Thank you @GetUnderlined @LoveUnderlined for the gifted copy of Carnival Fantástico by Angela Montoya!

📕 Title: Carnival Fantástico
✏️ Author: Angela Montoya
📖 Genre: YA Romantasy
⭐ Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📝 Pub Date: Feb 03 2026

BOOK BLURB

Esmeralda, a fortune teller, has entered a competition to win the lead role in the Big Top Show at Carnival Fantástico, a magical and mysterious traveling carnival. Ignacio has defected from the army, and his hunt for evidence of his father’s corruption leads him to the carnival—and Esmeralda, his childhood friend and first love. Despite the miscommunication that tore them apart, the two reluctantly team up, hoping to expose Ignacio’s father and help Esmeralda win the coveted lead role.

REVIEW

I loved the traveling circus setting of Carnival Fantástico, a wondrous place of magic, fun, and performers with unexplained abilities and, underneath it all, the disconcerting presence of a sinister force. The deadly stakes and mysterious history of the carnival made this book a compelling read. The pacing is moderate at first, as the story introduces the characters and central conflicts, and then ramps up as Esmeralda and Ignacio get closer to discovering the truth, culminating in a thrilling final act.

This is a dual POV and Esmeralda and Ignacio are such a fun “opposite attracts” couple. I loved the letter exchanges between the two that established their childhood friendship as it evolved into something more. Despite the miscommunication that tore them apart, the two reluctantly team up to expose Ignacio’s father—and the forced proximity leads to plenty of tension filled moments between the two. It was so funny how they both try (and fail) to ignore their attraction to each other! Their romance is sweet and wholesome.

The supporting characters, especially Gabriel and the Sánchez sisters, are so lovable and well fleshed out with their own motives and backstory.

I love that the author took inspiration from books like Stephanie Garber’s Caraval and yet this story clearly differentiates itself, especially in the writing style. Carnival Fantástico felt more grounded in reality than Caraval and leaned into humourous moments. Overall, this story was a ton of fun and full of romance, magic, action, and emotional moments.

Book Tour: The Read Pages