Legendary by Stephanie Garber

The second book in the Caraval series focuses on Scarlett’s sister Tella, who had made a deal with a mysterious stranger to reveal who Legend, the leader of Caraval. After Scarlett won the game, the actors of Caraval are invited to perform in Valenda, where the Empress of the empire resides, to perform at her birthday celebrations. Tella and Scarlett go with them; Scarlett goes for Julian and Tella goes to fulfill her promise to the stranger. Finding out who Legend is is not an easy feat. Tella gets separated from her sister and when she tries to get in the castle where her sister should be, she is refused entry. Dante, another player from the game, comes up with a consequential  lie: that Tella is the betrothed to the heir to the empire. Tella is escorted in and given a place in the palace. She eventually meets the prince that she is fake engaged to and it turns out that he is deadly. Jacks is the deadly Prince of Hearts, one of the Fates that ruled this world before they were trapped in playing cards. He wants to destroy Legendary so the Fates can be freed from their prison. Tella learns that her mother is trapped in a card as well and wants to try to free her before anyone can destroy the cards. She struggles to trust Dante at first but he does help her. Unfortunately she is kissed by Jacks and that is deadly because anyone who he kisses who is not his true love will die. He strikes a bargain with Tella: she has to win the game to reveal who Legend is or she and her mother by extension will die. Tella is torn between decisions she has to make and learns what true sacrifice is. Eventually she learns the devastating truth about who Legend is and questions of he cared for her. The Fates are freed from the cards and Scarlett and Tella do find their mother, although she is in a enchanted sleep and will wake when the Fates do. This sets up the story for its conclusion in the next book. I liked this book. The beginning was a bit slow but it did pick up and finished well. Content warning: some heavy kissing, mentions of blood, some descriptive violence  ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75. #fiction #caraval #legendary #books #fantasy