A Curse For True Love: the thrilling final book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart series

A Curse for True Love — Stephanie Garber ⭐ 5 A Curse for True Love is a perfect and emotional conclusion to the trilogy about Jacks and Evangeline. From the very beginning, I knew I wouldn’t accept anything other than a happy ending — this story deserved it. After the shocking and unbelievable ending of the second book, I was desperate to read the third, and it absolutely did not disappoint. The plot is strong, fast-paced, and full of twists and revelations that keep happening nonstop. As Evangeline fights to understand her heart, her choices, and her destiny, the story blends magic, curses, love, and sacrifice in such a beautiful way. Jacks is easily one of my favorite romantasy characters ever — intense, strong, and deeply in love with Evangeline. And Evangeline herself is such a great heroine: she makes mistakes, but she’s not naïve. She grows, she learns, and she goes after what she wants and what she feels. This book wraps up the trilogy in the most satisfying way possible, leaving my heart full. Magical, emotional, romantic, and unforgettable. I loved it and I highly recommend it.

Wasn’t overly crazy about this book compared to the rest in the series due to apollos point of view but still a great read all the same.

I adored this book. I read it as the concluding part of the OUABH series. Everyone is back Jacks, Evangeline, Apollo, Castor, plus lots of baby dragons. New characters arrive in the form of a royal family, but are they reborn, resurrected, or released from hiding. Was drawn in from the start with Evangeline having lost her memories but knowing something was wrong with her marriage. Running into danger around every corner with only a mysterious but somehow familiar man always there to save her. Through her trials of trying to get her memories back right up to the incredible conclusion where I actually gasped when the curse claimed its unsuspecting victim (im not saying who). I have only one remaining question: What was it with Jacks and all the apples? Here's hoping the author revisits the Great North soon and decides to tell us. It is an absolutely magical story that takes you on a wonderful journey and allows an escape from whatever you are dealing with. Go ahead, read it, and thank me later.

I am not the target audience for this series, but I read this book in one day simply because I could not put it down. I need to know what would happen. A really well written series and delight to read. The book itself was in fantastic condition as it was brand new and it came very quickly.

This is arguably my favourite book series. I’ve read each one as it came out and reread them several times since. I reread 1 and 2 back to back in preparation before reading 3 so I feel I can pretty confidently say it’s not as strong as the first 2. It just feels less cohesive and fully thought out as a narrative. There are a few threads that are introduced but either not seen through to completion or just brushed over later with one line of exposition dialogue as if this adequately ties off threads for the reader. I usually advocate for as condensed a series as possible so i wouldn’t normally want this but it almost feels like this series could have either benefited from another book in the series to give adequate space to all these ideas or parts of the novel needed cutting entirely to free up that space. Too much of this book felt like ideas jotted down on a word document that had the note “flesh out later” attached, only later never came. Towards the end of the book it felt particularly disjointed, like the reader was getting bombarded with 10 or so plausible points at which the narrative could have ended only to see across the page an “and another thing!”point which broke the momentum. It felt like being in a car with a novice driver who doesn’t know how the pedals work yet as we stop and start… which was such a shame to end the book in this manner because 1 & 2 as I said felt like expertly crafted masterpieces that deftly guided the reader to climatic tension. Perhaps 3 will get better on a reread. But I think the ending was so rushed and the characters I had grown to know and love so radically changed in their behaviours in such a short span at the end i fail to see how it wouldn’t leave a taste just as sour the second time around. If I sound harsh it is because I am disappointed. The story we were given was good, but oh gods it could’ve been magnificent.

This book on its own is a 4.5 ⭐️ because it was really fun and so so cute. And some of the quotes in this book were immaculate! This series was so good and definitely a five star series for me and I’m sad that it’s now over. JACKS HAS MY HEART!! 🫶 I sped through this book in a night and I could not put it down! This series was an introduction to fantasy/ fairytale vibes for me and I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will say that I was happy with the ending however I would have liked to see more of Eva and Jacks together in this book, especially after having a lot of Apollo’s POV (though I can understand why we needed to see his POV). I loved Evangeline’s love proclamation and when she went to save him for once I really loved it and I teared up, that’s for sure Lastly all I’m going to say is I loved the scene at the Inn!! One bed trope!! Yes pls.

A wonderful conclusion to a trilogy that I have absolutely loved. With magic and romance, the story really takes you on an emotional journey before ending perfectly. Out of the three books, this one felt a bit slower paced and it felt like there was less going on in the story, though it wrapped all the threads of the narrative up nicely. The direction that one of the characters went in felt a bit jarring compared to how they were set up in the first two books but it made for an entertaining and gripping storyline. I'm so glad I read this trilogy and will be recommending it to anyone who loves fairytales but also to those who want to dip their toe into fantasy as this would be a fantastic introduction to the genre.

Each chapter draws you in. Was excited for the other two books.

This is a brilliant sequel. Great characters, interesting story Definitely worth a read

I thought I hated Once Upon a Broken Heart the first time I read it. I hated Evangeline’s delicate nature, I hated how hopeful and kind she was to people who were clearly going to wrong her. I disliked her forgiving nature and I couldn’t stand her naïveté. And then I found myself reading it again. And again. My heart raced when I realized there would be a second book. The Ballad of Never After broke my reluctant, cold heart into shattered pixie dust just as I realized why I kept rereading a story I claimed to hate. I wept in a way I’ve never wept over a book when I read those final few pages. I made other people read the series just so I had company in my suffering. It was at the end of Ballad that I realized that Evangeline was not a weak character. Being sweet and flowery and lovely and liking pretty things does not make one a weak character. A forgiving nature and sweetness don’t make a person weak. Someone who can remain kind in this cold world is much stronger than the cruelest warrior. Finally, after weeks of suffering, Stephanie put us all out of our misery and admitted there would be a third book. I put a countdown on my phone so I wouldn’t lose track of this final installment. Over the past few years I went from hating Evangeline’s gentle nature to fully loving her and loving who Jacks has become to suit her. She made him a better character and he made her a better character. As it turns out, I have loved this series from start to finish. No matter how harshly I criticized it in the beginning. I was only jealous of Evangeline for staying so kind while I had let myself become cold under similar pressures. This last book really tied it all together with a gauzy pink bow. It was part adventure, part fairytale, but my favorite part is the one where there is no true ending. Because that is the reality of true love. The truth is, I have my own Jacks. He has bright witty blue eyes that change in depth with his moods and curly blonde hair that turns white at the edges in the sun and a quicksilver smile that could trick the devil himself into selling his soul. My husband is my one true love, and after ten years of marriage and two kids I still feel the flutter in my heart every time I catch him staring at me over his cup of coffee when he should be paying attention to a work meeting. Much like Evangeline and Jacks, we write new pages to our love story every day. Our story didn’t end when we got married, it didn’t end with our first kiss or our first “I love you” or one of our many big fights. Because a true love story is continuous and the ending changes all of the time. Stephanie’s message was clear to me as someone who fought against the odds for true love even when it felt impossible at times. We battled social norms as two loony college kids in love and followed each other across the country from military bases to colleges and then to the alter to say our vows at only 22. The love that was written really struck me as an accurate depiction of what true love really takes: hard work and fortitude. You roll with the punches and make magic out of the small moments when the world feels too heavy. You love each other through every season, good and bad. Cruelty begets cruelty. Only love can help to thaw this cold, indifferent world. My advice? Fall in love, hard; and let it take you to the next page, and the next, and the next…

The last book of this series. The havoc and chaos Evangeline brings into the folds of her happily ever after makes this story worth reading. With her memories erased, she only seems more determined to get them back rather than sit back and self pity. Her handsome prince husband Apollo so loving and protective. It is everything Evangeline ever dreamed of and yet there is a hollowness and ache that only grows and questions further. Is this really her happily ever after? Who is this Archer who keeps rescuing her from danger? I found myself intrigued by the character arc of Apollo, he has his faults I agree. But he has also gone through so much in the last book. At one point, I actually believed that he truly loves Evangeline. Sometimes love does make you do twisted things. Jacks opened up so much more in this book, there were so many lines I couldn't stop myself from highlighting. The villain turns hero or the heartbroken hero who can destroy everything. Only when he's around her; he cannot help himself. I only wish there were more chapters on him. The supporting characters like Chaos, Lala, Aurora all added their own bit of magic into the plot. The descriptions and the setting blend in perfectly with the tale. The plot twists author unravels at an electrifying pace and the climax gracefully ends this beautiful tale. A must read series for all those who believe in fairytales and also for all those who don't.