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Quick answer: If you loved Caraval, try Legendary, Once Upon a Broken Heart, The Night Circus, The Cruel Prince, Stardust and The Hazel Wood. Each one is full of magical games, dazzling settings and romance where nothing is quite what it seems.
Stephanie Garber's novel follows Scarlett, who has always dreamed of attending Caraval, a magical performance where the audience takes part in a game. When her sister Tella is kidnapped by the game's mysterious master, Legend, Scarlett has five nights to find her. Readers love its lush descriptions, twists and romance. These books share the same sense of wonder and mystery.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legendary | Stephanie Garber | 13+ | readers who want more Caraval |
| Once Upon a Broken Heart | Stephanie Garber | 13+ | readers who want more Garber |
| The Night Circus | Erin Morgenstern | 15+ | readers who like magical competitions |
| The Cruel Prince | Holly Black | 14+ | readers who like faerie games |
| Stardust | Neil Gaiman | 14+ | readers who like fairy tales |
| The Hazel Wood | Melissa Albert | 14+ | readers who like dark fairy tales |
| Shadow and Bone | Leigh Bardugo | 13+ | readers who like mysterious rulers |
| Wintersong | S. Jae-Jones | 14+ | readers who like a Goblin King |
| Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo | 14+ | readers who like schemes |
| A Darker Shade of Magic | V. E. Schwab | 14+ | readers who like parallel worlds |
| The Starless Sea | Erin Morgenstern | 15+ | readers who like hidden worlds |
| Spin the Dawn | Elizabeth Lim | 13+ | readers who like quests |
| The Wrath and the Dawn | Renée Ahdieh | 14+ | readers who like romance and danger |
| Daughter of Smoke & Bone | Laini Taylor | 14+ | readers who like lush writing |
| The Gilded Wolves | Roshani Chokshi | 14+ | readers who like puzzles |
1. Legendary by Stephanie Garber
Tella must find Legend's true name in a new game to save her mother.
Best for: readers who want more Caraval.
2. Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
Evangeline makes a deal with the Prince of Hearts.
Best for: readers who want more Garber.
3. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Two magicians compete within a circus that appears without warning.
Best for: readers who like magical competitions.
4. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
A mortal girl schemes for power in the High Court.
Best for: readers who like faerie games.
5. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
A young man crosses into Faerie to catch a fallen star.
Best for: readers who like fairy tales.
6. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
A girl discovers her grandmother's fairy tales are real.
Best for: readers who like dark fairy tales.
7. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
An orphan discovers her power.
Best for: readers who like mysterious rulers.
8. Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones
A girl enters the Underground to save her sister.
Best for: readers who like a Goblin King.
9. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Six outcasts attempt an impossible heist.
Best for: readers who like schemes.
10. A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab
A magician travels between four versions of London.
Best for: readers who like parallel worlds.
11. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
A student discovers an underground library of stories.
Best for: readers who like hidden worlds.
12. Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
A girl competes to become the royal tailor and must sew three magical dresses.
Best for: readers who like quests.
13. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
A girl marries a murderous king to avenge her friend.
Best for: readers who like romance and danger.
14. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
An art student raised by monsters discovers her true identity.
Best for: readers who like lush writing.
15. The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
Treasure hunters plan a heist in Paris.
Best for: readers who like puzzles.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Caraval: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
Continue with Legendary and Finale, or move on to Once Upon a Broken Heart. For magical competitions, try The Night Circus or Spin the Dawn. If you like mysterious faeries and games, choose The Cruel Prince or Wintersong. For gorgeous worlds, read Daughter of Smoke & Bone or A Darker Shade of Magic. If the bond between Scarlett and Tella was your favorite part, Wintersong and The Hazel Wood also put family loyalty at the center. Readers who want a heist with the same sense of play should choose Six of Crows or The Gilded Wolves, which both reward close attention to clues and twists.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Caraval for?
It is usually recommended for ages 13 and up.
How many Caraval books are there?
There are three: Caraval, Legendary and Finale.
Is Caraval connected to Once Upon a Broken Heart?
Yes. They share a world and some characters.
Is Caraval a romance?
It has romance, but sisters and the mystery drive the story.
Is Caraval spicy?
No. It is YA, with kissing but no explicit scenes.