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Caraval #3
Finale
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2019)A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.
It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.
With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.
Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time—only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.
Welcome, welcome to Finale . . . all games must come to an end.
It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.
With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.
Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time—only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.
Welcome, welcome to Finale . . . all games must come to an end.
478 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2019
About the author
Stephanie Garber
12 books33.7k followersHi! Thanks so much for stopping by this page. I’m only on this site occasionally, so if you’d like to send me a message, please use the contact form on my website: http://stephaniegarberauthor.com.
I can also be found on Instagram, and I love connecting with readers. If you're looking for more information about my books, the most up to date news can be found on Instagram, but I also try to update my website on a regular basis.
I can also be found on Instagram, and I love connecting with readers. If you're looking for more information about my books, the most up to date news can be found on Instagram, but I also try to update my website on a regular basis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 16,919 reviews
March 18, 2019
Tour Update: Bustle has just revealed all the stops for the Finale tour, along with the first chapter of the book! https://www.bustle.com/p/see-where-fi...
Update: My US publisher has just announced their preorder gift for Finale. They've created 1,500 Decks of Destiny and if you're a US resident you can get one. For more information check out their site: https://read.macmillan.com/promo/fina...
Update: Finale finally has an official summary! The one that's been up is from an early draft--and no longer accurate--so I'm really excited to share this new summary with all of you:
A love worth fighting for.
A dream worth dying for.
An ending worth waiting for.
It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.
With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend—or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.
Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.
Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end…
More good news: Finale has a cover and I am in love with it! Entertainment Weekly has just revealed it, they also let me share a few thoughts about the book and ending the series, if you're curious: https://ew.com/books/2018/10/19/steph...
Good news update: The pub date for Finale has just been moved up. It is now releasing on May 7, 2019!
For everyone who's been wondering what is going to happen in this book, there is now a description for it up on Amazon and I am so excited! (https://www.amazon.com/Finale-Caraval...)
Just be warned, this summary contains spoilers for Legendary. xo
April 22, 2023
➸ 3.5 stars
tella is stronger than me frfr. if i was jacks only weakness, obsession, one true love and also called me “my love” i would’ve folded and forgot abt dante so quick
tella is stronger than me frfr. if i was jacks only weakness, obsession, one true love and also called me “my love” i would’ve folded and forgot abt dante so quick
April 23, 2019
"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 the most. Only those who persevere can find their true ending."
This is definitely a review I never thought I'd be writing. I've been fangirling over the Caraval series since an arc landed in my lap in 2016, and I had no reason to believe that Finale would be any less enjoyable for me than Caraval (5 stars from me) and Legendary (4 stars from me). Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me the way that the other two did, and instead of bashing this book, I'd like to take a few minutes to detail below WHY this book didn't work for me, so that as a reader you can decide for yourself what to think. I do encourage you, if you're a fan of the series, to pick this up for yourself and come to your own conclusion, as my opinion is likely unpopular and in the minority. Caution for minor spoilers below for the previous two books in the series.
Finale picks up in the wake of where Legendary left off. Tella is still pining after Legend, yet playing coy as he visits her in her dreams, and Jacks is still in play, so we have a bonafide love triangle up until the very end of this novel. Unfortunately, this was a big part of my problem with the book. Donatella is such a strong female in the previous novels, and I felt she was reduced to a simple love interest in this final installment. Sure, she does one big thing at the end of the book, but for 99.9% of the novel, there's a slow, repetitive narrative of inner monologue and whiny dialogue that grated on me. I'll admit that this could be because I'm an adult, and this is YA fiction, but I also think other readers will pick up on this and have a hard time processing that this is the same adventurous heroine we came to love in the first two books.
At the same time, Scarlett is mad at Julian because he has abandoned her for 6 weeks, and in the meantime she has been exchanging letters with the real count, her former fiance, and their correspondence has resulted in Scarlet deciding to pit the two men against each other in, yes, another competitive love triangle! Hooray for all of the love triangles! Thankfully this one doesn't last as long as the one listed above, and honestly felt like filler to make the book have a padded page count. Scarlett does play an arguably more important role in this installment, and I do applaud Garber for attempting to give this girl a strong character arc, but it felt a bit forced and politically correct. I want strong female leads as much as the next person, but a total personality change in the final book of a trilogy felt a little off for me.
I think my favorite part of this book though is that we finally get a deeper look into The Fates, and while it wasn't as much as I'd hoped for, I found myself fully engaged in these sections. I loved the "history" and folklore surrounding how they were created and what role they have played, past and present, in the shaping of their fantastical world. I can't say too much about this, but Finale does hinge it's plot on one of the fates, and how this particular one ties Scarlett, Tella, and Paloma to the story.
Unfortunately, I found the ending to be rushed, skimmed over, and tidy beyond all reason, which really works for some readers, but is tough for me. I'm a masochistic reader, and I want my characters to be cost something, so when everyone shows up flawlessly alright with all their dreams come true, I shake my old lady fist at the sky and wonder why I bothered reading this if no one had to survive any form of loss? Maybe I was supposed to find this in Paloma/Paradise (who, let it be known, ALSO HAD A LOVE TRIANGLE YES WE'RE UP TO THREE NOW), but her portion is so slim that I didn't really get a chance to know her.
I know it sounds like I didn't like any portion of this book, but I truly did love the concept and still remain a huge fan of the series/author. Overall I found this particular installment just didn't flow with how the first two were written. This could be because this is the first book that didn't have the suspenseful backing of the mystery of Legend's identity or a game of Caraval to keep the pace racing, or maybe it's the fact that I'm not a huge fan of love triangles, slow burning, repetitive descriptions, and endings that so neat and tidy that they are beyond happily ever after. I'm definitely interested to see where the author chooses to take us next, and I sincerely wish her all the best and success in her future endeavors! <3
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy via NetGalley.
This is definitely a review I never thought I'd be writing. I've been fangirling over the Caraval series since an arc landed in my lap in 2016, and I had no reason to believe that Finale would be any less enjoyable for me than Caraval (5 stars from me) and Legendary (4 stars from me). Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me the way that the other two did, and instead of bashing this book, I'd like to take a few minutes to detail below WHY this book didn't work for me, so that as a reader you can decide for yourself what to think. I do encourage you, if you're a fan of the series, to pick this up for yourself and come to your own conclusion, as my opinion is likely unpopular and in the minority. Caution for minor spoilers below for the previous two books in the series.
Finale picks up in the wake of where Legendary left off. Tella is still pining after Legend, yet playing coy as he visits her in her dreams, and Jacks is still in play, so we have a bonafide love triangle up until the very end of this novel. Unfortunately, this was a big part of my problem with the book. Donatella is such a strong female in the previous novels, and I felt she was reduced to a simple love interest in this final installment. Sure, she does one big thing at the end of the book, but for 99.9% of the novel, there's a slow, repetitive narrative of inner monologue and whiny dialogue that grated on me. I'll admit that this could be because I'm an adult, and this is YA fiction, but I also think other readers will pick up on this and have a hard time processing that this is the same adventurous heroine we came to love in the first two books.
At the same time, Scarlett is mad at Julian because he has abandoned her for 6 weeks, and in the meantime she has been exchanging letters with the real count, her former fiance, and their correspondence has resulted in Scarlet deciding to pit the two men against each other in, yes, another competitive love triangle! Hooray for all of the love triangles! Thankfully this one doesn't last as long as the one listed above, and honestly felt like filler to make the book have a padded page count. Scarlett does play an arguably more important role in this installment, and I do applaud Garber for attempting to give this girl a strong character arc, but it felt a bit forced and politically correct. I want strong female leads as much as the next person, but a total personality change in the final book of a trilogy felt a little off for me.
I think my favorite part of this book though is that we finally get a deeper look into The Fates, and while it wasn't as much as I'd hoped for, I found myself fully engaged in these sections. I loved the "history" and folklore surrounding how they were created and what role they have played, past and present, in the shaping of their fantastical world. I can't say too much about this, but Finale does hinge it's plot on one of the fates, and how this particular one ties Scarlett, Tella, and Paloma to the story.
Unfortunately, I found the ending to be rushed, skimmed over, and tidy beyond all reason, which really works for some readers, but is tough for me. I'm a masochistic reader, and I want my characters to be cost something, so when everyone shows up flawlessly alright with all their dreams come true, I shake my old lady fist at the sky and wonder why I bothered reading this if no one had to survive any form of loss? Maybe I was supposed to find this in Paloma/Paradise (who, let it be known, ALSO HAD A LOVE TRIANGLE YES WE'RE UP TO THREE NOW), but her portion is so slim that I didn't really get a chance to know her.
I know it sounds like I didn't like any portion of this book, but I truly did love the concept and still remain a huge fan of the series/author. Overall I found this particular installment just didn't flow with how the first two were written. This could be because this is the first book that didn't have the suspenseful backing of the mystery of Legend's identity or a game of Caraval to keep the pace racing, or maybe it's the fact that I'm not a huge fan of love triangles, slow burning, repetitive descriptions, and endings that so neat and tidy that they are beyond happily ever after. I'm definitely interested to see where the author chooses to take us next, and I sincerely wish her all the best and success in her future endeavors! <3
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy via NetGalley.
June 21, 2020
This thing is a disaster. It’s so poorly written and paced that I couldn’t ever decide if Stephanie Garber had too many ideas or not enough for this book.
Look, I’m perfectly willing to admit that I find Caraval to be barely tolerable and Legendary to be fine while everyone else in the world is bananas for them, so I’m probably the weird one.
Let me give you an example of what every page of Finale felt like to me:
Scarlett/Tella walk into the room and immediately notice and then describe to me the colors of the walls, ceiling, floor, lamps, picture frames, spider in the corner, tissue box, 12 specks of dust, random old shoe, human skeleton, liver, fava beans, Hannibal Lector’s eyes, and anything else you can possibly think of that’s completely irrelevant to the plot.
And these lists of colors are always, ALWAYS followed up with comparisons of the colors to something abstract (typically in simile form, but Garber did pass 6th grade ELA, so she shows you she can use a metaphor, too) in a way that MAKES NO SENSE. So, the moldy old shoe is green and smells like heartbreak and rollercoaster wind.
Once Scarlett/Tella has finished with this annoying AF narration, they will then spend 4 seconds on the conflict they’ve discovered is currently happening in the room. (For this non-spoilery review, we’re going to say they walked into a room full of poisonous snakes.) “Uh oh! Snakes!” And so, Scarlett/Tella spend the next two whole sentences rounding up the snakes and tossing them out the window into the garden—where the snakes happily slither away off into the sunset. Action over. Conflict over. Back to generic YA pining and terrible similes.
No buildup to anything. No lasting conflict. Things just happen randomly and then they’re over. Some obstacles come up just for the sake of wasting time, as Garber never mentions them again (and there’s a GIANT one that she just never tied up—I’m only bitter about it because it was literally the only part of the book that got dangerously close to interesting).
The ending was anticlimactic. It was another thing that was entirely too rushed for no apparent reason, for it’s not like she was tying up loose ends (STILL BITTER).
I don’t know. Just about everyone else in the world loves these books. And then there’s loser me—desperately trying for two books to understand the “cool” crowd and now just giving up entirely because a) bitter and b) this book put me in a 3 week reading slump, which makes me even more bitter. Rude.
Look, I’m perfectly willing to admit that I find Caraval to be barely tolerable and Legendary to be fine while everyone else in the world is bananas for them, so I’m probably the weird one.
Let me give you an example of what every page of Finale felt like to me:
Scarlett/Tella walk into the room and immediately notice and then describe to me the colors of the walls, ceiling, floor, lamps, picture frames, spider in the corner, tissue box, 12 specks of dust, random old shoe, human skeleton, liver, fava beans, Hannibal Lector’s eyes, and anything else you can possibly think of that’s completely irrelevant to the plot.
And these lists of colors are always, ALWAYS followed up with comparisons of the colors to something abstract (typically in simile form, but Garber did pass 6th grade ELA, so she shows you she can use a metaphor, too) in a way that MAKES NO SENSE. So, the moldy old shoe is green and smells like heartbreak and rollercoaster wind.
Once Scarlett/Tella has finished with this annoying AF narration, they will then spend 4 seconds on the conflict they’ve discovered is currently happening in the room. (For this non-spoilery review, we’re going to say they walked into a room full of poisonous snakes.) “Uh oh! Snakes!” And so, Scarlett/Tella spend the next two whole sentences rounding up the snakes and tossing them out the window into the garden—where the snakes happily slither away off into the sunset. Action over. Conflict over. Back to generic YA pining and terrible similes.
No buildup to anything. No lasting conflict. Things just happen randomly and then they’re over. Some obstacles come up just for the sake of wasting time, as Garber never mentions them again (and there’s a GIANT one that she just never tied up—I’m only bitter about it because it was literally the only part of the book that got dangerously close to interesting).
The ending was anticlimactic. It was another thing that was entirely too rushed for no apparent reason, for it’s not like she was tying up loose ends (STILL BITTER).
I don’t know. Just about everyone else in the world loves these books. And then there’s loser me—desperately trying for two books to understand the “cool” crowd and now just giving up entirely because a) bitter and b) this book put me in a 3 week reading slump, which makes me even more bitter. Rude.
May 23, 2020
I am conflicted.
This book had so many flaws. But also, I kinda loved it? But also, maybe I didn't. Honestly, I have no idea wtf is going on.
With a title like Finale, I half expected this to be the greatest ending to a series ever written. It also didn't help my overinflated expectations that I had recently read Legendary for the first time and loved it. In the end, it was all a pretty anticlimactic end.
First of all, let it be known I am mostly here for these characters. The plot is nice and all but gosh darn it, these characters stress me and I love it! Also, let it be known that by 'characters' I mostly mean Tella and Legend. I am nothing if not here for that ship. I think that's one of the main reasons I liked Legendary so much. That and the fact that Tella is clearly the more interesting sister, at least she is to me.
Scarlett is, well... Scarlett. I didn't like her in Caraval and I didn't love her now. She was a more likable, less annoying character here than in Caraval so there is that. She still made some questionable choices though, but that's to be expected.
Overall, though, I loved how each sister had their own missions and their own storylines where they could each shine and be the heroes of their own fates. I always like seeing positive family relationships in YA, especially between sisters.
A thing that I didn't much like in Caraval absolutely loved here and in Legendary was Garber's writing. It was so beautiful. So magical. So enchanting. The way Garber phrases things makes everything seem otherworldly and fairytalelike.
My one problem with the writing is that she likes to repeat things and its actually kind of annoying. Characters would keep repeating things that happened only a few sentences ago as if the author was afraid we'd miss the connection or forget! But maybe that was just me, and I'm just a hater.
I loved everything else about the writing and the dialogue and everything about Tella and everything about Legend and basically everything of what we'd gotten in Legendary. It was some of the new things that I had a problem with.
Now, let's talk about why I didn't absolutely love this book, no matter how much I wanted to.
First of all, this plot felt weaker than in the last two. I think it was because unlike the previous books, this one didn't focus on the mystery of Caraval and Legend. Those things were interesting. Those kept me engaged. This new story with the fates was both interesting... and weak.
The concept of the fates was introduced in Legendary. In this book, the Fates are front and center with so much of the plot revolving around them. This felt especially strange since the main villain is a fate that we see for the first time in this book. It's never right to introduce your main villain, the big bad, in the final third of your series, especially if we're supposed to be so terrified of him.
This book was also a bit anticlimactic. Big dramatic things happened without warning or build up and had very little impact other than being shocking for the moment and padding the 'runtime' of the story.
Even the end sort of just happened, without warning and without us seeing the true consequences of all that had occurred. Instead, everything gets rushed at the end and is nicely wrapped up in a convenient bow and all inconvenient things get ignored.
It also felt like there was a lot of worldbuilding, and yet, there was actually no world building at all. I loved the myths and the folklore of the fates. But also I feel like we're never really given true context and explanation of how they work. It felt like the world was never given a reason for being the way it was. But, I suppose that's just the way of magic and we're not supposed to question it.
Overall, I liked it. It was a decent book. I think I just expected so much more. I expected a grand finale and I feel like I didn't get it.
I absolutely love Tella and Legend, Scarlett and Julian were also good, but I'm biased and Tella and Legend will forever be number one. The writing is beautiful. The world is magical. Despite my disappointment, I still completely recommend this series.
Also, I'm gonna call it and say that there's probably going to be a spinoff series or something. Garber definitely left enough space to expand this world, especially with that scene at the market. If you've read it you'll know what I'm talking about. Also, I'd be totally down for a new story about The Fates.
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This book had so many flaws. But also, I kinda loved it? But also, maybe I didn't. Honestly, I have no idea wtf is going on.
With a title like Finale, I half expected this to be the greatest ending to a series ever written. It also didn't help my overinflated expectations that I had recently read Legendary for the first time and loved it. In the end, it was all a pretty anticlimactic end.
First of all, let it be known I am mostly here for these characters. The plot is nice and all but gosh darn it, these characters stress me and I love it! Also, let it be known that by 'characters' I mostly mean Tella and Legend. I am nothing if not here for that ship. I think that's one of the main reasons I liked Legendary so much. That and the fact that Tella is clearly the more interesting sister, at least she is to me.
Scarlett is, well... Scarlett. I didn't like her in Caraval and I didn't love her now. She was a more likable, less annoying character here than in Caraval so there is that. She still made some questionable choices though, but that's to be expected.
Overall, though, I loved how each sister had their own missions and their own storylines where they could each shine and be the heroes of their own fates. I always like seeing positive family relationships in YA, especially between sisters.
A thing that I didn't much like in Caraval absolutely loved here and in Legendary was Garber's writing. It was so beautiful. So magical. So enchanting. The way Garber phrases things makes everything seem otherworldly and fairytalelike.
My one problem with the writing is that she likes to repeat things and its actually kind of annoying. Characters would keep repeating things that happened only a few sentences ago as if the author was afraid we'd miss the connection or forget! But maybe that was just me, and I'm just a hater.
I loved everything else about the writing and the dialogue and everything about Tella and everything about Legend and basically everything of what we'd gotten in Legendary. It was some of the new things that I had a problem with.
Now, let's talk about why I didn't absolutely love this book, no matter how much I wanted to.
First of all, this plot felt weaker than in the last two. I think it was because unlike the previous books, this one didn't focus on the mystery of Caraval and Legend. Those things were interesting. Those kept me engaged. This new story with the fates was both interesting... and weak.
The concept of the fates was introduced in Legendary. In this book, the Fates are front and center with so much of the plot revolving around them. This felt especially strange since the main villain is a fate that we see for the first time in this book. It's never right to introduce your main villain, the big bad, in the final third of your series, especially if we're supposed to be so terrified of him.
This book was also a bit anticlimactic. Big dramatic things happened without warning or build up and had very little impact other than being shocking for the moment and padding the 'runtime' of the story.
Even the end sort of just happened, without warning and without us seeing the true consequences of all that had occurred. Instead, everything gets rushed at the end and is nicely wrapped up in a convenient bow and all inconvenient things get ignored.
It also felt like there was a lot of worldbuilding, and yet, there was actually no world building at all. I loved the myths and the folklore of the fates. But also I feel like we're never really given true context and explanation of how they work. It felt like the world was never given a reason for being the way it was. But, I suppose that's just the way of magic and we're not supposed to question it.
Overall, I liked it. It was a decent book. I think I just expected so much more. I expected a grand finale and I feel like I didn't get it.
I absolutely love Tella and Legend, Scarlett and Julian were also good, but I'm biased and Tella and Legend will forever be number one. The writing is beautiful. The world is magical. Despite my disappointment, I still completely recommend this series.
Also, I'm gonna call it and say that there's probably going to be a spinoff series or something. Garber definitely left enough space to expand this world, especially with that scene at the market. If you've read it you'll know what I'm talking about. Also, I'd be totally down for a new story about The Fates.
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June 17, 2019
Yes I've finished reading one of the best series of all time, and Stephanie is a HUUGEE stunner, she's absolutely fascinating and I enjoyed every aspect of the book, not even a single act didn't disappoint me! Finale is completely different from Caraval and Legendary it's just more enchanting but in a kind of way darker and alluring!!
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The structure of Caraval World is so unique and brilliant that I wish I was living in it, all the details of the book are so wonderful and you can feel every page is filled with hard work from the deepest parts of Stephanie's heart! I really love Tella being stronger than ever she's really fabulous when it comes to the relationship with Scarlett! The Fates are pretty interesting and intense, reading Finale was very important for me and it gave me so many mixed feelings that in some parts I didn't know whether I should cry or laugh!
.
The romance parts are so so intriguing, I love how Garber has portrayed the two love triangles, and the ending of them were so unexpected and unbelievable! The final chapter is told from the perspectives of Tella & Scarlett which brought new emotions seeing the two sisters have passed the previous events and that was such a powerful act from Stephanie, she really has perfected the details of the Caraval World and it was absolutely mind-blowing! The third installment is as stunning as Caraval and Legendary but for me FINALE is even more close to my heart because it has more passion and it has lots of parts that left me speechless!
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Finishing Finale was one of my most memorable experience, it had everything in it, Stephanie has merged magic, fear, betrayals, blood and love in such a perfect way and has created a World that will delight everyone! I highly recommend you to pre-order Finale, or if you haven't still started to read the first and second book you must order them because the Caraval series is the best one I've ever read!
.
The structure of Caraval World is so unique and brilliant that I wish I was living in it, all the details of the book are so wonderful and you can feel every page is filled with hard work from the deepest parts of Stephanie's heart! I really love Tella being stronger than ever she's really fabulous when it comes to the relationship with Scarlett! The Fates are pretty interesting and intense, reading Finale was very important for me and it gave me so many mixed feelings that in some parts I didn't know whether I should cry or laugh!
.
The romance parts are so so intriguing, I love how Garber has portrayed the two love triangles, and the ending of them were so unexpected and unbelievable! The final chapter is told from the perspectives of Tella & Scarlett which brought new emotions seeing the two sisters have passed the previous events and that was such a powerful act from Stephanie, she really has perfected the details of the Caraval World and it was absolutely mind-blowing! The third installment is as stunning as Caraval and Legendary but for me FINALE is even more close to my heart because it has more passion and it has lots of parts that left me speechless!
.
Finishing Finale was one of my most memorable experience, it had everything in it, Stephanie has merged magic, fear, betrayals, blood and love in such a perfect way and has created a World that will delight everyone! I highly recommend you to pre-order Finale, or if you haven't still started to read the first and second book you must order them because the Caraval series is the best one I've ever read!
December 26, 2019
Man, I should not have kept my expectations this high :/
I was wayyy too excited for this to come out. You know how hard it is to wait a whole year for a book- only for it to turn out to be garbage?
I refuse to believe this is related to the Caraval series. There was so much in the previous books and this one didn't have anything except for a LOT of cringey- very cringey- romance.
I think the author got wayy too carried away with her fans' request for more Legend and Tella. Sure I was one of those people but I didn't ask for this much.
If you're a fan of romance then you'd undoubtedly love this- just keep your expectations low.
I was wayyy too excited for this to come out. You know how hard it is to wait a whole year for a book- only for it to turn out to be garbage?
I refuse to believe this is related to the Caraval series. There was so much in the previous books and this one didn't have anything except for a LOT of cringey- very cringey- romance.
I think the author got wayy too carried away with her fans' request for more Legend and Tella. Sure I was one of those people but I didn't ask for this much.
If you're a fan of romance then you'd undoubtedly love this- just keep your expectations low.
May 16, 2019
‘a love worth fighting for. a dream worth dying for. an ending worth waiting for.’
i mean, i dont think i can describe this book any more perfectly than that - the blurb from the inside cover jacket. in essence, this is exactly what this story is. and i think many caraval fans will be pleased with this finale and find it worth the wait, as i do.
this isnt my favourite installment in the series, as it takes on a different pace and direction than the previous books, but its still unbelievably good. where the first two stories focus on games, mystery, magic, and illusion, this book focuses on personal relationships, futures, and what makes a life worth living and dying for. as i said, its a different tone, but still just as valuable to the series, the characters, and overall story.
i thought everything was wrapped up neatly and satisfyingly in this conclusion. there werent really any moments the shocked or thrilled me, but i feel very content with how everything turned out. and, if anything, i really hope jacks gets a spin-off series, because i am craving more of his messy and tricky ways. he truly deserves his own finale.
↠ 4.5 stars
i mean, i dont think i can describe this book any more perfectly than that - the blurb from the inside cover jacket. in essence, this is exactly what this story is. and i think many caraval fans will be pleased with this finale and find it worth the wait, as i do.
this isnt my favourite installment in the series, as it takes on a different pace and direction than the previous books, but its still unbelievably good. where the first two stories focus on games, mystery, magic, and illusion, this book focuses on personal relationships, futures, and what makes a life worth living and dying for. as i said, its a different tone, but still just as valuable to the series, the characters, and overall story.
i thought everything was wrapped up neatly and satisfyingly in this conclusion. there werent really any moments the shocked or thrilled me, but i feel very content with how everything turned out. and, if anything, i really hope jacks gets a spin-off series, because i am craving more of his messy and tricky ways. he truly deserves his own finale.
↠ 4.5 stars
June 25, 2022
Five fantastic, riveting, Crimson and Legendary stars!
I had a marvelous time as I was enjoying my hours by turning the pages and capturing my mind inside Caraval series’ colorful, perfectly designed and depicted world which is Wonderland meets many fairytales! It’s a great combination of tragedies, urban legends, magic and lullabies!
I feel so sad the trilogy ended. Because I invested on the characters, mostly I enjoyed both of the love stories. As a heroine I loved Scarlett more. As a hero, Legend stole the show from Julian.
But I think because of the beginning of the story, I felt for Scarlett and Julian and loved them even they acted so immature and too stubborn but their love stood still against all the obstacles and they found each other.
Stephanie Garber created entertaining, vivid, dreamy world and did amazing job. I consumed the book so fast, especially I read the last pages so excitedly and curiously .
It was catch 22, I wanted to read so badly but in the meantime i never wanted to finish it. Too bad, now it is over. So I’m looking forward to read more books of this talented writer sooner. I never forget this amazing journey!
I had a marvelous time as I was enjoying my hours by turning the pages and capturing my mind inside Caraval series’ colorful, perfectly designed and depicted world which is Wonderland meets many fairytales! It’s a great combination of tragedies, urban legends, magic and lullabies!
I feel so sad the trilogy ended. Because I invested on the characters, mostly I enjoyed both of the love stories. As a heroine I loved Scarlett more. As a hero, Legend stole the show from Julian.
But I think because of the beginning of the story, I felt for Scarlett and Julian and loved them even they acted so immature and too stubborn but their love stood still against all the obstacles and they found each other.
Stephanie Garber created entertaining, vivid, dreamy world and did amazing job. I consumed the book so fast, especially I read the last pages so excitedly and curiously .
It was catch 22, I wanted to read so badly but in the meantime i never wanted to finish it. Too bad, now it is over. So I’m looking forward to read more books of this talented writer sooner. I never forget this amazing journey!
February 2, 2023
1.) Caraval ★★★★
2.) Legendary ★★★★
I read book one in 2016 and book two in 2017, so it has been a while since i have been immersed into this world! But i very much wanted to finish out this series (in 2023) so i could pick up once upon a broken heart! Sadly, I didn't love this one. I still saw that magical shine of the world in glimpses throughout this book (like the midnight market!), but I just found most of the characters so insufferable. Like, Julian was the only character I cared about and was empathetic towards. The rest? Questionable choice after questionable choice. And the alternating perspectives of the sisters making those questionable choices did not do this story any favors, sadly. I also just really hate the trope at the end with how things got mended! But i can't wait to see how i will feel with the new series and i hope it brings back the magic of caraval for me!
trigger + content warnings: blood depiction, getting blood for magic, loss of a loved one/loss of a parent, grief depiction, abusive parent, kidnapping, captivity, murder, possession, heart attacks, torture, gore, and spiders!
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2.) Legendary ★★★★
“I used to love the idea of something being so tremendous that it was worth dying for. But I was wrong. I think the most magnificent things are worth living for.”
I read book one in 2016 and book two in 2017, so it has been a while since i have been immersed into this world! But i very much wanted to finish out this series (in 2023) so i could pick up once upon a broken heart! Sadly, I didn't love this one. I still saw that magical shine of the world in glimpses throughout this book (like the midnight market!), but I just found most of the characters so insufferable. Like, Julian was the only character I cared about and was empathetic towards. The rest? Questionable choice after questionable choice. And the alternating perspectives of the sisters making those questionable choices did not do this story any favors, sadly. I also just really hate the trope at the end with how things got mended! But i can't wait to see how i will feel with the new series and i hope it brings back the magic of caraval for me!
trigger + content warnings: blood depiction, getting blood for magic, loss of a loved one/loss of a parent, grief depiction, abusive parent, kidnapping, captivity, murder, possession, heart attacks, torture, gore, and spiders!
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June 19, 2019
I am FINALLY sitting down to write this review. Ah! And what can I say? I love love loved it, just as I did the first two novels. Particularly because if you know me, you know I loved to be dragged through emotional mud. I want to worry to pieces about the characters, ship people I'm not supposed to ship, and fret over every choice they make. So, if you're a glutton for punishment like me, I think you'll thoroughly enjoy this book.
Finale follows both of the Dragna sisters, and I particularly loved being back in Scarlett's POV (though Tella is one of my all time favorite characters). Both of their storylines revolve heavily around romance - but alas, not always with who you think. Scarlett an Julian both have oh-so-many unsolved issues and I was HERE for it. (I know, I'm strange, but I'm just not about that 'sweet' romance.) Give me the fights, the feels, the longing - yes, all of it. Stephanie delivered.
Scarlett is still determined to meet her former fiancé, feeling she can't truly know if Julian is the one for her until she does. (Yeah I mean, let's be honest, who could be better than Julian?) Thus, drama ensues.
Tella, on the other hand, is a bit peeved at our charming Dante for leaving her on the steps and being a general prick. Though of course, he still won't leave her alone, and tends to invade her dreams (chyeah).
Except.
Guess who's still around?
Jacks.
Look. I love Dante. But Jacks, once again, steals the show. Do I ship them? Heck yes. I can't help myself. But Britt! you say. How can you ship Jacks when Dante is still around? Let me tell you. I will forever ship Dante and Tella. But listen. NO ONE CAN KISS LIKE JACKS CAN. And he's just so damned interesting. And the chemistry.
Soooo the book was one giant maelstrom of shipping mess and confusion and I loved every minute. There's more betrayal, more blood, and certainly more angst. I'd say this one is definitely more focused on the romance. There's still plot, of course, because the fates are running free and we can't have that, but I felt the romance overshadowed it a bit. Not that I was complaining.
Some of the plot twists (particularly one having to do with a ... father figure) felt a little much to me, but to be honest, I just stopped caring and went along for the ride. Stephanie can get away with whatever she wants because she established a world without rules or limitations and literally ANYTHING has been possible since page one of Caraval. And trust me, she takes advantage of it.
So if you're looking for a wild ride, as one typically does in books, give this a go! I'll never not recommend this series.
***
Psssst. Follow my bookstagram for more reviews and updates!
Finale follows both of the Dragna sisters, and I particularly loved being back in Scarlett's POV (though Tella is one of my all time favorite characters). Both of their storylines revolve heavily around romance - but alas, not always with who you think. Scarlett an Julian both have oh-so-many unsolved issues and I was HERE for it. (I know, I'm strange, but I'm just not about that 'sweet' romance.) Give me the fights, the feels, the longing - yes, all of it. Stephanie delivered.
Scarlett is still determined to meet her former fiancé, feeling she can't truly know if Julian is the one for her until she does. (Yeah I mean, let's be honest, who could be better than Julian?) Thus, drama ensues.
Tella, on the other hand, is a bit peeved at our charming Dante for leaving her on the steps and being a general prick. Though of course, he still won't leave her alone, and tends to invade her dreams (chyeah).
Except.
Guess who's still around?
Jacks.
Look. I love Dante. But Jacks, once again, steals the show. Do I ship them? Heck yes. I can't help myself. But Britt! you say. How can you ship Jacks when Dante is still around? Let me tell you. I will forever ship Dante and Tella. But listen. NO ONE CAN KISS LIKE JACKS CAN. And he's just so damned interesting. And the chemistry.
Soooo the book was one giant maelstrom of shipping mess and confusion and I loved every minute. There's more betrayal, more blood, and certainly more angst. I'd say this one is definitely more focused on the romance. There's still plot, of course, because the fates are running free and we can't have that, but I felt the romance overshadowed it a bit. Not that I was complaining.
Some of the plot twists (particularly one having to do with a ... father figure) felt a little much to me, but to be honest, I just stopped caring and went along for the ride. Stephanie can get away with whatever she wants because she established a world without rules or limitations and literally ANYTHING has been possible since page one of Caraval. And trust me, she takes advantage of it.
So if you're looking for a wild ride, as one typically does in books, give this a go! I'll never not recommend this series.
***
Psssst. Follow my bookstagram for more reviews and updates!
July 7, 2019
“Occasionally, there are minutes that get extra seconds. Moments so precious the universe stretches to make additional room for them, and this was one of them. People don’t get pauses like these very often. Some people never receive them at all.”
The plot gets thicker and clearer in this finale. The Fates might not be what they seem. The characters may have to turn into their enemies to beat the odds stacked against them. This time the stakes are higher, the sacrifices greater, and game is no longer just a game. Loyalties will be tested and you can never know who might betray you. This book is a fight for a throne, a fight for love, and a fight for freedom. The board is set and the players will not play fair.
I think Finale was the perfect ending to this trilogy. Each book in this trilogy has been different from the other. Caraval had the uncertainty factor where neither the characters nor the readers knew what was real and what was fake. Legendary revealed how Caraval, the game works, thereby revealing the secret behind the magic and then introduced a complicated plot of immortals, Fates, and old magic. Finale carries the plot forward and leads it to the conclusion while giving both sisters equal importance. While Caraval was centered around Scarlett and Legendary around Tella, Finale gives them equal importance and has them both contribute to the storyline in very different ways.
We see a lot of growth in both relationships- Tella and Legend, and Scarlett and Julian. Both relationships were left with rocky ends in the last book. Legend walked away from Tella after Caraval and Scarlett told Julian that she wanted to meet her former fiance. I can’t tell you much about whether they grow closer or farther apart because that would be very mean wouldn’t it.
The storyline itself is truly marvelous. The story of the Fates was pretty vague in the last book, but in this one the characters come face to face with them and a lot of information is revealed about the past, the present, and in the future. Paradise or Paloma, Scarlett and Tella’s mother, has been a very mysterious character in so far without even being present in the story much. Her history is revealed in this book and many new facts about the characters are revealed.
The writing is fabulous as always. The author is very descriptive of everything that happens and it is always magical. The writing leads you to visualise everything that happens in the book and will leave you mesmerised. The chapters are divided in between Scarlett and Tella’s perspectives and the story wouldn’t have worked out if it was any other way. As I have mentioned, Scarlett and Tella will work together but in different ways to win this game, which means that they are not in the same situation for the majority of the book. Scarlett discovers new things about herself while Tella finds out more about the two immortals she is being pulled in between. Jacks and Legend while being two very different people are both very possessive about Tella and she must make her choice between them, but the choice is not easy and it may not be in her hands either.
This entire journey had been truly amazing. Stephanie Garber has created a beautiful world and the plot and the characters have grown to become magical. This book may be more centered in the reality of the world rather than in the magic of Caraval but that doesn’t make it any less magical in itself. May more facets of the Fated world are revealed and the characters must learn a lot more about themselves and about the Fates to survive.
Choices are made, paths are taken, and the future is decided in this game of hearts. To lose and to win may not be so far apart. And love conquers all.
The plot gets thicker and clearer in this finale. The Fates might not be what they seem. The characters may have to turn into their enemies to beat the odds stacked against them. This time the stakes are higher, the sacrifices greater, and game is no longer just a game. Loyalties will be tested and you can never know who might betray you. This book is a fight for a throne, a fight for love, and a fight for freedom. The board is set and the players will not play fair.
I think Finale was the perfect ending to this trilogy. Each book in this trilogy has been different from the other. Caraval had the uncertainty factor where neither the characters nor the readers knew what was real and what was fake. Legendary revealed how Caraval, the game works, thereby revealing the secret behind the magic and then introduced a complicated plot of immortals, Fates, and old magic. Finale carries the plot forward and leads it to the conclusion while giving both sisters equal importance. While Caraval was centered around Scarlett and Legendary around Tella, Finale gives them equal importance and has them both contribute to the storyline in very different ways.
We see a lot of growth in both relationships- Tella and Legend, and Scarlett and Julian. Both relationships were left with rocky ends in the last book. Legend walked away from Tella after Caraval and Scarlett told Julian that she wanted to meet her former fiance. I can’t tell you much about whether they grow closer or farther apart because that would be very mean wouldn’t it.
The storyline itself is truly marvelous. The story of the Fates was pretty vague in the last book, but in this one the characters come face to face with them and a lot of information is revealed about the past, the present, and in the future. Paradise or Paloma, Scarlett and Tella’s mother, has been a very mysterious character in so far without even being present in the story much. Her history is revealed in this book and many new facts about the characters are revealed.
The writing is fabulous as always. The author is very descriptive of everything that happens and it is always magical. The writing leads you to visualise everything that happens in the book and will leave you mesmerised. The chapters are divided in between Scarlett and Tella’s perspectives and the story wouldn’t have worked out if it was any other way. As I have mentioned, Scarlett and Tella will work together but in different ways to win this game, which means that they are not in the same situation for the majority of the book. Scarlett discovers new things about herself while Tella finds out more about the two immortals she is being pulled in between. Jacks and Legend while being two very different people are both very possessive about Tella and she must make her choice between them, but the choice is not easy and it may not be in her hands either.
This entire journey had been truly amazing. Stephanie Garber has created a beautiful world and the plot and the characters have grown to become magical. This book may be more centered in the reality of the world rather than in the magic of Caraval but that doesn’t make it any less magical in itself. May more facets of the Fated world are revealed and the characters must learn a lot more about themselves and about the Fates to survive.
Choices are made, paths are taken, and the future is decided in this game of hearts. To lose and to win may not be so far apart. And love conquers all.
September 21, 2021
Me siento tan vacía por dentro después de terminar esta saga que no sé si me alcanza la vida para recuperarme
![Profile Image for Ri ♡ [On Hiatus].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1681194298i/80238438._UX200_CR0,6,200,200_.jpg)
May 14, 2023
"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."
This was actually so much better than legendary and did I enjoyed reading this? Yes!! The plot was amazing and intriguing I liked how the fates storyline was executed in this and they all were dangerously fascinating. This one was also a little painful and how the characters went through so much to save their world but the romance part in this was impeccable.
This was a page turner for me and It was fast-paced, filled with actions and magical world and the shocking reveals and suspence. I liked how it was focused more on the characters growth and their love lives and it was painful but everything was worth it in the end.
This book is written from both Tella and Scarlett's pov and the plot came together all in the end but there were still some loose ends in this which might be left purposefully for a future books I guess? I liked the writing and it was as usual magical filled with vivid things and the beauty of their world.
And a moment of silence for Scarlett's phenomenal dress 💔😔 that dress suffered a lot in this series and now in the end it's just gone 😭
—Relationships—
➛ Julian and Scarlett
They are everything and I can finally say they are favourite couple and my favourite characters of this series. Because how can I not love them when their love is so pure, unconditional and so beautiful. The way they understood each other and fought for each other was everything. Julian was never a perfect man but the way he loved his Crimson with passion and all consuming love and the way they both never gave up on each other.
✨️Soulmates Soulmates Soulmates✨️
I WANT WHAT THEY HAVE 😭💘
I cried and giggled so many times while reading about them. As one minute their romance was swoon-worthy and the next minute they are ready to die for each other 😭 but in the end I'm so happy they finally got their happy ending.
➛ Dante and Donatella
I don't know how but they actually managed to make me love them in this book. I loved their relationship in this one a lot and the angst, the yearning and the tension between them. I was actually enjoying their lovely and all the sad moments and even the jealousy scenes!
➛ Jacks and Donatella
I said it before and I'm saying it again and I'll say this a million times again. THE LOVE TRIANGLE BETWEEN JACKS, TELLA AND DANTE WAS NEVER NEEDED IN THIS SERIES! Why did you let my precious man suffer with that he already had so much to deal with and I hated how he was always there to help Tella (even tho his methods are a bit different) but all she did was broke his heart.
HE DESERVES THE BEST IN THE WORLD!!
✦ Julian Santos
The MVP of this book and this series for me. I loved his character development the most. As I said he's not perfect and he's impulsive and even lied so many times but he's also passionate and loyal and so fiercely in love with Scarlett. You can't help but love him even more and more.
✦ Scarlett Dragna
I liked her in this book a lot and her bold and powerful side. And she finally stood up for herself and that was all I needed for her. Even with all her magical powers and all she is still the one who thrives on emotions and love.
✦ Jacks
"He was a mess of gold hair, sea-salt blue eyes, and bitten lips, beautiful in a way only broken things could be"
I love this man so much and I haven't even read his book yet! He says he is a villain in his and other's story but he doesn't know how amazing he is. All I want for him is a happy ending filled with his true love and happiness.
✦ Donatella Dragna (Tella)
She's always the bold and impulsive sister and I liked her even more in this and how she actually made some better decisions in this one still impulsive ones but reasonable. And her growth in this was amazing and I'm happy she finally got her own happy ending.
✦ Dante
I actually liked his personality in this one. And he did managed to even make me giggle at all those jealousy scenes 😭 He's dangerous, strong and obsessed with Tella. This time he actually had Dante Charisma in this book!!
The ending was amazing but not quite satisfying to me as there are so many things that were overlooked in this one like Legend's identity reveal and the bargain Tella made at the Vanished market. Also the ending chapters felt a bit rushed to me and I would've loved a few more chapters on how the characters are doing after that killing ending!? But I loved that the characters finally got their happy ending!!
—More beautiful quotes—
➸ "Love is messy. It’s not easily controlled. But that’s what makes it so powerful. It’s unbridled passion. It’s caring about someone else’s life more than you care about your own."
➸ "I want to feel love in its every form. I used to be so scared of it, but now I think love is another type of magic. It makes everything brighter, it makes people who have it stronger, it breaks rules that aren't supposed to exist, it's infinitely valuable."
➸ "Most of my life, I've romanticized death. I used to love the idea of Something being so tremendous that it was worth dying for. But I was wrong. I think the most magnificent things are worth living for."
➸ "So, before she tried to erase Julian’s love, she let herself feel it one final time. She let her love out to touch his, the way two separate instruments might play together to create a more beautiful song."
➸ "He didn't kiss her as if he'd simply just 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."
➸ "She looked the way Love might have looked if Love looked in a mirror, infectiously happy and radiantly beautiful."
➸ "Their mother had once told them there was nothing like the love of a sister, and this was one of the moments where Tella could feel that truth. She could feel her sister loving her twice as much as before, trying to heal the wound her mother’s death had left. Scarlett’s love reminded her that while some things never healed, other things grew stronger."
To read_for_your_life. I had so much fun reading this with you and crying over the painful scenes where Jacks suffered and the screaming over those jealousy scenes and I love our fangirling sessions of Jacks and Julian 🤭💘 can't wait to read Ouabh with you and hope it won't break us with Jacks story like this one did 😭🤞
I highly recommend this series to youbecause Jacks and Julian are just so perfect if you want to read a series about two sisters finding love and happiness in a magical world filled with starry nights and the mystery of Caraval world and dangerous games that would leave you wanting more and more!!
This was actually so much better than legendary and did I enjoyed reading this? Yes!! The plot was amazing and intriguing I liked how the fates storyline was executed in this and they all were dangerously fascinating. This one was also a little painful and how the characters went through so much to save their world but the romance part in this was impeccable.
This was a page turner for me and It was fast-paced, filled with actions and magical world and the shocking reveals and suspence. I liked how it was focused more on the characters growth and their love lives and it was painful but everything was worth it in the end.
This book is written from both Tella and Scarlett's pov and the plot came together all in the end but there were still some loose ends in this which might be left purposefully for a future books I guess? I liked the writing and it was as usual magical filled with vivid things and the beauty of their world.
And a moment of silence for Scarlett's phenomenal dress 💔😔 that dress suffered a lot in this series and now in the end it's just gone 😭
—Relationships—
➛ Julian and Scarlett
They are everything and I can finally say they are favourite couple and my favourite characters of this series. Because how can I not love them when their love is so pure, unconditional and so beautiful. The way they understood each other and fought for each other was everything. Julian was never a perfect man but the way he loved his Crimson with passion and all consuming love and the way they both never gave up on each other.
✨️Soulmates Soulmates Soulmates✨️
"I choose you, Julian, and I promise I will always choose you, and I will always love you. I will love you with every bone in my body, so that even after my heart stops beating, a part of me will remain to forever love you.”
“I knew that if I came back and things didn’t work out, I’d regret losing you, but I’d never regret having a reminder of you.”
“I love you, Julian.”
His smile could have saved the world. “Thank the dead saints—I’ve been waiting to hear you say that.” His mouth crashed against hers, consuming her once again.
I WANT WHAT THEY HAVE 😭💘
I cried and giggled so many times while reading about them. As one minute their romance was swoon-worthy and the next minute they are ready to die for each other 😭 but in the end I'm so happy they finally got their happy ending.
"Everything that’s mine is yours, Julian.”
“What about these?” He touched her lips. "Especially those.”
To prove it, Scarlett pressed her mouth to his. “Now you’re mine as well.”
He pulled back just enough to give her a wicked grin.
“I’ve always been yours, Crimson.”
➛ Dante and Donatella
I don't know how but they actually managed to make me love them in this book. I loved their relationship in this one a lot and the angst, the yearning and the tension between them. I was actually enjoying their lovely and all the sad moments and even the jealousy scenes!
"Have I scared you already?"
"Are you trying to scare me?"
"I thought I already told you, I'm only trying to keep you." His lips brushed a kiss to hers.
"If you don’t let me go, I’m not going to be able to fight you anymore.”
“Good, because I don’t want to fight you. I just want to love you.”
He lifted her a little and pressed another kiss to her lips. “This is my choice, and I choose you, Donatella. You’re my forever.”
➛ Jacks and Donatella
I said it before and I'm saying it again and I'll say this a million times again. THE LOVE TRIANGLE BETWEEN JACKS, TELLA AND DANTE WAS NEVER NEEDED IN THIS SERIES! Why did you let my precious man suffer with that he already had so much to deal with and I hated how he was always there to help Tella (even tho his methods are a bit different) but all she did was broke his heart.
HE DESERVES THE BEST IN THE WORLD!!
"I know what I did was wrong. But if you're looking for a sad story where I justify what I've done, you're not going to find it. I'm the villain, even in my own story. But you were supposed to play a different role."
“Doesn’t that feel better?” His cold lips were at her ear, brushing against the sensitive skin.
“Just say yes and I’ll take away everything that hurts. I can make you forget it all. And I can give you things that your dead princeling couldn’t."
✦ Julian Santos
The MVP of this book and this series for me. I loved his character development the most. As I said he's not perfect and he's impulsive and even lied so many times but he's also passionate and loyal and so fiercely in love with Scarlett. You can't help but love him even more and more.
✦ Scarlett Dragna
I liked her in this book a lot and her bold and powerful side. And she finally stood up for herself and that was all I needed for her. Even with all her magical powers and all she is still the one who thrives on emotions and love.
✦ Jacks
"He was a mess of gold hair, sea-salt blue eyes, and bitten lips, beautiful in a way only broken things could be"
I love this man so much and I haven't even read his book yet! He says he is a villain in his and other's story but he doesn't know how amazing he is. All I want for him is a happy ending filled with his true love and happiness.
✦ Donatella Dragna (Tella)
She's always the bold and impulsive sister and I liked her even more in this and how she actually made some better decisions in this one still impulsive ones but reasonable. And her growth in this was amazing and I'm happy she finally got her own happy ending.
✦ Dante
I actually liked his personality in this one. And he did managed to even make me giggle at all those jealousy scenes 😭 He's dangerous, strong and obsessed with Tella. This time he actually had Dante Charisma in this book!!
The ending was amazing but not quite satisfying to me as there are so many things that were overlooked in this one like Legend's identity reveal and the bargain Tella made at the Vanished market. Also the ending chapters felt a bit rushed to me and I would've loved a few more chapters on how the characters are doing after that killing ending!? But I loved that the characters finally got their happy ending!!
—More beautiful quotes—
➸ "Love is messy. It’s not easily controlled. But that’s what makes it so powerful. It’s unbridled passion. It’s caring about someone else’s life more than you care about your own."
➸ "I want to feel love in its every form. I used to be so scared of it, but now I think love is another type of magic. It makes everything brighter, it makes people who have it stronger, it breaks rules that aren't supposed to exist, it's infinitely valuable."
➸ "Most of my life, I've romanticized death. I used to love the idea of Something being so tremendous that it was worth dying for. But I was wrong. I think the most magnificent things are worth living for."
➸ "So, before she tried to erase Julian’s love, she let herself feel it one final time. She let her love out to touch his, the way two separate instruments might play together to create a more beautiful song."
➸ "He didn't kiss her as if he'd simply just 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."
➸ "She looked the way Love might have looked if Love looked in a mirror, infectiously happy and radiantly beautiful."
➸ "Their mother had once told them there was nothing like the love of a sister, and this was one of the moments where Tella could feel that truth. She could feel her sister loving her twice as much as before, trying to heal the wound her mother’s death had left. Scarlett’s love reminded her that while some things never healed, other things grew stronger."
To read_for_your_life. I had so much fun reading this with you and crying over the painful scenes where Jacks suffered and the screaming over those jealousy scenes and I love our fangirling sessions of Jacks and Julian 🤭💘 can't wait to read Ouabh with you and hope it won't break us with Jacks story like this one did 😭🤞
I highly recommend this series to you
November 5, 2020
Well, I can say, this was a pretty darn good series! 👍 The first book painted such a beautiful picture of the game and characters. It’s such a creative world, that I’d love to see as a film or series. ❤️ Tella and Legend really stole the show in this one. Their chemistry is sooo hot!! 🔥 There were just a few strings that were left hanging for me, but overall I was happy with the finale! 🙂
June 15, 2021
se acuerdan cuando le di a Caraval 4.5 estrellas? AL CARAJO TODO ESTA TRILOGÍA SE MERECE 1038291010101 ESTRELLAS LA RE PUTA MADRE STEPHANIE GARBER ME TENES A TUS PIES
May 12, 2019
Eeeeeeek! I loved that ending so much.
It didn’t have quite so many shocking reveals as Caraval or Legendary, but it still held that aire of mystery and magic the previous two had.
I missed the game-like atmosphere but also felt the moving away from it truly showed the growth of our main characters. Things are much more serious now and it’s time to remember this is not a game.
Most of all, much of this story centers around unraveling the emotions and feelings of others and embracing one’s own true heart. We also get more insight into the Fates and characters such as Jacks, Legend and Scarlett’s mysterious count.
I couldn’t stand Tella in Caraval, but Legendary and Finale completely changed my feelings toward her, and I came to favor her over Scarlett. I still can’t tell you whether I love Julian or Legend more – just know that those two are my book boyfriend MO. 🌹🎩🎪
All games must come to an end and I am saddened to leave this world but thrilled to see what Stephanie brings us next.
It didn’t have quite so many shocking reveals as Caraval or Legendary, but it still held that aire of mystery and magic the previous two had.
I missed the game-like atmosphere but also felt the moving away from it truly showed the growth of our main characters. Things are much more serious now and it’s time to remember this is not a game.
Most of all, much of this story centers around unraveling the emotions and feelings of others and embracing one’s own true heart. We also get more insight into the Fates and characters such as Jacks, Legend and Scarlett’s mysterious count.
I couldn’t stand Tella in Caraval, but Legendary and Finale completely changed my feelings toward her, and I came to favor her over Scarlett. I still can’t tell you whether I love Julian or Legend more – just know that those two are my book boyfriend MO. 🌹🎩🎪
All games must come to an end and I am saddened to leave this world but thrilled to see what Stephanie brings us next.
June 4, 2023
4.5 ₊˚✧.*˗★
i never expected to like this trilogy as much as i did. i am never getting over these characters and the world stephanie garber has built. this book absolutely delivered! it was a beautiful ending and it felt so painful to get through the book as it continued. i wouldn’t consider this book to be 5 stars simply bc it didn’t hit as hard as the first. but i can definitely see how the writing has improved since
the beginning was so intriguing. the problem i had with legendary was the fact that it was hard to get through the beginning but i liked the start of this one!! it had a bit of suspense added to it and I loved how it jumped right in. this book was everything from the execution to the plot!! it felt as though i wasn’t as bored with this book which i loved. this book made up for what the other books lacked (for the most part) from the mystery to the romance aspect! i think this book definitely helped balance out both of these factors while making it simultaneously interesting
the ratio between scarlett and tella chapters were so off. it was unfair how my girl scarlett didn’t get as many chapters as tella and they were so short!! i think that tella’s pov was more tolerable in this book than the others. however the ending did serve scarlett justice & i love her with my entire heart. she deserved so much more in this book after everything she went through. i think that she truly had character development towards the end. the beginning with scarlett was something that i wasn’t a big fan of simply bc of the way she changed and how they treated julian’s love as if it did not have real meaning.
spoiler mentioned!
in the beginning, every scene with the count i absolutely hated. he felt like an unneeded factor in the story between julian & scarlett. it was so sad to see how scarlett pretended to not love him anymore. i’m all for improvement but this felt like a step backwards for scarlett. i am so glad the count died when he did bc he gave me scarlettjulian back!! one thing i am in disbelief that they held off mentioning previously was the fact that JULIAN WEARS GLASSES!?!?? i literally fainted the moment i read that bc it made me love him more.
more quotes to showcase my love for scarlett & julian <3
scarlettjulian’s reunion was my absolute favorite in this book. HE GOT A FREAKING TATTOO THE COLOR CRIMSON!! i was sobbing when i read this scene bc they hold such a special place in my heart it’s surreal. I couldn’t even see straight as i read bc of the tears streaming my cheeks at how much i loved them. i can go on and on abt how much i love them
spoiler for this quote!!
the pain in this book was everything. it captured the characters emotions beautifully and i feel like it portrayed the thoughts and feelings so accurately from the grief they experienced to the way they described it!! i found myself crying multiple times throughout this book which is a rare occurrence. this book practically ruined me as i read it but i don’t regret it one bit. tella didn’t get on my nerves as much within this book and i think it’s true character development on her part.
I ate up EVERY scene between all the characters. the romance within this book was absolutely impeccable!! it brought not only pain but it also brought sadness along with it. it felt like an emotional roller coaster throughout! one thing i found to be weird was how both legend AND jacks wanted to possess her? it felt as though she was an object rather than a human which was kinda sad to think about.
spoiler alert from this point on
okay so this book talked abt how the fates were hated but they were literally amazing?! it felt as if they were one friend group when they joined together to help save scarlett which i absolutely loved. the assassin was a dark character but he was lowkey funny?? not to mention the maiden death deserved so much better as a character. i swear every fate i read abt was amazing!! I was honestly sad to find out anissa betrayed scarlett but ultimately i still liked her as a character. PLUS the poison was such a good fate. despite him turning humans into stones, he was so charming from the beginning!!
there’s something about grand death scenes within this book that i loved. stephanie did every single one of these characters justice!! they were written so amazingly, including the fallen star’s. it was so beautiful to see that scarlett didn’t need to be anyone but herself in order to convince him to turn human. not to mention the scene where tella stabbed jacks to break their bond ☹️ the writing was so meaningful and everything with each of these scenes.
i’m honestly so sad abt how tella and jacks’s story ended. the way i would’ve immediately chosen jacks over legend given the opportunity.. i thought they had amazing chemistry from the very beginning and even though i do love tella and legend, I feel like they ruined jacks’ character towards the end with each betrayal on top of another. my favorite scene between them was when he helped take her pain away bc it felt as though the tension was palpable. it was so well written!! i wish we got to know more abt the ending to tella & jacks’s story. still upset she chose someone who was so bland from the very beginning
anyways, i still did like tella and legend together. it felt as though every scene they shared had so much more meaning than with tella and jacks. i am content with the ending but i truly wish we got more of them together. she was everything i wanted to be within this book. she was brave, and she had the ability to be selfless within this book. legend’s confession had me bawling bc i loved them so much after everything they’ve been through. it was honestly my favorite scene between them out of all the other ones within this book! towards the end, i was laughing through my tears when i read abt the letter she wrote to legend.
the miscommunication with tella and legend felt repetitive. with every contemporary book i’ve witnessed, they all had repetition and miscommunication to drag on with the story. for this book, it was justified but it kinda felt annoying to be constantly reminded that legend didn’t love her. this was where i didn’t like their story as much bc they were also both stubborn.
moving on to the flaws:
okay so number 1 - the debt she owed to the vanished market? it was practically scraped, an incomplete idea with no ending. i found for there to be no purpose bc it was never mentioned after they interacted basically. number 2 - they brushed over legend’s identity? last book, they talked about scarlett having no idea who legend was and in this book they don’t even have this grand reveal. they played down his identity and it just gets ignored that he is legend. this book was just a little confusing with these factors added in. i honestly expected these things to be addressed but i was kinda disappointed they weren’t ??
”Before Legend, Tella had wanted nothing to do with love. She’d believed she was destined to only experience unrequited love. Then she’d fallen in love with him, and it had been like drinking magic—indescribable, all-consuming, and fantastically addictive.”
“I choose you, Julian, and I promise I will always choose you, and I will always love you. I will love you with every bone in my body, so that even after my heart stops beating, a part of me will remain to forever love you.”
i never expected to like this trilogy as much as i did. i am never getting over these characters and the world stephanie garber has built. this book absolutely delivered! it was a beautiful ending and it felt so painful to get through the book as it continued. i wouldn’t consider this book to be 5 stars simply bc it didn’t hit as hard as the first. but i can definitely see how the writing has improved since
the beginning was so intriguing. the problem i had with legendary was the fact that it was hard to get through the beginning but i liked the start of this one!! it had a bit of suspense added to it and I loved how it jumped right in. this book was everything from the execution to the plot!! it felt as though i wasn’t as bored with this book which i loved. this book made up for what the other books lacked (for the most part) from the mystery to the romance aspect! i think this book definitely helped balance out both of these factors while making it simultaneously interesting
the ratio between scarlett and tella chapters were so off. it was unfair how my girl scarlett didn’t get as many chapters as tella and they were so short!! i think that tella’s pov was more tolerable in this book than the others. however the ending did serve scarlett justice & i love her with my entire heart. she deserved so much more in this book after everything she went through. i think that she truly had character development towards the end. the beginning with scarlett was something that i wasn’t a big fan of simply bc of the way she changed and how they treated julian’s love as if it did not have real meaning.
spoiler mentioned!
in the beginning, every scene with the count i absolutely hated. he felt like an unneeded factor in the story between julian & scarlett. it was so sad to see how scarlett pretended to not love him anymore. i’m all for improvement but this felt like a step backwards for scarlett. i am so glad the count died when he did bc he gave me scarlettjulian back!! one thing i am in disbelief that they held off mentioning previously was the fact that JULIAN WEARS GLASSES!?!?? i literally fainted the moment i read that bc it made me love him more.
more quotes to showcase my love for scarlett & julian <3
“He smelled like dirt and tears and perfection. And she decided then that she was never, ever letting go of him. She wished there was a way to tether her heart to his, so that even when they were apart they would still be attached. There were things in this world to be truly afraid of, but loving Julian was not one of them.” 💞
“I don’t need to prove anything,” said julian. “I’m not trying to win her hand. I’m offering her mine, and everything that comes with it, hoping she’ll take it and decides she wants to keep it.”
“I’ve always been yours, crimson.”
scarlettjulian’s reunion was my absolute favorite in this book. HE GOT A FREAKING TATTOO THE COLOR CRIMSON!! i was sobbing when i read this scene bc they hold such a special place in my heart it’s surreal. I couldn’t even see straight as i read bc of the tears streaming my cheeks at how much i loved them. i can go on and on abt how much i love them
“She couldn’t bring herself to say the word mother. It hurt too much to cry out the way she had as a child and to hear no response. She’d vowed never to do it again.”
spoiler for this quote!!
“This had to be a mistake. She already had one murderous, power-hungry father. She didn’t deserve another one”
the pain in this book was everything. it captured the characters emotions beautifully and i feel like it portrayed the thoughts and feelings so accurately from the grief they experienced to the way they described it!! i found myself crying multiple times throughout this book which is a rare occurrence. this book practically ruined me as i read it but i don’t regret it one bit. tella didn’t get on my nerves as much within this book and i think it’s true character development on her part.
“His steady gaze held hers as if he had no intention of ever looking away—as if maybe he’d been telling the truth when he’d said that he wanted to keep her here forever.”
“Julian might not have been perfect, but he was perfect for her sister”
I ate up EVERY scene between all the characters. the romance within this book was absolutely impeccable!! it brought not only pain but it also brought sadness along with it. it felt like an emotional roller coaster throughout! one thing i found to be weird was how both legend AND jacks wanted to possess her? it felt as though she was an object rather than a human which was kinda sad to think about.
spoiler alert from this point on
okay so this book talked abt how the fates were hated but they were literally amazing?! it felt as if they were one friend group when they joined together to help save scarlett which i absolutely loved. the assassin was a dark character but he was lowkey funny?? not to mention the maiden death deserved so much better as a character. i swear every fate i read abt was amazing!! I was honestly sad to find out anissa betrayed scarlett but ultimately i still liked her as a character. PLUS the poison was such a good fate. despite him turning humans into stones, he was so charming from the beginning!!
there’s something about grand death scenes within this book that i loved. stephanie did every single one of these characters justice!! they were written so amazingly, including the fallen star’s. it was so beautiful to see that scarlett didn’t need to be anyone but herself in order to convince him to turn human. not to mention the scene where tella stabbed jacks to break their bond ☹️ the writing was so meaningful and everything with each of these scenes.
“He was an immortal who couldn’t die but who could never fully live, because the things he wanted to consume were devouring him instead.”
i’m honestly so sad abt how tella and jacks’s story ended. the way i would’ve immediately chosen jacks over legend given the opportunity.. i thought they had amazing chemistry from the very beginning and even though i do love tella and legend, I feel like they ruined jacks’ character towards the end with each betrayal on top of another. my favorite scene between them was when he helped take her pain away bc it felt as though the tension was palpable. it was so well written!! i wish we got to know more abt the ending to tella & jacks’s story. still upset she chose someone who was so bland from the very beginning
“She’d loved him as Dante, but she loved him even more as Legend. Dante had helped her forget, but Legend had taught her how to dream again, and she loved all the dazzling dreams they shared and the exquisite lies he told with his illusions. But she loved the imperfect truth of him just as much.”
“He didn’t kiss her as if he’d simply just 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.”
“This is my choice, and I choose you, Donatella. I don’t need immortality. You’re my forever.”
anyways, i still did like tella and legend together. it felt as though every scene they shared had so much more meaning than with tella and jacks. i am content with the ending but i truly wish we got more of them together. she was everything i wanted to be within this book. she was brave, and she had the ability to be selfless within this book. legend’s confession had me bawling bc i loved them so much after everything they’ve been through. it was honestly my favorite scene between them out of all the other ones within this book! towards the end, i was laughing through my tears when i read abt the letter she wrote to legend.
the miscommunication with tella and legend felt repetitive. with every contemporary book i’ve witnessed, they all had repetition and miscommunication to drag on with the story. for this book, it was justified but it kinda felt annoying to be constantly reminded that legend didn’t love her. this was where i didn’t like their story as much bc they were also both stubborn.
moving on to the flaws:
okay so number 1 - the debt she owed to the vanished market? it was practically scraped, an incomplete idea with no ending. i found for there to be no purpose bc it was never mentioned after they interacted basically. number 2 - they brushed over legend’s identity? last book, they talked about scarlett having no idea who legend was and in this book they don’t even have this grand reveal. they played down his identity and it just gets ignored that he is legend. this book was just a little confusing with these factors added in. i honestly expected these things to be addressed but i was kinda disappointed they weren’t ??
August 11, 2019
Well, I actually loved this one! Thank goodness because I had already bought some special editions. Although, I’m not buying Fairyloot’s special editions as I didn’t love all of the books.
I love the signed poster under the BN dustjacket. I loved Legend and Julian and of course Tella and Scarlett. I loved the ending!!
Waterstones edition.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
I love the signed poster under the BN dustjacket. I loved Legend and Julian and of course Tella and Scarlett. I loved the ending!!
Waterstones edition.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
April 5, 2019
I don’t think it’s a secret that I have loved every book of this series, so when I was approved for an arc, of course I dropped everything.
Scarlett and Julian were my favorites, so I was thrilled to get more of them in this story. Tella and Legend are something entirely different. I will admit to getting a slight bit irritated with their constant push and pull. Obviously I was just waiting for everyone’s HEA because the story unfolds just as it should.
Plot wise, it’s like two separate parts of the main story. Each one was compelling and captivating and when the POVs would switch, I would start reading even faster to get back...only to find I was sucked into that new thread line. There are a lot of ups and downs to this book. There’s kissing and swoons and backstabbing and actual stabbing and lots of magic. Let me tell you I was here for all of it.
Overall, it was everything I wanted and a few things I didn’t know I needed. I’m sad this series is over, but I can’t imagine it could have been done any better. Thanks to Stephanie for giving us such an amazing story.
**Huge thanks to Flatiron Books for providing the arc free of charge**
Scarlett and Julian were my favorites, so I was thrilled to get more of them in this story. Tella and Legend are something entirely different. I will admit to getting a slight bit irritated with their constant push and pull. Obviously I was just waiting for everyone’s HEA because the story unfolds just as it should.
Plot wise, it’s like two separate parts of the main story. Each one was compelling and captivating and when the POVs would switch, I would start reading even faster to get back...only to find I was sucked into that new thread line. There are a lot of ups and downs to this book. There’s kissing and swoons and backstabbing and actual stabbing and lots of magic. Let me tell you I was here for all of it.
Overall, it was everything I wanted and a few things I didn’t know I needed. I’m sad this series is over, but I can’t imagine it could have been done any better. Thanks to Stephanie for giving us such an amazing story.
**Huge thanks to Flatiron Books for providing the arc free of charge**
April 3, 2023
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DNF @ 46%
There are some people on Goodreads who will try to make you feel like a lesser human being for rating books you didn't finish, but our time on this green earth is finite, and why should you spent it slogging through something you didn't enjoy just to be "worthy" of sharing your opinion? Here's the thing. I'm not a hater. I tore through CARAVAL in a day and delighted in how it felt like The Forbidden Game fanfiction. Was it melodramatic and over the top? Yes. Did the random Spanish names for this fantasy world make any sense? Absolutely not. Did I cackle at Maldito Castle? Oh, you bet I did. But I liked the book anyway because it told a fun story and felt like something I would have wanted to read or watch when I was fourteen.
The sequel, LEGENDARY, was not nearly as good but I still sort of enjoyed it, if only because it had echoes of what made CARAVAL so fun. But it also felt like a largely unnecessary sequel and did some ret-conning of the characters that raised my reader hackles and made me go, "WHY?" One of my pet-peeves is when an author tries to take an unlikable character and force the reader to like them by coming up with all of these mental gymnastics to excuse their problematic behavior over the previous books. And that's not being a writer, that's being an enabler: you should let your characters speak for themselves instead of trying to apologize for them.
I was a little loath to read FINALE because LEGENDARY ended on such a sour note. I wonder if the author initially intended to stop at one book and expanded the world because of demand, because the thing about the Fates felt like it came out of nowhere, and things get even weirder here. I also really liked the author's writing style in the first book but in here, it seems like it becomes a parody of itself. Like, at one point, she's talking about the smell of "candied citrine." CITRINE is a rock. Did you mean citron? And what is "tropical ice"? That sounds like a sports drink or a shower gel, but certainly not anything that exists in nature. But it's hard to tell because all of her characters seem to have a major case of synesthesia. They "taste" falsehoods and "smell" heartbreak (yes, these are real examples), and Scarlett has a dress that magically becomes more revealing when it gets excited in the presence of boys.
I stuck it out for 200+ pages but I'm not enjoying myself at all, so I think I'll call it quits here.
1.5 to 2 stars
March 24, 2023
2nd Read
“This is my choice, and I choose you, Donatella. I don’t need immortality. You’re my forever.”
When is it my turn though.
This reread has made me realize again how much I disliked Jacks and Tella as a couple and how much I LOVE Tella and Legend as a couple. If I don't get a love confession like that, I give up.
<><><><><><><>
“Occasionally, there are minutes that get extra seconds. Moments so precious the universe stretches to make additional room for them.”
*so, if you haven't read the first two books, there will be some spoilers, kind of*
I wrote reviews for the other two books in this series, so it only seems fitting to write one for this book too, since it was my favorite in the series.
This book was really romance heavy, but honestly, I DIDN'T MIND AT ALL. Give me all the romance.
Legend and Tella, oh my gosh, I love them. And that moment in the tent with those twins made me squeal so badly when I found out and I was out in public when I first read it, so I couldn't really react much without causing a disturbance with all my squealing.
I do love Scarlett and Julian, but they're just not as good as Legend and Tella, in my opinion. But these two had lots of drama between them that they really had to solve.
Also, that moment in Legend's bedroom? AHH, I WANTED MORE
BUT THAT PLOT TWIST ABOUT SCARLETT AND TELLA, WOW. I was very surprised, as I typically am with plot twists because I'm certainly not a detective.
I loved the interaction between Legend and Tella in those dreams, they were so fun and swimming with tensionnn.
I feel like this review has gotten slightly outta hand, so I'm going to try and become composed.
The writing was still fantastic, the characters INCREDIBLE, and the plot was all twisty and turny, with all of these Fates coming, and the Fallen Star, it was just wow.
Ok, I can't help myself: When Tella was under Jacks's illusion and Legend saved her, I was literally screeching over that. He really does love her. *cries* And when we got his brief POV in the encore, I was fangirling so badly. I want Legend's POV for Legendary and Finale so badly.
I can't wait for Jacks to find his own love, and I ship him with Evangeline in Once Upon a Broken Heart and I NEED them to end up together in the second book.
This review was equally chaotic as my other reviews for this series, so I'm probably gonna stop here before I fall off my bed or something.
Overall, this book is fantastic, and I love this series so much.
5 stars
“I'm the villain, even in my own story.”
<><><><><><><>
Previous Review: Soooo, I read this a while back, but I've read Once Upon a Broken Heart, and looked at fanart (as I always do after reading books) and though I didn't ship Jacks and Tella, I love Jacks so much. Anyways, I love this book and consider it and the whole Caraval universe and series one of my favorites.
“This is my choice, and I choose you, Donatella. I don’t need immortality. You’re my forever.”
When is it my turn though.
This reread has made me realize again how much I disliked Jacks and Tella as a couple and how much I LOVE Tella and Legend as a couple. If I don't get a love confession like that, I give up.
<><><><><><><>
“Occasionally, there are minutes that get extra seconds. Moments so precious the universe stretches to make additional room for them.”
*so, if you haven't read the first two books, there will be some spoilers, kind of*
I wrote reviews for the other two books in this series, so it only seems fitting to write one for this book too, since it was my favorite in the series.
This book was really romance heavy, but honestly, I DIDN'T MIND AT ALL. Give me all the romance.
Legend and Tella, oh my gosh, I love them. And that moment in the tent with those twins made me squeal so badly when I found out and I was out in public when I first read it, so I couldn't really react much without causing a disturbance with all my squealing.
I do love Scarlett and Julian, but they're just not as good as Legend and Tella, in my opinion. But these two had lots of drama between them that they really had to solve.
Also, that moment in Legend's bedroom? AHH, I WANTED MORE
BUT THAT PLOT TWIST ABOUT SCARLETT AND TELLA, WOW. I was very surprised, as I typically am with plot twists because I'm certainly not a detective.
I loved the interaction between Legend and Tella in those dreams, they were so fun and swimming with tensionnn.
I feel like this review has gotten slightly outta hand, so I'm going to try and become composed.
The writing was still fantastic, the characters INCREDIBLE, and the plot was all twisty and turny, with all of these Fates coming, and the Fallen Star, it was just wow.
Ok, I can't help myself: When Tella was under Jacks's illusion and Legend saved her, I was literally screeching over that. He really does love her. *cries* And when we got his brief POV in the encore, I was fangirling so badly. I want Legend's POV for Legendary and Finale so badly.
I can't wait for Jacks to find his own love, and I ship him with Evangeline in Once Upon a Broken Heart and I NEED them to end up together in the second book.
This review was equally chaotic as my other reviews for this series, so I'm probably gonna stop here before I fall off my bed or something.
Overall, this book is fantastic, and I love this series so much.
5 stars
“I'm the villain, even in my own story.”
<><><><><><><>
Previous Review: Soooo, I read this a while back, but I've read Once Upon a Broken Heart, and looked at fanart (as I always do after reading books) and though I didn't ship Jacks and Tella, I love Jacks so much. Anyways, I love this book and consider it and the whole Caraval universe and series one of my favorites.
![Profile Image for Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1646942374i/66224803._UX200_CR0,46,200,200_.jpg)
June 16, 2019
She was the hero of her own story, and it was time to save herself from him.
Story 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Tella won Caraval only to be left by legend on the steps of the temple. He broke her heart, hurt her deeply. But then a letter came and he promised her a price.
Night by night he visits her dreams, trying to make her stay with him forever. But only for a price.
But the fates came back to life, more vicious then ever. And secrets about her mother make everything even more complicated and chaotic.
This book was actually really really entertaining and I liked it the most in the whole series. It wasn’t perfect, but it was still really really good. It had twists and turns and a lot of surprises.
Definitely a recommendation for everyone that loved Legendary.
Character 🌟🌟🌟🌟
“He was a mess of gold hair, sea-salt blue eyes, and bitten lips, beautiful in a way only broken things could be.”
From all the characters in this book I loved Tella the most. She was brave, adventurous and seemed absolutely fearless. She loved fiercely and with all her heart and that’s why she was so devastated when legend left her on the steps of the temple. Terrible things happen and her feelings seem too much, so she seeks the help of someone she thought was terrible but also really helpful. She was not afraid to ask for help even though it could’ve been dangerous.
I loved her way of thinking and the way she always acted fast and without thinking everything through.
Scarlet had a big role in this book too. I didn’t really like her or Julian in the first book and it didn’t really change in the first half of the book. But then Scarlett finally started acting like a real person and I can’t say I love her like Tella but I stopped hating her.
Finally we know who Legend is. We see what his goals are, what he wants for the world and for people he cares about. Even though I loved him in the second book, I didn’t really like him in the last. Yes, he finally showed his real face, but I felt like he wasn’t the perfect match for Tella.
Oh jacks my precious baby. He never changed his character, never stopped doing what he wanted to and never stopped aiming for the things he wanted to have. He was reckless, cruel but when Tella asked him for help - he helped. He cared, he sacrificed.
And I loved him so much for his twisted character.
All in all I liked the characters, loved Tella and Jacks, but felt like some characters, that were main or at least important characters, were a bit plain.
World 🌟🌟🌟
Legend saved Tella, but needed to free all of the cards and the fates in them to do so. With that chaos, danger and something different came.
Secrets get revealed, people get hurt or die.
It was quite something.
I actually really had fun in this world.
But comparing this world building to other books makes it weak. It wasn’t as complex and fascinating as other were, but it was still entertaining.
My favorite thing were the fates trapped in cards - Tarot cards. Some of them even had a little bit of background stories and magic.
Relationships 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(...) but she’s seen the way Scarlett had looked at him. It was the look some people lived their whole lives waiting for, and others lived their whole lives without receiving.
Oh, I don’t even know how to say this. This book contains a few relationships, some of them more complicated than others.
First there was the sibling bond between Scarlet and Tella. They saved, loved and supported each other.
Julian and Crimson aka Scarlett were in love in book one, but had their troubles in book two and three. There was always Scarlett’s former fiancé, who seemed to be in the way of their wonderful love.
But in the end we all knew that there wasn’t another outcome then Scarlet and Julian.
I didn’t like them in the first book, but every time Julian called Scarlett „Crimson“ I melted a little bit.
Then there was the main relationship of the whole book. The one between Tella and her boys. Whereas Legend needed time to capture Tella’s heart, he hold it fiercely. Jacks and Tella had a hate relationship, but when they needed each other, that changed.
Yes, Tella was always confused about her feelings, she never knew what to do and that made us confused too.
But I always favored one and I can’t really say the end so I’ll stop here.
All in all I think the relationships were interesting, confusing and really entertaining and probably one of the better things in the book.
Writing style 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Even though I wasn’t 100% sure about the writing in the first book, I fell in love with it in book two. And it got even better in book three. The book was written in two POVs - Scarlett and Tella. Even though I thought Scarlett plain in book one, she developed in book three.
All in all: The author is really talented and entertained us with every page passing. I liked the book and think it’s the best of the three books in the series.
“Occasionally, there are minutes that get extra seconds. Moments so precious the universe stretches to make additional room for them.”
Story 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Tella won Caraval only to be left by legend on the steps of the temple. He broke her heart, hurt her deeply. But then a letter came and he promised her a price.
Night by night he visits her dreams, trying to make her stay with him forever. But only for a price.
But the fates came back to life, more vicious then ever. And secrets about her mother make everything even more complicated and chaotic.
This book was actually really really entertaining and I liked it the most in the whole series. It wasn’t perfect, but it was still really really good. It had twists and turns and a lot of surprises.
Definitely a recommendation for everyone that loved Legendary.
Character 🌟🌟🌟🌟
“He was a mess of gold hair, sea-salt blue eyes, and bitten lips, beautiful in a way only broken things could be.”
From all the characters in this book I loved Tella the most. She was brave, adventurous and seemed absolutely fearless. She loved fiercely and with all her heart and that’s why she was so devastated when legend left her on the steps of the temple. Terrible things happen and her feelings seem too much, so she seeks the help of someone she thought was terrible but also really helpful. She was not afraid to ask for help even though it could’ve been dangerous.
I loved her way of thinking and the way she always acted fast and without thinking everything through.
Scarlet had a big role in this book too. I didn’t really like her or Julian in the first book and it didn’t really change in the first half of the book. But then Scarlett finally started acting like a real person and I can’t say I love her like Tella but I stopped hating her.
Finally we know who Legend is. We see what his goals are, what he wants for the world and for people he cares about. Even though I loved him in the second book, I didn’t really like him in the last. Yes, he finally showed his real face, but I felt like he wasn’t the perfect match for Tella.
Oh jacks my precious baby. He never changed his character, never stopped doing what he wanted to and never stopped aiming for the things he wanted to have. He was reckless, cruel but when Tella asked him for help - he helped. He cared, he sacrificed.
And I loved him so much for his twisted character.
All in all I liked the characters, loved Tella and Jacks, but felt like some characters, that were main or at least important characters, were a bit plain.
World 🌟🌟🌟
Legend saved Tella, but needed to free all of the cards and the fates in them to do so. With that chaos, danger and something different came.
Secrets get revealed, people get hurt or die.
It was quite something.
I actually really had fun in this world.
But comparing this world building to other books makes it weak. It wasn’t as complex and fascinating as other were, but it was still entertaining.
My favorite thing were the fates trapped in cards - Tarot cards. Some of them even had a little bit of background stories and magic.
Relationships 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(...) but she’s seen the way Scarlett had looked at him. It was the look some people lived their whole lives waiting for, and others lived their whole lives without receiving.
Oh, I don’t even know how to say this. This book contains a few relationships, some of them more complicated than others.
First there was the sibling bond between Scarlet and Tella. They saved, loved and supported each other.
Julian and Crimson aka Scarlett were in love in book one, but had their troubles in book two and three. There was always Scarlett’s former fiancé, who seemed to be in the way of their wonderful love.
But in the end we all knew that there wasn’t another outcome then Scarlet and Julian.
I didn’t like them in the first book, but every time Julian called Scarlett „Crimson“ I melted a little bit.
Then there was the main relationship of the whole book. The one between Tella and her boys. Whereas Legend needed time to capture Tella’s heart, he hold it fiercely. Jacks and Tella had a hate relationship, but when they needed each other, that changed.
Yes, Tella was always confused about her feelings, she never knew what to do and that made us confused too.
But I always favored one and I can’t really say the end so I’ll stop here.
All in all I think the relationships were interesting, confusing and really entertaining and probably one of the better things in the book.
Writing style 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Even though I wasn’t 100% sure about the writing in the first book, I fell in love with it in book two. And it got even better in book three. The book was written in two POVs - Scarlett and Tella. Even though I thought Scarlett plain in book one, she developed in book three.
All in all: The author is really talented and entertained us with every page passing. I liked the book and think it’s the best of the three books in the series.
“Occasionally, there are minutes that get extra seconds. Moments so precious the universe stretches to make additional room for them.”
April 16, 2023
”Every story has four parts: the beginning, the middle, the almost-end, and the true ending. Some 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.”
truer words have never been spoken. i suffered through the atrocity of book 2 but i didn’t give up. i persevered and look where it got me :’)
so is it still considered a love triangle if she spends the whole book telling us how much she wants one guy over the other? minor spoilers ig?? but its so obvious who she’s gonna pick from the beginning. *eye twitch* spoiler alert: its the one with the dead personality.
im gonna start off by posing a question for the class: have you ever met a bigger clown than donatella dragna? likeee??? jacks was right there you silly girl
exhibit a:
”He felt desire. Desperation. Lust. Obsession. He wanted her. She was all he wanted. All he thought about.”
SHES LITERALLY ALL HE THINKS ABOUT
exhibit b:
”Tell me what you want, Donatella. Say it and I’ll give it to you.”
he would’ve done anything for her. and he always came to save her. she was everything.
exhibit c:
”I don’t know if you’re my true love, Donatella. All I know is that I want you to be.”
he was ready to risk it all for her
also can we talk about how he’s a comedian? a man thats actually funny >>>
he teases her and makes fun of her all the time i have literal heart eyes.
exhibit d:
”Why are you helping me?”
“You’re not fun when you’re this pathetic. I can’t torment you if you’re already miserable.”
exhibit e:
“I’ll stab the closest object through your chest and end your heartbeat once and for all.”
“Don’t be so dramatic.”
how she didn’t fall in love with this man i have no clue. i’m not even being shady. i genuinely have no idea how that dante man got her when jacks was right there. the heart wants what it wants ig 😪
the dreams thing with tella and dante was the only remotely cute thing they had going for them
now that that’s out of the way. SCARJULES SCARLETTJULIAN JULIAN JULIAN
”I knew that if I came back and things didn’t work out, I’d regret losing you, but I’d never regret having a reminder of you.”
he’s so in love with scarlett im gasping for air.
”Julian, I can walk.”
“Maybe I just want an excuse to hold you.”
i don’t think my legs are working anymore. im down.so.bad for this man. AND THEN THE DRESS. AND WHAT HE DID AT THE END. MY HEART WAS FLIPPING AROUND.
also a moment of silence for the dress you guys ❤️🩹 our fallen soldier. i genuinely wanted to start crying at the end.
essentially the plot of this book was just jacks and julian.
kidding kidding there was actually a really good plot going on. it was fast paced and had my attention. the fates storyline was so interesting i loved meeting them.
but the whole mom storyline was so forced just like with the last book. i just expected more out of it but it kind of went nowhere. i would have at least wanted for scarlett and tella to have a full proper conversation with her but we literally got nothing. that was disappointing.
i have to say though i’m confused about mainly two plots that were left a bit open. i didn’t want these things to affect my rating because i’m not sure if they’re actually plot holes or if it’s foreshadowing for a potential future series?
⚠️mild spoilers⚠️
so in the second book, tella sees a vision of her mother agreeing to give up her second born child but we never understand where that came from. i thought in this book she would confront her mother about it and we would get answers but nope. we never find out why she would have agreed to that. it seemed to just be done so that tella could see her mother in a different light, but that’s a crazy thing for a mother to agree to and i wish we had explored it more.
the second thing is donatella’s bargain she made in this book. she makes the bargain for something in the future, but it’s never spoken about again. i’m just going to assume this was purposefully left open for a future book.
more beautiful quotes:
”Their mother had once told them there was nothing like the love of a sister, and this was one of the moments where Tella could feel that truth. Scarlett’s love reminded her that while some things never healed, other things grew stronger.
”I want to feel love in its every form. I used to be so scared of it, but now I think love is another type of magic. It makes everything brighter.”
”She wished there was a way to tether her heart to his, so that even when they were apart they would still be attached.”
”I promise I will always choose you, and I will always love you. I will love you with every bone in my body, so that even after my heart stops beating, a part of me will always remain to forever love you.”
”Be careful, Crimson.”
“I’m always careful.”
“I don’t know…a careful girl wouldn’t say she loved me.”
”Love is messy. It’s not easily controlled. But that’s what makes it so powerful. It’s unbridled passion. It’s caring about someone else’s life more than you care about your own.”
”Just because something is real doesn’t mean you believe in it.”
”You want to be married to someone that hates you?”
“Maybe I like the intensity of it.”
”I’m the villain, even in my own story. But you were supposed to play a different role. You were supposed to be my true love. You were supposed to want me, not him. You were supposed to be as obsessed with me as I am with you.”
”She looked the way Love might have looked if Love looked in the mirror, infectiously happy and radiantly beautiful.”
”You’re asking a man to marry you? That’s forward.”
“I’d rather be forward than backward.”
”She cried for the horrors he had been, and she cried for the wonders that he could have been instead.”
”If you don’t let me go, I’m not going to be able to fight you anymore.”
“Good, because I don’t want to fight you. I just want to love you. This is my choice, and I choose you. You’re my forever.”
November 1, 2019
I’ve read fan theories that would have made a better storyline than what this holds between its pages.
This was such a disappoint.
Any thrilling or intriguing aspect has vanished. This has turned into a sappy romance novel that I was absolutely not signing up for.
It’s bland, repetitive - pretty boys, damsels in distress - blah blah blah.
The only interesting section was the backstories regarding the fates.
The actual plot-line regarding the characters? Way too rushed and linear for what I was expecting.
This was such a disappoint.
Any thrilling or intriguing aspect has vanished. This has turned into a sappy romance novel that I was absolutely not signing up for.
It’s bland, repetitive - pretty boys, damsels in distress - blah blah blah.
The only interesting section was the backstories regarding the fates.
The actual plot-line regarding the characters? Way too rushed and linear for what I was expecting.
June 15, 2019
This review and other non-spoilery reviews can be found @The Book Prescription
Actual Rating: 4.25 stars
“Most of my life, I’ve romanticized death. I used to love the idea of something being so tremendous that it was worth dying for. But I was wrong. I think the most magnificent things are worth living for.”
🌟 Do you know that student that used to sit in the back seat, was OK but at high school they suddenly had this glow up and got the highest marks?? Finale was that student for me!!
🌟 I will always recall this series as the book that I thought would be a standalone, after reading Caraval, I discovered that there is another book and I read Legendary and discovered that it was a trilogy. When the title for this book was released, I had 2 feelings: relieved that it was probably the end of a series and a little bit disappointed because the title did not foreshadow a creative ending!!
🌟 I was wrong! Finale was the ending that I would have never expected! let me remind you that I gave the first and second books 2.5 and 3 stars consequently. I felt like Stephanie read my last review and took some of my noted and consideration. Yeah, I know it never happened, but a guy can imagine!
🌟 The writing was great, I found many quotes I liked and I was not bored as happened it the previous books! I am a big fan of mythology and Folklore and so I was happy because many things got explained at last. I did not expect to get all the answers and I didn’t, but it is OK because I think with something as magical as the Caraval game, we will never understand it all!
🌟 The characters were also great, I appreciate that we got both Tella and Scarlett POVs and although I am team Tella, I really wanted to see the 2 and I got that.
🌟 The plot was interesting and what I like about this series is that I can’t predict what will happen, it was kind of chaotic in the first book and it got better and better with every book! I also really like that Love was used to advance the plot and it was a main theme in the story but it was not forced and it was not all about love! It was used as a mean to an end and that made me happy for some reason!
🌟 Summary: Finale was a great ending which I did not expect to have, writing endings is a very hard thing and Stephanie outdid herself on this one. Better writing, better characters and world-building. I will be checking the author’s next books for sure!
Actual Rating: 4.25 stars
“Most of my life, I’ve romanticized death. I used to love the idea of something being so tremendous that it was worth dying for. But I was wrong. I think the most magnificent things are worth living for.”
🌟 Do you know that student that used to sit in the back seat, was OK but at high school they suddenly had this glow up and got the highest marks?? Finale was that student for me!!
🌟 I will always recall this series as the book that I thought would be a standalone, after reading Caraval, I discovered that there is another book and I read Legendary and discovered that it was a trilogy. When the title for this book was released, I had 2 feelings: relieved that it was probably the end of a series and a little bit disappointed because the title did not foreshadow a creative ending!!
🌟 I was wrong! Finale was the ending that I would have never expected! let me remind you that I gave the first and second books 2.5 and 3 stars consequently. I felt like Stephanie read my last review and took some of my noted and consideration. Yeah, I know it never happened, but a guy can imagine!
🌟 The writing was great, I found many quotes I liked and I was not bored as happened it the previous books! I am a big fan of mythology and Folklore and so I was happy because many things got explained at last. I did not expect to get all the answers and I didn’t, but it is OK because I think with something as magical as the Caraval game, we will never understand it all!
🌟 The characters were also great, I appreciate that we got both Tella and Scarlett POVs and although I am team Tella, I really wanted to see the 2 and I got that.
🌟 The plot was interesting and what I like about this series is that I can’t predict what will happen, it was kind of chaotic in the first book and it got better and better with every book! I also really like that Love was used to advance the plot and it was a main theme in the story but it was not forced and it was not all about love! It was used as a mean to an end and that made me happy for some reason!
🌟 Summary: Finale was a great ending which I did not expect to have, writing endings is a very hard thing and Stephanie outdid herself on this one. Better writing, better characters and world-building. I will be checking the author’s next books for sure!
October 13, 2022
For me, Caraval is a series that just gets better and better with each book. Like, Book 1 was decent enough but nothing that special imo, Book 2 was a whole lot better and actually really enjoyable, but THIS? THIS WAS AMAZING 😍😍
“Occasionally, there are minutes that get extra seconds. Moments so precious the universe stretches to make additional room for them.”
Finale is the finale of the Caraval series (pun intended 😉😉) and takes place 2 months after the ending of Legendary. I don't wanna explain too much because of spoilers, but Caraval is essentially a magical game that is controlled by Legend, a powerful magician. In the series, two sisters, Scarlett and Tella, have to play the game to save themselves. There's obviously a lot more to the story, but that's all you need to know for now.
Firstly, the characters. Our main characters are obviously Tella and Scarlett and there are also loads of others, such as Jacks, Legend, Julian and - an entirely new one - Gavriel, the Fallen Star. Finale has chapters from both Scarlett and Tella's perspective, rather than only one of them like the first 2 books.
Firstly, Tella. Tella's probably my favorite character in the whole trilogy- I just love her spunk and determination, as well as her courage and strength. Even though she's very strong and capable, you can also see extremely vulnerable parts of her throughout the book- for example, Tella's never had good luck with love, and she's so scared to open herself up to loving someone in case they let her down. I thought the author did a great job portraying her different layers and overall, she's a really great character! 😁🙌
Next, Scarlett. Scarlett had never been my favorite character, as I found her very whiny and unlikeable in Caraval- but I must admit, she did get better in Finale. I feel like she did get a lot more character growth in this book and I do think that her more cautious nature balances Tella's recklessness out very well. But despite all that, I'm still not a huge fan of her. She's probably just not my preferred type of character 🤷♀️
Now, Jacks. JACKS. Loads of people love Jacks and I must admit that I wholeheartedly agree- HE IS SUCH A GREAT CHARACTER!!! He's so morally grey and interesting and HOT 🔥🔥 and I just adore him. Not to say the other characters aren't morally grey (I mean, Legend kinda is...), but he just adds something to the story that is really needed- and honestly, the amount of drama he caused in this book was HUUGE. He's honestly so manipulative and I did feel bad for Tella at some points. Still love him tho!! 😉😉
The rest of the characters didn't really stand out to me. I do think a lot of them are good characters- Gavriel is definitely ~interesting~ and I thought Legend was also well-developed- but I didn't LOVE them, y'know?? Still a good cast of side characters tho 🙂👍
“Most of my life, I’ve romanticized death. I used to love the idea of something being so tremendous that it was worth dying for. But I was wrong. I think the most magnificent things are worth living for.”
Next, the writing style. I can honestly see so much growth in Stephanie Garber's writing from Caraval, her debut, to this book. In Caraval, it seemed very messy and convoluted, but it seemed so much more natural in Books 2 and 3. I really loved the elaborate descriptions and the way her writing just had this feeling of utter ~magic~ 🥰🥰 It sucked me straight into the story and I was completely and utterly hooked!! 🤩🤩
“He smelled of magic and heartbreak, and something about the combination made her think that despite what he claimed, he wanted to be her hero.”
Now, the plot. The plot was pretty good!! Even tho the book seemed quite long, especially compared to Caraval & Legendary, it flew by and it felt more like 400 pages than 500. It was a lot more action-packed than the other books and I really liked that. I do, however, think that it wasn't perfect. The book was VERY romance-heavy and although that's not a bad thing, it did sometimes feel a little overwhelming to me. I also wasn't entirely satisfied with the ending- it felt like the book was wrapped up far too quickly after everything that happened. And- this is kinda hard to explain without spoilers- I also think that the plotline that was introduced at the end of Legendary wasn't utilised to its full potential. I just think that it could've been more dramatic, I guess?? I dunno, maybe it's just me being picky.
“I'm the villain, even in my own story.”
Lastly, the romance. There are 2 main couples in the book- Tella x Legend and Julian x Scarlett- and there was also a bit of a love triangle going on between Jacks, Tella and Legend. I did quite like the romance and thought it was a lot better than the majority of YA romances. The tension and the yearning was done really well, as was the chemistry between the characters. BUT there was also a lot of unnecessary drama imo- like, the will-they-won't-they between Tella and Legend started to feel veryyy repetitive after a while. Still, I do think it was actually quite decent. Tella x Legend was definitely my favorite couple and I really enjoyed their interactions!! 😏😏🤭🤭
“And you’re wrong if you think I don’t want you. I’ve wanted you for so long, and I’ll never stop wanting you.”
Overall, I loved this!!! It was super entertaining and I had such a great time reading it. Even tho Caraval definitely isn't the best book ever, it's worth it pushing through to get to Legendary and Finale because I loved both of them!! ☺☺🥰🥰 Would definitely recommend this series.
~ 4.5 stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I REALLY enjoyed this!!! The perfect end to the trilogy 🥰🥰❣❣ RTC!
“Occasionally, there are minutes that get extra seconds. Moments so precious the universe stretches to make additional room for them.”
Finale is the finale of the Caraval series (pun intended 😉😉) and takes place 2 months after the ending of Legendary. I don't wanna explain too much because of spoilers, but Caraval is essentially a magical game that is controlled by Legend, a powerful magician. In the series, two sisters, Scarlett and Tella, have to play the game to save themselves. There's obviously a lot more to the story, but that's all you need to know for now.
Firstly, the characters. Our main characters are obviously Tella and Scarlett and there are also loads of others, such as Jacks, Legend, Julian and - an entirely new one - Gavriel, the Fallen Star. Finale has chapters from both Scarlett and Tella's perspective, rather than only one of them like the first 2 books.
Firstly, Tella. Tella's probably my favorite character in the whole trilogy- I just love her spunk and determination, as well as her courage and strength. Even though she's very strong and capable, you can also see extremely vulnerable parts of her throughout the book- for example, Tella's never had good luck with love, and she's so scared to open herself up to loving someone in case they let her down. I thought the author did a great job portraying her different layers and overall, she's a really great character! 😁🙌
Next, Scarlett. Scarlett had never been my favorite character, as I found her very whiny and unlikeable in Caraval- but I must admit, she did get better in Finale. I feel like she did get a lot more character growth in this book and I do think that her more cautious nature balances Tella's recklessness out very well. But despite all that, I'm still not a huge fan of her. She's probably just not my preferred type of character 🤷♀️
Now, Jacks. JACKS. Loads of people love Jacks and I must admit that I wholeheartedly agree- HE IS SUCH A GREAT CHARACTER!!! He's so morally grey and interesting and HOT 🔥🔥 and I just adore him. Not to say the other characters aren't morally grey (I mean, Legend kinda is...), but he just adds something to the story that is really needed- and honestly, the amount of drama he caused in this book was HUUGE. He's honestly so manipulative and I did feel bad for Tella at some points. Still love him tho!! 😉😉
The rest of the characters didn't really stand out to me. I do think a lot of them are good characters- Gavriel is definitely ~interesting~ and I thought Legend was also well-developed- but I didn't LOVE them, y'know?? Still a good cast of side characters tho 🙂👍
“Most of my life, I’ve romanticized death. I used to love the idea of something being so tremendous that it was worth dying for. But I was wrong. I think the most magnificent things are worth living for.”
Next, the writing style. I can honestly see so much growth in Stephanie Garber's writing from Caraval, her debut, to this book. In Caraval, it seemed very messy and convoluted, but it seemed so much more natural in Books 2 and 3. I really loved the elaborate descriptions and the way her writing just had this feeling of utter ~magic~ 🥰🥰 It sucked me straight into the story and I was completely and utterly hooked!! 🤩🤩
“He smelled of magic and heartbreak, and something about the combination made her think that despite what he claimed, he wanted to be her hero.”
Now, the plot. The plot was pretty good!! Even tho the book seemed quite long, especially compared to Caraval & Legendary, it flew by and it felt more like 400 pages than 500. It was a lot more action-packed than the other books and I really liked that. I do, however, think that it wasn't perfect. The book was VERY romance-heavy and although that's not a bad thing, it did sometimes feel a little overwhelming to me. I also wasn't entirely satisfied with the ending- it felt like the book was wrapped up far too quickly after everything that happened. And- this is kinda hard to explain without spoilers- I also think that the plotline that was introduced at the end of Legendary wasn't utilised to its full potential. I just think that it could've been more dramatic, I guess?? I dunno, maybe it's just me being picky.
“I'm the villain, even in my own story.”
Lastly, the romance. There are 2 main couples in the book- Tella x Legend and Julian x Scarlett- and there was also a bit of a love triangle going on between Jacks, Tella and Legend. I did quite like the romance and thought it was a lot better than the majority of YA romances. The tension and the yearning was done really well, as was the chemistry between the characters. BUT there was also a lot of unnecessary drama imo- like, the will-they-won't-they between Tella and Legend started to feel veryyy repetitive after a while. Still, I do think it was actually quite decent. Tella x Legend was definitely my favorite couple and I really enjoyed their interactions!! 😏😏🤭🤭
“And you’re wrong if you think I don’t want you. I’ve wanted you for so long, and I’ll never stop wanting you.”
Overall, I loved this!!! It was super entertaining and I had such a great time reading it. Even tho Caraval definitely isn't the best book ever, it's worth it pushing through to get to Legendary and Finale because I loved both of them!! ☺☺🥰🥰 Would definitely recommend this series.
~ 4.5 stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I REALLY enjoyed this!!! The perfect end to the trilogy 🥰🥰❣❣ RTC!
April 2, 2023
Highlight⭐️! Das nenne ich mal ein absolut würdiges "Finale", hehe Achtung schlechter Wortwitz😂. Die Reihe hat mein Herz im Sturm erobert, unerwartet aber mit voller Wucht. Ich habe mich in die Charaktere verliebt, die Ästhetik des Schreibstils und die Genialität der Autorin. Mit den wechselnden Perspektiven konnte Band 3 alle losen Handlungsstränge abschließen, sodass alles auf einen perfekten Punkt hinauslief. Nicht nur das: Spannung bis zur letzten Seite. Charaktere, die nach drei Bänden immer noch überraschen und Vielschichtigkeit beweisen. Eine schillernde, wundersame Welt voller fantastischer origineller Elemente und Kreativität. Zitate, die ich mir eindringlich markieren wollte. Wendungen, die mir den Atem stehlen konnten. Die Liebesgeschichten waren voller Tension, besonders konnte mich außerdem die Schwesternbeziehung zwischen Scarlett und Tella begeistern. Diese Reihe beinhaltet alles, was ich an Fantasy liebe und ich bin dankbar, sie zum rechten Zeitpunkt gelesen zu haben😍!
September 24, 2022
The Dragna sisters return...For One Last Game
I was swept away by the magic of Caraval. The mystery of the game, the man, the myth, the legend behind it. yes it's YA I'm throwing out puns okay! A mysterious sailor, the crazy sister who wanted more from life, and the quiet heroine who wanted her own life.
The first book was Scarlett's story.
She the quiet older sister that always did what was right and never really was the adventurous type. I often got annoyed with her as our MC in the first book. She felt more passive and wasn't a very entertaining POV. I just felt like she wasn’t really trying to play the game.
As the series continued, Scarlett started to develop and embrace the magic of uncertainty that accumulated in this finale
“Scarlett's feelings were a commotion of colors, swirling around her in garlands of excited aquamarine, nervous marigold, and frustrated gingersnap.”
But there was a distinct difference for me: I read her chapters to find out what HAPPENED, not to enjoy her perspective... which says a lot
The second book introduced the chaos that is Donatella "Tella" Dragna POV
Of the sisters I enjoyed her POV more as the rebellious adventurous sister. This book also emphasized romance more which I never complain about
Since the beginning, I was obsessed with knowing the truth of Legend
“He was still the most beautiful liar she’d ever seen. But Tella wasn’t about to let Legend bewitch her the same way he had during Caraval. She smacked the top hat right off of his pretty head, rocking the tiny vessel beneath them.”
This ongoing plot enthralled me with playing the game, finding out the truth of Paloma their mysterious other, and working to contain the magic of the fates
The Fates were particularly interesting world developing. Think of them as similar to tarot cards with the Deck of Destiny, each of these beings are magical in their own right. And that scares the shit outta Legend. And me.
The structure of the Caraval game and the deck of cards with the Fates illuminated a similarity between our love interest and our villains that absolutely captivated my attention.
Dark, alluring, and danger continued throughout the series as the games became more and more real. And Tella wasn't sure whether the price of winning was worth it anymore.
My biggest critique was the nonstop last-minute info dump that had great concepts I would’ve enjoyed more throughout the series
Specifically… Jacks
He was a marvelously complex character. I adore morally grey characters and I hated the uncertainty and way he was left behind in the end. I'm hoping that this is indicative that the author might have more for his story
Because I would ABSOLUTELY be interested in continuing in this world but following Jacks, a character from the magic side of things.
While I love our Dragna sisters, I just got kinda sick of the cliche ‘humans helplessly entering the magic world aspect’. I want a power-hungry Jacks ready to manipulate all his knowledge to get the power he wants... just to found out there's something he needs more
LOVE
ITS FRIGGEN LOVE OKAY, I'M A CLICHE I GET IT
Overall, this series was just enjoyable. While I recognize that the first book was ridiculously overhyped, I enjoyed the second book and was glad that the third book tried to wrap together all the strings while focusing on Tella's more interesting plotline. If you weren't WOWED by the first book but enjoyed the worldbuilding and writing style with soooo mucchhhh purple proseeee — then I would definitely recommend giving the rest of the series a shot because I definitely think the series as a whole improved when Tella's more active dangerous POV became the focus.
I was swept away by the magic of Caraval. The mystery of the game, the man, the myth, the legend behind it. yes it's YA I'm throwing out puns okay! A mysterious sailor, the crazy sister who wanted more from life, and the quiet heroine who wanted her own life.
The first book was Scarlett's story.
She the quiet older sister that always did what was right and never really was the adventurous type. I often got annoyed with her as our MC in the first book. She felt more passive and wasn't a very entertaining POV. I just felt like she wasn’t really trying to play the game.
As the series continued, Scarlett started to develop and embrace the magic of uncertainty that accumulated in this finale
“Scarlett's feelings were a commotion of colors, swirling around her in garlands of excited aquamarine, nervous marigold, and frustrated gingersnap.”
But there was a distinct difference for me: I read her chapters to find out what HAPPENED, not to enjoy her perspective... which says a lot
The second book introduced the chaos that is Donatella "Tella" Dragna POV
Of the sisters I enjoyed her POV more as the rebellious adventurous sister. This book also emphasized romance more which I never complain about
Since the beginning, I was obsessed with knowing the truth of Legend
“He was still the most beautiful liar she’d ever seen. But Tella wasn’t about to let Legend bewitch her the same way he had during Caraval. She smacked the top hat right off of his pretty head, rocking the tiny vessel beneath them.”
This ongoing plot enthralled me with playing the game, finding out the truth of Paloma their mysterious other, and working to contain the magic of the fates
The Fates were particularly interesting world developing. Think of them as similar to tarot cards with the Deck of Destiny, each of these beings are magical in their own right. And that scares the shit outta Legend. And me.
The structure of the Caraval game and the deck of cards with the Fates illuminated a similarity between our love interest and our villains that absolutely captivated my attention.
Dark, alluring, and danger continued throughout the series as the games became more and more real. And Tella wasn't sure whether the price of winning was worth it anymore.
My biggest critique was the nonstop last-minute info dump that had great concepts I would’ve enjoyed more throughout the series
Specifically… Jacks
He was a marvelously complex character. I adore morally grey characters and I hated the uncertainty and way he was left behind in the end. I'm hoping that this is indicative that the author might have more for his story
Because I would ABSOLUTELY be interested in continuing in this world but following Jacks, a character from the magic side of things.
While I love our Dragna sisters, I just got kinda sick of the cliche ‘humans helplessly entering the magic world aspect’. I want a power-hungry Jacks ready to manipulate all his knowledge to get the power he wants... just to found out there's something he needs more
LOVE
ITS FRIGGEN LOVE OKAY, I'M A CLICHE I GET IT
Overall, this series was just enjoyable. While I recognize that the first book was ridiculously overhyped, I enjoyed the second book and was glad that the third book tried to wrap together all the strings while focusing on Tella's more interesting plotline. If you weren't WOWED by the first book but enjoyed the worldbuilding and writing style with soooo mucchhhh purple proseeee — then I would definitely recommend giving the rest of the series a shot because I definitely think the series as a whole improved when Tella's more active dangerous POV became the focus.
January 18, 2023
“Love is messy. It’s not easily controlled. But that’s what makes it so powerful. It’s unbridled passion. It’s caring about someone else’s life more than you care about your own.”
The theme of love connects the three books in this series well; Our main characters explore romantic love (the healthy and toxic kinds), sibling love, and parental love.
I really enjoyed reading chapters in both Scarlett’s and Donatella’s points of view. I think it helped bring their stories full circle at the end of this series. Like in the other books, Garber’s descriptions of the world are pretty magical. She continues to weave glitter and mystery into her characters and places, which creates a nice book to temporarily escape into. While Valenda was already built in Legendary, the additional areas our characters have to travel to in Finale were described well and easy to imagine. I also found learning about the Fates interesting and easy to understand.
I wasn’t into the love triangle or the back and forth between two characters. I felt like it was written immaturely at times, and then it would suddenly switch into these profound realizations and sweet declarations. I understand that the love triangle is supposed to help that particular sister grow and make decisions based on her heart, but I felt frustrated for her at times and thought she deserved better. The person she chose makes sense for her; I think he was just a bit tempestuous for my taste. I was more charmed with the other guy—not sure if that’s a good thing, but I know I’ll be reading his books soon.
The other sister’s love story (that starts during Caraval) is the superior one in my opinion. When the book first started, I was afraid that the author would try to mess with her love story too much, but it definitely ended in a very satisfying way. I just love them together and respect the way they fight for each other; Their love feels genuine to me. Plus I enjoyed her exploration of forgiveness and courage.
This YA series was a great time, and I do recommend it if you like: magical worlds, somewhat ornate prose, risky games, exciting twists, and very lovable sisters.
✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧
RTC. I need to think. For now I'll say: f*ck yes, Scarlett!
The theme of love connects the three books in this series well; Our main characters explore romantic love (the healthy and toxic kinds), sibling love, and parental love.
I really enjoyed reading chapters in both Scarlett’s and Donatella’s points of view. I think it helped bring their stories full circle at the end of this series. Like in the other books, Garber’s descriptions of the world are pretty magical. She continues to weave glitter and mystery into her characters and places, which creates a nice book to temporarily escape into. While Valenda was already built in Legendary, the additional areas our characters have to travel to in Finale were described well and easy to imagine. I also found learning about the Fates interesting and easy to understand.
I wasn’t into the love triangle or the back and forth between two characters. I felt like it was written immaturely at times, and then it would suddenly switch into these profound realizations and sweet declarations. I understand that the love triangle is supposed to help that particular sister grow and make decisions based on her heart, but I felt frustrated for her at times and thought she deserved better. The person she chose makes sense for her; I think he was just a bit tempestuous for my taste. I was more charmed with the other guy—not sure if that’s a good thing, but I know I’ll be reading his books soon.
The other sister’s love story (that starts during Caraval) is the superior one in my opinion. When the book first started, I was afraid that the author would try to mess with her love story too much, but it definitely ended in a very satisfying way. I just love them together and respect the way they fight for each other; Their love feels genuine to me. Plus I enjoyed her exploration of forgiveness and courage.
This YA series was a great time, and I do recommend it if you like: magical worlds, somewhat ornate prose, risky games, exciting twists, and very lovable sisters.
✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧
RTC. I need to think. For now I'll say: f*ck yes, Scarlett!
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