Kristina Stangl's Blog - Posts Tagged "jacks"
Caraval by Stephanie Garber Review
First, let me start by applauding Stephanie Garber’s writing style. It’s so incredibly descriptive, imaginary and refreshing. Her words just takes the reader into an epic and fantasy filled world that’s unlike any other, and I applaud her for that.
As the first novel for the Caraval trilogy, this book really focuses more on the set up into the Caraval universe. Out of the three novels, I found the first novel a bit darker and at times, a bit scary; however, I think this element of fear and mystery was necessary to help prepare the readers for the next series of novels.
I must admit as a Jacks fan from the Once Upon a Broken Heart universe, I gave this series a shot in order to get more of a backstory to Jacks and I’m glad I did. Even though reading the Caraval series isn’t a prerequisite to the Once Upon a Broken Heart series, it still provided me with a background and better understanding about the Fates and of Jacks that had I not read this series, then I’d have never known about what makes them tick. For example, a Fate cannot love, for once they do, they become human and this knowledge, further helped me better understand Jacks character and motivation in the other series.
The Caraval series itself is like a magic carpet ride into a hidden world of wonder and mystery of a circus like environment. If you’re a fan of the Once Upon a Broken Heart series, then I do recommend reading this book and series. Honestly, anything written by Garber is well worth the read.
Caraval
As the first novel for the Caraval trilogy, this book really focuses more on the set up into the Caraval universe. Out of the three novels, I found the first novel a bit darker and at times, a bit scary; however, I think this element of fear and mystery was necessary to help prepare the readers for the next series of novels.
I must admit as a Jacks fan from the Once Upon a Broken Heart universe, I gave this series a shot in order to get more of a backstory to Jacks and I’m glad I did. Even though reading the Caraval series isn’t a prerequisite to the Once Upon a Broken Heart series, it still provided me with a background and better understanding about the Fates and of Jacks that had I not read this series, then I’d have never known about what makes them tick. For example, a Fate cannot love, for once they do, they become human and this knowledge, further helped me better understand Jacks character and motivation in the other series.
The Caraval series itself is like a magic carpet ride into a hidden world of wonder and mystery of a circus like environment. If you’re a fan of the Once Upon a Broken Heart series, then I do recommend reading this book and series. Honestly, anything written by Garber is well worth the read.
Caraval
Legendary by Stephanie Garber Review
Personally, I found the second novel to be the best of the Caraval series.
Legendary is told from younger sister, Tella's perspective and is a love triangle centered around Dante and Jacks. Since the previous Caraval novel helped to set up the series, the second novel goes full force into the romance and mystery aspect, which I found far more interesting and compelling than the previous novel.
This novel also introduces Jacks from the Once Upon a Broken Heart series and if you're a fan of Jacks, then you'll definitely want to give Legendary a read to get a deeper backstory into his character and find out as to why he eventually becomes the broken hearted anti-hero in the OUABH series.
Definitely worth a read. Highly recommend.
Legendary
Legendary is told from younger sister, Tella's perspective and is a love triangle centered around Dante and Jacks. Since the previous Caraval novel helped to set up the series, the second novel goes full force into the romance and mystery aspect, which I found far more interesting and compelling than the previous novel.
This novel also introduces Jacks from the Once Upon a Broken Heart series and if you're a fan of Jacks, then you'll definitely want to give Legendary a read to get a deeper backstory into his character and find out as to why he eventually becomes the broken hearted anti-hero in the OUABH series.
Definitely worth a read. Highly recommend.
Legendary
Finale by Stephanie Garber Review
Just like its title suggests, Finale is the epic conclusion to the Caraval series and what a finale it really is too!
All the loose ends are finally tied up and put to rest in this novel. Shocking truths are revealed and there are so many twists and turns, that this novel feels more like a thriller than a typical fantasy-romance at many times. However, the novel certainly doesn't disappoint and nothing is left unanswered, which I thoroughly appreciated, given that this was the final novel to the series.
Furthermore, if you're a fan of Jacks from the Once Upon a Broken Heart series, then you should definitely give this novel and series the time of day. In particular, this novel does provide a detailed back story as to why we discover Jacks so broken hearted in the beginning of the OUABH series.
Definitely worth the read. Highly recommend.
Finale
All the loose ends are finally tied up and put to rest in this novel. Shocking truths are revealed and there are so many twists and turns, that this novel feels more like a thriller than a typical fantasy-romance at many times. However, the novel certainly doesn't disappoint and nothing is left unanswered, which I thoroughly appreciated, given that this was the final novel to the series.
Furthermore, if you're a fan of Jacks from the Once Upon a Broken Heart series, then you should definitely give this novel and series the time of day. In particular, this novel does provide a detailed back story as to why we discover Jacks so broken hearted in the beginning of the OUABH series.
Definitely worth the read. Highly recommend.
Finale
A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber Review
Ah, what a beautiful ending to a beautiful series. This is by far, perhaps, one of the best and epic love stories that I have ever had the pleasure to read.
Where shall I begin? Well, for starters, as the final novel to the OUABH series, all pending matters were finally put to rest and as readers, we all got our much deserved happy ending and what a happy ending it was indeed!
All questions posed throughout the series, dating back even to the Caraval series, were answered. From how Jacks became a Fate to who cursed his fatal kiss from the very beginning, to even Jacks' obsession with apples... everything was answered and nothing was left unaddressed. And as a fan to this series, I was very happy that all "t's" were crossed and "I's" dotted.
What I particularly liked about "A Curse for True Love," was that in this third and concluding novel, the narration was told from Evangeline's, Apollo's and Jacks' perspectives. Unlike the previous two novels that were primarily told from Evangeline's perspective, the third novel took a different approach and actually gave us the points of views from the two other leading men in this series. I found this to be a rather useful and clever tool, because it gave us unique insights into Apollo's and Jacks' perspectives and motivations from their sides of the story-- something that lacked in the previous novels. However, as much as I loved each chapter dedicated specifically to Jacks', I personally would have liked it so much more had there been a few more chapters focused on just him (I actually felt a bit disappointed that he didn't have as many chapters, in comparison to Apollo, which I felt could have had a few less).
Furthermore, while the first half of the novel was a bit frustrating due to Evangeline losing her memories from the end of the previous novel; however, I think the purpose of her memory loss was to also prove the point that true love isn't something that can be prevented or stopped. Even without her memories of Jacks, Evangeline is still drawn to him because in the end, true love is like a fire that once burned, it can never die, no matter the obstacles.
Ultimately, the moral of the story to this series is that nothing is immune to the power of love and that true love knows no boundaries, whether someone is a supposedly a "hero" or the "villain." It is through the act of love alone, that all things are made whole again. Furthermore, sometimes the people we deem as a "hero" really might be the true "villain," and the so-called "villain" also has the potential for redemption and that a happy ending is something earned, and not necessarily, given freely.
Also, true love is not meaningless spoken words, but actions. Actions taken to protect the ones we love most in this world. And in the OUABH universe, it's Jacks' undying love and devotion for the protection and care of Evangeline, a journey that takes him from the "villain" in the beginning of this series and eventually, transforms him into the unlikely "hero" and romantic lead by the end.
Lastly, the very fact that the Prince of Hearts was willing to freely sacrifice his own heart to protect her, says everything.
Highly recommend. A perfect ending to a spectacular series.
A Curse for True Love
Where shall I begin? Well, for starters, as the final novel to the OUABH series, all pending matters were finally put to rest and as readers, we all got our much deserved happy ending and what a happy ending it was indeed!
All questions posed throughout the series, dating back even to the Caraval series, were answered. From how Jacks became a Fate to who cursed his fatal kiss from the very beginning, to even Jacks' obsession with apples... everything was answered and nothing was left unaddressed. And as a fan to this series, I was very happy that all "t's" were crossed and "I's" dotted.
What I particularly liked about "A Curse for True Love," was that in this third and concluding novel, the narration was told from Evangeline's, Apollo's and Jacks' perspectives. Unlike the previous two novels that were primarily told from Evangeline's perspective, the third novel took a different approach and actually gave us the points of views from the two other leading men in this series. I found this to be a rather useful and clever tool, because it gave us unique insights into Apollo's and Jacks' perspectives and motivations from their sides of the story-- something that lacked in the previous novels. However, as much as I loved each chapter dedicated specifically to Jacks', I personally would have liked it so much more had there been a few more chapters focused on just him (I actually felt a bit disappointed that he didn't have as many chapters, in comparison to Apollo, which I felt could have had a few less).
Furthermore, while the first half of the novel was a bit frustrating due to Evangeline losing her memories from the end of the previous novel; however, I think the purpose of her memory loss was to also prove the point that true love isn't something that can be prevented or stopped. Even without her memories of Jacks, Evangeline is still drawn to him because in the end, true love is like a fire that once burned, it can never die, no matter the obstacles.
Ultimately, the moral of the story to this series is that nothing is immune to the power of love and that true love knows no boundaries, whether someone is a supposedly a "hero" or the "villain." It is through the act of love alone, that all things are made whole again. Furthermore, sometimes the people we deem as a "hero" really might be the true "villain," and the so-called "villain" also has the potential for redemption and that a happy ending is something earned, and not necessarily, given freely.
Also, true love is not meaningless spoken words, but actions. Actions taken to protect the ones we love most in this world. And in the OUABH universe, it's Jacks' undying love and devotion for the protection and care of Evangeline, a journey that takes him from the "villain" in the beginning of this series and eventually, transforms him into the unlikely "hero" and romantic lead by the end.
Lastly, the very fact that the Prince of Hearts was willing to freely sacrifice his own heart to protect her, says everything.
Highly recommend. A perfect ending to a spectacular series.
A Curse for True Love
