~Can't Wait Wednesday: Finale (Caraval #3)~

                Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Wishful Endings.  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

Finale (Caraval #3) by Stephanie Garber

Out:  5/30

From Goodreads:

                Welcome, welcome to Caraval…all games must come to an end.

                It’s been two months since the last Caraval concluded, two months since the Fates have been freed from an enchanted deck of cards, two months since Tella has been Legend, and two months since Legend claimed the empire’s throne as his own.  Now, Legend is preparing for his official coronation and Tella is determined to stop it.  She believes her own mother, who still remains in an enchanted sleep, is the rightful heir to the throne.

                Meanwhile, Scarlett has started a game of her own.  She’s challenged Julian and her former fiancé, Count Nicolas d’Arcy, to a competition where the winner will receive her hand in marriage.  Finally, Scarlett feels as if she is in complete control over her life and future.  She is unaware that her mother’s past has put her in the greatest danger of all.

                Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun—with lives, empires, and hearts all at stake.  There are no spectators this time:  only those who will win…and those who will lose everything.

Why I’m Waiting:

                I LOVE THIS SERIES!  I have loved listening to this since I started Caraval (Reviews:  Caraval & Legendary) and I can’t wait to see how things wrap up.  There is so much I need answers to and so much I want to happen.  I can’t even begin to form them but yes so much needs to happen.    

                What are you waiting on?  Tell me below what you think of this title and leave a link to your CWW as well so I can check it out.

Legendary (Caraval #2)

                Hello happy readers!  I hope you had a great weekend.  I’m a day late, sorry, but I spent most of yesterday running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to sort out some phone issues and jazz but they are resolved for now at least.  My weekend wasn’t as reading productive as I would have liked but I did get to spend more time with a good friend who is moving several states away tomorrow so that is even better!  Still today I am sharing my thoughts on a very highly anticipated sequel for me, Legendary (Caraval #2) by Stephanie Garber.  I loved Caraval (review) and was thrilled there was going to be more in the world.  I went in thinking this was a duology but then happily after finishing and being very upset thinking this was the end, I found out it is really a trilogy so I have one more book to look forward to!  So yay!

Rating: 5 Stars

                Tella made a bargain with a mysterious criminal that lead to freedom form her father for both her and her sister.  She even got Scarlett out from an arranged marriage.  Still the game is over and she got her part of the bargain now she has to deliver what was promised:  Caraval Master Legend’s true name.  She has one chance to uncover the identity, win the next special Caraval.  Tella throws herself into the game and her mission even as it puts her on a very dangerous path, because this Caraval is different from the rest where you lose yourself to what is only a game, this year is real!  Secrets, doomed love, heirs to the throne, fates, and more press Tella to be as cunning and brave as ever, risking everything she cares about including her life.  Winning Caraval will change the world forever.

                A Caraval doesn’t typically happen this close to end of the last but with Empress Elantine’s 75^th birthday she gets what she wants.  Now we follow Tella as she and her sister are free of their father.  Tella though has a different mission, to gain Legends true name and gain the information she has been searching for.  Tella has been on this path for some time and there is a method to the way she acts, where as I found her a bit harder to love in the last book her were see her side of things and see the reasons behind her antics.  She has a good heart though she feels she is never meant for love, based on a drawing of the cards of destiny in her childhood.  This has lead her every step and it all comes down to playing another game of Caraval.

“If you can convince yourself it’s true you can convince anyone.”

                The way this world has expanded from not just the magic of Caraval which is amazing, but the way the mythology of fates was weaved in from the start.  They were mentioned in the past but as a fairytale sort, now it seems they may be very real….or is that the magic of Caraval?  The back and forth of what is real and can it be believed was captivating.  Winding in all the different elements expanding this world was amazing and seamless.  I was rooting for Tella but I wavered in what I wanted her to accomplish as many times she is at cross purposes.

                While this time we do focus on Tella rather than Scarlett we do get to see so many of our returning characters.  I enjoyed seeing Scarlett and Julian again though things aren’t perfect they are fun and many more including Dante.  The story is still that of the game and a large mystery there did feel there was a more romantic feeling in this sequel.  I was totally on board for it because it was so beautifully done and fit with what we know of the characters, unraveling new layers of them as we go.  Tella is not set for romance or love, something most assured the opposite of what she wants and some of the scenes she is in just makes me so happy. 

“Every story has four parts – the beginning, the middle, the almost ending, and the true ending.”

                Now when I first finished this book thinking it was a duology I was a bit upset.  There was so much more I needed.  So much left way way too open for me.  I mean we just found out who Legend was!!!  FYI I totally had it pegged for a long time, even had my suspicions in book one but confirmation is always appreciated.  Satisfaction after an adventure filled journey.  But upon finding out it was a trilogy and I had one more book to look forward to I was in love.  I can see how all of my questions and open things will lead into a thrilling final book in the trilogy.  I can’t wait to find out more! 

                Until next time…

               

Caraval (Caraval #1)

                Hello happy readers!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  I did some baking for a birthday party and made some colorful and sweet treats that were completely devoured!  I also did another escape room, one which I am sad to say broke my streak and we did not complete.  Guess we were just not at our best that day but I plan to go back and try that one again because I NEED to finish!  That said today I want to share my thoughts and feels about another mysterious game, Caraval (Caraval #1) by Stephanie Garber.  This was a debut book that came out at the start of 2017 and had me interested well before that with all the buzz.  Now having finished it I am excited to be able to discuss.  Also don’t forget to check out my giveaway here open until the 7^th. 

Rating:  5 Stars

 

                Caraval is a story of a game.  That is what young Scarlett is told, tales of the magical performance hosted each year hosted by Legend, the master of Caraval.  She has dreamed of leaving her tiny island with her sister Tella and their abusive and sick father in hopes of witnessing the magic herself.  After years of writing hoping for an exclusive invite the waiting is over.  With help from a mysterious sailor Tella and Scarlett are whisked away to the show but circumstances separate them and Tella is kidnapped by Legend himself.  As it turns out she is to be the center of his game this year, whoever finds her the winner.  Granted one wish.  Told over and over again that everything is a performance for the games, still all the feelings for her are real in this game.  There is always something around every corner and no way to know what is real or an act as the nights rage on and things turn dangerous.  Scarlett must find her sister before the end of the game or risk the consequences.  Welcome to Caraval…careful of getting swept too far away.

                I listened to this in audiobook format and it was amazing.  I really enjoyed the different accents that helped separate the characters and fit with what their personalities were.  As the story progressed and we got deeper and deeper inside Caraval I was totally immersed and I loved it. 

                The story is of sisters and magic.  You see from the start that they are very different but they still love one another and constantly want to protect the other.  They have different ideas of what that will look like.  Scarlett is set to marry a man she’s never met but has written and promises a safe life for her and her sister.  She doesn’t need love and she’s given up on the hope of magic she only wants to escape and survive.  Tella is more carefree and wants to escape into the wild unknown and figure it out along the way.  I love the dynamic between them.  As with most real relationships it seems one side might care/love/give more than the other. 

“No one is truly honest.  Even if we don’t lie to others, we often lie to ourselves.”

                As they are separated through most of the book Scarlett is left to depend on her own wits.  She does have Julian, the sailor who helped them arrive, though she isn’t sure if she should trust him.  He seems to know more about Caraval than her, but is that an asset or not?  With time working against her she only has a few short days to find her sister and win the game untangling the past and the mysteries.  There are clues to follow if you wish to win the game and plenty of other distractions to make the most of.    I really enjoyed the back and forth between Scarlett and Julian as things seemed genuine and legit how two people would act having only just met and put in this situation together.  I loved how some moments I was rooting for him and others, okay lets be honest I was rooting for him almost all the time, but there were times where I doubted myself and if I should be.  They are in Caraval after all and nothing is what it seems.

                Caraval, this whole world is beautiful and amazing.  I loved how everything came to life with such vivid descriptions that jumped off the page.  This world is really one of wonder.  There is always something to see and do as the pace kept you moving.  Always something to see or do, always a sense of urgency with Scarlett on her quest.  She has so much happening seeing this world through her eyes as she grows and learns as a person was beautiful.  I couldn’t stop listening!  At the end I felt satisfied but I still wanted more, some questions had come to mind and I was thrilled to hear at the end there will be a second book!  I was so happy for that.  And even more that by the time I finished they have come out with the cover and date for it so score one for procrastination!  I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun character driven story full of twists and turns!

                Until next time…