Absolutely adored this book. Jacks was my favourite character from the Caraval world and I am so glad that Stephanie felt able to write more for him. I can't wait to see what else she comes up with. The character arcs are perfect, the language and imagery divine and the twists both unexpected and enjoyable. A real pleasure to read. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Evangeline Fox was raised in her beloved father’s curiosity shop, where she grew up on legends about immortals, like the tragic Prince of Hearts. She knows his powers are mythic, his kiss is worth dying for, and that bargains with him rarely end well. But when Evangeline learns that the love of her life is about to marry another, she becomes desperate enough to offer the Prince of Hearts whatever he wants in exchange for his help to stop the wedding. The prince only asks for three kisses. But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’s pledged. And he has plans for Evangeline that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy...

Evangeline is a curious character who is led by her heart. Her heartbreak leads her to Jacks and you could say the rest is history. Bolstered by her deal with the Fate, Evangeline embarks on an adventure that could see her finding new happiness. I like that we get to see her hopeful side of things and her optimism, her strong belief in the fairytales her late parents would tell her, and how she applies that to her everyday life. I do wish we could have seen more of Evangeline’s feistiness! We got glimpses throughout the book - then a little more in a certain scene towards the end 👀 - but I just wanted more. She lives by her own rules, standing out from the crowd. She certainly has the personality to match but sometimes it didn’t come out as much as I’d hoped!
Oh Jacks. You certainly haven’t changed. Well, he has but at the same time, he’s still very much up to his dirty tricks. There’s so much I want to say about his character but I daren’t at risk of ruining the story! Let’s just say that I LOVE the idea of Jacks having blue hair - very Hades of him!

Garber really knocked this out the park. From the vein of Caraval, we step away from such games and frivolity to more real life. We get to see glimpses of familiar characters and have many mentions of them, but they don’t detract from the fact this is Evangeline and Jacks’ story. From the moment I started reading, I found myself utterly hooked. The twists, the turns, the oodles of emotions... all rolled into one perfect story I wish I could forget just to be able to immediately read it all over again!

Overall, Once Upon A Broken Heart is another fantastic novel that leaves me oh so desperate for more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on release day.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of this year, as Caraval is a favourite trilogy of mine, so I was so happy when I got approved! And it definitely did not disappoint, I loved every second of this book, with its whimsical and magical feel that really transported me into the story. You also don’t need to have read Caraval to read this one, as it is separate to that story so everyone should pick this up once it’s out!

I really loved the two main characters, Jacks and Evangaline. Jacks was one of my favourites from the original trilogy, so I loved seeing a lot more of him here. He's a very complex character, and I feel like we only scratched the surface with learning more about him. Evangaline felt very unique to me, considering she makes some questionable choices that often cause more trouble for her! But she has a kind heart, and I admired that about her.

The plot was different to the Caraval series, but in a way I really enjoyed. It really centred on Jacks' deal with Evangaline, and it was so interesting seeing how it was playing out, and what that meant for Evangaline. There were some very clever plot twists, which I always love in a book! The world was also so well crafted, as always Stephanie Garber's incredible writing added to the whole magical feel. I could clearly visualise what was happening and where the characters were, down to the details on a dress or the smell of food. Also, there were tiny dragons, which were adorable!

Overall, I loved this book and can't wait for more people to read it. I'm so excited to have the beautiful finished copy in my hands!

Stephanie Garber has drawn me in once again to the world of Caraval. I devoured all three books in the original series in a single day for each book (admittedly, whilst sitting on a sun lounger on holiday, not at home during a global pandemic, but nevermind) and Once Upon a Broken Heart was no exception.

The writing is fast-paced and full of all the emotion and drama that you expect, supported by that beautiful world-building that means I can't put her books down! I wait eagerly for the next book in the series so that I can once again be back with these characters and fall in love all over again with everything that she has created.

Whilst it's not necessary to have read the past books, it does help, so do start with the Caraval trilogy if you are able to, and bear in mind that the Netgalley edition sadly does not have the copies of the letters included which was rather distracting, but not too much detail is lost fortunately so you can still enjoy the story!

I really loved this book ! At the beginning I thought it would be a little too childish, but as the story takes place, it’s becoming more and more interesting ! The way magic, love, hope and heartbreaks play together is awesome. Also I love the fact that we never know who is guilty for what happens. I can’t wait for the 2nd one !

This just wasn't for me. A world that was too silly to get lost in, and a protagonist that was equally silly.

I did like Jacks but even that wasn't enough to save this story.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is pure magic! It is a beautiful story that directly speaks to my fairytale-loving heart. AND JACKS omg. You are going to love reading every second of this wildly imaginative ride.

As always, I want to thank Netgallery, Hodder & Stoughton and Stephanie Garber for providing me with a ARC of Once Upon a Broken Heart in exchange for an honest review. The review will not go to deep into the plot but will be updated once the book is released. I have to admit I was late to the Caraval Trilogy but instantly was hooked! When I learned that Garber was coming out with a new book I was incredibly excited.

Garber manages to perfectly blend wonderful world building, interesting characters, romance and elegant writing style to create a marvellous and enchanting fairy tale-esque story that kept me captivated throughout. I will admit at first, I was fearful it would fall into the ‘evil-step family’ trope to heavily and that the main protagonist would be seemingly perfect. Thankfully, this was not the case. None of the characters are overtly good or bad – well maybe some are - but carry with them, as nearly people all do, a mixture of both.

The real thing that hooked me in was the beautiful writing style used to tell the story. The prose flowed in such an enchanting way that the tone suited the genres incredibly well. All in all the book was fantastic, the genres blended perfectly, the world seemed believable and well rounded, the characters are believable (despite the fairy-tale setting) and the story keeps you engaged. I would highly recommend to any Garber fan or fan of fantasy or modern fairy tales.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this story, as a huge fan of the Caraval series, I was so excited to dive into this world again and it did not disappoint. The story takes place in the mystical north where the line between fairytale and history is blurred. As usual, Stephanie Garber does an excellent job of making the reader feel apart of the world with attention to every detail, especially the fashion which I've always loved.

Once Upon a Broken Heart is a beautifully written fast-paced adventure, with so many plot twists it was hard to tell where the story would lead you (in the best way possible). The characters were so well written, I couldn't help but feel I knew them personally and how they would react in each situation.

I would recommend reading the original trilogy to start with as this book does spoil the Caraval series, but if you already love the world of Caraval, this book does not disappoint, I cannot wait for the next installment to see where Evangeline and Jacks pick up.

Overall, this was a beautifully written, magical read that left me heartbroken that the sequel isn't out yet and is one of my top reads of the year! Definitely pick this up if your are a fan of magic, mystery and romance.

I mean... what can I say 🤷🏻‍♀️ No words can do this book justice...

Garber has done it again, the world is absolutely gorgeous in this book! 😍I thought is was beautiful in Caravel but the North of this incredible world sounds amazing!

Now for the story...

Mind. Blowing!

Addictively good, I couldn't put it down. Was reading most nights. My only criticism is the fact I have to wait for the next one 😭😭😭

A carousel of magic, mystery and curses!
I’ve made it no secret that the Caraval series is one of my favourites of all time. The setting, the magic and the world building are phenomenal and it’s so atmospheric. When I heard about Once Upon a Broken Heart, I was excited, but also nervous. Caraval has a special place in my heart and I worried if this let me down, it would taint that love for Caraval.
Luckily, it did quite the opposite.
From the moment I opened the book, I felt like I was home. The nostalgia was immediate and it took my right back to the days where I secretly binged Caraval in the store room of the library because I couldn’t bear to have to put it down.
I will say this, don’t expect something drastically different to Caraval. I feel like that goes without saying since the Fates are still involved and it’s in the same world but I feel like some people will still find a way to berate the fact that it bears similarities when honestly, I love the continuity of it!
Jacks is back, and crueller than ever. Evangeline Fox is the perfect mix of Scarlett and Donatella, and I can think of no better match for the fates.
I love that the Caraval series focusses a lot on finding love, and Garber has delved into the collateral damage that occurs to those left behind or lose who simply never find their love. Heartbreak is a huge theme and there were many moments when my heart broke for these characters.
I feel like there was one oddity in the plot. For someone from Valenda who loves history and fairytales so much I was surprised that Evangeline never mentioned Caraval at all, even in passing. Especially since she’s familiar with who Scarlett and Tella are. It definitely didn’t dampen the book at all, it was just something I found strange!
I’m so excited to see where this series will go!

Blown away.
That's all i can say!
Thank you so much to @HODDERBOOKS and @netgalley for the chance to read this book in advance of its release. I had preordered this title long before I saw it on NetGalley and was intrigued.

Once upon a broken heart is filled with twists and turns that I never saw coming and that not sure I'll recover from anytime soon! My first foray into the world created by @stephanie_garber was an incredibly successful one and I have a feeling that she has just jumped her way into the category of one of my favourite authors. Her writing style is witty and beautifully descriptive, pulling together the image in your head with ease. The ending has floored me and I legitimately face palmed when I realised it was the end, I wasn't ready for it! I need more Jacks in my life! 🍏

I cannot wait for this beauty to land physically on my doorstep on the 30th of September, in the meantime I think I definitely need to jump on the Caraval train for my fix.

Stephanie Garber sure knows how to write a story you can't put down. I absolutely adored the setting of this book and the whimsical way scenes were written was pure fairytale magic. I can't wait to read the next installment after that cliffhanger ending!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read Once Upon A Broken Heart.

I absolutely loved this story surrounding Jacks! There were so many twists and turns and I adored the love story. The magic system was amazing and so was the romance! I definitely will be reading this book again! A perfect whimsical fantasy and morally gray love interests.

One word to describe the book:
Magical.

Obviously, I loved returning to this world and finding out more about Jack’s story. (Do note that according to the author’s Instagram, you can read this book without reading the Caraval trilogy. Once Upon a Broken Heart does pick off where Finale ends.)

The plot moves quickly but was easy to pick up, making it nearly impossible to put this book down. The writing style makes for such an immersive experience. I also loved how all the plot lines came together in the end. I was little hesitant about how fast Evangeline was moving on but it was addressed later in the book. I thought it was gonna be predictable towards the middle but I wasn’t disappointed as I was taken on a journey of twists and turns.

I throughly enjoyed Jacks and Evangeline’s dynamic. Some of their interactions had me squealing like a little girl. We were definitely able to get to know Jacks very well from Evangeline’s point of view but I would like to see things from Jack’s point of view at least once.

A personal favourite quote:
“I believe there are far more possibilities than happily ever after or tragedy. Every story has the potential for infinite endings.”
(Quotes are subject to change)

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone especially those who need to get out of a reading slump.
I do not think anyone understands how badly I need the next one.

I would have liked to seen a little more diversity (POC, LGBTQ+). Hopefully, this can come in future books.
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for providing me with an E-arc.

I actually never finished Caraval - I wasn't enjoying it so I put it down. However, Once Upon A Broken Heart has blown me away so much that I'm now definitely going back to read the series!

There were mentions of events and characters that I assume were from Caraval, but I found not having read that series didn't affect my enjoyment of this book at all! Evangeline makes an ill fated deal with Jacks, the Prince of Hearts which sees her off on a non stop adventure full of intrigue and action (and maybe a little bit of seduction...)

I'm very excited for the next book in the series to see how it all unfolds!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was beyond excited when my arc request for this book got approved. I loved a lot about the Caraval trilogy, especially the whimsical, beautifully crafted fairytale-esque world. And Jacks! I adored his character in the trilogy and couldn't wait to read more about him.

And "Once Upon a Broken Heart" gave me a lot of what I was hoping for. It's just as whimsical and beautifully told as I expected it to be, with lush writing and a lot of nods to the original trilogy. I just really love this world. The story is fast-paced and exciting and I devoured it in a single sitting. Evangeline is an absolutely loveable new protagonist and Jacks is simply amazing, no surprise here. I loved the new setting of the North with its new tales and prophecies. The ending is really amazing and makes you want to read the next book immediately.
Still, I wasn't blown away. At many points in the story I felt like it was rushed, like it didn't take its time to naturally develop the plot. Instead, entire developments are kept short in order to get Evangeline to where she has to be for the plot to go on. An example of this is her meeting with Scarlett and Donatella which doesn't really offer much more than a short moment of recognition and a rather illogical reason for Evangeline to be sent to the North. I often felt like I was missing the lush details of the trilogy, like Garber didn't spend as much time developping the North as a setting. This directly influences the characters. Evangeline is a complex, interesting protagonist, but apart from her and Jacks, the rest of the characters remain rather pale-ish in comparison. Marisol has potential but so far hasn't been fleshed out much - and there is a rather jarring moment later on in the story where her sudden change in behavior gave me actual whiplash. Chaos and the vampires are intriguing, but so far aren't really complex either. I didn't care about Evangeline's possible (side-) romance with Apollo because Apollo is barely a character, although I understand that this is the point of this story because it's more about Evangeline and her wishes and desires than the romance itself. I do hope this is not going to develop into a love triangle. Been there, done that.
And then there's Jacks. He is amazing and I love him, but so far the beginnings of the possible romance between him and Evangeline are a little lacking, too. They don't nearly interact as often and much as they'd need to in order to actually develop the chemistry (that is definitely there) into something more. The little hints at Jacks having developed a... let's call it appreciation for Evangeline felt a little forced because, to be honest, I don't see why he would have any kind of feelings for her already. The two of them have so much potential though and I want nothing more than a beautiful, slow burn, exciting romance for them.

So in the end, I'd say this is a 3 star book for me that has the potential to start off an amazing new series. I will absolutely devour the sequels and am more than excited to see where this story takes Evangeline and Jacks.

First of all, I have to say I loved being back in the Caraval universe again!

It took a while to warm to Evangeline as a character. She didn't  immediately standout to me like Donatella and Scarlett did in the Caraval series, so I wasn't really rooting for her. At the start of the novel I felt like she lacked that gumption that the Dragna sisters had which is weird because her actions reflect a strong female character. I am not sure why but I just couldn't get on board with it so I wasn't rooting for her at the start - though I do love the fact that she has rose gold hair! Equally it took me a little while to get into the storyline, maybe because I wasn't warming to Evangeline; I would say that it wasn't till about halfway to two thirds of the way through where the pace really picks up and the mystery starts unravelling. Everything starts getting more interesting and at that point I couldn't put it down, I wanted to know how it would all play out. And then the ending -OH MY GOD- I need the sequel now please!

I think Stephanie Garber has done a brilliant job of expanding the Caraval world. Her writing makes it so easy to imagine yourself in the story watching it all play out. I loved all the magic weaved in and Evangeline's interpretation of it. And of course Jacks. What can I say about Jacks except he is the same ol' loveable fate that we saw in Finale, still keeping his cards close to his chest and leaving the reader to try and figure out just what his plan is.

Overall, whilst it took me a while to get into the story (and I think I ultimately still prefer Scarlett and Tella as protagonists), this was a great foray into a new branch of the Caraval world and I will still read everything Stephanie Garber writes.

"Heroes don't get happy endings. They give them to other people."

This is the sort of book you need to book a day off for. Or maybe two (you'll need time to recover from that rollercoaster of emotions and plot twists).

Garber had already stolen my heart with her prose and world-building with the Caraval trilogy. This book has only cemented that fact. The descriptions of clothes, people, items and structures alike are all so incredibly vivid, without ever slowing down the pacing of the book. It's a perfect balance of flowery and informative, with every description marinated in magic. I want so very badly to visit this world (mostly so I can visit some of those amazing sounding shops).

Evangeline Fox was a brilliant main character. I've always loved someone who isn't perfect, but strives to do what is right (but also makes mistakes) and I think this Little Fox is exactly that. Her story is only just getting started and I cannot wait to see where it goes and how she develops in future books, because her development in this was just stunning.

Then there is our favourite Prince of Hearts. I loved him in the original trilogy, but I love him even more now. His character has only grown in depth and brilliance. There are shades of him in this book we have never seen before, and I am already contemplating a reread so that I can get another fix of Jacks!

Of course, it is not a review for a Garber novel without commenting on the kissing scenes! They were just as magical as always. Just as powerful and pivotal and incredibly well written.

This may be my new favourite novel set in the world of Caraval. I am now desperately awaiting the announcement of the next book, because I am thoroughly obsessed and fear there will be very few books able to break me out of my renewed Caraval obsession!

Evangeline Fox is feeling angry and betrayed upon hearing the man she loves is marrying her step sister. When she asks for the help of a Fate to stop the wedding, she was hoping he’d leave her step sister and come back to her, so she agrees to his price of 3 kisses. Instead, the Prince of Hearts stops the wedding in an unexpected way, because deals with Fates rarely turn out the way you wish them to.

Indebted to him regardless, Evangaline discovers the kisses he demands are for other people, and part of a bigger plan.

Once Upon a Broken Heart, whilst briefly including some of the main characters from Caraval, gave Jacks the focus of his own novel. I loved Jacks in Caraval so I was excited to see him develop further in this book. The Caraval series is still by far my favourite, but it was fun to get a little bit more up close and personal with a few of the Fates we had been introduced to in Finale! I adore Caraval so much that it feels almost disloyal to not give this book 5 stars, but there was just a slight lack of magic and a little predictability here for me to fall completely in love. It’s actually really hard for me to put into words what felt different from Caraval, because I hilighted so many amazing quotes and did enjoy the story, I just wasn’t as dazzled as I expected to be.

I know most people so far have absolutely adored this one though and I constantly suffer from slight disappointment in my most anticipated, hyped reads, so I know this one is going to be a popular book! I assume by the ending that left nothing wrapped up that there will be more to this story and there’s every chance I’ll fall further in love with it as it unfolds.