From the Bookshelf of Book Break…

Legendary (Caraval, #2)

Stephanie Garber

Start date: September 1, 2018

Finish date: September 30, 2018

Discussion: Book of the Month

Why we're reading this: This book won the poll and is the September Book of the Month.
[close] This book won the poll and is the September Book of the Month.

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

No topics in Book of the Month yet. Start one now »

What Members Thought

Jul 06, 2018 High Lady of The Night Court rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-read

"The air tasted like wonder. Like candied butterfly wings caught in sugared spiderwebs, and drunken peaches coated in luck."

This game is a dream wrapped in nightmares, yet to some it is a nightmare wrapped in a dream, it is deceptive, it is beautiful, it is addictive and yet it is the one thing that can break your mind before it breaks your heart, or maybe even both at the very same moment without you ever realising it. It is hatred and love and happiness and sorrow. There are more players i "The air tasted like wonder. Like candied butterfly wings caught in sugared spiderwebs, and drunken peaches coated in luck."

This game is a dream wrapped in nightmares, yet to some it is a nightmare wrapped in a dream, it is deceptive, it is beautiful, it is addictive and yet it is the one thing that can break your mind before it breaks your heart, or maybe even both at the very same moment without you ever realising it. It is hatred and love and happiness and sorrow. There are more players in this game than we imagined, but this time they might just be real. Beings of monsters and magic filled with a desired for something beyond our knowledge.
But just keep in mind, it’s only a game… or is it.

In this sequel to the beguiling story of Caraval, Tella will risk her life to find her mother who abandoned her and her sister when they were kids. In order to find her mother, Tella reaches out to people who might just be more danger then they’re worth, but love makes people do crazy things and this time it might just result in her death. She’s putting her life on the line for a mother whose true identity might just change her perspective on everything she’s stepping into and in her attempts to find her long lost mother she might lose her sister who risked her very sanity to find her in the last game.

I absolutely love the fact that Tella is always so honest with herself and knows what she wants and what she’ll do to get it. Anyone else would tell themselves lies to cover up their true feelings to justify what they are or are not feeling, but Tella will think to herself that she knows she shouldn’t want something but she happens to want it so she will hold herself back or will give into it. She will let let herself indulge in her desires whenever she can but will ignore all comforts if it means doing what she has to do. I like that she will finds bits of happiness and satisfaction whenever she can, however dire the circumstances, because time may be endless but life is not.

I love the descriptions of everything throughout the book. The concept of Caraval in itself is so dreamlike and magical that the near poetic descriptions of people, places, and thoughts adds to the beauty and mystery that is Caraval. And I swear I can read the clues in this game a million times and not get bored of them, because those words are put together like a tailor weaves cloth, each thread put together in the most perfect way possible to make every thread seem impeccably melded into the one before it in the most seamless way possible. The writing of this book is amazing and I will always look forward to Stephanie Garber’s books. The characters in this book are mind blowing in their own complexity and the nature of Caraval will make you question whether you really know the person or just the role they’re playing.

I would have liked a more definitive ending but the open end of the book maintains the mysterious charm of Caraval and left me entranced because the endless possibilities of where this story could go is mesmerising. And to no one’s surprise this book, just like the last one, leaves me even further obsessed with this series. I figured out nearly every plot twist in this book, but now I think the frustration of having figured out a lot more than the protagonist adds to the infinite mystery of this concept of Caraval. I can’t wait for the finale of the series of this enchanting world filled with stories begging to be told. 5 stars again! ...more

311 likes · Like · see review

Jun 28, 2018 Kathryn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya, fantasy, best-of-2018

OH. MY. WORD. That is my initial reaction to Caraval’s sequel, Legendary. Just….OH. MY. WORD.

Admittedly, I’m an unabashed fan of Caraval, so I was predisposed to like the sequel. However, as many people know, sequels are frequently pale imitations of the first book. And when I discovered Legendary is narrated by Tella (Scarlett’s sister), and not Scarlett, I was very concerned. My blood runs Scarlett x Julian. But HOLY. HELL. Legendary is *just* as good as Caraval. No lie. I’m not trying to ...more

45 likes · Like · see review

Aug 06, 2018 Jeff rated it it was amazing

This book certainly lives up to its title. I found Tella’s character more of a person I could connect to than Scarlet.
She just seemed more lively, and the classic stubbornness in a female character definitely goes a long way! This ain’t gonna be a long review, because what I still need and am waiting for is an ending. (hurry up, Finale, aka third book, >.<)This series is truly spell binding and damn, I guarantee you’ll have the hots for Legend.
I mean, who doesn’t fall for the villain?? The plo ...more

40 likes · Like · see review

Aug 26, 2018 Adibah Atiqa (persephtiyareads) rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites-ya

I listen to Circus Themed Playlist while reading

“Every story has four parts - the beginning, the middle, the almost ending, and the true ending.”

To be honest, this is somehow 4.7 stars. It's so good, I love the writing, love the magic, love the hype, love the aura this book have. It's mind blowing and breathtaking

“There were shipwrecks more graceful than Tella.”

and I definitely love Tella's point of view. She's daring, brilliant and pure magic herself. No wonder Legend took hold on her ...more

11 likes · Like · see review