Stephanie Garber
Stephanie Garber is an American author of young adult fiction known for the "Caraval" series. Writing career. Garber was a college resident director when she began writing in her spare time. She wrote several novels and received many rejections until her fourth book, a space opera, caught the interest of a literary agent. When the space opera failed to sell, Garber wrote "Caraval". Garber has stated that she did not intend for "Caraval" to be the first book in a series or to be a romance when she started writing it. Two sequels, "Legendary" and "Finale", complete the  Caraval trilogy. Her books have received mixed critical reception. "Caraval" received a starred review from "Publishers Weekly", which stated, "intriguing characters, an imaginative setting, and evocative writing combine to create a spellbinding tale of love, loss, sacrifice, and hope", while Caitlin Paxson of NPR wrote that "ultimately, the message of "Caraval" ends up muddled." "Caraval" was on "The" "New York Times" bestseller list for fifteen weeks, reaching #2. Film rights to "Caraval" were optioned by Twentieth Century Fox. "Legendary" was on "The" "New York Times" bestseller list for eight weeks, peaking at #1. "Kirkus Reviews" criticized "Legendary"'s "weak plot  and ultraviolet prose" but praised it as "a "tour de force" of imagination." "School Library Journal" wrote, "While this second installment does not stand on its own—readers will need to be familiar with the characters, events, and world-building of the previous book to fully understand and appreciate this one—fans will be delighted to spend more time with Tella, Dante, and Scarlett, and to immerse themselves again into Garber's magical world". The third book in the "Caraval" trilogy, "Finale", was reviewed by "Kirkus" as "overwritten, with overly convenient worldbuilding that struggles nearly as much as the overwrought  prose and convoluted plot". Garber has announced her novel "Once Upon A Broken Heart," which has the future publication date of 28 September 2021. "Kirkus Reviews" wrote that it is, "a lushly written story with an intriguing heart". "Publishers Weekly" praised Garber's worldbuilding.