Stephanie Garber

Rebecca Soler

A Caraval Novel

Finale

With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she's going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.

Caraval #3

isn’t that evangeline fox from the ballad of never after?!??!

taci

Hairline cracks formed along the edges of Legend's illusionary windows. “Which Fate?" "The Poisoner again. He turned an entire wedding party to stone near Idyllwild Castle. They're fine now," Jovan added quickly. "But the person who saved them isn't. The Poisoner left a note saying that the party would only become human again once someone willingly took their place. The bride's sister sacrificed herself." Scarlett clasped her hands together, as if she wanted to send up a prayer to the saints. "Is the sister stone now?" Jovan nodded grimly. "I'm sorry, sir. We took all the precautions you asked."

Julian offered his condolences first. Somewhere during her story, he'd moved close to Scarlett and wWrapped an arm around her shoulder. Legend still remained distant. He leaned against one of the gleaming walls, but when he looked at Tella, all the earlier anger and wariness had disappeared, replaced with a look so indescribably gentle, she would never have pictured it on his face. “I wish it was in my power to bring her back. I know how much she meant to you, and I'm sorry you lost her the way that you did,"

"Did you really have to use your guards?" She tried to keep her voice as even as his was, but it was difficult. She could feel Jacks's spell cracking. Her chest was tight and her head was pounding. And Legend still hadn't unlocked her cell door. "If you'd wanted to find me, why didn't you just visit me in my dreams and ask me where I was?" A quick clench of his jaw. "I tried to." Then why couldn't you?" Tella said. Shortly after he'd first showed up in her dreams, he'd taught her how to control parts of themlittle tricks to change what she wore and larger tricks in case she didn't want certain people entering her dreams. But even when she'd been mad at Legend, she'd always let him in. "I wasn't keeping you out." "I know. But something else was."

And then she felt the hard press of metal as the female darted forward and quickly linked chain cuffs around Tella's wrists. "What are you doing?" Tella shouted. We're placing you under arrest, by order of His Highness, Prince Dante."

"Go ahead!" Tella cried as she barreled up the stairs. She didn't know what was going on, but she needed to see her sister and- Tella crashed to a halt just outside the door. Only fragments of defenseless wood now hung from its hinges. Someone had nailed a sheet to the frame, but somehow that made it even worse, like a closed casket at a funeral. Tella yanked the fabric back with one pull. "Scarlett?" she called. But her voice was met with only silence and chaos. and The furniture was splintered and charred, the mirrors were cracked, shards of the chandeliers covered the ground in sharp glass tears. 

"Wait- Tella grabbed the edge and held tight. The woman must not have recognized Tella in her current state of dishevelment. I have a suite here on the second floor with my sister:" "Not anymore." The owner puckered her mouth. You and your sister have been evicted for destruction of property. Leave or I'll have you arrested."

He kissed her harder, possessively, nipping her jaw, then her neck, as his lips and teeth trailed down to her collarbone. Before, he could feel her emotions, but now she could feel his. Even though he'd taken both her pain and her sorrow, that wasn't what he was feeling now. He felt desire. Desperation. Lust. Obsession. He wanted her. She was all he wanted. All he thought about. She felt it in the way the kiss began to shift from reckless and hungry to languorous and savoring, as if he'd considered this for a very long time and now he was acting out all the things he'd imagined.

Maybe she should have let him kiss her ... maybe it wouldn't hurt her this time. "I promise it won't hurt this time," he rasped against her mouth. Tella let her lips pass over his again. He was a liar and a Fate. But when she pressed her mouth to his, it felt better than anything else had that day. Her pain shattered as he kissed her back. Everything was a tangle of tongues and tears and blood and heartbreak as Jacks continued to take her

"Look at me," Jacks hissed through his teeth. Tella opened her eyes. Jacks's forehead was damp with sweat and his chest moved unevenly as his ragged breathing matched hers. He wasn't just removing her pain, he was taking it. Bloody tears streaked his cheeks and agony turned his eyes pale. Tella clutched his hands tighter and pressed her forehead to his. "Is this transaction too intense for you," Jacks panted, "or are you actually worried about me?" "Don't flatter yourself." "Don't lie to meH feel everything you're feeling right now." His lips moved so close to her mouth she could taste his bloody tears dripping down

"I don't," he bit out. “I still can't control emotions the way I used to, or give someone feelings that they don't have. But I can temporarily remove unwanted feelings. I can take away your pain for tonight." His icy fingers lingered on her cheek, a numbing promise and a warning all at once. I won't be permanently erasing it, my love. You'll still experience it. But when your sorrow returns tomorrow, it won't be as powerful as it is now."

"Why are you helping me?" Tella finally managed. Unlike Legend, who either hid his feelings or pretended to have them when he didn't, Jacks never pretended to care. When he had an agenda, he just made threats to get what he wanted. You're not fun when you're this pathetic. I can't torment you if you're already miserable." His hand left her hair to press against her cheek and brush several tears away. The touch was as soft as the last kiss her mother had pressed to that very same cheek, and Tella lost what she'd been able to keep together.

"Who is Gavriel?" Tella choked out. "Which Fate is he?" Jacks's cold fingers tensed against her back. "I'm only telling you this because I like him even less than I like you. Gavriel is the Fallen Star." The same Fate who, according to Legend's witch, had created all the Fates. A venomous surge of rage briefly broke through Tella's shock. If Legend really did want to kill the Fallen Star to defeat the other Fates, he'd have to get in line. "Tll find a way to destroy him," Tella vowed.

Tella managed to crawl forward an inch. She wasn't ready to give up yet. Her mother couldn't be dead. Her mother was too strong to die. Tella had fought too hard to lose her. The story wasn't supposed to end this way. I will rip your arms from your chest! "You sonofa" A hand clamped over her lips. Cold and sweet, like apples and Fated magic. "Quiet, my love," Jacks whispered. There's nothing you can do for her now except keep yourself alive." His cool fingers stayed in place until after Gavriel finally died from the wound her mother had inflicted. His massive body fell to the ground. The cavern should have filled with silence, but Tella could hear the pieces of her heart as it shattered.

tanta coisa para a salvar e ela vai morrer? não me parece 

"Do you still want revenge?" Paloma gasped finally. "Or do you want to be "Maybe revenge can wait." His mouth returned to her mother's. Tella started to close her eyes; she couldn't watch any more of this. But other's hands as Paloma pulled out a knife and quickly dug it into the Fate's with me, too?" just as she was about to stop looking, she caught a glimpse of silver in her heart. A roar echoed across the cavern. Tella could have cheered. But she wasn't sure what her mother was doing. Fates were immortals; if they died, they just came back to life. But maybe her mother knew something Tella did not. She held her breath as the wheel came around yet again. But the Fate wasn't lying on the ground or falling to a temporary death. He was standing, staring at Paloma as if she'd truly surprised him. Then, in a flash, too quick for Tella to see, his massive hand pulled out the dagger and thrust it into Paloma's chest and twisted.

"Gavriel." Paloma said his name as if it were a secret that only she'd been told. "I've missed you so much. I hoped you'd come back to these ruins." The wheel continued to spin. When the fragmented piece came around again, the man's hand was in her mother's hair. "You're as beautiful as I remember," he said. Then his lips pressed to hers, and Tella swore all the flames in the cavern surged brighter. The sparks in the air glowed like stars. Tella could feel their heat from behind the wheel. Tella was going to be ill. She wanted the wheel to stop, to block her from seeing anything else, but instead it began turning faster, as if it was enthralled by the kiss. Tella prayed to the saints for the embrace to end, or that she'd at least regain her ability to move, to fully block it out. But her limbs remained numb and the kiss went on, intimate and burning and so, so very wrong.

"I love you so much, and I'm sorry." Something sharp poked out from the tips of Paloma's gloves and pricked Tella's nape. She felt a bite of cold and a sense of liquid being injected into her veins. Whwhat " Her tongue felt suddenly heavy and useless. She wanted to ask what her mother had done. She wanted to ask why she suddenly couldn't move her arms or legs. She wanted to say so much more. But nothing came out except that one powerless what. Her mother had only pulled her close so she could paralyze Tella with the tips of the gloves. This must have been what she'd done to the knocked-out guards. "It will be all right," Paloma soothed. Her hands hooked beneath Tella's arms. But nothing felt fine.

Paloma looked like a wicked version of Scarlett. Tella didn't know where her mother had found new clothes, but she now wore a floor-length black leather coat with short sleeves that showed off long garnet-red gloves. They were the same color as her corset top. On her legs, Paloma wore fitted bone-white breeches, which tucked into black leather boots that went over her knees. A dagger rested in a sheath, snug against her calf, while a thin silver rope wrapped around her opposite thigh like a pet snake. She looked brutal and beautiful, like a criminal who'd just escaped from a Wanted poster-a myth who'd ripped herself free from a story to give it a different ending. And Tella desperately wanted to be a part of that ending. "Please, don't leave again!" Tella cried.

My loves, I'm so sorry to leave you, but I knew that if I waited any longer, it would be too hard for me to go. Please forgive me, and do not look for me again. All I ever wanted was to protect you, but my presence will only put the two of you in more danger. If I am awake, then the Fates are waking up as well, and all of Valenda is in peril. As long as you are in this city, you are not safe. You must get as far away from the Fates as possible. immediately. Leave Valenda The Fates are as vicious as the stories say.

The room was colder than it had been when she left, and quiet. Too quiet. The only sound came from a fly buzzing toward the stolen feast in her hands. "I'm back!" Tella tried not to be nervous at the lack of her mother's response. Being anxious was her sister's role. But Tella couldn't stop her sense of growing unease. An apricot fell onto the floor as Tella quickened her pace. And then the entire tray threatened to fall from her trembling hands. The bed was vacant.

She ran into her mother's room and immediately crashed to a halt at the sight of her mother sitting up in the bed. The world stopped. The outside noises from the festival vanished. 

"What's the first challenge?" Nicolas asked. Scarlett tried to remember what she'd read in the history books. But this was her game; she could do it however she wanted. "Each of you must bring me a gift within the next three days, but it must be something you've never given to anyone else," "Will we get a prize if we bring the best gift?" Julian asked. «yes," Scarlett said. "Il give a kiss to the winner of each individual challenge, and at the end of the game, I'll marry whoever wins." It was the sort of thing Tella would have said. It was bold, and it made Scarlett feel bold as well.

"They did this in the early days of the Meridian Empire," she went o "Young ladies from wealthy or noble families would arrange a series of tasks, so that their gentleman suitors could show off their skills. Whoever completed them first or best would then mary the young lady." Nicolas ran a hand over his mouth, as if trying to hide his expression, but she could tell he was intrigued. This shouldn't be a game," Julian said. "Afraid you'll lose?" Nicolas definitely puffed his chest this time. Julian muttered something under his breath. His posture was tense and his jaw was clenched, making the scar that ran from his jaw to his eye turn into an aggravated white line. "Crimson, don't make this a game."

Julian." He offered his hand. But Nicolas refused to let go of Scarlett's. "I wasn't aware Scarlett had a brother." "Tm not her brother." Julian kept his tone friendly, but Scarlett felt a surge of bruising purple panic as devilry sparked in Julian's eyes. "I'm not related to her at all. I'm an actor she played with during Caraval." him. Julian would choose now to finally be honest. remained even as he pet Timber with his free hand. He emphasized the words played with, and Scarlett could have choked Not that Nicolas appeared disturbed. The young count's broad smile But Julian wasn't finished. Im not surprised she's never mentioned me. At the start of Caraval I don't think she liked me much. But then we were given the same bedroom" "Julian, enough," Scarlett cut in.

As a part of Caraval, Julian was ageless. He could die and stay dead if someone killed him when a game wasn't in play, but he would never grow old as long as he was one of Legend's performers. Scarlett could never ask him to give that up. She didn't know if Legend would still hold the games now that he was to become emperor. But given how Julian had just disappeared for weeks, it was clear Legend still controlled him. Any future Scarlett and Julian might have together was destined not to last. And yet even knowing all of this, she couldn't bring herself to pull her hand away from his.

took me forever to finish. The ending was good though

Christine

I cannot believe how much I love this story and these characters. And this one was no different. 

The characters growth was done so well, the risks where even mlre greater amd the twists where done really well.

I dont know who my favourite sister is but I love reading both their pov I need more form these characters.

Samantha King

I cannot believe how much I love this story and these characters. And this one was no different. 

The characters growth was done so well, the risks where even mlre greater amd the twists where done really well.

I dont know who my favourite sister is but I love reading both their pov I need more form these characters.



I liked it. The first Caraval is still my favorite, but this is a close second. 

Salomé Gleusteen 

Gabriela Kondratyuk

This book means everything to me 😭😭

I love all the character so so much. I don’t think I’ll ever get over them 😭😭

Keira 💫

This book means everything to me 😭😭

I love all the character so so much. I don’t think I’ll ever get over them 😭😭

nany

I can't explain how much I love this trilogy. I live happily knowing that tella and legend are together

Nala

This and the first book are my favourite of the series I liked how we got both Scarlett’s pov and tella’s . I loved how they teamed up w the fates and killed Scarlett’s other dad the ones that’s the main fate and whatever gale I read this book.

Hana 

A really interesting book that I can read again if I have to and definitely contains humour that I love 

While this book at times made me feel so bored and just made me want to finish it, i so loved these characters and this story. this trilogy was so good and i’m so happy i read these books!

Piper Palmer

3.75*

While this book at times made me feel so bored and just made me want to finish it, i so loved these characters and this story. this trilogy was so good and i’m so happy i read these books!

Anjorin Molayo 

arwen

I feel like they finally found peace, but the ending was very rushed in my opinion. It was still a very good read but that could’ve been better.

Kayleigh Vermeij

kait

the other two books were better but this was still good

berat rasanya selesaikan buku ini.

buku ke-2 nya terakhir aku baca kurang lebih 4 tahun lalu, awalnya aku pikir bakal lupa dan bingung dengan isinya. tapi narasi-narasi dalam buku ini berhasil mengingatkan kembali beberapa bagian dalam 2 buku yang lalu.

tentu saja serial Caraval ini ngga pernah buat aku kagum. romansa dalam buku ke-3 ini lebih banyak, walaupun lebih terombang-ambing rasanya karena ketidakpastian.

ending yang bahagia walaupun perjalanannya tidak menyenangkan sama sekali.

jadi penasaran, adakah kisah selanjutnya dari mereka?

Hannah Bauer

** spoiler alert **
           My girl got two super powerful immortal hotties fighting over her and I can’t even get a text back smh

Selin Igten

hated the ending actually wish it was more tella focused

akynn 

I don't know how it's possible to feel both underwhelmed and overwhelmed, but this book managed to make me feel exactly like that. Finale was messy. I'll have to be honest about that. It wanted to tell a lot of things, but it couldn't unless it ended up being a thousand pages longer. Though, I wouldn't have minded if a lot more was expounded upon, such as the background of the Fates, especially on the Fallen Star. He felt like such an underdeveloped character and antagonist, but his story managed to end up so tragic. I wanted to see more of him and Paradise, but I guess that's what fics are for hahahaha. Anyway! I didn't hate the book for it being all over the place. I actually quite liked it being so unstructured at some points because that's a part of the experience of caraval. You're supposed to feel confused all the time. But I didn't like how the endings felt so unsatisfying. Oh, everything was solved with the power of love! It was a bit hilarious to me reading that. And I really couldn't vibe with Tella and Legend at all. It's just my personal preference. But this emotionally unavailable man was the source of so many of my exasperated sighs. But it's fine. It's fine. I'm just glad Scarlett and Julian are okay. It's still absolutely insane to me how Nicholas just dies as a way for Scarlett to not have to tell him that she chose Julian. It was so sad it was funny to me. And then Jacks. Ugh. I'm so. Glad that there's another trilogy with him being involved. He just poofed away; it was a bit disappointing to have such an interesting character just vanish in the end. I could have given this book four stars like the other two in the trilogy, but I guess I didn't like this one as much as the last two. I still really enjoyed it despite some of my qualms about it.

Mirror

A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for... It's been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn't really exist. With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she's going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him. Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.

Finale (Caraval 3)

The ending should have been with scarlett and her new gloves and not tella being a pick me 

Cassie 

I enjoyed the series. All three books were pretty quick and enjoyable reads, but I wished we would see a bit more of Legend and Tella together. I feel like the story ended pretty abruptly, while I think a little more story about how things will continue would have been nice. 

Isabelle

I enjoyed the series. All three books were pretty quick and enjoyable reads, but I wished we would see a bit more of Legend and Tella together. I feel like the story ended pretty abruptly, while I think a little more story about how things will continue would have been nice. 

3,25 ✨

chloe rae

*3.5

I honestly don't even know how to review this book. Like, I enjoyed it, I flew through it, but it was just...a lot. And honestly, it felt like it was trying to do wayyy too much.
Basically, this book was just a giant cat and mouse game between the two sisters and their respective love interests, and then there was this really juicy, intense plot happening on the sidelines. The romances (one more than the other) took over the entire story! We missed SO MUCH of what was happening with Scarlett at a certain point because we were following Tella and her exhausting "I love him/I don't love him. He loves me/he doesn't love me" chapters and it got to be so annoying. And that's crazy for me to say because I LOVE the love interests! Dante and Julian are both such stellar characters and they're so interesting and dreamy, but I feel like we missed some good stuff because of them! And then the plot just kept diving one way and then the next and then a DIFFERENT way which can be exciting but also just began to give me whiplash. I was definitely surprised at some points, and excited to see what was going to happen, but then it'd change again and it'd take me out of it. 
There's almost so much that happens in this book that there isn't enough time to get the necessary reactions from the characters. Something major happened at the beginning of this book that I thought would've totally wrecked some of the characters and they only talked about it for maybe 5 pages? And I thought this something was uncalled for and played out weirdly and overall, just too much.
And I liked the ending but I just found myself asking, "that's it?" All this build up, and that was it?
I don't know. I really don't know how I feel about it and I've been thinking on it for a couple days. I really enjoyed the series, I know I'll probably read it again in the future, but overall, not as spectacular of an ending as I anticipated.

What a way to end this trilogy. I absolutely love all of these characters now after being iffy about one from the second book. The story is fast-paced and action-packed. You are entertained the whole time and I just love the magic in the books. It isn’t overwhelming and adds just the right amount of extra into the series that makes it so good. I was scared going in and having both Scarlett and Donatella’s POV it wouldn’t work but it really was balanced out with their stories they told. What this also made me excited for is Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy as well and the story continuation that happens with a character from this trilogy. High recommend this series if you are wondering if you should start it.

Priscilla Stanfield

trust me when i tell you that this was an absolute roller coaster. there was soo much going on, especially at the end. i liked the conclusion, although i have to admit that it kinda felt rushed a bit for me. for the first part of the book everything was going really slow and then all over sudden everything was happening all at once. i do like tella & legend and julian & scarlett and their endings were quite satisfying. however,  there were other relationships i would've wished were more included into this trilogy, for example julian and legend as siblings or the performers, that almost didn't play any role in the third book. there were some things i would've wished were done differently, but over all still quite good.

Finale A Caraval Novel

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