Book · in order
Caraval Books in Order
Stephanie Garber's Caraval world spans two trilogies plus a holiday novella. Read the Caraval trilogy first (Caraval, Legendary, Finale), then the illustrated novella Spectacular, then the Once Upon a Broken Heart spin-off centered on Jacks, the Prince of Hearts.
Caraval Books in Order โ complete list
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Why this order?
Stephanie Garber's Caraval world is built from two connected trilogies plus a holiday novella, and the simplest rule is to read everything in publication order, which also happens to be the best story order. Begin with the Caraval trilogy: Caraval (2017), Legendary (2018), and Finale (2019). These follow the Dragna sisters, Scarlett and Donatella, as they get pulled into a once-a-year magical game run by the elusive Legend, where nothing is quite as it seems. The three books form one continuous arc, so reading them in order is essential rather than optional.
After Finale comes Spectacular: A Caraval Holiday Novella (2024), an illustrated coda by Garber and artist Rosie Fowinkle in which Tella hunts for the perfect gift for Legend. It's a short, optional treat set after the trilogy, not required to follow the plot, but it's a real published entry many fans want to slot in before moving on.
Next is the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy: Once Upon a Broken Heart (2021), The Ballad of Never After (2022), and A Curse for True Love (2023). This spin-off is set in the same world and shifts focus to a new heroine, Evangeline Fox, alongside Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, a fan-favorite first introduced in the Caraval books. Because it draws on people and events from the original trilogy, you'll appreciate it far more after reading Caraval first.
The biggest gotcha is treating these as one continuous series. They're two distinct trilogies sharing a universe, so think of Once Upon a Broken Heart as a sequel-series rather than a direct continuation of Scarlett's story. If you enjoy this lush, atmospheric YA fantasy, readers often move on to Marissa Meyer's The Lunar Chronicles or Holly Black's The Folk of the Air.
Timeline 2017โ2024
Every entry plotted by release year โ see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
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Frequently asked questions
How many Caraval books are there?
There are six main novels across two trilogies set in the same world: the Caraval trilogy (Caraval, Legendary, Finale) and the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy (Once Upon a Broken Heart, The Ballad of Never After, A Curse for True Love). There is also one illustrated holiday novella, Spectacular (2024), set after the Caraval trilogy, bringing the world to seven published installments.
What order should I read Caraval in?
Read the original trilogy first in publication order: Caraval, Legendary, then Finale. You can optionally add the holiday novella Spectacular next, then continue with the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy in the same world.
Do I need to read Caraval before Once Upon a Broken Heart?
It's strongly recommended. Once Upon a Broken Heart is a spin-off that builds on characters and events from the Caraval trilogy, including the fan-favorite Jacks, so reading Caraval first adds important context.
Who wrote the Caraval series?
All the books are written by American author Stephanie Garber, with the holiday novella Spectacular illustrated by Rosie Fowinkle. Garber is known for atmospheric, romantic young adult fantasy.
Is Once Upon a Broken Heart part of the Caraval series?
It's a separate spin-off trilogy set in the same world rather than a direct continuation. It follows a new heroine, Evangeline Fox, with Jacks the Prince of Hearts in a central role.
Is the Caraval series finished?
The two trilogies are complete: the Caraval trilogy ended with Finale (2019) and the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy concluded with A Curse for True Love (2023). Garber later returned to the world with the illustrated holiday novella Spectacular (2024), a standalone coda set after the original trilogy.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, amazon.com, caraval.fandom.com, Wikidata
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