A whimsical story with vivid characters and filled with a love of magical and mystery.

I have not read the Caraval series, and came to this without any prior knowledge of the trilogy, though I have since learned that at least one of the characters in this book is a familiar one to readers of that series. It works perfectly well as a new story to uninitiated Stephanie Garber readers like myself, though I now really want to read the others and see how knowing the characters and the world might change, or solidify my opinions of Once Upon A Broken Heart.

The author clearly loves her genre, there is a whimsical magic to the world that is often relegated to books aimed at younger readers, but is really welcome in this book which is for a slightly older readership. The different beings, the pocket-sized dragons, descriptions of the food, and the clothes, the buildings are just great and fill the book with a joyful dancing light. Then there's the mysterious characters, I loved Evangeline and Jacks and their dynamic, and the fact that you're never quite sure of Jacks' character or true motives throughout, together with the underlying threat and mystery to balance it all out and you've got all you need to keep you hooked. I devoured this book in one sitting, and am really looking forward to the sequel. (Plus I now want to dye my hair rose gold!)

Wow wow wow! I picked this up having no idea what to expect as I've never read anything by Stephanie Garber before, and I was completely hooked from the very first page. We follow Evangeline- a believer in happily ever afters- who has just made a deal with the mysterious Prince of Hearts. In return for stopping the wedding of the man Evangeline loves, the Prince of Hearts requires three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing.
What follows is a hugely enjoyable fast-paced story, that is truly unputdownable.

The characters were fantastic and I instantly loved Evangeline. She was bold from the very first page, so of course I liked her! I also felt like she was quite self-aware, which is something I really like in a protagonist. She never felt whiny or annoying, which is always a win. Jacks was mysterious and sexy and perfect. Do I have a crush on him? Yes. Does that influence my review? Probably. I'm just a sucker for a morally grey character, and I loved all the interactions between Jacks and Evangeline. There were also lots of side-characters that I enjoyed reading about, and I hope we’ll get to see more of them in the next book.

The plot, whilst perhaps not stunningly in its originality, was hugely entertaining. The tropes may be well-used, but they're well-used for a reason, and that reason is they work. The plot moved at a good pace, and although there were a few moments that felt a little rushed, I prefer a plot that moves slightly too quickly over one that drags. It was a very enjoyable reading experience, and I found myself thinking about the book and what might happen next any time I was forced to put it down.

Overall a really fun book and one I highly recommend! I haven't read the Caraval series but I'm now tempted to give it a go as I enjoyed the writing style in Once Upon A Broken Heart so much. I'm just gutted that we’re going to have to wait for the sequel, because I'm absolutely desperate to know what happens next! I look forward to more of Evangeline and Jacks, and will be patiently waiting for the next instalment of their story.

I received an eARC from NetGalley in return for my honest review.

This is such a perfect continuation of the Caraval world!

Once Upon A Broken Heart picks up right after the events of Finale but you definitely don’t need to have read the Caraval series in order to understand this book although I’d suggest reading it first if you want to avoid any spoilers.

Garber has done a brilliant job of expanding on the magical world she’s created, In Caraval the world felt a bit restricted but with the introduction of the Northern region it’s become much more developed.

Jacks, The Prince of Hearts, is back but this time there’s a whole lot more of him! He’s such a fun, morally grey character and while we see more of him he remains as mysterious and intriguing as ever. Evangeline is our new main character, she has good intentions but gets tangled up in a whole lot of magic, prophecies and deals that cause her a lot of problems. She has a fabulous dynamic with Jacks and goes through some great character development, I’m so interested in seeing how this continues in the next book!

OUABH is fast paced and full of action that holds your interest from beginning to end. Yet, it manages to feel quite personal with a focus on Evangeline and Jacks above other characters and events, although there are some really interesting supporting characters I want to find out more about! There’s also plenty of magic in this book, though it’s subtler and slightly less spectacular than in the Caraval series it’s still incredibly enchanting.

This is such a good introduction to a new series and I’m so excited to find out what’s next for Evangeline and Jacks!

Unputdownable, suspenseful and thrilling. Once started, I couldn't put it down and now I need to read the next book!
Evangeline Fox has always been different, always believed in love at first. So when Luc walks into the shop where she works after her father dies, she believes they're meant to be together.
But when she finds out he's marrying her stepsister, she strikes a deal with the deadly Prince of Hearts to get him back. But Jacks has his own deadly reason for helping her.

Really, really enjoyed this. So much so that I immediately went to buy it in hardback and was gutted that Waterstones has sold out of signed editions.

I loved Jacks (I’ve not read the Caraval series, though I will be immediately) as a character. I loved the twists and turns as Evangeline tries first to save the man she loves and then to try and land a prince. All having made a risky bargain with a fate. The world and story is beautiful. The characters are great. I thought Evangeline’s nativity was slightly annoying, but plot critical. Can’t wait to find out what happens next. And having it for my next book club choice as I know everyone will adore it. Lovely.

Headlines:
Different broken hearts for different reasons
Trust...who?
Apples, foxes, arches and kisses

This was such a fun and gripping world to get caught up in. Once Upon A Broken Heart was magical, sarcastic, funny and twisty. The whole book was an experience, plot and characters aside, with great formatting for newspaper articles and notes.

This felt different to the Caraval world and I was glad of that. The south and then the north felt totally different from those previous books and I would affirm that reading the series first is unnecessary, you'll only miss a deeper meaning on a few nuggets of information.

Evangeline was a worthy protagonist, she felt mature in some ways but she had a tendency to react to events and then act without thinking things through. That said, I really enjoyed everywhere the plot went, it truly was unpredictable. Predictably however, I liked Jacks and despite his nefariousness, I wanted to see him romantically entwined. That fate is utterly untrustworthy and but I'm 100% Team Jack.

I can't wait to see where this story goes in the next book. Stephanie Garber created a different yet intertwined world with her previous series. This series is right up my street and I'm already a fan.

Thank you to Hodder Books for the early review copy.

I can honestly say I was obsessed with this book. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it and never wanted to put it down. This was such a good fantasy read!

I will admit I haven’t finished the Caraval trilogy and have only read the first book, which is now something I need to change! I think I enjoyed this one more than Caraval when I read that a few years ago. I do think this book can be read as a standalone, but I think there are some things that will probably make more sense if you’ve read the Caraval trilogy first! This book also has spoilers for that trilogy as it is set after the events of it, and some characters do feature! I also believe this is a spin off involving Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, a character that appears in the last two books of the trilogy, so he was a character I had never met before.

‘I believe there are far more possibilities than happily ever after or tragedy. Every story has the potential for infinite endings.’

Once Upon A Broken Heart follows Evangeline Fox, a girl in love with Luc, a boy who is about to marry her stepsister. Evangeline and Luc were previously in love and this marriage comes as a massive shock to Evangeline, so naturally she seeks out one of the Fates to stop the wedding. She meets Jacks and makes a deal with him, he will stop the wedding in exchange for three kisses of his choice. After the wedding is stopped which gains quite a bit of media attention, Evangeline is sent as an Ambassador to the Magnificent North to attend the Nocte Neverending, an event to help Prince Apollo of the North find a wife. Evangeline doesn’t expect to see Jacks in the North, but finds herself entangled in a mysterious plan of his.

I wish this was a standalone as I am desperate for the sequel! As the Prince of Hearts, Jacks can’t kiss anyone without killing them, unless they are his true love. And I have never wanted two characters to kiss more than I wanted Evangeline and Jacks to. Jacks is a very morally gray character, but he made the perfect love interest! Their relationship, if you could call it that, is a very very slow burn, but I think it’ll be worth the wait!

‘I wanted you here, Little Fox.’

Evangeline is a very well written character and I felt connected to her and her emotions. I loved her fascination with the North and the Fates. The world building was stunning. I felt so immersed in this book and could perfectly imagine myself in the settings described. It was incredibly easy to get lost in this book, and I’m sat here writing this review and wishing I was still reading this book! I have so much more I want to say about this book and what moments I loved but then this review would not be spoiler free!

The best way I can describe this book is "absurdist." There's a certain amount of suspension of disbelief required to read books, particularly SFF, but this book took it to the extreme.

The sequence of events felt rather ridiculous, with things happening so fast as if the book was trying to ensure you didn't have enough time to question why things were happening. For example, the entire plot is predicated on the fact that a random girl who'd gotten into gossip papers is sent north on a diplomatic mission, despite having no experience. It's framed as a diplomatic mission, except there's nothing diplomatic about her task - which is just "go" as if northern royals will know about southern gossip and think that makes her a good choice?

It basically feels like an excuse to start in a city we know from the previous books to get a Scarlett and Tella cameo in, and then to get Evangeline north where the plot is happening. There is a one line explanation later, which only really generates more questions - namely why Scarlett would have listened to that person to make the decision.

And the whole book felt like this. Increasingly preposterous events with explanations that would crumble at the slightest breath of wind. It almost felt like a farce.

Having just read FINALE and being very disappointed by the book for trying to romanticise Jacks who hits every single one of my red flags for abusive, manipulative partners, I was worried this book would make him the love interest. It didn't, thankfully - oh, for sure, Evangeline is confused, but it never felt like love from either of them. He's using her for his own ends, and that's that. There's no feeling of obsession from him.

The "romance" itself, with Apollo, also felt off and farcical. She's a very naïve girl who is very good at believing herself in love, and that's how I viewed it. There wasn't any chemistry, and I'd understand if her emotion at the end was guilt and that's why she thought she had to do something. However, it seemed like I was being told that it was love.

I'll unfortunately have to conclude Stephanie Garber's books are not for me. While reading the Caraval trilogy, it had its ups and downs for me. I didn't like the characters or the writing style very much, but I found the world so interesting. And Jacks was a more interesting character to me than Legend. So I was hoping this book might have been better in terms of writing style and characters. I ultimately didn't feel like this book added an interesting story to this world, though. I found myself pretty bored through most of it, even though a lot happens. So I'll have to conclude it just didn't work for me.

Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

So, this is my first book by Stephanie Garber and I genuinely had no idea that this series was a spin off of the Caraval series. I didn’t know until I was talking to a friend and they mentioned it was. I was worried after finding out, if I would feel like there were missing puzzle pieces to the story and because of that I wouldn’t feel all that I should.

So there are two answers to this: yes and no. Yes, it definitely did feel like to me that I wish I had read the Caraval series because there felt like there was so much more to Jacks’ pain to feel and the real impact of it may come with all the prior knowledge of the Fate. Also, no, because it doesn’t feel like we’re lost in the story because the protagonist like the new reader doesn’t know Jacks’ history either which only increased relatability on that front for me. Ergo, there are benefits to both kind of readers!

I wish the book was longer! So, the world building happens at a comfortable pace and I don’t feel like I have too much to complain about on that front. However, just as I felt like I understood what was happening the book ends. For me personally, the cliffhanger didn’t feel all that devastating. It was more like “Huh..aw.” But I would’ve definitely loved the book to be a little longer.

This brings me to the next part, the parts I wish were longer. So, I do feel like on the writing front while it was super easy to get into and comfortable to read, it missed out on some key details while a situation is happening. When these said situations play out they do so with, what felt like to me, a slightly jerky style—where nothing is questioned—and later on in the book it’s explained. But there wasn’t enough content in the beginning for it to feel like a mystery or a thread we’re curious to follow. It felt a little like a sentence broken off midway, rather than a question I should remember as a reader and wonder about.

The characters. So as a new reader I don’t yet feel like I know Jacks too well. Outside of all the pain, games and secrets, the Fate’s personality is still shrouded in mystery and confusion (not in a bad way). I’m however not yet crazy about Jacks yet given that I don’t really know too much about him and there was always too much happening to have time to explore the character. Evangeline (her name felt like a real mouthful though I won’t lie) was definitely a grey character. Or more like she becomes a grey character due to a set of several unfortunate events. It’s hard to not pity the character a little and hope she figures things out as well. I also did notice some retelling trope here and there, but I’m not wholly sure if it was meant to be such or I’ve just found similarities coincidentally. Whether or not it’s a trope doesn’t affect the reader’s experience either way.

The plot to me (like I’d mentioned earlier) felt like it was just beginning to unwind when the book ended, however the book keeps you interested and guessing throughout. I could never predict what was going to happen next which for me is always a plus. The only down side was those small issues I had that I mentioned earlier which sadly pricked some holes in my reading experience and made the plot feel less than it was.

However, I stayed with the book throughout and I certainly don’t know what Stephanie Garber is going to bring to the reader with the next book. But whatever it may be, I’m sure to want to be a part of it. Four stars! ❤

Happy reading and stay safe!

I adored Jack’s in caraval and so excited we get to see more of him in Once Upon a Broken Heart! Evangeline is such an interesting character like in caraval, the characters of once have such a unique character development each with a fatal flaw that I love in characters.

Captivating story and left me wanting more. The pace was fluid and ramped up towards the end and I need the next book immediately!

This was such an anticipated release and it was everything I wanted it to be and more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a free ARC in exchange for a review!

This book made me so happy. From the moment a bell tried to warn Evangeline, I knew I was in for something special. Stephanie Garber is, obviously, a beautiful writer, so all of the prose is gorgeous. The story moves almost episodically at times, which I really enjoyed. Events you think will be important are merely the set ups and the set ups become so important. It's truly masterful construction.

Sidenote: I am desperate to have a book about the empress, her SKY CARRIAGE, and her scarred pirate fiance. I am begging you, Stephanie Garber, please.

I loved Evangeline. She recognized her own faults, and felt like a real person trying to sort her life out. She desperately hopes and believes in love, and wants her own happily ever after. I think most girls who grew up in the fairytale section of the library can relate. I also adore her relationships, especially with LaLa.

There were so many plot points/twists that were so unexpected and thrilling. I really enjoyed being surprised and trying to figure out how Evangeline would deal with these events. At the end, I, like Evangeline, genuinely didn't know who to believe. And I desperately want to figure it out! The ending was spectacular. A perfect way to end the first book of a series.

I am so looking forward to the next book in this series, and hopefully my empress spin off (PLEASE). Five stars from me.

I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this one. It felt very whimsical and magical. The writing style was beautiful and I enjoyed the character development. We follow Evangeline, a young woman with rose gold hair. Her father has passed away and she is working in his curiousity shop amongst the unusual and magical items. She is suffering from a broken heart. In her attempts to fix this, she goes to pray at the Prince of Hearts Church. She makes a deal with a fate, Jacks. He has an interesting story and he is intrigued by Evangeline. Once the deal is made, Evangeline is tasked to kiss 3 people to heal her broken heart and stop her love from marrying another. However, things do not go as planned. A series of unfortunate events take place and Evangeline ends up travelling North to the land where magic is still rife. The descriptions of the North were purely magical and I enjoyed the fairytale vibes. Evangeline ends up on an adventure of love betrayal and magic prophecies. The ending will leave you wanting more!

MAGICAL, ENCHANTING & CAPTIVATING - Three words that can easily be used to describe Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber. It’s fair to say this isn’t my “typical” go-to genre however something about the synopsis and cover of OUABH, much like Jacks The Prince of Hearts, drew me in. I loved the bewitching, fairy tale world of the North, the tangled, somewhat complicated life of Evangeline Fox and the mesmerising descriptions of Jacks – the storyline is utterly addictive and for me, this was a book I couldn’t put down. My heart cried out when it ended on a cliff hanger, and I really hope that the second in the series will follow soon. OUABH is set in the same world as Stephanie’s first series “Caraval”, I’m not sure how many parallels run between the two series as I haven’t read Caraval however I didn’t feel as if I was “missing” anything. I note that other reviewers say OUABH has some spoilers for Caraval and now knowing that I get the jist as to what some of the spoilers may be. Regardless, it hasn’t put me off reading the Caraval series which has now been firmly added to my wish list but I guess it may be something to bare in mind if you’re a stickler for plot details and would hate to know about ‘something’ before it happens (although you’re probably more likely to discover spoilers by reading everybody’s 5* reviews!). It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book of the fantasy/fairytale/magical genre and reading Once Upon A Broken Heart has truly been a pleasure, I’m so grateful for my ARC provided via NetGalley and I would whole heartedly recommend OUABH.

Oh, there is something about Stephanie Garber’s books that really gets to me. Right from the first page, I knew I was going to love Once Upon a Broken Heart. The writing style and the choice of words just felt very magical and like a fairytale. In a way, that’s exactly what this story is. And I just loved how well the writing matched the atmosphere of the book.

I can’t say how happy I was to be back in this world, even though this story is set in a yet unknown place, but a place that isn’t less magical than the ones already known from Caraval. Instead, we’re now in the cold North, that has the atmosphere of an enchanted winter’s day, beautiful, yet dangerous. I liked this setting a lot.

I said it before, but I really do love Jacks. Not necessarily his character but the way he is written. I would never wish to cross paths with him but oh, I do love reading about him and the many facettes to his character that come forth slowly and at unexpected times. There are so many questions I have about him and I NEED ANSWERS.
I also really liked Evangeline. She’s a hopeless romantic while at the same time is very selfreflected. Even when she does something reckless she is fully aware about that situation, but she sometimes doesn’t care about that or cares too much. I loved how she was written. The third person PoV gives the reader a distance to the character while at the same time the magical writing style brings you closer to her.

What was also well done was the pacing of the story. There was always something going on and when there was a page without something, I was constantly expecting the next action. The story kept me reading and reading, unable to stop (only when I fell asleep reading did I actually stop lol), I wanted to know what was going to happen next and which plot twist Stephanie Garber had thought of next.

Overall, Once Upon a Broken Heart felt very much like a fairytale you’d tell your younger cousins when they’re staying over and it’s already dark outside but there are snowflakes tumbling down outside and you can just make them out in the light of the streetlamp. It was a gorgeously written book with great characters, many, many plottwists and wonderfully romantic undertones.
If you liked the Caraval series, this is a must read for you!

Once upon a Broken Heart is a gripping and magical read set in a new version of the Caraval world. This is a dark and atmospheric fairytale with some wonderful world building. The world is vividly described from the sumptuous dresses to the complex and intriguing characters. The pacing is good, it’s easy to follow and has just the right amount of plot twists and turns to keep the reader completely engrossed.

There are brief mentions of some of the main characters from the Caraval series, although it’s not essential to have read it. Evangeline is a new character, with her distinctive rose gold hair and bold personality, she is a strong protagonist and one whom I instantly liked. Jacks, also known as the Prince of Hearts, is an immortal Fate and it is said that one day he will find his one true love, a girl who is immune to his deadly kiss. He is a cold-hearted and cunning villain, a truly wicked character and I adored him. I fell for his sarcastic and mocking comments and those cold, calculating and goosebump inducing stares. Although he is intense I get the feeling that perhaps there is a soft side lurking in there somewhere. The other immortal Fates we encounter are brilliantly portrayed, each with their own intriguing characterisations. We have Chaos, the Lord of Spies and Assassins, a dangerous character who is also happens to be a vampire, I definitely want to see more of him in future books. Lala, the Unwed Bride, every time she finds someone she loves she ends up alone at the alter, crying tears of poison. There is such a vast cast of characters, but each one, wether it is main character or side character, are really well portrayed and equally intriguing. The romance is slow burn and simmering and Evangeline’s and Jacks’ interactions are fiery and absolutely spot on.

This book is a wonderful mix of adventure, magic and romance with some spectacular world building and I am really looking forward to seeing where the next book takes us. 4.5 Stars.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC for review. My review will be published across my social media platforms nearer to the publication date and Amazon when published.

For fans of the 'Caraval' series, this new spin-off certainly won't disappoint!

'Once Upon a Broken Heart' tells the story of Evangeline, who foolishly decides to make a deal with one of the magical Fates, the Prince's of Hearts, in order to stop the love of her life marrying her stepsister.

As with her previous novels, Garner writes beautifully, creating a stunning, magical world with likeable characters and a good pacing.

The most disappointing thing about this novel is that it's part of a series, so I now have to wait ages for the next one!

How far would you go for your Happily Ever After?

Once Upon A Broken Heart (OUABH) by Stephanie Garber (Author of the best-selling Caraval series) sets to answer that exact question in the new spin-off series set in the world of the Caraval series.

OUABH follows Evangeline Fox, who has unintentionally cursed herself by asking a favour from Jacks, the Prince of Hearts. She makes a deal with him and the cost sounds slight enough, to begin with - three kisses. Unfortunately, there's more to each kiss than meets the eye, and Evangeline is quickly in the midst of a new city trying to learn its secrets and history while also trying to figure out exactly what Jacks' plan is and what part she's supposed to play.

Magical and downright addictive.

You can't help but be enticed into the seductive and alluring world that is Once Upon A Broken Heart. You're immediately immersed into the world and to be honest you might just not want to leave it.

I will be totally honest, this is my first Stephanie Garber novel. For sure won’t be the last!

Garber’s writing does a beautiful job of creating a fantasy world filled to the brim with magic, adventure and mischief. Gorgeous descriptions paired with the whimsical imagery of traditional fairytale motifs showcase Garber’s imaginative and vivid narrative at its best.

Well-paced OUABH keeps you on your toes. There's always something going on. The plot is always moving forward, even if I sometimes didn't know where we were headed. I like my books with a bit of mystery.

Evangeline, Jacks and the cast of characters were just as interesting to read about. With distinct, quirky voices Garber makes sure that you’re invested in her characters. You really only scratch the surface of both Evangeline and Jacks personalities in OUABH but given enough to keep you wanting more.

OUABH is a fun, spellbinding and captivating story. You can't help but be drawn into the magic and mayhem. I can’t wait to see what book 2 has to offer.

Star Rating: 5/5

The thoughts and opinions above are my own.

Thanks very much to Hodder & Stoughton for an e-arc via NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great read and i would recommend you read this! This was a really fun read which I read so so quickly. I was kindly gifted an e-book in return a honest review.

Thank you so much to Kate @ Hodderscape for an early e-copy for review.

I steamed through Once Upon a Broken Heart and I wasn’t surprised since the same happened with the Caraval books too. Unfortunately, just like with the Caraval books, Once Upon a Broken Heart wasn’t devoid of disappointments for me.

I can say right now that even though this book is set in the same world, you do not need to read all of the Caraval books before trying out Once Upon a Broken Heart however I would recommend you do so you pick up on the little tidbits Garber has injected into the narrative for her fans, especially those to do with Jacks who is a very popular character from the original trilogy.

Anyway …

Garber has such an easy narrative style and I love her use of very dark elements in an otherwise light fantasy novel - she writes modern, but in a way, very traditional fairy tales due to her writing style and I will always want to read what she releases because of that. The imagination is intense and Garber brings the circus vibes back with descriptions of elaborate parties and balls in Once Upon a Broken Heart however she now has a new (and personally, preferable) heroine in Evangeline who makes a deal with the fate, Jacks.

And I did enjoy the return of Jacks! But what I really admired about this book was the portrayal of heartbreak. From beginning to end, Evangeline and many other characters are victims of heartbreak and that drives their actions throughout. Emotions like that are never a ‘one size fits all’ experience so to read Garber’s descriptions was actually quite refreshing and really brought the characters to life without overwhelming the reader.

I did say I had disappointments in this novel - my drawbacks were all in relation to the depth of the narrative. I felt the same with Legendary and Finale - Garber never gives me enough; she writes such imaginative stories but barely scrapes the surface with some elements - I know I’m greedy! I felt like the novel was so fast paced but it didn’t need to be, it felt rushed and I wanted to draw it out and bask a bit but plot points were told (not shown) and almost over explained rather than letting me figure things out. I do think this is just Garber’s writing style, it is descriptive but simple and I wish I could love it more because the content is right up my street!