I’ve read so many amazing books so far, nor that I have bought and received some extremely promising ones either. Because I did buy and receive some amazing books this month and I cannot wait to share them with you!
[image error]
1. TO KILL A KINGDOM, BY ALEXANDRA CHRISTO
[image error]
So I ordered To Kill A Kingdom from BookDepository and I got it on May 9th, but I was reading either Legendary or A Court of Wings and Ruin at that moment, so I decided to wait a little bit before starting this one, especially considering the fact that, since it has to do with sirens, it feels more like a summer read to me.
So, I’m currently halfway through and I have mixed feelings about it because I love the main female lead, Lira, but I can’t stand the male lead, Elian.
Nonetheless, for those of you who are feeling intrigued by this darker retelling of The Little Mermaid, here’s the blurb for you:
“Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.
The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?”
I hope things get better later on, because I had really high expectation about this one and I don’t wanna get disappointed in the end.
2. CATWOMAN: SOULSTEALER (DC ICONS SERIES, BOOK #3), BY SARAH J. MAAS
[image error]
Yes, I know that people weren’t excited about this one and that it got some really bad review last year but that’s basically the reason why I waited so long to grab a copy of this one. Plus, I found it for only $1.99 so I simply HAD to buy it.
By now, everyone and their mothers have read this book, but for the very few who don’t know what this is about, here’s the official summary:
“When the Bat’s away, the Cat will play. It’s time to see how many lives this cat really has…
Two years after escaping Gotham City’s slums, Selina Kyle returns as the mysterious and wealthy Holly Vanderhees. She quickly discovers that with Batman off on a vital mission, Batwing is left to hold back the tide of notorious criminals. Gotham City is ripe for the taking.
Meanwhile, Luke Fox wants to prove he has what it takes to help people in his role as Batwing. He targets a new thief on the prowl who seems cleverer than most. She has teamed up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and together they are wreaking havoc. This Catwoman may be Batwing’s undoing.”
People said that Selina is basically Celaena, so there’s a high chance I might actually hate this book, but you never know… Right?
3. THE MAGGIES, BY CHRISTINE BOTTAS
[image error]
My dear friend Christine sent me a copy of this beauty and I absolutely ADORED this gothic, mini graphic novel!
“The day Maggie came, all the bluebirds flew backward into the sea. I watched them from the window of the tower as they plunged into the hungry maw of the waves, never to be seen again.
A mini Gothic graphic novel portraying a mother’s loss and her slow descent to madness. The bereft mother believes her only living child is a ghost haunting her. For sixteen years she endures the child’s presence. The mother believes that by murdering Maggie she will find happiness again.”
I highly, highly suggest you guys pick this up! You will fall in love with Christine’s writing style and this hauntingly beautiful tale!
4. (NOT SO) SWEET SWITCH, BY ARIEL KLONTZ
So the thing is that this book hasn’t been published yet, but lovely Ariel sent it to me to beta-read it, and I feel extremely honoured and happy that I’ll be one of the few people that will read this amazing, original story for the first time.
As Ariel said, in (Not So) Sweet Switch “TO ALL THE BOYS x YOUR NAME. When type 1 diabetic Charisa passes out from low blood sugar at a high school party, popular drama nerd Xander tries to fix things with CPR, and the two inadvertently switch bodies in a magical twist of fate”
I loved To All The Boy’s I’ve Loved Before, I can already picture Xander in my head as Peter Kavinsky for some kind of reason, and I feel THRILLED that there’s this amazing representation and diversity in this story. I simply cannot wait to read it!
As I’m currently waiting for my FairyLoot boxes to arrive, I just want to let you guys know that I also bought Finale, by buying the collector’s FairyLoot box. I am so excited, you have no idea!
[image error]
How many books did you guys buy/receive this month? Which ones? Have you read any of the books mentioned here?
I look forward to reading your comments in the comment section below.
Thank you all for stopping by once again. It means the world to me and I want you to know that I most certainly don’t take your presence here for granted.
Have a lovely weekend, dearies!
Till next time… Toodles!
May 23, 2019
BOOK REVIEW: The Maggies, by Christine Bottas ~ A magical, gothic graphic novel everyone needs to read.
~THE MAGGIES, BY CHRISTINE BOTTAS
[image error]
A few days ago I read a post on Facebook quoting that we should support our friends just as much as we support complete strangers, like actors, singers, authors… We should support our friends just as much as we support those celebrities, if not more.
This friend of mine deserves all the support and love and admiration in the whole wide world, because she’s an angel, a rare gem and a freaking talented woman, with a phenomenal mind!
I’m talking of course about my dearest friend, my Darkling, Christine Bottas, who recently released her newest book, The Maggies, a mini graphic novel, illustrated by Yuncumber and Valia Kapadai.
“The day Maggie came, all the bluebirds flew backward into the sea. I watched them from the window of the tower as they plunged into the hungry maw of the waves, never to be seen again.”
The Maggies is the morbid tale of a bereft mother who believes her only living child is a ghost haunting her, slowly driving her to the edge of insanity. A mini Gothic graphic novel portraying a mother’s loss and her slow descent to madness. The bereft mother believes her only living child is a ghost haunting her. For sixteen years she endures the child’s presence. The mother believes that by murdering Maggie she will find happiness again.
[image error]
Though I’m not a huge fan of graphic novels, I read The Maggies in one sitting (naturally) because, truth be told, I would read anything this mastermind would come up with. I would even read Christine’s grocery store list.
Her writing style is hauntingly beautiful, lyrical, mind-blowing even. She has this natural ability, this undeniable talent to create pictures that are so freaking vivid and literally consume your mind, heart and soul.
The Maggies is a beautiful dark tale into loneliness, depression, loss and madness. It takes us from the innocence of a child to the wretched soul of a grown-up woman; a woman lost so deep in her madness that she cannot say right from wrong. Or, the way I saw it, she CAN say right from wrong. She just doesn’t care. That’s exactly what happens with every psychopath.
[image error]
With beautiful illustrations that paint the exact colours of the despair, the agony and the horror, this gothic, magical tale asks the reader to understand and to accept that sometimes people can’t see the beauty of this world. Not because they don’t want to, but because they have a twisted version of it in their heads.
I highly recommend you guys read this phenomenal tale! And no, I’m not biased AT ALL. This is Christine’s best work so far.
You can grab your copy by following that link, and you can thank me later for that.
“EVEN GOD TURNS A BLIND EYE TO THE WRETCHED AND INSANE.”
Thank you dearies for coming here once again. Also, huge thanks to my darkling Christine for sending me a copy of her amazing work. It always means the world to me. As it means the world to me that you keep coming back here! I want you to know that I most certainly don’t take your presence here for granted.
Love you all to Pluto and back, awesome nerds! 
Till next time… Toodles!
May 20, 2019
Most Anticipated Releases of Second Half of 2019
Hello, hello awesome nerds and happy Monday everyone!
I honestly cannot believe how quickly this year is passing by and that it’s finally time for me to share with you some of my most anticipated releases of the second half of 2019, aka the books that are going to be released from July onwards.
So, sit back comfortably, folks, and get ready for some serious book recommendations!
[image error]
1. THE STORM CROW (THE STORM CROW, #1), BY KALYN JOSEPHSON
[image error]
“In the tropical kingdom of Rhodaire, magical, elemental Crows are part of every aspect of life…until the Illucian empire invades, destroying everything.
That terrible night has thrown Princess Anthia into a deep depression. Her sister Caliza is busy running the kingdom after their mother’s death, but all Thia can do is think of all she has lost.
But when Caliza is forced to agree to a marriage between Thia and the crown prince of Illucia, Thia is finally spurred into action. And after stumbling upon a hidden Crow egg in the rubble of a rookery, she and her sister devise a dangerous plan to hatch the egg in secret and get back what was taken from them.”
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this beauty, as it was the second featured book in the December FairyLoot box, if I remember correctly, but The Storm Crow is officially being released on July 9th, 2019, and I highly suggest you guys add it on your TBR piles, if you haven’t done so already.
And if you need a little more push to do so, feel free to read my SPOILER FREE review here.
2. SPIN THE DAWN (THE BLOOD OF STARS, #1), BY ELIZABETH LIM
[image error]
“Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA fantasy about a young girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars.
Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she’ll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There’s just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.
Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia’s task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.
And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor’s reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.
Steeped in Chinese culture, sizzling with forbidden romance, and shimmering with magic, this young adult fantasy is pitch-perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas or Renée Ahdieh.“
Now, give me a Mulan retelling, Chinese culture, girl-power and fantasy and I am all in! I’m super excited about this book, I know Anissa has already read it and I can only hope that FairyLoot is going to feature it in one of their future boxes!
Regardless of that though, I’m definitely going to buy this because IT’S PRETTY! Plus the story seems very, very promising! And, honestly now, dearies, I do need a new fantasy series in my life!
Spin the Dawn is also being released on July 9th, 2019, so mark your calendars, awesome people!
3. HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS, BY ERIN A. CRAIG
[image error]
“In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.
Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls’ lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.
Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn’t sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?
When Annaleigh’s involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it’s a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next.”
I have already shared this in a previous post, but well, you know me by now, when I feel passionate about something, I can’t stop talking about it.
As it appears, this is going to be a standalone novel (fingers crossed it turns into a series, though) and as I enjoyed The Wicked Deep A LOT and I am about to start reading To Kill A Kingdom, something tells me that I’m going to enjoy this beauty, too.
House of Salt and Sorrows is going to be released on August 6th, 2019, so it’ll be the perfect read for my summer break!
4. OF ICE AND SHADOWS (OF FIRE AND STARS, #2), BY AUDREY COULTHURST
[image error]
“The long-awaited sequel to Of Fire and Stars—in which Mare and Denna travel to a new and dangerous kingdom where Denna must be trained to tame her magic by a mysterious queen who is not all she seems. Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and Tamora Pierce.
Princesses Denna and Mare are in love and together at last—only to face a new set of dangers.
Mare just wants to settle down with the girl she loves, which would be easier if Denna weren’t gifted with forbidden and volatile fire magic. Denna must learn to control her powers, which means traveling in secret to the kingdom of Zumorda, where she can seek training without fear of persecution. Determined to help, Mare has agreed to serve as an ambassador as a cover for their journey.
But just after Mare and Denna arrive in Zumorda, an attack on a border town changes everything. Mare’s diplomatic mission is now urgent: She must quickly broker an alliance with the Zumordan queen to protect her homeland. However, the queen has no interest in allying with other kingdoms—it’s Denna’s untamed but powerful magic that catches her eye. The queen offers to teach Denna herself, and both girls know it would be dangerous to refuse.
As Denna’s powers grow stronger, Mare does her best to be the ambassador her kingdom needs. Her knowledge of Zumorda and its people grows, and so too do her suspicions about the queen’s intentions. With rising tensions and unexpected betrayals putting Mare and Denna in jeopardy and dangerous enemies emerging on all sides, can they protect their love and save their kingdoms?”
This beauty is going to be released on August 13th, 2019, and as I loved Of Fire and Stars, naturally, I’m super excited about the sequel and I can’t wait to dive right into it!
5. DARKDAWN (THE NEVERNIGHT CHRONICLE, #3), BY JAY KRISTOFF
[image error]
“A ruthless young assassin’s journey for revenge comes to a stunning end in the conclusion of this acclaimed epic fantasy trilogy.
The Republic of Itreya is in chaos. Mia Corvere has assassinated Cardinal Duomo and rumors of Consul Scaeva’s death ripple through the street of Godsgrave like wildfire. But buried beneath those same streets, deep in the ancient city’s bones, lies a secret that will change the Republic forever.
Mia and her brother Jonnen must journey through the depths of the ancient metropolis. Their quest will take them through the Godsgrave underdark, across the Sea of Swords, back to the library of the Quiet Mountain and the poisoned blades of Mia’s old mentors, and at last the fabled Crown of the Moon. There, Mia will at last discover the origins of the darkin, and learn the destiny that lies in store for her and her world. But with the three suns now in descent, and Truedark on the horizon, will she survive?
New York Times and internationally bestselling author Jay Kristoff’s writing has been praised by critics and readers alike and has won many awards, including five Aurealis Awards, an ABIA, and David Gemmell Morningstar and Legend awards.”
All I can say is… GIVE IT TO ME NOW! I simply cannot wait until the 3rd of September to read it! I need to know what’s going to happen NOW! And when I say NOW, I mean like… YESTERDAY!
Oh, and, *SPOILER ALERT*, Mia dies at the end of the book. We were told so at the beginning of Nevernight, ok?
6. THE GIRL THE SEA GAVE BACK, BY ADRIENNE YOUNG
[image error]
“The new gut-wrenching epic from the New York Times bestselling author of Sky in the Deep.
For as long as she can remember, Tova has lived among the Svell, the people who found her washed ashore as a child and use her for her gift as a Truthtongue. Her own home and clan are long-faded memories, but the sacred symbols and staves inked over every inch of her skin mark her as one who can cast the rune stones and see into the future. She has found a fragile place among those who fear her, but when two clans to the east bury their age-old blood feud and join together as one, her world is dangerously close to collapse.
For the first time in generations, the leaders of the Svell are divided. Should they maintain peace or go to war with the allied clans to protect their newfound power? And when their chieftain looks to Tova to cast the stones, she sets into motion a series of events that will not only change the landscape of the mainland forever but will give her something she believed she could never have again—a home.”
Now, that’s intriguing! It reminds me a lot of Beyond A Darkened Shore for some kind of reason and Adrienne Young is such a talent, kind and sweet woman, that I’m sure I’m going to love her new book!
The Girl the Sea Gave Back is going to be released on September 3rd, 2019, so stay tuned for more, folks!
7. SERPENT & DOVE (SERPENT & DOVE, #1), BY SHELLY MAHURIN
[image error]
“Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.
Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.
Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou’s, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.
The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou’s most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.
And love makes fools of us all.”
Why do I have a feeling that this is going to be a enemies-to-lovers kind of book and that I’m going to ADORE it?
This little gem is also going to be released on September 3rd, 2019, and as the nights will have started getting longer, this will be the perfect read for an autumn evening. Don’t you agree, folks?
8. INTO THE CROOKED PLACE, BY ALEXANDRA CHRISTO
[image error]
“Into the Crooked Place begins a gritty two-book YA fantasy series from Alexandra Christo, the author of To Kill a Kingdom.
The streets of Creije are for the deadly and the dreamers, and four crooks in particular know just how much magic they need up their sleeve to survive.
Tavia, a busker ready to pack up her dark-magic wares and turn her back on Creije for good. She’ll do anything to put her crimes behind her.
Wesley, the closest thing Creije has to a gangster. After growing up on streets hungry enough to swallow the weak whole, he won’t stop until he has brought the entire realm to kneel before him.
Karam, a warrior who spends her days watching over the city’s worst criminals and her nights in the fighting rings, making a deadly name for herself.
And Saxony, a resistance fighter hiding from the very people who destroyed her family, and willing to do whatever it takes to get her revenge.
Everything in their lives is going to plan, until Tavia makes a crucial mistake: she delivers a vial of dark magic—a weapon she didn’t know she had—to someone she cares about, sparking the greatest conflict in decades. Now these four magical outsiders must come together to save their home and the world, before it’s too late. But with enemies at all sides, they can trust nobody. Least of all each other.”
I have really high expectations of this book and, depending on how much I will enjoy To Kill A Kingdom, I’ll see whether I will preorder this book or whether I’ll wait to see what the other members of the bookish community have to say about it.
Into the Crooked Place is going to be released on October 8th, 2019, and I feel this is going to be the perfect read for the Halloween season.
9. TEARS OF FROST (HEART OF THORNS, #2), BY BREE BARTON
[image error]
“The electric second book in the Heart of Thorns trilogy explores the effects of power in a dark magical kingdom—and the fierce courage it takes to claim your body as your own.
Mia Rose is back from the dead. Her memories are hazy, her body numb—but she won’t stop searching. Her only hope to save the boy she loves and the sister who destroyed her is to find the mother she can never forgive. Pilar is on a hunt of her own. Betrayed by her mother, and plagued by a painful secret, she’s determined to seek out the only person who can exact revenge. All goes according to plan… until she collides with Prince Quin, the boy whose sister she killed.
As Mia, Pilar, and Quin forge dangerous new alliances, they are bewitched by the snow kingdom’s promise of freedom and opportunity. But with the winter solstice drawing near, they must confront the truth beneath the glimmering ice, as lines between friend, foe, and lover vanish like snowflakes on a flame.”
May 18, 2019
BOOK REVIEW: Legendary (Caraval, #2), by Stephanie Garber ~ Simply MAGICAL!
~ LEGENDARY, BY STEPHANIE GARBER
[image error]
Hello lovely people and welcome to a new review, here on Victorious Pages.
As the day that my Finale copy will arrive approaches, I thought the time was right for me to share with you my thoughts and feelings regarding the second book in the Caraval series, Legendary.
It’s been more than a week since I read it, but I really needed to fully fathom everything that happened in this book. All the revelations and plot twists, and everything that (hopefully) will happen in the last instalment of this trilogy. What I didn’t want to do was write a review based solely on my first impressions and emotions, which is why I’ll try to be as unbiased as possible.
As per usual, I will start my review with the non-spoilery section and then move on to the spoilers and the discussion. So, if you haven’t read the book yet and you don’t want to be spoiled, rest assured that I will inform you when the spoilery part will begin. Fair warning though, that there will be spoilers from Caraval included in the review.
With all that being said, let’s get to the summary of Legendary.
“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.“
Technically speaking, the second instalment of the series was far better than the first book. The writing style was improved A LOT (and it was actually my cup of tea this time), the story as a whole was fast-paced, with beautiful descriptions and narration, amazing plot twists and revelations.
But then again, maybe that was because I like Tella as a main character much more than I like Scarlett. Tella is the funny, cunning, smart, optimistic, romantic, more relatable and accessible sister. She’s the protagonist you want to get to know, the person who you want to hang out with, the girl whose love story is going to excite you and make you get butterflies in your stomach.
[image error]
Scarlett on the other hand… Well, I like Scarlett because, where she is, Julian follows!
[image error]
Or maybe I liked Legendary more because it wasn’t as confusing as Caraval was, at least in my opinion, neither it had as much info-dumping as its prequel. With a world being built and a magic system being, more or less, explained, it was inevitable for me to ADORE the development of the story, the characters, the magic system and, of course, the epilogue, that left me wondering what’s going to happen in Finale.
So, in terms of technicality, Legendary was the kind of book that drew me in and simply made me crave for more.
And now for the spoilers…
[image error]
*LAST CHANCE TO LEAVE, FOLKS*
[image error]
So, my initial reaction was OH! MY! GOSH! 
BOOK REVIEW: Legendary (Caraval, #2), by Stephanie Garber ~ Simply MAGICAL!
~ LEGENDARY, BY STEPHANIE GARBER
[image error]
Hello lovely people and welcome to a new review, here on Victorious Pages.
As the day that my Finale copy will arrive approaches, I thought the time was right for me to share with you my thoughts and feelings regarding the second book in the Caraval series, Legendary.
It’s been more than a week since I read it, but I really needed to fully fathom everything that happened in this book. All the revelations and plot twists, and everything that (hopefully) will happen in the last instalment of this trilogy. What I didn’t want to do was write a review based solely on my first impressions and emotions, which is why I’ll try to be as unbiased as possible.
As per usual, I will start my review with the non-spoilery section and then move on to the spoilers and the discussion. So, if you haven’t read the book yet and you don’t want to be spoiled, rest assured that I will inform you when the spoilery part will begin. Fair warning though, that there will be spoilers from Caraval included in the review.
With all that being said, let’s get to the summary of Legendary.
“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.“
Technically speaking, the second instalment of the series was far better than the first book. The writing style was improved A LOT (and it was actually my cup of tea this time), the story as a whole was fast-paced, with beautiful descriptions and narration, amazing plot twists and revelations.
But then again, maybe that was because I like Tella as a main character much more than I like Scarlett. Tella is the funny, cunning, smart, optimistic, romantic, more relatable and accessible sister. She’s the protagonist you want to get to know, the person who you want to hang out with, the girl whose love story is going to excite you and make you get butterflies in your stomach.
[image error]
Scarlett on the other hand… Well, I like Scarlett because, where she is, Julian follows!
[image error]
Or maybe I liked Legendary more because it wasn’t as confusing as Caraval was, at least in my opinion, neither it had as much info-dumping as its prequel. With a world being built and a magic system being, more or less, explained, it was inevitable for me to ADORE the development of the story, the characters, the magic system and, of course, the epilogue, that left me wondering what’s going to happen in Finale.
So, in terms of technicality, Legendary was the kind of book that drew me in and simply made me crave for more.
And now for the spoilers…
[image error]
*LAST CHANCE TO LEAVE, FOLKS*
[image error]
So, my initial reaction was OH! MY! GOSH!
BOOK REVIEW: Legendary (Caraval, #2), by Stephanie Garber ~ Simply MAGICAL!
~ LEGENDARY, BY STEPHANIE GARBER
[image error]
Hello lovely people and welcome to a new review, here on Victorious Pages.
As the day that my Finale copy will arrive approaches, I thought the time was right for me to share with you my thoughts and feelings regarding the second book in the Caraval series, Legendary.
It’s been more than a week since I read it, but I really needed to fully fathom everything that happened in this book. All the revelations and plot twists, and everything that (hopefully) will happen in the last instalment of this trilogy. What I didn’t want to do was write a review based solely on my first impressions and emotions, which is why I’ll try to be as unbiased as possible.
As per usual, I will start my review with the non-spoilery section and then move on to the spoilers and the discussion. So, if you haven’t read the book yet and you don’t want to be spoiled, rest assured that I will inform you when the spoilery part will begin. Fair warning though, that there will be spoilers from Caraval included in the review.
With all that being said, let’s get to the summary of Legendary.
“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.“
Technically speaking, the second instalment of the series was far better than the first book. The writing style was improved A LOT (and it was actually my cup of tea this time), the story as a whole was fast-paced, with beautiful descriptions and narration, amazing plot twists and revelations.
But then again, maybe that was because I like Tella as a main character much more than I like Scarlett. Tella is the funny, cunning, smart, optimistic, romantic, more relatable and accessible sister. She’s the protagonist you want to get to know, the person who you want to hang out with, the girl whose love story is going to excite you and make you get butterflies in your stomach.
[image error]
Scarlett on the other hand… Well, I like Scarlett because, where she is, Julian follows!
[image error]
Or maybe I liked Legendary more because it wasn’t as confusing as Caraval was, at least in my opinion, neither it had as much info-dumping as its prequel. With a world being built and a magic system being, more or less, explained, it was inevitable for me to ADORE the development of the story, the characters, the magic system and, of course, the epilogue, that left me wondering what’s going to happen in Finale.
So, in terms of technicality, Legendary was the kind of book that drew me in and simply made me crave for more.
And now for the spoilers…
[image error]
*LAST CHANCE TO LEAVE, FOLKS*
[image error]
So, my initial reaction was OH! MY! GOSH!
BOOK REVIEW: Legendary (Caraval, #2), by Stephanie Garber ~ Simply MAGICAL!
~ LEGENDARY, BY STEPHANIE GARBER
[image error]
Hello lovely people and welcome to a new review, here on Victorious Pages.
As the day that my Finale copy will arrive approaches, I thought the time was right for me to share with you my thoughts and feelings regarding the second book in the Caraval series, Legendary.
It’s been more than a week since I read it, but I really needed to fully fathom everything that happened in this book. All the revelations and plot twists, and everything that (hopefully) will happen in the last instalment of this trilogy. What I didn’t want to do was write a review based solely on my first impressions and emotions, which is why I’ll try to be as unbiased as possible.
As per usual, I will start my review with the non-spoilery section and then move on to the spoilers and the discussion. So, if you haven’t read the book yet and you don’t want to be spoiled, rest assured that I will inform you when the spoilery part will begin. Fair warning though, that there will be spoilers from Caraval included in the review.
With all that being said, let’s get to the summary of Legendary.
“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.“
Technically speaking, the second instalment of the series was far better than the first book. The writing style was improved A LOT (and it was actually my cup of tea this time), the story as a whole was fast-paced, with beautiful descriptions and narration, amazing plot twists and revelations.
But then again, maybe that was because I like Tella as a main character much more than I like Scarlett. Tella is the funny, cunning, smart, optimistic, romantic, more relatable and accessible sister. She’s the protagonist you want to get to know, the person who you want to hang out with, the girl whose love story is going to excite you and make you get butterflies in your stomach.
[image error]
Scarlett on the other hand… Well, I like Scarlett because, where she is, Julian follows!
[image error]
Or maybe I liked Legendary more because it wasn’t as confusing as Caraval was, at least in my opinion, neither it had as much info-dumping as its prequel. With a world being built and a magic system being, more or less, explained, it was inevitable for me to ADORE the development of the story, the characters, the magic system and, of course, the epilogue, that left me wondering what’s going to happen in Finale.
So, in terms of technicality, Legendary was the kind of book that drew me in and simply made me crave for more.
And now for the spoilers…
[image error]
*LAST CHANCE TO LEAVE, FOLKS*
[image error]
So, my initial reaction was OH! MY! GOSH!
