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Once Upon a Broken Heart #2
The Ballad of Never After
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2022)Not every love is meant to be.
After Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, betrays her, Evangeline Fox swears she'll never trust him again. Now that she’s discovered her own magic, Evangeline believes she can use it to restore the chance at happily ever after that Jacks stole away.
But when a new terrifying curse is revealed, Evangeline finds herself entering into a tenuous partnership with the Prince of Hearts again. Only this time, the rules have changed. Jacks isn’t the only force Evangeline needs to be wary of. In fact, he might be the only one she can trust, despite her desire to despise him.
Instead of a love spell wreaking havoc on Evangeline’s life, a murderous spell has been cast. To break it, Evangeline and Jacks will have to do battle with old friends, new foes, and a magic that plays with heads and hearts. Evangeline has always trusted her heart, but this time she’s not sure she can...
After Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, betrays her, Evangeline Fox swears she'll never trust him again. Now that she’s discovered her own magic, Evangeline believes she can use it to restore the chance at happily ever after that Jacks stole away.
But when a new terrifying curse is revealed, Evangeline finds herself entering into a tenuous partnership with the Prince of Hearts again. Only this time, the rules have changed. Jacks isn’t the only force Evangeline needs to be wary of. In fact, he might be the only one she can trust, despite her desire to despise him.
Instead of a love spell wreaking havoc on Evangeline’s life, a murderous spell has been cast. To break it, Evangeline and Jacks will have to do battle with old friends, new foes, and a magic that plays with heads and hearts. Evangeline has always trusted her heart, but this time she’s not sure she can...
416 pages, Hardcover
First published September 13, 2022
About the author
Stephanie Garber
18 books60.5k followersHi! Thanks so much for stopping by this page. I’m only on this site occasionally, so if you’d like to send me a message, please use the contact form on my website: http://stephaniegarberauthor.com.
I can also be found on Instagram, and I love connecting with readers. If you're looking for more information about my books, the most up to date news can be found on Instagram, but I also try to update my website on a regular basis.
I can also be found on Instagram, and I love connecting with readers. If you're looking for more information about my books, the most up to date news can be found on Instagram, but I also try to update my website on a regular basis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46,361 reviews
October 9, 2022
I am here for my wicked boy.
“Where were you?” she asked.
“I was killing innocent maidens and kicking puppies.”
“Jacks, that’s not funny.”
Actually it is very funny and adorable. Well, not the puppy kicking, I am thoroughly against that but the teasing in this book is off the charts. And the chemistry is off off the charts.“In the morning, you can forget it. You can go back to pretending you don't like me, and I can pretend that I don't care. But for tonight, let me pretend you're mine.”
Awww, my girlish side is melting.
Honestly, I don't even think I can write a coherent review on this book or if I need to, really. I just want to fangirl and gash over Jacks. But here I have to make a disclaimer that though I am forever team Jacks I couldn't help but notice the amount of sexy men in this book! Really, so many yummy abs!
Apart from the hotness I once again enjoyed the fairytale vibe, I love Stephanie Garber's writing and how she described North with its magic and mysteries. So enchanting! Beautiful writing.
But let's get a little bit distracted from men in this book and say a couple of words about women. To be honest, I wish there were more female characters I would want to root for or know more about. Evangeline though was very nice and I found I wasn't annoyed by her inner voice as this book is from her POV and more often than not female characters get on my nerves. Evangeline was an easygoing character whose adventure I enjoyed following along with her.
All in all, I can't really empathize how much i want to get my hands on book 3. Time machine? A band of street thieves to steal the draft of the manuscript? Deal with Fae for the next installment in exchange for my firstborn? You name it. I'd agreed to anything if I had the opportunity to read that book now. But I am mentally preparing to suffer for another year. Meanwhile I'll just keep re-reading those sexy moments with Jacks. “You know, biting is really like kissing but better, if you do it right.”
June 18, 2024
➸ 5 stars
— stephanie garber, WHAT IF I WAS SUICIDAL. WHAT IF THAT WAS MY LAST STRAW. how am i supposed to live, laugh, love in these conditions—that ending was just rude. all that angst, sexual tension, JEALOUSY, hurting, THE PUSH AND PULL BETWEEN THEM, would kill anyone for her, the denial of their love for each other but it’s obvious that they’re each others one true love, JUST TO GIVE THEM THAT ENDING?!! FOR WHAT?? NOTHING 😭
i have been left a hollow shell of pain and longing and i will never recover from that. my chest hurts, my heart is aching, the end is near. i feel like screaming the way regina george did in that one scene!!
currently still crying over evajacks rn, im afraid i’ll never be able to recover from them and this fkn book. they are my mf babies and i’ll protect them with my LIFE.
“there is nothing of equal value to me”
LIVES WERE CHANGED, JACKS YOU WERE INSANE FOR THAT.
───♡─────────────
➸ reread #2: 5 stars
STEPHANIE PLS FREE MY FAMILY. evajacks are my soul, my family, my everything. they birthed me, raised me, breathed life into me, drove me to school, fed me, stuck my artwork on the fridge, read me bedtime stories, sent me to college, walked me down the aisle and transformed me into the person i am today. no one gets them like i do.
i thought the reread would hurt less.. boy was i wrong. this book is going to haunt me for the rest of my life!!
”i wish our story could have had another ending”
— stephanie garber, WHAT IF I WAS SUICIDAL. WHAT IF THAT WAS MY LAST STRAW. how am i supposed to live, laugh, love in these conditions—that ending was just rude. all that angst, sexual tension, JEALOUSY, hurting, THE PUSH AND PULL BETWEEN THEM, would kill anyone for her, the denial of their love for each other but it’s obvious that they’re each others one true love, JUST TO GIVE THEM THAT ENDING?!! FOR WHAT?? NOTHING 😭
i have been left a hollow shell of pain and longing and i will never recover from that. my chest hurts, my heart is aching, the end is near. i feel like screaming the way regina george did in that one scene!!
”but for tonight, let me pretend you're mine"
currently still crying over evajacks rn, im afraid i’ll never be able to recover from them and this fkn book. they are my mf babies and i’ll protect them with my LIFE.
“there is nothing of equal value to me”
LIVES WERE CHANGED, JACKS YOU WERE INSANE FOR THAT.
”do you still think of me as just a tool?”
jacks frowned. “i try not to think of you at all.”
───♡─────────────
➸ reread #2: 5 stars
“it hurts, jacks.”
“i know, love. i'm going to take you somewhere safe."
STEPHANIE PLS FREE MY FAMILY. evajacks are my soul, my family, my everything. they birthed me, raised me, breathed life into me, drove me to school, fed me, stuck my artwork on the fridge, read me bedtime stories, sent me to college, walked me down the aisle and transformed me into the person i am today. no one gets them like i do.
i thought the reread would hurt less.. boy was i wrong. this book is going to haunt me for the rest of my life!!
August 2, 2023
— arc review: 5 stars ✰
"but jacks didn't stop following her,
and she had a feeling he never would"
you have got to be kidding me. oh my god, stop. i am sobbing. i swear this isn’t funny. i need a third book, right here, right now. there is absolutely no way that i can wait another year for the next release
i have a lot to say about this book. first off, i wanted to take my sweet sweet time with this one. i‘ve been waiting for so long and i refused to read it in one day. but you all know how consuming this world is, it’s so magical that it is nearly impossible to stop to read. and well, i did read it in one day and i miss this universe already
let me tell you.. the banter, teasing and taunting in this book?? extraordinary. i love jacks sarcasm, even eva adapted it. his dimples, oh my god his dimples. also, let’s not forget the fact that he calls her little fox. once eva doesn’t pay him enough attention, he for sure chimes in to get it back. and i‘m so here for it. my sweet wicked jacks. the way he is so protective over her 😭😭😭
"i do not want you dead, and i'll kill anyone who tries"
the plot is just amazing. i am just so in love with the whole universe, i was hooked since the beginning, i can’t even describe in words how badly i want to read the next one to know what will happen next. the ending really broke my heart and i swear if stephanie doesn’t put the pieces back together i will sue. i love eva with my whole heart and i really hope that we will see more of her badass side in the future.
before reading this book, prepare for emotional damage! chapter 46 will break you.
he called her love one time 😭 and there’s also a "he‘s injured and she helps him" trope with "please stay here tonight"
"in the morning, you can forget it. you can go back to pretending you don't like me, and i can pretend that i don’t care. but for tonight, let me pretend you're mine"
🦊🏹🍎✨💘
"but jacks didn't stop following her,
and she had a feeling he never would"
you have got to be kidding me. oh my god, stop. i am sobbing. i swear this isn’t funny. i need a third book, right here, right now. there is absolutely no way that i can wait another year for the next release
i have a lot to say about this book. first off, i wanted to take my sweet sweet time with this one. i‘ve been waiting for so long and i refused to read it in one day. but you all know how consuming this world is, it’s so magical that it is nearly impossible to stop to read. and well, i did read it in one day and i miss this universe already
let me tell you.. the banter, teasing and taunting in this book?? extraordinary. i love jacks sarcasm, even eva adapted it. his dimples, oh my god his dimples. also, let’s not forget the fact that he calls her little fox. once eva doesn’t pay him enough attention, he for sure chimes in to get it back. and i‘m so here for it. my sweet wicked jacks. the way he is so protective over her 😭😭😭
"i do not want you dead, and i'll kill anyone who tries"
the plot is just amazing. i am just so in love with the whole universe, i was hooked since the beginning, i can’t even describe in words how badly i want to read the next one to know what will happen next. the ending really broke my heart and i swear if stephanie doesn’t put the pieces back together i will sue. i love eva with my whole heart and i really hope that we will see more of her badass side in the future.
before reading this book, prepare for emotional damage! chapter 46 will break you.
he called her love one time 😭 and there’s also a "he‘s injured and she helps him" trope with "please stay here tonight"
"in the morning, you can forget it. you can go back to pretending you don't like me, and i can pretend that i don’t care. but for tonight, let me pretend you're mine"
🦊🏹🍎✨💘
October 24, 2023
stephanie garber is such a villain my god…
i have so many questions and theories, i can’t even wrap around my head…🤯
jacks…the man you are!!! the way he’s so blunt and says the most cockiest things has me in heat. he drives me crazy in a nasty way. you can’t tell me that he and evangeline aren’t end game. fuck that motherfucker named apollo. you can’t expect me to not kick my feet when he said “everyone should have their clothes ripped off of them at some point” where do i find men like this? my local prison??!😭
and oohhhh evangeline the clever girl you are. i just know she’s the key to all of this somehow. consider me her human shield. i’ll never forget that hollow scene. i’ll never forget every time she describes every fine detail of jacks. 🫠
AND SHIT!!! that ending? scratch that and reverse it cuz WHAT THE FUCK?!?😟
i have so many questions and theories, i can’t even wrap around my head…🤯
jacks…the man you are!!! the way he’s so blunt and says the most cockiest things has me in heat. he drives me crazy in a nasty way. you can’t tell me that he and evangeline aren’t end game. fuck that motherfucker named apollo. you can’t expect me to not kick my feet when he said “everyone should have their clothes ripped off of them at some point” where do i find men like this? my local prison??!😭
and oohhhh evangeline the clever girl you are. i just know she’s the key to all of this somehow. consider me her human shield. i’ll never forget that hollow scene. i’ll never forget every time she describes every fine detail of jacks. 🫠
AND SHIT!!! that ending? scratch that and reverse it cuz WHAT THE FUCK?!?😟
October 2, 2022
oh wow.
i definitely loved this more than ‘once upon a broken heart.’
and im pretty sure im loving this series more than caraval.
both statements are shocking to me because i loved them all so much.
but this book is probably the best one SG has written.
if you love characters that do everything they can other than admit their feelings, well, jacks and evagaline are the perfect couple for you. so much tension due to the hopelessness of the curse, but also the belief in a happy ever after. it creates such an engaging push and pull between them.
and let me tell you what - the last 50 pages had me go through all seven stages of grief. the next book better fix that. lol.
↠ 5 stars
i definitely loved this more than ‘once upon a broken heart.’
and im pretty sure im loving this series more than caraval.
both statements are shocking to me because i loved them all so much.
but this book is probably the best one SG has written.
if you love characters that do everything they can other than admit their feelings, well, jacks and evagaline are the perfect couple for you. so much tension due to the hopelessness of the curse, but also the belief in a happy ever after. it creates such an engaging push and pull between them.
and let me tell you what - the last 50 pages had me go through all seven stages of grief. the next book better fix that. lol.
↠ 5 stars
September 28, 2022
Update (9/28/22): Just hopping on here to confirm that there will be a third book in this series! I can't share much more about the book just yet, but I wanted everyone to know that Ballad is not the end of the story. :)
Update (12/16/21): This book now has a title and a release date! THE BALLAD OF NEVER AFTER is the title and it will be releasing September 27, 2022.
I could not be more excited. And I cannot wait to share more now that the official countdown to the release has begun!
I can't wait until I get to say more about this book!
Update (12/16/21): This book now has a title and a release date! THE BALLAD OF NEVER AFTER is the title and it will be releasing September 27, 2022.
I could not be more excited. And I cannot wait to share more now that the official countdown to the release has begun!
I can't wait until I get to say more about this book!
May 3, 2023
YOURE TELLING ME I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL OCTOBER FOR THE NEXT BOOK?!?! I might simply pass away from the suspense. Anyway I bow down to this entire series. I'm so obsessed. The absolute PAIN I feel wanting Jacks and Evangeline to get together is excruciating.
This book had things that surprised me, magic/fairytale vibes that dazzled me, and such high stakes that I read this book so fast. If the third book doesn't have a happy ending I might just never pick up another book again.
This book had things that surprised me, magic/fairytale vibes that dazzled me, and such high stakes that I read this book so fast. If the third book doesn't have a happy ending I might just never pick up another book again.
August 15, 2022
Jacks. That is all.
December 29, 2022
I 😭 love 😭 these 😭 books 😭
March 15, 2023
I have no words. All I know is this is the first book in a while to make me feel something. Do i feel happy? No. I feel pain.
June 14, 2023
I want to marry Jacks <3
February 13, 2024
re-read [Oct. 20, 2023]: 5⭐
lives were truly destroyed in those last 30 pages🫠 the way these words have stuck with me ever since i first read them AND IT STILL DESTROYED ME JUST AS MUCH AS THE FIRST TIME SOBBING RN. evajacks HEA is a need, i will literally never move on if they're not happy
ALSO GUYSSS I REALIZED SOMETHING WHILE THEY WERE IN THE HOLLOW???
also because i love pain, a friendly reminder:
_____________________
THIS ISNT FUNNY, THIS ISNT THE END THIS LITERALLY CANNOT BE THE END. theres another book i refuse to believe there isnt another one otherwise stephanie garber is officially the #1 most cruelest author of all the authors ive read from
i was this 🤏 close to crying, im going to pretend the last 40ish pages do not exist. that was pure agony im not okay.
but other than that devastation (!!) another favourite this was perfection. i love this even more than ouabh. tbona had everything i was so excited for before.
ALL THE YEARNING BTWN JACKS AND EVANGELINE SDKHGKS IT WAS TORTURE READING i love them🥹 and just the so many reveals its amazing especially that last one at the end ??? the world was explored so much more (the hollows is officially my favourite place!!) and the finding about the pasts of the valors and jacks omg. and even just getting more screen time of some side characters in the last book !! (major spoilers → ) thank god marisol was barely in here.
i literally cannot get enough of jacks and evangeline. their moments <33 the bantering, the soft moments, AND SO MANY TROPES I NEVER KNEW I NEEDED BTWN THEM THAT I GOT SKHGSK LITERALLY WAS SCREAMING. and for a situation where jacks cant kiss anyone bc theyll die, the romance was📈📈
i just need to share my favourite moments btwn them so dont click on this if you dont want to get spoiled:
and i just need to share some of my other favourite quotes these were so beautiful:
AND THEN THESE TWO HAD TO GO AND DESTROY ME😃
i stand by what i said before this CANNOT be the end, literally impossible, especially the fact that not once did miss stephanie say when advertising her book that this was the "thrilling conclusion to the series" so we're all good everyone !! im sorry, this review was such a chaotic mess.
also that chapter from jacks pov is not enough i need a whole book please and thank you
just how can such a beautiful cover have such an evil ending wow
_____
pre-read review:
id like to sell my soul to a fate in exchange for this book to be in my hands right now please and thank you🥺
"There is nothing of equal value to me."
lives were truly destroyed in those last 30 pages🫠 the way these words have stuck with me ever since i first read them AND IT STILL DESTROYED ME JUST AS MUCH AS THE FIRST TIME SOBBING RN. evajacks HEA is a need, i will literally never move on if they're not happy
ALSO GUYSSS I REALIZED SOMETHING WHILE THEY WERE IN THE HOLLOW???
also because i love pain, a friendly reminder:
_____________________
"I'm here, and I'm never going to let you go."
THIS ISNT FUNNY, THIS ISNT THE END THIS LITERALLY CANNOT BE THE END. theres another book i refuse to believe there isnt another one otherwise stephanie garber is officially the #1 most cruelest author of all the authors ive read from
i was this 🤏 close to crying, im going to pretend the last 40ish pages do not exist. that was pure agony im not okay.
but other than that devastation (!!) another favourite this was perfection. i love this even more than ouabh. tbona had everything i was so excited for before.
ALL THE YEARNING BTWN JACKS AND EVANGELINE SDKHGKS IT WAS TORTURE READING i love them🥹 and just the so many reveals its amazing especially that last one at the end ??? the world was explored so much more (the hollows is officially my favourite place!!) and the finding about the pasts of the valors and jacks omg. and even just getting more screen time of some side characters in the last book !! (major spoilers → ) thank god marisol was barely in here.
i literally cannot get enough of jacks and evangeline. their moments <33 the bantering, the soft moments, AND SO MANY TROPES I NEVER KNEW I NEEDED BTWN THEM THAT I GOT SKHGSK LITERALLY WAS SCREAMING. and for a situation where jacks cant kiss anyone bc theyll die, the romance was📈📈
i just need to share my favourite moments btwn them so dont click on this if you dont want to get spoiled:
and i just need to share some of my other favourite quotes these were so beautiful:
"The secret to staying in love is having someone who will catch you when you start to fall out of it. And I promise to always catch you."
"Happy endings can be caught, but they are difficult to hold on to. They are dreams that want to escape the night. They are treasure with wings.. They are wild, feral, reckless things that need to be constantly chased, or they will certainly run away."
"She used to think love was like a house. Once it was built, a person got to live in it forever. But now she wondered if love was more like a war with new foes constantly appearing and battles creeping up. Winning at love was less about succeeding in a battle and more about continuing a fight, to choose the person you loved as the one you were willing to die for, over and over."
AND THEN THESE TWO HAD TO GO AND DESTROY ME😃
i stand by what i said before this CANNOT be the end, literally impossible, especially the fact that not once did miss stephanie say when advertising her book that this was the "thrilling conclusion to the series" so we're all good everyone !! im sorry, this review was such a chaotic mess.
also that chapter from jacks pov is not enough i need a whole book please and thank you
just how can such a beautiful cover have such an evil ending wow
_____
pre-read review:
id like to sell my soul to a fate in exchange for this book to be in my hands right now please and thank you🥺
September 26, 2022
Jacks v. Damon Salvatore: A Case Study
jacks and damon salvatore? same person. i would like to submit the following evidence.
Exhibit A: Jacks- "You talk in your sleep," he drawled. "You said my name- a lot."
Damon-
Exhibit B: Jacks- "Don't fret, I won't tell your husband you're obsessed with me."
Damon-
Exhibit C: Jacks- "I hurt everyone, Little Fox. But you have to be alive to hate me." His eyes iced over. "I do not want you dead, and I'll kill anyone who tries."
Damon-
i rest my case
jacks and damon salvatore? same person. i would like to submit the following evidence.
Exhibit A: Jacks- "You talk in your sleep," he drawled. "You said my name- a lot."
Damon-
Exhibit B: Jacks- "Don't fret, I won't tell your husband you're obsessed with me."
Damon-
Exhibit C: Jacks- "I hurt everyone, Little Fox. But you have to be alive to hate me." His eyes iced over. "I do not want you dead, and I'll kill anyone who tries."
Damon-
i rest my case
August 13, 2023
BREAKING NEWS: Jacks admitted to hospital after suffering severe back problems from carrying the whole of the Caraval universe
January 6, 2023
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY, BALLAD
When I first got the email that my owlcrate edition of this book was going to be delivered 3 days early on September 10th, I thought it was a blessing. Not only was it my day off but this book was my most anticipated read of the year!! Then, at 1 am that next morning, it felt more like a curse. Which is actually the theme here so it kind of makes sense.
And now, 3 days later, I’m STILL suffering from such intense heartbreak that I don’t know if I should rate this book 1 star, or 5 stars (I’m rating it 5 of course)
⚠️This review will contain MAJOR spoilers so proceed with caution…⚠️
This book started right where Once Upon a Broken Heart (which I will be referring to as ouabh from now on) left off. Evangeline is writing a letter to herself, warning her not to trust jacks again. She goes on about even though he’s cute as fck, it doesn’t matter. THEN she writes
”Remember that he was the one to poison Apollo so that he could frame you for murder in order to make a long lost prophecy come true-one that would turn you into a key capable of opening the Valory Arch. That is all he wants, to open the Valory Arch.”
So basically, I want to talk about this first because I think it’s one of the most important parts of Jacks and Evangeline’s relationship. So since the start, in ouabh and in most of Ballad, Jacks makes it clear that the only reason he keeps saving Evangeline from dying all these different times is because he needs her as the key. He says it, she says it, everyone says it. And it’s like ok, that makes sense. BUT THEN…
When Jacks takes Evangeline to the hollow and she has the youth stone and the youth stone also makes people tell the truth. Jacks doesn’t know she has it and he admits that he doesn’t even want to open the Valory arch. HE DOESNT EVEN WANT TO OPEN THE VALORY ARCH!!!
All he wants are the four stones needed to open if which he didn’t even need Evangeline to help him find them. Which leads me to my next point. Jacks cursed Apollo. And I know it doesn’t really make sense as to why he would have cursed him if he doesn’t even want to open the arch, but I think he new Apollo is a bad person and will hurt Evangeline. (Because Apollo steals all of her memories at the end of the book and makes her forget everything, I will get to that later). But I don’t really know if that would make sense because the cure for Apollos curse is In the Valory Arch.
It’s all so confusing to me and all my emotions are so conflicted but I think it’s very important that Jacks was actually keeping Evangeline alive all those times because he LOVES HER. DUH.
ONTO MY FAVORITE EVAJACKS MOMENTS
In ouabh we had like minor angst and then the crypt scene phew. But I had to put Ballad down multiple times just to process the tension oh my god. So many butterflies for them 😭
This part of the book was literally life changing for me
”Evangeline—“ Jacks’s low voice sounded distant, but he must have been there because she could feel him. She could feel the cool of his arms siding gently under her legs and carefully under her neck as he cradled her to his chest.
“It hurts, jacks.”
“I know, love. I’m going to take you somewhere safe.”
Oh my god, he literally just called her LOVE ??? I literally died and came back to life
And then there’s just the entire part where they’re at the hollow together, I wish I could put that entire section in this review because it’s fucking everything.
Also this part.
”I mean… it’s just for one night,” he said softly. “In the morning, you can forget it. You can go back to pretending you don’t like me, and I can pretend that I don’t care. But for tonight, let me pretend you’re mine.”
Keep in mind, JACKS said that to Evangeline. 😭😭😭
Now…
As I drew near the end of the book, I could feel my grip on this happily ever slipping. I will literally start crying as I describe how saddened I was by this ending. After Jacks uses the four stones to go back in time and save Evangeline from chaos, it is then IMPLIED that he sacrifices himself in her place. I feel like this could definitely be and opening for a third book because I just feel like after everything Jacks has been through, and how much is readers love him. He death cannot be so… not there.
Also there was never a body soooo….
But the very end, like the last chapter and then the EPILOGUE. Ruined me. Literally fuck Apollo, I fucking hate him. Which is another reason I think there could be a third book, because what the fuck??? Since when can Apollo just fucking pull memories out of peoples heads?? There has to be some explaining there. And also if left in such a cliff hanger??
But also part of me thinks, this is just a tragedy, and maybe it is. Because my heart is most definitely broken and maybe it just has to stay that way.
I shall finish off my rant here, I should probably talk a little about the story and writing now.
As always, I love Stephanie Garbers writing. It is TRULY magical. I devoured this book all in one sitting and it’s a world I most definitely would love to visit.
The story itself was nothing too complicated, I loved the story of the archer and the fox and how it ties in. I loved Lucs character. His and Evangeline’s relationship is just proof that exes can have healthy friendships after. Even if one of them is a vampire 😏
I will probably come back and edit this review at some point, or maybe not. It’s very ranty but I must go drown my sorrows in a bottle now and make an Evajacks playlist on Spotify that hopefully I can link on here later.
————————————————————————
UPDATE
I have no idea if this is a duology, I just always assumed so because of the title but it’s probably not
————————————————————————
First review
Morning after reading this and I’m suffering from such intense heartbreak, I can’t focus on anything else. I wish this was just a dream 💔
When I first got the email that my owlcrate edition of this book was going to be delivered 3 days early on September 10th, I thought it was a blessing. Not only was it my day off but this book was my most anticipated read of the year!! Then, at 1 am that next morning, it felt more like a curse. Which is actually the theme here so it kind of makes sense.
And now, 3 days later, I’m STILL suffering from such intense heartbreak that I don’t know if I should rate this book 1 star, or 5 stars (I’m rating it 5 of course)
⚠️This review will contain MAJOR spoilers so proceed with caution…⚠️
This book started right where Once Upon a Broken Heart (which I will be referring to as ouabh from now on) left off. Evangeline is writing a letter to herself, warning her not to trust jacks again. She goes on about even though he’s cute as fck, it doesn’t matter. THEN she writes
”Remember that he was the one to poison Apollo so that he could frame you for murder in order to make a long lost prophecy come true-one that would turn you into a key capable of opening the Valory Arch. That is all he wants, to open the Valory Arch.”
So basically, I want to talk about this first because I think it’s one of the most important parts of Jacks and Evangeline’s relationship. So since the start, in ouabh and in most of Ballad, Jacks makes it clear that the only reason he keeps saving Evangeline from dying all these different times is because he needs her as the key. He says it, she says it, everyone says it. And it’s like ok, that makes sense. BUT THEN…
When Jacks takes Evangeline to the hollow and she has the youth stone and the youth stone also makes people tell the truth. Jacks doesn’t know she has it and he admits that he doesn’t even want to open the Valory arch. HE DOESNT EVEN WANT TO OPEN THE VALORY ARCH!!!
All he wants are the four stones needed to open if which he didn’t even need Evangeline to help him find them. Which leads me to my next point. Jacks cursed Apollo. And I know it doesn’t really make sense as to why he would have cursed him if he doesn’t even want to open the arch, but I think he new Apollo is a bad person and will hurt Evangeline. (Because Apollo steals all of her memories at the end of the book and makes her forget everything, I will get to that later). But I don’t really know if that would make sense because the cure for Apollos curse is In the Valory Arch.
It’s all so confusing to me and all my emotions are so conflicted but I think it’s very important that Jacks was actually keeping Evangeline alive all those times because he LOVES HER. DUH.
ONTO MY FAVORITE EVAJACKS MOMENTS
In ouabh we had like minor angst and then the crypt scene phew. But I had to put Ballad down multiple times just to process the tension oh my god. So many butterflies for them 😭
This part of the book was literally life changing for me
”Evangeline—“ Jacks’s low voice sounded distant, but he must have been there because she could feel him. She could feel the cool of his arms siding gently under her legs and carefully under her neck as he cradled her to his chest.
“It hurts, jacks.”
“I know, love. I’m going to take you somewhere safe.”
Oh my god, he literally just called her LOVE ??? I literally died and came back to life
And then there’s just the entire part where they’re at the hollow together, I wish I could put that entire section in this review because it’s fucking everything.
Also this part.
”I mean… it’s just for one night,” he said softly. “In the morning, you can forget it. You can go back to pretending you don’t like me, and I can pretend that I don’t care. But for tonight, let me pretend you’re mine.”
Keep in mind, JACKS said that to Evangeline. 😭😭😭
Now…
As I drew near the end of the book, I could feel my grip on this happily ever slipping. I will literally start crying as I describe how saddened I was by this ending. After Jacks uses the four stones to go back in time and save Evangeline from chaos, it is then IMPLIED that he sacrifices himself in her place. I feel like this could definitely be and opening for a third book because I just feel like after everything Jacks has been through, and how much is readers love him. He death cannot be so… not there.
Also there was never a body soooo….
But the very end, like the last chapter and then the EPILOGUE. Ruined me. Literally fuck Apollo, I fucking hate him. Which is another reason I think there could be a third book, because what the fuck??? Since when can Apollo just fucking pull memories out of peoples heads?? There has to be some explaining there. And also if left in such a cliff hanger??
But also part of me thinks, this is just a tragedy, and maybe it is. Because my heart is most definitely broken and maybe it just has to stay that way.
I shall finish off my rant here, I should probably talk a little about the story and writing now.
As always, I love Stephanie Garbers writing. It is TRULY magical. I devoured this book all in one sitting and it’s a world I most definitely would love to visit.
The story itself was nothing too complicated, I loved the story of the archer and the fox and how it ties in. I loved Lucs character. His and Evangeline’s relationship is just proof that exes can have healthy friendships after. Even if one of them is a vampire 😏
I will probably come back and edit this review at some point, or maybe not. It’s very ranty but I must go drown my sorrows in a bottle now and make an Evajacks playlist on Spotify that hopefully I can link on here later.
————————————————————————
UPDATE
I have no idea if this is a duology, I just always assumed so because of the title but it’s probably not
————————————————————————
First review
Morning after reading this and I’m suffering from such intense heartbreak, I can’t focus on anything else. I wish this was just a dream 💔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2022
the only good thing this book did was remind me to dye my hair pink again
i am still baffled this is classified as YA. i have read picture books more intense than this. the writing is just like "this forest is so magic and fairytale like - wow much magic, much fairytale". what's a man supposed to do with that. i'm not really one to vividly imagine book settings but at least give me SOMETHING.
i'm also desperate to figure out what people see in jacks. he's... i don't even know what he is. he doesn't have any personality. zilch. zero. nada. all he does is eat apples. arguably the most boring fruit out there so it's fitting for him, i guess.
don't even get me started about Evangeline. it's a wonder i remember her name. she also has no personality - unless being dumb and naive is a personality. i have met five year olds smarter than this. her brain is empty. this girl is shocked by every obvious thing that happens to her. a dude called Killer McKill could come up to Evangeline and be like "I will kill you" and ten pages later she will go "I can't believe Killer McKill tried to kill me, I'm so shocked, no-one saw it coming." - please. I'd ask other characters to donate braincells to her but the other lot isn't much smarter and they definitely don't have braincells to spare.
all Evangeline cares about is having a love story. and she acts like she's having two while in reality she has none.
Jacks shouldn't touch her because she's married to Apollo - a man she has interacted with for two seconds. But at the same time she thinks she can save Jacks by telling him she loves him.
girlie, he won't care.
not only do you have no chemistry with him, thinking "hihi if i just tell him i love him everything will be fine" is dripping with naivety. she truly doesn't understand any of the problems and motivations of the other characters. why is she the main one. the perspective of a random tree would have achieved the same thing.
TL;DR: they should rebrand this book and target it to toddlers who don't have object permanence yet. i think that's about the same developmental level Evangeline is at. 1 star.
i am still baffled this is classified as YA. i have read picture books more intense than this. the writing is just like "this forest is so magic and fairytale like - wow much magic, much fairytale". what's a man supposed to do with that. i'm not really one to vividly imagine book settings but at least give me SOMETHING.
i'm also desperate to figure out what people see in jacks. he's... i don't even know what he is. he doesn't have any personality. zilch. zero. nada. all he does is eat apples. arguably the most boring fruit out there so it's fitting for him, i guess.
don't even get me started about Evangeline. it's a wonder i remember her name. she also has no personality - unless being dumb and naive is a personality. i have met five year olds smarter than this. her brain is empty. this girl is shocked by every obvious thing that happens to her. a dude called Killer McKill could come up to Evangeline and be like "I will kill you" and ten pages later she will go "I can't believe Killer McKill tried to kill me, I'm so shocked, no-one saw it coming." - please. I'd ask other characters to donate braincells to her but the other lot isn't much smarter and they definitely don't have braincells to spare.
all Evangeline cares about is having a love story. and she acts like she's having two while in reality she has none.
Jacks shouldn't touch her because she's married to Apollo - a man she has interacted with for two seconds. But at the same time she thinks she can save Jacks by telling him she loves him.
girlie, he won't care.
not only do you have no chemistry with him, thinking "hihi if i just tell him i love him everything will be fine" is dripping with naivety. she truly doesn't understand any of the problems and motivations of the other characters. why is she the main one. the perspective of a random tree would have achieved the same thing.
TL;DR: they should rebrand this book and target it to toddlers who don't have object permanence yet. i think that's about the same developmental level Evangeline is at. 1 star.
April 12, 2023
ESE FINAL DEBERÍA DE SER ILEGAL.
El libro me encantó y terminé más enamorada de Jacks, pero el final en serio NO me gustó. Ahora tendremos uno de los clichés que más odio en el siguiente libro... espero que lo manejen bien porque si no, voy a llorar :')...
El libro me encantó y terminé más enamorada de Jacks, pero el final en serio NO me gustó. Ahora tendremos uno de los clichés que más odio en el siguiente libro... espero que lo manejen bien porque si no, voy a llorar :')...
October 23, 2023
reread: this hit way harder the second time around. i bawled my eyes out the entire last 50 pages. i’m unwell.
—
not the book telling me this doesn’t end well like 20 times and everybody who’s read it telling me it doesn’t end well and me ! still ! hoping ! for ! a ! decent ? end ! WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF
“I wish our story could have had another ending.”
no bc what the fuck was that ending? it feels like someone is squeezing my heart AND NOT.LETTING.GO. i feel like i’m at a standstill. i have not cried but i wish i could bawl my eyes out to release the feeling but nope. this empty, unsettled feeling is staying with me til october it seems. love that for me! <3
this book. this book was love at first word for me. the way i ate it up. i ate good.
this world is just so mesmerizing. i fell more and more in love with it with every page. its so beautiful and magical. but the book did have a very somber feel to it the whole way through.
i felt a range of emotions while reading this. i was giggling, screaming, shaking, gasping, choking up, cursing, jumping, squealing, thrashing. ALL AT ONCE.
”She wanted butterflies and kisses. She wanted it so much that sometimes she thought her heart would burst from it.”
eva our innocent naive little fox. she’s such an unreliable narrator. but i also loved seeing her thought process sometimes. she makes dumb decisions but i also understand them for the most part.
“Life is not a kind storyteller. And I’m not meant to be a savior.”
JACKS MY FAV GOLDEN HAIRED BLUE EYED BOY. he is OF COURSE the highlight of this book. nobody does it like him.
"I'm not going to kill anyone. And neither are you."
"Then why are we even here?"
can we please get a jacks pov, im begging. i need to be in his head. i need it so bad. he’s so perfect to me he can do no wrong.
“I do not want you dead, and I’ll kill anyone who tries.”
EVAJACKS MY PRECIOUS SOULS. i was living for every single second of them. them tending to each others wounds healed something in me. and when jacks called her “love” i simply passed out.
“In the morning, you can forget it. You can go back to pretending you don’t like me, and I can pretend that I don’t care. But for tonight, let me pretend you’re mine.”
i am not okay. i am so so not okay. they have breathed life into me and then sucked it out.
beautiful quotes:
“People called it heartbreak, but Evangeline thought that losing someone you loved broke more than just a heart. When she had lost her first love, it had shattered her entire world.”
“Evangeline didn’t want love that made sense, she wanted love that made her feel, love that made her want to fight and hope for the impossible.”
“Happy endings can be caught, but they are difficult to hold on to. They are dreams that want to escape the night. They are treasure with wings. They are wild, feral, reckless things that need to be constantly chased, or they will certainly run away.”
“Winning at love was less about succeeding in a battle and more about continuing to fight, to choose the person you loved as the one you were willing to die for, over and over.”
“It struck her how intimate words could be, how they could be spoken only once, for only one person, and they would never be heard again, they would disappear like a moment, gone almost as soon as you realized they were there.”
“He held her so tightly it hurt, but this pain she didn’t mind. She’d let him crush her, let him break her, just as long as he never let her go.”
**
p.s. i love when miss stephanie garber leaves things open to interpretation specifically with her use of the word “golden” in regard to jacks' hair colour. petition for her to never specify whether its golden brown or golden blond.
tbh she can tell me it was blond right to my face and i would hear “brown” because delusion is not a temporary state of mind, it is the way of life.
on my reread, i have accepted he’s blond. he can be anything he wants. that’s my husband. he’s perfect. bye.
—
”Sorry to break your fairytale, Little Fox, but ballads don’t end happily.”
not the book telling me this doesn’t end well like 20 times and everybody who’s read it telling me it doesn’t end well and me ! still ! hoping ! for ! a ! decent ? end ! WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF
“I wish our story could have had another ending.”
no bc what the fuck was that ending? it feels like someone is squeezing my heart AND NOT.LETTING.GO. i feel like i’m at a standstill. i have not cried but i wish i could bawl my eyes out to release the feeling but nope. this empty, unsettled feeling is staying with me til october it seems. love that for me! <3
this book. this book was love at first word for me. the way i ate it up. i ate good.
this world is just so mesmerizing. i fell more and more in love with it with every page. its so beautiful and magical. but the book did have a very somber feel to it the whole way through.
i felt a range of emotions while reading this. i was giggling, screaming, shaking, gasping, choking up, cursing, jumping, squealing, thrashing. ALL AT ONCE.
”She wanted butterflies and kisses. She wanted it so much that sometimes she thought her heart would burst from it.”
eva our innocent naive little fox. she’s such an unreliable narrator. but i also loved seeing her thought process sometimes. she makes dumb decisions but i also understand them for the most part.
“Life is not a kind storyteller. And I’m not meant to be a savior.”
JACKS MY FAV GOLDEN HAIRED BLUE EYED BOY. he is OF COURSE the highlight of this book. nobody does it like him.
"I'm not going to kill anyone. And neither are you."
"Then why are we even here?"
can we please get a jacks pov, im begging. i need to be in his head. i need it so bad. he’s so perfect to me he can do no wrong.
“I do not want you dead, and I’ll kill anyone who tries.”
EVAJACKS MY PRECIOUS SOULS. i was living for every single second of them. them tending to each others wounds healed something in me. and when jacks called her “love” i simply passed out.
“In the morning, you can forget it. You can go back to pretending you don’t like me, and I can pretend that I don’t care. But for tonight, let me pretend you’re mine.”
i am not okay. i am so so not okay. they have breathed life into me and then sucked it out.
“There is nothing of equal value to me.”
beautiful quotes:
“People called it heartbreak, but Evangeline thought that losing someone you loved broke more than just a heart. When she had lost her first love, it had shattered her entire world.”
“Evangeline didn’t want love that made sense, she wanted love that made her feel, love that made her want to fight and hope for the impossible.”
“Happy endings can be caught, but they are difficult to hold on to. They are dreams that want to escape the night. They are treasure with wings. They are wild, feral, reckless things that need to be constantly chased, or they will certainly run away.”
“Winning at love was less about succeeding in a battle and more about continuing to fight, to choose the person you loved as the one you were willing to die for, over and over.”
“It struck her how intimate words could be, how they could be spoken only once, for only one person, and they would never be heard again, they would disappear like a moment, gone almost as soon as you realized they were there.”
“He held her so tightly it hurt, but this pain she didn’t mind. She’d let him crush her, let him break her, just as long as he never let her go.”
**
p.s. i love when miss stephanie garber leaves things open to interpretation specifically with her use of the word “golden” in regard to jacks' hair colour. petition for her to never specify whether its golden brown or golden blond.
tbh she can tell me it was blond right to my face and i would hear “brown” because delusion is not a temporary state of mind, it is the way of life.
on my reread, i have accepted he’s blond. he can be anything he wants. that’s my husband. he’s perfect. bye.
September 26, 2022
Admit it: you’re here for Jacks.
Edit: I can’t even comprehend how amazing this book is. Jacks is absolutely exquisite—I didn’t think it was possible to fall anymore in love with him. This book ripped out my heart!
The TENSION. The STORY. The TWISTS. The ANGST. The PINING. The HEARTBREAK. The SEXUAL tension. Everything is just magical. I couldn’t put this book down. It’s all I’ve thought about for 3 days. From chapter 43 onwards, my heart was in tatters and my stomach a ball of nerves.
I didn’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t that ending.
MY GOD GET ME THE THIRD BOOK RIGHT NOW
Edit: I can’t even comprehend how amazing this book is. Jacks is absolutely exquisite—I didn’t think it was possible to fall anymore in love with him. This book ripped out my heart!
The TENSION. The STORY. The TWISTS. The ANGST. The PINING. The HEARTBREAK. The SEXUAL tension. Everything is just magical. I couldn’t put this book down. It’s all I’ve thought about for 3 days. From chapter 43 onwards, my heart was in tatters and my stomach a ball of nerves.
I didn’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t that ending.
MY GOD GET ME THE THIRD BOOK RIGHT NOW
October 9, 2023
First read: 5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Second read: 5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Ballads never end happily, everyone knows that.”
Stephanie Garber I did not sign up for this. You'll be hearing from my lawyer.
Second read: 5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Ballads never end happily, everyone knows that.”
Stephanie Garber I did not sign up for this. You'll be hearing from my lawyer.
November 26, 2023
3 stars ⋆୨୧˚✧
she wrapped her arms around his neck, and for a second, she held tight. she held him as if he were hers and she were his, and there was nothing else between them. no curses. no lies. no past wounds or mistakes. she held him as if there was only now, as if nothing mattered but this moment.
they should’ve just stayed in the hollow ☹️ eva why do you have to use your HEAD. everything goes wrong when you do that
i truly think jacks is bipolar. i believe eva is a lil cutie who needs to have her head banged a few times. also lala is precious as fuck bye and chaos is just 🩷💓💗💖💕💘💞💝😻🫀 I NEED MORE.
she wrapped her arms around his neck, and for a second, she held tight. she held him as if he were hers and she were his, and there was nothing else between them. no curses. no lies. no past wounds or mistakes. she held him as if there was only now, as if nothing mattered but this moment.
they should’ve just stayed in the hollow ☹️ eva why do you have to use your HEAD. everything goes wrong when you do that
i truly think jacks is bipolar. i believe eva is a lil cutie who needs to have her head banged a few times. also lala is precious as fuck bye and chaos is just 🩷💓💗💖💕💘💞💝😻🫀 I NEED MORE.
June 25, 2024
—— 4.25 ✰ stars.
・❥・ Mood of the book:
: ̗̀➛ Devil Doesn't Bargain by Alec Benjamin
: ̗̀➛ Dandelions by Ruth.B
: ̗̀➛ THE LONELIEST by Måneskin
: ̗̀➛ Love Story by Indila
: ̗̀➛ Villain Of My Own Story by Unlike Pluto
I really don't want to write this review because I don't know what to write, my feelings are still a complete mess. This book was not a 5.✰ stars for me, it was great, almost perfect, but there were a couple of details that I didn't love and also, it didn't give me that feeling of: this is a 5.✰ stars.
It is very difficult to make spoiler-free reviews of series continuations, so I will make a section without spoilers and then another with spoilers that I will mark carefully so that those who do not want to read them do not accidentally spoil themselves.
For my giuls, as always, thank you very much for reading another book with me once again, in you I have found the perfect buddy read, you make the book feel even more magical. I love you.
'Love was the most powerful force in the world. If two people really loved each other and they were willing to fight for that love,(...) love would always win as long as they never stop fighting for it.'
I'm not going to go into it too much, since it would be a spoiler, but let's say that Evangeline doesn't trust anyone, not after what happened, but a new curse falls on her and to break it, she must collaborate with the only person she doesn't want to be with.
'There are heroes and there are villains, she made the choice between the two, and she got the ending that came with it'
Once again, Stephanie Garber's writing is engaging, it seems to transport you to a fairy tale, and the pacing this time has been incredible, things were happening all the time, from the beginning to the end.
Hoping not to sound repetitive, the main reason that no book I have read so far by Stephanie Garber has received 5.✰ stars is that sometimes, it goes too far in the “magical” and becomes confusing, it seems like a fever dream and I feel like I don't know what I have read.
'In the morning, you can forget it. You can go back to pretend you don't like me, and I can pretend that I don't care. But tonight, let me pretend you're mine'
OKAY, THIS TIME YES. In this book the tension can be cut with a knife, the romance is much more intense, and for many moments I was kicking my feet and laughing like an idiot while reading.
The strongest reason why this book does not receive 5.✰ stars is that, every time we had a revelation in the plot, there was a twist and it was a lie, and another twist and another lie, it was very difficult to remember all the twists and it ended being confusing.
'And for one brittle heartbeat, Evangeline understood why so many girls died from his lips.'
Jacks calls Evangeline Little Fox 42 times in this book, yes, I counted them again.
‘People called it heartbreak, but Evangeline thought that losing someone you loved broke more than just a heart’
‘I know what you’re thinking, but some people get things because they deserve them’
‘Winning at love was less about succeeding in a battle and more about continuing to fight, to choose the person you loved as the one you were willing to die for, over and over.’
‘But Jacks was all broken without any heart. And she needed to stop hoping that he could be more’
'A tormented scream pierced the night like a blade. The sky bled, and darkness fell instead of stars, erasing lights across the Magnificent North'
❥𝓔𝓿𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓕𝓸𝔁:
In this book I liked Evangeline more, I was able to empathize more with her, but she is still very innocent and continues to make stupid decisions that made me anxious lol. I understood perfectly why she distrusted Jacks but girly was blind if she thought Jacks didn't feel something for her. THE END HAS LEFT ME BALD. Yes, I expected a tragic ending, but I didn't expect it to happen like this, and considering that Evangeline wrote a letter to herself about not trusting Jacks at the beginning of the book, well... the desire to jump off the cliff has increased.
‘It hurts, Jacks’ – ‘I know, love’
❥𝓙𝓪𝓬𝓴𝓼:
AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP!!!ONCE AGAIN JACKS CARRIED THE BOOK. He is simply the best thing Stephanie Garber has ever created. He is clearly an anti-hero, who only suffers and suffers.
'Life is not a kind storyteller. And I'm not meant to be a savior'
I have to say that I almost got into a fistfight with him for wanting to go back in time for Donatella, because it is obvious that he does not love Tella, he loves Eva, but he thinks that his only chance at love is Donatella.
'He moved as if the night should have been afraid of him'
OMG AT THE END, JACKS SACRIFICED HIS CHANCE TO SAVE EVA, I'M NOT CRYING, YOU ARE!!!!
❥𝓐𝓹𝓸𝓵𝓵𝓸:
WHEN I CATCH U BITCH. YOU BETTER RUN OR ELSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE LEGLESS. I'm not going to talk about this useless thing, the only thing I want to comment on is: WHAT WAS THE REASON????? Bland and cringey character.
Once Upon A Broken Heart Series:
╰┈➤ Once Upon A Broken Heart, 4.✰ stars.
╰┈➤ A Curse For True Love , 3.✰ stars.
Caraval series:
╰┈➤Caraval , 3.75✰ stars.
╰┈➤Legendary , 4.25✰ stars.
╰┈➤Finale, 4.25✰ stars.
ೃ⁀➷ 𝓹𝓻𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀:
➙ Old Updates:
I’m too conflicted to give this a rating rn, when I write the review I will decide, bc rn I’m just staring to my wall after throwing my book to the floor after that ending. My wig ? No where to be found. Stephanie I’m gonna be haunting your nightmares. wait for me.
RTC
feb 12: HERE WE GO JACKS. IM COMING BACK FOR YOU BABY. br once again with my baby giuls. Lets get this shite!! 💖
‘Sorry to break your fairytale, Little Fox, but ballads don't end happily, and neither do the two of us’
・❥・ Mood of the book:
: ̗̀➛ Devil Doesn't Bargain by Alec Benjamin
: ̗̀➛ Dandelions by Ruth.B
: ̗̀➛ THE LONELIEST by Måneskin
: ̗̀➛ Love Story by Indila
: ̗̀➛ Villain Of My Own Story by Unlike Pluto
I really don't want to write this review because I don't know what to write, my feelings are still a complete mess. This book was not a 5.✰ stars for me, it was great, almost perfect, but there were a couple of details that I didn't love and also, it didn't give me that feeling of: this is a 5.✰ stars.
It is very difficult to make spoiler-free reviews of series continuations, so I will make a section without spoilers and then another with spoilers that I will mark carefully so that those who do not want to read them do not accidentally spoil themselves.
For my giuls, as always, thank you very much for reading another book with me once again, in you I have found the perfect buddy read, you make the book feel even more magical. I love you.
'Love was the most powerful force in the world. If two people really loved each other and they were willing to fight for that love,(...) love would always win as long as they never stop fighting for it.'
.𓆩♡𓆪𝓅𝓁ℴ𝓉 𓆩♡𓆪:
I'm not going to go into it too much, since it would be a spoiler, but let's say that Evangeline doesn't trust anyone, not after what happened, but a new curse falls on her and to break it, she must collaborate with the only person she doesn't want to be with.
'There are heroes and there are villains, she made the choice between the two, and she got the ending that came with it'
.𓆩♡𓆪𝓅𝒶𝒸ℯ 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓌𝓇𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𓆩♡𓆪:
Once again, Stephanie Garber's writing is engaging, it seems to transport you to a fairy tale, and the pacing this time has been incredible, things were happening all the time, from the beginning to the end.
Hoping not to sound repetitive, the main reason that no book I have read so far by Stephanie Garber has received 5.✰ stars is that sometimes, it goes too far in the “magical” and becomes confusing, it seems like a fever dream and I feel like I don't know what I have read.
.𓆩♡𓆪 𝓇ℴ𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒸ℯ 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝓅𝑜𝒾𝓁𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈 𓆩♡𓆪:
'In the morning, you can forget it. You can go back to pretend you don't like me, and I can pretend that I don't care. But tonight, let me pretend you're mine'
OKAY, THIS TIME YES. In this book the tension can be cut with a knife, the romance is much more intense, and for many moments I was kicking my feet and laughing like an idiot while reading.
The strongest reason why this book does not receive 5.✰ stars is that, every time we had a revelation in the plot, there was a twist and it was a lie, and another twist and another lie, it was very difficult to remember all the twists and it ended being confusing.
'And for one brittle heartbeat, Evangeline understood why so many girls died from his lips.'
Jacks calls Evangeline Little Fox 42 times in this book, yes, I counted them again.
.𓆩♡𓆪𝓈𝓅ℴ𝒾𝓁ℯ𝓇 𝒻𝓇ℯℯ 𝓆𝓊ℴ𝓉ℯ𝓈 𓆩♡𓆪:
‘People called it heartbreak, but Evangeline thought that losing someone you loved broke more than just a heart’
‘I know what you’re thinking, but some people get things because they deserve them’
‘Winning at love was less about succeeding in a battle and more about continuing to fight, to choose the person you loved as the one you were willing to die for, over and over.’
‘But Jacks was all broken without any heart. And she needed to stop hoping that he could be more’
.𓆩♡𓆪𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙄𝙇𝙀𝙍𝙎 𝘼𝙃𝙀𝘼𝘿 𓆩♡𓆪:
'A tormented scream pierced the night like a blade. The sky bled, and darkness fell instead of stars, erasing lights across the Magnificent North'
.𓆩♡𓆪𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉ℯ𝓇𝓈 𓆩♡𓆪:
❥𝓔𝓿𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓕𝓸𝔁:
'Evangeline knew that her heart longed to hope for the best. She believed that people could change; she believed that everyone's life was like a story with an ending that was not yet written'
In this book I liked Evangeline more, I was able to empathize more with her, but she is still very innocent and continues to make stupid decisions that made me anxious lol. I understood perfectly why she distrusted Jacks but girly was blind if she thought Jacks didn't feel something for her. THE END HAS LEFT ME BALD. Yes, I expected a tragic ending, but I didn't expect it to happen like this, and considering that Evangeline wrote a letter to herself about not trusting Jacks at the beginning of the book, well... the desire to jump off the cliff has increased.
‘It hurts, Jacks’ – ‘I know, love’
❥𝓙𝓪𝓬𝓴𝓼:
'It was a smile like a fairytale, part villain, part hero, part impossible ever after'
AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP!!!ONCE AGAIN JACKS CARRIED THE BOOK. He is simply the best thing Stephanie Garber has ever created. He is clearly an anti-hero, who only suffers and suffers.
'Life is not a kind storyteller. And I'm not meant to be a savior'
I have to say that I almost got into a fistfight with him for wanting to go back in time for Donatella, because it is obvious that he does not love Tella, he loves Eva, but he thinks that his only chance at love is Donatella.
'He moved as if the night should have been afraid of him'
OMG AT THE END, JACKS SACRIFICED HIS CHANCE TO SAVE EVA, I'M NOT CRYING, YOU ARE!!!!
❥𝓐𝓹𝓸𝓵𝓵𝓸:
WHEN I CATCH U BITCH. YOU BETTER RUN OR ELSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE LEGLESS. I'm not going to talk about this useless thing, the only thing I want to comment on is: WHAT WAS THE REASON????? Bland and cringey character.
Once Upon A Broken Heart Series:
╰┈➤ Once Upon A Broken Heart, 4.✰ stars.
╰┈➤ A Curse For True Love , 3.✰ stars.
Caraval series:
╰┈➤Caraval , 3.75✰ stars.
╰┈➤Legendary , 4.25✰ stars.
╰┈➤Finale, 4.25✰ stars.
ೃ⁀➷ 𝓹𝓻𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀:
➙ Old Updates:
I’m too conflicted to give this a rating rn, when I write the review I will decide, bc rn I’m just staring to my wall after throwing my book to the floor after that ending. My wig ? No where to be found. Stephanie I’m gonna be haunting your nightmares. wait for me.
RTC
feb 12: HERE WE GO JACKS. IM COMING BACK FOR YOU BABY. br once again with my baby giuls. Lets get this shite!! 💖
March 29, 2024
5 stars
this second waltz around The Magnificent North was to phrase it succinctly trepidatious, palpitating. the plot line was orchestrated on a frenetic rythme that swung between a myriad of curses, regrettable tragedies, epiphanies over centuries, and a deluge of well-sculpted morbid scenes
that played the role of crucial elements in the timid bond that was braided between Evangeline and Jacks. there was not a second of respite even amidst two syllables and i simply inhaled every twist and turn. simply loved it.
Stephanie Graber's plume has undisputed dexterity. i found that it morphed profoundly; in juxtaposition of the prior series the Once Upon a Broken Heart series veils more than an opulent vocabulary drawing questionable characters. the tortuous story that curved along the lines of The Ballad of the Archer and the Fox tale was embroidered by vivid, vibrant and vigorous emotions, feelings, and sentiments. it illustrated the characters under a raw and realistic angle. from vicious, green jealousy to a palpable desire and amusing querelles driven by an endearing contrast between Evangeline’s altruistic, gracious persona and Jacks’ egocentric and deprived of any humanity Fate demeanor.
Evangeline & Jacks. Jacks & Evangeline. they had me on a constant paroxysmal cathartic state of emotions. i oscillated between hurt in how easily everyone fractured Evangeline’s pure trust; happy in the flourishing camaraderie and developing love they retained so preciously concealed; angry with every unveiling key secret that Jacks kept from Evangeline, enraged that Donatella was still ponding on Jacks and this series akin to a sword of Damocles; desperate for the ending to be a subterfuge; i even admired the arrangements and brillant writing ornamenting the last chapters. but i believe that the one and only bright parcelle of the ending was how it converged with Jacks breathing the personification of selfless, just because of Evangeline, just for her. and that what translates into a veritable true love..
(now i’m going to retire to that dark corner on my room to sob a little more while waiting for the 3rd copie to arrive and admiring my fav quotes.)
———-.———-
let me drown in misery
*deep breath*..
❛happy endings can be caught, but they are difficult to hold on to. they are dreams that want to escape the night. they are treasure with wings. they are wild, feral, reckless things that need to be constantly chased, or they will certainly run away.❜
this second waltz around The Magnificent North was to phrase it succinctly trepidatious, palpitating. the plot line was orchestrated on a frenetic rythme that swung between a myriad of curses, regrettable tragedies, epiphanies over centuries, and a deluge of well-sculpted morbid scenes
that played the role of crucial elements in the timid bond that was braided between Evangeline and Jacks. there was not a second of respite even amidst two syllables and i simply inhaled every twist and turn. simply loved it.
”sorry to break your fairytale, Little Fox, but ballads don't end happily, and neither do the two of us.”
Stephanie Graber's plume has undisputed dexterity. i found that it morphed profoundly; in juxtaposition of the prior series the Once Upon a Broken Heart series veils more than an opulent vocabulary drawing questionable characters. the tortuous story that curved along the lines of The Ballad of the Archer and the Fox tale was embroidered by vivid, vibrant and vigorous emotions, feelings, and sentiments. it illustrated the characters under a raw and realistic angle. from vicious, green jealousy to a palpable desire and amusing querelles driven by an endearing contrast between Evangeline’s altruistic, gracious persona and Jacks’ egocentric and deprived of any humanity Fate demeanor.
“It hurts, Jacks.”
“I know, love. I’m going to take you somewhere safe.”
Evangeline & Jacks. Jacks & Evangeline. they had me on a constant paroxysmal cathartic state of emotions. i oscillated between hurt in how easily everyone fractured Evangeline’s pure trust; happy in the flourishing camaraderie and developing love they retained so preciously concealed; angry with every unveiling key secret that Jacks kept from Evangeline, enraged that Donatella was still ponding on Jacks and this series akin to a sword of Damocles; desperate for the ending to be a subterfuge; i even admired the arrangements and brillant writing ornamenting the last chapters. but i believe that the one and only bright parcelle of the ending was how it converged with Jacks breathing the personification of selfless, just because of Evangeline, just for her. and that what translates into a veritable true love..
“I wish our story could have had another ending.”
(now i’m going to retire to that dark corner on my room to sob a little more while waiting for the 3rd copie to arrive and admiring my fav quotes.)
“he held her with the type of intensity that only happens when a person wants something that isn't quite theirs.”
“it didn't matter if he stayed forever cursed. All that mattered was that he stayed, that he chose her instead of fear.”
“where were you?” she asked.
“I was killing innocent maidens and kicking puppies.”
“Jacks, that’s not funny.”
“I do not want you dead, and I’ll kill anyone who tries.”
“Jacks no longer felt like her enemy, he felt like her home.”
———-.———-
let me drown in misery
*deep breath*..
December 6, 2023
2nd read:
“He held her with the type of intensity that only happens when a person wants something that isn't quite theirs.”
Alexa, play National Anthem by Lana del Rey.
Evangeline and Jacks ARE my national anthem 🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅
but anywho, yep, I remember the pain the ending brings. Now, I didn't really cry this time but I just sat there and stared at the book in shock because I'd TOTALLY forgotten how this book ended, and I remember so vividly why I was so annoyed that it would take "so long" to get the next book, and yet here we are, and the next book is sitting on my desk.
I just reread my initial review and I'm confused because I called Chaos a horrible villain when he didn't even do anything bad 😭 like that thing at the end wasn't even really his fault, so I like him.
Also, fuck Apollo. I forgot how much I hate that guy.
Also again I'm pretty sure this book reminded me how much I love reading, since I've been in a terrible book drought lately ❤
<><><><><><><><><>
1st read:
“In the morning, you can forget it. You can go back to pretending you don't like me, and I can pretend that I don't care. But for tonight, let me pretend you're mine.”
All I feel is pain.
So yeah. I'm not okay right now. I knew the ending would kill me based off of reviews and people literally telling me that they cried and yes:
I cried.
But we'll have the ending's own section at the end, so let's first talk about...
THE PLOT
Also, huge thank you to joy (elend's version) for giving me a summary on the first book! If you hadn't, I wouldn't have remembered anything!
Oh. My God. So, if you all were seeing some of my status updates popping up (and there were a lot of them) then you know that I was freaking out literally all of the way through. Miss Garber was feeding us those plot twists. I was squealing, gasping, screaming, and giggling after almost each chapter because HOLY PLOT TWISTS. There was literally never a dull moment in this book, it was either really tense or funny, and I L O V E D it.
I literally predicted none of the plot twists except maybe one: I love a good book that just keeps bringing in the plot twists. I was reading out in public and I literally had to resist gawking at the book and looking like an idiot because a twist was just revealed.
Anyways, this plot was amazing, incredible, splendid, magical, and a bunch of other words alike to those.
AND THEN WE HAVE...
THE CHARACTERS
I want to be like Evangeline Fox. I love her so much. So, in the beginning when I was getting used to the characters again, I didn't like her at first (probably because I wanted Jacks all to myself but we don't talk about my unhealthy attachment to fictional characters okay-) but she is an amazing protagonist. She actually makes semi-rational decisions, but she also was apparently really dumb according to my updates where I said she was dumb like twice. So yes, she did some stupid things in this book, but everyone does, so I can't fault her. But oh my gosh, this girl has been THROUGH IT. So much stuff happens to her in this book and I feel so bad!
“I wish our story could have had another ending.”
Stop.
Anyways, onto Jacks. My one true love. I know, he's manipulative, cruel, only cares about himself, but do I care?
No.
Jacks could turn me into one of those vampires any day, I don't care. Sure, he makes ahem *questionable* choices throughout this book, but they were all because he cared about Evangeline. Maybe. At least I HOPE so. Jacks better not be pulling an "I didn't actually care for you" thing. I will die if he does.
Here are some gems from the Prince of Hearts's mouth:
“It's all right. I'd probably kill another man if I found him with you like this.”
I'm not okay.
“Where were you?” she asked.
“I was killing innocent maidens and kicking puppies.”
“Jacks, that’s not funny.”
Comedic legend.
“I do not want you dead, and I’ll kill anyone who tries.”
We love an overprotective prince.
So, if you can't tell already, I've got an unhealthy obsession. And to be quite honest?
I like him more than Legend.
YES, I SAID IT.
10/10
“Dark was for stars and dreams and the magic that took place in between days.”
All of these side characters were great too:
-We learn so much about LaLa and that she's no ordinary Fate. I was actually shocked when her plot twists came in.
-Chaos is a great villain. I was genuinely awed and horrified by his actions and all of these things he did to Evangeline were awful.
-Apollo can fall off a cliff
-Why does Luc just keep randomly appearing just to try to bite Evangeline?
If there are any other side characters that I've forgotten, that must mean they aren't important.
AND THAT FINALLY BRINGS US TO...
EVAJACKS/THEIR IMPECCABLE TENSION
Oh my gosh. Practically all of their scenes were FULL of tension and it was literally eating me from the inside out. Miss Garber definitely knows how to write tension. There were SO many different scenes where I thought they were going to kiss, and they made me absolutely insane. I was giggling an embarrassing amount IN PUBLIC. But yeah, Evangeline and Jacks turn me into an absolute monster and I'm okay with that.
“It hurts, Jacks.”
“I know, love. I’m going to take you somewhere safe.”
Excuse me-
*sigh* and then there's...
the ending.
Why. Just why. WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?? I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG AND THEN YOU GIVE ME THIS??
When I read the final few chapters, my jaw was open, my eyes were watering, and I kept whispering, "oh my god" and "no" over and over. And then when it was all over and I'd read the epilogue, I just stared at the wall, tears running down my face, and then silently marked this as read.
THANK GOD THERE'S A THIRD BOOK COMING BECAUSE WTF.
Literally so much was going on with this ending, and I will never forget it.
To all the people who warned me that I would cry, you were correct.
“She wanted the pain to end. She wanted to forget his dimpled smile, his brilliant blue eyes, the way he called her Little Fox.”
So yeah, this was my review of The Ballad of Never After. I've not felt this strongly over a book in a while, so this was fun. So, um, excuse me while I just go and stare at the wall for another hour. Thank you.
5 stars
“Nothing has been safe since the moment I laid eyes on you. And yet I don't want to look away.”
S T O P
<><><><><><><><><>
Don't talk to me
rtc
“He held her with the type of intensity that only happens when a person wants something that isn't quite theirs.”
Alexa, play National Anthem by Lana del Rey.
Evangeline and Jacks ARE my national anthem 🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅
but anywho, yep, I remember the pain the ending brings. Now, I didn't really cry this time but I just sat there and stared at the book in shock because I'd TOTALLY forgotten how this book ended, and I remember so vividly why I was so annoyed that it would take "so long" to get the next book, and yet here we are, and the next book is sitting on my desk.
I just reread my initial review and I'm confused because I called Chaos a horrible villain when he didn't even do anything bad 😭 like that thing at the end wasn't even really his fault, so I like him.
Also, fuck Apollo. I forgot how much I hate that guy.
Also again I'm pretty sure this book reminded me how much I love reading, since I've been in a terrible book drought lately ❤
<><><><><><><><><>
1st read:
“In the morning, you can forget it. You can go back to pretending you don't like me, and I can pretend that I don't care. But for tonight, let me pretend you're mine.”
All I feel is pain.
So yeah. I'm not okay right now. I knew the ending would kill me based off of reviews and people literally telling me that they cried and yes:
I cried.
But we'll have the ending's own section at the end, so let's first talk about...
THE PLOT
Also, huge thank you to joy (elend's version) for giving me a summary on the first book! If you hadn't, I wouldn't have remembered anything!
Oh. My God. So, if you all were seeing some of my status updates popping up (and there were a lot of them) then you know that I was freaking out literally all of the way through. Miss Garber was feeding us those plot twists. I was squealing, gasping, screaming, and giggling after almost each chapter because HOLY PLOT TWISTS. There was literally never a dull moment in this book, it was either really tense or funny, and I L O V E D it.
I literally predicted none of the plot twists except maybe one: I love a good book that just keeps bringing in the plot twists. I was reading out in public and I literally had to resist gawking at the book and looking like an idiot because a twist was just revealed.
Anyways, this plot was amazing, incredible, splendid, magical, and a bunch of other words alike to those.
AND THEN WE HAVE...
THE CHARACTERS
I want to be like Evangeline Fox. I love her so much. So, in the beginning when I was getting used to the characters again, I didn't like her at first (probably because I wanted Jacks all to myself but we don't talk about my unhealthy attachment to fictional characters okay-) but she is an amazing protagonist. She actually makes semi-rational decisions, but she also was apparently really dumb according to my updates where I said she was dumb like twice. So yes, she did some stupid things in this book, but everyone does, so I can't fault her. But oh my gosh, this girl has been THROUGH IT. So much stuff happens to her in this book and I feel so bad!
“I wish our story could have had another ending.”
Stop.
Anyways, onto Jacks. My one true love. I know, he's manipulative, cruel, only cares about himself, but do I care?
No.
Jacks could turn me into one of those vampires any day, I don't care. Sure, he makes ahem *questionable* choices throughout this book, but they were all because he cared about Evangeline. Maybe. At least I HOPE so. Jacks better not be pulling an "I didn't actually care for you" thing. I will die if he does.
Here are some gems from the Prince of Hearts's mouth:
“It's all right. I'd probably kill another man if I found him with you like this.”
I'm not okay.
“Where were you?” she asked.
“I was killing innocent maidens and kicking puppies.”
“Jacks, that’s not funny.”
Comedic legend.
“I do not want you dead, and I’ll kill anyone who tries.”
We love an overprotective prince.
So, if you can't tell already, I've got an unhealthy obsession. And to be quite honest?
I like him more than Legend.
YES, I SAID IT.
10/10
“Dark was for stars and dreams and the magic that took place in between days.”
All of these side characters were great too:
-We learn so much about LaLa and that she's no ordinary Fate. I was actually shocked when her plot twists came in.
-Chaos is a great villain. I was genuinely awed and horrified by his actions and all of these things he did to Evangeline were awful.
-Apollo can fall off a cliff
-Why does Luc just keep randomly appearing just to try to bite Evangeline?
If there are any other side characters that I've forgotten, that must mean they aren't important.
AND THAT FINALLY BRINGS US TO...
EVAJACKS/THEIR IMPECCABLE TENSION
Oh my gosh. Practically all of their scenes were FULL of tension and it was literally eating me from the inside out. Miss Garber definitely knows how to write tension. There were SO many different scenes where I thought they were going to kiss, and they made me absolutely insane. I was giggling an embarrassing amount IN PUBLIC. But yeah, Evangeline and Jacks turn me into an absolute monster and I'm okay with that.
“It hurts, Jacks.”
“I know, love. I’m going to take you somewhere safe.”
Excuse me-
*sigh* and then there's...
the ending.
Why. Just why. WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?? I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG AND THEN YOU GIVE ME THIS??
When I read the final few chapters, my jaw was open, my eyes were watering, and I kept whispering, "oh my god" and "no" over and over. And then when it was all over and I'd read the epilogue, I just stared at the wall, tears running down my face, and then silently marked this as read.
THANK GOD THERE'S A THIRD BOOK COMING BECAUSE WTF.
Literally so much was going on with this ending, and I will never forget it.
To all the people who warned me that I would cry, you were correct.
“She wanted the pain to end. She wanted to forget his dimpled smile, his brilliant blue eyes, the way he called her Little Fox.”
So yeah, this was my review of The Ballad of Never After. I've not felt this strongly over a book in a while, so this was fun. So, um, excuse me while I just go and stare at the wall for another hour. Thank you.
5 stars
“Nothing has been safe since the moment I laid eyes on you. And yet I don't want to look away.”
S T O P
<><><><><><><><><>
Don't talk to me
rtc
November 6, 2023
4.75✩
WHY WOULD YOU WRITE THIS???! Dear Stephanie Garber, I’M SOBBING SO HARD I CAN’T READ WHAT I’M WRITING DOWN RIGHT NOW.
WTAF JUST HAPPENED???!! EMOTIONAL FUCKING DAMAGE IS WHAT HAPPENED. MY HEART HURTS.
Evajacks? Perfection. Their tension? Perfection. This books? Perfection. Did I already mention Evajacks? Because PERFECTION.
They had NO business having this much tension. My. body. could. not. handle. it. I had to put this book down MULTIPLE times because I couldn’t stop SCREAMING AND KICKING MY FEET (AND WANTING TO TAKE MY OWN CLOTHES OFF BECAUSE ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME???!)
Dear Jacks, you better be under my christmas tree this year.
WHY WOULD YOU WRITE THIS???! Dear Stephanie Garber, I’M SOBBING SO HARD I CAN’T READ WHAT I’M WRITING DOWN RIGHT NOW.
WTAF JUST HAPPENED???!! EMOTIONAL FUCKING DAMAGE IS WHAT HAPPENED. MY HEART HURTS.
Evajacks? Perfection. Their tension? Perfection. This books? Perfection. Did I already mention Evajacks? Because PERFECTION.
They had NO business having this much tension. My. body. could. not. handle. it. I had to put this book down MULTIPLE times because I couldn’t stop SCREAMING AND KICKING MY FEET (AND WANTING TO TAKE MY OWN CLOTHES OFF BECAUSE ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME???!)
Dear Jacks, you better be under my christmas tree this year.
July 27, 2023
She meant to say, 'For tonight, I'm yours,' but all that came out was "I'm yours".
Am sobbing over that ending, it is like my heart has been shredded 😭💔 I didn't know this would happen to both of my favourite characters. Despite everyone telling me to prepare for it, I didn't expect it to be so brutal 😭😭
Y'all am not gonna joke here but read this if you like Avengers Infinity War and Avengers Endgame 👀🤭😂
The start of the book and the ending of the book were very strong. For me, it was the middle that kinda faltered a bit in the writing and plot aspect. The plot seemed to be going in circles and the quest for the stones could have been executed more aptly. I know some of you love the writing in it, and I won't deny it was better than the first book but it still came across as ordinary. It's the characters that were the clear winners for me in this book.
That saying, Jacks and Evangeline are such an angsty couple. I loved reading their conflicts, that yearning yet denying each other, the vulnerability especially when it came to Jacks. Jacks was pouring out his emotions in this one subtly, and even without saying anything 🤌🤌 Eva, naive as always needs to stop being a pushover fr 😭 She forgives too easily. Her character is certainly flawed but so is Jacks. Yet, the two together are such a powerful couple. The romance is such a good slow burn, some of the steamy moments had me gasping.
Apollo and Luc were okay-ish, also Apollo at the end is making me wanna punch him so bad🥲🥲 But Chaos as the supporting character was chef's kiss. I need more of him 😩😩 The man is HOT🔥🥵 LaLa was kinda meh.
Am so invested in the story, that ending is going to be in mind for days. Cannot wait for the next book 😩
~•~•~
So stoked to start this 🤩🤩
Am sobbing over that ending, it is like my heart has been shredded 😭💔 I didn't know this would happen to both of my favourite characters. Despite everyone telling me to prepare for it, I didn't expect it to be so brutal 😭😭
Y'all am not gonna joke here but read this if you like Avengers Infinity War and Avengers Endgame 👀🤭😂
The start of the book and the ending of the book were very strong. For me, it was the middle that kinda faltered a bit in the writing and plot aspect. The plot seemed to be going in circles and the quest for the stones could have been executed more aptly. I know some of you love the writing in it, and I won't deny it was better than the first book but it still came across as ordinary. It's the characters that were the clear winners for me in this book.
That saying, Jacks and Evangeline are such an angsty couple. I loved reading their conflicts, that yearning yet denying each other, the vulnerability especially when it came to Jacks. Jacks was pouring out his emotions in this one subtly, and even without saying anything 🤌🤌 Eva, naive as always needs to stop being a pushover fr 😭 She forgives too easily. Her character is certainly flawed but so is Jacks. Yet, the two together are such a powerful couple. The romance is such a good slow burn, some of the steamy moments had me gasping.
Apollo and Luc were okay-ish, also Apollo at the end is making me wanna punch him so bad🥲🥲 But Chaos as the supporting character was chef's kiss. I need more of him 😩😩 The man is HOT🔥🥵 LaLa was kinda meh.
Am so invested in the story, that ending is going to be in mind for days. Cannot wait for the next book 😩
~•~•~
So stoked to start this 🤩🤩
October 25, 2023
now that I've read the Caraval series and OUABH, it seems to me that compared to how Jacks treated Tella, he might not be so into Evangeline 🤭🤭
also, Eva's daily train of thought make my head spin faster than a merry-go-round 😭
also, Eva's daily train of thought make my head spin faster than a merry-go-round 😭
August 24, 2024
˚₊‧꒰ა 5 stars ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
༉‧₊˚. « There is nothing of equal value to me. » ・₊✧
➵ i don’t think i’ll ever get over this book… also, i want to thank cherie for buddy reading this with me!! i had so much fun reading this book with her. you can go to her review by clicking here 💛
˗ˏˋ ‼️ SPOILER WARNING ‼️ ˎˊ˗
➼ characters:
Evangeline Fox, so much happened to my girl, she deserves the world 🤧 To anyone who says anything bad about her can fight me 🤺 My heart broke for her at the end. I was sobbing while reading it(yes I was basically BAWLING my eyes out) and I’m still thinking about that ending all the time.
Jacks, I fell in love with him in this book again but this man needs to get a reality check because he can’t even see how in love she is either him and also how in love he is with her 😭
The only moment I hated him was when he said “I want to return to the moment I met Donatella.” like sir— excuse me?? 😡 Anyways, I’m glad that he changed his mind. If he didn’t, that would be a different story… 😐
Apollo, this man still wasn’t really relevant to me in this book UNTIL that ending. UGH SOMEONE DELETE THIS GUY FROM THIS BOOK 💀 I don’t even want to write more about him ✋🏻
Chaos, this guy didn’t really make wise decisions. I’m still hurt from what he’s done but I don’t know what to feel about him 🤷🏻♀️
Lala, when I read about her putting two curses on Apollo, I really went “alexa play backstabber by kesha” but at least she had a reasonable explanation 😔
Luc, I can’t say I really enjoy reading about his character but he had his funny moments so I’ll give him that 😭
➼ songs:
જ⁀➴ 🎵 archer - taylor swift
જ⁀➴ 🎵 me and the devil - soap&skin
જ⁀➴ 🎵 the prophecy - taylor swift
જ⁀➴ 🎵 miss americana and the heartbreak prince - taylor swift
જ⁀➴ 🎵 tears of gold - faouzia
જ⁀➴ 🎵 heart wants what it wants - selena gomez
જ⁀➴ 🎵 only love can hurt like this - paloma faith
༉‧₊˚. 💌 side note: you can find the finished version of this playlist on the ACFTL’s review ❤️
➼ quotes:
« In the morning, you can forget it. You can go back to pretending you don't like me, and I can pretend that I don't care. But for tonight, let me pretend you're mine. »
« And it struck her how intimate words could be, how they could be spoken only once, for only one person, and they would never be heard again, they would disappear like a moment, gone almost as soon as you realized they were there. »
« He held her with the type of intensity that only happens when a person wants something that isn't quite theirs. But she was. She just needed to tell him she loved him. »
« Want me to kill any of them for you? »
« Evangeline couldn’t let herself think that Jacks’s search for a cure meant he cared for her. She knew this was true, yet it was getting just a little harder to fully believe it. Because she was starting to care for him. »
« It hurts Jacks. »
« I know, love. I’m going to take you somewhere safe. »
« I can close my eyes, but then I’ll have to feel my way around your body. »
« The story curse was familiar with pain, but this was agony, the sort of raw grief that was only seen once in a century. The Fate was every tear that anyone had ever shed for lost love. He was pain given form. »
« Jacks no longer felt like her enemy, he felt like her home. »
« It smelled of him; of apples and magic and cold,moonlit nights. »
« Evangeline knew he would carry her through more than just freezing waters. He would pull her through fire if he had to, haul her from the clutches of war, from falling cities and breaking worlds. »
➼ my opinion:
This book was so much more enjoyable than OUABH. I loved reading every moment of Evajacks, especially in the Hollow. They were too cute 🥹
The tension in this book had me on chokehold. One moment, I was giggling kicking my feet, and then I ended up getting anxious, and later I started crying. This was truly a roller coaster for me 🎢 but I definitely enjoyed it 😚
That ending made me SHOOK. I was SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP 😭 That was a lot of emotional damage, however I love the pain soo what can I say? 🙈
ೃ⁀➷ All in all, I can say confidently that reading OUABH is worth it for this book 😙🤭
༉‧₊˚. « For anyone who has ever feared they won’t find true love. » ♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧
🦊 ouabh - 3.75 stars
🏹 tbona - 5 stars
🍎 acftl - 5 stars
༉‧₊˚. pre-read:
i have a really good feeling about this one ahhh!! continuing br with the sweetest cherie mwah 💋
༉‧₊˚. « There is nothing of equal value to me. » ・₊✧
➵ i don’t think i’ll ever get over this book… also, i want to thank cherie for buddy reading this with me!! i had so much fun reading this book with her. you can go to her review by clicking here 💛
˗ˏˋ ‼️ SPOILER WARNING ‼️ ˎˊ˗
➼ characters:
Evangeline Fox, so much happened to my girl, she deserves the world 🤧 To anyone who says anything bad about her can fight me 🤺 My heart broke for her at the end. I was sobbing while reading it
Jacks, I fell in love with him in this book again but this man needs to get a reality check because he can’t even see how in love she is either him and also how in love he is with her 😭
The only moment I hated him was when he said “I want to return to the moment I met Donatella.” like sir— excuse me?? 😡 Anyways, I’m glad that he changed his mind. If he didn’t, that would be a different story… 😐
Apollo, this man still wasn’t really relevant to me in this book UNTIL that ending. UGH SOMEONE DELETE THIS GUY FROM THIS BOOK 💀 I don’t even want to write more about him ✋🏻
Chaos, this guy didn’t really make wise decisions. I’m still hurt from what he’s done but I don’t know what to feel about him 🤷🏻♀️
Lala, when I read about her putting two curses on Apollo, I really went “alexa play backstabber by kesha” but at least she had a reasonable explanation 😔
Luc, I can’t say I really enjoy reading about his character but he had his funny moments so I’ll give him that 😭
➼ songs:
જ⁀➴ 🎵 archer - taylor swift
જ⁀➴ 🎵 me and the devil - soap&skin
જ⁀➴ 🎵 the prophecy - taylor swift
જ⁀➴ 🎵 miss americana and the heartbreak prince - taylor swift
જ⁀➴ 🎵 tears of gold - faouzia
જ⁀➴ 🎵 heart wants what it wants - selena gomez
જ⁀➴ 🎵 only love can hurt like this - paloma faith
༉‧₊˚. 💌 side note: you can find the finished version of this playlist on the ACFTL’s review ❤️
➼ quotes:
« In the morning, you can forget it. You can go back to pretending you don't like me, and I can pretend that I don't care. But for tonight, let me pretend you're mine. »
« And it struck her how intimate words could be, how they could be spoken only once, for only one person, and they would never be heard again, they would disappear like a moment, gone almost as soon as you realized they were there. »
« He held her with the type of intensity that only happens when a person wants something that isn't quite theirs. But she was. She just needed to tell him she loved him. »
« Want me to kill any of them for you? »
« Evangeline couldn’t let herself think that Jacks’s search for a cure meant he cared for her. She knew this was true, yet it was getting just a little harder to fully believe it. Because she was starting to care for him. »
« It hurts Jacks. »
« I know, love. I’m going to take you somewhere safe. »
« I can close my eyes, but then I’ll have to feel my way around your body. »
« The story curse was familiar with pain, but this was agony, the sort of raw grief that was only seen once in a century. The Fate was every tear that anyone had ever shed for lost love. He was pain given form. »
« Jacks no longer felt like her enemy, he felt like her home. »
« It smelled of him; of apples and magic and cold,moonlit nights. »
« Evangeline knew he would carry her through more than just freezing waters. He would pull her through fire if he had to, haul her from the clutches of war, from falling cities and breaking worlds. »
➼ my opinion:
This book was so much more enjoyable than OUABH. I loved reading every moment of Evajacks, especially in the Hollow. They were too cute 🥹
The tension in this book had me on chokehold. One moment, I was giggling kicking my feet, and then I ended up getting anxious, and later I started crying. This was truly a roller coaster for me 🎢 but I definitely enjoyed it 😚
That ending made me SHOOK. I was SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP 😭 That was a lot of emotional damage, however I love the pain soo what can I say? 🙈
ೃ⁀➷ All in all, I can say confidently that reading OUABH is worth it for this book 😙🤭
༉‧₊˚. « For anyone who has ever feared they won’t find true love. » ♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧
🦊 ouabh - 3.75 stars
🏹 tbona - 5 stars
🍎 acftl - 5 stars
༉‧₊˚. pre-read:
i have a really good feeling about this one ahhh!! continuing br with the sweetest cherie mwah 💋
June 26, 2024
3.9/5 𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒ 𝜗𝜚
I found this so delightful, to me it was like a palate cleanser for fantasies. It was sickeningly sweet, to the point where I felt like I couldn't relate to the main character because she seemed so willing to trust the world and see the good in people. This book does all the things everyone said it would - pure fairytale bliss.
It reminds me a lot of Pixie Hollow and Evangeline reminds me a lot of Tinker Bell when she first was 'born'. I also want to know what was going on with Luc, someone needs to reality check that man. I started to get a bit confused by the plot - but it did all wrap up at the end.
I'm still questioning Jacks as a character - maybe he just wasn't for me? I do see the appeal though and the whole 'touch her you die' vibe. By the way people hyped up this book; I thought the romance would be a bit more heavy than it was but the ending floored me and I had to stop what I was doing to take it all in. 𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒ 𝜗𝜚
Should I read Caraval next?
╔═════ ❀•°❀°•❀ ═════╗
score card:
plot: 4/5
characters: 4/5
world/setting: 4.5/5
pacing: 3/5
enjoyment: 4/5
total: 3.9/5 ✩‧₊˚
╚═════ ❀•°❀°•❀ ═════╝
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── reading log
08/06 3:08pm ʚɞ
WHAT is this love hate relationship i do not understand although i'm gathering why some people recommend reading caraval (im adding it to my list)
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── pre-reading
I needed an audiobook to read whilst deep cleaning my room, and since this was the last book I listened to and everyone says the second one is their favourite, I'm giving it a crack ♡
︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶⠀୨♡୧⠀︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶
june tbr:
ಇ.first lie wins
ಇ. the only one left
ಇ.leather & lark
ಇ. if something happens to me
ಇ. the familiar
ಇ. the warm hands of ghosts
ಇ. a court of silver flames
+the ballad of never after
I found this so delightful, to me it was like a palate cleanser for fantasies. It was sickeningly sweet, to the point where I felt like I couldn't relate to the main character because she seemed so willing to trust the world and see the good in people. This book does all the things everyone said it would - pure fairytale bliss.
It reminds me a lot of Pixie Hollow and Evangeline reminds me a lot of Tinker Bell when she first was 'born'. I also want to know what was going on with Luc, someone needs to reality check that man. I started to get a bit confused by the plot - but it did all wrap up at the end.
I'm still questioning Jacks as a character - maybe he just wasn't for me? I do see the appeal though and the whole 'touch her you die' vibe. By the way people hyped up this book; I thought the romance would be a bit more heavy than it was but the ending floored me and I had to stop what I was doing to take it all in. 𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒ 𝜗𝜚
Should I read Caraval next?
╔═════ ❀•°❀°•❀ ═════╗
score card:
plot: 4/5
characters: 4/5
world/setting: 4.5/5
pacing: 3/5
enjoyment: 4/5
total: 3.9/5 ✩‧₊˚
╚═════ ❀•°❀°•❀ ═════╝
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── reading log
08/06 3:08pm ʚɞ
WHAT is this love hate relationship i do not understand although i'm gathering why some people recommend reading caraval (im adding it to my list)
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── pre-reading
I needed an audiobook to read whilst deep cleaning my room, and since this was the last book I listened to and everyone says the second one is their favourite, I'm giving it a crack ♡
︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶⠀୨♡୧⠀︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶
june tbr:
ಇ.
ಇ. the only one left
ಇ.
ಇ. if something happens to me
ಇ. the familiar
ಇ. the warm hands of ghosts
ಇ. a court of silver flames
+
August 25, 2024
“Ballads never end happily, everyone knows that.”
Well..
Thank you for the warning everyone because I truly can’t grasp how it ended on that cliffhanger?? This book gaslit me with all the cute moments but I also did the same
Let’s get into it
Contrary to Once Upon a Broken Heart, so much actually happened in this! The development in the storyline from there to here was so significant and the plot twists left me absolutely intrigued and hooked and I completely devoured this. You can definitely expect more curses, more chaos, more Lala, newish characters, general character build up, and twists and turns in this.
Evangeline and Jacks “relationship” evolved immeasurably here. I loved the progression in the emotional buildup and was LIVING for the fun banter/tension between them and the steamy crumbs we did get were painfully delicious. I was also kicking my feet up all throughout the book with those moments — even the vulnerable ones. the moments in the hollow were truly everything. I really want and need evajacks to get their HEA ♥
“I merely like the thought that I torment you as much as you torment me."
Evangelines growth and character development was so appreciated and loved here. But Eva, babes, not you calling jacks an apple-eating scoundrel at the start lol thankfully she wasn’t as trusting and more aware of everything that was going on.
“Evangeline's hope had always burned brighter than her fear.”
She’s still as hopeful with her heart despite everything that ensues but somehow wiser in her determination. It made me adore her sm more on a whole new level.
Evangeline still believed that every story had the possibility for infinite endings, and she was going to find one of the good ones
As for Jacks, the absolute chokehold that man had on me omg. The loml in my head. I loved him even more after this and completely get the love all of you have for him.
Whenever he had his moments with Eva, I just wanted to insert myself and tell him to
“It was a smile like a fairytale, part villain, part hero, part impossible ever after”
The little that we did get of his backstory was helpful in understanding him. He was undoubtedly as ravishing as always and he was mostly everything I mentioned him to be in OUABH. But I stand corrected, he wasn’t as self serving here as he was in OUABH — instead his actions were extremely selfless
“He’d felt like a feral fairytale warrior, determined to do whatever it took to save her.”
Jacks and his damn apples — has anyone counted how many he’s eaten?? It’s not further explained why but I think I know.
“I know, love. I’m going to take you somewhere safe.”
And we’re saying love now?? SCREAMING RN. I couldn’t get over that and it was one time. Please give us more Stephanie
As for Apollo? Yeah he could eat alll of those cute words he said before up and obliterate himself with them for all I care.
While the ending didn’t make me bawl my eyes out as I thought it would — trust that I was full of hurt and indignation like the rest of you. It was, in all, just exhilarating and immersive and the writing/storytelling just as enchanting (despite the chaos that occurred here) and Stephanie conveyed it all so well
The release date couldn’t be any more farther for book 3 as I’m currently experiencing the only book hangover from it.
once upon a broken heart review
Quotes that stood out to me:
“Happy endings can be caught, but they are difficult to hold on to. They are dreams that want to escape the night. They are treasure with wings. They are wild, feral, reckless things that need to be constantly chased, or they will certainly run away.”
“Life is not a kind story teller. And I’m not meant to be a savior.”
“I do not want you dead, and I’ll kill anyone who tries.”
“Every prince gets cursed. A prince without a curse will be forgotten by history, and trust me when I say that Apollo wants to be remembered”
“I hurt everyone, Little Fox. But you have to be alive to hate me.”
“The truth is never what you want it to be, Little Fox.”
“Back when she believed that first love and true love and forever love were all the same.”
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