Praise for the #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING Once Upon a Broken Heart Series:
"Edgy, dark, and gorgeously written—this takes the fairytale trope and turns it into something heart-pounding, fresh, and addictive." —Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“An explosively rich fairy tale that takes place inside an intricate world that’s weaved with fast-paced plot and intriguing twists. Garber continues to show up with lush, atmospheric writing and charming characters that we can’t help but want to journey with until their final scene.” —BuzzFeed
“A sugar-crusted, poison-spiked romp through a vibrant world of fairy tale intrigue, tangled romance, and forbidden magic.” —Cassandra Clare, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Shimmering with magic…A wondrous story about my favorite thing: kissing. Not only is Jacks the swoony villain you’ve always dreamed about, but the decadent world will leave you breathless.” —Isabel Ibañez, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Garber enchants readers with exquisitely imagined worldbuilding and her trademark heady romance.” —Publishers Weekly
“Enchanting, intriguing, and delightfully whimsical, Once Upon a Broken Heart grabbed hold of me and wouldn’t let go. Evangeline is a cunning heroine, and Jacks never stopped surprising me. I couldn’t put it down.” —Brigid Kemmerer, New York Times bestselling author
“It’s hard not to be enchanted by any tale Stephanie Garber chooses to write, with her masterful storytelling and her infuriating way of fooling with our pulse rates. A guileless, heartbroken heroine plays with fate incarnate—the bad boy Jacks—in the dreamy, topsy-turvy world of the Magnificent North. Once Upon a Broken Heart casts a spell that you won't soon want to be broken.” —Stacey Lee, New York Times bestselling author
"Garber has created a lush fairy tale world and each book in this series expands the lands and the Fates who torment them...A delight." —Booklist
“A wildly imaginative, romantic story where true love and deadly kisses collide and bargains with the Prince of Hearts come with a steep price. Once Upon A Broken Heart is an unputdownable fairy tale where Garber’s imagination sparkles like the magnificent North. Readers will delight in each whimsical and thrilling page.” —Kerri Maniscalco, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“A dazzling mix of mystery, romance, and magic.” —Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Once Upon a Broken Heart confirms that Stephanie Garber is the queen of fairy tales. I stepped into her world and got happily lost in the delicious magic, deceit, and passion.” —Mary E. Pearson, New York Times bestselling author
“The lush worldbuilding Garber is known for is on full display here. . . . No one will be complaining about the opportunity to revisit this intricately imagined world.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“A lushly written story with an intriguing heart.” —Kirkus Reviews
Praise for the #1 NEW YORK TIMES and #1 INDIE BESTSELLING Caraval Series:
“The Hunger Games meets The Night Circus.” ―Entertainment Weekly
“I lost myself in this world and never wanted to come out.” ―Sabaa Tahir, #1 New York Times bestselling author of An Ember in the Ashes
“Impressive, original, wondrous.” ―USA Today
“A fantastic world reminiscent of Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley...Addictive.” ―Minneapolis Star-Tribune
“Beautifully written.” ―Renée Ahdieh, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Wrath and the Dawn
“Mesmerizing.” ―Us Weekly
“Fantastic in its spectacle and intrigue.” ―Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review
“A tour de force of imagination.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“Magnificent. A spellbinding tale of love, loss, sacrifice, and hope.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Like stepping into a living dream.” ―Stacey Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl
08/01/2022
Gr 9 Up—This sequel to Once Upon a Broken Heart jumps right back into the action with Evangeline willing to go to desperate lengths to save Apollo. The only person she believes can help her is Jacks. She agrees to open the Valory Arch for him, but it's not long before a new curse slows them down and puts Evangeline's life in danger. Again, she's faced with the decision—can she trust a Fate? And can they both get what they want? Nonstop adventure and multiple twists will keep fans turning pages, and the will-they-won't-they nature of Jacks and Evangeline's relationship will leave readers breathless. Unfortunately, Evangeline hasn't grown much as a character, and her decisions are often frustrating. However, those who have yearned to return to this world won't be disappointed. Another cliffhanger ending all but ensures more to come. Most characters cue white; a few have "olive" or darker skin. VERDICT Recommended for fans of romance and fantasy, and where the first book was popular.—Mandy Laferriere
2022-07-27
Evangeline faces new dangers in her quest for happiness in this follow-up to 2021’s Once Upon a Broken Heart.
As Evangeline Fox seeks a cure for her poisoned husband, Prince Apollo, the enticing and infuriating Fate Jacks reappears, offering to save Apollo if she unlocks the Valory Arch. Remembering the long list of ills brought upon her by the Fate, Evangeline refuses. When the new heir arrives and Apollo wakes with a new curse and glowing red eyes, she is forced to delve into the mysteries of the Valors and find the arch’s four missing magical stones whose powers are luck, truth, mirth, and youth. The inclusion of expanded Valor lore alongside the preexisting blend of fairy-tale and paranormal creatures is intriguing and fits the overarching theme of storytelling as history. The ongoing use of emotions as a scale for displaying and determining one’s humanity, especially by Fates, is equally interesting. Unfortunately, the impact of Evangeline’s often amusing narration and numerous surprising plot twists is diluted by the meandering pacing, convoluted sensory descriptions, and close focus on Evangeline’s fluctuating attraction toward her potential love interests. Despite the positive emphasis on hope and happily-ever-afters, Evangeline’s romantic relationship with Jacks borders on manipulative and toxic. Evangeline reads White; side characters are fantasy diverse.
A disappointing delivery on a potentially gripping second volume. (map) (Fantasy. 13-18)
Rebecca Soler returns to narrate the second book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy. With her husband, Apollo, in a coma caused by a curse, Evangeline's happily-ever-after has been dashed. Hoping to save him, she embarks on a quest with an unlikely ally--Jacks, Prince of Hearts. As they take on other fantasy folk and look for the truth to be found in legends, they must also examine their feelings toward each other. Soler's lively performance and youthful voice befit Evangeline's age and personality. Imbuing her delivery with a wide range of emotions, Soler captures the essences of all the characters. Listeners will be enthralled by Soler's narration of Evangeline's tale and will find themselves eagerly anticipating the series' final book. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Rebecca Soler returns to narrate the second book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy. With her husband, Apollo, in a coma caused by a curse, Evangeline's happily-ever-after has been dashed. Hoping to save him, she embarks on a quest with an unlikely ally--Jacks, Prince of Hearts. As they take on other fantasy folk and look for the truth to be found in legends, they must also examine their feelings toward each other. Soler's lively performance and youthful voice befit Evangeline's age and personality. Imbuing her delivery with a wide range of emotions, Soler captures the essences of all the characters. Listeners will be enthralled by Soler's narration of Evangeline's tale and will find themselves eagerly anticipating the series' final book. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
