Mini-Review: Spectacular (Caraval #3.5)

Spectacular (Caraval #3.5) by Stephanie Garber

Published By: Hodderscape
Publication Date: October 22, 2024
Date Read: December 17, 2024
Genre: YA – Fantasy
Source: Bought
Format: Hardback
Pages: 151

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The #1 Sunday Times bestseller is back with a festive winter treat, set in the world of the bestselling Caraval series! With gorgeous interior illustrations by Rosie Thorns.

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 a fan 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.

Complete with gorgeous illustrations, this is the perfect edition for collectors, readers, dreamers, and lovers of holiday magic.

I’ve been a big fan of Stephanie Garber since I first picked up Caraval back in 2017, not long after it released. I just fell head over heels in love with her magical writing style and even back then, I remember thinking her writing style would suit a magical Christmas story so much. So imagine my excitement when 7 years later, she published a Christmas novella in the Caraval world. Naturally, I absolutely devoured this novella.

I was so excited to see that Spectacular focused on my favourite Caraval characters, Tella and Legend. This is a super short story filled to the brim with gorgeous artwork, so if you’re interested in reading this, I really recommend picking up the physical copy to get the full experience. I don’t want to say too much, as anything I say plot wise will end up spoiling something, but this was such a joy to read and it will be on my ‘December re-reads’ list from now on. It is so cosy and cute and really just gets you right in the Christmas spirit. This is one that can definitely be read in one sitting and I highly recommend it to all Caraval and Stephanie Garber fans. It was adorable.