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snowiceblackfruit77's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book made me laugh out loud several times. I even got emotional a few times. The Ending tough, why did we have to do this trope?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Body horror, Abandonment, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Violence, Grief, Murder, Self harm, and Torture
rubyroses's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Holy mother of god. This is my first book of the year and I absolutely devoured it. I thought the first book in the trilogy was good but this topped it easily. I’m excited to see what the conclusion has in store for us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Body horror
Minor: Death of parent
deluna's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Gaslighting, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Body horror, and Confinement
amre23's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, Violence, Murder, Gore, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Grief, and Body horror
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Blood, Abandonment, War, Stalking, Gaslighting, Classism, Physical abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Sexual assault
katvou's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief and Violence
Minor: Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Child death, Torture, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual content, Body horror, and Fire/Fire injury
laneys_library's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Nothing beats the original Caraval book, but I love this spin off, especially since Jacks is my favorite character. I enjoyed this one even better than ‘Once Upon A Broken Heart’ Lots of truths are revealed and we learn a lot about Jacks past. The ending was shocking and amazing and I’m desperate for the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Self harm, Torture, Gore, and Grief
chronicacademia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Sexual assault
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
theespressoedition's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
My most-anticipated release of 2022 and I wound up giving it 3.5 stars. That hits me right in the feels.
I've felt a lot of weight on my chest as I've thought about writing this review. It's not easy for me to give anything less than raves to my favorite authors' books. However, The Ballad of Never After left a lot to be desired. Right now, the thought that's at the front of my mind is how much I hope that the third book redeems how I feel about the series (and thank goodness she announced the third book not long after this one came out because I was nearly sick with worry at the end).
Because I didn't do a reread of Once Upon a Broken Heart prior to reading this one, I was concerned that I would be a little lost at the beginning. I wouldn't say it was super easy to pick up where I left off, but after about one or two chapters, everything came flooding back and I didn't have difficulty following along after that. The author did a good job of subtly bringing in the plot points from the previous book in order to clue the reader in on what was happening.
My unease wasn't instantaneous, which almost made it worse. Instead, it felt as though I had eaten something delicious that eventually began to turn in my stomach. I've always loved Jacks--a morally gray character with a penchant for mischief and rakishness. While he made it spectacularly clear to Evangeline that he was "not the good guy" in OUABH, that particular narrative was ridiculously overdone in this book. However, because Evangaline is married to Apollo in this book, rather than rooting for her to wind up with Jacks despite his untoward behavior, I watched with horror as their romantic dallying became stronger and stronger... full-on infidelity.
Not only that, but there were a lot of blurred lines when it came to consent. This includes occurrences of sexual touch and advances without both parties agreeing upon it--and even times where someone was drugged or asleep when these took place. Instead of it feeling romantic, it felt racy. Lines were crossed and that was definitely not something I was comfortable with. Now, I recognize that my perspective may be slightly skewed by my own past, but I do think that this is at least something that others should be aware of going into the book.
Someone may have told you to expect heartbreak when reading this, and they're not entirely wrong. While I didn't find myself sobbing my eyes out at any point, I did slam the book shut at the end, then stand in the hallway looking completely forlorn, freaking my husband out until I said, "why would she do this to us?" The ending is unexpected and as I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I'm really thankful that there will be a third in the series. My hope is that it clears up some of the confusion, brings a little joy, and ultimately redeems how I'm currently feeling about Jacks and Evangeline and their truly problematic tryst.
I'm sure I'll have more to say come autumn of 2023...
I've felt a lot of weight on my chest as I've thought about writing this review. It's not easy for me to give anything less than raves to my favorite authors' books. However, The Ballad of Never After left a lot to be desired. Right now, the thought that's at the front of my mind is how much I hope that the third book redeems how I feel about the series (and thank goodness she announced the third book not long after this one came out because I was nearly sick with worry at the end).
Because I didn't do a reread of Once Upon a Broken Heart prior to reading this one, I was concerned that I would be a little lost at the beginning. I wouldn't say it was super easy to pick up where I left off, but after about one or two chapters, everything came flooding back and I didn't have difficulty following along after that. The author did a good job of subtly bringing in the plot points from the previous book in order to clue the reader in on what was happening.
My unease wasn't instantaneous, which almost made it worse. Instead, it felt as though I had eaten something delicious that eventually began to turn in my stomach. I've always loved Jacks--a morally gray character with a penchant for mischief and rakishness. While he made it spectacularly clear to Evangeline that he was "not the good guy" in OUABH, that particular narrative was ridiculously overdone in this book. However, because Evangaline is married to Apollo in this book, rather than rooting for her to wind up with Jacks despite his untoward behavior, I watched with horror as their romantic dallying became stronger and stronger... full-on infidelity.
Not only that, but there were a lot of blurred lines when it came to consent. This includes occurrences of sexual touch and advances without both parties agreeing upon it--and even times where someone was drugged or asleep when these took place. Instead of it feeling romantic, it felt racy. Lines were crossed and that was definitely not something I was comfortable with. Now, I recognize that my perspective may be slightly skewed by my own past, but I do think that this is at least something that others should be aware of going into the book.
Someone may have told you to expect heartbreak when reading this, and they're not entirely wrong. While I didn't find myself sobbing my eyes out at any point, I did slam the book shut at the end, then stand in the hallway looking completely forlorn, freaking my husband out until I said, "why would she do this to us?" The ending is unexpected and as I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I'm really thankful that there will be a third in the series. My hope is that it clears up some of the confusion, brings a little joy, and ultimately redeems how I'm currently feeling about Jacks and Evangeline and their truly problematic tryst.
I'm sure I'll have more to say come autumn of 2023...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
gimmiiie's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was a excited but skeptical for this book. I rated Once Upon a Broken HEART (OUBH) only 2.5 stars. The writing was mediocre and I expected the same and only read The Ballad of Never After (TBNA) for the character of Jacks.
And TBNA was perfection. 5.0.👌
TBNA is a fantastic read. It was filled with action, relationships. It fall into the pitfalls from what OUBH suffered. Evangeline's character felt more real and she took actions rather than events just happening to her. Evangeline also had character growth losing some of the delusional hopeless romantic and gullibility.
The setting and world building was improved.
Spoilers below~
There was so much I loved about it. The beginning wasn't slow (my biggest gripe with OUBH) and the pace maintained and was good.
The banter between Jacks and Evangeline. Period.
I love it when the adorable nickname is dropped for the first time: "It sounded like Jacks’s voice. But he’d said her name, not Little Fox. Jacks never said her name."
Garber took the daring and thought ending. Evangeline and Jacks had to have had the sad ending they got. The foreshadowing and the title all implied what was going to happen. That they would have heartbreak. Both endings were devastating. I am heartbroken. Any happy ending would have been cheap. It would be a deus ex machina. Both endings were the tragedy of Evangeline's death or loss of her memories.
"The Fate was every tear that anyone had ever shed for lost love. He was pain given form."
There has to be a sequel. There's too many loose endings for there not to be:
-Evangeline's step-sister
-LaLa's curse and true love
-The Valors are alive! What are the implications of this?
-Will Evangeline recover her memories and be reunited with Jacks?
-What will happen the curse on Jacks?
And TBNA was perfection. 5.0.👌
TBNA is a fantastic read. It was filled with action, relationships. It fall into the pitfalls from what OUBH suffered. Evangeline's character felt more real and she took actions rather than events just happening to her. Evangeline also had character growth losing some of the delusional hopeless romantic and gullibility.
The setting and world building was improved.
Spoilers below~
There was so much I loved about it. The beginning wasn't slow (my biggest gripe with OUBH) and the pace maintained and was good.
The banter between Jacks and Evangeline. Period.
I love it when the adorable nickname is dropped for the first time: "It sounded like Jacks’s voice. But he’d said her name, not Little Fox. Jacks never said her name."
Garber took the daring and thought ending. Evangeline and Jacks had to have had the sad ending they got. The foreshadowing and the title all implied what was going to happen. That they would have heartbreak. Both endings were devastating. I am heartbroken. Any happy ending would have been cheap. It would be a deus ex machina. Both endings were the tragedy of Evangeline's death or loss of her memories.
"The Fate was every tear that anyone had ever shed for lost love. He was pain given form."
There has to be a sequel. There's too many loose endings for there not to be:
-Evangeline's step-sister
-LaLa's curse and true love
-The Valors are alive! What are the implications of this?
-Will Evangeline recover her memories and be reunited with Jacks?
-What will happen the curse on Jacks?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, and Murder
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