Young Adult Fiction: Legendary by Stephanie Garber

Finally! I have managed to pick up Legendary, Stephanie Garber's second book in the wildly popular Caraval series. This book promised to have as much drama, as many twists, and even more vivid and imaginative scenes as the first one. Readers looking for another fun ride through the magical world of Caraval have been waiting for this book to come out, and now that it is here, the level of anticipation has only increased as we all wait for the third and final installment. And of course, a spoiler alert, must be issued for anyone who has not read the first book, Caraval.

The Situation: Caraval, the magical game that takes place once a year, is over. Scarlett Dragna was the winner, and while her younger sister, Tella, should be celebrating with her, she can't. Everything that happened during the tumultuous game comes rushing back to Tella after she wakes up, outside, after a night of partying. She knows her adventure is far from over, and there is still one prize she is searching for. Ever since her mother disappeared seven years ago, Tella has wanted to find her. Now it seems the information is within her reach, but first she must obtain the impossible, Legend's true name. Not only is it impossible to get the information out of the man himself, but even those close to him aren't speaking. Tella will not find her mother without it, so she must throw herself into the game of Caraval once again.

The Problem: This Caraval will prove to be much different from all of the ones before. Not only is it the second one in less than a year, but the location has changed to the capital city of Valenda in celebration of Empress Elantine's 75th birthday. Something both Scarlett and Tella have always known is that believing what happens during Caraval is real only leads to madness. Tella has always been confident in her ability to remember that this is all a game, but that is until the choices and bargains she makes start having very real consequences. While believing herself to be in control, Tella ends up making a deal that could end her life, and failing to deliver Legend's true identity will cost her more that the permanent loss of her mother. Also, winning this game may mean more than receiving a prize, as powers beyond what the players can see - powers that can control the world - are incredibly interested in how everything turns out.     

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fantasy novel that immediately follows the events of the first one. Scarlett and Tella are back again, as are Julian, Dante, and many of the other performers Legend employs during every Caraval. This time, while there is still a third-person narrator, it follows Tella's actions instead of Scarlett's. While Tella also goes through more than her fair share of adventures, it is with a much more playful, yet also determined and stubborn tone that what was found with Scarlett. Tella is the sister who is not afraid to take risks, break rules, and keep secrets; although, there are more than a few moments where Tella suspects that Scarlett is now doing the same. In an effort to keep her sister out of unnecessary danger, Tella does not tell her everything, even when the physical consequences of her actions become hard to hide. This sequel is full of even more secrets, more mysteries, more twists, and also more enigmatic characters than the first book. The game is as mind-bending as ever, but the danger seems more real, and the consequences are even greater.

My Verdict: What I love about both Caraval and Legendary is that Garber absolutely does not hold back. She just goes for it, and it makes for a fun, interesting, often confusing, but ultimately enjoyable ride. What is so great about this series is how easy it is to get caught up in everything. Sure, the plot twists can make things confusing, and the whole blurring between what is real and what is part of Caraval can make it hard to hold onto the thread of the overall story. But at the end of it all, the book is pure fun, so any anguish over the plot is quickly forgotten. And while I had a difficult time with Scarlett as the main focus in the first book, I found it much easier to follow along with Tella in this one. When this girl makes a choice, even when she knows it could be a bad one, she makes it and she owns it, come what may. Tella has a goal, and she will continue towards it until logic, or experience, prove to her that she is on the wrong path. Lovers of the first book seem to be loving this one too, and I certainly see why.

Favorite Moment: When Tella meets Empress Elantine and the older woman is not like what she thought she would be.

Favorite Character: I actually liked Tella a great deal, much more than I did Scarlett. She is foolish and headstrong, but given the circumstances, I don't at all blame her.

Recommended Reading: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi is a different kind of fantasy story, but it is the kind of different that has been needed for a long time. I recommend it to anyone looking to dive into a new YA series.