The Ballad of Never After
Photo of Thequeen

Thequeen &
The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber

Format
Hardcover
Edition
ISBN 9781250268426

Reviews

Photo of ma
ma@blondsuperman
4.5 stars
Feb 25, 2025

Não há nada que seja mais valioso para mim.

Photo of Tsu 💙
Tsu 💙@tinywaves
5 stars
Jan 22, 2025

I keep falling in love with this series more and more with each book, I swear. The plot Twists in this trilogy is better than the ones in caraval (i said what i said).


I almost gave it 4⭐️ bc of that shocking end... but I loved it too much to do that.

+4
Photo of 開花
開花@balintataw

sometimes, you just need to enjoy the story without scrutinizing every detail. had fun and that is all that matters (i love u jacks).

Photo of C
C@carinaa
5 stars
Nov 23, 2024

At this point, I’m used with reading in third pov after their first book Once Upon a Broken Heart. It was veryy nerve wrecking, this book. But the cliffhanger at the ending tho.. IT’S MADDENING. And the third book is yet to be out. It’s still months away, I just hope by then, I’ll still remember the plot.

+2
Photo of Jessica
Jessica@jessley
5 stars
Oct 25, 2024

Noooo 😭😭😭😭

Photo of hillary pebworth
hillary pebworth @elariareads
5 stars
Oct 1, 2024

Broke my heart.

+6
Photo of Gabriela Kondratyuk
Gabriela Kondratyuk@buginasunflower
5 stars
Aug 24, 2024

Oh. My. God.

Photo of jus
jus@stilesrick
4 stars
Jul 30, 2024

i liked this one better then the first one

Photo of máru
máru@g0ddaespace
4 stars
Jul 20, 2024

** spoiler alert ** JACKS, WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BE WITH HER??!?!

Photo of Jennifer Gosnell
Jennifer Gosnell@jennifereveann
4 stars
Jul 19, 2024

The ending was really intriguing and definitely means I’ll be reading book #3. I kind of had to draaag myself through 2/3rds of this book — even though I did enjoy most of it. It was just very meandering, and I’m not in love with the “wonderland/down the rabbit hole” style of storytelling. But overall, quite enjoyable.

Photo of Carolina
Carolina@haochae
5 stars
Jul 9, 2024

“There is nothing of equal value to me” i’m going to throw up i love jacks so much💔💔

Photo of Shannon C
Shannon C@shannonhaleyy
5 stars
Jul 5, 2024

WTF. SHAKING SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP..................... UR KIDDING ME

Photo of Nala
Nala@greyscales
5 stars
Jul 2, 2024

Oh Jackss😍😍😍

Photo of Haley
Haley@massahc
5 stars
Jun 22, 2024

What was that ending

This review contains a spoiler
+3
Photo of Luoyi
Luoyi@emzshen
5 stars
Jun 14, 2024

finished this book 4 hours into a 13 hour flight and literally could not stop thinking about what would happen next😭 make sure you have the third book ready unlike me

+4
Photo of Nanthanat Chompradist
Nanthanat Chompradist@kkwannntn
5 stars
Jun 9, 2024

Aghhhhhhh!!!! Don't talk to me. I'm heartbroken. LISTEN, I won't believe any 'I love you.' The only thing I want is, 'There is nothing of equal value to me (than you)'"💔💔💔💔 Imo, this book is even better than the first book. The last 100 pages are impossible to put down. I was binge-reading until 4 am. I might come back to write a more detailed review later.

Photo of Anjorin Molayo
Anjorin Molayo @bookishtems
5 stars
Jun 1, 2024

“Sorry to break your fairytale, Little Fox, but ballads don’t end happily, and neither do the two of us.” I’M LITERALLY CRYING! THE ANGST. God, i can’t deal with this. I didn’t expect this! damn.

Photo of kalenga
kalenga @sillkpetalls
5 stars
May 15, 2024

days later and i still don’t know how to put all my thoughts into one review. just know i loved it and i’m in desperate need for the third book.

Photo of Winona
Winona@aphroleic
5 stars
May 13, 2024

what the actual fuck

Photo of Winona Santiago
Winona Santiago@aphrolea
5 stars
May 13, 2024

what the actual fuck

Photo of arwen
arwen@corienrielle
4 stars
May 5, 2024

i dont want to be perceived. i will not be answering any questions

Photo of Mirror
Mirror@mirroaror
3 stars
Apr 30, 2024

This book gave me a lot of conflicting feelings. On one hand, I absolutely adore Evangeline and Jacks as individual characters, but on the other, I feel so frustrated whenever they interact with one another (except for the part in the Hollow and toward the end). It's clear that this book is character-driven and not plot-driven. However, I felt that the character development progressed quite slowly, and I didn't see the changes manifest in the characters. My frustrations towards the book still didn't stop me from sobbing at the end though. 

Photo of maya
maya@starveil
5 stars
Apr 29, 2024

i feel dizzy

Photo of Laura
Laura@viviwind
4.5 stars
Apr 24, 2024

the best book of the trilogy it’s so GOOD

+5

Highlights

Photo of Bia || Alpi
Bia || Alpi @bkshelfb

So, you think they're all doomed? Evangeline would ask.


Then her mother would smile, sweet and warm as fresh sugar pie. Not at all, my precious girl. I think there's a happy ending for everyone. But I don't think these endings always follow the last page of a book, or that everyone is guaranteed to find their happy ever after. Happy endings can be caught, but they are difficult to hold on to. They are dreams that want to escape the night. They are treasure with wings. They are wild, feral, reckless things that need to be constantly chased, or they will certainly run away.

Page 32
Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice raw from all the crying, "but I have no idea who you are."

He smiled wider, which seemed an odd response to her confession. But his voice was nothing but soothing as he said, "I’m your husband.”

no you’re a piece of shit with a stick up his ass but that’s a really long way to introduce yourself ig

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

There was a blankness in her mind. She knew something had been stolen, but she had no idea what it was. With her body weakened, she fought to lock him out of her mind, to hide her remaining memories, but one by one he plucked them out. The night in the crypt with Jacks... gone. Marrying Apollo ... gone. ...

well the marrying apollo being gone wasn’t too bad BUT THE RESR IS DUCKING INDANE APOLLO NEED STO BE LOCKED UP

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

If the story curse could have breathed, it would have held its breath. It hoped the queen would say yes. Yes to bringing her back, to turning her into another terrible immortal.

tough luck evangeline

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

The girl was dead. If her lifeless body had not confirmed it, then it would have been made clear by the horrible scream of the Fate who held her in his arms. The story curse was familiar with pain, but this was agony, the sort of raw grief that was only seen once in a century. The Fate was every tear that anyone had ever shed.

NOW WHAT FHE FUCK

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

"Is that really you?" Honora had a slight accent that spoke of times before and a voice just as delicate as her appearance. "Castor?"

ummmmmmmmm

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

I told you that I killed her, but I didn't say how." A dangerous intensity slipped into Jacks's voice. "I didn't tell you that I ran away, that I tried to leave her so I wouldn't hurt her. I didn't know ifI really loved her, or if my feelings were all from the curse, because it wouldn't let me stop thinking about her. But she had more faith in me than I did. She chased after me. She was convinced I really loved her and that I could fight the curse. And I did. I never laid a hand on her. I overcame the Archer's curse. But it didn't matter, because as soon as I kissed her, she died.”

oh…ohhhh

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

He spoke each word like a vow. "I want to erase every moment you and i have spent together, every word you've said to me, and every time l've touched you, because if I don't, I'l kill you, just like I killed the Fox."

right so have a kitkat maybe and take a break idk

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

She meant to say, For tonight, I'm yours, but all that came out was "I'm yours."

yeah cause that was totally a mistake

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

"I can see why Jacks likes you. You're a bit like her, you know?"

"Like who?" Evangeline asked.

The Handsome Stranger rubbed his jaw. "He wouldn't be happy if he knew I said this, but if you're not careful, you'll end up like her as well."

"Like who?" Evangeline repeated.

"His first fox."

oh! (i saw this coming) oh!

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

"Do you still think of me as just a tool?

Jacks frowned. "I try not to think of you at all."

suffocated myself with a pillow thanks

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

She shouted at him as he left the tavern. "Why do you want to open the Valory Arch?"

A frustrated growl came from Jacks's throat. His footsteps halted just past the door. Then, almost too low for her to hear: "I don't want to open it at all."

now what fhe tuck does that mean sir

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

"You're in danger again. We need to leave."

"No, Jacks-I'm not going anywhere with you. I heard you and LalLa. I heard everything you said. I know what she did to Apollo. I know you kept it from me. And I know-" She tried to say that she knew he didn't want to be touching her right now. But she couldn't manage those words.

ARGFHISJ

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

"Can I bite you now?"

"No, Luc, I'm never going to let you bite me."

"Never say never, Eva." He flashed a hopeful smile made of fangs before peering into the box. "Are you sure this is the right coffin?"

sir please put your teeth away

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

But she was still a fox, and suddenly, she knew why Apollo was hunting her. “Apollo is the Archer" she breathed.

“No," Jacks said sharply. Apollo is not the Archer. But it eems someone has resurrected the Archer's curse and placed it on him. That's why he is trying to kill you, and he will continue to try until he succeeds. Someone wants you dead. I swear, Little Fox, that someone is not me.”

apollo you are so goddamn easy to kill/curse/manipulate are you made out of cannon fodder

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

"Evangeline." He called her name like a plea, one that tempted her to answer, but she forced herself to stay in place. If you're out there, you need to run" he said, more ragged than before. “If you go this minute, I won't chase youH have control of myself right now. But I don't know how long it will last." Apollo took a shuddering breath. I don't want to injure you, but something has come over me. Finding you-“ he choked out. “Hunting you is all I can think about."

see class this is a classic example of MEN HAVING NO FUCKING SELF CONTROL

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

Yet, even as he thought the words, the Archer looked down to see he was already notching an arrow, getting ready to shoot the girl he loved as soon as she stepped out of her cottage.

The Archer threw down the bow and cracked the arrow on his knee, wishing it was as easy to break this spiteful curse. He'd been told it would only lift when he killed the girl. The one way to save her would be to stay away. But he couldn't believe they were never meant to be. There had to be an ... o ... ther ... The dream dissolved, like raindrops washing away peddler chalk on

lord if the archer is fucking apollo i am going to report stephanie garber to the police

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

She wanted to be better than Marisol had been to her. But maybe Evangeline wasn't better. Because as much as she was loath to admit it, she was prepared to let Marisol walk through the solarium doors, come face-to-face with Luc, and reap the pain that she had sown.

be petty pls

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

“Good evening," she forced out cheerfully, taking another step to the amber firelight. But as soon as she reached it, her limbs refused to move.

This young man was not the heir-or even truly a young man anymore. He was too unnaturally handsome, his eyes were too lumi- nous, his jaw could slice a diamond, and his golden-brown skin actually glowed.

He was a vampire.

And the first boy she had ever loved.

oh for fucks sake someone go get the wooden stake

Photo of anya
anya@anyasrvn

“I didn't do this." His gaze shot from the prince's glowing red eyes to Evangeline's captured wrist.

She tried to pull free, but Apollo's fingers dug in with more force.

She tugged harder.

He squeezed tighter, painfully tight, making her yelp as she yanked against him. His eyes still glowed that awful red, but he didn't appear awake -he seemed possessed, or perhaps desperately fighting to wake up.

Her chest tightened with panic. “Apollo-“

“He can't hear you." Jacks pulled out a dagger with a shining black blade. "He's going to break your bones!" Jacks slashed Apollo's hand with the knife.

HELLO CAN THIS GIRL BREATHE FIR A SECOND

Photo of Luoyi
Luoyi@emzshen

He continued holding her as if he could return her to life with the force of his will. His eyes were wet with blood. Red tears fell down his cheeks and into hers. But the girl didn’t stir.

Page 379

THIS BROKE MY HEART 💔💔💔

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Luoyi
Luoyi@emzshen

He smiled wider which seemed an odd response to her confession. But his voice was nothing but soothing as he said, “I’m your husband. You’ve been through something terrible, but it’s all right now. I’m here and I’m never letting you go.”

Page 400

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Luoyi
Luoyi@emzshen

He held her with the type of intensity that only happens when a person wants something that isn’t quite theirs.

Page 372

STOPPPPP😭💔💔💔

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Nina May
Nina May@moonyspancake

He held her with the type of intensity that only happens when a person wants something that isn't quite theirs.

Do not re-read this part with sad taylor swift songs!! Unless you want to ugly cry.