The Final Act of Evangeline & Jacks: A Book Review of Stephanie Garber's A Curse For True Love

Hcobler
Aug 23
2 min read

Title: A Curse For True Love

Author: Stephanie Garber

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

Finished 8/22/25

Memorable Passages:

I loved how Stephanie Garber wove the history of the Magnificent North into the present-day storyline. She invites the reader to decide for themselves: is this new character a monster or a hero? That ambiguity—rooted in myth and emotion—was one of the most compelling parts of the book.

What is it about? 📖

A Curse for True Love is the final installment in Stephanie Garber’s trilogy, following Once Upon a Broken Heart and The Ballad of Never After. We continue the journey of Jacks, the Fate of Broken Hearts, and Evangeline, a girl swept into a magical world where love is anything but simple.

In the previous books, Evangeline discovers she’s fallen for her one true love—Jacks—and this final chapter throws some unexpected twists into their story. It explores how love isn’t perfect, isn’t always easy, and isn’t something you can outrun, forget, or overpower. New villains and heroes emerge, and by the end, it’s up to the reader to decide: does love truly conquer all?

What I Liked 💭

Even after reading the first two books, this one still managed to surprise me. There were twists I didn’t see coming, and moments that made me pause and think, “How does she come up with this stuff?” Stephanie Garber’s imagination feels endless. The story is gripping, fascinating, and completely immersive—I just wanted to keep reading and reading and reading.

What I Didn't Like 😕

The ending felt rushed. The beginning was beautifully done—layered, thoughtful, and emotionally rich—but the final chapters seemed to sprint toward the finish. It made sense narratively, but emotionally, it felt a little out of sync with the rest of the series. Maybe that was intentional—to show that love doesn’t always wrap up neatly, that it just.... is. Still, it was my least favorite part of the book.

Final Overall Rating

This is not simply an average of the previous 3 ratings, but its own rating about how all the separate pieces came together and if it is worth your time to read it!

Story: 🪶🪶🪶🪶✧ (4/5 Quills)
Writing Style: 🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶 (5/5 Quills)
Overall Enjoyment: 🪶🪶🪶🪶✧ (4/5 Quills)

A well-crafted novel with thoughtful storytelling, compelling prose, and immersive themes. Though minor flaws prevent it from achieving perfection, it is a rewarding and worthwhile read that lingers after the final page.

🪶🪶🪶🪶✧