PLOT:
A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.
After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.
The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.
Welcome, welcome to Caraval...the games have only just begun.

THOUGHTS:
I knew this book would be waaaaay better than Caraval... because Tella, duh! In the first book Tella took a backseat when she became Legend's "hostage" for the most part of the game. The two sisters could not be more different. My first impression of Tella in the first book has been up an ante here. She's so much more than a heartbreaker I thought she was. She's passionate and knows what she wants. A go-getter and independent. She's a woman of the world!

Weird love triangle

"Tella wanted to know what it would be like to lose herself in someone like Dante and trust that he would find her. But the only person she could trust was herself."

You can't really tell if there's a love triangle brewing or if there really is any coupling at all! In Legend's game you don't know what's real and what's not. Yes, sparks are flying between Dante and Tella... but just like Tella, readers would be reluctant to trust any of Dante's actions. He is part of the game after all. And then there's Jacks. Man, he's one heck of a character. My favorite so far. He is vile and sinister but why can't I not come to hate him? There's something he's not revealing which I hope we can understand in the final book. In some bizarre occurrence they become engaged. Tella becomes embroiled in a deeper problem with Jacks involved as her life is now on the line. Jacks's cruelty seemed to have no bounds. In some odd way though, they sort of developed a relationship, one where they need each other. With Jacks's, we know his intentions, unlike with Dante. And our dear Tella who needs no distraction so she can win the games and take what she wants. So a time and a place for love would be unrealistic in their situation... or so I think.

"Tella feared being trapped more than anything. But perhaps love was an otherworldly entity like Death."

Tella & Dante

"This kiss felt like a confession, brutal and raw and honest in a way kisses rarely were."

Oh my ghad till the very end I was "is he or is he not Legend?" I was right in thinking he was the lost heir though. I can't quite explain it but I feel that Legend left for Tella's sake. Just my gut feeling. Chapter 31 was HOT! Seriously, my giggles could not be contained! Been a long time since I had that reaction to a book! Love it!!!


Tella & Jacks (The Prince of Heart)

“And you think I’m that someone?” A laugh accompanied Tella’s words.

But Jacks did not smile. “You convinced Legend to help you, you died and came back to life, and you dared to kiss me. Of course you’re that someone.” He held her eyes for a moment before his gaze swept past her.

Why are the cruel ones good looking?! I mean, can you not make us question our morality please?! I don't know how I really feel right now, but I think I may be rooting more for him for Tella than Dante. I'm smitten because he's mean but he's definitely inlove with Tella even though he won't admit it, they could work!

"Dimples were supposed to be charming and kind, but his always felt like a form of attack."

In some bizarro plot twist in the next book, he could not try to destroy people's lives and just love Tella and live calmly if that could be possible in that world of theirs where power is everything. He is not really human after all... could he and Tella work? Yes I hope so! That wouldn't be such a bad idea right? How ironic would it be if the Prince of Heart would get heart broken right?

“I still hate you,” she said. “It’s probably for the best.”

Lots of delicious moments that are worth cherishing and gushing over. I felt the magic more on this book than the first one. It excelled story-wise and it had more memorable minor character like the queen and the Fates.

"Legends were supposed to be better than the truth. Perfect, idealized dreams and crystalline hopes that were too flawless to exist in reality."

Can't wait for third book, Finale, coming out next year!

Quotes:

Tella: "You call me Donatella."
Jacks: "I like the way it tastes."

His glow meant he would never die of natural causes or mortal wounds, but her radiance meant she would truly live.

“Other people might underestimate you, Donatella, but I don’t.”
Tella tried not to feel anything at his words. All her life she’d been underestimated, by her father who thought she was useless, her sister who loved her but feared she couldn’t stay out of trouble, her nana who thought of her as only a nuisance; Tella even underestimated herself at times. It was almost cruel that the one who seemed to believe in her the most was the same being who was also slowly killing her.

He gazed at her as if he wanted her to lose herself somewhere in his eyes, so that he could be the one to find her.

Legend was someone she could never have. He was like a moment in time; he could be experienced but never held on to.

The night. The world. The stars watching from above all disappeared. Then Tella disappeared as well.

Humans were selfish creatures. The stars had witnessed it again, and again, and again. But tonight, as the stars peered down on the world, they saw what seemed to be truly unselfish acts.

Something cracked inside of Tella. It might have been her heart, breaking while he walked away—as if he hadn’t just freed the Fates and damned the entire world for her.

“I still hate you,” she said. “It’s probably for the best.”

“I made a mistake, Scar. I never wanted to fall for anyone, but I think I’ve fallen in love with Legend.”

Rating:
★★★★★