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A review by romantasyandtea
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
5.0
This. Book.
I have so much to say, so I'm just going to get right into it. This review, as per my 2022 books, will be non-spoiler.
Oh my gosh, I don't think I had a single rating in mind for most of my read. Only when I got to the last third of the book did I realize it would be five stars, and that's because I was so consumed with the mystery and love stories that were going on. SO MUCH HAPPENS in the first few chapters alone. Considering that Caraval had taken a while to get to the blurb, I'm so glad this story just jumped straight into things. Also considering that in Caraval, every tiny thing had relevance, I took note of EVERYTHING. Everything that you wouldn't think matters comes into play later, and it's so cleverly done. I was waiting for that OHHH! moment I had in Caraval where all the pieces come together, and by George, I got it.
About Evangeline. Admittedly, at the beginning, while I didn't dislike her, I did feel like her "hopeful happily ever after" outlook on things and kindness felt a little phony considering some of her doubts and actions. But midway through, she makes some decisions that really have me warming up to her, and then by the end I absolutely loved her. I also loved her whole aesthetic. To just imagine her with that pink hair and those pinkish gold outfits all the time - I want to model my look after her, it was so beautiful. AND such a fun contrast to the love interest.
I absolutely loved the Prince of Hearts. He is the perfect brooding, cunning, morally-gray man, and I usually dislike the blonde male MC, but wow, does the gold just WORK for him.
I loved the romance, I loved the build up of it. I think Evangeline and her story are interesting enough that you don't need the romance to happen right away, and I was fine taking the romance as it came, however slowly it came, because when it did, it was INTENSE.
One nitpick I do have is the constant way Evangeline thought things through. It's the same problem I had with Caraval, and it's not a spoiler, just a minor complaint about the writing style. There's SO MUCH "but what if THIS happens, and what if THAT happens, and what if THIS MEANS THIS, and what if THAT MEANS THAT, etc." So much internal monologue that was just going over a million possibilities.
This book was definitely a build up to a sequel, but at the same time it's its own thing. It does such a good job of building up Evangeline and her character, her development, the way her hopes and reasoning changes. You see her changing, and it feels earned. I wanted to see her journey, and I'm glad I did because it was very interesting.
I couldn't believe that ending, it's just like Stephanie to keep shocking us even till the last page. I absolutely loved this book, I CANNOT WAIT for the sequel (which I just now looked up and saw that it will be released THIS YEAR!), and despite it all, I'll be holding out hope for a truly happily ever after.
I have so much to say, so I'm just going to get right into it. This review, as per my 2022 books, will be non-spoiler.
Oh my gosh, I don't think I had a single rating in mind for most of my read. Only when I got to the last third of the book did I realize it would be five stars, and that's because I was so consumed with the mystery and love stories that were going on. SO MUCH HAPPENS in the first few chapters alone. Considering that Caraval had taken a while to get to the blurb, I'm so glad this story just jumped straight into things. Also considering that in Caraval, every tiny thing had relevance, I took note of EVERYTHING. Everything that you wouldn't think matters comes into play later, and it's so cleverly done. I was waiting for that OHHH! moment I had in Caraval where all the pieces come together, and by George, I got it.
About Evangeline. Admittedly, at the beginning, while I didn't dislike her, I did feel like her "hopeful happily ever after" outlook on things and kindness felt a little phony considering some of her doubts and actions. But midway through, she makes some decisions that really have me warming up to her, and then by the end I absolutely loved her. I also loved her whole aesthetic. To just imagine her with that pink hair and those pinkish gold outfits all the time - I want to model my look after her, it was so beautiful. AND such a fun contrast to the love interest.
I absolutely loved the Prince of Hearts. He is the perfect brooding, cunning, morally-gray man, and I usually dislike the blonde male MC, but wow, does the gold just WORK for him.
I loved the romance, I loved the build up of it. I think Evangeline and her story are interesting enough that you don't need the romance to happen right away, and I was fine taking the romance as it came, however slowly it came, because when it did, it was INTENSE.
One nitpick I do have is the constant way Evangeline thought things through. It's the same problem I had with Caraval, and it's not a spoiler, just a minor complaint about the writing style. There's SO MUCH "but what if THIS happens, and what if THAT happens, and what if THIS MEANS THIS, and what if THAT MEANS THAT, etc." So much internal monologue that was just going over a million possibilities.
This book was definitely a build up to a sequel, but at the same time it's its own thing. It does such a good job of building up Evangeline and her character, her development, the way her hopes and reasoning changes. You see her changing, and it feels earned. I wanted to see her journey, and I'm glad I did because it was very interesting.
I couldn't believe that ending, it's just like Stephanie to keep shocking us even till the last page. I absolutely loved this book, I CANNOT WAIT for the sequel (which I just now looked up and saw that it will be released THIS YEAR!), and despite it all, I'll be holding out hope for a truly happily ever after.