Well shit; this was ever better than the first book.
That ending though?
If she doesn't write another book in this series...
I may murder someone.
Or more likely
I may cry myself to sleep.
Much love to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for hooking me up; no way could I have waiting till the actual release on September 13th.

I listened to the audiobook version of the novel.

Okay, so listen. I understand that I was in the minority with not loving the first novel, but I thought I would give the continuation of the story a chance

The cover is great, the narrator did a nice job, but I was again in the minority, and don't care for Jacks. And with that, I feel like you have to either love the bad boy to make the story work. For me, it just didn't.

This book is wild, fantastic, and magical. It is not a book for everyone but I did really enjoy it. We learn more about Jacks and his past while Evangeline learns more about herself and this world she has become a part of. I think as with most sequels, this suffers a little in plot. However, it makes up for it in character development and world building. I'm excited for the next book to see where the characters end up.

The narrator for the audiobook is great. She was really able to bring the characters to life with an individual personality and voice. The way she changed how she spoke for each character meant that I knew who was speaking. She really added to the book and I definitely recommend the audio version of this story.

“Ballads never end happily, Everyone knows that.”

Stephanie Garber has done it again! The Ballad of Never After was as amazing as I had hoped for. It probably passed all my expectations if that’s even possible.

The Ballad of Never After picks up right where Once Upon a Broken Heart ended. Evangeline is at a lost on how to save her husband. She also has no idea who she can trust, which is fair since Jacks betrayed her in the first book. Anyone wants to bet how long she’s able to avoid Jacks? Lol.

Evangeline is such a great main character. She went through a lot in the last book and that hasn’t stopped her from believing that everyone deserves some type of happily ever after. I loved seeing how her character continued growing in this book. She definitely has more spunk in this book I feel like. I love her banter with Jacks, she definitely is giving him a run for his money.

Jacks is well Jacks. Still has a plan that he isn’t willing to fully tell Evangeline about. I love that in this book we get to see parts of Jacks that we haven’t seen before. And I would go on and on about that but I don’t want to spoil anything. 😊

We got to see more of LaLa and Chaos and a few other characters from Once Upon a Broken Heart. We also got a few new faces that got added into the mix.

This book is a quick read and that’s because from the first page things are crazy and it just never slows down. There are twist and turns you don’t see coming. The Ballad of Never After has the magic of the first one book and the Caraval series.

These thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

The first book of this series, Once Upon A Broken Heart, was one of my favorite reads last year, so I was ecstatic to be given an audiobook ARC from netgalley for the sequel! And what a sequel it was. The story telling in this series is phenomenal and the characters fantastic. The whole story kept me engaged with excellent pacing. I also love how there's little connections to the Caraval series throughout - not too heavy that you can't enjoy and understand the story without reading that series first - but enough of a nod to make it fun. And the ending, oh my gosh, the ending!! I need the third installment now!!!

In Ballad of Never After we have more magic than ever with spells upon spells. I love this world that Stephanie Garber has built as well as the characters. The heat between Jacks and Evangeline had me thinking that we need some adult books for Ms. Garber soon, please! I do feel like the ending would have been stronger if left with Evangeline becoming stronger rather than how it eventually ended. This was another great book by Stephanie Garber and I look forward to more.

Look I’m biased here, Stephanie Garber can do no wrong. I love her books, her characters, the world - I’m a huge fan, I don’t keep it a secret.

I did a quick reread of OUABH before I dove into this audio arc so I’d have the story fresh in my mind. I’m glad I did. While I wouldn’t say it’s necessary to have it fresh in your mind, it’s definitely not a stand-alone as it continues the story where OUABH leaves off.

So much is revealed in this book. It’s really amazing how much was crammed into this book without it feeling like it’s overdone. We get stories explained, more insight into the fates and a huge mystery is unraveled. I loved its fast paced nature as well as learning more about the world itself.

That ending though - Ms Garber you can’t do that to me!!!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Ballad of Never After takes off right after the events of Once Upon a Broken Heart. He are back in the world of Evangeline Fox, Jacks, and Apollo.

Just like any other Stephanie Garber book in the Caraval world, this one did not shy away from an never-ending high stakes adventure that leaves you at the edge of your seat. I really enjoy the story of Evangeline and Jacks, though found myself having a bit of a harder time really connecting to the other characters (maybe except Apollo) which ultimately made me less interested when we delved into the storylines such as Lala and even Chaos.

However, I still really enjoyed this book and I think I will definitely pick it up again in the future to fully absorb every detail of the colourful story. The ending... THE ENDING. I was shocked as I got to the last minute of this audiobook... What do you mean there isn't more to the story!? I fully believed that this was a duology so will now be impatiently waiting for the next book of this series.

I am so grateful for an early ARC from Netgalley. This book was so fun and I already can't wait to read it again and see what else the author comes up with next!

In the Caraval series that came before this series, one of the main characters is always telling you that he is bad, yet some of his actions are good and my history of fairy tales makes me hope for a change of heart. True love can change anything right? Maybe not in this magical world full of unbreakable spells and curses.

Like Caraval, this series is full of gray characters that at one moment shock me with their bad choices, and at another endure me . I can’t help myself from hoping they are in fact a good person and then I get my hopes up for a HEA. What is real? What is not. That seems to be a common thread Evangeline is constantly faced with trying to figure out. I’m right there with her.

The first book in this series, Once Upon A Broken Heart, leaves you at a cliffhanger moment and this one follows suit. Don’t expect this to be the end, but expect to love every moment of it. The end had me so full of hope, yet so uncertain of where this story would go, after all Jacks is always telling Evangeline that he isn’t capable of love or caring for her. He’s a fate and he has dashed her hopes time and then again. He’s already met his true love, and she wasn’t her.

I truly loved the crazy rollercoaster ride of this book. Trying to figure out what’s real, who is good, and how Evangeline will find happiness among twists and turns of heartbreak and betrayal. Jacks always says Ballads never end well, but can’t theirs?

Don’t miss this one! It comes out September 13th. I listened to the audiobook version and the narration was done really well.

THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD, I AM IN ACTUAL TEARS BECAUSE I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT END- MY HURT HEARTS AHSHSHSH😭😭😭

Garber knew what she was doing and I was HOOKED from the moment the story began - my heart hurts so much I don’t know how I’m going to survive this 💔💔

AHHHHHHHHHHHH! Okay, yes, that is extremely unprofessional but in my defense, I blame Stephanie Garber. I wasn't wholly invested during the first book but dear lord if I don't find out what happens to Apollo, Little Fox, Jacks and all this crap soon I'll probably go insane. But yeah, hey, this was a great book and you should totally pick it up and binge read it and go insane with me =D

4.5

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First off the characters, I love these characters so much and there is not doubt that they were the centre of my enjoyment of this book. Jacks and Eve banter, romance and angst were gut wrenching and I loved every minute of it. Some may say it was too much, but personally I loved it. Jacks if one of my favourite morally grey (heavy on the grey) characters in all the books I read.

The plot… probably the weakest part of this story. Because of the curse, everyone lying and a lot of things being told through stories it’s very hard to keep track of everything. I felt very confused at times and started giving up trying to keep up. I personally think the plot is just there to highly the i Tera ruins between Jacks and Eve and honestly, I don’t mind.

This author is a wizard when it comes to ending with twist and turns. I was floored and also very stressed thinking how the heck the book had enough time to end. I was SCREAMING and at end and I now don’t know what to do with myself.

The narrator of the audio book is Rebecca Soler who is one of my all time favourite narrators. She does an excellent job at giving every character their own voice. From sound to temo I always knew who was speaking without the story having to tell me. Highly recommend!

Stephanie Garber hits it out of the park again! I’ve loved all of her books so far and this sequel is a great follow up to Once Upon a Broken Heart. It does not disappoint ! Thnk you NetGalley for allowing me an early listen!

Gaaaaah!!!! That ending has me spinning out!!!! 5 stars and anxiously waiting for a sequel to arrive! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an AudioARC in exchange for an honest review.

Evangeline and everyone's favorite Prince of Hearts are back in this sequel to Once Upon a Broken Heart. Apollo is in a comatose state, the kingdom is introduced to it's new heir apparent(whom is a familiar face to Evangeline), and Jacks is back to his old tricks. What curses and deities stand between Evangeline and her ever after? What will the Fates decide?

Stephanie Garber is such a talented writer! Her characters have you fully invested with love OR hate, and her Fates are so freaking cool! My one gripe about her writing style is the way she describes smells or even sights at times. I don't have an exact reference ready so I'll make up my own; for example, "He smelt like marshmallow and joyus laughter". How she knows what these untangeable things smell like are beyond me, but it can pull you out of her magic temporarily. Overall though, her story telling us second to none. Rebecca Soler once again reads this series and her voice fits it perfectly. Her annunciation is like smooth velvet and honey(see what I did there? Just picking!). She sells this world and the magic that lies in wait.

I await on frustrated breath after one major cliffhanger for the next installment. Five stars for The Ballad of Ever After. If you loved Caraval, the Night Circus, or just love gorgeous world building then this series is for you. Recommended for readers 13+ for slight adult content

Stephanie Garber is definitely one of my favorite authors. From the moment I read Caraval, I was hooked and have kept up with her work. I even break my cardinal rule for her - never read a book until the series is complete. In true Garber style, <i>The Ballad of Never After</i> leaves you on a intense cliffhanger, but was so worth the wait!
The story of Evangeline and Jacks continues here in book two, sweeping right back into the action. Evangeline is desperately trying to break the curse <spoiler>affecting her husband, Apollo</spoiler>, and realizes she's going to have to use her powers as a magical key to do it. Off she goes on a dangerous and adventure-filled quest, joined by Jacks, to ensure her own happily ever after. The character development continues to be excellent; each is well drawn and lovable, despite their flaws. You feel for the characters and their struggles throughout, and I cannot wait until the next installment is here.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of the audiobook, read by the incomparable Rebecca Soler.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I was so excited to read this because I absolutely loved Once Upon A Broken Heart and this book delivered!!! I absolutely love that the second book starts off where the first left off, it feels like a nice transition and I'm so happy that this book had that.

Stephanie Garber has done an incredible job with building this universe and the characters and I am so excited to keep reading about this world.

I loved learning more about Evangeline’s journey and I loved Jacks so much and loved him even more in this book. The angst!! and the tension!! between the two, I cannot wait for the third book!!! I need it immediately!

I loved this. It ticks all kinds of boxes. The world building, betrayal, one bed, morally gray characters, the lore, the dresses, Evangeline and Jacks, the quest, that ending, all of it, everything. This isn’t even fully out yet and I need the next one. Pacing was fast and almost never boring. I finished this in 24 hours. Even the slow bits moved along nicely. Some things were predictable and some things were not, I liked the balance of that. It was almost like a whodunnit with not knowing who to or what to trust. Just a great second book.

**4.5 stars // Review will be published September 8th on my blog and social sites!**

DEVASTATION.

The way I gasped at a particular scene near the end. Holy wow. Gotta give it up to Stephanie Garber. I wasn’t super on board with this series after the first book (but still enjoyed). I took a bit more convincing here and then realized just how attached I had become to these characters.

Jacks and Evangeline have great snarky banter. I love the give and take and that they got a lot more softer moments here. There’s an intense and undeniable pull between them that I can’t wait to learn more about. I think Jacks is too much of a hidden character, even after two books. I want a few more layers peeled back on him so we can get the raw intensity of his past that I know is coming. Evangeline bothered me a whole lot less too and I think it’s kind of fun to be apart of her mindset as she handles all of the fates and prophecies.

Things occasionally felt bogged down by the tangents of story telling. Gratefully they did actually connect back into the main plot so I didn’t feel lost for long. The audio was fantastic! I loved the narrator and it made for a great listen.

I’m of course, very much curious where this series is going to continue onwards to. There’s plenty left open and I adore Garber’s writing and her passion for love conquers all mentality. I’m going to be sitting in a puddle of anxiety until I get my hands on the next book.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy Romance
Language: very little
Romance: make-outs
Violence: med/high
Trigger/Content Warnings: physical altercations, near death experiences, kidnapping, magical weaponry

*thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Where to start with this book? It was so character driven and absolutely magical.

As always, I will start with characters:

Evangeline: such a sweet cinnamon roll who is low key becoming more of a powerhouse. She definitely knows what she is about, but girl, you are still far too trusting.

Jacks: I love him. He is trying so hard to be a bad boy. He very much is a bad boy. But also, you know how a kitten gets all angry and scary and puts its claws up and everyone goes AWWWWW. He’s that.

A few side characters also stand out a lot in this one: Lala is back and a shining star. Chaos is…… chaos. Apollo is a wild card.

I love how the myths and legends take center stage in this story. The lore of the world is really woven through the story, and figuring out the stories is so amazing and really peels back layers to Jacks and Evangeline’s journey.

This story was wrapped up in happiness and dreams and heartbreak. I do hope their is a book 3, because I am absolutely enchanted by this world and am not ready to leave!