The Ballad of Never After (July 2023) Buddy Read Discussion - Bopeep & May

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Welcome to the The Ballad of Never After Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on July 19th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 07/19
July 19: chapter 1-9
July 20: chapters 10-20
July 21: chapter 21-29
July 22: chapters 30-40
July 23: chapters 41-Epilogue

PARTICIPANTS
~ Bopeep
~ May

[Bopeep]

Thank you Mina! ❤️❤️

[Bopeep]

I've read the last 20 pages of Once upon a broken heart and Omg I forgot all about that! Well, not all, I remember that Jack's was a traitorous Fate and had tricked Evangeline more than once.

[May]

It's good you reread the last 20 pages! This book also has a good little recap in the beginning

So this book is addicting already from the beginning. In terms of the first 9 chapters: (view spoiler)[
-I found it funny when she found the Valor arch very early on in the story and she thought she would've found the answers to cure Apollo. I'm curious about the identity of the librarian who told her about the location of the arch and wants her to find the stones to unlock it
-I wonder why Lala wants Evangeline to open to the arch?
-Also I'm curious about who put the mirror curse on both her and Apollo...
-Luc pretending to have a new identity to be the new prince was a surprise, I wonder if he really is a relative of Apollo...
-Poor Apollo! He's not himself as he trying to hunt down Evangeline
-And wow chapter 9 ends with Eva being injected with vampire venom against her will so she could be healed from her injuries! Never imagined Chaos and Jacks working together
-I'm conflicted on Jacks so far... I'm convinced he's behind everything to manipulate Eva to willingly open the arch for him (hide spoiler)]

This book is so addicting, I'm probably going to continue reading :D

[Bopeep]

I've only had time to read three and half chapters, and there will be a lot happening here!

Chapter 2
Even if I couldn't remember most of the first book, that door seemed to important not to be the arch to the Valory Arch. I'm always amused how innocent Evangeline is, every Fate and monster takes advantage of her.

So, now she has to do a quest she doesn't want to do! I like that premise, it seems it will be a little adventure like the first book. I'm wondering which Fates she would meet.

[Bopeep]

There's a looot of mysteries here. I was surprised with the Vvalory Arch too, but that door was too important.
I liked the librarian, it reminded me of the one of Nevernight. I love mysterious old librarians haha Maybe he's a guardian too, but to make sure someone opens it?

Lalas reply changed so abruptly I guess someone controlled her. Jack's can do that with other Fates?

I was surprised about Luc too. What will he do as king?

Maybe Apollo is the real hunter of the story? Hmm...

I'm always suspicious about Jack's, but dam, I always Like him even if he's an as*!

[May]

That probably is the librarian's role!
I never thought about Jacks being able to control other fates. It might be possible!
Lol same here, I always like Jacks despite how he's acting :D

[May]

I meant to comment on yesterdays chapters but I was tired. So far I read up to chapter 21:
(view spoiler)[
-Its interesting seeing Chaos and Jacks working together. I never thought that opening the Valor arch would help with Chaos's curse!
-It's also interesting how Eva isn't the only key of the prophecy, there's been other girls in the past.
-When she finally agreed to help Jacks I was surprised she gave in. Then again, she's only doing it to help Apollo get rid of the archer's curse.
-I also think that Eva might be right about the secret society might be hiding the stones for the arch.
-I'm curious about what Jacks said regarding House Slaughterwood is responsible for everything
-Also Jacks might have been human in the past and a part of the Merrywood trio? There's so much about Jacks we don't and I'm looking forward to learning more about him! (hide spoiler)]

[Bopeep]

I've just made it to chapter 15 but I wanted to see your spoilers and:
"It's also interesting how Eva isn't the only key of the prophecy, there's been other girls in the past. "

Yeesss! That surprised me. Like, has been Jacks (and maybe Chaos too? maybe APOLLO TOO?? (ok, that's been out of nowhere)) been conning other girls with pink hair or similar to be the ones of the prophecy and make them feel special as Eva is feeling?
That's so twisted, but being Fates, maybe it's possible?

[May]

Bopeep wrote: "I've just made it to chapter 15 but I wanted to see your spoilers and:
"It's also interesting how Eva isn't the only key of the prophecy, there's been other girls in the past. "

Yeesss! That sur..."

I'm starting to think because both Chaos and Jacks are fates they've been conning the other keys and making them feel special so they can help them with opening the valor arch!

[May]

In terms of yesterdays chapters (ch 21-29): (view spoiler)[ those moments between Jacks and Eva are hilarious. I laughed when Jacks caught her sleeping in his bed and hugging his tshirts :D
I was shocked when Eva might have figured out it was Lala who put the archer's curse on her and Apollo! (hide spoiler)]

[May]

I've read up to chapter 34 so far and a lot has happened! (view spoiler)[ Petra being the key who supposedly died according to Chaos was a big reveal! She faked her death, got a new identity and had the youth stone on her all along.
I never imagined Eva would have been able to kill Petra in self defense! Petra was coming after her so I don't blame her, but I do feel bad for Eva!
The good thing that came out of the truth stone we started to get some straight answers out of Jacks. This whole time Jacks doesn't want to open the valor arch! (hide spoiler)]

[Bopeep]

I was supposed too read a lot today but I've just read chapter 21.
And we'll yes, Jack's and his past is so intriguing and I want to read more.

Also, about the trio of Merry wood... Jack's goes with an apple everywhere, maybe he's not the archer but the one who they'll shot? (for that cliche where an archer shots and apple on the head of a friend...)

I hope to catch up soon if you don't finish before me!

[Bopeep]

I was so shocked about Lala too! I didn't expect her to do that, maybe another Fate, but not her.

I'm not sure about this theory yet, but maybe some Fates were Valors or from the Great Houses? Hmm...

[May]

Read up to chapter 40 and (view spoiler)[ the biggest shock of all was that Jacks didn't want to open the arch this whole time?! Also, Lala's backstory was sad, I felt bad for her. At this point, I'm convinced Jacks was the archer because of the comment that he had another fox before. (hide spoiler)]

[May]

Bopeep wrote: "I was so shocked about Lala too! I didn't expect her to do that, maybe another Fate, but not her.

I'm not sure about this theory yet, but maybe some Fates were Valors or from the Great Houses? Hmm..."

Yeah I have that theory too!

[May]

I finished the book and I really enjoyed it!
(view spoiler)[ That ending was so unexpected! When Eva first died because of Chaos and the story just ended I was shocked. I'm so glad it didn't end that way! It was so sweet of Jack to go back in time to prevent Eva from dying. It's too bad the price he paid was that Eva lost all her memories.
The one thing I'm confused about is Apollo. Him erasing her memories seemed so unlike him. Never expected that from Apollo! (hide spoiler)]
Can't wait for book 3!!

[Bopeep]

Omg yes, I didn't know Eva could kill Petra. It made me kinda sad, but I want to think it was caused by the stones.

Yes to Jacks telling the truth... But Why does he want the stones? To revert the past?


"You will end like her" "like who?" "his first fox" jwhsfdtagsggqfdudyehdggeu

[Bopeep]

I'm finished too!

I'm glad to didn't watch the chapters caerfully when I did the schedule of the BR because I will be SPOILED at what has happened.

OMG I was shocked that Jacks really did felt something for Eva? He's so cruel I didn't think he really felt something. After the time travel he's being cruel too, but now we know why...

I was nervous when Eva wanted to go back to the Valory Arch to find Jacks... and when he collided into Apollo... And what Apollo did... GOSH THAT WAS SO CRUEL!!! I didn't expect him to dod that to her neither, but he was too kind for the grey characters we're used to...
He said Jacks manipulated her, but who will manipulate her now??
So curious about next book and what will happen between Jacks and Eva, now that she forgotten him because of Apollo, not because Jacks went back in time.
AAARRGG

[May]

Omg it's good you didn't notice the way the chapters were numbered! I thought it was a mistake at first when I saw chapter 44 after the epilogue lol
And same here! I didn't expect Jacks to have genuine feelings for Eva!
Apollo is honestly the worst for that. We should've known that his rivalry was Jacks would have lead to something...
Fortunately we don't have to wait long for book 3!

[Bopeep]

I just forgot about the rivalry between Apollo and Jacks (it's been a long time since I've read the first book), but it makes sense... They both want the girl haha

What will happen on book 3 then? Will Jacks try to woo Evangeline again, from zero, will he try her to remember o he will just ignore her? Since she didn't go for Tella this time, I bet he wants at least one girl to play stay with?

Also, when I was making a summary I noticed that Castor and Aurora are siblings (gosh, I didn't think Chaos could be Castor?!?!), and so Lyric and LaLa were siblings too. Maybe that's not important, but it could be on the next one?

Knowing that the Valors are inside the Arch, it makes sense that all the other houses didn't want to open it. It was rivalry that the most powerful couldn't come back to power...
And what will happen now with the Valors, that they aren't currently ruling the kingdom?

Aaaah I'm sorry for those much guesses and questions, but I'm so intrigued right now!

[May]

No worries, I have the same questions too! I have a feeling Jacks will try to stay away but then circumstances will bring them together (maybe Eva is in danger and he won't be able to stay away then?)

I feel like the Valors will try to get their power back in the kingdom or Chaos will get it back for his family's sake

[Bopeep]

Yeah, I think something like that too. But maybe he will be jealous and step in soon?

And we don't know much about the Valors but I think they will step up on their own without Chaos...