Review of ‘Once Upon a Broken Heart’ (Once Upon a Broken Heart #1) by Stephanie Garber. Discover the whimsical romantic fantasy that blends fairy-tale enchantment, a familiar yet fresh magical world, and just the right dash of heartbreak. ‘Once Upon a Broken Heart‘ by Stephanie Garber sweeps readers into a beautifully strange universe where love is a curse, bargains come with a price, and not everything is quite as it seems. If you adored the Caraval series or just crave a book that feels like stepping into a storybook with a touch of danger, this one’s worth diving into.
‘Once Upon a Broken Heart‘ by Stephanie Garber is pure fairy-tale vibes with just enough bite
Synopsis
How far would you go 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…
Review
Evangeline Fox has always believed in true love and fairy-tale endings. So when the boy she loves is set to marry someone else, she makes a desperate deal with the mysterious Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, all he wants are three kisses… but Evangeline quickly realizes that kissing an immortal comes with consequences. What starts as a simple bargain turns into something far more dangerous, where love might be the very thing that destroys her.
Stephanie Garber does it again with a dreamy, romantic fantasy full of magic, heartbreak, and just the right amount of danger. Once Upon a Broken Heart is the kind of book that wraps around you like a soft cloak on a snowy day. The world is whimsical and lush, full of fairy-tale touches that fans of Caraval will instantly recognize and love. It felt like coming home to something familiar but still full of surprises.
Let’s get right into it. Jacks completely stole the show. His charm, his unpredictability, that sharp mix of cruelty and vulnerability… I couldn’t get enough of him. He’s exactly the kind of morally gray character that makes stories like this so addictive. Evangelina, while sweet and full of heart, was a little too naive for me. She believes in love with her whole soul, which is endearing, but also made me want to gently shake her more than once. Still, I can see her potential and I’m hopeful for her growth in the rest of the series.
The romance? Good. It’s in its early stages here, but the tension is simmering and the foundation is being laid for something really satisfying. It’s soft, dangerous, and a little tragic in that way that makes you root for it even harder. I’m genuinely excited to see how it develops in the next books.
Character-wise, Lala stood out with her playful, mysterious energy, but most of the others didn’t leave a huge impression. They worked well within the story, but I wouldn’t say I’m attached to them yet. I was definitely reading more for the vibes and the slow-burn chaos between Evangeline and Jacks.
The plot doesn’t throw a ton of shocking twists your way, but that’s okay. This is a book you read for the atmosphere and the potential. It’s a fairytale with teeth, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
Final thoughts? Once Upon a Broken Heart is a romantic, whimsical escape full of snowy castles, cursed bargains, and a love story just beginning to bloom. It’s not a wild thrill ride, but it is a beautifully told tale with characters who linger long after the final page. I’m definitely sticking around for the rest of this series, if only to see what Jacks does next.
Rating
8/10
Details
- Trigger warnings: Blood and injury, manipulation, grief and loss, emotional trauma, curses and magic-induced pain
- Representation: The book features a predominantly white, heteronormative cast with limited on-page diversity. It focuses more on fairy-tale archetypes and emotional themes like love, betrayal, and sacrifice than on representation of marginalized identities. Luc is described as having brown skin, which adds a touch of ethnic diversity.
- Genre: Fantasy (young adult)
- Pages: 432
- Publication date: September 28, 2021
- Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
- 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.
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