But you have to have a working heart for it to break
It was hard not to judge this book by its cover when the cover looks like this one and the author is Stephanie Garber. I was lucky enough to be able to get this one just a few days after it came out in September, so I was able to get the signed pink edition which has quickly risen in my list of favorite covers. The story inside turned out to be as magical as it looks like it would be.
Once Upon a Broken Heart takes place in the same world of Fates from the Carval series. Driven by heartache prompted by the wedding of the boy she loves and her stepsister, Evangeline Fox finds her way to the church of the Prince of Hearts. When she encounters the Prince himself, Jacks, Evangeline falls into the tangled web of making deals and asking for favors from the mercurial Fates. By invitation of the Empress and under the influence of Jacks' Evangeline travels to the Magnificent North, into the world of new monarchs, history, and legends.
Every story has the potential for infinite endings
Stephanie Garber upholds her high standard of gorgeous world-building and descriptions. The North is distinctly different from the cities readers explore in the Caraval series but keeps the same whimsy and beauty. Evangeline encounters both the wayward magic of the legends, curses, and ancient spells come to life, as well as the more mundane magic of the everyday details that come with discovering your own path.
One of the greatest strengths of this story is how it takes on love. As the title implies, it deals with heartbreak, but also shows different ways of getting through it. Evangeline and Jacks are both coming off of the sting of grief but choose different paths of healing. The choices they make, as well as how they interact with each other, give the reader dynamic characters and thought-provoking paths. The two play off of each other as they learn how their experiences are similar and how they differ. They demonstrate to readers how there is no one path through recovery.
Are you still talking about my heartbreak, or about yours?
A relatable, believable, and interesting protagonist is so important for a good book. Evangeline is unmistakably a fantasy heroine, with the pink hair and curiosity shop, but she is also believable and multi-dimensional. Throughout the decisions she makes, she shows both her mortal and human side, the things she wants, and what sweeps her away. But she also remains grounded, acknowledging risky choices, deceitful characters, and her own shortcomings. Evangeline has messy feelings and gets herself into as many jams as the Fates do but all of that makes her that much better of a character. Even if Evangeline doesn’t always see things as they truly are from the start, she is constantly reevaluating and always figures it out eventually.
Building off of that, quite possibly my personal favorite quality of Evangeline was her curiosity. She doesn't fear the world of magic that invades her own but constantly wants to learn more, at one point quite literally giving in to the curiosity (page 349). It is not shown as a detriment, like Pandora and her box, but a strength - and that message I found beautiful.
Careful, Little Fox, you sound curious
A testament to the wonderful character Evangelie is her evolving relationship with Marisol. Marisol, for me, perfectly exemplified the type that I on a surface level do not like, but their role in the story makes them captivating and exciting. Without giving too much away, I can say I had very similar feelings towards Severus Snape from Harry Potter.
I felt the weakest part of this book was the inclusion of vampires. With a totally unique and brilliant magic system and world, the buildup that went into the introduction of them felt boring and was a bit of a letdown. I felt the scenes could have had so much more energy, suspense, and intrigue if they hadn't been reduced to the predictable YA-style vampire.
Any writing, comments, or reflections on Once Upon A Broken Heart would not be complete without acknowledging Jacks. One of the characters from the Caraval series, Jacks commands the attention of the reader almost as much as Evangeline is drawn to him. Personally, I found him a bit less nefarious (just a bit... still of course scheming and crafty) and a bit more accessible and lively. Which for me, helped me enjoy him much more. Perhaps Tella in Caraval was just too preoccupied with her own fate and Legend, or maybe Evangeline just works better with Jacks, but through her eyes, readers see either a new side to him or are introduced to Jacks in a more authentic manner.
A few last notes...
I wish there had been some more development between Evangeline and Lala. She is an engaging character but I found Evangeline's first impressions to shift quite abruptly.
This book was added to my collection of books that show that love stories don't have to make you blush to be lovely
I adore how she "... never let anyone make her feel bad about her unusual hair" (Garber 18)
"Extras" like newspaper articles and handwritten notes added depth and interest. The world came to life through these different kinds of writing
I was a little upset that we were introduced to this glorious curiosity shop and then hardly got to explore it!
Subtle nods to the Caraval series made it fun for readers of her previous books while also staying distinct for anyone delving into her world for the first time
Once Upon A Broken Heart is a fantastical story brimming with beauty and spirit, for those who make wishes, ask questions, and listen to all the stories.
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