Book Review: Stephanie Garber's Once Upon a Broken Heart Series — A Love Story That Will Steal Your Heart, Break It, and Then Stitch It Back Together
- Aug 18, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 17
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber is the kind of series that feels like a decadent dessert—irresistibly sweet, sometimes overwhelming, and absolutely worth every bite. With three books that pull you deeper into a world of curses, broken hearts, and a love story that defies every odd, this series is the perfect mix of whimsical and dark, with a sprinkle of snark.
Major Tropes and Themes: A Rollercoaster of Emotions
If you're a fan of fantasy romance, Garber delivers on all fronts with tropes that hit just right. Here's what you're in for:
1. Enemies to Lovers
Is it even a fantasy romance without this trope? Evangeline Fox and Jacks redefine this trope with their maddeningly slow burn.
2. Fated Love
Destiny seems to be at play, but is it fate, or is someone pulling the strings? The lines between free will and destiny blur in the most deliciously frustrating ways.
3. Curses and Prophecies
What's a fantasy series without a few curses and ominous prophecies hanging over the characters' heads? These elements drive the plot and add layers of tension to the romance.
4. Morally Gray Love Interest
Jacks, oh Jacks. The Prince of Hearts is as morally ambiguous as they come. Is he the hero? The villain? Both? Watching him dance on that line is one of the series' highlights.
5. Magical Worlds
Garber's world-building is lush and vibrant, filled with magic, secrets, and an undercurrent of danger that keeps you hooked.
Character Development: Evangeline Fox
From Naïve Dreamer to Fierce Survivor
Evangeline Fox begins her journey as the wide-eyed, hopeless romantic who believes in true love and happy endings. She's the kind of character who you just know is going to get her heart broken (and oh boy, does she). But what makes her journey so compelling is how she evolves throughout the series.
By the final book, Evangeline is no longer just the girl with stars in her eyes. She's been burned, betrayed, and broken—yet she emerges stronger, with a sharper edge and a clearer sense of who she is. Her transformation from a naïve dreamer to a fierce survivor is one of the most satisfying arcs in the series.
Jacks – The Charming Scoundrel You Can't Help But Love
Ah, Jacks. The Prince of Hearts is every bit the charming scoundrel, and if you're into the whole "bad boy with a tragic backstory" trope, he's your guy. From the moment he steps onto the page, he steals the show with his enigmatic personality, razor-sharp wit, and that infuriatingly irresistible smirk.
But Jacks isn't just a one-note character. His development is subtle, woven into the narrative through his actions (or inactions), his interactions with Evangeline, and those rare moments when he lets his guard down. Is he capable of love? Does he even want to be? These are questions that haunt both Evangeline and the reader, and the answers are as complicated as Jacks himself.
The Romance: A Dance of Broken Hearts
The romance between Evangeline and Jacks is like watching two people dance on the edge of a cliff—it's breathtaking, dangerous, and you know someone is going to fall. Their relationship is built on a foundation of lies, manipulation, and betrayal, but beneath all that, there's a spark that refuses to die.
As the series progresses, their chemistry intensifies, and the push-pull dynamic between them becomes more agonizing (in the best way possible). The tension is thick enough to cut with a knife, and just when you think you know where their story is headed, Garber throws in a twist that leaves you reeling.
Final Thoughts: A Series Worth Every Broken Heart
Once Upon a Broken Heart is not just a story—it's an experience. Stephanie Garber has crafted a series that is equal parts enchanting and heart-wrenching, with characters that linger in your mind long after you've turned the last page.
If you're a fan of slow-burn romance, morally gray characters, and stories that keep you guessing until the very end, this series is for you. Just be prepared to have your heart broken—multiple times. But don't worry, Garber will mend it with a story so captivating, you'll find yourself coming back for more.
Recommendation:
This series is perfect for readers who love a mix of fairy tale whimsy and dark fantasy, with a romance that will frustrate and delight you in equal measure. If you enjoyed The Cruel Prince by Holly Black or Caraval (also by Stephanie Garber), then Once Upon a Broken Heart will be right up your alley. Just remember—sometimes, even broken hearts can lead to the most beautiful endings.
And if you closed Once Upon a Broken Heart wanting more tension, more danger, more slow-burn ache that makes you grip the pages a little tighter…
Let me introduce you to your next obsession.
If you love romantasy steeped in dark political tension…If you devour new adult romance with slow-burn chemistry that hurts so good…If you fall for broody, emotionally restrained heroes who love deeply but speak carefully…If you crave dark worlds where desire and danger don’t just collide — they intertwine…
Then you’ll want to add A Song of Light and Shadow to your Goodreads TBR immediately.
This is dark fantasy romance with tension you can taste.
Power imbalances.
Earned devotion.
High-stakes emotion that simmers before it scorches.
It’s for readers who don’t want soft edges.
It’s for readers who want to feel the weight of restraint, the intensity of unspoken longing, and the kind of romance that unfolds with purpose.
If that sounds like your kind of chaos?
Go ahead. Add A Song of Light and Shadow to your TBR on Goodreads — and prepare yourself for a romantasy where the light isn’t gentle, the shadows aren’t empty, and the romance doesn’t ask permission.