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avie_j's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Emotional abuse and Death of parent
sophs_mood_reading's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
A heartbroken girls makes a deal with the prince of hearts to stop the wedding of her true love. Little does she know that deals with the Fated never go as planned and she is drawn into a plot that will change everything.
As Evangeline tries to move on from her disastrous deal, she finds herself wrapped up in another plot of the prince of hearts, this, however more dangerous than the first.
I devoured this book. A fantastic mix of interesting characters, unique magical world and a story I was yet to hear before. As we delve deeper into the story we meet more interesting characters and discover twists and turns. The best is the forever changing feelings you have towards Jacks, mimicking how Evangeline must feel herself.
Not full 5 stars as we end on a cliffhanger. One of my pet hates.
As Evangeline tries to move on from her disastrous deal, she finds herself wrapped up in another plot of the prince of hearts, this, however more dangerous than the first.
I devoured this book. A fantastic mix of interesting characters, unique magical world and a story I was yet to hear before. As we delve deeper into the story we meet more interesting characters and discover twists and turns. The best is the forever changing feelings you have towards Jacks, mimicking how Evangeline must feel herself.
Not full 5 stars as we end on a cliffhanger. One of my pet hates.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Death
Minor: Death of parent, Blood, and Murder
raypaws's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Murder, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Infidelity
karissahodge's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence
maddiementions's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
lauraeerika's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
tbh i think it's a bit mid, but i understand why people enjoyed it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Blood, Toxic relationship, and Murder
letiross's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
g4bby's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Alcohol, and Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Cursing, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
Jacks >>>mysterymom40's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Violence
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Third reread (October 2023): 4.5 Stars*
Second reread (September 2022): 4.5 stars*
Stephanie Garber has long been one of my favorite authors. I was entirely mesmerized by the Caraval trilogy, and I knew that I would love this spinoff series just as much.
"Once Upon a Broken Heart" follows Evangeline, an orphaned young lady who is willing to do anything for love. Her longtime, secret love is set to marry her stepsister, so Evangeline decides to make a deal with a fate in order to stop the wedding. She decides the Prince of Hearts will be the most sympathetic to her plight, and in exchange for stopping the wedding, she agrees to kiss three people of his choosing. Evangeline soon discovers that she has bit off more than she can chew as she finds herself on an epic adventure to fulfill her end of the bargain and find her true love.
I was so excited to pick up this book because I found Jacks to be this immensely interesting and complicated character in the Caraval world. I loved getting to read more from him and see him interact with more characters. I also think Stephanie Garber really stepped up her writing game and has really honed in on her craft in this new series. Although I felt like Caraval was well-written, I think this new series shows Stephanie growing as a writer and really fleshing out her characters, as well as building a beautiful and enchanting world. Evangeline is a powerful, kickass woman and I loved reading from her perspective. Despite seeing the worst in people, she is always so willing to give people the benefit of the doubt. I LOVED that despite her difficult life, she is not jaded, AND she still wants to believe in true love. I did think the plotline that she had to kiss three people of Jacks choosing was a little cringy and juvenile, but I suppose it does make sense given that Jacks is the Prince of Hearts.
This book read a little younger YA than I was expecting, but I still really loved it, and I am so ready to see where this story goes in book two.
Second reread (September 2022): 4.5 stars*
Stephanie Garber has long been one of my favorite authors. I was entirely mesmerized by the Caraval trilogy, and I knew that I would love this spinoff series just as much.
"Once Upon a Broken Heart" follows Evangeline, an orphaned young lady who is willing to do anything for love. Her longtime, secret love is set to marry her stepsister, so Evangeline decides to make a deal with a fate in order to stop the wedding. She decides the Prince of Hearts will be the most sympathetic to her plight, and in exchange for stopping the wedding, she agrees to kiss three people of his choosing. Evangeline soon discovers that she has bit off more than she can chew as she finds herself on an epic adventure to fulfill her end of the bargain and find her true love.
I was so excited to pick up this book because I found Jacks to be this immensely interesting and complicated character in the Caraval world. I loved getting to read more from him and see him interact with more characters. I also think Stephanie Garber really stepped up her writing game and has really honed in on her craft in this new series. Although I felt like Caraval was well-written, I think this new series shows Stephanie growing as a writer and really fleshing out her characters, as well as building a beautiful and enchanting world. Evangeline is a powerful, kickass woman and I loved reading from her perspective. Despite seeing the worst in people, she is always so willing to give people the benefit of the doubt. I LOVED that despite her difficult life, she is not jaded, AND she still wants to believe in true love. I did think the plotline that she had to kiss three people of Jacks choosing was a little cringy and juvenile, but I suppose it does make sense given that Jacks is the Prince of Hearts.
This book read a little younger YA than I was expecting, but I still really loved it, and I am so ready to see where this story goes in book two.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent and Violence