Scan barcode
A review by lovelymisanthrope
The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Second reread (October 2023): 5 Stars*
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I went out the morning of its release, purchased a copy, and proceeded to come home and read the entire book in one sitting. I love Stephanie Garber and I LOVE this series (possibly more than I enjoyed Caraval).
This sequel picks up right at the end of where "Once Upon a Broken Heart" ended. Jacks has betrayed Evangeline, and Evangeline has vowed to never trust him again. But to her dismay, Evangeline needs Jacks to help break the curse on her husband, Apollo. Forced to work together, Evangeline and Jacks set off to find the stones needed to unlock a very mysterious gate that is rumored to hold the secrets needed to bring Apollo back.
I believe this is Stephanie Garber's best book yet. The descriptions for the world are so vivid and immersive, and the magic with the fates is so enchanting. I loved every second I spent reading this book, and I have never been so lost in a book world before. I particularly loved seeing a softer side of Jacks. Jacks is a good guy deep down, but through circumstance he needs to play the villain to get Evangeline to play her part. I am normally not a fan of enemies to lovers, but boy am I rooting for Evangeline and Jacks to be together. Jacks is always there for Evangeline but he never pushes her to believe in him more than what she sees. I really love Evangeline as a character, because she still remains soft where she needs to, and she never lets the absolute anarchy change her good heart.
As with every other review of this book: THAT ENDING! I screamed, I cried, and I am contemplating writing my own fanfiction for this book, because that CANNOT be the end. I am rarely so distraught over an ending in a book, and I need Evangeline and Jacks to have their redemption arch. BOOK THREE NEEDS TO BE OUT NOW!
You better believe I will read the next book the day it comes out!
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I went out the morning of its release, purchased a copy, and proceeded to come home and read the entire book in one sitting. I love Stephanie Garber and I LOVE this series (possibly more than I enjoyed Caraval).
This sequel picks up right at the end of where "Once Upon a Broken Heart" ended. Jacks has betrayed Evangeline, and Evangeline has vowed to never trust him again. But to her dismay, Evangeline needs Jacks to help break the curse on her husband, Apollo. Forced to work together, Evangeline and Jacks set off to find the stones needed to unlock a very mysterious gate that is rumored to hold the secrets needed to bring Apollo back.
I believe this is Stephanie Garber's best book yet. The descriptions for the world are so vivid and immersive, and the magic with the fates is so enchanting. I loved every second I spent reading this book, and I have never been so lost in a book world before. I particularly loved seeing a softer side of Jacks. Jacks is a good guy deep down, but through circumstance he needs to play the villain to get Evangeline to play her part. I am normally not a fan of enemies to lovers, but boy am I rooting for Evangeline and Jacks to be together. Jacks is always there for Evangeline but he never pushes her to believe in him more than what she sees. I really love Evangeline as a character, because she still remains soft where she needs to, and she never lets the absolute anarchy change her good heart.
As with every other review of this book: THAT ENDING! I screamed, I cried, and I am contemplating writing my own fanfiction for this book, because that CANNOT be the end. I am rarely so distraught over an ending in a book, and I need Evangeline and Jacks to have their redemption arch. BOOK THREE NEEDS TO BE OUT NOW!
You better believe I will read the next book the day it comes out!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death of parent