Book Review: Carnival Fantastico by Angela Montoya
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Carnival Fantastico by Angela Montoya
ARC Review: Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books | Joy Revolution for the early copy of this book!
Release Date: February 3, 2026
Genres: Young Adult // Fantasy, Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice Rating: 🌶️ (Glimpses & Kisses)
Quick Thoughts: I didn’t really know what to expect with Carnival Fantastico, but ended up really enjoying it. It satisfied my craving for dark, whimsical circus vibes and had a sweet second chance romance story. My only complaint is that the story felt too confined in the circus setting, which made it a little boring at times. However, readers who like these kinds of stories will certainly enjoy this one.
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Violence
War
Death
Alcohol use
Emotional abuse
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Whimsical, dark circus vibes
Second chance romance
Childhood friends to lovers
Dual POV
1920s/Prohibition era inspired settings
Deadly competition/trials
What is Carnival Fantastico about?
An unputdownable romantasy following a young woman posing as fortune-teller at a magical traveling carnival, where the handsome boy who once broke her heart resurfaces and warns her that the carnival is more sinister than it appears.
Welcome to the Carnival Fantástico, a spectacle of magic and mischief, and the perfect haven for a runaway. Using her tricks and razor-sharp wit, Esmeralda becomes the carnival's resident fortune-teller, aiming for the lead role in the Big Top Show. Success would mean freedom from her former employer, the commander of the King’s army.
Ignacio has defected from the army and is on the hunt for evidence of his father’s corruption. But the last thing he expects to find on his father’s trail of lies is the only girl he's ever loved, spinning false fortunes at a traveling carnival.
Perhaps fortune has thrown them together for a reason. They strike a deal: she’ll help him expose his father if he helps her secure the main act. But old feelings don’t die easily, and the commander’s secret isn’t the only thing they'll need to confront.
Carnival Fantastico Review
I didn’t really know what to expect with Carnival Fantastico, but ended up really enjoying it. I can’t help but compare it to Caraval and while it’s not the same story, it scratched the same itch for dark, whimsical circus vibes.
Writing, Pacing, & Worldbuilding
I loved the writing and the humor. I found myself chuckling to myself throughout the book, especially with the dialogue between characters. The entire story takes place at a carnival so the worldbuilding is minimal and the plot stays contained within the carnival grounds. While the pacing is fast and easy to follow, the setting can feel claustrophobic if you mostly read romantasy/fantasy, like me. I think this is by design and it builds good tension, but it occasionally feels a little too small and slightly boring at times. However, I still think this is a fun read if you go in expecting a simpler story.
Romance & Characters
The romance was very cute. I’ve become a sucker for a second chance romance, especially between childhood friends and lovers. The childhood letters passed between Esmeralda and Ignacio were the perfect addition to show us the love that they shared instead of just telling us about it.
Lastly, it was a good decision for this to be told in dual POV. Without seeing both Esmeralda and Ignacio’s perspectives, I might’ve DNFed over the miscommunication trope. The main conflict is the tiniest miscommunication and every time our main characters ALMOST resolved it, they’d get interrupted or one would storm off, which felt like such an annoying way of prolonging the tension without having something more layered or complex. The whole thing could've been (and was) resolved in a 10-minute conversation, but their POVs helped me understand why a seemingly tiny issue caused so much hurt.
So, should you read Carnival Fantastico?
Overall, I had fun with this one. Definitely recommend to fans of magical carnival settings and sweet second chance romance stories.
Check out this review on Goodreads or Storygraph.
Happy reading!
Kim
Carnival Fantastico FAQs
Some of the answers may be spoilers if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution!
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Yes, Carnival Fantastico by Angela Montoya is a standalone.
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Carnival Fantastico is a 1 🌶️ or glimpses and kisses only. There are no on or off page spice scenes.