hayleysometimesreads 's review for:

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber

4.0

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We return to the Magnificent North for the second instalment in Stephanie Garber's trilogy. The story begins with Evangeline desperately searching for a way to wake Apollo from his suspended state, but her plans quickly unravel when a new curse is placed on her. With no choice but to ally with Jacks, she is pulled into his quest to track down the stones needed to open the Valory Arch, a journey that leads them through strange, magical, and unforgettable places.

I found myself enjoying this book even more than the first.

The new settings, like the enchanted grove, added depth, wonder and wonder to the world. I also loved seeing the characters grow and reveal more layers of themselves as we learn more about their histories. The stakes felt higher, the tension sharper, and the magical lore richer, all of which kept me completely hooked. The ending was dramatic - managing to outdo even the finale of the first book - and left me wanting to dive straight into the final instalment.