Fantasy

Review: Legendary by Stephanie Garber

November 11, 2025

I started re-reading the series a few weeks ago. The Review for the first book in the series you can find *here* already. Interestingly I barely remembered anything about the second book and even asked myself in between if I’m sure about having read it alreaydin the past. Not sure if this is a good or a bad sign. If you haven’t read the series yet, I’dpropose starting with my Review of the first one.

When a Novella got released last year, I got interested in the series again. I remember a bit of what was happening, but not enough to read the Novella without also reading the series again. When I saw this beautiful special edition of all 4 books combined, I took the opportunity to emerge in the World of Caraval again.

Synopsis

A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister, Scarlett, from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister’s. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice, but now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever…

Review

I already hinted, that not remembering what happened in the 2nd book is potentially not a good sign.

After just finishing the first Caraval game, we immediately re-join the world again. Characters we met in the first one return in different roles in the 2nd one. Scarlett and Julian are not at best terms with her finding out that Julian didn’t tell her the truth about everything (never a good thing for starting a healthy relationship).

Tella wants to find her mother and made a deal that requires her to win Caraval and learn Legends real name. Sounds *easy* enough, until she finds out who she made the deal with and that it could cost her his life.

Did I enjoy returning to the world? Yes. Did I enjoy the banter between the characters? Also, yes (my personal highlight was Jacks). Overall, it just wasn’t able to hold my attention as much as the prior one. I’m looking forward to the next one in the series, hoping that I’ll enjoy it as much as the first one again.

🌙 Recension: Caraval (Caraval #2) by Stephanie Garber
📚 Genre: Fantasy & Romance
📅 Release Date: 7. November 2024 (Box Set)
📗 available in Boxset
📱 Read as: Hardcover
💸 Bought
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 432
⭐️ 3.5/5