Overall I am left feeling disappointed by this book. This book has had so much hype, and so many positive reviews, I was expecting so much more.

Our main protagonist Evangeline is so naive, it's annoying! Because of her naivety, I felt like she was too easily influenced and therefore too vulnerable - to the extend where I felt that Jacks took advantage, and I found this uncomfortable to read. I found it unsettling that young people would read this and think that this behaviour is OK. This bargaining at the beginning of the book put me off straight away!

One of the things I liked about this book, was how fast paced it was. Usually within a fantasy book there is a lot of world building to begin with and therefore is a slow burn - this wasn't the case with this book. It started with a bang, and the plot got going from the very first page. I liked that.

I just couldn't get past Jacks and Evangeline's disturbing relationship, and therefore I didn't enjoy the reading experience of this book. I will definitely read Stephanie Garber's books in the future, but won't be continuing with this series.

Well, that was a quick read. It reads more as a novella than as a novel, it's not really fleshed out properly. You definitely need to have read the Caraval trilogy to understand everything. It was a typical YA book, and there's nothing wrong with that, but it just means that it took a long while to get to the point. And just when things start to get interesting the book is done. I hate cliffhangers like that.
I really liked Jacks in the Caraval trilogy, so I was really looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, I didn't like it as much as I hoped I would. It's a decent book, but just nothing special. I'm giving it three stars.

Wow. It’s been a few days since I finished this book and I’m still thinking about it. Once Upon A Broken Heart is a magical book with just the right amount of mystery. Fans of the Caraval trilogy will not be disappointed, though I’d say this book has a more whimsical feel.

The main characters Evangeline and Jacks provide all the slow burn enemies to lovers tension you could hope for! There is a scene in a crypt and, oh wow, was it intense! I’m so excited to see where they will end up.

Evangeline started out sweet, if a little naive. She makes a deal with Jacks who, being the tricky Fate he is, gives young Evangeline what she wanted but with his own twist.

Over the course of the book we see her falter for a moment but she’s the sort of person who will remain hopeful even when all the odds are against her. She’s probably the most optimistic character I’ve come across and, if she were real I’d want us to be friends.

Jacks is the ultimate morally grey character! In fact I could just call him a villain. But… a villain with a secret squishy centre deep, DEEP down. His manipulations are flawless in a way that is both terrifying and impressive. He’s book crush material but also a murder. So… yeah. We’ll count him as one of the book boyfriends you’d run far away from in real life! 😂

There’s a fairytale that pops up a lot throughout the story which really added to the magical feel of the book. I’m wondering/hoping that it’s a prophecy about Evangeline and Jacks.

I was also left with many questions about Evangeline and her background. My curiosity has been piqued and I need answers! Alas, it looks like we’ll all have to wait for a sequel to get to the bottom of that mystery.

I cannot recommend this book enough! The moment I finished it I wanted to go back to the start and dive straight in all over again. It was pure magic and full of surprises. I’m calling it already: this will be on my list of favourites when I do a wrap up at the end of the year.

Prepare yourself for an emotional, fantastical ride and know that the cliffhanger will leave you wanting more.

I gave Once Upon A Broken Heart 5/5🌟 I received a free copy of this book from @hodderscape through @netgalley in exchange for an honest review. #OnceUponABrokenHeart #NetGalley

Thankyou to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an early copy of this book. Stephanie Garbers Caraval trilogy is one of my favourite series so i had to try and get my hands on this as soon as it became available. This book follows Evangeline as she makes a deal with Jacks, otherwise known as the prince of hearts and the journey she takes to get what she wants. I love the characters, i love the plot and the ending...oh the ending, i need the next book immediately with the way that it ended.

Cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

“I don’t know if I can fix your broken heart, but you can take mine because it’s already yours.”

•

You know when you root for the villain so much that you ask yourself if something is wrong with you? Well, that was the sensation reading OUABH because I fell for Jacks even harder than before.

Stephanie Garber never fails to wonder me with her writing style, which makes me dream every time. The story is full of plot twist and betrayals and secrets and it kept me stuck to the pages.

Evangeline actually reminds me of Tella, they both wanted to write their own stories and they are both so romantic even if none of them expects a prince to rescue them. Evangeline desperately wants to live a love story worth of a fairy tale and I found myself dreaming with her about it!

Coming back to Valenda and its amazing world has been wonderful. I really want to take Jacks to a safe place and show him that he can be happy and tell him he deserves to, maybe that’s the only way to change his destiny.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the early copy.

thanks to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

i started reading this book until i realized it's supposed to be connected to stephanie garber's first trilogy. which wasn't clear at all in the description? however, having not read the caraval trilogy, i couldn't connect with the characters and world as i wish i had. i'm sure it's an enjoyable read, but nothing beyond that.

I never finished the Caraval series despite a promising first book but for me it was sufficient on its own, I had no idea that this book was a spin off, that did not prevent me from appreciating this book but I was spoiled the ending of the Caraval serie.

In this book we follow Evangeline who makes a deal with Jack The Prince of Hearts, and this deal does not end well for her since she ends up transformed into a statue, after being bring back, the queen sends her to another country where she will find Jack and try to survive the new court.

Not having read the story of Jack which only appears in book 2 of Caraval, I had no expectation of him or any of the characters. I found Evangeline to be very courageous but also very naive, she is not afraid to take risks but she also trusts others a little too easily. Jack is for me a good book boyfriend, charming, funny he is easy to read and appreciated.

For the universe and the intrigue, I really liked the divinity, the kingdom and the customs present in this book, I had the impression that I sawa bit of a zany side which was fun. The plot is well conducted and easy to follow, there are good elements for the sequel that I hope to read when it comes out.

I absolutely loved diving back into Garber’s writing. Caraval was one of the first YA fantasy series I can really remember reading and I fell in love with Donatella and Scarlett. Knowing that Garber was writing a new book filled me with so much joy and then finding out it was centered around Jacks? Well I knew I would love it before I even started.

Evangeline is such a good protagonist. She is selfless and trustworthy, but desires love - true love. I adored the relationship her and Jacks had - flirty, witty and curious. And the Prince Of Hearts!? He is a ‘villian’ you just cannot help but love. We saw sides to him we didn’t really see in Caraval and I really enjoyed reading more about him. He was a brilliant character in Caraval so having his character developed and more divulged about him just added to this book.

Garber has once again drawn me into her magical, whimsical world and I devoured this book. I did take a small break reading it but I just was not ready for it to end. I am really looking forward to reading more about Evangeline and Jacks.

It's desperation and heartbreak which leads Evangeline Fox to enter the church of the Prince of Broken Hearts. Everyone knows to make a deal with a Fate like the Prince is a last resort because they trick and deceive humans for fun and the human is never the same again. Evangeline has lost the love of her life, Luc, who despite professing his love to her has now shunned her and has proposed out of the blue to Evangeline's stepsister. Fearing Luc has been cursed, Evangeline makes a deal with the Prince - he will stop the wedding in exchange for three kisses....but the kiss of the Prince of Broken Hearts is known to be fatal. How can Evangeline save Luc and live to be reunited with him?

Wow, I really enjoyed Once Upon A Broken Heart, the first book in Stephanie Garber's new series. I loved how within the first few pages you were straight into the heart of the action, so I was immersed in Evangeline's world straight away. It's a charming story which I struggled to put down. It's totally relatable to anyone who has been a fool in love as well! What I loved most was the mythology in the world the author created, especially the cursed stories of the North. I really enjoyed the the details within Evangeline's world, like the dragon roasted apples in the markets, and the gossip rag which the reader is treated to excerpts of. I was hungry for details of the world they live in and Stephanie Garber laid on a feast with her writing. I loved the change in relationships within the book and the heady tension towards the end. I cannot wait to delve back into this world for the next book. I'm not going to lie - I am so impatient for it to arrive. Having only just discovered this author, I will be reading the Caraval series whilst I wait, to get my fantasy fiction fix.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an opportunity to review an advanced copy of this brilliant book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Caraval was the series that rekindled my love of YA fiction so to say I was excited for this book was an understatement. And I am so happy to report that this book builds on Garber's original world and takes it to a whole new level. Pure magic in book form!!

I remember reading Caraval. It was after dinner already and all of a sudden I felt like starting a book. About 4 hours later the book was finished and it was time to go to bed. And although Finale didn't feel as great and mind blowing as the first two books, I was very curious to read what would happen to our dear Jack of Hearts after his unfortunate fate in the trilogy. I was therefore quite happy when the publisher granted my Netgalley request and gave me this arc! Thank you so much!

Even though this book stars Jack of Hearts and even though there are a few cameos of other familiar faces, I think it's totally possible to read this book without having read the Caraval trilogy first. However, you will spoil yourself considering the ending of the trilogy. This book introduces us to a new main character, who I instantly fell in love with because she's so beautifully human, and it takes us to a part of the world we haven't seen and discovered yet.

Luckily Garber also brings a lot of familiar elements to this story. I especially loved the casual magic and fantasy elements in this book. There are dragons, but apart from a few mentions they're not a big deal. Magic is normal in this world, part of this world, probably even carrying the world and therefore the possibilities are endless. That makes the story exciting and it means there's a new surprise waiting in every chapter.

On top of that Garber adds some political intrigue, some hidden agendas (I mean, Jack of Hearts without a hidden agenda? Can you imagine?), some gossip and a prophecy with consequences no one truly understands. At the centre of this all is our leading lady. At times she's a little naive and always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt, but her curiosity, her stubbornness and the willpower to solve everything herself makes her so relatable and therefore easy to root for.

Although the book missed the thrill the first two Caraval books had, I already can't wait for the sequel!

This is my first book by Stephanie Garber which I enjoyed. It was such a fun read, a modern take on fairytales. I’m guessing this is the first in a series since there’s so many questions left unanswered by the end. Definitely look forward to the next book, highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know how Stephanie Garber is expecting me to function after this book. It was everything I thought it would be and more.

I was a little scared that I wouldn't like Evangeline (because who could ever be good enough for Jacks?), but she stole my heart immediately.

She's selfless, brave, and grows into the hero she was always meant to be. I'd even go as far as to say she's my favourite female lead in the world so far. Eva, you dethroned Scarlett, be proud.

There's an array of new faces, and some old ones too. What's really fascinating about Garber's characters is that I can't hate any of them (well, minus Julian, he's my one exception), so all the new ones had me feeling for them on different levels.

If you haven't read the Caraval series before or didn't finish it, and you have plans to, then I'd suggest you don't read this until you've finished that, because it does spoil the very ending of the series. If you have no interest in reading Caraval, then I think you can still comfortably enjoy this, but there will be references to Jacks and Tella among other things.

Once Upon a Broken Heart is also different from Caraval. It feels more like a fairy tale than a magical carnival, but it's just as gripping. I couldn't put my phone down and had to read it all in one go.

Now let's talk about the vampires. Yes, WE HAVE VAMPIRES IN THIS ONE! I was not ready, but I love the inclusion. If magic exists, why can't vampires exist as well? And folks, they're the bloodthirsty kind. Fun.

And finally, that ending...I'm in pain just from thinking about it. The whole story was filled with twists, and that was the worst one. If another series goes by without Jacks being happy by the end I'll riot.

5 stars from my very broken heart.

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This is my first Garber novel, and as a sucker for modern fairy tales I did enjoy it. The concept of the Fates is intriguing and I'm hoping their back story gets explored more in the next book. I liked Evangeline and Jacks as characters, though I wish Marisol had been slightly more developed. The ending slightly came out of nowhere, but I'm interested enough to see out the next book.

Oh my...

I didn't have any clear expectations for this- I went in for a good time and that's what I got!

The writing was magical! It's so beautifully written, with lyrical descriptions and a ton of emotion. I really can't remember how Caraval read, but I know this isn't how I felt reading that book. I was a bit hesitant because this follows a character from that series, but seriously I didn't know anything about Jacks and I still understood it perfectly! The descriptions of new places weren't info-dumpy and the world was so mesmerising, it kept me wanting too know more! The lore and fairytales were easy to follow, and the mystery element really held well. Although some parts were predictable, but oh man I enjoyed it so much.

The plot and story were so unique. The author really structured the events so well, and by the end you can kind of see how it all comes together. And OMG that cliffhanger?? how am I supposed to wait so long for the next one? * cries *

I loved Jacks. He's such a broody, grumpy and mischievous character. I enjoyed reading his interactions with Evangeline and how they had this back and forth. Also saving each other when they didn't even like each other... AHHHH (or did they...) Anyway, this is definitely a slow burn romance. Evangeline did annoy me a little with some stupid decisions, but I can overlook them, because I was SO invested in this story! I liked the aspect of her father and his curiosity shop, although I wish it had been expanded on, maybe add in some magical trinkets.

My favourite scene had to be the party where Evangeline meets Prince Apollo (and Jacks is there), so of course mischief ensues. That particular scene was so immersive and seductive.. (you'll see when you read it) hehe.

Overall, a very well-written story with an ending that will leave you gasping, and wishing there were more pages. I loved Jacks and Evangeline, and can't wait to see how their relationship develops in the next one! Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for an e-arc, you guys really made my day!

I absolutely loved this. The vibes of this book are second to none, they are dark, gritty and whimsical at the same time and I adored it.

I will say there is a bit of a time jump at the beginning that had me thrown and I was upset I felt like I'd missed out on The Week of Terror. I would have loved to read about the chaos and I'm hoping it comes up more in future books.

I love that the lines are blurred between who is good and bad and that by the end of the book it's still unclear. I'm looking forward to it being explained more in the series. Jacks is by far one of my favourite characters I've read in a while. His powers are so interesting and just fun to be honest. Other Gods I am a bit confused about their abilities and how the magic system in general works, it could have been fleshed out more but with this being a series I expect more will come to light as it developed.

The writing here is exactly what I have come to expect from Stephanie Garber after reading her Caraval series. It is fast and easy and so so smooth. I got through this book in a couple of days, which with a baby is quite the feat but I really couldn't put it down.

4.5/5 Stars

The premise was great but the poor formatting of the eARC made reading this a borderline irritating experience. Even though this is the first book in a series, the story felt kind of incomplete. Overall, I didn't like it as much as I had expected, unfortunately.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy.

I am in love with Jack's even more now!!
This book is amazing and just what I needed after Finale.
The characters and world building are just as fantastic as in the Carval series and I am enjoying this new world and lore within it,
That ending though, I am already rereading OUaBH + dreading the wait for the next book in this epic world.

Evangeline Fox has long believed in the notion of a happy ever after in life. She's been meeting Luc in secret and she thinks he's the one for her. But then he proposes to her stepsister, Marisol, out of the blue instead. She's heartbroken and seeks out assistance from the Prince of Hearts to stop the wedding. In exchange, she must kiss someone three times, at the prince's choosing. The way the wedding is stopped isn't what she expects and she's soon on a path that she'd never have dreamed of and is travelling to the North, where her mother is from.

Although I pretty much devoured this book in less than a day, I did realise there's a story that precedes it. Curiosity got the better of me and soon I had downloaded it and was reading all three books. I really enjoyed that series and it definitely gives a bit more context to this story. That said, I was able to enjoy this without it too. Anyway, after I read Caravel, I decided to reread this story and it was a good thing because I enjoyed it so much the second time through. While I really liked Caravel, I find this book was so much better. I really love the Prince of Hearts and Evangeline has that streak of goodness in her that seeks to balance his not-quite-good but not bad either character. I also found Prince Apollo's attentions to Evangeline quite amusing in their slightly over-the-top way. Just as in Caravel we meet another Fate and a vampire along with several other colorful characters. It was a really delightful read.

My only criticism is that the book ends rather abruptly, leaving me not quite satisfied with the morsels given in this story. I know there will be another book to follow but talk about cliffhangers...lol.

I look forward to the follow-up to this and give this 4.5 stars. I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for giving me an advanced reader copy. I provide this review voluntarily.

Coming into this book I didn't realise it's relation to the Caraval trilogy so just for anyone else who hasn't read that series you can easily follow this book.

This book was everything you want in a fantasy.. magic, enemies to potential love interest later on in the series???

This books main protagonist is Evangeline Fox who's first love broke her heart by deciding to marry her stepsister, a way to cope this pain was of course to stop the wedding by praying to one of the fates Jacks the Prince of Hearts. He agrees to stop the wedding in return for three kisses, little does she know that this leads to an adventure far more dangerous than she could ever have thought.

I have no negatives to this book, I feel like the pacing was great and I was pulled into the story quickly. Now I just have to sit and wait for the next in the series as this one ended with more questions than answers!

If you are a fan of fairytale based fantasy booked then this is a must read!