Title: Finale
Author: Stephanie Garber
Series/Standalone: Caraval Trilogy (Book #3)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 478
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Year Published: 2019
Format: Audiobook
"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 of 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."
My Rating: 2/5
This instalment just isn't what I hoped at all from the series. I found myself bored at some points and rolling my eyes at others. I know that the author was trying to set up love triangles and set out different options for both main characters, but this story did nothing for me. It was long and drawn out. The fates were not as present as I had hoped and other villains were just ok. Overall I would say to just stick with Caraval and that would likely be enough for some people interested in the storyline.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Legendary
Author: Stephanie Garber
Series/Standalone: Caraval Series (Book #2)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 443
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Year Published: 2018
Format: Hardcover (Library Copy)
First Line: "While some rooms on the estate had monsters hiding beneath the beds, Tella swore her mother's suite concealed enchantment."
"A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.
After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister, Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn't yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver; Caraval Master Legend's true name.
The only chance of uncovering Legend's identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more- and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets... including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning and sacrifice, but now the game is asking for more. If Tella can't fulfil her bargain and deliver Legend's name, she'll lose everything she cares about- maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever..."
My Rating: 3.5/5
So I was expecting a lot from this story and it just was kind of ok. It was alright for me, but it just didn't have the same magic as the original one, but it did have something magical. It was good, just wasn't great. I liked following Donatella and seeing some of her memories of her past and exploring a new world with her, but it just seemed like a lot of elements that weren't in the first book. I did like the change of pace though.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
This story just wasn't what I expected it to be. I was ready for not knowing what was real, but then everything turned out to be mostly real. And I wasn't ready for that, mainly because the original was all twists.
I loved that we had a change of setting though, and how it took over the city at night. I also appreciated seeing Donatella's memories of her past with her mother way more than Scarlett's memories.
Characters:
Donatella: I think that she had an odd perspective, she's already died once, she doesn't believe she'll ever find anyone who loves her and the fates have predicted a pretty shitty life overall. I was interested in her relationship with Dante, but now I'm more interested in where her relationship with Jacks goes. And was she really his true love, or just magical enough. What's she going to do about her mother, was it even worth it?
Legend: What is his long game? Honestly, what does he want from everyone? Is he just going to run a continual Caraval? Does he care about anyone, scared of the fates? Who freaking knows.
Jacks: How is he planning on getting his powers back, is he going to stay close to Donatella? Or is this a love triangle now? Is his kiss still deadly? What now!
Scarlett: What an ass. I understand wanting to see what her original fiance was like, but it just doesn't bode well that Legend has played with their whole life pretty much.
Julian: What's he going to do with Scarlett making a competition for him? And what's his past?
Elantine: I loved her honesty, but was her lost child really Legend, uh I don't know.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Caraval
Author: Stephanie Garber
Series/Standalone: Caraval Series (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 404
Publisher: Flatiron
Year Published: 2017
Format: Hardcover (Own It)
First Line: "It took seven years to get the letter right."
"Remember, it's only a game...
Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett's father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval- the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show- are over.
But this year, Scarlett's long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval's mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that the season's Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless, she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.
Welcome, welcome to Caraval... beware of getting sept too far away."
My Rating: 3.75/5
So I went into this book not expecting to enjoy it, but I loved it more and more as I read. The more I read though I also found the twists and turns becoming a little less impressed. I think that the author worked really hard to make you keep guessing about who was who, as well as what was real and fake. By the end though, I was feeling a little tired by all the twists and turns. What really intrigued me and made me want to continue the series is the note at the end of the book. I'm looking forward to seeing how our characters continue life after the events of Caraval.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
This book was surprising to me. I wasn't a huge fan of the Night Circus and I knew that this had been compared to it (that being said I didn't hate the Night Circus it was just ok for me). But this book has a very different element than the Night Circus. We are a player in a mysterious tradition on a seemingly magical island. It also appears that the more we watched the story unfolding the more we saw how everyone was a freaking liar and a player. No one told the truth and did what they were expected to do. I enjoyed the setting and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Characters:
Scarlett: I understood her need to leave her home, especially after seeing how manipulative and abusive her father was. But the idea of marrying someone who could be worse than her father was horrifying. I don't even want to think about that. I also think that she got a little in over her head during the "game" especially in her relationship with Julian. It was frustrating. I'm curious to see how their relationship plays out.
Tella: I'll be the first to admit that I underestimated her. I thought that she was more beauty than brains, but by the end of this first book, she proved to be daring and intelligent. She worked hard to get herself off the island and to save her sister. I worry about the note I read by the end of the book. What else could she owe and where in the world is her mother?
Julian: His character was frustrating to me. I wanted to love him, as I'm usually fans of mysterious seemingly bad boys who have a heart of gold. But I just couldn't get on board with their romance. The more Scarlett fell for him the more I felt like she was making a mistake.
Legend: What is his deal and what really happened over the years of his performances? Why did he chose to be a great performer rather than have the love of his life?
Dante: Will we know his truth?
Marcello: He's deserved how everyone left him and he deserves to lose his fortune. He's rude and a terrible father.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
