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A review by doodlebeanz
The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I was SO hyped to finally get my hands on this book, and it didn't disappoint... a lot. I read OUABH as my first read of 2024, so I found it fitting to read TBONA as my first read of 2025 bc I am cheesy. I am happy that I read it, it was sweet and fun and magical and very fairytale-esque, but it did let me down in terms of writing. I felt the writing was VERY repetitive and juvenile, and since it has been a year since I read OUABH, maybe that is something I overlooked before or maybe the writing was different in this one, I'm not sure, but it was VERY repetitive.
If I had to read about how Evangeline wanted to trust Jacks but just couldn't one more time, I would've thrown the book out the window. There is nothing I hate more in life, reading and my own personal life, than a wishy-washy, will they won't they moment. I know it adds to the angst of the story, and again it has been a year since I've read the 1st one, but in this book specifically, Evangeline was just ANNOYIING. her inner dialogue/inner thoughts were so immature and young and just... not realistic. I get that she is a bit naive, and I love her for it, but I felt in this one she was especially naive and purposefully turning her head away from the huge red flags that were in front of her.
I also thought the entire search for the valor arch stones was over and done so fast? like I know it's not a trials and tribulations story, I know, but I thought there would be some level of difficulty in them finding the stones? but day one, Eva was finding the truth stone... then she found the youth stone... and then she magically stumbled across the mirth stone. Chaos already had the luck stone. it all seemed too easy? idk I don't know what I expected. I guess I would've wanted more of that aspect to be written about instead of Evangeline and Jacks doing... whatever they were doing.
I did REALLY love the whole Merrywood thing. I hope we get more insight into that in the next book. I loved the whole Robin Hood feel, along with The Hollow. it all felt sooooo fairy-tale like and I just loveeeed it. The book was quite slow for the first 200 pages, and I was worried I was going to dislike it entirely, but then once the Merrywood 3 got brought into the story, tying in with the Archer and the Fox story, I was hooked.
The ending got me. It wasn't like jaw dropping by any means, but omfg I was wide eyed and as soon as I closed the book I said '...well that's not good. at all.' lmao.I never fully trusted Apollo, I never fully understood what was going on there, but for him to just steal her memories?!!! And was it even Apollo who did it? I found it interesting that the man who claimed to be Evangeline's husband wasn't described in a way for the reader to know who it was... I understand its bc she doesn't recognize him herself and the story is from her POV (plus cliffhanger, I know) but its killing me to think that it may be Castor/Chaos and not Apollo and that the Valors are actually evil ppl and are planning to do some horrific shit now that Evangeline doesn't even remember that she's a key and an important part of the story/legend.
I've heard mixed reviews on the 3rd book, and I am a bit anxious going into it, but I refuse to read any negative review until I finish it. I accidentally read a 'meh' review of OUABH in order to familiarize myself once again with the story, and I will NOT be doing that with this one (its not necessary bc I just finished it 12 hrs ago but you know what I mean). I am going into this book w zero hopes and expectations and I am sad for this series to end but I am also desperate to know how Jacks' and Eva's story ends and I hope they end up together bc it makes so much sense <33
If I had to read about how Evangeline wanted to trust Jacks but just couldn't one more time, I would've thrown the book out the window. There is nothing I hate more in life, reading and my own personal life, than a wishy-washy, will they won't they moment. I know it adds to the angst of the story, and again it has been a year since I've read the 1st one, but in this book specifically, Evangeline was just ANNOYIING. her inner dialogue/inner thoughts were so immature and young and just... not realistic. I get that she is a bit naive, and I love her for it, but I felt in this one she was especially naive and purposefully turning her head away from the huge red flags that were in front of her.
I also thought the entire search for the valor arch stones was over and done so fast? like I know it's not a trials and tribulations story, I know, but I thought there would be some level of difficulty in them finding the stones? but day one, Eva was finding the truth stone... then she found the youth stone... and then she magically stumbled across the mirth stone. Chaos already had the luck stone. it all seemed too easy? idk I don't know what I expected. I guess I would've wanted more of that aspect to be written about instead of Evangeline and Jacks doing... whatever they were doing.
I did REALLY love the whole Merrywood thing. I hope we get more insight into that in the next book. I loved the whole Robin Hood feel, along with The Hollow. it all felt sooooo fairy-tale like and I just loveeeed it. The book was quite slow for the first 200 pages, and I was worried I was going to dislike it entirely, but then once the Merrywood 3 got brought into the story, tying in with the Archer and the Fox story, I was hooked.
The ending got me. It wasn't like jaw dropping by any means, but omfg I was wide eyed and as soon as I closed the book I said '...well that's not good. at all.' lmao.
I've heard mixed reviews on the 3rd book, and I am a bit anxious going into it, but I refuse to read any negative review until I finish it. I accidentally read a 'meh' review of OUABH in order to familiarize myself once again with the story, and I will NOT be doing that with this one (its not necessary bc I just finished it 12 hrs ago but you know what I mean). I am going into this book w zero hopes and expectations and I am sad for this series to end but I am also desperate to know how Jacks' and Eva's story ends and I hope they end up together bc it makes so much sense <33