Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber

19 reviews

tabea1409's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25


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noellegrace8's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was a fantastic read and fantastic sequel. 

I will say, the end absolutely stressed me out and makes me worry that book 3 will not be as good because the last chapter of this one introduces some tropes that I don't love. My problems were that, I guess we're not really shown much what Apollo's true self is like up to this point, but having him do what he does to Evangeline is awful, and we're given no context as to how he has power to take memories? Aside from that and a few moments when all the ancient side stories were a bit hard to follow, this installment does not disappoint. There were multiple times that I audibly gasped or exclaimed while reading, both during plot twists and momentary Jacks x Evangeline moments. It is freshly surprising and worth every bit of your time. I'm not even sure how to give it the praise it deserves.

I give Rebecca Soler's performance 4.5/5⭐️. See book one's review for explanation.

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ashleybw21's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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boba_nbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

Spice Rating: 🫑 / 5 🌶️

I *almost* never write a review directly after finishing a book, but with The Ballad of Never After, I just have to get my thoughts out NOW.

After being betrayed by Jacks, Evangeline finds that her trust in him is broken yet again. But in order to rid herself of yet another curse, she finds it necessary to work with Jacks. Again. Evangeline wants to despise him after all of Jacks's betrayals, but something inside is telling her that Jacks might be the only person she can trust after all.

Jacks's and Evangeline's love story has been cursed from the start, but that doesn't keep Evangeline, and readers, from hoping their story has a different ending. Even though I knew the entire time that Jacks had already found his one true love in Donatella (yet again so glad I read the Caraval trilogy first), I found myself hoping along with Evangeline that there might be some back door to the curse of Jacks's deadly kisses. 

The ending fake-out was CRUEL, Stephanie!! (I think we're on a first-name basis after that cliffhanger.) I loved seeing the differences between the two times the arch was opened. The line, "There is nothing of equal value to me," has ruined me. Jacks never truly loved Donatella, and that is seen in the selfishness behind his actions in the Caraval series. But no one can say Jacks doesn't love Evangeline--this is a selfless act if I've ever seen one.


Anyone reading this novel should have the next one, A Curse for True Love, at the ready because that cliffhanger is BRUTAL.

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snowiceblackfruit77's review against another edition

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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? 


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klsreads's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5


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savvyrosereads's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Rating: 5/5 stars

The second book in the ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART trilogy, continuing the story of Evangeline Fox and Jacks the Prince of Hearts.

I LOVED this book. I read the majority in a single day and had the best time. Jacks is EVERYTHING I want in a morally grey YA fantasy hero (villain?) and there were lines in here so good I literally stopped breathing for a second when I read them (“There is nothing of equal value to me.”)

I can’t say too much more without spoilers, but I cannot WAIT to read book three. Highly recommend this trilogy!

CW: Violence/blood/injury; mentions of torture

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anni_swanilda's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

3.75


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zoeelora's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


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britwalsh16's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.75

It was such a good book! Couple things I called, and somethings I was so wrong about! But even then, all the twists at the end, I did not see any of them coming! I probably should have, but damn, they just kept shocking me! And that damn cliffhanger! Where’s book 3 already?! Gahh!!! I need to continue this story already!!!

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