Once Upon a Broken Heart (2024)

Once Upon a Broken Heart is the first book in the Once Upon A Broken Heart series, written by Stephanie Garber. It was released on the 28th of September 2021. The book is a part of the Caraval universe, but you do not need to read the Caraval series prior to reading Once Upon a Broken Heart. The book contains a new protagonist, Evangeline Fox. It tells us what happened to Jacks after Finale.

Synopsis[]

Evangeline Fox was raised in her beloved father’s curiosity shop, where she grew up on legends about immortals, like the tragic Prince of Hearts. She knows his powers are mythic, his kiss is worth dying for, and that bargains with him rarely end well.

But when Evangeline learns that the love of her life is about to marry another, she becomes desperate enough to offer the Prince of Hearts whatever he wants in exchange for his help to stop the wedding. The prince only asks for three kisses. But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’s pledged. And he has plans for Evangeline that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy…^[1]

Quotes[]

“You don't want to be the hero, you want the happy ending- that's why you came to me. If you do this, that will never happen. Heroes don't get happy endings. They give them to other people. Is that what you really want?” - Jacks

“If you think I'm jealous because someone else got to stab you, then you're right.” - Evangeline Fox

“I'll never understand humans. All of you seem to welcome our lies, but you never like it when we tell the truth.” - Poison

Characters[]

• Evangeline Fox: the protagonist of the Once Upon A Broken Heart series. She was seventeen years old, and worked in her father's curiosity shop. She lived with her stepmother and stepsister in Valenda, the Meridian Empire.
• Luc Navarro: was Evangeline's first love. He betrayed her by getting engaged to Marisol. Evangeline was convinced he had been put under a spell. After having disappeared for months, it was revealed he was living in Chaos' lair, and became a vampire.
• Marisol Tourmaline: Evangeline's stepsister, and friend. They travelled to the Magnificent North together to attend Nocte Neverending. She was titled the Cursed Bride after two failed marriage attempts to Luc. Evangeline learnt that Marisol had betrayed her, and told Marisol that she had done the same. Marisol was furious, and tried to betray Evangeline again. Marisol became engaged to Prince Tiberius, but it was called off when it was discovered Marisol put him under a spell to love her.
• Agnes Tourmaline: Evangeline's stepmother, and Marisol's mother. She treated both girls poorly, making them feel that they weren't reaching her expectations. Agnes was rarely mentioned once the girls travelled to the Magnificent North.
• Apollo Titus Acadian: the prince of the Magnificent North. He married Evangeline after meeting her during Nocte Neverending, but was poisoned on their wedding night, and put into a deep sleep.
• Tiberius Acadian: the younger brother of Apollo. He was not regularly part of the royal court, and was rumored to have a rough relationship with his brother. At the end of the book, it is discovered that Tiberius poisoned Apollo. He was a member of the Protectorate.
• Kutlass Knightlinger: writer of The Whisper Gazette in the Meridian Empire, known as scandal sheets. He was Kristof Knightlinger's cousin.
• Kristof Knightlinger: writer of The Daily Rumor in the Magnificent North, known as scandal sheets. He was Kutlass Knightlinger's cousin.
• Havelock: was Apollo's personal guard. Upon Apollo's reported 'death', Tiberius demanded Havelock detain Evangeline for questioning. At the end of the book, Havelock revealed to Evangeline that Apollo was still alive.

Fates[]

• Jacks: also known as the Prince of Hearts, and Lord Jacks, was a Fate. Evangeline found him to ask him to help her stop Luc and Marisol's wedding.
• Lala: also known as the Unwed Bride or Ariel Lagrimas, was a Fate. She met Evangeline on the first night of Nocte Neverending when both of them were options for Apollo to wed. They became friends.
• Chaos: also known as the Lord of Spies and Assassins, was a Fate and a vampire. Jacks mentioned to Evangeline that Chaos was one of the oldest Fates. He disguised himself as a guard and followed Evangeline around the Magnificent North, speaking to her on the first night of Nocte Neverending, and a night when Evangeline was perusing local storefronts.
• Poison: also known as the Poisoner, was a Fate. He helped bring Evangeline back from her stone form caused by his own poison at the beginning of the book. He owed Jacks a favor.
• Phaedra: further known as Phaedra of the Damned had the ability to steal the secrets that people take to the grave. She was requested by Havelock to look at Apollo. She expected to hear secrets from him, but revealed nothing. She realised that it meant Apollo was still alive.

Background Characters[]

• Maximilian Fox: Evangeline's father. He died a couple of months before Once Upon A Broken Heart was set. Liana was his wife. He owned multiple stores, with his main store being 'Maximilian's Curiosities, Whimsies & Other Oddities'. Evangeline worked there with Max.
• Liana Fox: Evangeline's mother and Maximilian's wife. She came from the Magnificent North, and would tell Evangeline stories that she grew up with. Liana died a few years before the book was set.
• Scarlett Marie Dragna: Empress of the Meridian Empire. Her younger sister was Princess Donatella Dragna. She asked Evangeline to go to Nocte Neverending, representing the Magnificent North.
• Donatella Dragna: Princess of the Meridian Empire and younger sister of Scarlett. She was unable to go to Nocte Neverending for fear of causing a war from bad blood with people in the Magnificent North. She had a brief relationship with Jacks that ended sourly.
• Ms. Mallory: a customer of Evangeline's father's curiosity shop. She collected maps of fictional places, and had a grandson.
• Lady Vane: a customer of Evangeline's father's curiosity shop. She typically bought pots of disappearing ink.
• Frangelica: a silver-haired woman. She escorted Evangeline and Marisol to their accommodation in the Magnificent North, and ensured they arrived at the Nocte Neverending events.
• Thessaly Fortuna: she was from one of the Great Houses, House Fortuna, and one of Apollo's options for a bride.
• Serendipity Skystead: princess of the Icehaven Isles. She was one of Apollo's bride options at Nocte Neverending, and had known him since they were children.
• Tabitha Fortuna: Thessaly Fortuna's grandmother, and Matriarch of one of the Great Houses. She had a grumpy disposition, causing Jacks and Evangeline to put her under a temporary spell to be able to search her house's vaults. She was a member of the Protectorate and the creator of Fortuna's Fantastically Flavored Water.
• The Librarian: the librarian of Wolf Hall. He approached Evangeline and showed her a door at the back of the library, bearing the Valor's insignia; a wolf's head wearing a crown. The Librarian tells Evangeline that the door hadn't been opened in centuries.

Trivia[]

Book Covers[]

• The Indigo Exclusive Edition includes a bonus epilogue, an interview between two characters, the same as the Barnes and Noble Exclusive Edition, and has a unique cover and case stamp.
• The Barnes and Noble Exclusive Edition is signed by Stephanie Garber, and includes a bonus epilogue, an interview between two characters, and has a unique cover and case stamp.
• The FairyLoot Exclusive Edition has an exclusive cover, two colored stencil sprayed edges, artwork on the reverse of the dust jacket, artwork on the endpapers, foil embossing on the case, exclusive bonus content, and is signed by Stephanie Garber.
• The Waterstones Exclusive Edition is signed by Stephanie Garber and has one of four special designs under the dust jacket.
• The OwlCrate Exclusive Edition has an exclusive cover with a foil design on the hardcover case, and is signed by Stephanie Garber.

Gallery[]

Promotional[]

Alternate Book Covers[]

References[]