The Ballad of Never After

by Stephanie Garber

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Fans of Once Upon a Broken Heart won’t want to miss this pulse-pounding, magical sequel. Fraught with Stephanie Garber’s signature twists and turns, The Ballad of Never After is an atmospheric return to a fairytale world that will leave readers enthralled through the very last page.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

Stephanie Garber’s THE BALLAD OF NEVER AFTER is the jaw-dropping sequel to the ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART, starring Evangeline Fox and the Prince of Hearts on a new journey of magic, mystery, and heartbreak

Not every love is meant to be.

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. . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250268426
Publisher:	Flatiron Books
Publication date:	09/13/2022
Series:	Once Upon a Broken Heart , #2
Pages:	416
Sales rank:	753
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.40(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Stephanie Garber is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of Once Upon a Broken Heart, The Ballad of Never After, and the Caraval trilogy. Her books have been translated into thirty languages.

Editorial Reviews

08/01/2022

Gr 9 Up—This sequel to Once Upon a Broken Heart jumps right back into the action with Evangeline willing to go to desperate lengths to save Apollo. The only person she believes can help her is Jacks. She agrees to open the Valory Arch for him, but it's not long before a new curse slows them down and puts Evangeline's life in danger. Again, she's faced with the decision—can she trust a Fate? And can they both get what they want? Nonstop adventure and multiple twists will keep fans turning pages, and the will-they-won't-they nature of Jacks and Evangeline's relationship will leave readers breathless. Unfortunately, Evangeline hasn't grown much as a character, and her decisions are often frustrating. However, those who have yearned to return to this world won't be disappointed. Another cliffhanger ending all but ensures more to come. Most characters cue white; a few have "olive" or darker skin. VERDICT Recommended for fans of romance and fantasy, and where the first book was popular.—Mandy Laferriere

School Library Journal

2022-07-27
Evangeline faces new dangers in her quest for happiness in this follow-up to 2021’s Once Upon a Broken Heart.

As Evangeline Fox seeks a cure for her poisoned husband, Prince Apollo, the enticing and infuriating Fate Jacks reappears, offering to save Apollo if she unlocks the Valory Arch. Remembering the long list of ills brought upon her by the Fate, Evangeline refuses. When the new heir arrives and Apollo wakes with a new curse and glowing red eyes, she is forced to delve into the mysteries of the Valors and find the arch’s four missing magical stones whose powers are luck, truth, mirth, and youth. The inclusion of expanded Valor lore alongside the preexisting blend of fairy-tale and paranormal creatures is intriguing and fits the overarching theme of storytelling as history. The ongoing use of emotions as a scale for displaying and determining one’s humanity, especially by Fates, is equally interesting. Unfortunately, the impact of Evangeline’s often amusing narration and numerous surprising plot twists is diluted by the meandering pacing, convoluted sensory descriptions, and close focus on Evangeline’s fluctuating attraction toward her potential love interests. Despite the positive emphasis on hope and happily-ever-afters, Evangeline’s romantic relationship with Jacks borders on manipulative and toxic. Evangeline reads White; side characters are fantasy diverse.

A disappointing delivery on a potentially gripping second volume. (map) (Fantasy. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews

Goodreads Choice Award finalist
#1 New York Times bestseller
Indie Next pick

"Edgy, dark, and gorgeously written—this takes the fairytale trope and turns it into something heart-pounding, fresh, and addictive." —Jodi Picoult, author of Wish You Were Here

"This is only a story for those who believe in love, how it can tease, how it can stab, and sometimes, how it slips away. Don’t let that happen with this book. Masterful storyteller Stephanie Garber gives you it all—characters to love, villains to hate, and a world to get lost in." —Stacey Lee, author of The Downstairs Girl

"Nonstop adventure and multiple twists will keep fans turning pages, and the will-they-won’t-they nature of Jacks and Evangeline’s relationship will leave readers breathless. . . . Those who have yearned to return to this world won’t be disappointed." —School Library Journal

"Garber has created a lush fairy tale world and each book in this series expands the lands and the Fates who torment them. While Evangeline remains the main character, it’s a delight to continue to see how she relates to everyone around her." —Booklist

Praise for ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART

#1 New York Times bestseller
Goodreads Choice Award finalist
Indie Next pick

“An explosively rich fairy tale that takes place inside an intricate world that’s weaved with fast-paced plot and intriguing twists.” —BuzzFeed

“The lush worldbuilding Garber is known for is on full display here. . . . The ending is a clear setup for a sequel, but no one will be complaining about the opportunity to revisit this intricately imagined world.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“Garber enchants readers with exquisitely imagined worldbuilding and her trademark heady romance.” —Publishers Weekly

“Garber, best known for her lush and poetic Caraval series, will no doubt have readers flocking to this new series. The potential for coming installments is huge, as the glimmers of a larger world introduced in this volume are sure to stoke reader curiosity.” —Booklist

“A sugar-crusted, poison-spiked romp through a vibrant world of fairy tale intrigue, tangled romance, and forbidden magic.” —Cassandra Clare, author of The Last Hours series

“A wildly imaginative, romantic story where true love and deadly kisses collide and bargains with the Prince of Hearts come with a steep price. Once Upon a Broken Heart is an unputdownable fairy tale where Garber’s imagination sparkles like the magnificent North. Readers will delight in each whimsical and thrilling page.” —Kerri Maniscalco, author of Kingdom of the Wicked

“A dazzling mix of mystery, romance, and magic.” —Karen M. McManus, author of One of Us Is Lying

“Once Upon a Broken Heart confirms that Stephanie Garber is the queen of fairy tales. I stepped into her world and got happily lost in the delicious magic, deceit, and passion.” — Mary E. Pearson, author of Dance of Thieves

From the Publisher