When I first read Legendary, it was 2021 and I was slowly but surely getting back into reading. I did read Caraval about a year prior, but it was back when I’d leisurely read a book once or twice a year, without much fanfare. 2021 marked me getting back into a habit of reading for myself, away from the years of academic reading. It was a year where I found joyous excitement in a genre I thought I’d long outgrown. YA fantasy began to feel like home once more, and it was very much due to Stephanie Garber’s writing, especially in Legendary. It taught me that this genre can be ageless, a home that’s always waiting when you find the right door to knock. Knocking on Stephanie Garber's door will always be the right choice.

Her works mean a lot to me. While not the one I’d consider the best, Legendary, to me, will forever be my favorite for how it took my hand and led me back home.

Legendary set my heart aflame and it nourished a long-starved soul. It made me truly daydream about magical stories again!

And it is my favorite in grand part due to Tella, due to her magical adventure and her magical romance with Legend.

Tella felt like a heroine I’d never read before, I frankly could not quite relate to her— so imagine my surprise when I couldn't get enough of her! I came to greatly admired her. I loved her thirst for adventure, her manic need to discover truths and solve mysteries, her excitement over romance and true loves.
She vibrated with chaos and goodness and instantly became one of my all-time favorite heroines.

I preface with all this to set the stage.

Legendary is my favorite. Tella is my number one.

And this made me all the more excited for Spectacular as her story is the heart of this holiday novella.

Spectacular is composed of all the ingredients to make me a very happy reader. My girl takes center stage, my favorite romance is the under the spotlight, a winter holiday magic shines on it all. It’s all there. It really is.

Which is why I hate to say how it just didn’t quite make the landing I hoped. I didn’t feel the starry eyed wonder I felt from the Caraval trilogy.

That’s not to say I didn’t like it! I embraced quite a bit, in fact!

It’s beautiful! The illustrations are oh so breathtaking! The first half of the novella is exciting and whimsical, and I grinned all throughout! But the second half left me rather untethered.

Major Spoilers Follow


The “Not Legend” bit arose an ick factor in me. We learn by adventure’s end that Tella knew it was truly Legend before all the touching and kissing happened, but in its present moment it doesn’t quite read that way. I knew it was going to be him, of course, but the narrative didn’t adequately confirm that Tella on the same page. So the kissing and feeling up didn’t quite land for me. It really held back how positively I started this adventure. It left a rather sour taste in my mouth. There are choices made by the narrative that I wish were plotted differently.

Also, while I honestly didn’t miss them— I think with all the promotion including Scarlett and Julian, their very little page time will likely turn into fair disappointment for many. Another choice I thought odd. Again, this isn’t a personal nitpick because I’m not interested in either character to have wanted more, but I can understand why it may become a sore spot for others.


End of Spoilers

I will say the last few pages were precious. I adored the last line especially! I love seeing Tella and Legend together again, it was heartening watching Tella’s thirst for adventures be fabulously quenched.

That said, I have felt a disconnect in Garber’s storytelling since A Curse for True Love, and this continues with Spectacular.

Truthfully, my rating feels too generous, but this is a world I have much to thank for. I’m thankful for another adventure with a heroine I so dearly loved.


Tella, you’ll always be my 5 star girl.