Legendary

Legendary

Stephanie Garber

Caraval, Book #2

Related Reviews: Caraval

I loved Caraval back when I read it, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I went into Legendary expecting to love it. I was feeling a bit iffy about Tella being the narrator because I really didn’t see much potential based on her role in Caraval, but that worry turned out to be totally unfounded as she turned out to be an awesome main character. I was also worried that the new setting wouldn’t be able to capture all the magic of the original, but, again, totally unfounded because I was as in love with this new city as I was with the last.

Book Review: Caraval

Author: Stephanie Garber

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Edition: ARC courtesy of Publisher
Buy Links: Amazon - Barnes and Noble - Book Depository
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Release Date: January 31st, 2017
Rating: 5 Stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I am among the majority when I say this was one of my most anticipated books of the new year. It sounded splendid- a carnival event that only takes place rarely and is a magical adventure and the quest of one sister to save the other. Paired with the positive early reviews and huge amount of buzz I thought, and found correct, that nothing could go wrong with this book.

Scarlett and Tella's father is abusive and Scarlett thinks the only way to get away from him and off the island he keeps them on is by marrying a complete, but seemingly kind, stranger. Every year, however, she wrote to Legend, the master of Caraval, in an attempt to see a performance. Only a few days before her marriage, she finally receives a reply, and three tickets that will get her into the performance which is on a neighboring island. It is her sister and the strange boy she found her sister hooking up with, though, that get her to that performance by kidnapping her and stealing her away in the night. It's not long before Scarlett realizes that Caraval is even more dangerous than it seems and that her sister is the game- whoever finds her wins.

It has been such a long time since I was so thoroughly sucked into a book that I didn't want to put it down. This book was like a drug. Every word propelled it into something grander and greater than I could have imagined going in. Not only was the world a whimsical, yet dark, and stunning dreamscape that leapt off the page and stole me away, but the characters were well thought out, three dimensional beings that made me laugh and cry and feel everything in between. The plot was incredible as well and while I was guessing the entire time I read, rarely did my guesses land their mark as things turned out to be better than I could conjure.

I already know that this is going to be in the top ten books of this year, and the year has only just started! I'm eagerly awaiting the next book and I don't think I could recommend this one any harder. Should I mention the slow to develop but heart swooning romance? Should I mention the endless magic at Caraval that will leave you looking for your own ticket? Should I mention the relationship between the sisters that was stronger than even the romance and showed another, more beautiful side, to the love normally common in YA novels? Or should I leave you here and beg you to pick this up and devour it?

I'll leave you here.

12 2017 Debuts To Be Excited For (Part 2)

The year isn't even halfway over, but I'm more than excited for next year's releases!  I've cultivated the top twelve debut author's I'm excited for, and I'm trying to get you excited for them, too (because it's never too early, really).  Check out Part 1 so you don't miss any awesome authors!

Tricia Levenseller -- Daughter of the Pirate King

YA author of DAUGHTER OF THE PIRATE KING--coming Feb. 2017 from @MacKidsBooks @FeiwelFriends. Repped by @RachMBrooks.

If you want something done right . . .
When the ruthless pirate king learns of a legendary treasure map hidden on an enemy ship, his daughter, Alosa, knows there's only one pirate for the job—herself. Leaving behind her beloved ship and crew, Alosa deliberately facilitates her own kidnapping to ensure her passage on the ship, confident in her ability to overcome any obstacle. After all, who's going to suspect a seventeen-year-old girl locked in a cell? Then she meets the (surprisingly perceptive and unfairly attractive) first mate, Riden, who is charged with finding out all her secrets. Now it's down to a battle of wits and will . . . . Can Alosa find the map and escape before Riden figures out her plan?

Why You Should Be Excited

Well, I think it's pretty obvious, but, PIRATES.  Dare I say more?  Well, I'm tempted to keep repeating the word pirate in all caps but that might seem a little cultish.  So, if I have to use other words to convince you... Alosa and Riden's relationship sounds captivating and I'm curious to see whether Alosa can get out of this situation.

Andrew Shvarts -- The Bastard Table

YA Writer. Pixelberry Game Designer. Author of THE BASTARD TABLE (Disney-Hyperion, 2017). Repped by Sara Crowe.

A YA fantasy debut in which the bastard daughter of the Lord of the West and a group of fellow outcasts witness her father commit a murder, and are forced to go on the run to save a princess and prevent a war.

Why You Should Be Excited

It sounds like an original fairy tale, almost, and I absolutely love those.  Also, a game designer?  That's pretty cool!  It will be very interesting to see how this translates into a book. 

Rosalyn Eves -- The Blood Rose Rebellion

mother, writer, teacher, book lover. YA hist. fantasy, THE BLOOD ROSE REBELLION, coming 2017 from Knopf. Rep'd by Josh Adams. #PitchWars mentor

In an alternate Victorian England where social prestige stems from a trifecta of blood, money, and magic, sixteen-year old Anna Arden is barred from the society she yearns for by a defect of blood. She believes herself Barren, unable to perform the most rudimentary spells. Anna would do anything to belong, but after inadvertently breaking her sister’s debutante spells, Anna finds herself exiled with her aging grandmother to her grandmother’s native Hungary.
Her life might well be over.
But in Hungary, Anna finds that nothing about her world or her own lack of magic is quite as it seems. Fissures in the Binding that holds her world’s magic are expanding, and the ancient creatures bound by that spell beg Anna to release them. As rebellion sweeps across Hungary, Anna’s unique ability to break spells becomes the catalyst everyone is seeking. In the company of nobles, revolutionaries, and Roma, Anna must choose: deny her unique power and cling to the life she’s always wanted—or embrace her ability, destroy the Binding, spark a revolution, and change the face of magic itself.
A touch JONATHAN NORRELL AND MR. STRANGE meets LES MISERABLES, this book will appeal to fans of Leigh Bardugo's Grisha trilogy and Naomi Novik's UPROOTED.

Why You Should Be Excited

Okay, so maybe it's a bit pretentious for the publicist to say that this is Norrell and Strange, Les Miz, Grishaverse, and Uprooted (because, honestly that just sounds like they randomly drew titles from a hat), but it does have me curious.  Even without all the extra at the end this one has me anticipating it.

Heather Fawcett -- Even the Darkest Stars

YA author. EVEN THE DARKEST STARS out Fall 2017 (B+B/HarperCollins). Member @theswanky17s, @sfwa. Rep'd by @SecretAgentBri, Writers House

Set in a fictional Himalayan kingdom, this is the story of a girl enlisted by a legendary explorer to help him climb the kingdom’s deadliest mountain – only to discover that his true mission may threaten her whole world.

Why You Should Be Excited

Non-western fantasy has been all the rage lately and it's one of my favorite trends!  This one is set in a Nepal-based world which means deadly mountains!  Also, legendary explorer?  Like Indiana Jones-ish?  I'm in! 

Stephanie Garber -- Caraval

I love books! My debut, CARAVAL (Flatiron/Macmillan—US, Hodder—UK) comes out January 2017. Tweets shouldn't be taken too seriously. Repped by @JennyBent

Before you enter the world of Caraval, you must remember that it’s all a game . . .
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their ruthless father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the legendary, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.
Then, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation to Caraval finally arrives. So, Tella enlists a mysterious sailor’s help to whisk Scarlett away to this year’s show. But as soon as the trio arrives, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend.


Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nonetheless soon becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with her sister, with Legend, and with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

Why You Should Be Excited 

This book description, for whatever reason, reminds me of Full Tilt, which was my favorite book when I was in seventh grade (if you haven't read it, I do recommend).  Besides the awesome description for this one, I love that it has a focus on sisters (I don't have a sister, but I love the growing trend of sibling relationships taking center stage in YA; or maybe it's not a growing trend and maybe I've only begun to recognize it?).  Also, Stephanie is so sweet on twitter; I recommend checking out her feed.

Gwen Cole -- Cold Summer

Former hardcore bass guitarist, current YA author of COLD SUMMER (WWII, time travel) @skyhorsepub May '17. Rep'd by the amazing @RachMBrooks@theswanky17s

Today, he’s a dropout with no future.Tomorrow, he’s a soldier in World War II.
A teen suffering from PTSD—due to repeatedly being pulled back in time to the front lines of WWII—must find a way to stop the pulls from happening with the help of the childhood friend he secretly loves before he dies on the battlefield.

Why You Should Be Excited

Well, I'm a sucker for time travel, and I like how this one (at least it sounds like) it'll be pretty straightforward and only using time travel as a devise and not the plot itself.  I mean, I'd like it either way, but it's much cooler when it's used to further the story and not to create the story.  The romance in here sounds like it will be emotional, especially since the MC is suffering from PTSD. 

Through these posts I've only managed to show off twelve debuts for next year but there are so many more who will have their first book published in 2017.  Who are you most excited for?  Have I convinced you to preorder any books?  Let me know in the comments!

*pictures and bios taken from respective twitter accounts

**book descriptions taken from goodreads