For readers drawn to dark-fairytale fantasy romance, Once Upon a Broken Heart delivers on its core promise: an intriguing premise built around a dangerous bargain, a plot Kirkus Reviews credits with "welcome surprises," and what Publishers Weekly calls Garber's "exquisitely imagined worldbuilding and her trademark heady romance." Fellow #1 New York Times bestselling author Isabel Ibañez describes it as "edgy, dark, and gorgeously written" and "heart-pounding, fresh, and addictive." The key caveat, per Kirkus, is that the writing can veer from clever to overly verbose, and the fantasy world-building is unevenly developed — so readers who prioritize tightly constructed fantasy systems and restrained prose may find Garber's maximalist approach more frustrating than immersive.

Best for readers ages 13 and up. Flatiron Books targets the novel at ages 13–18, and Amazon's grade-level designation of grades 7–9 positions it at the younger end of young adult fiction. The dark-fairytale content — including a bargain with a lethal immortal figure and themes of heartbreak and dangerous consequences — suits the maturity range of teen readers without requiring prior familiarity with Garber's Caraval universe.

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Stephanie Garber

About This Author

Published

April 9, 2026

Read Time

8 min read

Reader rating

4.2

· 35,187 Amazon ratings

reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score

$9.99 on Amazon

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Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber Review: Dark Fairytale Fantasy With Addictive Danger

by Stephanie Garber

Once Upon a Broken Heart is the first novel in Stephanie Garber's #1 New York Times bestselling series of the same name, published by Flatiron Books on September 28, 2021. It follows Evangeline Fox, a true believer in love and happy endings, who strikes a perilous bargain with the wicked Prince of Hearts — trading three kisses for his help stopping her beloved's wedding — only to discover that dealing with an immortal Fate carries consequences far darker than she imagined. Kirkus Reviews calls it "a lushly written story with an intriguing heart," and critical coverage praises Garber's "exquisitely imagined worldbuilding and her trademark heady romance," though Kirkus also notes that the fantasy world-building is unevenly developed and the writing can veer into the verbose. The series opener is designed to be accessible to readers new to Garber's Caraval universe while expanding it in significant new directions.

LuvemBooks Verdict

Best for

Readers aged 13–18 who love dark fairytale romance, morally ambiguous supernatural figures, and emotionally driven heroines — whether they're already fans of the Caraval trilogy or looking for a compelling entry point into Garber's world.

Worth it if

The dangerous-bargain premise, lush atmosphere, and an unpredictable plot centred on an immortal antihero are what you're there for — this delivers those in abundance.

Skip if

Readers who prize tightly constructed fantasy systems and restrained prose are likely to find Garber's maximalist, occasionally confusing prose style and haphazard world-building a persistent frustration.

What readers & critics say

Kirkus Reviews awarded the novel a starred verdict, praising its "well-rounded" themes of love, story, and belief and noting "welcome surprises" in the plot, while also flagging writing that "fluctuates from clever and original to overly verbose" and fantasy elements that are "haphazardly incorporated without enough time devoted to building a cohesive world." Book blog Bookish Wayfarer describes it as "a dazzling fantasy replete with intriguing characters, romance, and a captivating plot," and notes it can be enjoyed without prior knowledge of the Caraval trilogy.

“A lushly written story with an intriguing heart.”

— Kirkus Reviews

Sources: Kirkus Reviews, Bookish Wayfarer

4.2from 35,187 Amazon ratings— reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score

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Once Upon a Broken Heart is the first entry in Stephanie Garber's #1 New York Times bestselling series, following Evangeline Fox as she strikes a dangerous bargain with the immortal Prince of Hearts — trading three kisses to stop her beloved's wedding, only to find the price far darker than she imagined. Atmosphere, premise, and a genuinely unpredictable plot power the novel's devoted readership, with Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly praising its thematic depth and "exquisitely imagined worldbuilding." Readers who thrive on dark-fairytale romance and morally ambiguous supernatural figures will find it engineered for their tastes, though those who prize tightly constructed fantasy systems and restrained prose may find Garber's maximalist approach frustrating.

Is it worth reading?: For readers drawn to dark-fairytale fantasy romance, Once Upon a Broken Heart delivers on its core promise: an intriguing premise built around a dangerous bargain, a plot Kirkus Reviews credits with "welcome surprises," and what Publishers Weekly calls Garber's "exquisitely imagined worldbuilding and her trademark heady romance." Fellow #1 New York Times bestselling author Isabel Ibañez describes it as "edgy, dark, and gorgeously written" and "heart-pounding, fresh, and addictive." The key caveat, per Kirkus, is that the writing can veer from clever to overly verbose, and the fantasy world-building is unevenly developed — so readers who prioritize tightly constructed fantasy systems and restrained prose may find Garber's maximalist approach more frustrating than immersive.
Similar books: Readers who enjoy Once Upon a Broken Heart tend to gravitate toward other dark, lushly written fantasy romances. V.E. Schwab's The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue shares the theme of a desperate bargain with an immortal figure and Schwab's signature atmospheric prose. Amber V. Nicole's The Book of Azrael and Kerri Maniscalco's Kingdom of the Feared both deliver the morally complex supernatural romance and dark-fairytale energy that define Garber's appeal. Rachel Gillig's One Dark Window offers a similarly immersive fantasy world with a dangerous, morally ambiguous supernatural presence. For readers drawn to the fairytale retelling angle, Rachel Hochhauser's Lady Tremaine explores classic archetypes through a fresh, character-driven lens.
Who should read this?: Once Upon a Broken Heart is engineered for readers of young adult fantasy romance who love dark-fairytale premises, morally ambiguous supernatural figures, and emotionally driven heroines. Flatiron Books targets the novel at ages 13–18, and it is specifically well-suited to fans of lush, atmospheric prose and heady romance — the same readership that made the Caraval trilogy a global phenomenon. Existing Garber fans will appreciate the expansion into the mystical North and the foregrounding of the Fates, while newcomers to her fiction will find it a self-contained, accessible entry point. Those who prioritize tightly constructed fantasy systems or restrained prose are less likely to find it satisfying.
What age is it for?: Best for readers ages 13 and up. Flatiron Books targets the novel at ages 13–18, and Amazon's grade-level designation of grades 7–9 positions it at the younger end of young adult fiction. The dark-fairytale content — including a bargain with a lethal immortal figure and themes of heartbreak and dangerous consequences — suits the maturity range of teen readers without requiring prior familiarity with Garber's Caraval universe.
About Stephanie Garber: Stephanie Garber is an American author of young adult fiction known for the Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart series, which are interconnected trilogies.
Why is this book trending?: Stephanie Garber's Once Upon a Broken Heart is having a real moment on BookTok, with readers sharing reading order guides, spice-level breakdowns, and unboxing videos for a new pink edition of the book. The dark-fairytale romance premise and Garber's already-devoted fanbase make it a natural fit for the platform's romantasy community, and the surge in visibility is bringing both new readers and returning fans back to the series.
What are the main themes?: Kirkus Reviews credits Once Upon a Broken Heart with well-rounded thematic substance, noting that "the themes of love, the power of story, family influence, and holding onto belief are well rounded and add depth." The concept of the Fates as a functioning religious system within the world is singled out as a source of genuine thematic interest. At its core, the novel asks what lengths someone will go to for a happily ever after — a question it filters through the dark-romantic tradition of morally complex fairytale storytelling.
How diverse is the cast?: Kirkus Reviews notes that Evangeline and several other central human characters read as White, with Luc described as having brown skin. Broader diversity is present among the fantasy races of the world rather than in the primary human cast — a pattern Kirkus flags as a notable limitation of the novel's representation. It is a considered observation from a major review outlet rather than a fringe complaint.

Summarize this book

Is it worth reading?

Who should read this?

What age is it for?

About Stephanie Garber

Why is this book trending?

What are the main themes?

How diverse is the cast?

Summarize this book

Once Upon a Broken Heart follows Evangeline Fox, a young woman whose lifelong faith in true love is shattered when Luc — the man she loves — announces he will marry her stepsister Marisol. Desperate, she strikes a bargain with the Prince of Hearts, one of the immortal beings known as Fates: three kisses, given at times and places of his choosing, in exchange for his help stopping the wedding. What unfolds is a dark, magical journey set partly in the mystical North of Garber's Caraval universe, in which Evangeline discovers the Prince of Hearts wants far more than she pledged — and the outcome will be either the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy. The novel is the first in a four-book series and is written to be fully accessible to readers new to the Caraval universe.

Follow up

Who is the Prince of Hearts?

Is it a standalone or part of a series?

What is the mystical North?

Synthesized from verified book data & published reviews · How we review

Press Enter to ask. Answers come from our editorial Q&A — start typing to see related questions.

Age & Reading Level

Recommended age

Ages 12–15

Reading level

Young adult

Browse all 12–15 books

2 content notes · who it suits

Content to know about

dangerous bargain with a lethal immortal figure

heartbreak and emotional manipulation

Best for: Ages 13+ — dark-fairytale content involving a bargain with a lethal immortal and themes of heartbreak and dangerous consequences suit the maturity range of teen readers

Skip if you want tightly constructed fantasy world-building and restrained, precise prose

Our Review

Garber's series opener is an enchanting but uneven young adult fantasy that earns its devoted readership through atmosphere, premise, and a genuinely unpredictable plot — even as its world-building strains under the weight of its ambition.

What the Book Is and What Happens

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber front cover

Once Upon a Broken Heart centers on Evangeline Fox, a young woman whose lifelong faith in true love is shattered when Luc — the man she loves — announces he will marry her kind but distant stepsister, Marisol. Desperate and heartbroken, Evangeline turns not to friends or family but to the Prince of Hearts, one of the immortal beings known as Fates, a figure famed for his lethal kisses and his heart said to be waiting for revival by his one true love. The bargain they strike is deceptively simple on its surface: three kisses, given at times and places of the Prince of Hearts' choosing. What follows, as the publisher's synopsis makes clear, is a dark and magical journey in which Evangeline learns that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she pledged — and that the outcome will be either "the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy." The novel is set partly in the mystical North, a region of Garber's broader Caraval universe steeped in fantastical creatures and lore that the earlier Caraval trilogy had only gestured toward.

Significance and Place in the Genre

Garber arrives at this series already established as a #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author, with her Caraval trilogy translated into more than thirty languages. Once Upon a Broken Heart opens a four-book series and represents a deliberate expansion of her fictional world into new territory. The novel engages directly with fairytale archetypes — the desperate bargain, the wicked immortal, the hopeful heroine — while filtering them through the dark-romantic register that defined Caraval. For the young adult fantasy-romance genre, the book's central proposition (what lengths will someone go to for a happily ever after?) positions it within a tradition of morally complex fairytale retellings, though it is an original story rather than a direct retelling of any single source tale. Blurb praise from fellow authors reflects the book's reception in its genre community: Isabel Ibañez, herself a #1 New York Times bestselling author, describes it as "edgy, dark, and gorgeously written," calling it "heart-pounding, fresh, and addictive."

Strengths: Atmosphere, Theme, and Surprise

Kirkus Reviews, in its starred-verdict notice, credits the novel with thematic substance, noting that "the themes of love, the power of story, family influence, and holding onto belief are well rounded and add depth." The concept of the Fates as a functioning religious system within the world is singled out as a source of genuine interest. The plot is noted by Kirkus to contain "welcome surprises," and the large supporting cast generates curiosity. Critical coverage, as cited by the publisher, highlights Garber's "exquisitely imagined worldbuilding and her trademark heady romance" as defining assets. The novel is also structured around a single point of view — Evangeline's — a choice that, as noted by the book blog Bookish Wayfarer, tightens narrative suspense and sustains mystery throughout. Importantly, the book is written to stand independently for readers who have not encountered the Caraval trilogy, making it a genuine entry point rather than a sequel-in-disguise.

Limitations: Prose and World-Building Consistency

Kirkus Reviews is frank about the book's weaknesses. The writing style, the review notes, "fluctuates from clever and original to overly verbose and often confusing in its jumble of senses." World-building is identified as the more structural concern: "other fantasy elements are haphazardly incorporated without enough time devoted to building a cohesive world." The large cast, while intriguing, is noted as underdeveloped — readers are left wanting more time with characters who are introduced but not fully explored. These are not fringe reader complaints but the considered judgment of a major review outlet. On representation, Kirkus observes that Evangeline and several other central characters read as White, with diversity present among the fantasy races of the world rather than in the central human cast, though Luc is described as having brown skin.

Who This Book Is For

Flatiron Books targets the novel at readers aged 13–18, and the Amazon grade-level designation of grades 7–9 reflects its positioning within the younger end of young adult fiction. Readers drawn to fairytale-inflected fantasy with a dark-romantic core, morally ambiguous supernatural figures, and an emotionally driven heroine will find the book engineered precisely for their tastes. Those who prioritize tightly constructed fantasy systems and restrained prose may find Garber's maximalist approach frustrating. For readers already fond of the Caraval series, the expansion into the North and the introduction of the Fates as foregrounded figures rather than background mythology offers substantive new territory. For newcomers, the book's self-contained accessibility makes it a viable starting point for one of young adult fantasy's most commercially successful ongoing series.

Sources & Further Reading

The key facts and claims in this review are grounded in the retrieved, verified sources listed below.

Cited in this review
1
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber | Read & Discuss on Fable
fable.co
2
ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART | Kirkus Reviews
kirkusreviews.com
Further reading
3
Stephanie Garber — author profile
Stephanie Garber, Wikipedia
4
Review: Once upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber — bookish wayfarer
bookishwayfarer.com
5
Review | Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart #1) by Stephanie Garber – heavenlybookish
heavenlybookish.be
6
Review: Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber - Utopia State of Mind
utopia-state-of-mind.com
7
Once Upon A Broken Heart — thetypedwriter
thetypedwriter.com
8
Once Upon a Broken Heart - Stephanie Garber Book Review
thequilltolive.com
9
Review: Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber - The Story Sanctuary
thestorysanctuary.com
10
Book Review: Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber – Worn Pages and Ink
wornpagesandink.ca
11
Once Upon a Broken Heart
us.macmillan.com
12
Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart Series #1) by Stephanie Garber, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
barnesandnoble.com

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Why It’s Trending

BookTok Is Buzzing About Once Upon a Broken Heart Right Now

Stephanie Garber's Once Upon a Broken Heart is having a real moment on BookTok, with readers sharing aesthetics, character deep-dives, and reading order guides. Fan enthusiasm is running high across the whole Caraval universe right now.

If you've been anywhere near BookTok lately, you've probably seen Evangeline Fox and Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, popping up on your feed. Readers are actively posting about the book's aesthetic, debating how spicy it is, and sharing 'movies like Once Upon a Broken Heart' roundups — the kind of organic, enthusiastic content that tends to pull a lot of new readers in. Stephanie Garber herself has been engaging with fans on TikTok, answering questions about the Caraval universe and Once Upon a Broken Heart at a Disneyland event, which has only added fuel to the fire. There's also a broader wave of interest in Garber's whole book universe right now. Fans are figuring out reading orders that now include her newer title Spectacular, and Illumicrate just dropped a Once Upon a Broken Heart-themed journal notebook, which signals that the fandom is alive and spending. When merchandise starts appearing and authors are doing fan Q&As, it's usually a sign that a book has a genuinely passionate community behind it — not just a passing trend. If you haven't started this series yet, now is a great time to jump in. The first book is designed to be accessible even if you haven't read Caraval, so there's no homework required. It's a lushly romantic fantasy with a morally complicated love interest and a heroine who learns the hard way that bargaining with immortal Fates is a terrible idea — in the most entertaining way possible.

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