Once Upon A Broken Heart, broke my heart, but in a good way! Cant wait for the second book, I need it now!

"Once Upon A Broken Heart" by Stephanie Garber is a enchanting fantasy novel that transports readers to the magical world of Caraval. Garber weaves a tale of love, betrayal, and the quest for one's heart's desire, all set against a backdrop of mysterious and whimsical settings. The book is a captivating exploration of the consequences of making deals with fate and the power of storytelling.

Did I immediately go purchase this book in physical form and also book 2 and 3 after finishing OUABH?
Yes I did!

I liked this book far more than I enjoyed the Caraval series which is just strange (don't worry I'll take another crack at them).

Jack's and Evangeline are just bloody perfect together but I am obsessed with the slow burn and the 'enemies to lovers' vibes happening throughout.
Overall this was a really good read! Highly recommend.

After falling in love with Caraval I was so excited to read this! Stephanie has an undeniable talent for creating rich and luscious worlds, filled with magic and intrigue. It was fun to read more about Jacks and I really enjoyed getting to know Evangeline. I can’t wait to read book two - that ending!

What an amazing book! I was captivated from the very first page and did not want to put this book down. I got sucked into this book that I thought I was actually a character as i could picture everything so clearly!

I love Jack and Evangeline's story and definitely wanted to know more and more as the book went on. Everything was so captivating and it is definitely a book I will get a physical copy of!

I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book because that ending left me wanting to know more!

Thank you so much for my advance copy via netgalley!

I unfortunately decided to not pick up any books that came after Caraval. I was a bit quick on the requesting this book back in the day, before I even read Caraval. But I just don’t feel like this author and this world is something I can really get ‘into’ unfortunately. Since I Have to give a rating here, I’ll give it 5 stars, since I don’t find it fair to give a lower rating since I haven’t picked it up.

Still huge thanks to the publisher for sending me an e-arc, I am always grateful for receiving e-arcs, even though it sometimes happens that I, for whatever reason, don’t always pick it up again anymore.

I was not prepared for how much I would love this. Stephanie Garber can do no wrong. Thank you for the early copy to review.

This was fun and a book that really grabbed me and I just loved to see how all the characters interacted with each other - I didn't realise how much I missed this world!

A whimsical fairytale with beautiful writing that had me hooked from start to finish. I can’t wait to see how the story progresses!

Beautiful. Fantastic. Magical.

It's Stephanie Garber, of course it was amazing. I love her Caraval series, so I was absolutely excited when I found out about this series. And she did not disappoint, it was truly incredible!

This book is stunningly beautiful, I was mesmerised from start to finish. Jack and Evangeline are the IT fantasy couple, you can't get anymore perfect!

I really enjoyed the Caraval series, so was excited to read this. However it wasn’t quite what I expected. This was really fast moving set in a world full of gods and Fates. I think my expectations were that this would be more like Addie LaRue, instead this was more YA and more plot driven with magical doors and poisons.

Evangeline goes to meet a Fate when she realises that the boy she loves will be marrying her step-sister. Jacks promises he will stop the wedding but in exchanged wants three kisses when he chooses. She agrees, but returns to find that at the wedding that everyone has turned to stone. In order to help them, because that’s not what she wanted, Evangeline drinks a concoction and becomes stone herself in exchange for everyone at the wedding being free. Six weeks later, she becomes human again thanks to the potion master and returns to the world but discovers a lot has happened…the ancient gods and fates have returned to the human world.

It was more whimsical than I expected and the protagonist felt quite young and naive in a way that I couldn’t connect to her. I found the magic system and how the world operated a bit confusing and slightly young for my taste. This is more of a taste thing, but I felt this book wasn’t for me so I won’t be continuing with the series.

Stephanie Garber has such a magical way with words it was never going to be a bad book!
The way she utilised the world she had already created and characters which, in my opinion, were underutilised in their original book was wonderful. Evangeline and Jacks are such great foils for each other and their forced proximity, reluctant allies vibes are truly where this book shines.

I see a cute barbie looking FL and I jump at it! Read this last year but I’m late to review as it took me a while to find time to read the finished copy of this! The plot and the characters are captivating and the world is so intriguing. One minus is just the beginning was confusing at times but once you’re in, you’re in! On to book 2!

This was a DNF for for me.

Just a personal opinion and I think I've realised I've moved away from more of a YA fantasy.

I requested and received this eARC two years ago and as soon as it landed in my inbox, I promptly ignored it and pretended it didn't exist. I don't know why I could not bring myself to pick this up for so long but I've finally read it and I'm really happy I did.

I read the first book in the Caraval trilogy in 2019 and I just did not vibe with it. I disliked the story and the writing felt clunky. After having read The Night Circus, Stephanie Garber's book just could not compare. When I heard that she was writing a new series in the same world featuring a beloved character, I was more intrigued. She was definitely an author I considered reading from again.

Fast forward to 2023. I saw a whole bunch of people talking about this series in a way that got me immediately intrigued. I saw some interesting (wink wink) quotes that had me enamoured with Jacks before even reading the book. I must admit that it took me a while to get through the first 10 chapters, months to be exact.

The book starts off very slowly and Evangeline is a soft and simpering character, too naive for her own good. She really put me off reading at the start. She does stay quite naive and trusting throughout the book but I look forward to seeing her character develop in the next coming instalments. I also find her to be quite the passive main character. Things happen to her instead of because of her. I need her to develop more agency.

Jacks is exactly the kind of magical character I love reading about. He is malicious and unpredictable and just a touch feral. One can tell from the get go that he is otherworldly and he doesn't hide it to make others more comfortable. The fact that I never completed the Caraval series never hindered my understanding and enjoyment of this book and I really appreciated that.

The magical world and the fairytale aspects of this book is what really sold it. I loved reading about the unpredictable nature of stories and how they could have a life of their own almost. I sometimes wished for more detailed descriptions of the surroundings (a problem I have encountered with Holly Black as well). I feel like Garber pays close attention to what the characters are wearing but I struggle to picture the scene they are in.

As said perviously, the book starts off slowly and I think the plot needed a more solid structure. I think by announcing the Prince looking for a bride earlier in the novel could have set up the rest of the tale a lot better. It could have built some anticipation and it would have given Garber some time to develop the relationship between Evangeline and Marisol more. I felt the lack of foundation in the story a few times.

All in all, I loved this and I was fully entranced by the end. It wasn't the perfect read but I have a feeling it can only go up from here. A solid 4 star read.

Thanks once again to Kate from Hodderscape for sending this my way. I do apologize that it's only taken me 2 years to read it.

A wonderful new book from Stephanie Garber. I enjoyed the story and and the characters. And i can not wait to see where this story goes next.

Yet another amazing book from one of my favourite authors!
I adored this! The 2nd one was even better and I absolutely cannot wait for the 3rd!

"Once Upon a Broken Heart" by Stephanie Garber is a magical and enchanting YA fantasy novel that explores the power of love, heartbreak, and the importance of self-discovery. The story follows Evangeline Fox, a girl who has had her heart broken and turned to a mysterious, otherworldly figure named the Prince of Hearts to mend it. However, as she navigates through the magical and dangerous world of the Prince, she realizes that not everything is as it seems.

Garber's writing is beautiful and lyrical, with vivid descriptions that transport the reader to a world full of magic and wonder. The pacing of the story is well-balanced, with enough action, romance, and character development to keep the reader engaged throughout the novel.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is the characters. Evangeline is a relatable and sympathetic protagonist, whose journey of self-discovery and growth is both empowering and inspiring. The Prince of Hearts, although initially mysterious and alluring, is a complex character whose motivations and intentions are slowly revealed as the story unfolds. The supporting characters, including the charming and enigmatic Julian and the fierce and loyal Belle, add depth and nuance to the story.

The romance in the novel is also well-handled. Garber avoids the usual tropes and cliches of YA romance and instead focuses on the development of a deep and meaningful connection between Evangeline and the Prince of Hearts. The exploration of the different types of love, including platonic and familial love, adds an extra layer of depth to the story.

The world-building in the novel is also impressive. Garber creates a rich and intricate world full of magic, monsters, and mystery, that is both fascinating and immersive. The use of fairy tale elements, such as the Prince of Hearts and the magical creatures that inhabit the world, adds an extra layer of whimsy and enchantment to the story.

Overall, "Once Upon a Broken Heart" is a beautifully written and captivating novel that will appeal to fans of YA fantasy, romance, and fairy tales. Garber's unique and imaginative storytelling, combined with her well-developed characters and world-building, makes for a truly magical reading experience

This book is everything to me and I cannot believe that it took me so long to read it. Ever since I finished this book I have not stopped thinking about it and Evangeline and Jacks.
Everything about this book amazed me and was such a huge step up from the Caraval series, which I loved but not as much as this series. I absolutely love this world and these characters and would definitely read a hundred books set in this world.
The writing was so well-written and so easy to fall in love with. I loved that I never knew what was going to happen next and the way this book ends on a cliffhanger had me wanting to read the sequel straight away.
This book is an instant favourite for me and I cannot wait to reread it and fall in love with this world and these characters all over again.