By Mattie Lugar
Come one, come all, from the author that brought you the “Caraval” series comes a dazzling trilogy about love, heartbreak and adventure. Enter the land of The Magnificent North, where things are not as they seem. “Once Upon a Broken Heart” by Stephanie Garber is easily one of my top five books of all time with a gorgeous setting, a swoon-worthy romance and a magical atmosphere. It leaves you feeling like you are walking through a fairytale.
Now I am a sucker for a good fairytale or even a fairytale retelling, so any book that promises to be just as magical will always be a hit for me. Throughout all three books, Garber adds to the established but elusive world seen in Caraval. While the Meridian Empire is full of bustling ports and is ruled by the characters of the previous series, The Magnificent North is a land of magic and mystery, governed by an ancient and mythological family.
Our story follows Evangeline Fox, a girl who always believed in true love and happy endings. With a peculiar ability, she can open any door simply by asking politely. When she learns that the boy she loves is set on marrying her stepsister, she makes a deal with Jacks, a cruel Fate and the Prince of Hearts. His bargain demands that she give out three kisses at any time of his choosing, and Evangeline soon learns that playing games with an immortal is extremely dangerous.
Jacks is the well-known Prince of Hearts and leaves a trail of dead bodies in his wake. With a kiss that will send most girls to an early grave, he’s desperate to find the one girl who his kiss won’t kill. He has secret plans for Evangeline, which could either end in her happily ever after or her demise.
On a mission sending her to The Magnificent North to attend Nocte Neverending on behalf of the Meridian Empire, Evangeline finds herself cashing in on her first promised kiss to none other than Prince Apollo Acadian. After their first kiss, Apollo finds himself obsessed with Evangeline and asks to marry her on the second night of Nocte Neverending, the event where the Crown Prince must choose a bride to fully ascend to the throne.
On the evening of her wedding, Evangeline finds herself wishing that she could break the spell Apollo is under, but when the spell breaks, he suddenly dies. With the accusation of Apollo’s murder over her head, Evangeline flees with the help from Jacks not knowing the second bargain he is about to offer her; a bargain that will take her on a journey to finding the fabled Valory Arch that she alone is the key to unlocking.
If you are a fan of sweeping magic and romance, then this trilogy is definitely for you. While you don’t necessarily need to read the Caraval trilogy before reading this, I highly recommend you do, as it sets up some of the plot and world building in “Once Upon a Broken Heart.”
Personally, my favorite book in the trilogy is the second, “The Ballad of Never After.” The second book is really where the romance between Jacks and Evangeline starts to heat up with even bigger stakes on the line.