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queergoth_reads's review against another edition
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
4.75
I enjoyed this book a lot. Like a lot a lot. I don't like to admit it out loud but I'm a bit of a hopeless romantic and this fed into that so well. It's got everything I love, fantasy and fairytale and romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Grief, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
dianaschmidty's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Toxic friendship
julianavaz's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Blood, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death, Sexual content, Torture, Grief, and Murder
katvou's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Body horror, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
leahlovesloslibros's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It honestly breaks my heart (truly, no pun intended) that I didn't absolutely adore this book. Stephanie Garber is hands-down one of my favorite authors. I had been waiting for her to announce her next book for so long after the Caraval series ended and when she finally did, I was immediately obsessed. I don't even really love Jacks (one of the MCs of this book, who is from the Caraval series), but I was still so looking forward to being thrust back into the Caraval universe.
When the book started, it showed promise. For the most part, I enjoyed the first good chunk. Once it got to the part about vampires, though, she totally lost me. It seemed like she started writing a totally different storyline. I know Garber is a huge fan of vampires, so I'm guessing she just really wanted to put them in the story, but it really just turned me off. It went on for quite some time, too, and it just didn't seem like it fit with the rest of the world she had created in the Magnificent North.
Personal feelings on the vampire section aside, Garber still worked her writing magic in terms of the world that she created. I love her descriptions; they make you feel like you're really there. She paints a gorgeous picture for her readers. I will likely still buy and read the sequel in hopes that it is better than this one, but I'm going to be cautious with my excitement towards it.
When the book started, it showed promise. For the most part, I enjoyed the first good chunk. Once it got to the part about vampires, though, she totally lost me. It seemed like she started writing a totally different storyline. I know Garber is a huge fan of vampires, so I'm guessing she just really wanted to put them in the story, but it really just turned me off. It went on for quite some time, too, and it just didn't seem like it fit with the rest of the world she had created in the Magnificent North.
Personal feelings on the vampire section aside, Garber still worked her writing magic in terms of the world that she created. I love her descriptions; they make you feel like you're really there. She paints a gorgeous picture for her readers. I will likely still buy and read the sequel in hopes that it is better than this one, but I'm going to be cautious with my excitement towards it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Death of parent
phoevincent's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
gracieanna21's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Body shaming and Death of parent
kbairbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
(Spoiler review) when this book started off I thought: interesting…let’s see where this goes, then okay it’s very fantastical and floaty and Alice and wonderland-y, then I thought it was getting weirder but an easy quick read, then we started getting more excited and more things were lining up then it was quite exciting and that ending? Ooooh I leaned back and looked at Sean and was like. That’s an ending. I loved Evangelines hope, I HATED Marisol and her bitch ass mom, I didn’t care for Luke, and Chaos was interesting. Lala was an unexpected character and the Prince of Hearts was loveable but also way into blood for a fate that wasn’t a vampire. And what’s with the apples?? The door smiling at the end was wicked, and Evangeline realizing her strength and heroism was a lovely touch. Ummmm yeah I’m excited to see where book two goes and I guess now I have to read Caraval 😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
theespressoedition's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"I believe there are far more possibilities than happily ever after or tragedy. Every story has the potential for infinite endings."
She did it, friends. Stephanie Garber wrote another absolute masterpiece that will most definitely be considered a classic in just a few years. This book was everything I could have possibly hoped for and more.
I'm a massive fan of Caraval. Most everyone knows that by now. I love the magic, the escapism, the true whimsy that is woven throughout every piece of that story. I knew I would enjoy Once Upon a Broken Heart, especially after my most recent reread of the original trilogy -- but I didn't expect to enjoy it quite as much as I did! I thought it would be great, but not quite live up to how much I adore the previous three. If anything, this book may have topped Caraval, which blows my mind to even write down right now.
It held true to the magic of the trilogy, with forgotten stories, cursed towns, poisons and potions, and even a couple of beloved characters. Jacks was always one of my favorites from Legendary (and Finale) and I so looked forward to reading more about him. His sarcastic, self-deprecating, moody demeanor was just as alluring and comical as it felt the first time around -- but this time we even saw his heart (or what's left of it). It just gave me more reasons to love him.
Evangeline. Ohhhh, Evangeline. I just adore this character. She's bold and reckless, with a creative and sweet side accompanied by just a smidge of naivete. At the beginning of the book, I found myself getting frustrated with how desperate she was for love. However, aren't we all? Wouldn't we all do just about anything for those who we think we love and who love us back? I know that I'm quite guilty of this and if I were to look back at my life, I'd shake my head just as fiercely at myself as I did at Evangeline as she made ridiculous decisions (like gulping down poison or freeing a vampire). She's incredibly relatable!
This book was the perfect combination of phenomenal plot + beautiful world-building + incredible characters and it all equated to being one of the best books I've ever read! It was my most anticipated for the year and it not only lived up to my expectations but it far surpassed them in every way. I can't wait for book two!
She did it, friends. Stephanie Garber wrote another absolute masterpiece that will most definitely be considered a classic in just a few years. This book was everything I could have possibly hoped for and more.
I'm a massive fan of Caraval. Most everyone knows that by now. I love the magic, the escapism, the true whimsy that is woven throughout every piece of that story. I knew I would enjoy Once Upon a Broken Heart, especially after my most recent reread of the original trilogy -- but I didn't expect to enjoy it quite as much as I did! I thought it would be great, but not quite live up to how much I adore the previous three. If anything, this book may have topped Caraval, which blows my mind to even write down right now.
It held true to the magic of the trilogy, with forgotten stories, cursed towns, poisons and potions, and even a couple of beloved characters. Jacks was always one of my favorites from Legendary (and Finale) and I so looked forward to reading more about him. His sarcastic, self-deprecating, moody demeanor was just as alluring and comical as it felt the first time around -- but this time we even saw his heart (or what's left of it). It just gave me more reasons to love him.
Evangeline. Ohhhh, Evangeline. I just adore this character. She's bold and reckless, with a creative and sweet side accompanied by just a smidge of naivete. At the beginning of the book, I found myself getting frustrated with how desperate she was for love. However, aren't we all? Wouldn't we all do just about anything for those who we think we love and who love us back? I know that I'm quite guilty of this and if I were to look back at my life, I'd shake my head just as fiercely at myself as I did at Evangeline as she made ridiculous decisions (like gulping down poison or freeing a vampire). She's incredibly relatable!
This book was the perfect combination of phenomenal plot + beautiful world-building + incredible characters and it all equated to being one of the best books I've ever read! It was my most anticipated for the year and it not only lived up to my expectations but it far surpassed them in every way. I can't wait for book two!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Murder