MoodReads - Romance Book Discovery
The Stacks
DiscoverMy ShelvesReading Stats
Sign upLog in
MoodReads - Romantasy Book Discovery

because goodreads doesn't
have a spice filter

Discover

  • Discover Page
  • Reading Stacks
  • Tropes
  • Moods
  • Creatures
  • Spicy Books

Get MoodReads

  • so what is it.
  • iOS App
  • Browser Extension
  • MoodReads Premium
  • Gift a Subscription
  • For Creators
  • Share MoodReads

Go Deeper

  • FAQ
  • Roadmap
  • Request a Feature
  • vs Goodreads
  • vs StoryGraph
  • Who Built This?

The Serious Stuff

  • Values
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Support

get emails when something big happens. no spam, just news.

© 2026 MoodReads. Built by a romantasy reader for romantasy readers.

rattle the stars, bitches.

Cover of Legendary

Legendary

by Stephanie Garber

🌶️fade to black·Caraval #2
4.2 on MoodReads (5 ratings)4.1 on Goodreads (467,178)

Rate this book

sign in to add to shelves, track reading status, and see your stats

find similar →
ReportSpoiler settings

Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

The Caraval sequel turns up the magic and the stakes - Tella takes center stage as the game gets darker and Jacks becomes one of the most memorable villain-love interests in YA fantasy.

Synopsis

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.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Book two trades Scarlett's POV for Tella's and the story is stronger for it - Legendary goes darker, twistier, and more magical than Caraval. The romance is a push-pull love triangle between the charming Dante and the dangerous Fate Jacks. Spice stays fade-to-black (Garber's signature), but the yearning and tension run hot. Ends on a cliffhanger that sends you straight to Finale.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.09 ★ (467.2k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

451 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2018

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Young Adult

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Third Person

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Slow Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (unspecified)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Rebecca Soler

Narrator Count

Single

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
love triangleforbidden lovefairytale retellingadventure romancecompetition romancegames/trials romancehidden identitysecret heir/royaltyimmortal/mortal romance
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

whimsicalmysteriousdreamymagicalatmosphericromanticseductivedramaticthrilling

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

lushdreamywhimsicalatmosphericlyricalimmersive

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

medium

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

moderate

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

magical game, morally gray immortal love interest, sister bond, illusion vs reality, romantic mystery

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

adventurersnarky/sarcasticperformerrunaway / on the rundeceptively deadly

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

morally gray MMCmysterious strangercursed MMCanti-heroimmortal/ancient

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

slow burnmorally gray LImutual piningpush and pullstar-crossedhe falls first

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
Spice Level 1

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

tension / anticipationlonging glancesslow burn with late spiceromantic / sweet

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

tensionanticipationlonging glanceseye contact intensityear whispers / breath on neck

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

None
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (7)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
violencedeathkidnappingdruggingdubious consentabandonmentblood
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

high fantasymythological

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

big city / metropolisroyal court / palacecompetition / gamescircus / theatre / performance troupe

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

gods/deitieshumans only

RepresentationIdentity representation in the book. LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, body type, age and more.

N/A

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

the swoontension finally satisfiedaddictive readescapeadrenaline rush

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

anytime

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

cozy eveningrainy weekendvacationlazy Sunday

Caraval

Caraval

#1 Caraval

Legendary

#2 Legendary

Finale

#3 Finale

Spectacular

#3.5 Spectacular

this page is just the start

  • import your Goodreads or StoryGraph TBR. we tag every book with spice, tropes, CWs, mood, all of it
  • tell us a vibe (“enemies to lovers fae, high spice”) and BookMatch finds the book
  • 4,000+ romantasy books searchable by 45 fields
  • book clubs, reading challenges, and a community of readers who get it
free account

Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️fade to black
PagesHow long the commitment is.451
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2018
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.09 ★ (467.2k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Caraval #2
Similar picks →

My Notes

Loading...

Short Takes

quick 280-character reactions for this book. drop a thought, rate the vibe, keep scrolling.

Sign in to share your take.

Loading...

Book Chat

live reactions, hot takes, screaming into the void about Legendary

Similar Books

Cover of Divine Rivals

Divine Rivals

Letters of Enchantment, #1

Rebecca Ross

🌶️·third person
workplace romancehidden identityforbidden love
Cover of The Cruel Prince

The Cruel Prince

The Folk of the Air, #1

Holly Black

🌶️·first person
fae romanceforbidden lovecourt intrigue
Cover of Sorcery of Thorns

Sorcery of Thorns

Sorcery of Thorns, #1

Margaret Rogerson

🌶️·third person
rivals competingforbidden lovemagic bond
Cover of Crown of Midnight

Crown of Midnight

Throne of Glass, #2

Sarah J. Maas

🌶️·third person
forbidden lovebodyguard/protection detailsecret heir/royalty
Cover of The Wicked King

The Wicked King

The Folk of the Air, #2

Holly Black

🌶️·first person·✓
fae romanceforbidden lovesecret heir/royalty
Cover of Golden Chains (Fantasy and Fairytales, #2)

Golden Chains (Fantasy and Fairytales, #2)

Fantasy and Fairytales, #2

M. Lynn

🌶️·dual POV·✓
enemies to loversforbidden lovefairytale retelling
Cover of Never Ever After

Never Ever After

Never Ever After, #1

Sue Lynn Tan

🌶️🌶️·first person
fairytale retellinghidden identitysecret heir/royalty
Cover of Divergent

Divergent

Divergent, #1

Veronica Roth

🌶️🌶️·first person·✓
hidden identitymentor/student dynamicsslow burn