A review by yas_sezer
Legendary by Stephanie Garber

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

this was heaps better than caraval - we actually have more character depth and development, and donatella is nowhere near as annoying (that doesnt mean she didnt piss me off though).

Before I say anything, id like to celebrate by telling you that my prediction of legend’s identity was correct teehee.

Okay now to my thoughts:

starting off by giving dante all of the love and appreciation in the world. i was so drawn to him from the beginning which was only intensified during this story since we got to know him a little more. i love him actually. youre telling me he sacrified everything for her - “I know you were willing to sacrifice yourself for her, but I wasn't willing to sacrifice you.” pls my heart is on the floor.

Jacks ive heard people swooning over in once upon a broken heart which I have not read yet, and I can understand why. I feel like theres a lot about him we still haven’t learnt or seen, but I find his character to be intriguing and not necessarily evil. The concept of the prince of hearts with the kiss of death is interesting to me (except for his one true love who is tella?? I hope she doesn’t end up with him though, I am team dante).

Julian and scarlett are so irrelevant to me pls. I completely erased them from my mind and found myself bored when they were in any scenes (particularly scarlett). I don’t know why, but my connection with those two is so little compared to tella and dante, even jacks I care about more. I found their characters to be a little in the way, and almost would have preferred it if they didn’t come to this game.

The plot of this one was fun and for the most part very engaging. I found myself making heaps of guesses (many of which were correct, but I didn’t mind that).

I usually tend to enjoy concepts similar to that of the Fates (I compare them to Greek gods like in Percy Jackson in my mind), particularly with the theme of power. I liked having to deep it, thinking of what is a better outcome if any – legend having all the power, or the fates – would it be better for one ‘better’ man to possess it all, or divide it amongst the fates who were ‘worse’ – would legend remain a ‘better’ option if he had them all? Quite interesting.

i do really like the world that has been created, but personally i dont have that whimsical, deep magical connection to it. i feel like if this was an adult book, i may have connected to the world a bit more, but in saying that, i do feel as though it has improved heaps since caraval. the concept is very enjoyable.

Where I found myself getting quite bored is the whole mother trapped in a card and therefore I must release her plot (which I am aware is essentially why we are here to begin with). Maybe its because we don’t KNOW the mum (paloma aka paradise the lost, somehow an infamous thief and murderer), and again felt as though I was just TOLD everything, but I saw nothing? Idk, even when she came back, I didn’t feel any sense of relief or happiness… or anything lmao. Maybe she will grow on me later on.

Another issue that really threw me off is the writing at the start?? I felt so disconnected, and like I was in dora the explorer. Everything was told in a very odd way, and unlike her usual style. I again still feel like a lot of the story is told to us rather than shown for a lot of it (but my god, when the writing is good boy is it good. It just hits), but at the start it was just blunt, and almost like the author was trying too hard to tell the story in a simple way, but at least for me it felt TOO simple and almost like she had no faith in me as the reader to understand it myself.

Im definitely excited to continue with the series and im hoping finale is at least a 4 star. Give me more of dante and ill be a happy girl.

some noteworthy quotes for me:

• “Her heart was still a little heavy, but she'd decided carrying it around would only make her stronger.”

• “When she loved, she did it as fiercely as she lived.”

• “There were many beautiful young men in the world, but Tella believed that none of them could be trusted with something as fragile, or valuable, as a heart.”

• “What makes something real Tella?' Dante hooked a finger into the rope around her waist. 'Does seeing something make it real?' He tugged on the rope and pulled her closer, until all she could see was his face. 'Or does hearing something make it real?' His voice turned a little rough. 'What about feeling something, is that enough to make it real?”

• “Not everyone gets a true ending. There are two types of endings because most people give up at the part of the story where things are the worst, where the situation feels hopeless. But that’s when hope is needed most. Only those who persevere can find their true ending.”

• “You're the most beautiful liar I've ever seen.”

• “She liked the thrill that came with taking risks. She loved the feeling of doing something bold enough to make her future hold its breath while she closed her eyes and reveled in the sensation that she’d made a choice with the power to alter the course of her life.”

• “Death visited Tella while she slept. The tips of his claws stroked the back of her neck, while his shadow followed her into pristine dreams, poisoning all the colors until everything tasted of dust and withered to ash.”