rating:4.5 stars

did garber... take everything that was "bad" in caraval and just press upgrade? because damn this was so much better.

first off, our protagonist? tella? yeah she was badass and a complete breath of fresh air. she was so dynamic, unafraid and willing to do anything. and the fact that she had no shame? love that for her. it was a complete 180 from scarlett which is why i was so hesitant to read this when i found out we switched pov but damn, i don't ever want to go back. the power of the enemies to lovers trope... hmmm.

as for the plot, it made so much more sense than [b:Caraval|27883214|Caraval (Caraval, #1)|Stephanie Garber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1465563623l/27883214._SY75_.jpg|45697227]. there was actual historical background and it was cohesive. and even though the last book was centered around trying to find tella to win the game and this one has a really similar plot, the fact that this had context and reasoning made it so much better. it isn't just a game anymore. the stakes are higher and you knew exactly why.

the only thing i really hated about this book was scarlett and julian. considering i was in love with them both in the last book, i was shocked. because julian had the most backward character development i've ever seen.

Spoiler

and his relationship with scarlett now is so weird i can't even wrap my head around it? are they dating? are they not? are they in love? hello?? if julian was lying all throughout the last book and it was revealed he was an actor, i don't expect them to be completely fine. but the fact that he kept even more secrets in this book just kept pushing him farther from the character i fell in love with in caraval and i'm majorly confused.

beside that though, i really liked legendary. i'm half tempted to skip all of scarlett's povs in the next book and just read tella's but i guess i'll have to push through. unfortunately.