The holidays are my favorite time of year. And what better way to begin the Christmas season than with a book from one of my favorite authors? Stephanie Garber has written two great series (Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart). Spectacular is a holiday novella that also serves as the fourth book in the Caraval series. It’s packed like a Christmas present with intrigue, magic, and (of course) LOTS of romance! Keep reading to learn all about Spectacular by Stephanie Garber.
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.
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.
World, Characters, and Plot
As always, the world of Caraval is absolutely stunning. The magic system is unlike anything I’ve read before, and adding a special holiday overlay only made the story more — you guessed it — spectacular! From special once-a-year holiday streets to a city within a snowglobe, this novella is brimming to the edge with all kinds of Christmas cheer.
I loved getting to follow Tella as she struggled to find the perfect gift. Each chapter was fast paced with twists at every page turn. The story itself didn’t really change any major plot details, but I loved how it added to the depth of both Tella and Legend. The book has great themes of the heart behind gift-giving. And it’s short and sweet! I truly love novellas because they give so much in so little space. Having just finished a massive tome (Brandon Sanderson fans know), Spectacular was the perfect story to get me in the fun and festive Christmas spirit.
P.S: Although this isn’t part of the actual “book book,” I had to add a note about the artwork, because wow. It’s stunning.
PAGED IN: There isn’t any profanity in Spectacular. But the romance… It’s highly sexually suggestive. I think that the pretty illustrations, YA classification, and length of Spectacular suggest that it’s a story for younger teens, but it is not. Just like the Caraval series, the content veers into iffy territory (although it is always fade-to-black).
Conclusion
When I shut Spectacular, it felt like the day after Christmas. I was so sad this story had to end! This year, I know what I’m putting on my Christmas wish list… another holiday novella in the world of Caraval! The beautiful artwork, Christmassy atmosphere, and fun plot were perfect for a holiday story. 5 out of 5 stars!
You can buy Spectacular here.
Marie
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