Reviews with content warning for Murder - The Ballad of Never After

Nothing beats the original Caraval book, but I love this spin off, especially since Jacks is my favorite character. I enjoyed this one even better than ‘Once Upon A Broken Heart’ Lots of truths are revealed and we learn a lot about Jacks past. The ending was shocking and amazing and I’m desperate for the next book!

Content Warnings

betweentheshelves's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional 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

4.0

I'll admit, I audibly stopped and said "what?" at the end of this book because that's where it's going to end? What the heck. This is why I have been mostly waiting to read series once they are all published. But I digress!

The stakes were risen in this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed the chemistry between Evangeline and Jacks. Between all the running and the curses and the magic, their relationship is growing and changing, even if they don't want to admit it. As readers, you definitely want them to get together. Definitely a will they, won't they kind of situation.

While I still haven't read Caraval (it's on my list, I swear!), I've found I've been able to understand what's going on in this series without much difficulty. So if you're thinking about jumping in without having read the original trilogy, you can do it with this one!

Content Warnings

chronicacademia's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

Content Warnings

theespressoedition's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

My most-anticipated release of 2022 and I wound up giving it 3.5 stars. That hits me right in the feels.

I've felt a lot of weight on my chest as I've thought about writing this review. It's not easy for me to give anything less than raves to my favorite authors' books. However, The Ballad of Never After left a lot to be desired. Right now, the thought that's at the front of my mind is how much I hope that the third book redeems how I feel about the series (and thank goodness she announced the third book not long after this one came out because I was nearly sick with worry at the end).

Because I didn't do a reread of Once Upon a Broken Heart prior to reading this one, I was concerned that I would be a little lost at the beginning. I wouldn't say it was super easy to pick up where I left off, but after about one or two chapters, everything came flooding back and I didn't have difficulty following along after that. The author did a good job of subtly bringing in the plot points from the previous book in order to clue the reader in on what was happening.

My unease wasn't instantaneous, which almost made it worse. Instead, it felt as though I had eaten something delicious that eventually began to turn in my stomach. I've always loved Jacks--a morally gray character with a penchant for mischief and rakishness. While he made it spectacularly clear to Evangeline that he was "not the good guy" in OUABH, that particular narrative was ridiculously overdone in this book. However, because Evangaline is married to Apollo in this book, rather than rooting for her to wind up with Jacks despite his untoward behavior, I watched with horror as their romantic dallying became stronger and stronger... full-on infidelity.

Not only that, but there were a lot of blurred lines when it came to consent. This includes occurrences of sexual touch and advances without both parties agreeing upon it--and even times where someone was drugged or asleep when these took place. Instead of it feeling romantic, it felt racy. Lines were crossed and that was definitely not something I was comfortable with. Now, I recognize that my perspective may be slightly skewed by my own past, but I do think that this is at least something that others should be aware of going into the book.

Someone may have told you to expect heartbreak when reading this, and they're not entirely wrong. While I didn't find myself sobbing my eyes out at any point, I did slam the book shut at the end, then stand in the hallway looking completely forlorn, freaking my husband out until I said, "why would she do this to us?" The ending is unexpected and as I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I'm really thankful that there will be a third in the series. My hope is that it clears up some of the confusion, brings a little joy, and ultimately redeems how I'm currently feeling about Jacks and Evangeline and their truly problematic tryst.

I'm sure I'll have more to say come autumn of 2023...

Content Warnings

hazychapters's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

First of all, let me just say that Jacks carried the whole freaking thing all by himself. Jacks is much more present in this book than in the previous one (this is also why I found the beginning of book 1 a bit long). I adore him, he is truly an exceptional character who remains true to himself. But, I still have a lot of questions about him, his past, the Fates, and a lot of other things.

The plot is direct and quick, very quick, maybe too much sometimes. I enjoyed the first 80% of the book, but unfortunately, the end felt rushed. Basically, during the whole book, we collected so many questions, and by the end of it, we don't have all the answers. We need answers Steph! I remember I had little trouble with the girly princess aesthetic of the first book; it's still the case with this one, but I enjoyed it a little bit more because I knew I was going back to that atmosphere again. Or maybe because it was a bit darker (not that much but still a lot for this worldbuilding) with all these quests and curses and everything.

As for the plot, I need more info about the characters. Except for Jacks (but it's because we know him for a while now), the other characters are plain. I didn't like Evangeline for most of the book, because she's too childish for me (and a bit stupid 😬). The only thing I love about her is her relationship with Jacks because each of their interactions was ✨priceless✨ and the angst 🤌🏻 Right now I just need to reread some very precise scenes because I already miss them together 😩

Overall, for me, it's a nice book to read if you have no expectations. Everything is rushed, there's no deep explanation and details about this or that, the characters are okay, and Jacks is THE must of this book (and that's why I'm reading it). But it's a pleasant story if you want to read something light and relaxing 😌

Content Warnings

kels_18's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

luminareads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Content Warnings

gimmiiie's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I was a excited but skeptical for this book. I rated Once Upon a Broken HEART (OUBH) only 2.5 stars. The writing was mediocre and I expected the same and only read The Ballad of Never After (TBNA) for the character of Jacks.

And TBNA was perfection. 5.0.👌

TBNA is a fantastic read. It was filled with action, relationships. It fall into the pitfalls from what OUBH suffered. Evangeline's character felt more real and she took actions rather than events just happening to her. Evangeline also had character growth losing some of the delusional hopeless romantic and gullibility.

The setting and world building was improved.

Spoilers below~

There was so much I loved about it. The beginning wasn't slow (my biggest gripe with OUBH) and the pace maintained and was good.

The banter between Jacks and Evangeline. Period.

I love it when the adorable nickname is dropped for the first time: "It sounded like Jacks’s voice. But he’d said her name, not Little Fox. Jacks never said her name."

Garber took the daring and thought ending. Evangeline and Jacks had to have had the sad ending they got. The foreshadowing and the title all implied what was going to happen. That they would have heartbreak. Both endings were devastating. I am heartbroken. Any happy ending would have been cheap. It would be a deus ex machina. Both endings were the tragedy of Evangeline's death or loss of her memories.

"The Fate was every tear that anyone had ever shed for lost love. He was pain given form."

There has to be a sequel. There's too many loose endings for there not to be:
-Evangeline's step-sister
-LaLa's curse and true love
-The Valors are alive! What are the implications of this?
-Will Evangeline recover her memories and be reunited with Jacks?
-What will happen the curse on Jacks?

Content Warnings

More...