Re-Review--Spectacular by Stephanie Garber

 

Welcome, welcome back to the mysteriously enchanting world of CARAVAL! Return to the legendary magic and the whimsical wonder with this beautifully illustrated holiday novella.

Snowflakes are falling.
Invitations are arriving.
And holiday magic is swirling in the capital city of the Meridian Empire.

It’s Great Holiday Eve Eve. Scarlett Dragna is planning a spectacular Holiday celebration for the city. Donatella is searching for the perfect gift. Julian is looking ridiculously handsome in green. And Legend . . .

Well, sadly Legend is not fond of the Great Holiday. Tella is hoping her perfect gift will change his mind. Unfortunately, she hasn’t found this perfect gift just yet. But it is Great Holiday Eve Eve . . . surely there’s some holiday magic swirling around.

Welcome, welcome back to the world of Caraval, where even holidays are not as they seem.

Set after Stephanie Garber's #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling Caraval series, this delightful novella will take readers on the ultimate holiday adventure full of clockwork boys, poisoned candy, impish snow globes, merriment, and―if Tella gets her way―love.

Gorgeously illustrated by Rosie Thorns, SPECTACULAR is the perfect edition for collectors, readers, dreamers, and lovers of holiday magic.

I decided that since it's the holidays, I wanted to read the one holiday read that I own! Naturally, Spectacular by Stephanie Garber was just as amazing as it was the second time around! Although this time I felt like I caught the hints as to what was happening before. The first go around, I remember noticing these things but didn't think much of them, but now it all comes together! Lol.

In this story, we follow Tella around as she struggles to find the perfect Great Holiday gift for Legend. Legend isn't a fan of the holidays and lately, Tella feels like Legend might be pulling away from her. Perhaps he's regretting giving up his immortality for her. So she wants to find the most perfect, most grandest gift ever.

As Tella scours the streets looking for the famed Mr. Garland's Toy Store that only appears on the Great Holiday Eve Eve, she instead encounters a strange clockwork boy and then she passes out. She awakens and overhears two girls talking about trying out for the next Caraval game. Tella knows Legend is planning the next game, but there's something off about what exactly the girls are talking about and she decides to follow them. She believes uncovering whoever the imposter Legend is would in fact be the perfect gift for Legend.

But naturally, Tella's plan doesn't go quite at planned and she finds herself at the mercy of her kidnapper.

I almost feel like you have to have read the Caraval trilogy before this, and you have to remember what Tella's last letter to Legend said. I binged the trilogy before reading this one for the first time, so things made sense. Well, what occurs here may seem a little unpleasant, but if you read the prior books you catch onto what's happening fairly quick as you put the pieces together. And if you read closely, you'll see the little hints that the characters give you too.

This time around I picked up the Waterstones exclusive to read the bonus scene and it was a fun moment between brothers, Legend and Julian, and omg, Stephanie I need that next story asap! Not that there is going to be one, but I feel like Stephanie left enough fodder and hints that there could be another novella and omg I want it, need it now! There's definite potential here and I am all for it if Stephanie ever wants to write it! It doesn't even have to be illustrated, but I wouldn't say no to it either!

The illustrations were once again lovely! I could stare at them all day really! I love the details Rosie took to bring Stephanie's words to life! They are truly stunning! Though they are in the black and white with a hint of read combo, you can still see the other colors Stephanie had described. This book is pure magic! Which doesn't surprise me since Stephanie wrote it, but Rosie Fowinkle's art is the icing on the cake!

This novella just makes me heart oh so happy! Tella was always my favorite character and I loved seeing her back in action! We still get interludes with Scarlett and Julian as well, but I feel like their relationship was less complicated than Tella and Legend 's, so I guess that's why I gravitated towards them more. Plus my love for Tella! She is still a riot!

If you're looking for a little holiday magic, than be sure to check out Spectacular! It's a book full to the brim with magic and since a holiday takes place during the story it makes now the perfect time to read or re-read it! While you don't have to have read the Caraval trilogy beforehand, I do find it very helpful as it's that added knowledge of who the characters are that will be of a great help and will keep you on the right track! It's a light-hearted story filled with love, mystery, holiday cheer, and of course, magic!

Overall Rating 5/5 stars