Once Upon a Broken Heart Series 3 Book Collection Set

Once Upon a Broken Heart #1-3

by Stephanie Garber

Set Once Upon a Broken Heart, The Ballad of Never After, A Curse for True Love . ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART marks the launch of a new series from Stephanie Garber about love, curses, and the lengths that people will go to for happily ever after For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings . . . until she learns that the love of her life will marry another. Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic, but wicked, Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing. But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game ― and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy Romance, Fiction, Retellings

1200 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2023

About the author

Stephanie Garber is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart series. Her books have been translated into more than thirty languages. Alchemy of Secrets is her debut novel for adults and will be published around the world.

Reviews

[♡karabear♡ (semi-hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once Upon A Broken Heart Full Series Review!!

4.7 🌟's in total!!


Once Upon A Broken Heart: 5 🌟’s

Such a good intro to the series the characters chemistry was there right off the bat and it was so good!! I loved all the characters mainly in this one and yes unfortunately i fell for apollo’s tricks 😬 but we don't talk about that lol!  i definitely had a good laugh with this one tho 💗


The Ballad of Never After: 5 🌟’s

The best one of the whole series and one of my top favorite books! Now i definitely know the chemistry was off the charts in this one and jacks was definitely playing to the overprotective sexy boyfriend 😋 in this one and i was literally giggling and kicking my feet the whole time!! 🤭💜



A Curse for True Love: 4 🌟’s

This one was good but its not a 5 star one bc i didnt like how some of the characters storylines were written and it kinda of took away from the book a little bit but evajacks never failed to deliver and the two of them definitely got the much deserved ending they needed! ❤



Would I do a reread? Most definitely!! This series is definitely food for the soul. 🤌 All the tropes and banters were just so good!! I could never tire of reading about evajacks! Definitely a 10 outta 10 recommend!!!!! 💕💕💕

[Xiango Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best triology in the world.. MUST READ!!!

[Sonam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the second book so much but book 3 did not satisfy me unfortunately. Too many loose ends and not enough E and J. It felt a bit rushed to me.

[cierra ♡ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75⭐️ my Roman Empire series

[Chertzo Ember [s: ia (exams)] · Rating 5 out of 5]

✉⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨୧˚𝕺𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝖀𝖕𝖔𝖓 𝖆 𝕭𝖗𝖔𝖐𝖊𝖓 𝕳𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖙 𝕾𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖘 𝕽𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖊𝖜
Alright, buckle up, folks! We're diving into the whimsical, chaotic, and oh-so-magical world of the "Once Upon a Broken Heart" series. Spoiler alert: it's a 4.5-star wild ride!
Read: 2024

𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖐 1: 𝕺𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝖀𝖕𝖔𝖓 𝖆 𝕭𝖗𝖔𝖐𝖊𝖓 𝕳𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖙
First off, this book? A total vibe. Imagine stepping into a fairytale where nothing is as it seems, and everything is drenched in mystery and enchantment. Our girl Evangeline Fox is desperate, heartbroken, and ready to make some pretty wild choices (hello, deal with a Fate?). Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, is just the right mix of charming and dangerous. The twists? Chef's kiss. It's like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded – you never see what's coming, but it's hella fun.

𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖐 2: 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖆𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖉 𝖔𝖋 𝕹𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝕬𝖋𝖙𝖊𝖗
And then comes the sequel, hitting you with all the feels. The stakes are higher, the magic darker, and the romance? Sizzling. Evangeline and Jacks' dynamic is pure fire – enemies-to-lovers energy that's off the charts. The world-building here is top-tier. Each new revelation had me gasping, and the emotional rollercoaster? Legit had my heart doing somersaults. Also, the side characters? Absolute gems.

𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖐 3: 𝕬 𝕮𝖚𝖗𝖘𝖊 𝕱𝖔𝖗 𝕿𝖗𝖚𝖊 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊
By the time we hit the grand finale, I'm fully invested. This book ties everything together in the most epic way. The plot twists had me screaming internally (and sometimes externally, let's be real). The character growth? Phenomenal. Evangeline is a total badass, and Jacks? Let’s just say the man knows how to keep things interesting. The ending is bittersweet, leaving you both satisfied and craving more – the perfect end to a magical journey.

𝕺𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖁𝖎𝖇𝖊𝖘
This series is like a dark, twisted fairytale with a sprinkle of romance and a dash of heartbreak. It's perfect for those who love a good enemies-to-lovers arc and can appreciate a story where magic isn't just sparkles and sunshine – it's got bite. The writing is lush, the characters are complex, and the plot will keep you hooked from start to finish.

If you're into books that transport you into a world of wonder and leave you slightly dazed and thoroughly entertained, this series is your jam. 4.5 stars all around because it’s a near-perfect blend of fantasy, romance, and sheer awesomeness. Go grab it, dive in, and prepare to be enchanted!
꒰ 🥥 ꒱ؘ ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

[Evangeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a wonderful way to end their story! although if i’m being honest, I feel like there were filler chapters in the middle but overall happy with how the ending went and the cover was stunning!! (purchased the hardcover b&n exclusive)

[abii · Rating 4 out of 5]

jacks my beloved READ now

[B.D · Rating 5 out of 5]

A five star series for sure! I love Jacks and Evangeline so much and will have to reread these books sometime soon.

[Keerthana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this series is good.

I found Evangeline to be annoying at times but jacks as a character was very fascinating.

The villains was good but the ending plot felt a little rushed (in terms of the villains introduction into the plot and their progression as a character)

The world was really interesting to read.

It's a series worth reading.

[Sarah]

chat this is the wrong book pls ignore this

[Mariana Machado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terminei a trilogia super rápido. Vale o entretenimento mas esperava mais do final.

[Rachel Hehl ♥︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*taps microphone*
Is this thing on?
Okay, good.
*I PTERODACTYL SCREECH INTO THE MIC, BURSTING ALL YOUR EARDRUMS AND CAUSING IMMENSE PAIN*

I had to get on my computer to write this review because there was no way I could be mentally deranged enough to type all of this out on my phone and format it, too. I HAD TO BOOT UP MY LAPTOP FOR THIS AND WAIT APPROXIMATELY ONE BILLION YEARS FOR IT TO DOWNLOAD ALL THE UPDATES. And I did it for this book series, because it deserves it.

This, right here, is the best enemies to lovers series I've read since The Cruel Prince. I genuinely thought no one could do it better than Cardan and Jude, but Eva and Jacks have come damn close. These books are like if Jude was 50% more idiotic and Cardan was 50% more evil. It shouldn't work, but somehow it DOES.

From the first moment I picked up Once Upon A Broken Heart, I was questioning things. First of all, the main female character has pink hair. Pink. The premise seemed incredibly obvious - she makes a deal with the Prince of Hearts, who conveniently happens to be otherworldly gorgeous but also mercurially evil, with a kiss that is deadly to all but his true love. Whomst could that be, I wonder? I hear you sighing. BUT DON'T FALL INTO THE TRAP! These books are actually insanely good, and my mind ended up blown by the time I finished the first book. And then The Ballad of Never-After was somehow ten times better?! I think if these books were by any other author, they would have been as trite as I've made them sound in that little summary above. But Stephanie Garber infuses SO much magic and fairytale-esque whimsicality into The Magnificent North that somehow it. just. works.

Evangeline, who in other books would be annoying af for how many ridiculous near-death situations she gets herself into and her relentless, gullible optimism and hope for a happily-ever-after, is somehow endearing in this Disney princess setting. Jacks, who could so easily have been the tropiest character on earth, a cruel prince whose kisses are deadly and who enjoys toying with hearts, actually became the king of MY heart and is such a wonderfully fleshed out character (although I still need to know what the deal with the apples was). Some of the other characters are quite flat (Apollo, I'm looking at you, and don't even get me started on Marisol) but the enchanting fairytale quality of these books is so powerful that it really doesn't matter. It's so rare to find a book series that you genuinely want to step inside and be part of because it's THAT beautiful, but the Magnificent North and all its different locations are just brimming with creativity, rich colour and life. My particular favourite location is The Hollow (how could it be anywhere else after THAT scene) and I was excited to open each book and look at the maps for where we'd be journeying next (and I screamed at the picture of the inn with the One Bed).

Jacks and Evangeline have one of the most addictive push-pull dynamics I've ever read - the sniping and banter was off the charts, and I genuinely could never tell whether he was out for himself or desperately in love with her, until the end of the second book where it became all too obvious - but then we were hit with that MONSTROSITY OF A CLIFFHANGER. It's been too long since a line from a book character had me rolling around in paroxysms of delight, but it happened so much with Jacks that I can't even count all the moments on two hands. I'm going to be self-indulgent and place some of my favourite quotes down below (they're mostly from him).

“If you think I'm jealous because someone else got to stab you, then you're right.”

~*~

“Stop flashing your fangs. I’m the only one who gets to bite her.”

~*~

"You're wasting your time, Little Fox." Jacks leaned against the doorway, clutching his side. "It's just a knife to the ribs."
"I suppose it's going to heal on its own?"
"Yours did."
"After you tended to them."
His mouth twitched up at the corner. "Only because I wanted to take off your clothes."
A vivid image of Jacks's hands on her skin flashed before her eyes.

~*~

“In the morning, you can forget it. You can go back to pretending you don't like me, and I can pretend that I don't care. But for tonight, let me pretend you're mine.”
She melted at the word mine. For a dizzying second, she couldn't think. She couldn't bring herself to pull away, and yet she couldn't tell him she would stay.
"If it's easier, you can pretend, too," he whispered. "You can pretend I'm still Jacks of the Hollow and that you want to be mine." His mouth pressed against her throat once more and slowly traced a blissful line up her neck, to her ear.

~*~

“That is not a small mistake to fix. If you do this, Time will take something equally valuable from you.”
The Fate gave the queen a look more vicious than any curse. “There is nothing of equal value to me.”

~
“Where were you?” she asked.
“I was killing innocent maidens and kicking puppies.”
“Jacks, that’s not funny.”

~*~

“Whatever it is, Jacks, you won't feel the same in a minute."
He swallowed hard and clenched his jaw. "You have no idea what I'm feeling now."
He looked at her lips, and the most tortured expression she'd ever seen crossed his face.
When Jacks wanted something, it was with an intensity that could break worlds and build kingdoms. That was the energy pouring off him now, as if he wanted to destroy her and make her his queen all at once.”

~*~

“You talk in your sleep,” he drawled. “You said my name—a lot.”
Evangeline felt a rush of heat crawl up her neck. “Obviously, I was
having a nightmare.”
“It didn’t look that way to me, Little Fox, and I was here all night.”

~*~

“You're good at this,' she murmured. 'Do you often travel with girls who've been flayed?'
That earned her a soft laugh. 'No.' Then quietly, as he ran a cloth along her lower back, just below the dip in her waist. 'Would you be jealous if I did?'

~*~

'So this is what you do when I'm not around?'
Evangeline felt the sudden urge to hide inside her wardrobe, but she tampered it down as she turned and met his gaze with a smile of her own. 'You think about what I do when you're not around?'
'Careful, Little Fox.' He took a step forward. 'You sound excited by the idea.'

~*~

She meant to say, For tonight, I'm yours, but all that came out was 'I'm yours.”

~*~

“Do you kiss the prince because you actually enjoy it?” Jacks asked. “Or is it because you honestly think it will magically revive him?”
“Maybe I do it because I know it will annoy you,” Evangeline answered archly.
Jacks flashed a smile that was far more wicked than welcoming. “Glad to know you’re thinking about me when you kiss your husband.”

~*~

“Was that really necessary?”
“No, but everyone should have their clothes ripped off at some point.”

~*~

“Can you at least try to smile?” she asked.
He flashed his teeth.
“That looks predatory.”

~*~

“And he loved her. He loved her. He loved her. He loved her. He loved her so much he’d rewritten history.”

~*~

“She was the moth and Jacks was still the flame.”

~*~

“This is a very bad idea,” Jacks murmured.
“I would have thought you liked bad ideas.”
“Only when they’re mine.”

~*~

“I didn't murder anyone last night.'
'You killed someone in front of me!'
'That wasn't murder. He was trying to kill you.”

~*~

“Yes, I am a murderer. I enjoy hurting people. I like blood. I like pain. I am a monster, but whether you remember it or not, I’m your monster, Evangeline."

~*~

“I’m not letting you leave. You said you were my monster. If you’re mine, why bring me here just to leave me? None of this makes sense."
He gritted his teeth. "Being yours does not make you mine."

~*~

“I already told you. You are the love of my life. You are mine, Jacks of the Hollow. And you’re not going to be the end of me.”

~*~

I could go on and on and cherrypick a thousand quotes from these books, but I'll stop for the sake of not maxing out the word count on this review. Suffice it to say that I adore this trilogy. I require ALL the special editions. I need ALL the merch. I need it tattooed on my heart with swords like Apollo in that hilarious scene in the first book. I LOVE THEM.

[danielaxbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

1000/100 guys this is one of the best serious i’ve ever read combined with caraval first too ofc because that was the rock before this series fr like it is SOOO worth reading caraval first then this. it is soooo worth it. this comes so close to being my favourite but powerless is still at the top. this is a clooooose second tho honestly such an amazing series 🩵

ranking✨:
1. A Curse For True Love
2. The Balland Of Never After
3. Once Upon A Broken Heart

definitely think this is an unpopular opinion of ranking lmao but this is based on how connected i felt how many emotions i felt and how much i enjoyed the books🌹✨

[Shannon Mabena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have NEVER had a female main character be so useless and annoying, ALSO you cannot convince me jacks liked her, I’ve seen enemies to lovers and this guy was a dick the wholeeee time. However he was also what made me power through the series which is why I give 2 stars but probably one of the most unhealthy romantasy couples I’ve read. Again Evangeline you are USELESS! STAND UP!

[Maia Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Legendary reread

[Shanice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just have one question, where did Luc, Tiberius and Marisole go?

[Arshia Satyarthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apollo is a RAGING PSYCHOPATH

[Vanessa Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m the kind of reader that likes angst, thumping hearts, and men that are not afraid of going after what they want…even if it’s eventually. I thought for sure that Jacks was the HEA, but did the author know? The story is complicated and at first I was digging it, but by the time we got to the 3rd book I wasn’t. I thought that the author should have been connecting the dots sooner and the last half of the book was a shit show. I have no idea why it needed to be so drawn out or why Jacks had to lose his heart. It was a complication that just didn’t need to be. I get that the author had to tell us how Jacks was cursed but it got to be too much, with Apollo and then the Valory’s. Just a side note on the Valory’s- WTF? It wouldn’t have hurt to have some of them benevolent. They did get rid of Apollo and that’s great but it just felt all wrong. They felt wrong. Okay back to the review.
Even when the bad guy gets the girls(love), it’s supposed to feel good, hot and like finally they give themselves over. But by the time Jacks and Evangeline finally kissed, it was more of a sparkling instead of a blazing inferno, which after all that time it should have been. At least in my option. Plus Jacks never steps up, he never fights for her. And I get that he’s been cursed and all but it just didn’t make me feel like a love story……which I guess it’s not. There is also no chapter where we get to see them together living their best life, and I really hate that.

[Aisha Calder · Rating 4 out of 5]

“They say his kiss was fatal to all but her, his only weakness.”

“Do not make bargains with more than one fate.”

The Once Upon a broken heart Trilogy is a SLOWburn and takes place mostly in the North, where stories seem real. This takes place after the Caraval Trilogy, I didn’t read the Caraval trilogy first. But our mmc first shows up in ‘Finale’ the last book in the Caraval Trilogy. So there are some character traits that can be found in there.

The story is about Evangeline (our fmc) who strikes a deal with a fate, Jacks. The prince of hearts. To safe her heart from being broken she asks him for help.

Evangeline is a strong, witty fmc who loves stories and Jacks is the complete opposite of her. He doesn’t believe in stories, he doesn’t want to believe in them. He uses Evangeline and she uses him. And it was SO worth it.

I don’t wanna give major spoilers, but the plot twists. The way it goes back to another whole series is insane. I wish I could forget I read this and reread it again. The whole series had me on my knees begging for more.
My soul was tripped out of me digested and spit out again multiple times. The heart pain I have felt during this is beyond comprehension. Stephanie Garber had me BAWLING for more.

If y’all still need a reason to read the trilogy here:
“you might not like me, but I bed you’d like it if I kissed you”

[Sonu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those series I read before I thought about writing reviews, so all thoughts are in retrospection:

I really wanted to like this. Like, REALLY wanted to like this. However Garber really didn't want me to.

Her writing pissed me off, too many plot holes, not enough character depth, cringe dialogue. I found myself not sure if I wanted to continue reading when going through the first book. The inclusion of Luc being a vampire... why? and why do I care? It was hard to really care about the characters in this series because I felt like I didn't know enough about them. This felt like a CW show.

Nevertheless, the plot premises is interesting and had potential to be very interesting if handled better. I was also capable of reading the entire series, so that's why it gets 3 stars vs. 2.

Maybe this is biased as I'm used to reading strong FMC, but Evangeline was annoyingly written. I felt like I could've liked her better if I she was more complex. Same with Jacks, but they both were the most intricate characters in this series so relatively it was okay.

This series was just okay. It felt like a series I'd pick up to quench a reading slump or soothe my mind after reading a better, more complex and heart-wrenching series.

Also I'm never taking reading rec's from BookTok again.

[Courtney Paradise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this trilogy — I found it got better with each book. By the third book I literally couldn’t put it down.

it’s full of whimsical fantasy, magical curses, Fate-driven twists, and a touch of fairytale romance. The worldbuilding is rich and imaginative, and I found myself completely drawn in by the characters and the emotion behind their journeys.

That said, I was left with a few lingering questions by the end. Some magical elements were introduced with a lot of significance, but didn’t get fully explained or resolved. It didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment, but I would have appreciated a bit more clarity on certain plot threads.

If you haven’t already read the Caraval series, I definitely recommend it. It adds extra depth to the world and a few characters in this trilogy. However, it’s not essential — you can read Once Upon a Broken Heart without having read Caraval first, or even go back to Caraval afterward and still enjoy both.

Overall, a beautifully written and emotionally satisfying fantasy series — perfect for fans of magical love stories and morally complex characters.

[franzi ۶ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loveeeeeeed this series soo much!
Truly my favorite books atm
I don’t think I will ever get over this series..
made me feel emotions I didn’t even know I had (at least never felt them that deeply ifykyk) and soo beautifully written! I personally think that this series/story teaches us that we should always follow our heart and do the things we love no matter what 🤭 Really made me feel more creative, confident and happy I can’t even explain but this book series changed me 😔 If you every just thought about the fact to read it, READ IT ASAP!! It was sooo much more than I thought it would be and I wish I could read it for the first time ever again
Some songs that remind me of eva & jacks‘s relationship are Mind Games and Infected by Sicksick and Renegade even kind of
It also really reminded me at first of Ever after high (first book) I don’t know if it’s just me tho
Overall manyyy references of things I love so this was perfect for me reallyyyyyyy recommend!
ALSO YEARNING AND SLOW BURN!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend reading all three books in the series together because the world is rich with characters and dark fairy tale elements. Waiting months between books would have made it hard to recall connections and would have lost the story’s momentum.

I was completely consumed by Evangeline, Jacks, and Apollo. While it might not be a popular opinion, I found myself torn between Jacks and Apollo. It wasn’t until the last few chapters that I fully committed to Jacks. Perhaps it’s the mother in me craving protection and stability. The ongoing lust aspect felt repetitive; I wished for more depth in their relationship beyond just physical attraction.

For a fantasy novel, it was refreshing how easily the world was built and how the magical elements unfolded. Unlike some books that require deep analysis to understand the characters and plot, this one drew me in effortlessly.

[Lacey Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this. I had a hard time putting it down because I wanted to know what happened however I felt there were a lot of things left to interpret rather than made clear. I also felt the ending were kind of rushed and could have had more to them. I think this story had a lot of potential and it was just missing something to really make it amazing but I’m not sure what lol. Butttt as a whole I did really enjoy reading it and I really liked the world it was in and I loved jacks and Evangeline together :)

[Kelsey Nuttall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is an interesting read over all, with twists and turns throughout. However, I found the ending to be lacking. The series is filled with fantastical events, makings for a fairytale. But one of the biggest obstacles that the main characters face gets resolved with no explanation on how or why. And a random detail that is thrown around in all the books, drawing the readers attention to this detail, also never gets explained. The storyline was decent and easy enough to follow, but it needed better resolutions. Over all, I enjoyed reading this series, but wouldn’t read it again.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 1 was ok (3 stars) and I wanted to read more in support of E+J enemies to lovers. Book 2 was surprisingly good, very nice (4 stars) book 3 just didn't have to exist (2 stars) :( Would have been a great duology.

Not a very good slowburn if the ending is not satisfying, full of loop holes and unfinished business. I really wanred to speed read all the memory loss to get back to the original story.

Frustration started early on, as to me Donatella was the first "convenient" piece of story that was used twice and discarded and unfinished like trash. I just cannot stand writing like that.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG GURL YOUR SOOOO STUPID except she isn't but I don't do spoilers sooo but that was the most heart breaking plot twisted yelling at it book I've ever read this was me reading it:
OMG NO WAY
(Slams book) you better not say what I just read when I open you again MKAY???
YAY
NOOOOOOO
god I hate this author
ONG j love this author
Awww
KISS KISS KISS
fine be that way
But yea 10/10 completely recommend 🤣🤣🤣

[angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

honestly ruined me. i cried so hard at some parts, i literally started choking and sniveling like crazy. although it's not a 5-star for me, i just didn't like some parts of the book but i can't write in because spoilers :P i really loved the fantasy and all the fairytale, story building elements. i loved all the manipulation happening all around! nothing like some good political and familial manipulation in a fantasy world.

[Camila Negrete · Rating 5 out of 5]

its the most amazing Saga Ive ever read in my entire life the way its written is Majestic, the way Jacks and Evangeline's relationship grows in each book its just so good it makes you cry, I love how when Eva loses her memories Jacks keeps trying to get her to remember him and all that they went through in The Ballad of Never After. I love this saga and if youre looking for a slow-burn fantasy romance books this is perfect for you

[Scarlet Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is fairy tales with teeth. Whimsical and dangerous, Evangeline’s hope meets Jacks’ heartbreak, and it’s magic. Expect betrayals, curses, and slow-burning tension wrapped in stardust and sorrow.

The third book- Everything you thought you knew? Forget it. This finale is raw, romantic, and utterly shattering. Truths are revealed, hearts are tested, and happily ever after doesn’t come without a cost.