Book Review of A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber
A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber is the breathlessly anticipated final book in the Broken Heart Trilogy, following Evangeline Fox as she continues her search for true love in the magical Magnificent North. As the third book in the series, it brings back the fairy tale atmosphere, high stakes, and unforgettable characters that made the previous books so addictive.
Here’s a short synopsis of the book:
“Evangeline Fox ventured to the Magnificent North in search of her happy ending, and it seems as if she has it. She’s married to a handsome prince and lives in a legendary castle. But Evangeline has no idea of the devastating price she’s paid for this fairytale. She doesn’t know what she has lost, and her husband is determined to make sure she never finds out. . . . but first he must kill Jacks, the Prince of Hearts.”
This book picks up right after the previous book, The Ballad of Never After, left off. I have a full review and summary of that book as well. I also have have a summary and review of the first book, Once Upon a Broken Heart.
Full Book Review Without Spoilers
A Curse for True Love is a breathlessly anticipated conclusion to the Broken Heart Trilogy, but while it was a good final installment of the Once Upon a Broken Heart series, it didn’t quite reach the magic of the previous books, especially The Ballad of Never After. As a romantasy reader, I still really enjoyed this third book, but it wasn’t the best in the entire series. Even though most threads were tied up and Evangeline Fox finally got her search of her happy ending, the ending felt rushed, and I was left wanting more of Jacks and his POV, especially after how much his presence shaped the whole series.
Despite that, this final book did a solid job wrapping up the Broken Heart series. There were emotional moments, romantic tension, and even a deadly battle near the Valory Arch that kept the stakes high. Most storylines were resolved, and it felt like a satisfying end overall—just a bit too fast in the final stretch. As a romantasy fan, I still recommend it. A Curse for True Love is a beautifully written, magical conclusion—a good book, just not the strongest in the trilogy.
Again, the best part of this book is the connection between Jacks and Evangeline. Their chemistry has always been the emotional core of the Broken Heart Trilogy, and even when she didn’t fully remember him, the pull of true love was still there. Watching them fight for each other, even when everything felt uncertain, was beautiful and bittersweet, and it reminded me why the romance in this book series is so unforgettable.
I’m already a fan of Stephanie Garber’s books because her writing creates such a vivid picture of the story in your head. It was so satisfying to see the curses, legends, and history of the world collide in the final installment of the Once Upon a Broken Heart series. The lore felt rich, layered, and important, and it made the final book feel truly epic—especially as we reached the deadly battle and the consequences of every choice became clear.
Characters
Like the first book and the second, the characters were again the best part. Evangeline remains such a strong main character, even while dealing with Evangeline’s lack of memories and fighting for a picture-perfect life she’s not sure is real.
Plot
The plot in this final book was constantly moving, with lots going on in a good way, including memory loss, dangerous bargains, and the idea of the devastating price of true love. There was never a dull moment, and the story kept me engaged from beginning to end.
Writing
One thing Stephanie Garber consistently does well is the fairy tale vibe—the legendary castle, the enchanted Magnificent North, the handsome prince, and the high stakes that make every chapter feel magical. Her writing is whimsical and immersive, and she creates characters you genuinely love reading about.
Full Book Review With Spoilers
You’ve been warned that from here on out there will be spoilers. Continue on to the conclusion section to avoid them.
If you’re a romantasy reader, this book series is absolutely worth it. The romance is intense, complicated, and unforgettable—especially with a morally gray Prince of Hearts who steals every scene. The stakes are high, the emotions are real, and the tension stays strong through all three books. Plus, the lush world building, myths, curses, and magical settings make this feel like a true fairy tale adventure. Even with its flaws, the Broken Heart series offers everything romantasy fans love: love against the odds, dangerous bargains, prophecies, iconic characters, and a story that keeps you turning pages. It’s a good book—and a great trilogy—that will stick with you long after the final page.
I really liked hearing Apollo’s POVs, because he’s such a complicated and morally gray character with his own motivations. That said, he’s not as good as the Prince of Hearts, Jacks, and I missed the charm, chaos, and emotional depth of Jacks’ POVs. His dynamic with “Little Fox” has always been the heart of Evangeline’s story, and I wish we got more of it here.
The biggest downside was the rushed ending. Major emotional moments and final decisions happened very quickly, and it left me wishing for a few extra chapters—or even an epilogue—to fully experience the payoff. The story was powerful, but the pacing at the end took away some of the depth it could have had.
I also wanted to hear more about what happened to the other characters, especially LaLa. And potentially Castor? I’m holding out hope we’ll get another series about those two next.
Pros of the Book
One of the strongest parts of A Curse for True Love was the romance. Even with Evangeline’s lack of memories and the emotional obstacles that came with that, the romantic tension remained compelling and heartfelt. The connection between Evangeline and Jacks—despite the distance, secrets, and sacrifices—still carried so much weight.
The second-best part was how all the myths and world building finally came together. This book brought full circle the prophecies, the Valory Arch, the magic of the Magnificent North, and all the little hints planted in the first book and previous books.
Cons of the Book
My least favorite part was how rushed the ending felt. After so much buildup across the entire series, I wanted more time to sit with the resolution and especially more of Jacks’ POVs.
Conclusion
A Curse for True Love was a magical and emotional conclusion to the Broken Heart Trilogy, even if it didn’t quite reach the peak of the previous books. The characters remained the heart of the story, the romance was deeply compelling, and the world of the Magnificent North was as enchanting as ever. While the ending felt rushed and I wanted more of Jacks’ POV, the final resolutions were still meaningful and satisfying.
I have a full summary of the book here if you need a refresher on any of the main points.
Rating-4.5 out of 5 stars
Honestly, I really enjoyed this whole series from start to finish. It has everything I love in romantasy—magic, curses, epic stakes, fairytale vibes, and of course, an unforgettable slow-burn romance. Evangeline and Jacks had me hooked from the very beginning, and even when things got messy (or heartbreaking), I couldn’t stop reading.
Who Would Enjoy Reading?
If you’re a romantasy reader, I truly think you’ll love this trilogy. It gives you tension, complicated characters, morally gray love interests, magical settings, prophecies, and that perfect blend of romance and fantasy. However, if you like spice in your romantasy, this is not the series or book for you.
What to Read After A Curse for True Love
If you liked this book as much as I did, either because of the characters or the writing style, check out more of my recommendations below.
The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
If you want a book with the same feel as this one, especially if you loved Evangeline and Jacks dynamic, try this one!
Dance of Thieves by Mary Pearson
Another great YA romantasy that has the same feel as this one is Dance of Thieves. Give this one a read for your next book.
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
If you want a book with very similar vibes on the romance side, but also want to try something a little different, this is a great option. I didn’t think I would like it, but now I love it!
