The Ballad of Never After is an exquisitely emotional sequel that deepens the enchanting, treacherous world Stephanie Garber built in Once Upon a Broken Heart. Evangeline Fox returns, still aching from Jacks’s betrayal yet unable to escape the pull he has over her. Determined to reclaim her happily ever after, she tries to wield her newfound magic to mend what was broken—but in true Garber fashion, nothing in this world comes without a price. What follows is a story of curses, impossible choices, and the kind of love that feels both poisonous and irresistible.
Evangeline’s growth is one of the most compelling parts of this book. She’s no longer just the girl who believes blindly in fairytales—she’s stronger, more self-aware, and constantly battling between hope and heartbreak. And Jacks… he remains infuriatingly complex: cruel and caring, selfish and self-sacrificing, the embodiment of temptation itself. Their dynamic is electric, every glance and every lie steeped in longing and danger. The tension between them is so sharp it feels like its own kind of curse—one that neither of them can escape.
Stephanie Garber’s writing is breathtakingly vivid, full of magic, emotion, and that haunting beauty that makes her stories feel timeless. The Ballad of Never After is darker, more emotional, and more devastating than its predecessor—a tale of trust, betrayal, and the ache of loving someone who might just destroy you. It’s a love story and a tragedy all at once, and by the final page, it will leave you utterly shattered and yearning for more.
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