Until I read some Goodreads reviews after finishing this book, I didn't realise that there had been a previous series set in the same universe with overlapping characters. To be honest I didn't find it a problem to step into this world at this point. What I did find was a problem was discovering, right at the end, that this is not a standalone. It didn't so much conclude as finish somewhere in the middle of the story. Don't get me wrong, I like series and trilogies, but I do need each book to have a satisfying ending, and sadly this didn't. Until the last page I was enjoying this book. Evangeline is in love with love, but when her stepsister steals her boyfriend and leads him to the altar, she makes a bad bargain with Jacks, an immortal Fate. When she asked Jacks to stop the wedding, she didn't intend the whole wedding party to be turned into stone. Wishes have unforeseen consequences and Evangeline spends the rest of the book getting deeper with Jacks, whom she doesn't trust but can't hate. Jacks has a plan, and Evangeline is an unwitting part of it. She's whisked off to the cold north where she catches the eye of Prince Apollo… or does she? Is there magic at work? Expect magic, court politics, several Fates, and a handful of vampires. Don't expect a satisfying ending. I think you'll have to read the whole series for that, and unfortunately the next book isn't out yet.

Stephanie Garber has done it again with the first in the new series Once in a Broken heart. This is a fabulous, magical story of true love and Fate.
Evangeline Fox is in love with Luc. He is her one true love. But when she hears that he is to marry her stepsister Marisol she is heartbroken. She thinks that her sister has put him under a spell, so she turns to a Fate called Jacks to help her. The stories say that Fates are dangerous and should never be trusted. But when she agrees her life turns differently to not what she was expecting.
Thank you, Hodder and Stoughton, for a copy of Once in a Broken Heart. I loved this book like her others. This is a magical fairy-tale that instantly draws you in. I loved the premise of the story and the characters especially Jacks. You have to have a bad boy in story don’t you. and Jacks did not disappoint. I was quite surprised about the ending as I thought there was a bit of chemistry between Evangeline and Jacks. Maybe it will happen in book two. Can’t wait for the next one. 5 stars from me.

ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART is Stephanie Garber at her finest!

When I found out that this book was going to be a reality, I screeched louder than a pterodactyl. For some reason, Jacks has always been my favorite character in the Caraval series from the moment that he was introduced. He may not be a perfect Prince Charming, but his cunning, wickedness and bursts of intensity appeal to me like a forbidden fruit. Can it be a coincidence that he’s obsessed with apples? Me thinks not. So when I found out I’d be getting an entire series on my Prince of Hearts, I was thrilled, and now that I’ve had a taste for him as a main character, no one is taking the book boyfriend badge away from him. A certain blonde may have missed the train with this rascal, but we’re not making the same mistake.

And my, what a ride this book was!

Though there is a detail here or there that could minimally spoil the Caraval series for those who haven’t read it, the book itself is perfectly readable without having prior knowledge of the world. Once Upon a Broken Heart takes place in the Magical North, away from Valenda and the characters of the main series, and everything you need is explained. If you want a personal opinion, you’ll probably enjoy this book more if you’ve read the others and have an acquired taste for Jacks and the Fates, but you don’t necessarily need them. You do you.

The story follows a new protagonist, Evangeline Fox. I was in love with this character ever since seeing her rose-gold hair. Her love of stories made her immediately relatable to me, although, like Scarlett and Tella, her whimsicality sometimes takes the upper hand and she feels as if she were plucked straight out of a fairytale. Evangeline is big on happily ever afters and true love, but that doesn’t mean that she’s a naïve damsel in distress. Her strong personality and spunk made her a perfect counterweight to Jacks’s sharper edges, and their banter gave me so much life I’m probably immortal now.

I don’t want to say too much because at the time I’m writing this review, the book hasn’t been released yet, but this is a modern fairytale dream. As is a trademark of the Caraval universe, magic is a palpable essence that permeates every word and every flip of the page. You won’t be able to resist getting lost within this spell-binding story. There’s a bit of something for everyone: a touch of mystery, a dash of whimsy, and a good sprinkle of romantic tension to make everything even more delicious.

How will I survive the wait for the next book? I don’t know. If you hear weird noises it’s probably, me turning into a pterodactyl again because the ending of this book has that effect on people. I seriously cannot wait to have the sequel in my greedy hands!

Thank you SO MUCH to Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an e-ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Okay. OKAY. I get it now.

Jacks is amazing.

Stephanie Garber found the secret to bottling magic and putting into words. Reading her books is like reading a fairytale. I’m a huge fan of Caraval, so I was obviously excited about this book despite the fact it revolved around one of my least favorite characters of the series. With that I don’t mean I didn’t like Jacks, but unlike my sister (who rooted for him from day one), I didn’t get the appeal. Between Jacks and Legend, I choose Julian.

Was I expecting to love this? Absolutely, and it lived up to every expectation and more, because it also made me appreciate Jacks so much more! Sister loyalty demands that I don’t try to claim him as a book boyfriend, but he definitely caught my interest. And Evangeline, she was the true revelation of this book, the new character introduced to this magical universe. I loved her from the beginning, from the tip of her rosegold hair to her littlest toe. This girl is a dreamer, she’s kind and brave. Her interactions with Jacks were goals! I admit there were a few moments that made me wish this book wasn't a YA. Jacks is too intense to keep some of the things he does YA friendly.

Fans of Caraval will definitely enjoy this a lot. In some ways it reminded me of the magical atmosphere of the first book, but the world expands even more. I think it’s Stephanie Garber’s best book. It was an absolute pleasure reading this, and it was difficult telling myself to put it down and go to sleep.

People who haven’t read Caraval will also love this read. Will it spoil the other series? For the most part no, although I do think you will appreciate some details more if you read the Caraval trilogy first. There are a few details that give away the ending of Finale, specifically about Jacks’s storyline (of course) and the Dragna sisters.

Now, please bookish gods, give me the sequel tomorrow. Or today. Soon. Please. I need to know what happens next!

Thank you to the Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for allowing me to read an eARC of this. Opinions are my own.

From the #1 bestselling author of the Caraval series, Once Upon A Broken Heart is the first in a new fantasy series about love, curses, and the lengths that people will go to for happily ever after.

Raised in her beloved father's curiosity shop, Evangeline Fox grew up amongst cursed stories and tales of immortals, like the tragic Prince of Hearts. His powers are mythic, his kiss is worth dying for, and 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 seek his help.
In exchange for only three kisses, he agrees to stop the wedding. But after her first promised kiss, Evangeline learns that striking a deal with a Fate is far more dangerous than she could ever know. The Prince of Hearts has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy...

A dazzling mix of magic, intrigue, and slow-burn romance, Stephanie Garber's Once Upon A Broken Heart is a perfect escapist dream. Addictive and whimsical, this novel will sparkle in your imagination and play havoc with your pulse.

Although this book is set in the Caraval world, it's true that you absolutely do not need to have read the trilology beforehand to enjoy and understand this book. It will give away a couple of spoilers of where the original characters end up, but it'll be just as magical if you've not read them as if you have.

Where Caraval is a dark and romantic game, Once Upon A Broken Heart is much more of a mysterious fairy-tale, with beautiful snowy scenery, seasonal balls and a history all of its own. There is a whole new magic system in place as we enter The North, and Garber deliciously captures this in vivid colour with her trademark writing style. Her world-building is second to none, with a whimsical quality that leaves you totally absorbed into the story. And the wonderful little cameos from Caraval characters make the world feel that much more magical and complete. She brilliantly intertwines the old and new stories without one wholly relying on the other, and does it with such skill and vibrancy that it is easy to relax into the new phase of the journey.

But it is the new cast of characters that really bring this book to life. Our protagonist, Evangeline, wants nothing more than her happy ending, which leads to some questionable decision making that you can't help but sympathise with. Her rose-gold hair and naive hopefulness makes for a perfect contrast to the shrouded mystery of The North and its cursed stories. Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, on the other hand is just as devilish and unpredictable as ever, this time framed as somewhat of an unlikely hero, whose motives are constantly in motion and in question. There are depths to his character that are as yet unexplored, and this gives the novel even more of an intensity as we search desperately for any subtle hints that Garber may have dropped. Both Jacks and Evangeline float in and out of the morally grey area, which makes for a really interesting reading dynamic. We'd definitely do well as readers to remember never to trust a Fate.

While some of the plot points went wildly off-piste from the original Caraval trilogy (I'm still trying to get my head around the newly-featured vampires), there is no question that this book is just as magical, mysterious and intriguing. The characters, setting, and plot all twist together beautifully to create a picture of total wonder in which the reader can totally lose themselves, and there is no question that this will become a staple for every fantasy-lover's bookshelf. Perhaps set towards more of a young-adult audience, Evangeline's journey to reach her Happily Ever After is one that I cannot wait to see unfold across this new series.

Thanks to Netgalley for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The reason for reading Carval was definitely stunning covers. Once upon a broken heart doesn't have the stunning cover (many people find it gorgeous though) anyways I was intrigued by Jacks and wanted to read his story. 

Right from the start, you can totally tell it is written by Stephanie. A magical world, enthralling setup, manipulative and grey characters, fast-paced, elaborated details and a bunch of twists and turns. You can read it stand-alonish, although there were a few referenced to Caraval which might leave readers wondering about Jacks past and Evangeline relation to the week of terror.

My one of the most favourite thing about Stephanie writing is pace, she doesn't drag things although sometimes things just keep moving in circles it is better than dragging a story (in my opinion). Second is her ability to build magical worlds, it doesn't long to get hooked in the world. On the other hand, her writing can be a bit cheesy or you can say cringe. So I don't linger on so many details, mostly I don't care if someone looks like a bad decision a poor person is going to take. Or apple tastes like someone's kisses. I also try to ignore how much everyone is licking blood which tastes sweet.

Overall I really enjoyed the book and found the word enchanting. Had doubts about a few twists but there were more. So yeah it was pretty enjoyable.

This is not the type of book I usually go for, but both the blurb and the beautiful cover caught my attention, so I decided to try it out.
I'm glad I did. It was such an easy book to get into and get engrossed in; I had read the first half of the book in a little over an hour and finished it within a day. The worlds that the author created were easy to imagine without becoming dominant in the plot - the focus was all on the characters.
Evangeline was very accessible from the start even though her story started with a questionable decision. Following her inner monologue through the plot was entertaining and fascinating. Oddly, she seemed a little flightly when it came to romance though, given that it was the catalyst for her whole story. Her relationship with Jacks was the main point of my interest - the immediate connection, the witty banter, the need to rely on each other to solve their problems; it was all very well written.
Jacks himself was my favourite character and is what kept me reading avidly. He was incredibly intriguing. I know enough about him to feel for him and root for him despite his morally questionable behaviour, but I still have so much I hope to learn - there are depths to his character that are yet to be explored properly and mysteries to solve. I've come to understand that he features in the Caraval series by the same author, so I may need to go and read those while I wait for the next book in this series.
I liked that there were only a small number of secondary characters surrounding Evangeline and Jacks; it meant that the focus was kept almost solely on them and also that those characters were afforded more exploration and time. I was a particular fan of the ever-changing dynamic between Evangeline and her sister Marisol.
This was a well-paced, magical, enthralling story that entertained me far more than I expected it to; I'm already looking forward to the next part of the story.

I think this is a good spin-off for fans of the Caraval series.

I was really looking forward to this book, because of the Caraval-series I especially enjoyed “Legendary”. Jacks quickly became one of my favourite characters in this world and I was eager to learn what shenanigans he was up to after his confrontation with the Dragna sisters.

Once Upon a Broken Heart follows Evangeline, who makes a deal with Jacks when she learns that her stepsister is to marry Evangeline’s one true love. She is swept away on a magical journey to the “Northern Kingdom”, a place where fairy tales are history and secrets and betrayals wait around every corner.

Stephanie Garber’s writing style is still very easy and intriguing to read. I enjoyed the change of setting and the expansion of the world, and especially the beginning chapters had beautiful vivid imagery that immediately drew me in. It feels like reading a fairy tale from a children’s book.

However, I couldn’t connect to Evangeline, which made it quite difficult to root for her. She’s extremely naive and immature, and as whimsical as a story-book character - “rose gold” hair and all. She’s also quite an annoyingly passive character and it was simply mind-boggling to me why so many characters are supposed to think she’s Perfect and Wonderful. These are things that wouldn’t have bothered me if there had been more character development, but alas.

Next up is the pacing. This story had many twists and turns, but in all honesty, this is mostly because the structure is all over the place. There is action, followed up with sudden romance scenes, and a random introduction to vampires and the occasional interlude where a prophecy is mentioned, and no time at all to let it all sink in because we move through all these plot points at a break-neck pace. The fast pacing does make you get through this book really quickly, but I do think the story could’ve benefitted greatly from fewer plotlines.

The book ends on quite the cliffhanger which made it feel like this book was mostly a set-up for future instalments. It did intrigue me however, and I will continue the series to see if later books change my opinion on this one!

Overall, I do think this book will work for many readers who love Caraval. There’s adventure, legends and myths and mystery. This is a whimsical read, but I would have loved a little more breathing room and some more development for Evangeline.

After devouring the entire Caraval trilogy a couple of weeks ago, I couldn’t wait to dive straight into this new series set in the same world. I had fallen head over heels in love with Stephanie Garber’s stunning and magical writing style and I couldn’t wait for more. I was so excited to discover that this series has Jacks front and centre as I absolutely loved him in the original trilogy. I couldn’t wait to see what he was getting up to following his move to the North.

Once Upon A Broken Heart was amazing. It was everything I could have hoped for and more. This one follows new main character Evangeline, a girl with a broken heart who makes a deal with Jacks and gets much, much more than she bargained for. I really loved Evangeline. In the Caraval series Tella was my favourite character, who is fearless and jumps into everything without thinking of the consequences. Evangeline is a little bit more reserved than Tella but I fell in love with her as a main character just the same. I experienced every emotion that she did throughout this incredible book and I am dying to see what is going to happen with her next.

Once Upon A Broken Heart is very different from the Caraval series and I loved that. You still have the same magical world with The Fates and Stephanie’s signature stunning writing style, but this one seemed more fairytale or folklore based. I got some serious Cinderella vibes with Evangeline’s stepmother and stepsister which I absolutely loved. But don’t go thinking this is a retelling, it’s definitely not. It’s set in a whole new part of this world and I adored all the folklore and myths that are embedded right throughout the story.

Once again Stephanie Garber completely blew me away with her storytelling skills and character development. I am absolutely in love with this book. I still loved the Caraval series more but this definitely has the potential for me to love it just as much. I can’t wait to see how the characters develop in the next book. I will be waiting on the edge of my seat until I can get my hands on it. Once Upon A Broken Heart is highly, highly recommended

Title: Once upon a broken heart
Author: Stephanie Garber
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Synopsis:
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'd pledged. And he has plans for Evangeline that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy.

My Review:
First of all I’d like to recommend reading the Caraval Series first because this book includes spoilers for it. Once upon a broken heart takes place in the same universe as Caraval.
I really loved Caraval and adored the fact that not only did Once upon a Broken Heart return to the city of Valenda, but that we also got to meet beloved characters from the original series again. Jacks was one of my favourite characters in Caraval and it’s great to see him become a main character in this new series. He is all a villain-loving heart wants. I liked the other main character Evangeline as well.
Stephanie Garber’s writing style is gorgeous, and the story was fantastic. It’s full of twists and turns. I’m so exited to read more about Jacks and Evangeline

Conclusion
This book has fully lived up to my expectations; it’s pure magic. If you liked Caraval then you will definitely enjoy this book.

Once Upon A Broken Heart, Stephanie Garber

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy, Teens & YA, Women's Fiction

What the heck? We're bring sexist stuff into YA/Teen reads now?
Personally I think Women's Fiction is a genre way past its sell by date, has real fifties “little housewife” vibes, but to start introducing younger readers to the idea there's such a thing as male reads and female reads – just why? Its such a backwards concept....


Anyway, I adored the first two Caraval reads, not so much book three. Still, I love Jacks – c'mon, honestly, who doesn't? So of course I wanted to read this.

I'm conflicted though, I love the concept, I love the magic world setting, but like book three of Caraval, for me this got a bit too rushed, confusing, jumped around so much. And Evangeline – if there's a book labeled how to make the Wrong Decision, how to be a doormat, I think it must be her life template. She's so Good, so Idealistic, so Loving even when people don't deserve it, so seeing only the good side/being naive constantly, that she rushes from one crisis to the next. At least Scarlett and Donatella had a) some sense and b) lots of courage and sense of adventure between them.

But there's Jacks....and I so want him to have a good ending. I didn't really see him and Donatello as being suited, I think he loved the idea of her. Maybe this time Evangeline will be his true Love? Or not – who knows? With this story I really can't see where anything is going, and that's one of my issues.
There's no real clear cut main plot, characters are in, then within a few pages, out again. Its a headlong rush of events, old characters, new characters, related characters and multiple concurrent plots, many of which feel too unexplained.
Maybe book two will make it clearer, and as I've found before, maybe reading later books will make my rating for this one higher. Rating a trilogy isn't easy, its rating part of a story without knowing the rest. Like a judge passing sentence after hearing only one third evidence ;-)

Stars: Three, but this may rise after reading all the trilogy. And I probably will because hey...Jacks ;-)

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

Stephanie Garber's Caraval series has a special place in my heart and so, when she first announced we would be getting another book which takes place in the same universe and is centered around Jacks i was over the moon. Of course, i didn't know what to expect since it has been years since she wrote Caraval.. but she does not disappoint.

Garber's way of telling the story has remained much the same, she grips you from the beginning and keeps you within her clutches until the very end. There is always something to ponder, always something to be angry about, to fangirl about and ALWAYS, ALWAYS some angst around the corner.

I really enjoyed this books storyline as it was quite different from Caraval but with reminiscent elements of the world. I enjoyed the references to the events of Caraval and i found the FMC Evangeline an absolute delight. Im really, really eager to see where Stephanie plans to take this in Book 2.

Evangeline Fox wants her happily ever after, but when she finds out that the man she loves is getting married to someone else she is determined to put an end to the wedding. In her desperation she prays to the Prince of Hearts to help her… which she will soon discover was more dangerous than she originally thought…

And we’re back with our beloved Prince of Hearts!  I’m so excited that Jacks is back in his own Caraval spin off with Evangeline Fox! The story is full of magic, prophecies and trickery!  I was gripped from the first page as Jacks is addictive!!  Evangeline is a fantastic new addition to the Caraval-verse as she is a beaut and is certainly making me miss my pink hair!!

Fantastic!  And I cannot wait to get my hands on the physical copy to add to my shelf!

This book … I don’t know how to better describe it than to say that it was a very delightful surprise.

I have not read any of Stephanie Garber’s previous books (Caraval etc.), and I had no idea when getting into this book that it was set in the same world. I don’t know why, but I had gotten the idea that it was a completely different series set in a new world. However, I can’t say that I missed anything because of this. The only reasons I even realized that this was in the same world as Caraval was because of some Caraval fan art that was shared on Instagram and the name of one character was the same as one in Once Upon a Broken Heart. So, what I mean is that you definitely do no need to read Caraval before this book to enjoy it.

So, on to the actual review. As I got into this book, I was really surprised by the style of writing. It was so odd in a way that intrigued me. It’s written very much like a fairytale. And the strange thing was that as I was reading I felt like my face was stuck as a question mark. I had no idea what I was reading, and several times I kind of shook my head and thought that I wouldn’t want to keep going, that this wasn’t a book for me because of this fairytale style that it had. Then, I looked at how far I had been reading, and I realized I was already at 25%.

I had read a quarter of the book without even realizing it, because it just wanted to be read, and it was impossible to stop reading. And the longer I read, the more I wanted to keep going. And I just flew though the book because it was so easy to read, and always so interesting.

This book isn’t what I would call a traditional fantasy novel, it’s actually unlike anything that I’ve read before. And I’m very intrigued to pick up Caraval to see if that book is written in the same way.

So, if this isn’t a fantasy, then what is it? Well, I’d say that this book is like Dan Brown had a baby with Harry Potter. It’s a whimsical fantasy set in a 15-16th century style world where objects are almost sentient and magic is real. There’s this overall feel of Harry Potter in the world with all its oddities and whimsies and strange creatures and so on. At the same time, this is a mystery, and a very good one at that.


Strange things have happened that leads our main character on a quest to not only find the truth but set things right again. Only, things seem to get worse and worse the more she tries and the mystery gets deeper and harder to figure out. There no knowing who to trust and who’s actually betraying you.

The worldbuilding was really good, and I could vividly see the scenes painted before me as the story progressed. The characters felt real, and I loved how the relationships were described and how they developed in natural yet unexpected ways.

The only things I’m upset about is that I need to wait forever to read the sequel. I want to know how things end, and this is part of a series, so that means that this book doesn’t end with all the answers spelled out. We’re actually left on a bit of a cliffhanger, but still not enough that I’m upset about it (I hate real cliffhangers). In One Upon a Broken Heart, the author does wrap up most of the things that I as a reader want the answers to, and most importantly the main mystery is wrapped up. We’re left with some huge questions at the end, tough, and unresolved things between characters, which in all honesty is a great way to end and ensure the reader will want to pick up the next book.

I had a very hard time even coming up with something to put in my cons section on my blog. But I have added some things. Mainly that I do feel like the characters are perhaps a little too perfect. Everyone seems to be picture perfect beautiful, even those tho are mentioned not being as pretty are still somehow shown to be gorgeous. It ends up hard to appreciate the characters’s looks when everyone is “breathtakingly beautiful” etc.

The other thing is that the book sometimes feel a little too childish. A little too much whimsy and odd to be taken seriously.

So, with all of that rambling done. All I can say is get your hands on this book. I loved it!

5/5 stars and a huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc, and to the author for writing the first book in a looong time that I finished in less than 24 hours.

Read it!

When I first read the synopsis I wanted to immediately read this but it didn't deliver what I wanted it to as much I enjoyed the concept it wasn't for me unfortunately :(

Taking place in the same universe as her acclaimed Caraval series, Once Upon a Broken Heart has delicious fun sending its lead character, Evangeline Fox (a wonderful moniker) on a rollercoaster ride through a magic laden kingdom.

It employs the same non-stop speed as Caraval, and if that appeals to your readers then Once Upon a Broken Heart is for you.

Personally, I found the speed a little too fast for my taste - I would have preferred to sit with situations for longer than a chapter. However, that's the style that Garber employs and if you're looking to appeal to readers who love a break-neck pace, then this one is for them.

Evangeline is your typical fantasy heroine, brave but flawed and fits comfortably into this universe, but I would have liked to see some more introspection from her as a character.

Readers who loved Caraval and enjoy fairytale retellings such as A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Sorcery of Thorns and Reckless will likely enjoy. I will be selling to my younger readers who are just moving out from the Middle Grade levels, as I believe it works better as an introduction to fairytale retellings rather than being the pinnacle.

Overall it's an entertaining adventurous romp employing everything from Medusa to Alice in Wonderland to East of the Sun West of the Moon, but I would have loved to experience a touch more depth in both the world and the characters.

oh. my. god. i loved this book so much😭 once it’s been out for a while, i’ll talk more specifically about the things i liked but for now, here’s a completely spoiler free (rubbish) review hehe

the EXACT same vibes as caraval (so… incredible). garber has the most whimsical and fairytale-y writing ever and it’s just such a pleasure to read her books.

this book was so so easy to read, i absolutely glided through it & everything was super easy to picture and imagine, the world building is *chef’s kiss*

the romance :)))))))))))))) teehee (my flatmate had to endure me literally screeching about it so let that just be that)

tHE PLOT ??? omg this book never once lost pace - something was ALWAYS happening and i was never bored. it was so so intriguing and had so many little plot points that i got invested in. i genuinely don’t understand how so much happened in quite a short book without it being confusing?? amazing

evangeline is a great, flawed & learning main character and if you didnt think jacks could get any better… think again :) and i found myself thinking about them both & the world multiple times when i wasnt reading… the sign of a good book!

okay fine, if i was being suuuupperrrrr critical about things, this book may not have been 5⭐️ but… it had too much of a 5⭐️ feel for me not to give it that 🤪

side note: you don’t have to read caraval to read this series but i do think it would help understand some parts a bit more and would just elevate the experience as a whole!! (i kinda compared it to the whole shadow & bone/six of crows situ…!) (but i also wouldn’t read this BEFORE reading caraval… so if you wanna read caraval, read it before OUABH x)

thank you so much to hodder & stoughton for the eARC of this book, you’ve made my year x

DNF at around 70%

It really wasn't for me. I wass bored to death. The characters don't make any sense, their motivations are sketchy, they are not well done.

I would have given this 3 stars because “meh” if it wasn’t for the fact I actually skim-read a lot of it.

It’s just so long. Why does the author say so much that doesn’t need to be said or described?

The magical and enchanting writing, the only element of Caraval I enjoyed, wasn’t here so with also not caring about the convoluted plot, this was a very lacklustre read.

I did really enjoy Jacks though and how devilish yet soft he can seem to be. The premise of the fates I really enjoy too but they just don’t hit the spot.

For everyone who loved Caraval, I hope they really love this too. It just doesn’t seem to have any charm of the trilogy except for one tree that I thought was pretty cool.

I really want to tell you about this story, but as some of it happens in the Magnificent North I just cant remember.
We're back in the magical world and I didnt realise just how much I had missed the Caraval triology until I started this book. We have a new heroine, that despite some transgressions I just wanted to hug and hang out with. Her sister not so much.
Evangaline like many young girls in in love, but it seems her beau has decided to marry her stepsister instead. Something strange happened there, and now he wont even see her. Desperate to stop the wedding Evangaline asks a fate for help. Everyone knows that its dangerous to ask the fates but she cant help herself. When Jacks helps her she ends up leading a very different life to the one she wanted.
As a charatcer we know that jacks is selfish, dangerous and the sort of all round bad your mother warns you about but Eva is confident she can handle it, armed with knowledged that her parents shared about magic and the fairytales and folklore or the magnificent North she feels well prepared.
Unsuprisingly she soon discovers that jacks' initial bargain isnt as simple as it seems and starts to question his motovations.
I think I liked all the characters Im supposed to like - So far my judgement seems to have been okay, but with more of the story to come I guess only time will tell. I suspect more of Evas history will come out in part of a plot twist to help us understand some more things.
I really hope that we get to spend some more time with the other Fates too, LaLa and Poison in particular and
I also really would like a tiny dragon or two if anyone can find me one please!