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boba_n_books's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Spice Rating: 🫑 / 5 🌶️
Will all of Stephanie Garber's books be 5 star reads for me?? Only time will tell.
Evangeline Fox thought her first love would be her forever love until she finds out that he is engaged to her step-sister. After the death of both of her parents, Evangeline cannot take any more heartbreak, so she goes to the one person who might understand: the Prince of Hearts. Evangeline decides to strike a deal with this immortal to stop the wedding. But Evangeline soon learns that bargains with immortals are more dangerous than they let on. This simple heartbreak sets off a cataclysmic chain of events that will alter Evangeline's life forever. Does she have enough hope to go on searching for her happily ever after?
Once Upon a Broken Heart can easily be described in a couple of words: magical and whimsical. This fairytale of a novel questions how stories are passed down, who is trustworthy, and whether endings are as clear-cut as happily ever afters and tragedies.
I'm so glad I read the Caraval trilogy prior to this book and would suggest that reading order to anyone looking to start their Stephanie Garber journey, since these books have interconnecting worlds and characters. They happen within a short time period of each other, too.
I loved seeing some of my favorite characters from the Caraval trilogy make appearances in this novel. In the case of the Prince of Hearts, I always appreciate his antics and the way his character fluctuates--he always keeps you guessing. Evangeline is a great new heroine who didn't choose this life but was forced into it. I love a reluctant protagonist who is just as strong as any other.
Stephanie Garber's writing is nothing short of magnificent. The way she weaves these magical tales and settings while masterfully developing her characters should be studied. Sometimes Young Adult (YA) books can feel a bit too immature for an adult audience, but Garber's books do not. They are just as enjoyable to an adult audience as they would be for teens.
Thank you for this wonderful world, Ms. Garber. I can't wait to read more of it.
Will all of Stephanie Garber's books be 5 star reads for me?? Only time will tell.
Evangeline Fox thought her first love would be her forever love until she finds out that he is engaged to her step-sister. After the death of both of her parents, Evangeline cannot take any more heartbreak, so she goes to the one person who might understand: the Prince of Hearts. Evangeline decides to strike a deal with this immortal to stop the wedding. But Evangeline soon learns that bargains with immortals are more dangerous than they let on. This simple heartbreak sets off a cataclysmic chain of events that will alter Evangeline's life forever. Does she have enough hope to go on searching for her happily ever after?
Once Upon a Broken Heart can easily be described in a couple of words: magical and whimsical. This fairytale of a novel questions how stories are passed down, who is trustworthy, and whether endings are as clear-cut as happily ever afters and tragedies.
I'm so glad I read the Caraval trilogy prior to this book and would suggest that reading order to anyone looking to start their Stephanie Garber journey, since these books have interconnecting worlds and characters. They happen within a short time period of each other, too.
I loved seeing some of my favorite characters from the Caraval trilogy make appearances in this novel. In the case of the Prince of Hearts, I always appreciate his antics and the way his character fluctuates--he always keeps you guessing. Evangeline is a great new heroine who didn't choose this life but was forced into it. I love a reluctant protagonist who is just as strong as any other.
Stephanie Garber's writing is nothing short of magnificent. The way she weaves these magical tales and settings while masterfully developing her characters should be studied. Sometimes Young Adult (YA) books can feel a bit too immature for an adult audience, but Garber's books do not. They are just as enjoyable to an adult audience as they would be for teens.
Thank you for this wonderful world, Ms. Garber. I can't wait to read more of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
klsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Violence, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
madalina0_0's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content
mssealey8's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book was generally pretty good. The main character can be a bit dense at times, and the author really draws out the characters thoughts when solving the minor “mystery” of the story. However, the one major mystery is never given much attention and we are left knowing just as little about the prophecy at the end of the book as we are in the first half. Jacks is definitely the most likeable character despite being the stereotyped “villain”. Hoping the second book not only has better dialogue (some of it did not come across as natural speech at all— very flowery and I’m looking at you Marisol), but gives us some more answers about the prophecy.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Death, Sexual content, and Confinement
skokalis's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
This book is not for those who like relaxed plots, it felt like every page I turned something was waiting that would change everything. Filled with surprising plot twists, interesting girls and hot/attractive men! The scenes where Evangeline is alone with Fates and her lovers left me absolutely dying in awe! But it gets a bit descriptive/intense so I wouldn't read it if you can't handle "spicy" scenes. I loved how you can never guess what will happen next, I couldn't put this book down. Plus the cliffhangers this book leaves you on left me scrambling to get my hands on the next book in the series "The Ballad of Never After" Stephanie Garber really did an amazing job when writing these.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Sexual content, and Torture
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, Death, Torture, Toxic friendship, and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing
esme_may's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
The perfect flight companion :) it’s a quick read and I read it over a day with lots of downtime on a flight. Can’t wait for the next one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Confinement
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Grief, and Infidelity
Minor: Classism, Sexual content, Child abuse, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault
lizclev's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing and Sexual content
ambersbakesandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content
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
saurahsaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I liked it, and the the main character is overall fine, but I find the her naïveté and idealization of romance/“happily ever after“ to be really irksome. I can deal with an unreliable narrator, but she can be pretty silly…and it’s not endearing. Otherwise, I like her and Jacks’ dynamic and plan to read the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Grief, Murder, Toxic relationship, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Infidelity
Minor: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Body shaming