2021
WISE Score
Amazon
A whimsical, high-stakes 'be careful what you wish for' tale that proves making deals with hot, immortal jerks is usually a bad idea.
4.2
4.2View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
This is peak 'aesthetic fantasy.' It’s colorful, slightly dangerous, and very bingeable. Stephanie Garber knows how to write a hook, and while it's definitely a romance-heavy story, the world-building saves it from being just another teen drama.
If your kid liked the Caraval series or just wants a book they won't want to put down, this is a winner. It’s safe, smart, and way more imaginative than your average YA paperback. It's the kind of book that actually turns 'non-readers' into readers.
Perfect for 13 or 14 and up. It hits that 'sweet spot' for middle and high schoolers who want high-stakes fantasy and intense romance without the R-rated content found in 'New Adult' books.
The story centers on a girl trying to find true love, but the 'wholesome' vibe is tempered by a focus on manipulation, magical deals with 'wicked' beings, and a somewhat obsessive romantic tension. It's not toxic, but it's definitely moody.
Stephanie Garber is a master of atmospheric, whimsical world-building. The 'Magnificent North' is full of creative curses, sentient castles, and folklore that feels fresh rather than recycled.
For a YA novel, it's remarkably clean. There is plenty of romantic tension and 'yearning,' but no explicit sexual content. Violence is mostly of the magical/fairy-tale variety—blood curses and poisonous kisses rather than grit and gore.
It offers a solid exploration of agency and the idea that 'happily ever after' isn't something you can buy or bargain for. It encourages critical thinking about the 'prince charming' trope.
Stephanie Garber has basically cornered the market on fantasy that feels like a fever dream. If you’ve noticed your teen carrying a book with a literal broken heart on the cover, this is it. It’s the first in a trilogy that spun off from her Caraval series, but you don’t need to have read Caraval, Legendary, or Finale to jump in here.
The story follows Evangeline Fox, a girl who makes a deal with Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, to stop the love of her life from marrying someone else. It’s a classic "deal with the devil" setup, but flavored with sugar-coated magic that hides some fairly sharp teeth.
If your kid is on the reading side of social media, they’ve seen this book. It’s the poster child for the "aesthetic" fantasy movement. We aren't talking about gritty, map-heavy world-building with invented languages. This is about magic that smells like apples and heartbreak, and characters who wear elaborate gowns while making terrible life choices.
For parents, the win here is that it’s remarkably safe for how much tension it generates. In a market where many young adult books are secretly "New Adult" (which is code for "there is a very graphic scene on page 200"), Garber keeps things firmly in the realm of yearning and intense eye contact. If you’re wondering exactly where the line is drawn, our parent's guide to Once Upon a Broken Heart breaks down the specific "spiciness" level, which stays low despite the heavy romantic themes.
Most fantasy novels for this age group fall into two traps: they’re either too dense or too predictable. Garber avoids both by leaning into "fairy tale logic." In this world, rules are meant to be broken, and the "wicked" characters aren't always the ones you expect.
The 4.2 rating on Amazon isn't just from hardcore fans; it’s because the pacing is relentless. Each chapter ends on a hook that makes "just one more" a lie every kid tells themselves at 11:00 PM. It’s a great pick for "reluctant readers" because the prose is accessible and the stakes are immediately personal. It’s not about saving the kingdom; it’s about saving your own heart, which is a much more compelling hook for a thirteen-year-old.
The Prince of Hearts is the engine of this series. He’s the quintessential "morally grey" character. He’s manipulative, selfish, and potentially dangerous, but he’s written with enough charm that readers keep coming back.
This is a perfect opportunity to talk about boundaries. Evangeline spends a lot of the book being gaslit or manipulated by immortal beings. It’s not "toxic" in a way that ruins the story, but it’s definitely a theme worth noting. If your kid loved the high-stakes drama of the author's previous work, they’ll find the same DNA here, just with a more focused, romantic lens.
One heads-up: the ending is a cliffhanger. If they finish this one, be prepared to have the sequels ready, or you'll be making a late-night trip to the bookstore.
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