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

by Stephanie Garber

For anyone who has ever made a bad decision because of a broken heart

“Dear—Prince,” she started haltingly. She’d never prayed to a Fate, and she didn’t want to get it wrong. “I’m here because my parents are dead.”

Bruh lmao

“Now, that was a pathetic speech.” Two slow claps followed the indolent voice, which sounded just a few feet away.

Im giggling i love him

His hair was golden and messy, his too-bright blue eyes were bloodshot, and his mouth twitched at the corner as if he didn’t enjoy much, but he found pleasure in the brief bit of pain he’d just inflicted upon her.

“Would you like me to stand up and turn around so that you can take in the rest of me?” he taunted.

G I G G L I N G

Rather than marching off, Evangeline imagined the stranger taking her lips instead of his snack and kissing her with his fruit-sweet mouth until she died in his arms. No. It couldn’t be … “You’re staring again,” he purred.

My attachment to Jacks is absoluteky insane. I see his name giggling

He gave her a real smile, revealing a pair of dimples that briefly made him look more angel than devil.

Evangeline didn’t imagine he would kill her—she would never be foolish enough to let the Prince of Hearts kiss her.

Teehee

“If you think that counts, maybe you haven’t been kissed.” Jacks shoved off the statue and stalked closer, towering over her once again. “It’s not a real kiss if there isn’t any tongue.”

Marisol and Luc were going to say their vows in her mother’s garden, inside the gazebo that her father had built.

Oof

The Fates weren’t dangerous because they were evil; the Fates were dangerous because they couldn’t tell the difference between evil and good.

You don’t want to be the hero, you want the happy ending—that’s why you came to me. If you do this, that will never happen. Heroes don’t get happy endings. They give them to other people. Is that what you really want?”

“Why—” Evangeline coughed to clear some gravel from her throat. “Why do you look like a forest mage?”

Her first words to the fates are hilarious

“Don’t worry,” Evangeline said. “I have no desire to see Jacks ever again.”

False

There were four tiers of fluffy pink cake, alternate layers of sugarbelle cream, a frosting bow, and an oversize shortbread gift tag that read: Welcome back, sister!

“It was so exciting! It started right after you were turned to stone. The Fates returned—would you believe they were trapped inside a deck of cards?

I forgot they overlapped with caraval

“I know that stories often take on lives of their own. I already feel as if the horror I went through is turning into a fairytale, but I’m nothing special, and this is not a fairytale.”

“You heard Mr. Knightlinger. Everyone in Valenda has been calling me the Cursed Bride. Two weddings and two terrible tragedies within a few weeks. Mother keeps saying that it’s not a bad thing, that I’m special because when the Fates returned, I was the first to capture their attention. But I know I’m not. I’m cursed.”

Marisol set her cake on the closest gilded table and threw her arms around Evangeline, hugging her the way Evangeline always imagined that real sisters hugged.

He’d been the silent half partner of a tailor that sewed weapons into clothing. He’d built a secret bookshop, only accessible via secret passage. Then there was his store in the Spice Quarter, covered in decorative Wanted posters with captions that read like short outlandish crime stories. His third shop was a secret, even from Evangeline. And his fourth store was her favorite place of all: Maximilian’s Curiosities, Whimsies & Other Oddities.

I know the store in the spice quarter!!!!

He flinched when the creature nuzzled his scuffed boots. She laughed, finally drawing his attention. “I think it likes you.” “I don’t know why.” Jacks scowled at the beast. It responded by affectionately licking the buckle at his ankle.

“I didn’t think you cared.” “I don’t. But you still owe me one more kiss, and until I collect it, you’re mine, and I do not like to share.” “If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you sounded jealous.” “Of course I’m jealous. I’m a Fate.”

“He just said sexy scars,” Jacks drawled. “Are you really listening to this?”

But hadn’t she wondered what it would be like to be wanted with the intensity that Jacks seemed to want things?

“You won’t want this later…” “Not really thinking about later.” He licked her, one languorous stroke up the column of her neck.

“You don’t even like me.”

“I like you right now. I like you a lot.” He gently sucked her skin. “In fact, I can’t thin...