Caraval reading order
Stephanie Garber’s Caraval trilogy in publication order, plus Spectacular as a later extra, and how Once Upon a Broken Heart sits beside it.
Stephanie GarberChecked September 13, 2026
Start here
Caraval
It is book one (2017). The two sequels assume that first game. Do not start with Finale. Do not start with Once Upon a Broken Heart if you came for Tella and Scarlett.
A finished trilogy. Publication order is the only path. Once Upon a Broken Heart is a later trilogy in the same world.
The trilogy
| # | Title | Year | Notes | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Caraval | 2017 | Start here. | Amazon |
| 2 |  Legendary | 2018 | Amazon | |
| 3 |  Finale | 2019 | Closes the original three. | Amazon |
Extra
| Title | Year | Notes | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
 Spectacular | 2024 | Later related novel / extra. After the trilogy if you want more of this game. Not Caraval book one. | Amazon |
House rule: read the three. Spectacular is aftercare. OUABH is a different door you can open without these, but if you want both, Caraval first keeps the earlier sisters from arriving backward.
Common mistakes
- Starting with Finale.
- Starting with OUABH and then calling Caraval optional filler.
- Treating Spectacular as book 4 of a required homework list.
What to read next
- Once Upon a Broken Heart (Stephanie Garber) — If you want the later trilogy in the same world.
- Folk of the Air (Holly Black) — If you want another finished YA faerie run.
- Grishaverse (Leigh Bardugo) — If you want another YA shelf with a second door.
- Stop after Finale. The three are a complete visit.
- ACOTAR (Sarah J. Maas) — If you want a longer romantasy after a finished game.
FAQ
Do I need OUABH?
No.
Is Spectacular required?
No.
Sources
- Stephanie Garber — author site. Opened 2026-09-13.
- Macmillan, Caraval — publisher page for book one. Opened 2026-09-13.
Same shelf
