A Curse for True Love

A Curse for True Love
Author	Stephanie Garber
Cover Artist	Erin Fitzsimmons
Genre	Fantasy Young Adult Romance
Release Date	October 24, 2023
Publisher	Flatiron Books
Chronology
Previous	The Ballad of Never After

“	For anyone who's ever hoped for a second chance.	”
—Stephanie Garber, A Curse for True Love

A Curse for True Love is the third and final book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart series. It was released on October 24, 2023.

Synopsis

Two villains, one girl, and a deadly battle for happily ever after.

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.

Blood will be shed, hearts will be stolen, and true love will be put to the test in ‘A Curse for True Love,’ the breathlessly anticipated conclusion to the Once Upon A Broken Heart trilogy.

Quotes

“I am a monster, but whether you remember it or not, I’m your monster, Evangeline.” - Jacks

"Please, Little Fox, remember." - Jacks

Characters

• Evangeline Fox: the protagonist of the Once Upon A Broken Heart series. She resided at Wolf Hall in the Magnificent North with her husband, Apollo. She had no memories of her time the Magnificent North, from as far back as when she first met Luc.
• Apollo Titus Acadian: the prince of the Magnificent North. Honora Valor broke his Archer curse, meaning he would no longer be out of control trying to hunt Evangeline. He stole her memories, coaxing her to trust him. He found a tree that would grant him immortality, with the price being the life of the person he loves he most. He brought Evangeline, thinking the tree would take her, but it did not.
• Aurora Valor: the daughter of Honora and Wolfric Valor, and Chaos' sister. She was an old friend of Jacks before she died, centuries ago. She helped Apollo take Evangeline's memories, and took Jacks' heart in a deal to keep Evangeline safe.
• Kristof Knightlinger: writer of The Daily Rumor in the Magnificent North, known as scandal sheets. He was Kutlass Knightlinger's cousin. He snuck into Evangeline's chamber behind the doctors, pretending to be one of them. He offered her a business card in hopes she would visit him to talk and answer questions.
• Wolfric Valor: the oldest king of the Magnificent North. He was trapped in the Valory for centuries, until Evangeline opened it. Apollo gave his family a home in Merrywood Manor, and allowed Wolfric to be part of the Council of Great Houses. He made him a Great House, House Vale.

Fates

• Jacks: also known as the Prince of Hearts, and Lord Jacks, was a Fate. He fought to protect Evangeline and bring her memories back. Evangeline helped him break his own curse.
• Lala: also known as the Unwed Bride or Ariel Lagrimas, was a Fate. She was Evangeline and Jack's friend. She helped Evangeline save Jacks from Aurora.
• Chaos: also known as the Lord of the Order of Spies and Assassins, was a Fate and a vampire. He helped Jacks and Evangeline to find the stones to open the Valory Arch. He was revealed to be Castor Valor, a prince presumed to be dead for hundreds of years, and Jacks' oldest friend. Castor was the monster the Valor's created.

Background Characters

• Madame Voss: Evangeline's tutor on royal life. Her hair was silver, and her face had deep-set smile lines.
• Honora Valor: a long dead royal of the Magnificent North, and Chaos' mother. One of the people that created the Valory Arch. She removed the helm from Chaos' head, freeing him to feed, and cured Apollo's curses.
• Martine: Evangeline's maid. She was originally from the Meridian Empire. Apollo believed her presence may have helped Evangeline adjust without her memories.
• Garrick: also known as Garrick of the Greenwood, he was the leader of the Guild of Heroes. He had a thick beard concealing half of his face, the other half covered by a black mask. He had a low and rasping voice, and tattoos on his fingers. Garrick refused to take orders from Evangeline, not afraid to hurt her to get what he wanted. He had a pet raven named Argos.
• Dr. Irvis Stillgrass: a senior physician hired by Apollo to keep track if any of Evangeline's memories returned. He was a bearded man with spectacles perched on the tip of his pointed nose.
• Telma and Yrell: Dr. Stillgrass' apprentices. They took notes of Evangeline's condition to report back to the prince.
• Robin Slaughterwood: Lord of House Slaughterwood. Apollo employed him to find Vengeance Slaughterwood's cuff, a magical cuff. He was unable to find the cuff, but instead gave Apollo a scroll that would set alight each time it was read. His engagement to Lala had ended.
• Lord Byron Belleflower: a disagreeable man who did not get along with Apollo. He was Lord of House Belleflower. Byron welcomed Lord Vale to the Council of Great Houses before urging Apollo to answer questions about Evangeline. Petra Youngblood had been his lover before Evangeline killed her.
• Lady Casstel: Lady of the Great House, House Casstel. She was one of the oldest and wisest council members. She agreed with Byron to prove that Evangeline was not a traitor to the Crown.
• Maximilian Fox: Evangeline's father. He died a couple of months before Once Upon A Broken Heart was set. Liana was his wife. He owned multiple stores, with his main store being 'Maximilian's Curiosities, Whimsies & Other Oddities'.
• Liana Fox: Evangeline's mother and Maximilian's wife. She came from the Magnificent North, and would tell Evangeline stories that she grew up with. Liana died a few years before the books were set.
• Leif, Raven, and Thomas: members of the Guild of Heroes. They worked under Garrick's leadership.
• Dane Valor: Wolfric and Honora's son. He could shift into a dragon. He was Lala's true love, and the reason she was unable to get married.
• Lysander Valor: Wolfric and Honora's son. His magical gift involved memories.

Guards

• Havelock: was Apollo's personal guard. He also looked after Evangeline. It was revealed he was aware of the slashing Apollo and Evangeline experienced on their backs, under the hand of Tiberius.
• Yeats: the oldest of the Evangeline's guards. He had a smooth shaven head and a neat, black mustache. He refused to take her out of Wolf Hall.
• Brixley, Quillborne, and Rookwood: younger guards, they were ready to prove to Evangeline that they were strong enough to protect her. They puffed out their chests, silently challenging Yeats' orders.
• Hansel and Victor: replacements to Evangeline's previous guards. She believed them to be brothers. They both had cleft chins, thin necks, and red mustaches. Apollo had them killed when they lost Evangeline in the Wishing Garden, and she was pushed into the well.
• Joff and Hale: guards that found Evangeline on the ground in the Wishing Garden, drenched in water. They escorted Evangeline to the Hunt. They were excited to tell her what it was about. Lord Belleflower killed Hale while trying to assassinate Evangeline for what she did to Petra.

Trivia

• The book has 3 bonus epilogues that were released in three separate exclusive editions. Stephanie recommends reading them in this order: Barnes and Noble, Waterstones, and Owl Crate.
• The bonus content for the Barnes and Noble Exclusive Edition and the Waterstones edition is in Evangeline's point of view.
• The book has three points of view. Evangeline's, Jacks's and Apollo's.
• The tree on the book cover plays a significant part in the story.
• Three words Stephanie would use to describe A Curse for True Love are: Heart-stealing, emotionally-devastating, and painfully-romantic.
• The book was originally slated for a September 12, 2023 release date. However, the date changed to October 24.
• An alternate storyline Stephanie thought for the book was Chaos kidnapping Evangeline at the beginning and everyone meeting up trying to find her.

Gallery

Promotional

Alternate Book Covers