A review by ellasayn
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

I really wanted to score this higher, and maybe I am judging this book a bit too harshly. I just wasn't feeling it as much as the other books. Not only that, but I loved Jacks in Carnaval so much; he was probably one of my favourites so it's a little sad. 

I just had a hard time with Evangeline. She gives me very 'I'm not like the other girls' vibes with her hair colour and how she feels so special in her life. I get it she's the main protagonist of the book, and she should be special, but I just much preferred Tella and Scarlet. 

Evangeline is just very whiny to me. She has the whole evil stepmother and stepsister trope going on, and I just don't enjoy it.

Especially with the stepsister being a red herring, but not really, because she did do some very bad things. Then, when Evangeline tells her the truth about the fates, she gets upset about it? Like girl, you stole her man. What did you expect? I had really wished Marisol was just a nice stepsister that just got very unlucky. That would have been so good. But no she really was not a good person.

It just felt like a bunch of strange things were stringed together, and it didn't fit with the flow I like books to have. I really hope the second book is better. Especially

with it ending on a cliffhanger. That was the most unsatisfying ending I've ever had a book pull on me. Alas, I have only started reading again last year, but it was so disappointing. At least fix Apollo first. I was thinking, 'try your blood first' but nooooo let's just end it right there....

Also, what the hell at that Luc bit? That whole arc was just not doing it for me, but then shove her old love, and she goes full delulu again? Like girl, he's a changeling wanting to murder you. Not to mention that he attacked with a venomous bite. Evangeline would have been screwed if that bite had hit. Luc just sucks as well. Let him die a horrible death to sunlight.

And another one, why the hell were they sending Evangeline out of all people to the north. Their reasoning was just kinda weird and unbelievable? I get that it's later revealed it was all Jacks' set up but still?

I love Lala though she's great.