The Ballad of Never After

This book is a mystery tied with the threads of fate wrapped up in magic delivered by hot air balloon.

I don't think I've ever read a book that was so equally balanced with magic and emotion.

I felt myself drawn into this world, where Evangaline, Jack's, Apollo, La La, Chaos, and a certain someone built this story that intrigued and mesmerized me equally.

I will say that the ending broke me, I cried and wanted to rage for Evangaline, what she lost, and what her future might hold.

The story itself was a dream to listen to Rebecca Soler seems to pour life into the story she's telling the listener. It truly feels as if someone is telling you a story, wrapping you into this fantasy and keeping you there until the very last word.

I have to say this is my new favorite Stephanie Garber book, for that matter it's now my top book of the year.

Now for all the spoiler filled stuff.....

So Evangaline is still mourning Apollo when the new prince shows up who happens to be Luc, yep that Luc and he's a vampire under Chaos.

Right about this time E finds out that Apollo is still alive but in a suspended state, I know right omg.

At this point Apollo wakes up but is cursed (again) to believe he's the archer and E is his fox but there's a twist, any knjury or pain E feels A feels and vice versa, so if he fulfilled the curse and killed E he would kill himself as well but of course he doesn't know that.

All of this to say at one point A is tortured, LaLa the unwed bride is shown to be the one who cursed A and E and she can't undo it.

Hang with me here people this book was chock full of interesting tidbits.

The entire time E is feeling a pull to Jack's but thinks it's the mirth stone, yes they find all the stones, and you'd think that would mean a happily ever after but ohhh you'd be wrong.

They put the stones in the arch for Chaos to go in so he can remove his helm, it turns out the Valors (yes the original royal family) are what's in the vault and wait for it, Chaos is one of the Valor children, now here it gets dark, Chaos hasn't fed in hundreds of years soooo yeah E becomes a snack and dies.... as much as anyone in this book dies, Jack's makes a sacrifice, and the world turns upside down....

The last chapter had me sitting on my kitchen floor crying it ripped my heart out so much and even at the end, im not sure exactly who E should trust and who is worthy of her love.