Book Review: The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber (Book 2 of Once Upon a Broken Heart series)

by The Book Pup on December 24, 2025

Blurb for the book (on Goodreads):

After Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, betrays her, Evangeline Fox swears she'll never trust him again. Now that she’s discovered her own magic, Evangeline believes she can use it to restore the chance at happily ever after that Jacks stole away.

But when a new terrifying curse is revealed, Evangeline finds herself entering into a tenuous partnership with the Prince of Hearts again. Only this time, the rules have changed. Jacks isn’t the only force Evangeline needs to be wary of. In fact, he might be the only one she can trust, despite her desire to despise him.

Instead of a love spell wreaking havoc on Evangeline’s life, a murderous spell has been cast. To break it, Evangeline and Jacks will have to do battle with old friends, new foes, and a magic that plays with heads and hearts. Evangeline has always trusted her heart, but this time she’s not sure she can...

My Summary:

After the devastating events of Once Upon a Broken Heart, Evangeline is determined to undo the curse affecting Apollo and find answers about her own magical abilities. But to do so, she needs the help of the one person who's hurt her most: Jacks, the Prince of Hearts.

Forced into an uneasy alliance, Evangeline and Jacks journey to the Magnificent North in search of a powerful relic. Along the way, ancient magic awakens, dangerous bargains are made, and the line between hatred and something far more complicated begins to blur.

As secrets unravel and the curse deepens, Evangeline must decide whether her heart can survive trusting Jacks again—or if loving a Fate will be her ultimate downfall.

My Review

STEPHANIE GARBER KNOWS EXACTLY HOW TO DESTROY. 💔✨

The Ballad of Never After is the sequel we deserved after that first book, and WOW did it deliver! This book had me hooked from start to finish, and I'm still not emotionally recovered. 😭🎭

Let me start by saying: this book is AMAZING. The world-building expands beautifully as we venture into the Magnificent North, the stakes are higher, the magic is more complex, and everything feels richer and more layered than the first book. Garber's writing is enchanting as always—whimsical yet dark, romantic yet dangerous. 📚💫

The pacing is fantastic for the most part. The story moves quickly, revelations keep coming, and I was engaged through almost the entire book. There's always something happening—a new mystery to unravel, a dangerous situation to navigate, or a moment between Evangeline and Jacks that made my heart race. 🏃‍♀️💨

Now, I'll be honest: there was a short stretch in the middle where things got a tiny bit slow. 📖 Nothing major, just a brief section where the momentum dipped slightly before picking right back up again. It was short enough that it didn't significantly impact my enjoyment, but it kept this from being a perfect 5-star read.

But let's talk about what REALLY matters: JACKS x EVA. 😍🔥

The evolution of their relationship in this book is PERFECTION. The way their care for each other develops—despite all the betrayal, despite the curse, despite everything working against them—is beautifully written. Garber masterfully shows us how Evangeline goes from being hurt and furious with Jacks to slowly, reluctantly realizing there's something deeper between them. And Jacks? His moments of vulnerability, his protective instincts, the way he looks at Evangeline? DEVASTATING. 💕

What I love is that neither of them makes it easy. Their relationship is messy, complicated, painful, and absolutely electric. The tension between them is off the charts, and every interaction had me holding my breath. 😩💫

Evangeline's character growth continues to impress me. She's not just the hopeless romantic from book one anymore—she's learning, adapting, becoming stronger while still maintaining that core optimism that makes her who she is. Watching her stand up to Jacks, make her own choices, and navigate this dangerous world with increasing confidence was so satisfying. 👑

The Prince of Hearts continues to be the perfect morally gray love interest. He's dangerous, manipulative, heartbreaking, and somehow you can't help but root for him. The layers Garber peels back in this book make him even more complex and compelling. 🎭💔

The magic system and mythology continue to fascinate me. The curses, the Fates, the ancient powers—everything feels interconnected and purposeful. Garber drops hints and clues throughout that had me gasping when pieces clicked into place. 🔮

Now, about that ending... THAT CLIFFHANGER. 😱

I am DEVASTATED. DESTROYED. EMOTIONALLY WRECKED. The way this book ends is absolutely EXCRUCIATING in the best/worst way possible. I literally threw my book (gently!) and sat there in shock processing what just happened. Garber knows EXACTLY how to twist that knife and leave you desperate, pleading, BEGGING for the next book. 📚💔

This sequel builds beautifully on the first book while raising the stakes and deepening the romance. If you loved Once Upon a Broken Heart, you absolutely NEED to read this. Just maybe have book three ready to go because that cliffhanger is BRUTAL.

4.5/5 pawprints 🐾🐾🐾🐾

You can find the book on Goodreads here!

Who I think this book is for: Fans of Once Upon a Broken Heart (obviously!), readers who love tortured forbidden romance, morally gray Fates who will break your heart, fairy tale magic with dark twists, and anyone who enjoys beautiful writing and devastating cliffhangers.

Reading order reminder: You MUST read Once Upon a Broken Heart first—this picks up directly after book one! (You can find my review for Once Upon a Broken Heart here!)

Cheers, and happy reading (then crying)!

The Book Pup💔✨

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