I was so excited to return to the world of Caraval! That said, this definitely isn't a sequel.

The new character of Evangeline is a wonderful addition - she's brave, has great ideas, and is the perfect person to go on an adventure with. I was glad to see more Jacks and to learn a little more about him.

While this wasn't Caraval, it was magical in its own way, and I am looking forward to the rest of this series.

<i>*This book was given to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review*</i>

First, every edition of this book is ridiculously gorgeous. I really liked the magical, colorful setting of this book. The lush, fanciful descriptions, enjoyed every bit of that. I liked the idea of a magical exchange for the sake of (revenge) love. Two magical people finding each other through heartbreak.
Buuuttttt (don't come for me people) it just didn't translate for me. Loved the idea of Jacks, but he fell short for me. I didn't love Evangeline or her sister and was way more interested in the other Fates.
Will I buy this for my library, definitely. Will I booktalk this? 100% I know my kids are going to eat this one up.

3.5 - A fun and frothy fantasy romp with a lush, imaginative setting - perfect for an afternoon of magical escapism. Fans of the original series will eat this up!

I wasn't certain what to expect with Stephanie Garber's Once Upon a Broken Heart. I loved the Caraval series and was happy with how she ended that story. So I didn't know if I wanted to read more about any of the characters. Still, what I got more than exceeded my expectations.

Steamy and twisty, Once Upon a Broken Heart is everything I loved about the Caraval world and more. This time, we get to learn more about everyone's favorite heartbreaker, Jacks. His origin story is one of the more tragic within Caraval, so I was looking forward to learning more about him and see him interact with more than just the sisters.

In one of the only issues I have with the story, Once Upon a Broken Heart spends more focus on a new heroine than on Jacks. While Evangaline is a perfectly fine heroine, she is a little too nice. In fact, I received clear Cinderella vibes with her nasty stepmother, dead father, the questionable stepsister, and the many, many sacrifices Evangaline makes for her family. Personally, I would like to see Evangaline driven by more than a need for love, but I still enjoyed her story.

That doesn't mean I don't want more Jacks. If this is Jacks' story, as Ms. Garber said on social media, then I want more of him. His scenes were so much fun. Mysterious, sexy, alluring - they were everything I hoped they would be. Because of that, I cannot wait to see how his story ends.

I cried tears of joy when I first got the notification for this ARC!! I absolutely adored her Caraval series and knew I had to get my hands on Once Upon a Broken Heart!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!! Stephanie has blown my mind away and my expectations out of the water!! I now have a new found love for jacks! Ugh I cannot wait for the second one!!!!!!

Once Upon A Broken Heart is Stephanie Garber's upcoming release that also takes place in the Caraval universe. Reading the Caraval trilogy isn't required but I HIGHLY recommend that you do because it's a great series and you'll appreciate the little "Easter eggs" Garber sprinkles throughout the book.
In Once Upon A Broken Heart we meet Evangeline Fox - a hopeless romantic, with rose gold hair, that dreams of her happily ever after. Evangeline spends her days working in her late Father's curiosity shop and her nights with her Stepmother and Stepsister. When Evangeline learns that her Stepsister is to wed her the man she's been seeing in secret, she's willing to go to great lengths to stop this from happening. Evangeline turns to the fated Prince of Hearts, Jacks, and makes a deal to help stop this wedding. As we all know, making a deal with a Fate rarely ends well. Jacks is will to help Evangeline and it will only cost her 3 kisses. She greedily accepts this deal and that's where the story really takes off.
After being presented with the opportunity of a lifetime, Evangeline is whisked away to the Great North, on a whirlwind adventure, with her Stepsister, Marisol! Before long, Jacks shows up looking to cash in on the bargain they made and soon Evangeline realizes that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is!
What I appreciated most about Once Upon A Broken Heart was the engrossing plot. I tore through this book in a few short days. When I wasn't reading, I was wondering what on earth was going to happen or trying to figure out how this could possibly end. Garber's writing is descriptive, imaginative and unique - you feel like you're these locations with some of the characters. As I previously mentioned, there are some nice nods to the Caraval trilogy. This was also something I loved. It was great seeing some familiar characters who didn't get as much face time in the prior series! Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable story and I can't wait for the next book to be released (too bad it's going to be at least another year before that happens).
Once Upon A Broken Heart will appeal to pretty much any reader because it has a little of everything - adventure, fairytale magic, love, unique locations and engaging characters! If you were a fan of the Caraval series, I can all but guarantee you're going to love Once Upon A Broken Heart! If you're new to Stephanie's writing, this is a great place to start. Take it from me, if you're looking escape reality for awhile, grab a copy of Once Upon A Broken Heart and spend a little time in the Great North or Maximillion's Curiosity Shop!

It’s official: Stephanie Garber is one of my favorite authors of all time. Her books carry magic unlike any other I’ve ever experienced, flowing with whimsy and romance and creativity. I was terrified that this new series wouldn’t hold the same sense of wonder for me, since it wouldn’t be following a magical game.

i was wrong.
Once Upon a Broken Hearts two of my all-time favorite characters, one new and one old. Evangeline Fox is a romantic, a believer in love at first sight. She always sees the best in people, and while she’s flawed, she’s flawed in such a believable way. I saw so much of myself in her character, like I’ve never seen in a character before. Also she has rose-gold hair??? Like, how did I lose the non-existent genetic pool that bad. How.

So…if you’ve been around for a while, then you probably have heard me mention a certain someone named Jacks. I’m extremely happy to report that he does in fact show up in this book! And he plays a major role! And I’ve fallen a little more in love with him! Jacks is a complex, mysterious character whose true motives and personality only grow murkier the more his character arc is revealed.

“He was a thousand cuts happening all at once. Devastation made of hair as blue as dark ocean waves, and lips sharp as cracked glass that would delightedly cut her.”

Can we just talk about the prose for a minute? Stephanie Garber is so, so brilliant at fashioning worlds made out of words. Every time I read one of her books, her whimsical imagery never fails to stun me. I know a lot of people thought that her prose was a little over-the-top in Caraval, and it’s definitely toned-down here. But there’s just enough curiously crafted metaphors to make me happy!

In this book, we go the North, a land of indecisive fairy-tales and wintry frost. Evangeline is put into a contest to win the prince’s heart, and we get to see more Fates. A lot of people might be wondering if they can read this book without reading Caraval, and my answer? Technically yes, although you do have to keep in mind that this book will spoil that trilogy since it takes place after.

Stephanie Garber’s new novel, Once Upon a Broken Heart, is the first installment in her new fantasy series of the same name and it’s a companion series to her wildly popular Caraval series. As the title hints with its “once upon a time” tease, Once Upon a Broken Heart has a fairytale-like feel to it. I loved this vibe and found it very fitting for the main premise of the story, which explores how far a person will go to secure a happily ever after for themselves.

The protagonist of the novel is Evangeline Fox, a young woman who grew up in her dad’s curiosity shop, where she steeped herself in myths and legends. When Luc, the love of Evangeline’s life, abruptly dumps her in favor of her stepsister and wants to marry her immediately, Evangeline is desperate to stop the wedding and win Luc back. It comes quite naturally to her that she should seek out help from one of the legendary Fates, in particular Jacks, the Prince of Hearts. If anyone can help her, she’s sure it’s him and is willing to pay whatever price he asks of her. She knows that whatever bargain she makes with the Fate will change her life forever; she just doesn’t know if that change will be for better or for worse.

I really adored Evangeline. I felt so bad for her in those opening scenes because she’s absolutely distraught that Luc and her stepsister would betray her like this and doesn’t know who to trust anymore. She’s somewhat naïve about love and relationships and the fact that some people just cheat, but I did admire the sense of determination she displayed when going to the Prince of Hearts. Her plan to get help from a Fate might not be the smartest idea, but I had to give her credit for taking matters into her own hands to try to make something happen for herself. I don’t want to give away any spoilers about Evangeline’s journey overall and whether or not she gets that happily ever after she so desperately wants but if you enjoy a story where the protagonist experiences tremendous growth as the story progresses, you’ll enjoy this one.

Now, let me talk about Jacks, the Prince of Hearts. Jacks is your guy if you love a story that features an anti-hero because he’s the ultimate anti-hero. He was one of my favorite characters from the Caraval series and was the main reason I was so excited to read this book. And he does not disappoint. I love Jacks so much! He’s mysterious and broody, and he’s also a sexy, bad boy. He’s all about tricks and making deals with desperate souls like Evangeline, and his motives are always selfish and sometimes nefarious. He’s just such a great character, and what I loved in Once Upon a Broken Heart, is the added depth we are given with respect to him. Even though he’s clearly making this bargain with Evangeline for his own personal gain, he still can’t seem to stop himself from helping her and protecting her whenever she finds herself in trouble, which is quite often thanks to the precarious situation the deal puts her in. There’s an almost indefinable connection between them. I wouldn’t call it a romantic connection and it’s not quite a friendship either. Whatever it is though, the chemistry between the two of them is fantastic and I became immensely invested in the relationship between them as soon as they struck that fateful bargain. Trying to figure out what it is that Jacks wants out of the deal, coupled with whether or not Evangeline will get her heart’s desire, had me flying through the pages and I devoured the book in a day.

The worldbuilding is also exquisite in this story. We are introduced to a new kingdom in this series that we didn’t see in Caraval. This kingdom is in the North and Garber beautifully uses imagery and myths and folklore, to add to that fairytale-like atmosphere I mentioned earlier and vividly bring the setting to life.

Once Upon a Broken Heart is a companion to Caraval, and while it would work quite well as a standalone, if you’re ever planning to read Caraval, it’s probably best to read that series first to avoid any possible spoilers. Scarlett and Tella from Caraval make a brief appearance and it was delightful to see them again, but otherwise there isn’t much overlap in plot at all. As much as I enjoyed Caraval though, I have to admit that I actually loved Once Upon a Broken Heart even more and can’t wait to see what’s next for Evangeline and the Prince of Hearts!

So I'm actually glad that I waited a few days before sitting down to write this review... because now I can tell you how this story will sit in your mind and slowly take over every piece of it until all you can think about is what's going to happen next and if what you wish would happen is what's going to happen, and how all of this thinking and wishing will slowly drive you mad. The first book hasn't even officially been released yet and all I can think about is getting my hands on the second!

That being said, let's get down to reviewing this book.

Evangeline. First off, love the name - I think it fits her character perfectly. She was so full of hope and whimsical notions and love and my heart just... 💘 Ugh she put into words what every hopeless romantic feels on a daily basis and it was everything I needed and more.

Jacks. Omigod. Need I say more?! Well yes, clearly I do lol. The Prince of Hearts was the sexy, morally grey villain that I NEEDED in my life. I didn't know whether to love him or hate him, root for him or kick him to the curb... I loved EVERY. SINGLE. SECOND. of his character in this book. Mostly because I loved him even when I wasn't sure if I was supposed to love him??? I still have no idea what is truly going on in his head, and it's driving me insane. Props to Ms. Garber for this one - Jacks is one of the best written characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading about.

On that note, I have to add that I have to read the Caraval series - they've been sitting on my TBR for YEARS but I just always seem to pick something else up. Phew let me tell you that is about to change. I am so impressed with Stephanie's writing style and art for storytelling. This world she's created, this fairytale she's spun, these characters she has invested her blood, sweat, and tears into... it was all worth it. A brilliant book from a brilliant author.

The only thing I can say is that there seems to be this incredible magic system in this world and I just wish that it had been explored more in this book! It absolutely has it's moments at the forefront but I feel like I could have delved deeper. Overall, really excellent book and I can't wait for the next!

This book was pretty dull. I didn’t really find anything that sparked my interest or made the story separate itself from the pack.

I received an e-ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Once Upon a Broken Heart was magical and mesmerizing…. It was beautiful, atmospheric and… perfect. 😍 I missed Jacks so much and I really can’t wait to read more about him and Evangeline in the sequel! 🦊🍎💔

I didn't realize when I requested this that though it is a standalone book, it is also in the same world as a previous series, and it was way too hard for me to jump into. This happens sometimes to me, other times, I'm able to dive right in smack in the middle of a series, figure out what's going on, and keep going. This wasn't one of those times. I liked the idea of the series, wronged girl makes a bargain with a godlike creature, but then godlike creature turned out to be the love interest and...no thank you.

I tried but it didn't work out for me.

I was so excited for this one! A book set in the same world as Caraval and with the Prince of Hearts? I was sold! However, this let me down.

Maybe it was because I was craving the magic of Caraval, but this didn’t hook me. It comes down to the fact that Evangeline as the main character was exhausting. She was completely naive and kept making the absolute worst decisions. No matter that some things were obvious tricks or terrible ideas, she chose them every time.

I don’t really know if there was a plot. It could have been just getting us to understand where things might be headed. There wasn’t really a character that stood out. Including Jacks. I expected so much for his character, but he was just calm and nonchalant the entire time.

Side note, this has a tag for romance and I’m still looking for it.

Overall, this was very underwhelming for me.

This book was absolutely magical! As a huge fan of the Caraval series, I was beyond thrilled to hear the announcement of Once Upon a Broken Heart and can’t wait to dive into the astonishing world of Caraval again. For the new readers who haven’t read the Caraval series (although you really should), don’t worry, this book doesn’t contain any major spoilers from the previous series. It is in fact, focused on a brand new character, but also an original character that everyone loved!

Filled with unrequited love, whimsical plot twists, and broken hearts (which you probably have guessed from the title), the tale follows a young girl’s seemingly bad decision to make a deal with a prince who might not exactly be the Prince Charming that she had initially hoped for.

Meet our new character Evangeline Fox and our beloved and wickedly charming Fate Jacks’ in a new story intertwined with magic, romance, and betrayals. After all, what’s a story without spells and broken hearts? Our main character Evangeline is a young woman who believes in love at first sight and indulges in fairytales and wants nothing more than to find her own happily ever after. But like every other heroine, happily ever after doesn’t come easily. After crossing paths with Jacks, the Prince of Heart himself, a bargain was made which led her into a whirlwind of passionate and shocking events. There, Evangeline encountered problems where her decisions will either result in her own happily ever after or perhaps the greatest tragedy of all time. And it all returns to the same question: how far will you go to achieve your happy ending? This really reminded me of Once Upon a Time on some level.

Garber cleverly linked this new book with her previous series without giving too many spoilers, but somehow making Caraval readers feel nostalgia at the same time. Readers of the Caraval series will be delighted to see some familiar faces and cameos from our favourite characters. However, there is the potential of *minor* spoilers (but wouldn’t affect your general reading experience) so I would also recommend reading the trilogy first before diving into the world of Evangeline and Jacks (because why not)!

Evangeline is a strong and bold young woman who cares about others very much. She might seem to be incredibly naïve at first, a girl who desires her one true love and a happy ending. She might come across as childish, but who didn’t once believe in happily ever after? Her character developed a lot throughout the book (love a good character development), and I can’t wait to see how she continues to grow in the next book. Her optimistic attitude is one of the reasons why everyone adores her; she is clear about what she wants in life, and she is not one to shy away from tempting fate. This leads us to our other character, our beloved Fate, Jacks. Still as mischievous and charming as ever. Seemingly to be recovering from a heartbreak, Jacks is already planning his next devious acts. Truth be told, I wasn’t completely a Jacks fan when I first read the Caraval series (sorry Jacks fan), but this book focused on him in more detail since he’s the main character and delved into his character a bit more. We all know there must be something more hidden under that attractive yet poisonous mask, and we got to know more about his story as well. I am pleading to have some POVs from Jacks! They would be so much fun to read! I loved Jacks and Evangeline’s interactions throughout this book. It is so nice to see charismatic Jacks again, but in a whole new light and perspective. Their banter is absolutely delightful to read and you definitely can tell there are some sparks going on over there. Could the Prince of Hearts finally find his one and only Princess?

As always, Garber’s building of the magical world is magnificent. The plot twists were insane to say the least, I can say I definitely did not expect some of them to happen, leaving me shocked to my core. The pace of the story was relatively fast, which I found was nice in general, although there were some bits and pieces which were a bit confusing, but they’ll probably be explained in future books. The writing is fluid, and you won’t even realise that you have already finished half the book once you started. Yet again, we are left with a shocking cliffhanger and it’s going to be another long year before we get to know what happens next—why Stephanie why?! You will probably find me curled up in a corner reading the Caraval series over and over again from now on till the next book comes out to overcome the pain of waiting. Nevertheless, it has been such a pleasure stepping inside this spectacular fairytale and reliving the magical experience once again!

Last but not least, shout out to the gorgeous covers! They are simply breathtaking!

I was a wee bit worried before starting this, as I had heard it was set in the Caraval universe and some foolish person has not finished that series despite loving the first book. But luckily, a friend assured me that I needn't finish the series to fully enjoy this one, and yay, she was very right! In fact, you are fine going in with no knowledge of the world whatsoever (though I do think you'll probably run to read Caraval afterward).

This book was entertaining, full stop. I am going to give you my one minor qualm now: I was able to predict a bunch of stuff. But truly, this is one of those books where you just don't mind, and in fact, it is kind of nice to be correct! And, there were so many twists and so much excitement, that it was never too predictable, if that makes sense.

I loved Evangeline. Loved. I think a lot of readers will be able to relate to her quest for love (and not just romantic love, but familial and friendship love too), and she just has a good heart. I also adored all the side characters, too. They were all very fleshed out and complex; no character was wholly good or bad, and I love that. And while the book was quite intense and high stakes, there were a lot of great lighter moments, especially among the characters (and the banter between Evangeline and Jacks was amazing).

There's also a ton of gray morality, which is my fave, and "no good choices", which is also a fave. The book is chalk full of adventure, deception, and magic, and I just fell into the world (and even the magic) so quickly, which is unusual for me with fantasy- but here, seemed quite easy! I am eagerly anticipating the sequel, and I will definitely be heading back to read the rest of Caraval while I wait!

Bottom Line: I fell in love with this story, and its characters, frankly. So much so that I have pre-ordered the shiny pink cover edition, too.

I really enjoyed this new first book in the series. Stephanie Garber writes fantasy stories that are easy to follow and lush with character descriptions. I think she delves deep into the personalities of her main characters and makes us question all of their motives. This new series is all about curses and fairy tales and hope. Our protagonist, Evangeline makes bad decision after bad decision all in the name of love. You can't help but feel bad for her because as she tries to make it right, she makes it harder to solve. Jacks, as a hero, is every inch of the redeemable villain (I hope) We were previously introduced to him in the Caraval series and we delve deeper into his character. He is just as much of a trickster and fate twister as before. I can't help but root for them even though things end on quite a cliff hanger for them. How it all resolves is going to be intensely intricate. This is a series for lovers of fairy tales, fantasy, and a lot of twists!

Initial Thoughts
I was so excited to be contacted by the publisher about being a part of this tour. I absolutely adored the Caraval series and couldn’t wait to read this book.

Some Things I Liked
The Daily Rumor. I loved the newspaper articles pepper throughout the story. They are such a fun touch and gave a unique perspective from mysterious side characters.
Romantic, whimsical, lush details. I love this world. I am eager to read about any place Stephanie Garber wants to describe. I feel like I am in the scene with the characters. Everything is so vivid and dynamic. I love every word.
Jacks. Jacks is a treasure of a character. Exquisitely morally grey but with a heart of gold. I need a happy ending for him.
Evangeline. She’s a perfect main character. She’s fierce, determined, a touch morally grey, and someone I’d want to be friends with.
Subtle Cinderella vibes. I loved this element. I also loved the differences. Evangeline doesn’t need anyone to save her and Jacks is no fairy godmother.

Series Value
I would make any deal with the Fates necessary to obtain an ARC of the next book in this series. I am hopelessly and utterly hooked on Stephanie’s writing and world building. I need more of this story.

Final Thoughts
This book is perfection. I loved every page.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I do wish I had enjoyed this one more. Garber absolutely has a flair for storytelling. Her writing style is lovely and detailed.

Unfortunately, this story went a few places I didn’t really like. It hurt my heart that I actually kept rolling my eyes at certain points. I can’t get into it without spoiling things, but I was left feeling disappointed.

The long and the short of it is: it was completely underwhelming. There’s basically no plot to speak of, every character (yes even Jacks) fell flat.

There was a subplot point that didn’t even feel like it fit into the world Garber had created (again I don’t want to spoil anything). But all the while I was reading this part I kept thinking “this is so dumb”.

I don’t know if I’ll pick up the sequel.

Wow! I couldn’t put this book down. The characters, the plot, the constant guessing! I loved every second. If you were a fan of Caraval, you’ll love this! Thank you netgalley and Flatiron for my copy.

I don't read many books in one sitting, but this one I did. I enjoyed every minute of the start of Evangeline's journey, and I had already been eagerly awaiting Jacks. I really loved Jacks in this book, and I cannot wait to see where his character goes from here. This book fits very well into the YA fantasy genre. Evangeline behaves much as I would expect a heroine in this genre to behave - not a bad thing, just a fact. I loved Garber's descriptions in Cavaral, and this book continues that tradition. Sights. Smells. Sounds. It's all there. She had me pointing this way and that with Evangeline. And, at the end, when I flipped the last page, it gave me that all too delicious "WHAT?!" feeling. Priceless. I cannot wait for the next book! This book is suitable for all YA age groups with a good reading pace and manageable chapter lengths.