The Ballad of Never After

August 1, 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

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August 15, 2022
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)

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September 23, 2022
Grades 9-12 "If you are tempted to trust him again, remember all that he's done." So begins a letter from lead character Evangeline--one she wrote herself. Previously used as a tool and plaything for Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, one of the capricious Fates introduced in Once upon a Broken Heart (2021), she knows she has a weakness for him and his magical ways. Between her cursed husband, Apollo, and her first love, Luc--now a bloodthirsty vampire--Eva can hardly keep track of the odds stacked against her. She's been determined never to trust Jacks again, but it's starting to seem like she has no other choice--and Jacks certainly doesn't seem willing to give her one.Garber has created a lush fairy-tale world and each book in this series expands the lands and the Fates who torment them. While Evangeline remains the main character, it's a delight to continue to see how she relates to everyone around her, from Fates like Jacks and LaLa, to her husband Apollo, and her (actually wicked) stepsister Marisol.

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