By Emily Kiefer
Sometimes, all a reader wants is to fall into a cozy fantasy that reads like a long-lost fairytale. At least that’s what I felt from the first page reading “Once Upon a Broken Heart” by Stephanie Garber.
As a fantasy lover at heart, this book (and entire trilogy) hits all the right points I wanted it to, and more. All you’ll want to do is curl up by a cheerily crackling fireplace with a mug of tea in hand and let the tale sweep you away like a willful tide.
Our protagonist, Evangeline Fox, is an idealistic, hopeful girl with a heart of gold and hair that’s pink. There’s something about Evangeline that makes her a perfect heroine in my eyes, perhaps her unwavering faith in others despite all she goes through, or her determination to accomplish anything, even if it seems insurmountable.
At the beginning, she is lost and heartbroken, seeking the assistance of the Prince of Hearts, an immortal Fate known for his shattered heart and kiss that kills. When she strikes a bargain with the cunning Fate to stop the man she’s in love with from marrying another, she immediately realizes there’s more to this bargain than meets the eye. When the Prince of Hearts turns the entire wedding party to stone, Evangeline heroically takes their place and turns to stone instead.
Once Evangeline is returned to flesh and blood, her actions consequently thrust her into a world she didn’t expect, to the Magnificent North where fairytales are living history and the crown prince is seeking a bride. But her debt with the Prince of Hearts is far from paid, and he intends for her to follow through with tasks as confusing for Evangeline as they are intriguing.
And now, in the realm where magic dances through the air along with the dust, Evangeline sees her life becoming akin to the magnificent fairytales she read voraciously as a child. But there’s always a dark side to those stories, and hers is no exception.
Entering the world that Garber has so elegantly crafted is such a wonder. It’s truly whimsical writing at its finest, with a realm full of miniature dragons sleeping on overgrown toadstools and enchanted woods teeming with magic. All three novels in the series are enrapturing, particularly the second book, “The Ballad of Never After,” having a special place in my heart. It’s the perfect world to escape to if you adore anything fantastical and romantic, if you want a world so visceral you’ll be able to taste the sparkle-dusted air.
And try not to trust the endings; they tend to change.
