Once Upon a Broken Heart: Honest Review of Stephanie Garber's Series

Author: Stephanie Garber
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Tags: #FantasyRomance #MagicalWorld #PopularSaga
Spicy Level: 🌶️ (0/5)
Spoilers: Contains moderate spoilers

Introduction

Once Upon a Broken Heart is one of those books that seems to be everywhere. Since its release, Stephanie Garber’s work has been widely praised for its magical world and dark fairytale vibe. However, while there are appealing elements, I feel the story doesn’t fully live up to its potential, leaving too many loose ends. In this article, I’ll share my honest and straightforward opinion.

Synopsis

Evangeline Fox is a young woman who, after losing her parents, discovers that the love of her life, Luc, is engaged to someone else. Desperate, she turns to Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, an immortal figure with a dangerous reputation. Jacks agrees to help her, but at a price that will change her life forever: three kisses he can claim at any time.

As events unfold, Evangeline becomes entangled in a world filled with secrets, betrayals, and unexpected twists, where loyalties are uncertain, and the consequences of her choices are unpredictable.

What I Loved

The strongest aspect of the book is undoubtedly the world Stephanie Garber has created. It’s filled with magic, vibrant settings, and charming details that make each chapter visually captivating.

Jacks also deserves a special mention. His moral ambiguity and mysterious intentions add an interesting tension to the story.

Aspects to Consider (with Spoilers)

While there are positive elements, I feel the plot leaves too much unresolved, and some important subplots are not developed as they should be. Here are a few key points:

• Balance Between Ambiguity and Clarity

While it’s interesting to leave certain elements open to reader interpretation, sometimes the lack of explanation feels more like a narrative gap than an invitation to imagine. A clear example is Evangeline’s last scar and how Jacks never claims it. While it’s implicitly understood that their relationship is no longer transactional, a clearer confirmation would have been gratifying for readers.

• Jacks’ Connection to Apples

Throughout the book, there are numerous references to apples and their connection to Jacks. This element seemed important but isn’t clearly explained, leaving a mystery that feels unresolved rather than intriguing.

• The Romance Between Evangeline and Jacks

Although positioned as one of the book's pillars, their relationship lacks emotional depth. Their interactions, while intriguing, don’t build a connection that truly resonates. Significant moments that could have solidified their bond were missing.

• Underutilized Secondary Characters

• Luc: Knowing he escaped with two maids from a cursed inn would have been a fantastic detail to include in the text. These small mentions enrich the world without limiting the imagination.
• Marisol: It’s odd that she isn’t mentioned in the final book, considering her initial relevance.
• Aurora: A character who seems crucial at certain points ends up disappearing without proper closure. What happened to her? What was her real role in the ending? We never find out, leaving a sense of wasted potential.

• Jacks’ Mystery

The lack of information about Jacks’ backstory is a missed opportunity. His transformation into a Fate, his family, and how he became who he is could have added depth to the character. Although it’s mentioned that he became a Fate to accompany Castor, the explanation feels superficial given how important this is to his identity.

• The Anticlimactic Romantic Climax

The kiss between Jacks and Evangeline is a highly anticipated moment, but its execution feels rushed. Although their relationship was well-developed, the climactic moment lacked the emotion and preparation to do justice to all the previous tension.

• Too Many Loose Ends

• What really happened with Apollo and Aurora? The unresolved love triangle feels incomplete on all sides.
• Is Jacks still immortal? How does this affect his relationship with Evangeline?
• The Fortunas and Valors: There are hints at a larger story, but it’s never explored, leaving the reader with more questions than answers.

Final Verdict

Once Upon a Broken Heart offers a magical setting and a promising concept, but its execution leaves much to be desired. With too many loose ends, a romance that fails to take off, and subplots that feel disjointed, I don’t think it deserves all the hype it has received.

The saga features a rich narrative and a fascinating world but falls short in balancing ambiguity with the necessary explanations. As readers, we crave some clarity after investing so much time in the characters and their stories. Some decisions seem more strategic to leave room for future sagas than to provide a satisfying conclusion.

This might be a book for someone who values the magical atmosphere over the coherence of the story. However, if you’re looking for solid development and heartfelt relationships, you may find yourself a bit disappointed.

What Do You Think?

Have you read Once Upon a Broken Heart? What did you think about the twist of the curse and its resolution? Did you enjoy the relationship between Evangeline and Jacks? Let me know in the comments!