On My Bookshelf: Legendary by Stephanie Garber

The basic plot from Amazon: A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

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

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

Welcome, welcome to Caraval...the games have only just begun.

Why I liked it: Legendary is a fantasy book, but there's no witches or werewolves or vampire (not my taste in fantasy), just a wonderful world of magic. While Caraval, the first book in the series focused on Scarlett, this second book is focused on her younger sister Tella. Where Scarlet was practical and cautious as she played in Caraval, Tella is bold and a risk taker. She acts on instincts and deals with the consequences later. 

The first game of Caraval was played by Scarlet and it was just a game, but this second round of Caraval is played by Tella and is more personal because she is hoping to win back her mother. The Deck of Destiny, something she’d discovered in her mother’s room as a child and the mythical Fates are real life figures trapped within the cards all with their own unique powers. Her mother is trapped within one of these cards.

Classroom application: I'd label this one as high school appropriate and up because the romance scenes can get a little steamy. Students who enjoy the detailed worlds of fantasy series like the Red Queen series and the Lunar Chronicles will like this series as well.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Legendary for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

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