Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber

17 reviews

noellegrace8's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Stalking, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and War

zoeelora's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

ameydireads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

“Love would always win as long as they never stopped fighting for it.” 

 

Evangeline had been naive enough to think that Jacks really wanted to help her, but she discovers that Jacks is manipulating whoever he needs to in order to finally open the Valory arch. But she goes from trusting Jacks to not trusting Jacks and oscillates between the two states often. Very frustrating! Apollo is alive in a suspended state and someone placed another curse on them! Curses upon curses. What I didn’t understand is how

nobody sees Apollo when he’s riding around looking for Evangeline. You would think that a prince is very recognisable, right? They are also stealing these Valory arch stones from the Great Houses. How do they not know these stones are missing? They are described as being important and well-guarded by the Great Houses. And one of the stones is with the girl who is said to be the first key. I really wondered if she also had some kind of powers like Evangeline. But we don’t get much information about her, only that she faked her death so that she can keep that one particular stone.

Also, I wished to see Marisol in this book, but her story does not continue. It’s like these characters are tossed out as soon as their purpose has been fulfilled. 

 

And oh my god, the ending…

I always thought Apollo was vain but I never expected him be the villain in this story. I even felt sorry for him because it seemed like Evangeline was cheating on him when she realises she has feelings for Jacks. How can he take Evangeline’s memories!! But I really liked Jacks at the ending when he decided to save Evangeline instead of going back to fix things with Donatella. He finally realises where to find his true love.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Stalking

tays_books's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content, Stalking, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Infidelity and Abandonment

tarnaflake's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting

Minor: Stalking

britwalsh16's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Torture, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

busra425's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Stalking

abicaro17's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Evangeline and Jacks return as wary enemies in this sequel. Even with Evangeline being determined to solve her own issues, it seems that Jacks have other plans. As the twists and revelations unfold, one gets caught up in the twisted love story once again. Garber does a tremendous job of repeatedly warning both the reader and Evangeline not to trust people and placating those fears at the same time. Every twist manages to be a surprise and a knife to the gut. Can't wait for the third book! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

maresuju's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Self harm, Blood, Grief, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Torture and Abandonment