From the Bookshelf of Book Nerds Unite…

Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart, #1)

Stephanie Garber

Start date: November 1, 2021

Finish date: November 30, 2021

Discussion: BOTMs

Discussion leader: Asia | Adventures with Asia Minor

Why we're reading this: Choice Read BOTM for October/November
[close] Choice Read BOTM for October/November

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Showing 2 of 69 topics — 657 comments total

BOTMs

* November 2022 BOTM | Nominations
By Asia | Advent… , Creator, Head Mod, Book Nerd #1 · 4 posts · 27 views

last updated Aug 19, 2022 01:35PM

* July/August 2022 BOTM | Fable
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last updated Nov 17, 2022 09:25PM

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What Members Thought

Sep 27, 2023 jenna ♡ (fullybooked) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

OH SO HE’S MEAN??!?!?! five stars. 😭😩🫡🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️

246 likes · Like · see review

Oct 11, 2021 Indy rated it really liked it

Shelves: not-entirely-fantasy, netgalley

Thank you, netgalley, for providing me with this ARC.
(even if I read it after the launch date)

3.5 / 5 stars for a book that I loved , surprisingly, a lot. It took me longer to start this book than I expected. For some reason I couldn't pick it up, fearing I would dislike the book for some reason. This book proved me otherwise.

I was hooked from the start, glad to be back in the magical world I so gravely missed. Caraval was a book series I read earlier this year and one I loved dearly. When I ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

Oct 20, 2022 Arundhati rated it really liked it

I hope what the ending hinted towards, is true. That twist really brought up the rating to 4 which was otherwise a solid 3.

Plot is much average, nothing I haven't read before. Characters are interesting. What stood out to me is the writing. The fairytalesque elements kept my interest. The mysteries of the north made me want to read more. I would definitely pick up the next book. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Oct 12, 2021 mu rated it really liked it

i need the second book right now
(reread) omf. so ready for the next book rn.

3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 17, 2022 Hannah rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I don’t know whether the fact that I read the caraval trilogy a while ago impacted my enjoyment of this book. I’ve completely forgotten what happened between Jacks and Donatella in Finale and finding out that Scarlet is the empress of Valenda was a big shock, I’m blaming this on my memory. However, it would’ve been nice to have a chapter or prologue-type-thing about Tella and Scarlet, especially as this book is not part of the Caraval series, meaning some readers might read this book without hav I don’t know whether the fact that I read the caraval trilogy a while ago impacted my enjoyment of this book. I’ve completely forgotten what happened between Jacks and Donatella in Finale and finding out that Scarlet is the empress of Valenda was a big shock, I’m blaming this on my memory. However, it would’ve been nice to have a chapter or prologue-type-thing about Tella and Scarlet, especially as this book is not part of the Caraval series, meaning some readers might read this book without having read any of Garber’s other works. This gripe aside, I did mostly enjoy reading Once upon a broken heart. It was a fun read about a gutsy yet slightly dreamy protagonist who navigates her way through betrayal, heartbreak and curses.
What I loved:
- The North. Everything about it seemed magical and interesting, from the streets and spires, the parties and dresses to the enchanted arches and my absolute personal favourite…THE TINY DRAGONS. THEY WERE SO HECKIN ADORABLE I WOULD DIE FOR THEM WITHOUT HESITATION. I think if Eva had her own mini dragon side kick this book would be 10 times better.
This being said, the lack of world building was a little disappointing, there was SO much potential that I thought Stephanie Garber would fulfil and exceed, especially since she loves using her descriptive similes every chance she gets. I felt like I was looking at a magnificent puzzle, but there were patches of pieces missing.
What I didn’t love:
- There didn’t seem to be that much of a story, it felt rather like it was only setting the scene for the next book, like a giant prologue or something.
- The relationship between Jacks and Evangeline, if I described their relationship in 3 words, they would be: cringy, condescending, Wattpad. At times it did genuinely feel like I was reading a Wattpad fanfic following the “good girl/bad boy” trope, and it was not cute. I physically felt like gagging a little bit when Jacks called Eva his “pet” and “Little fox”. The licking scene was horrific and the dialogue was painful to read at points. For example, Jacks tells another character “I’m the only one who gets to bite her.” LIKE WHAT- IS THAT MEANT TO BE PROTECTIVE OR ATTRACTIVE??
- Marisol was a brat, I got all sympathetic for her and her situation, just for her to turn around and act like a toddler. Which was a shame, cause I did like her at points. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing however, Garber successfully made me annoyed over a character.

Overall, I think the main point of the story was highly avoided/not included enough at all. Who were the Valors really? Where did the prophecy come from? Who were Eva’s parents? What is Jacks looking for and what are his intentions? It just fell a bit flat for me, but I will read the sequel and hope my questions are answered. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review