Spectacular (Novella) Book Review
Spectacular by Stephanie Garber book review and recommendation with NO SPOILERS
Date: 12-26-24 Post Written By: MK Overall Rating: 6.0/10
Book Cover Rating: 9.4/10
(My personal opinion)
Title: Spectacular
Author: Stephanie Garber
Illustrator: Rosie Fowinkle (Yes, this book is illustrated!! I had no idea before buying it).
Pages: 207
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Subplots: Holiday
Series: Caraval #3.5
Publisher: Flatiron Books
First Published: 2024
Number of Editions: 32
Goodreads Rating: 3.68/5
Number of Goodreads Ratings: 67,450
Amazon Rating: 3.9/5
Number of Amazon Ratings: 2,561
Common Sense Media Age Recommendation: 14+
Book Type: Novella
Hook: Finally! Almost time for holiday that the whole city loves! Today is The-Great-Holiday-Eve-Eve! Almost time for The Great Holiday. Everyone is enjoying themselves and all the Great Holiday magic. Tella wants to enjoy it with everyone else. But that’s easier said than done when Legend is keeping his distance and clearly isn’t enjoying himself. All Tella wants is to cheer him up- and what way to better do that than find him the perfect gift? She is determined. But, it’s not quite as simple as that for her- because she has both no idea what to get for him, and doesn’t even know where he is….
Overall Book Rating: 6.0/10
I would maybe recommend this book
Review: This book CERTAINLY had spirit. I LOVED the Caraval series, but I just don’t think this book was quite as good as the rest of them. It wasn’t quite as exciting to me. Also I was COMPLETELY stunned to see it had PICTURES. This book did fit in with the rest of the series pretty well, I just wasn’t as interested in its plot. The plot felt a little stiff, but the descriptions and details were AMAZING. As always, I liked the characters, especially Tella. This book was full of holiday spirit, but overall, I honestly didn’t love this quite as much as I was expecting too.
Main Characters:
Donatella Dragna- Tella is the main character of this book. She’s super independent and reckless. She’s constantly making spur-of-the-moment decisions and is super entertaining.
Legend- Legend is Tella’s boyfriend (he seems a whole lot more committed than a standard boyfriend, but he’s not her fiancé (at least as far as we know….)). He is mysterious and secretive. He does NOT like the Great Holiday.
Scarlett Dragna- Scarlett is Tella’s older sister. She LOVES the Great Holiday and is extremely festive.
Character Rating: 9.5/10
Setting:
This book takes place in Valenda. It is the capital city of the Meridian Empire. It is split into different sections, some of which are safer than others.
Setting Rating: 10/10
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Stephanie Garber is a bestselling author of multiple series
She lives in North Carolina
She is a creative writing teacher
For more information, view Stephanie Garber’s website: stephaniegarberauthor.com
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