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Caraval #3
丕賳鬲赖丕亍
賱賯丿 賲乇賻賾 卮賴乇丕賳 賲賳匕 兀賳 鬲賲 鬲丨乇賷乇 丕賱賲賯丿乇賷賳貙 賲賳匕 兀賳 胤丕賱亘 兀爻胤賵乇丞 亘丕賱毓乇卮 賱賳賮爻賴貙 賵賲賳匕 兀賳 丕賰鬲卮賮鬲 鬲賷賱丕 兀賳 丕賱賮鬲賶 丕賱匕賷 賵賯毓鬲 賮賷 丨亘賴 睾賷乇 賲賵噩賵丿 丨賯賸賾丕. 賲毓 亘賯丕亍 丕賱兀乇賵丕丨 賵丕賱廿賲亘乇丕胤賵乇賷丕鬲 賵丕賱賯賱賵亘 毓賱賶 丕賱賲丨賰貙 賷鬲毓賷賳 毓賱賶 鬲賷賱丕 兀賳 鬲賯乇乇 賲丕 廿匕丕 賰丕賳鬲 爻鬲孬賯 亘兀爻胤賵乇丞 兀賵 亘毓丿賵賺賾 爻丕亘賯. 亘毓丿 丕賱賰卮賮 毓賳 爻乇 賷賯賱亘 丨賷丕鬲賴丕 乇兀爻賸丕 毓賱賶 毓賯亘貙 爻鬲丨鬲丕噩 爻賰丕乇賱賷鬲 廿賱賶 賮毓賱 丕賱賲爻鬲丨賷賱. 賵賱丿賶 兀爻胤賵乇丞 禺賷丕乇 賱賷鬲禺匕賴貙 爻賷鬲睾賷乇 賵賷鬲丨丿丿 賲氐賷乇賴 廿賱賶 丕賱兀亘丿. 丕賳鬲賴鬲 賰乇丕冥丕賱貙 賱賰賳 乇亘賲丕 鬲賰賵賳 兀毓馗賲 賱毓亘丞 賯丿 亘丿兀鬲 毓賱賶 丕賱廿胤賱丕賯.
424 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2019
10.8k people are currently reading
5,787 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Garber
19听books72.6k听followersStephanie Garber is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart series. Her books have been translated into more than thirty languages. Alchemy of Secrets is her debut novel for adults and will be published around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41,342 reviews
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鈥檚 so poorly written and paced that I couldn鈥檛 ever decide if Stephanie Garber had too many ideas or not enough for this book.
Look, I鈥檓 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鈥檓 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鈥檚 eyes, and anything else you can possibly think of that鈥檚 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鈥檝e discovered is currently happening in the room. (For this non-spoilery review, we鈥檙e going to say they walked into a room full of poisonous snakes.) 鈥淯h oh! Snakes!鈥� And so, Scarlett/Tella spend the next two whole sentences rounding up the snakes and tossing them out the window into the garden鈥攚here 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鈥檙e over. Some obstacles come up just for the sake of wasting time, as Garber never mentions them again (and there鈥檚 a GIANT one that she just never tied up鈥擨鈥檓 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鈥檚 not like she was tying up loose ends (STILL BITTER).
I don鈥檛 know. Just about everyone else in the world loves these books. And then there鈥檚 loser me鈥攄esperately trying for two books to understand the 鈥渃ool鈥� 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鈥檓 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鈥檓 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鈥檚 eyes, and anything else you can possibly think of that鈥檚 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鈥檝e discovered is currently happening in the room. (For this non-spoilery review, we鈥檙e going to say they walked into a room full of poisonous snakes.) 鈥淯h oh! Snakes!鈥� And so, Scarlett/Tella spend the next two whole sentences rounding up the snakes and tossing them out the window into the garden鈥攚here 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鈥檙e over. Some obstacles come up just for the sake of wasting time, as Garber never mentions them again (and there鈥檚 a GIANT one that she just never tied up鈥擨鈥檓 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鈥檚 not like she was tying up loose ends (STILL BITTER).
I don鈥檛 know. Just about everyone else in the world loves these books. And then there鈥檚 loser me鈥攄esperately trying for two books to understand the 鈥渃ool鈥� 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.
March 18, 2019
Tour Update: Bustle has just revealed all the stops for the Finale tour, along with the first chapter of the book!
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:
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鈥檚 been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and听two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn鈥檛 really exist.
With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella听must听decide if she鈥檚 going to trust Legend鈥攐r a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend听has听a choice听to make听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听Finale. All games must come to an end鈥�
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:
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! ()
Just be warned, this summary contains spoilers for Legendary. xo
June 13, 2023
tella is stronger than me frfr. if i was jacks only weakness, obsession, one true love and also called me 鈥渕y love鈥� i would鈥檝e folded and forgotten abt dante so quick
August 31, 2023
god invented men and then created jacks and legend as an apology
November 1, 2023
4.5 stars! So sad this series is over 馃槶 but so happy I read it!!! This was my least favorite in the trilogy just cause I miss them actually attending Caraval BUT this one was still SO good. The ending had me on the edge of my seat and was so cool getting to learn way more about the fates.
I literally love every main character in this series so much. And finishing this series is making me so excited to get back to finishing the once upon a broken heart series.
I literally love every main character in this series so much. And finishing this series is making me so excited to get back to finishing the once upon a broken heart series.
October 10, 2023
i understand why stephanie garber continued this series in a spin off because wtf was all this unnecessary drama for?!
3.5 猸愶笍
3.5 猸愶笍
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.听
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听 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.听
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.听 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.听
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.
Follow Me Here Too: || || || || ||
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.听
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听 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.听
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.听 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.听
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.
Follow Me Here Too: || || || || ||
September 3, 2024
*sigh* it鈥檚 always the uninteresting, reckless woman who gets a horde of immortel men fighting for her love..
May 20, 2024
okokokok but the ENDING!!! 馃ス
May 16, 2019
鈥榓 love worth fighting for. a dream worth dying for. an ending worth waiting for.鈥�
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.
鈫� 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.
鈫� 4.5 stars
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.
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鈥� colorful, perfectly designed and depicted world which is Wonderland meets many fairytales! It鈥檚 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鈥檓 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鈥� colorful, perfectly designed and depicted world which is Wonderland meets many fairytales! It鈥檚 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鈥檓 looking forward to read more books of this talented writer sooner. I never forget this amazing journey!
June 7, 2024
鈥斺€� 4.25 鉁� stars.
銉烩潵銉� Mood of the book:
: 虠虁鉃� Twisted by MISSIO
: 虠虁鉃� Forever by Labrinth
: 虠虁鉃� Legendary by Welshly Arms
: 虠虁鉃� Centuries by Fall Out Boy
Okay, I really don't know how to start this review. I'm still not one hundred percent sure of my rating, but last night, reviewing my tabs and all the moments I've highlighted, I think I definitely liked this book more than the previous ones, but, for me there was a lack of spark at the end, I feel like Stephanie Garber was cooking a delicious dish for hours and then screwed it up when she added the sauce, I don't know if Im making any sense.
The book begins two months after the events of Legendary, and this time we follow a double point of view, Scarlett's and Donatella's, everything that has been happening in the first two books reaches its climax here.
I know that many people don't like Tella, and although I understand why, I did like reading her, she is different from Scarlett. Scarlett is still my favorite, but Tella has earned a piece of my heart, with her bravery and love for her sister.
If I had to say what this trilogy is about, I would say love, and how it can be more powerful than magic. Any kind of love.
'There is nothing quite as precious as the love of a sister'
'Loves is messy. It's not easily controlled. But that's what makes it so powerful. It's unbridled passion. It鈥檚 caring about someone else鈥檚 life more than you care about your own.'
'You might possess magic, but love like that is the real power'
'For most of my life, I've romanticized death. I used to love the idea of 鈥嬧€媠omething being so tremendous that it was worth dying for. But I was wrong. I think the most magnificent things are worth living for'
'Fear was poison to love. And love was poison to fear.'
藲鈧娐� 蜔蜔蜑蜑鉃斥潵 To my girl giuls: I can't find the words to thank you for reading this entire trilogy with me, I had the time of my life, I loved sharing theories with you and being mutually clowned and confused. This wouldn't have been the same without you, I love you lots, amo.
It is really impossible to do this review without spoilers, therefore, if you have come this far, thank you so so much, but from this moment on I will include spoilers when talking about the characters and the moments that I liked, I highly recommend this trilogy, it is worth reading before reaching Once Upon a Broken Heart.
AAAA UNCONTROLABLE SCREAMS AND SOBS. I can't believe I finished this trilogy so quickly, everyone says that compared to OUABH, Caraval is boring, so I really want to get to OUABH and continue screaming and barking for Jacks.
In Finale, all the plots that have been brewing for two books come together, with Scarlett, her past and initially meeting her ex-fianc茅, and with Tella, a small love triangle between her, Legend and Jacks, at the same time, her mother's past and all the chaos with The Fates.
I liked the ending, but not how it was executed, it seems like tradition that Stephanie Garber's endings always feel super rushed, we spent 400 pages trying to discover a way to defeat The Fallen Star, so that in the last 20 the way be discovered and Tella kills him in the simplest way possible. I WANT TO THROW HANDS. I hope this is different on OUABH.
I don't think at this point it's necessary for me to comment on each character separately, so I'll simply comment on my favorite scenes and my favorite quotes.
It is true that their relationship is somewhat stormy, and it takes a long time for Dante to wake up and get some common sense in his head, but I ship them so bad.
'Tonight he was smiling, like a wicked prince, escaped from the stars, ready to spirit her up into the heavens. He was still the most beautiful liar she'd ever seen'
鈫� The way he visited her on her dreams, I was swooning every time.
'I told you, Tella, I'm not the hero in your story'
'If it looks bad, why do you keep staring?' -- 'Just because I don't like you doesn't mean you're not pretty' -- 'If you really hated me, you wouldn't find me attractive at all' -- 'I never said I had a good taste'
鈥楻eady to move on sweetheart?鈥� Tella narrowed her eyes. Legend gave her an amazed smile. 'What about dear heart or angel?'
鈫� I REALLY loved their banter and their push and pull.
'Just thinking the name Dante still hurts a little. Yet the name always prickled her as a thorn, reminding her how she'd fallen in love with an illusion'
'You are beautiful'
鈫� Such a simple quote but it made my heart swoon so much.
'Tell me what you want Donatella. Say it and I'll give it to you'
Listen, I hands down loved all their interactions, but, since we know Jacks has another trilogy with Evangeline, my brain couldn't ship them at all. But I'm obsessed with their scenes and with Jacks, he is such a complex character, he is definitely not the hero, but he is not as much of a villain as he thinks, and I think he really cared about Donatella in his own twisted way.
'Quiet, my love'
鈫� The way we all screamed at this it's embarrassing, he literally said three words.
'Look at me' Jacks hissed through his teeth. Tella opened her eyes. Jacks鈥檚 forehead was damp with sweat and his chest moved unevenly as his ragged breathing matched hers. He wasn't just removing her pain; he was taking it. Bloody tears streaked his cheeks and agony turned his eyes pale. Tella clutched his hands tighter and pressed her forehead to his. 鈥業s this transaction too intense for you,鈥� Jacks panted, 鈥榦r are you actually worried about me鈥�? 鈥楧on鈥檛 flatter yourself.鈥� 鈥楧on鈥檛 lie to me 鈥� I feel everything you鈥檙e feeling right now鈥� [鈥 鈥業 promise it won鈥檛 hurt this time鈥�
鈫砊his scene. I was fascinated while reading it. Their scenes were so intense.
鈥淔or the rest of her life, whenever she thought about heartbreak, she would see the way he looked at her. His face was twisted in pain. 鈥淏lood-red tears leaked from his eyes.鈥�
鈫� THIS SHIT BROKE ME. HE DESERVES HAPPINESS.
鈥淗e was a mess of gold hair, sea-salt blue eyes and bitten lips, beautiful in a way only broken things could be.鈥�
Sigh. My babies, they got me tearing up with their interactions. They are the main couple for sure, their love is so pure, Julian gave up on everything for her, and the scene where Scarlett had to try to take out his love broke me into million pieces. They deserved this happy ending.
'Hello, Crimson'
鈫� BYE. I DIED DEAD
'I won't ever move on, Crimson'. He took her hand and brought it to his heart. 'I've made a lot of mistakes. [鈥 So I'm in this carriage with you now, ready to go wherever you're going, even if it means watching you with another man'
'I don't need to prove anything. I'm not trying to win her hand. I'm offering her mine, and everything that comes whit it, hoping she'll take it and decide she wants to keep it'
鈫砏here I can find Julian.
鈥業 love you, Julian鈥� [鈥 Julian kissed her again and he whispered words against her lips. 鈥業 have loved you since that night you showed up on the beach back on Trisda, thinking you could bribe me to run away without you.鈥� 鈥楢nd then you kidnapped me.鈥� His grin turned wolfish. 'That was your sister. But I have been trying to steal you ever since'.
'She's the love of my life' Scarlett's heart broke and burst all at once'
Thank you so much if you really reached here, this review was a mess, but so were my feelings about this book.
Caraval series:
鈺扳揽鉃�Caraval , 3.75鉁� stars.
鈺扳揽鉃�Legendary , 4.25鉁� stars.
Once Upon a Broken Heart series:
鈺扳揽鉃� Once Upon A Broken Heart, 4.鉁� stars.
鈺扳揽鉃� The Ballad of Never After , 4.25鉁� stars.
鈺扳揽鉃� A Curse For True Love , 3.鉁� stars.
pre review: I鈥檓 still deciding on a 4.25/4.5!! rtc 馃枻
nov 8: finally reading finale so we can get our asses to Once Upon a Broken Heart 鉁嬸煆� buddy reading this again with my Italian soulmate giuls. I love you amo鉂わ笍
鈥淚 think love is another type of magic. 鈥淚t makes everything brighter, it makes people who have it stronger, it breaks rules that aren鈥檛 supposed to exist, it is infinitely valuable.鈥�
銉烩潵銉� Mood of the book:
: 虠虁鉃� Twisted by MISSIO
: 虠虁鉃� Forever by Labrinth
: 虠虁鉃� Legendary by Welshly Arms
: 虠虁鉃� Centuries by Fall Out Boy
Okay, I really don't know how to start this review. I'm still not one hundred percent sure of my rating, but last night, reviewing my tabs and all the moments I've highlighted, I think I definitely liked this book more than the previous ones, but, for me there was a lack of spark at the end, I feel like Stephanie Garber was cooking a delicious dish for hours and then screwed it up when she added the sauce, I don't know if Im making any sense.
The book begins two months after the events of Legendary, and this time we follow a double point of view, Scarlett's and Donatella's, everything that has been happening in the first two books reaches its climax here.
I know that many people don't like Tella, and although I understand why, I did like reading her, she is different from Scarlett. Scarlett is still my favorite, but Tella has earned a piece of my heart, with her bravery and love for her sister.
If I had to say what this trilogy is about, I would say love, and how it can be more powerful than magic. Any kind of love.
'There is nothing quite as precious as the love of a sister'
鈥⑩攬鈥⑩€⑩湨 饾挃饾拺饾拹饾拪饾拲饾拞饾挀 饾拠饾挀饾拞饾拞 饾拻饾挅饾拹饾挄饾拞饾挃 鉁︹€⑩€⑩攬鈥�:
'Loves is messy. It's not easily controlled. But that's what makes it so powerful. It's unbridled passion. It鈥檚 caring about someone else鈥檚 life more than you care about your own.'
'You might possess magic, but love like that is the real power'
'For most of my life, I've romanticized death. I used to love the idea of 鈥嬧€媠omething being so tremendous that it was worth dying for. But I was wrong. I think the most magnificent things are worth living for'
'Fear was poison to love. And love was poison to fear.'
藲鈧娐� 蜔蜔蜑蜑鉃斥潵 To my girl giuls: I can't find the words to thank you for reading this entire trilogy with me, I had the time of my life, I loved sharing theories with you and being mutually clowned and confused. This wouldn't have been the same without you, I love you lots, amo.
It is really impossible to do this review without spoilers, therefore, if you have come this far, thank you so so much, but from this moment on I will include spoilers when talking about the characters and the moments that I liked, I highly recommend this trilogy, it is worth reading before reaching Once Upon a Broken Heart.
鈥⑩攬鈥⑩€⑩湨 饾挃饾拺饾拹饾拪饾拲饾拞饾挀饾挃 饾拏饾拤饾拞饾拏饾拝 鉁︹€⑩€⑩攬鈥�:
AAAA UNCONTROLABLE SCREAMS AND SOBS. I can't believe I finished this trilogy so quickly, everyone says that compared to OUABH, Caraval is boring, so I really want to get to OUABH and continue screaming and barking for Jacks.
In Finale, all the plots that have been brewing for two books come together, with Scarlett, her past and initially meeting her ex-fianc茅, and with Tella, a small love triangle between her, Legend and Jacks, at the same time, her mother's past and all the chaos with The Fates.
I liked the ending, but not how it was executed, it seems like tradition that Stephanie Garber's endings always feel super rushed, we spent 400 pages trying to discover a way to defeat The Fallen Star, so that in the last 20 the way be discovered and Tella kills him in the simplest way possible. I WANT TO THROW HANDS. I hope this is different on OUABH.
I don't think at this point it's necessary for me to comment on each character separately, so I'll simply comment on my favorite scenes and my favorite quotes.
鉁� 饾摚饾摦饾摰饾摰饾摢 饾摢饾摲饾摥 饾摀饾摢饾摲饾摻饾摦鉁�:
'This is my choice, and I choose you, Donatella. I don't need immortality. You are my forever.'
It is true that their relationship is somewhat stormy, and it takes a long time for Dante to wake up and get some common sense in his head, but I ship them so bad.
'Tonight he was smiling, like a wicked prince, escaped from the stars, ready to spirit her up into the heavens. He was still the most beautiful liar she'd ever seen'
鈫� The way he visited her on her dreams, I was swooning every time.
'I told you, Tella, I'm not the hero in your story'
'If it looks bad, why do you keep staring?' -- 'Just because I don't like you doesn't mean you're not pretty' -- 'If you really hated me, you wouldn't find me attractive at all' -- 'I never said I had a good taste'
鈥楻eady to move on sweetheart?鈥� Tella narrowed her eyes. Legend gave her an amazed smile. 'What about dear heart or angel?'
鈫� I REALLY loved their banter and their push and pull.
'Just thinking the name Dante still hurts a little. Yet the name always prickled her as a thorn, reminding her how she'd fallen in love with an illusion'
'You are beautiful'
鈫� Such a simple quote but it made my heart swoon so much.
鉁娥潛ｐ潛潛叼潛叼潛� 饾摢饾摲饾摥 饾摍饾摢饾摤饾摯饾摷鉁�:
'I don't know if you are my true love, Donatella. All I know is that I want you to be. I'm the villain in my own story. But you were supposed to play a different role.鈥� Misery filled his eyes. 'You were supposed to be my true love. You were supposed to want me, not him.'
'Tell me what you want Donatella. Say it and I'll give it to you'
Listen, I hands down loved all their interactions, but, since we know Jacks has another trilogy with Evangeline, my brain couldn't ship them at all. But I'm obsessed with their scenes and with Jacks, he is such a complex character, he is definitely not the hero, but he is not as much of a villain as he thinks, and I think he really cared about Donatella in his own twisted way.
'Quiet, my love'
鈫� The way we all screamed at this it's embarrassing, he literally said three words.
'Look at me' Jacks hissed through his teeth. Tella opened her eyes. Jacks鈥檚 forehead was damp with sweat and his chest moved unevenly as his ragged breathing matched hers. He wasn't just removing her pain; he was taking it. Bloody tears streaked his cheeks and agony turned his eyes pale. Tella clutched his hands tighter and pressed her forehead to his. 鈥業s this transaction too intense for you,鈥� Jacks panted, 鈥榦r are you actually worried about me鈥�? 鈥楧on鈥檛 flatter yourself.鈥� 鈥楧on鈥檛 lie to me 鈥� I feel everything you鈥檙e feeling right now鈥� [鈥 鈥業 promise it won鈥檛 hurt this time鈥�
鈫砊his scene. I was fascinated while reading it. Their scenes were so intense.
鈥淔or the rest of her life, whenever she thought about heartbreak, she would see the way he looked at her. His face was twisted in pain. 鈥淏lood-red tears leaked from his eyes.鈥�
鈫� THIS SHIT BROKE ME. HE DESERVES HAPPINESS.
鈥淗e was a mess of gold hair, sea-salt blue eyes and bitten lips, beautiful in a way only broken things could be.鈥�
鉁娥潛潛潛潛火潛叼潛潛金潛� 饾摢饾摲饾摥 饾摍饾摼饾摰饾摬饾摢饾摲鉁�
'Now you're mine as well' He pulled back just enough to give her a wicked grin. 'I've always been yours, Crimson.'
Sigh. My babies, they got me tearing up with their interactions. They are the main couple for sure, their love is so pure, Julian gave up on everything for her, and the scene where Scarlett had to try to take out his love broke me into million pieces. They deserved this happy ending.
'Hello, Crimson'
鈫� BYE. I DIED DEAD
'I won't ever move on, Crimson'. He took her hand and brought it to his heart. 'I've made a lot of mistakes. [鈥 So I'm in this carriage with you now, ready to go wherever you're going, even if it means watching you with another man'
'I don't need to prove anything. I'm not trying to win her hand. I'm offering her mine, and everything that comes whit it, hoping she'll take it and decide she wants to keep it'
鈫砏here I can find Julian.
鈥業 love you, Julian鈥� [鈥 Julian kissed her again and he whispered words against her lips. 鈥業 have loved you since that night you showed up on the beach back on Trisda, thinking you could bribe me to run away without you.鈥� 鈥楢nd then you kidnapped me.鈥� His grin turned wolfish. 'That was your sister. But I have been trying to steal you ever since'.
'She's the love of my life' Scarlett's heart broke and burst all at once'
Thank you so much if you really reached here, this review was a mess, but so were my feelings about this book.
Caraval series:
鈺扳揽鉃�Caraval , 3.75鉁� stars.
鈺扳揽鉃�Legendary , 4.25鉁� stars.
Once Upon a Broken Heart series:
鈺扳揽鉃� Once Upon A Broken Heart, 4.鉁� stars.
鈺扳揽鉃� The Ballad of Never After , 4.25鉁� stars.
鈺扳揽鉃� A Curse For True Love , 3.鉁� stars.
pre review: I鈥檓 still deciding on a 4.25/4.5!! rtc 馃枻
nov 8: finally reading finale so we can get our asses to Once Upon a Broken Heart 鉁嬸煆� buddy reading this again with my Italian soulmate giuls. I love you amo鉂わ笍
June 10, 2023
"And Scarlett cried. She cried for the horrors he had been, and she cried for the wonders that he could have been instead." And I cried too. I cried for the horrors Scarlett's chapters put me through, and for the wonders that I could have read instead.
This series really was a huge disappointment for me. I thought that since I liked Legendary, chances are things might get better but boy oh boy, how wrong was I. This one was so much worse than Caraval. I kept yawning, was so utterly bored.
This book was easily carried by Jacks and Tella. Legend was okay-ish, tho I guess anyone would seem average compared to Jacks. Scarlett and Julian? I feel so sorry for Julian. He had so much potential and all gone to waste, honestly my guy seemed like a side chick. We don't talk about Crimson on this account.
I skimmed through most chapters in the second half. So don't ask me any specific questions- I won't know 馃槀馃檲 I also did not care for the ending. I was done.
I still want to read Once Upon a Broken Heart which was the main aim of reading this series but I need a bit of a gap in between, I don't want to hate on it, especially Jacks.
词鈥鈥
Finally made it to the Finale
This series really was a huge disappointment for me. I thought that since I liked Legendary, chances are things might get better but boy oh boy, how wrong was I. This one was so much worse than Caraval. I kept yawning, was so utterly bored.
This book was easily carried by Jacks and Tella. Legend was okay-ish, tho I guess anyone would seem average compared to Jacks. Scarlett and Julian? I feel so sorry for Julian. He had so much potential and all gone to waste, honestly my guy seemed like a side chick. We don't talk about Crimson on this account.
I skimmed through most chapters in the second half. So don't ask me any specific questions- I won't know 馃槀馃檲 I also did not care for the ending. I was done.
I still want to read Once Upon a Broken Heart which was the main aim of reading this series but I need a bit of a gap in between, I don't want to hate on it, especially Jacks.
词鈥鈥
Finally made it to the Finale
August 14, 2023
The way Jacks's back must hurt from CARRYING the plot of a 500 page book!!!馃馃徏鈥嶁檧锔忦煣庰煆尖€嶁檧锔�
Finale wasn't finalING like it could've (and should've) finalED. If you're here reading this, I'm guessing you've either read this series od read my reviews for Caraval and Legendary, or both! I loved both Caraval and Legendary so much (rated them 5 stars), but basically, everything that those books were THIS ONE WASN'T. And if it weren't for my love of this series, its characters and this fantasy world, I would've rated it even lower. After me going insane on the timeline with my love for these books, hating the last installment wasn't really on my bingo card, but it is what it is, I guess. To be frank, after finishing Legendary, I was wondering what would the third book be about, since there WEREN'T MANY LOOSE ENDS (TellaLegend situation, Paloma (can't think of anything else)).
I thought to myself, 2 extra chapters in Legendary could answer my questions. And, I'm sorry to say this, but i was right.
Finale was just about Scarlett and Donatella running around and describing places. The plot was non-existant, or that little that existed felt so forced. The whole Gavriel drama was so unnecessary. And mind you, THIS IS THE LONGEST BOOK IN THE SERIES. It started out pretty good and I was ready to keep my 5 star streak (very rarely do I rate all books in the series 5 stars), but then it went donwhill. The pace only picked up towards the very end. The middle of this book was insufferable, literally nothing happened. I feel like 50 pages of Caraval had more action than this whole book. Also, since the plot of this book doesn't really take place during Caraval season, FAIRYTALE VIBES WERE COMPLETELY MISSING, which makes me so sad. I know that they didn't really have an excuse for another Caraval, THE AESTHETIC was a huge reason why I loved the first two books, so I'll be honest, that did lower the rating for me. That whole situation with Scarlett, Nicolas and Julian was so promising, and then Garber decided to abandon that part totally. Also, we had an interesting plot twist towards the end, it was basically the best (let me not say the only) good thing about this book. I LOVE THE WAY THINGS ENDED, we got a sweet conclusion to both Donatella's and Scarlett's storylines which we don't often get. It wasn't a 30+ page epilogue, something sweet and short.
Finale had dual POV, so let's analize separately!
SCARLETT's story was pretty much wrapped up before Finale and even though we find out interesting facts about her, her chapters bored me to death! The pacing was painfully slow, every sigle decision she made had me rolling my eyes. What happened to my girl? If you've read this you'll know what I'm talking about (and maybe want to discuss it with me), but wasn't the whole arrangement Scarlett had with the Assassin Fate so out of character for her? It was maybe there to show some character development, but I wouldn't really call THAT a DEVELOPMENT, LMAO. I digress. Scenes with Julian were cute, i LOVE THEM TOGETHER, but again, even the romance part was boring in this one one when it comes to Crimson (obv i'm just jealous of their love).
DONATELLA's chapters saved this from a 1 star rating (and you from me hating any further). At least my girl did SOMETHING, even if it was just choosing between Legend and Jacks. I mean, I can't blame her, she was PUT TO A TASK. Both of them are such good love interests, I would fold like a piece of fabric from Scarlett's over-the-top dress for both of them or whatever.
So, HERE'S THE READING ORDER FOR THIS SERIES:
1. Caraval
2. Legendary
3. spoilery review of Finale
(Pretend that you're in the movie "In Time", save those minutes (days))馃拝馃拝
Finale wasn't finalING like it could've (and should've) finalED. If you're here reading this, I'm guessing you've either read this series od read my reviews for Caraval and Legendary, or both! I loved both Caraval and Legendary so much (rated them 5 stars), but basically, everything that those books were THIS ONE WASN'T. And if it weren't for my love of this series, its characters and this fantasy world, I would've rated it even lower. After me going insane on the timeline with my love for these books, hating the last installment wasn't really on my bingo card, but it is what it is, I guess. To be frank, after finishing Legendary, I was wondering what would the third book be about, since there WEREN'T MANY LOOSE ENDS (TellaLegend situation, Paloma (can't think of anything else)).
I thought to myself, 2 extra chapters in Legendary could answer my questions. And, I'm sorry to say this, but i was right.
Finale was just about Scarlett and Donatella running around and describing places. The plot was non-existant, or that little that existed felt so forced. The whole Gavriel drama was so unnecessary. And mind you, THIS IS THE LONGEST BOOK IN THE SERIES. It started out pretty good and I was ready to keep my 5 star streak (very rarely do I rate all books in the series 5 stars), but then it went donwhill. The pace only picked up towards the very end. The middle of this book was insufferable, literally nothing happened. I feel like 50 pages of Caraval had more action than this whole book. Also, since the plot of this book doesn't really take place during Caraval season, FAIRYTALE VIBES WERE COMPLETELY MISSING, which makes me so sad. I know that they didn't really have an excuse for another Caraval, THE AESTHETIC was a huge reason why I loved the first two books, so I'll be honest, that did lower the rating for me. That whole situation with Scarlett, Nicolas and Julian was so promising, and then Garber decided to abandon that part totally. Also, we had an interesting plot twist towards the end, it was basically the best (let me not say the only) good thing about this book. I LOVE THE WAY THINGS ENDED, we got a sweet conclusion to both Donatella's and Scarlett's storylines which we don't often get. It wasn't a 30+ page epilogue, something sweet and short.
Finale had dual POV, so let's analize separately!
SCARLETT's story was pretty much wrapped up before Finale and even though we find out interesting facts about her, her chapters bored me to death! The pacing was painfully slow, every sigle decision she made had me rolling my eyes. What happened to my girl? If you've read this you'll know what I'm talking about (and maybe want to discuss it with me), but wasn't the whole arrangement Scarlett had with the Assassin Fate so out of character for her? It was maybe there to show some character development, but I wouldn't really call THAT a DEVELOPMENT, LMAO. I digress. Scenes with Julian were cute, i LOVE THEM TOGETHER, but again, even the romance part was boring in this one one when it comes to Crimson (obv i'm just jealous of their love).
DONATELLA's chapters saved this from a 1 star rating (and you from me hating any further). At least my girl did SOMETHING, even if it was just choosing between Legend and Jacks. I mean, I can't blame her, she was PUT TO A TASK. Both of them are such good love interests, I would fold like a piece of fabric from Scarlett's over-the-top dress for both of them or whatever.
So, HERE'S THE READING ORDER FOR THIS SERIES:
1. Caraval
2. Legendary
3. spoilery review of Finale
(Pretend that you're in the movie "In Time", save those minutes (days))馃拝馃拝
September 5, 2024
3.75 stars 猸愶笍
猡� spoilers ahead!! 鈰嗋报唰幩氣煛藮 啵�
鈥漌elcome, welcome to Caraval鈥� all games must come to an end.鈥�
if i had to sum up this book in 1 word, it鈥檇 be 鈥�chaotic鈥�.
i actually enjoyed it at first, but it became long-winded and dragged on towards the end. there was too much going on, and there were many moments when i felt like banging my head against the table.
帷ｐ惌�.釔� donatella & legend 馃馃帺
first of all, can we talk about how tella spent all of legendary trying to get her mother back, only to lose her again just 19% into this book? LIKE HUH???!! you鈥檙e telling me tella went through all that in legendary just for her mother to come back and DIE?!! i get that her death was important to the plot, but STILL??
next, both legend and jacks were messing with her feelings like it was a game throughout the book!! it was so frustrating to see her constantly trying to figure out whether legend loved her or not and fighting her own feelings for him. one moment she thinks he loves her, the next she鈥檚 convinced he doesn鈥檛. one moment she thinks she loves him, the next she tells herself she doesn鈥檛.
and don鈥檛 even get me started on legend. one moment he鈥檚 telling tella he wants to make her immortal because he doesn鈥檛 want to lose her, the next he鈥檚 saying he can鈥檛 because she deserves someone better. LIKE?!!?? MAKE UP YOUR MIND!!!
also, he said he had never loved anyone before, but didn鈥檛 he love tella鈥檚 grandmother in the past? or am i remembering that wrong? 馃え
anyway, i鈥檓 just happy they got their happy ending.
鈥淪he wanted everything about him. She鈥檇 always wanted everything about him. Even before she鈥檇 known him, she鈥檇 fall in love with the boy who had the passion to make his one wish come true and the audacity to call himself Legend. Then she鈥檇 fallen in love with him again when she鈥檇 met him. She鈥檇 love 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. She loved how protective he was, and how playful he could be. She loved the boy who鈥檇 called her an angel and a devil in the same conversation. She loved the way he teased her, and she didn鈥檛 want him to even stop. She wanted to hear the rest of his stories鈥攁nd to become a part of those stories. But more than any of those things, she wanted to forever be by his side, whether he was with her as she was fighting a nightmare or chasing a dream, or if it was the other way around.鈥�
鈥淚 can鈥檛 say that I understand love, or that I鈥檓 very good at it, because I鈥檝e never loved anyone before. But I love everything about you, Donatella Dragna. Everything. I love the secrets you haven鈥檛 told me, and the lies you鈥檝e tried to get away with. I love your stubbornness and your persistence. I love the way you always pretend not to care when I visit you in dreams. I love that you never stop fighting for what you want or the people you love, even when they don鈥檛 deserve it. I love you, and I don鈥檛 intend to stop loving you, and I hope that somewhere deep inside, you still love me, too.鈥�
鈥淕ood, because I don鈥檛 want to fight you. I just want to love you. This is my choice, and I choose you, Donatella. I don鈥檛 need immortality. You鈥檙e my forever.鈥�
帷ｐ惌�.釔� scarlett & julian 鉂わ笍馃┕
i鈥檓 sorry, but scar was being a real bitch at the start when she set up the competition between nicolas and julian, which, by the way, never even happened because so much shit happened!! poor nicolas didn鈥檛 even get the chance to shine before he was fried 馃槶 RIP 馃 it took her long enough to realize how much julian loved her 馃檮
鈥淚 love you, Julian. 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.鈥�
the idea of her dressing up as her pregnant mother to deceive the fallen star and kill him was ridiculous. and when he actually gave up after she stopped pretending to be her mother and delivered a 鈥渢ouching鈥� speech鈥� 馃槓 UMMMMMM鈥� HOORAY I GUESS?? 馃槓馃槓馃槓
i also felt the book could鈥檝e delved deeper into her powers or something 馃し馃徎鈥嶁檧锔�
the only character who didn鈥檛 get on my nerves in this book was julian. my boy julian loved scar so much, he even got a crimson star tattooed on his arm as a reminder of her 馃槶馃槶馃槶 he鈥檚 so precious and i adore him so much.
鈥淚鈥檝e loved you since that night you showed up on the beach back in Trisda, thinking you could bribe me to run away without you.鈥�
and the part where he was looking out for tella and telling legend to get his shit together (urging him to sort out his feelings for her) 馃ス馃槶馃槶
Legend laughed, but it sounded so far from humorous that it made Tella sad, not just for Legend but for all of them. 鈥漌hen did you become such an idealist?鈥�
鈥淲hen I met a girl who loved her sister so much she was able to wish her back to life. You might possess magic, but love like that is real power.鈥�
帷ｐ惌�.釔� jacks 馃崕
honestly, i wasn鈥檛 a fan of jacks in this series 馃 he was a little cray cray and obsessive, and he complicated things between tella and legend 馃憥馃徎馃憥馃徎馃憥馃徎
with all of that being said, i genuinely enjoyed this series overall, and i鈥檓 glad we got a happy ending 馃コ馃コ馃コ hopefully i鈥檒l come to like jacks more in the once upon a broken heart series 鉂わ笍鈥嶐烦�
pre-read:
i鈥檓 so excited to finish this series aaaahh!! let鈥檚 hope it ends on a good note 馃馃徎馃挍
猡� spoilers ahead!! 鈰嗋报唰幩氣煛藮 啵�
鈥漌elcome, welcome to Caraval鈥� all games must come to an end.鈥�
if i had to sum up this book in 1 word, it鈥檇 be 鈥�chaotic鈥�.
i actually enjoyed it at first, but it became long-winded and dragged on towards the end. there was too much going on, and there were many moments when i felt like banging my head against the table.
帷ｐ惌�.釔� donatella & legend 馃馃帺
first of all, can we talk about how tella spent all of legendary trying to get her mother back, only to lose her again just 19% into this book? LIKE HUH???!! you鈥檙e telling me tella went through all that in legendary just for her mother to come back and DIE?!! i get that her death was important to the plot, but STILL??
next, both legend and jacks were messing with her feelings like it was a game throughout the book!! it was so frustrating to see her constantly trying to figure out whether legend loved her or not and fighting her own feelings for him. one moment she thinks he loves her, the next she鈥檚 convinced he doesn鈥檛. one moment she thinks she loves him, the next she tells herself she doesn鈥檛.
and don鈥檛 even get me started on legend. one moment he鈥檚 telling tella he wants to make her immortal because he doesn鈥檛 want to lose her, the next he鈥檚 saying he can鈥檛 because she deserves someone better. LIKE?!!?? MAKE UP YOUR MIND!!!
also, he said he had never loved anyone before, but didn鈥檛 he love tella鈥檚 grandmother in the past? or am i remembering that wrong? 馃え
anyway, i鈥檓 just happy they got their happy ending.
鈥淪he wanted everything about him. She鈥檇 always wanted everything about him. Even before she鈥檇 known him, she鈥檇 fall in love with the boy who had the passion to make his one wish come true and the audacity to call himself Legend. Then she鈥檇 fallen in love with him again when she鈥檇 met him. She鈥檇 love 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. She loved how protective he was, and how playful he could be. She loved the boy who鈥檇 called her an angel and a devil in the same conversation. She loved the way he teased her, and she didn鈥檛 want him to even stop. She wanted to hear the rest of his stories鈥攁nd to become a part of those stories. But more than any of those things, she wanted to forever be by his side, whether he was with her as she was fighting a nightmare or chasing a dream, or if it was the other way around.鈥�
鈥淚 can鈥檛 say that I understand love, or that I鈥檓 very good at it, because I鈥檝e never loved anyone before. But I love everything about you, Donatella Dragna. Everything. I love the secrets you haven鈥檛 told me, and the lies you鈥檝e tried to get away with. I love your stubbornness and your persistence. I love the way you always pretend not to care when I visit you in dreams. I love that you never stop fighting for what you want or the people you love, even when they don鈥檛 deserve it. I love you, and I don鈥檛 intend to stop loving you, and I hope that somewhere deep inside, you still love me, too.鈥�
鈥淕ood, because I don鈥檛 want to fight you. I just want to love you. This is my choice, and I choose you, Donatella. I don鈥檛 need immortality. You鈥檙e my forever.鈥�
帷ｐ惌�.釔� scarlett & julian 鉂わ笍馃┕
i鈥檓 sorry, but scar was being a real bitch at the start when she set up the competition between nicolas and julian, which, by the way, never even happened because so much shit happened!! poor nicolas didn鈥檛 even get the chance to shine before he was fried 馃槶 RIP 馃 it took her long enough to realize how much julian loved her 馃檮
鈥淚 love you, Julian. 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.鈥�
the idea of her dressing up as her pregnant mother to deceive the fallen star and kill him was ridiculous. and when he actually gave up after she stopped pretending to be her mother and delivered a 鈥渢ouching鈥� speech鈥� 馃槓 UMMMMMM鈥� HOORAY I GUESS?? 馃槓馃槓馃槓
i also felt the book could鈥檝e delved deeper into her powers or something 馃し馃徎鈥嶁檧锔�
the only character who didn鈥檛 get on my nerves in this book was julian. my boy julian loved scar so much, he even got a crimson star tattooed on his arm as a reminder of her 馃槶馃槶馃槶 he鈥檚 so precious and i adore him so much.
鈥淚鈥檝e loved you since that night you showed up on the beach back in Trisda, thinking you could bribe me to run away without you.鈥�
and the part where he was looking out for tella and telling legend to get his shit together (urging him to sort out his feelings for her) 馃ス馃槶馃槶
Legend laughed, but it sounded so far from humorous that it made Tella sad, not just for Legend but for all of them. 鈥漌hen did you become such an idealist?鈥�
鈥淲hen I met a girl who loved her sister so much she was able to wish her back to life. You might possess magic, but love like that is real power.鈥�
帷ｐ惌�.釔� jacks 馃崕
honestly, i wasn鈥檛 a fan of jacks in this series 馃 he was a little cray cray and obsessive, and he complicated things between tella and legend 馃憥馃徎馃憥馃徎馃憥馃徎
with all of that being said, i genuinely enjoyed this series overall, and i鈥檓 glad we got a happy ending 馃コ馃コ馃コ hopefully i鈥檒l come to like jacks more in the once upon a broken heart series 鉂わ笍鈥嶐烦�
pre-read:
i鈥檓 so excited to finish this series aaaahh!! let鈥檚 hope it ends on a good note 馃馃徎馃挍
February 2, 2023
1.) Caraval 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
2.) Legendary 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
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!
| | | | |
2.) Legendary 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
鈥淚 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.鈥�
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!
| | | | |
September 21, 2021
Me siento tan vac铆a por dentro despu茅s de terminar esta saga que no s茅 si me alcanza la vida para recuperarme
July 4, 2024
5鈽� | 2nd read
鉂� 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. 鉂�
鈾� ~ my boy only breaks his favorite toys
there was danger in the heat of my touch,
he saw forever so he smashed it up
first of all, this was a buddy read with the most gorgeous girl ellie! bb this was so much fun and you made the experience so magical! I couldn鈥檛 think of a better person to read this book with. I love you endlessly (that first quote at the top is from me to you btw <3) and I can鈥檛 wait to do this again soon! 馃槡馃巰
鈺扳赌� ellie's stunning review!
buddy read aside, to focus on the book itself: wow. what an ending to this series. I鈥檓 not sure why, but I remembered the least from this book out of all three before I started my reread鈥� making me think the book was simply a little forgettable. So going into it, I guess I was expecting something equivalent to acftl; still good, but not quite as good as the rest of the series.
Well. consider me chastised. Finale was amazing and magical in every aspect. Stephanie Garber really perfected every nook and cranny, so to speak, of her writing, and in doing so made what seemed like it couldn鈥檛 get any better, better. By the climax, I was floored.
The action, the dialogue, Jacks, the relationships, Jacks, the love confessions, Jacks were all part of what made this book the way it is. Which is, in the words of the book itself, radiantly beautiful.
My having forgotten so much from my first read only worked in my favor鈥� it truly felt like I was reading this for the first time again (if I had just gotten spoiled on a good bit of the plot twists). Oh to be tella dragna and have two hot immortals fighting over you. Or scarlett dragna and have the sweetest, hottest, cinnamon roll who鈥檚 hopelessly obsessed with you as your boyfriend. Oh, at the very least, to be one of Jacks鈥� apples 馃槥
My insatiable desire to live inside the world of caraval and ouabh only grows with every reread. This is getting a bit concerning鈥� I guess I鈥檒l just have to wait for spectacular鈥檚 release to spend more time with these perfectly imperfect characters.
happiest of reading as always! ily all <3
鈧娾姽鈦€鉃� favorite quotes:
鉂� love is another type of magic. It makes everything brighter, it makes people who have it stronger, it breaks rules that aren鈥檛 supposed to exist, it鈥檚 infinitely valuable. I can鈥檛 imagine my life without it. 鉂�
鉂� I鈥檓 the villain, even in my own story. 鉂�
鉂� 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. 鉂�
鉂� He was a mess of gold hair, sea-salt blue eyes, and bitten lips, beautiful in a way only broken things could be. 鉂�
鉂� 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. 鉂�
鈾� ~ my boy only breaks his favorite toys
there was danger in the heat of my touch,
he saw forever so he smashed it up
first of all, this was a buddy read with the most gorgeous girl ellie! bb this was so much fun and you made the experience so magical! I couldn鈥檛 think of a better person to read this book with. I love you endlessly (that first quote at the top is from me to you btw <3) and I can鈥檛 wait to do this again soon! 馃槡馃巰
鈺扳赌� ellie's stunning review!
buddy read aside, to focus on the book itself: wow. what an ending to this series. I鈥檓 not sure why, but I remembered the least from this book out of all three before I started my reread鈥� making me think the book was simply a little forgettable. So going into it, I guess I was expecting something equivalent to acftl; still good, but not quite as good as the rest of the series.
Well. consider me chastised. Finale was amazing and magical in every aspect. Stephanie Garber really perfected every nook and cranny, so to speak, of her writing, and in doing so made what seemed like it couldn鈥檛 get any better, better. By the climax, I was floored.
The action, the dialogue, Jacks, the relationships, Jacks, the love confessions, Jacks were all part of what made this book the way it is. Which is, in the words of the book itself, radiantly beautiful.
My having forgotten so much from my first read only worked in my favor鈥� it truly felt like I was reading this for the first time again (if I had just gotten spoiled on a good bit of the plot twists). Oh to be tella dragna and have two hot immortals fighting over you. Or scarlett dragna and have the sweetest, hottest, cinnamon roll who鈥檚 hopelessly obsessed with you as your boyfriend. Oh, at the very least, to be one of Jacks鈥� apples 馃槥
My insatiable desire to live inside the world of caraval and ouabh only grows with every reread. This is getting a bit concerning鈥� I guess I鈥檒l just have to wait for spectacular鈥檚 release to spend more time with these perfectly imperfect characters.
happiest of reading as always! ily all <3
鈧娾姽鈦€鉃� favorite quotes:
鉂� love is another type of magic. It makes everything brighter, it makes people who have it stronger, it breaks rules that aren鈥檛 supposed to exist, it鈥檚 infinitely valuable. I can鈥檛 imagine my life without it. 鉂�
鉂� I鈥檓 the villain, even in my own story. 鉂�
鉂� 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. 鉂�
鉂� He was a mess of gold hair, sea-salt blue eyes, and bitten lips, beautiful in a way only broken things could be. 鉂�
December 18, 2023
the best part of this was br with my bsf 颈谤丑补鈩� <33 but i guess jacks comes at a close second 馃構馃挊
*喋堚湬鈥р倞藲
*喋堚湬鈥р倞藲
July 7, 2019
鈥淥ccasionally, 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鈥檛 get pauses like these very often. Some people never receive them at all.鈥�
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鈥檛 tell you much about whether they grow closer or farther apart because that would be very mean wouldn鈥檛 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 perspectives and the story wouldn鈥檛 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鈥檛 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鈥檛 tell you much about whether they grow closer or farther apart because that would be very mean wouldn鈥檛 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 perspectives and the story wouldn鈥檛 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鈥檛 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.
October 7, 2024
嗒溾亐鉃�
5 stars
-缚馃帬麓-
"If you really hated me, you wouldn't find me attractive at all."
"I never said I had good taste鈥�
I WILL NEVER SHUT UP ABOUT SCARJULIAN!!!!
Thank you eleanor for buddy reading this series with me!! i鈥檓 so glad we read this together 馃拰
i cant wait for ouabh 馃き馃き
鉃� Caraval
鉃� Legendary
"If you really hated me, you wouldn't find me attractive at all."
"I never said I had good taste鈥�
I WILL NEVER SHUT UP ABOUT SCARJULIAN!!!!
Thank you eleanor for buddy reading this series with me!! i鈥檓 so glad we read this together 馃拰
i cant wait for ouabh 馃き馃き
鉃� Caraval
鉃� Legendary
April 5, 2025
this series made me homicidal lol. the finale or my finale? i couldn鈥檛 tell. that鈥檚 the review.
kidding.
IT'S FINALLY OVER!
i remember despising caraval (i don鈥檛 think i actually finished it so i might go back to it but i feel like i鈥檓 going to have the same thoughts) BUT legendary wasn鈥檛 even all that bad (i still rated it 2 stars), however, it actually slightly enticed me to finish the series.
huge mistake. but since i鈥檓 the biggest masochist ever i would鈥檝e probably finished it either way.
nevertheless, i鈥檝e finally discovered the cure for insomnia! caraval and this book! this is almost 500 pages! and for what? this should鈥檝e been an email cause this was unfathomably gruelling, eye-roll-worthy, and unnecessarily repetitive.
i couldn鈥檛 even force myself to care about these characters. you get two mundane and annoying sisters and below mid love interests. with TWO love triangles. scarlett created one with some guy she knew she never wanted in the first place cause julien was ignoring her or something. PLEASEE.
and much like the other books in the series鈥攅ven more conspicuous in this one, many events were just 鈥渙h this might as well happen鈥�. basically just taking random plot devices out of a hat and implementing them.
this book felt like practically 100 pages of agonizing descriptions that make no sense, like i鈥檓 tired of reading about lips tasting like nightmares and unicorn vomit or whatever it was, 100 pages of legend being insufferable and pushing tella away cause 鈥渉e鈥檚 gonna hurt her鈥� and 鈥渉e doesn鈥檛 know how to feel love鈥� then trying to lure her back, 50 pages of jacks being infuriating and horny, and too many of scarlett and julien creating unnecessary drama. actually, everyone did that. again, this had NO business being 500 pages.
also random thought: is it just me or in the first book when no one knew what legend looked like i imagined him as an old man.
i wish i could use jacks to take away the pain i experienced reading this like he did for tella. nay鈥攊 should get a lobotomy instead. i could never go near that man. glad he was stabbed though, that was kind of funny.
so i鈥檓 never doing that again. my friend saw me struggling 馃槥 and celebrating finishing it.
overhyped romance and ya books on social media are the bane of my existence.
-
pre-review
IM FREEE RTC
-
pre-read
when you show up to a mediocre male love interest contest but jacks is your competition (i'm a hater i'm sorry) anyway, book 8 of my 12 hour readathon!! it's 4:56 am!! it's starting to have a little kick!! need more sugar in my body!!
kidding.
IT'S FINALLY OVER!
i remember despising caraval (i don鈥檛 think i actually finished it so i might go back to it but i feel like i鈥檓 going to have the same thoughts) BUT legendary wasn鈥檛 even all that bad (i still rated it 2 stars), however, it actually slightly enticed me to finish the series.
huge mistake. but since i鈥檓 the biggest masochist ever i would鈥檝e probably finished it either way.
nevertheless, i鈥檝e finally discovered the cure for insomnia! caraval and this book! this is almost 500 pages! and for what? this should鈥檝e been an email cause this was unfathomably gruelling, eye-roll-worthy, and unnecessarily repetitive.
i couldn鈥檛 even force myself to care about these characters. you get two mundane and annoying sisters and below mid love interests. with TWO love triangles. scarlett created one with some guy she knew she never wanted in the first place cause julien was ignoring her or something. PLEASEE.
and much like the other books in the series鈥攅ven more conspicuous in this one, many events were just 鈥渙h this might as well happen鈥�. basically just taking random plot devices out of a hat and implementing them.
this book felt like practically 100 pages of agonizing descriptions that make no sense, like i鈥檓 tired of reading about lips tasting like nightmares and unicorn vomit or whatever it was, 100 pages of legend being insufferable and pushing tella away cause 鈥渉e鈥檚 gonna hurt her鈥� and 鈥渉e doesn鈥檛 know how to feel love鈥� then trying to lure her back, 50 pages of jacks being infuriating and horny, and too many of scarlett and julien creating unnecessary drama. actually, everyone did that. again, this had NO business being 500 pages.
also random thought: is it just me or in the first book when no one knew what legend looked like i imagined him as an old man.
i wish i could use jacks to take away the pain i experienced reading this like he did for tella. nay鈥攊 should get a lobotomy instead. i could never go near that man. glad he was stabbed though, that was kind of funny.
so i鈥檓 never doing that again. my friend saw me struggling 馃槥 and celebrating finishing it.
overhyped romance and ya books on social media are the bane of my existence.
-
pre-review
IM FREEE RTC
-
pre-read
when you show up to a mediocre male love interest contest but jacks is your competition (i'm a hater i'm sorry) anyway, book 8 of my 12 hour readathon!! it's 4:56 am!! it's starting to have a little kick!! need more sugar in my body!!
October 29, 2023
dnf @ page 139 馃
i fell asleep FOUR (!!) times today while trying to read this & that should tell you enough. i just don鈥檛 care anymore (or maybe i never did)
i鈥檝e had enough purple prose for a lifetime.
i fell asleep FOUR (!!) times today while trying to read this & that should tell you enough. i just don鈥檛 care anymore (or maybe i never did)
i鈥檝e had enough purple prose for a lifetime.
March 2, 2024
FIRST READ FEB 23 - 27 2022
I don鈥檛 usually rate books 5 stars, but I loved this book! the first and second books were okay, but this one was outstanding! I love that we get dual POV and introduce more characters, I especially love scarlett and julian鈥檚 relationship throughout this story.
REREAD FEB 26 - MAR 1 2024
I FINISHED!! the ending got me a bit emotional. anyways, IM SO GLAD WE GOT MORE SCARLETT & JULIAN SCENES!! julian is the standard guys.
the only thing i don鈥檛 like about this book is the ratio between tella & scarlett鈥檚 chapters. I feel like stephanie tried to incorporate scarlett more in finale, but the book just seems like tella鈥檚 the main center. hopefully she fixes that in the novella coming out soon.
I don鈥檛 usually rate books 5 stars, but I loved this book! the first and second books were okay, but this one was outstanding! I love that we get dual POV and introduce more characters, I especially love scarlett and julian鈥檚 relationship throughout this story.
REREAD FEB 26 - MAR 1 2024
I FINISHED!! the ending got me a bit emotional. anyways, IM SO GLAD WE GOT MORE SCARLETT & JULIAN SCENES!! julian is the standard guys.
the only thing i don鈥檛 like about this book is the ratio between tella & scarlett鈥檚 chapters. I feel like stephanie tried to incorporate scarlett more in finale, but the book just seems like tella鈥檚 the main center. hopefully she fixes that in the novella coming out soon.
July 8, 2024
鉃� 4.5 鈽�! 鉁� spoiler free!!
馃帶 - eternal sunshine + new romantics
岑抚。饜 cause baby, i could build a castle
out of all the bricks they threw at me
and every day is like a battle
but every night with us is like a dream
鉃� a finale indeed. get it? anyway, just wow. it was refreshing to be back in the world of caraval. you wouldn't be at the last & finak book of the series if you didn't love these characters, so here i am. because i love em 馃 i was captivated, entranced. and some of the love confessions?! the quotes?? obsessed. the whole experience was even better because i got to buddyread with bff lyds!! thank you for being there because i nedded someone to rant & scream my thoughts to, i had a MARVELOUS time! ilysm 馃拰馃拹
lydia's GORGEOUS review!!
陹扳湾plot: imo, i had a fun time with the plot! espc with some of the plot twist we got which were super juicy. (ifykyk) i will say, the climax at the end was a bit off, but nevertheless i like how it ended! everything was tied up great. and it was a great setup for jacks' story in once upon a broken heart! a story to remember!
陹扳湾overall experience: very enjoyable, im so glad i was finally able to finish this series! it was emotional, bittersweet, scandalous, + more! obviously, this series may not be for everyone but i think you should still try it! especially if you plan on trying ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART. and oh!! this was so close to being a 5 stars 馃槶 im still searching but 4.5 is still amazing <3 and can i just say that i admire these characters sm? and stephanie's writing ATE in this one 馃挆 overall i'll miss this world (but watch me reread this in a year or 2 tehe)
陹癱haracter under-study陹�
喑冣亐鉃�scarlett + julian my little loves!! the way i love them so much. their dynamic, their RELATIONSHIP. UGH!! this was their book <3 every moment we got with them was SO precious & the way they LOVE eachother is even more wholesome i could cry happy tears!! if i could meet these characters i would! they've gone thru so much & im very proud of them 馃珎馃珎 i love scar's wit + bravery. and i love julian's charm & undying loyalty! my cuties forever !!
喑冣亐鉃�donatella + legend wow. the rollercoaster we go thru in this book because of them 馃槶 i still loved it tho! they BROUGHT the daram in the best was possible. and i hope they finally get their happy ending! but oh, the tension & longing they had was so good! i like tella and the sisterly bond she has with scar, i find that so precious and real. tella has gone thru sm and i hope shes doing alright, i like legend too, some of the thing he said has me SWOON. had me annotating the book like crazy haha
喑冣亐鉃�jacks i liked how he was in here, we got more backstory on him! and AW the way he's the villain even in his own story, i wanna give him a hug! i hope people realize that jacks is such a complex character, like there is so much more to him and you learn that in his story, so i'll see you then!! 馃崕馃崕
陹癿ini playlist陹�
鈽� cinnamon girl
鈽� everybody want to rule the world
鈽� but daddy i love him
鈽� please, please, please
鈽� fortnight
鈽� new romantics
馃帶 - illicit affairs
岑抚。饜you showed me colors you know i can see with anyone else,
and you know damn well,
for you i would ruin myself,
a million little times [this is SO scarlett coded]
鉃� |鈥淵ou 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.鈥�
bottom line YALL GO CHECK OUT LYDIAS BEAUTIFUL REVIEW + go try this series! it was an enjoyable experience and see what you think. BUT OH HOW ILL MISS THESE CHARACTERS!!! i cant wait to see what stephanie garber comes out with next year, but for now ill be waiting for 'spectacular'! this review was longer than most of my other ones but i had a lot to express, so thanks for sticking around! much love, elliee!!
馃拰-to lydia, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BUDDYREADING THIS WITH MY SWEET GIRL 馃ぇ馃珎 you being able to reread this and me with the first time was such a cool concept and made the read so much more magical and fun!! i hope you enjoyed it, tho i know you did!! i cant wait to buddyread with you in the future, i love you sm angel!! <3
饜櫄鈰喫气溈藮掳
鉁▅ POST-READ 鈰�. 帷ｐ惌� .
this book. wow 4.5! im so torn between the rating but very enjoyable <3 truly such a unique world and i adore the found family and other characters! i cannot WAIT for spectacular. and can we talk about some of the quotes in this?! on the floor crying at the love confessions. and the whole experience was better because i got read with bff lyds <3 rtc later! HAPPY JULY
馃触 preview! 鈰�. 帷ｐ惌� .饢
look, you would't be here if you didn't enjoy the series, that's why I am now reading the last and final book for this trilogy! i cant lie, its a bit bittersweet, and I did genuinely enjoy the other books, so here we are 馃ス AND to make the experience even better, I get to buddy read with none other than my lovely girl, lydia!! I am SO excited to br with you omg, this is a reread for you, but I hope you still enjoy, ily SO MUCH angel!! MWA 馃馃
鈥渕ost of my life, i鈥檝e 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." 鉁媶藱
馃帶 - eternal sunshine + new romantics
岑抚。饜 cause baby, i could build a castle
out of all the bricks they threw at me
and every day is like a battle
but every night with us is like a dream
鉃� a finale indeed. get it? anyway, just wow. it was refreshing to be back in the world of caraval. you wouldn't be at the last & finak book of the series if you didn't love these characters, so here i am. because i love em 馃 i was captivated, entranced. and some of the love confessions?! the quotes?? obsessed. the whole experience was even better because i got to buddyread with bff lyds!! thank you for being there because i nedded someone to rant & scream my thoughts to, i had a MARVELOUS time! ilysm 馃拰馃拹
lydia's GORGEOUS review!!
鉃� i love that you never stop fighting for what you want or the people you love, even when they don鈥檛 deserve it. i love you, i don鈥檛 intend to stop loving you, and i hope that somewhere deep inside, you still love me, too.鈥濔煪�
陹扳湾plot: imo, i had a fun time with the plot! espc with some of the plot twist we got which were super juicy. (ifykyk) i will say, the climax at the end was a bit off, but nevertheless i like how it ended! everything was tied up great. and it was a great setup for jacks' story in once upon a broken heart! a story to remember!
陹扳湾overall experience: very enjoyable, im so glad i was finally able to finish this series! it was emotional, bittersweet, scandalous, + more! obviously, this series may not be for everyone but i think you should still try it! especially if you plan on trying ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART. and oh!! this was so close to being a 5 stars 馃槶 im still searching but 4.5 is still amazing <3 and can i just say that i admire these characters sm? and stephanie's writing ATE in this one 馃挆 overall i'll miss this world (but watch me reread this in a year or 2 tehe)
陹癱haracter under-study陹�
喑冣亐鉃�scarlett + julian my little loves!! the way i love them so much. their dynamic, their RELATIONSHIP. UGH!! this was their book <3 every moment we got with them was SO precious & the way they LOVE eachother is even more wholesome i could cry happy tears!! if i could meet these characters i would! they've gone thru so much & im very proud of them 馃珎馃珎 i love scar's wit + bravery. and i love julian's charm & undying loyalty! my cuties forever !!
鉃� "his hand was the hand that she wanted to hold. his voice was the sound she wanted to heart, and his smile wasn't just something she wanted to see; she wanted to be the reason for it."
喑冣亐鉃�donatella + legend wow. the rollercoaster we go thru in this book because of them 馃槶 i still loved it tho! they BROUGHT the daram in the best was possible. and i hope they finally get their happy ending! but oh, the tension & longing they had was so good! i like tella and the sisterly bond she has with scar, i find that so precious and real. tella has gone thru sm and i hope shes doing alright, i like legend too, some of the thing he said has me SWOON. had me annotating the book like crazy haha
鉃� 鈥淗e 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.鈥�
喑冣亐鉃�jacks i liked how he was in here, we got more backstory on him! and AW the way he's the villain even in his own story, i wanna give him a hug! i hope people realize that jacks is such a complex character, like there is so much more to him and you learn that in his story, so i'll see you then!! 馃崕馃崕
陹癿ini playlist陹�
鈽� cinnamon girl
鈽� everybody want to rule the world
鈽� but daddy i love him
鈽� please, please, please
鈽� fortnight
鈽� new romantics
馃帶 - illicit affairs
岑抚。饜you showed me colors you know i can see with anyone else,
and you know damn well,
for you i would ruin myself,
a million little times [this is SO scarlett coded]
鉃� |鈥淵ou 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.鈥�
bottom line YALL GO CHECK OUT LYDIAS BEAUTIFUL REVIEW + go try this series! it was an enjoyable experience and see what you think. BUT OH HOW ILL MISS THESE CHARACTERS!!! i cant wait to see what stephanie garber comes out with next year, but for now ill be waiting for 'spectacular'! this review was longer than most of my other ones but i had a lot to express, so thanks for sticking around! much love, elliee!!
馃拰-to lydia, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BUDDYREADING THIS WITH MY SWEET GIRL 馃ぇ馃珎 you being able to reread this and me with the first time was such a cool concept and made the read so much more magical and fun!! i hope you enjoyed it, tho i know you did!! i cant wait to buddyread with you in the future, i love you sm angel!! <3
饜櫄鈰喫气溈藮掳
鉁▅ POST-READ 鈰�. 帷ｐ惌� .
this book. wow 4.5! im so torn between the rating but very enjoyable <3 truly such a unique world and i adore the found family and other characters! i cannot WAIT for spectacular. and can we talk about some of the quotes in this?! on the floor crying at the love confessions. and the whole experience was better because i got read with bff lyds <3 rtc later! HAPPY JULY
馃触 preview! 鈰�. 帷ｐ惌� .饢
look, you would't be here if you didn't enjoy the series, that's why I am now reading the last and final book for this trilogy! i cant lie, its a bit bittersweet, and I did genuinely enjoy the other books, so here we are 馃ス AND to make the experience even better, I get to buddy read with none other than my lovely girl, lydia!! I am SO excited to br with you omg, this is a reread for you, but I hope you still enjoy, ily SO MUCH angel!! MWA 馃馃
June 15, 2021
se acuerdan cuando le di a Caraval 4.5 estrellas? AL CARAJO TODO ESTA TRILOG脥A SE MERECE 1038291010101 ESTRELLAS LA RE PUTA MADRE STEPHANIE GARBER ME TENES A TUS PIES
December 24, 2024
4.5 stars
"Before Legend, Tella had wanted nothing to do with love. She鈥檇 believed she was destined to only experience unrequited love. Then she鈥檇 fallen in love with him, and it had been like drinking magic鈥攊ndescribable, all-consuming, and fantastically addictive.鈥�
鈥淚 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.鈥�
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 can definitely see how the writing has improved since the first book, caraval.
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鈥檛 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鈥檛 get as many chapters as tella and they were so short!! i think that tella鈥檚 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鈥檛 a big fan of simply bc of the way she changed and how they treated julian鈥檚 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鈥檓 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
鈥淗e 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.鈥� 馃挒
鈥淚 don鈥檛 need to prove anything,鈥� said julian. 鈥淚鈥檓 not trying to win her hand. I鈥檓 offering her mine, and everything that comes with it, hoping she鈥檒l take it and decides she wants to keep it.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e always been yours, crimson.鈥�
scarlettjulian鈥檚 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鈥檚 surreal. I couldn鈥檛 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
鈥淪he couldn鈥檛 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鈥檇 vowed never to do it again.鈥�
spoiler for this quote!!
鈥淭his had to be a mistake. She already had one murderous, power-hungry father. She didn鈥檛 deserve another one鈥�
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鈥檛 regret it one bit. tella didn鈥檛 get on my nerves as much within this book and i think it鈥檚 true character development on her part.
鈥淗is steady gaze held hers as if he had no intention of ever looking away鈥攁s if maybe he鈥檇 been telling the truth when he鈥檇 said that he wanted to keep her here forever.鈥�
鈥淛ulian might not have been perfect, but he was perfect for her sister鈥�
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鈥檚 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鈥檚. it was so beautiful to see that scarlett didn鈥檛 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 鈽癸笍 the writing was so meaningful and everything with each of these scenes.
鈥淗e was an immortal who couldn鈥檛 die but who could never fully live, because the things he wanted to consume were devouring him instead.鈥�
i鈥檓 honestly so sad abt how tella and jacks鈥檚 story ended. the way i would鈥檝e 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鈥� 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鈥檚 story. still upset she chose someone who was so bland from the very beginning
鈥淪he鈥檇 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.鈥�
鈥淗e didn鈥檛 kiss her as if he鈥檇 simply just come back to life. He kissed her as if he鈥檇 died, been buried, and clawed his way out of the grave and through the dirt just to get to her.鈥�
鈥淭his is my choice, and I choose you, Donatella. I don鈥檛 need immortality. You鈥檙e my forever.鈥�
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鈥檚 confession had me bawling bc i loved them so much after everything they鈥檝e 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鈥檝e 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鈥檛 love her. this was where i didn鈥檛 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鈥檚 identity? last book, they talked about scarlett having no idea who legend was and in this book they don鈥檛 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鈥檛 ??
series review! `鉁� 藨 执侄 饟們鈯光湬
caraval
legendary
spectacular
"Before Legend, Tella had wanted nothing to do with love. She鈥檇 believed she was destined to only experience unrequited love. Then she鈥檇 fallen in love with him, and it had been like drinking magic鈥攊ndescribable, all-consuming, and fantastically addictive.鈥�
鈥淚 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.鈥�
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 can definitely see how the writing has improved since the first book, caraval.
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鈥檛 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鈥檛 get as many chapters as tella and they were so short!! i think that tella鈥檚 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鈥檛 a big fan of simply bc of the way she changed and how they treated julian鈥檚 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鈥檓 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
鈥淗e 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.鈥� 馃挒
鈥淚 don鈥檛 need to prove anything,鈥� said julian. 鈥淚鈥檓 not trying to win her hand. I鈥檓 offering her mine, and everything that comes with it, hoping she鈥檒l take it and decides she wants to keep it.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e always been yours, crimson.鈥�
scarlettjulian鈥檚 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鈥檚 surreal. I couldn鈥檛 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
鈥淪he couldn鈥檛 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鈥檇 vowed never to do it again.鈥�
spoiler for this quote!!
鈥淭his had to be a mistake. She already had one murderous, power-hungry father. She didn鈥檛 deserve another one鈥�
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鈥檛 regret it one bit. tella didn鈥檛 get on my nerves as much within this book and i think it鈥檚 true character development on her part.
鈥淗is steady gaze held hers as if he had no intention of ever looking away鈥攁s if maybe he鈥檇 been telling the truth when he鈥檇 said that he wanted to keep her here forever.鈥�
鈥淛ulian might not have been perfect, but he was perfect for her sister鈥�
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鈥檚 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鈥檚. it was so beautiful to see that scarlett didn鈥檛 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 鈽癸笍 the writing was so meaningful and everything with each of these scenes.
鈥淗e was an immortal who couldn鈥檛 die but who could never fully live, because the things he wanted to consume were devouring him instead.鈥�
i鈥檓 honestly so sad abt how tella and jacks鈥檚 story ended. the way i would鈥檝e 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鈥� 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鈥檚 story. still upset she chose someone who was so bland from the very beginning
鈥淪he鈥檇 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.鈥�
鈥淗e didn鈥檛 kiss her as if he鈥檇 simply just come back to life. He kissed her as if he鈥檇 died, been buried, and clawed his way out of the grave and through the dirt just to get to her.鈥�
鈥淭his is my choice, and I choose you, Donatella. I don鈥檛 need immortality. You鈥檙e my forever.鈥�
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鈥檚 confession had me bawling bc i loved them so much after everything they鈥檝e 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鈥檝e 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鈥檛 love her. this was where i didn鈥檛 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鈥檚 identity? last book, they talked about scarlett having no idea who legend was and in this book they don鈥檛 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鈥檛 ??
series review! `鉁� 藨 执侄 饟們鈯光湬
caraval
legendary
spectacular
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