Review: Legendary by Stephanie Garber

Donatella Dragna may have rescued her sister Scarlett from their overbearing father and an arranged marriage, but she can’t celebrate yet. Despite Scarlett having won Caraval, the sisters are on their way to an unprecedented second game, in honour of the Empress’ birthday. This time, the game is not a means of escaping their father and hum-drum routine. After striking up an unlikely relationship with an anonymous criminal who can help Tella locate her missing mother begs payment, and the friend will accept no less than the true name of the master of Caraval, Legend. Having already promised the payment before the game opened, Tella must win in order to save her mother. However, this time, Caraval is different; the game is real, as are the consequences of playing. Failure to win Caraval will mean that Tella fails to save her mother, yet playing could also mean that she will lose more than just her mother.

Stephanie Garber has cleverly created a world which embodies the concept of magic. Narratives, characters and events are as sly as smoke, shifting effortlessly between the tangible and the imagined. Legendary is the definition of an intricate plot, so carefully cloaked in mystery and sprinkled with the impossible that it feels as though the book should leave glitter on your fingertips with the turning of each page. ‘Beautiful’ lacks the power to describe this story – it should be located among the extraordinary, impossible and marvelous.

It is near-on impossible to fault this book. Every aspect is polished, well thought-out and mesmerizing. The only thing better than the addictive storyline is the poetic prose of which it is comprised; unfailingly amazing and impressive. Garber has created a story which marries romance, adventure, intrigue and fantasy, and reads like literary fiction of the highest form – an impressive skill. Legendary is a love letter to magic, to Caraval, and to the reader who delves into both.

Legendary by Stephanie Garber is published by Hodder and Stoughton, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.