Challenge Corner discussion

How far would you go for happily ever after?

For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings...until she learns that the love of her life will marry another.

Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic but wicked Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing.

But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game—and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after or the most exquisite tragedy….

Yeee! Starting this now :)

Ah! So... The writing is rather whimsical and reads a bit young, but then it's ok for me at this moment, and I did quite expect it.

Chapter 1 thoughts:
(view spoiler)[So, ok, I guess subtlety is not a thing: "The church smelt of apples and blood" mmm - I wonder why??? :) (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 2 thoughts:
(view spoiler)[So things went bad real fast... But the tone is still too whimsical to feel any danger... (hide spoiler)]

Thoughts up to this point (Chapter 6):
(view spoiler)[Our heroine is not really the smartest, and she does act before thinking... Which is ok, except she changes her mind real fast as soon as anything happens. I think this might annoy me on the long run... We'll see... (hide spoiler)]

Just started Part 2:

Evangeline is not terrible as a protagonist, but the writing style really does not help me feel much for her to be honest...

Chapter 18:

(view spoiler)[Now she's becoming annoying. Sure you deserve a fairy-tale romance Evangeline... No, you are not a bad person for being responsible for your step-sister heartbreak and being turned into stone at her wedding, sure you should mistrust her... :/ Also, if all this thing with Marisol is going to turn out just a red herring I am going to be annoyed.

Sorry, I don't think this book is for me to be honest, everything feels rather childish - a middle grader or younger might behave and think like Evangeline, maybe, but certainly not a teenager or young adult... (hide spoiler)]

End of Part 2:

(view spoiler)[Poor Apollo... Also, the light and breezy writing style really does not match the dark things that are happening... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 44:

(view spoiler)[Well, at least the Marisol thing did end up meaning something... But somehow Evangeline seems even more clueless now...

Also I don't get what the rule with changelings vampires actually is - I thought they'd die if they don't drink blood within the night? Or maybe they are killed? Bha! (hide spoiler)]

Ending:

(view spoiler)[Ok, so part of what annoyed me so much about this book was the over-explanation and over-long detailed description of what Evangeline is thinking/feeling. I would have appreciated a little bit more subtlety. Also nuance - people are not universally good or bad It took her way to long to realise two person could have been behind the death of Apollo, when she knew FROM THE VERY BEGINNING that there were two possible causes... Come on!

Overall, this read way too young for me. I have read and appreciated YA before, but this one is on another level.
Also the sexy/romance scenes are cringey in the sense they sound like they were written by a 12 year old, and what's with all the description of dresses? (hide spoiler)]

18% (view spoiler)[ Wow a lot has happened so far! I like how we learn the source of the statue party from the Caraval series. I can't wait for this trip to the North and "meet" the prince. These rumor magazines are a lot of fun too. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Kim wrote: "18% [spoilers removed]"

Glad you like it so far! Let me know what you think of Evangeline!

I think that if you read and liked Caraval you might like this too, as the writing style was one of the things I did not enjoy!

I feel like theres more fantastical-ness to this writing than Caraval. I did really enjoy that series though!

31% (view spoiler)[ I wonder what that first kiss did! Especially since she still has 2 more kisses fated, its not like it would be Apollo is going to fall in love or be obsessed. Curious. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Kim wrote: "31% [spoilers removed]"

I'll give you a clue about the kisses, feel free not to look! :)

(view spoiler)[Not all kisses are of the same type. (hide spoiler)]

64% (view spoiler)[ wow a lot has happened. The arch is going to be interesting as this potential prophecy comes to fruition. I loved Apollo’s fake love. I don’t know what’s about to happen with this crying. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ Lala is the unwed bride??chaos is a vampire?! So many questions! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

100% (view spoiler)[ oh man that ending!! what happened to the Prince of Hearts?! was he put under a curse or spell and that's why he is sleeping?? I can't wait for book 2! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Glad you enjoyed it! ;)

I really enjoyed reading your comments too!!

Kim wrote: "I really enjoyed reading your comments too!!"

Mostly rants though! Sorry! ;)

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RESTARTING NOVEMBER 15TH, 2022

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Whoops, I just remembered we had a BR. I started it yesterday and will be binging it since I have the sequel; it's due back at the library tomorrow lol

14% (view spoiler)[ I wonder why Evangeline didn't take it up legally or like by finding another newspaper to issue a correction (because Kutlass doesn't seem reliable, clearly). Like Agnes may be her stepmother but Evangeline made it clear that she is not adopted. So I wonder what the law says. Is she emancipated? Or does her stepmother have de factor guardianship? I'm asking because yes, Agnes trying to marry her off is bad, but does she even have the authority? (hide spoiler)]

33% (view spoiler)[So far, I really enjoy it. Evangeline is very clearly aware of how she may be naive and trusting, but she also isn't completely out of touch. I think I notice this most when she talks about Marisol, who is far more sheltered. Evangeline will do a lot of unadvisable things for love, but there's a lot that can be said for persistence. I've grown to like her because she doesn't wait for life to happen.

Apollo seems sketchy. Jacks likes to play games, but he seems more serious with this one. And while I'd normally be inclined to think Apollo is the victim... his reaction to first meeting Evangeline indicate he's aware of the power and charisma he has. Idk I'm just a little wary of people who are supposed to have a pre-arranged marriages who aren't resigned/rebelling/trying to find love within the candidates. He seemed like he's as much playing a game as he may feel the candidate are. (hide spoiler)]

63% (view spoiler)[ Ooh, I didn't expect a death so soon. But I guess it makes sense since being a potential suspect amps up suspense and tension and further shenanigans. I wonder who did it.

I'm also really curious about what Apollo knew/realized in the moments before he died when his spell was undone. (hide spoiler)]

100% (view spoiler)[ I loved how this one turned out! Compared to Caraval, I think there were a lot better strategic hints and lore that would impact the story later. Like I could tell Tiberius and Marisol were up to something when they were introduced, but I wasn't quite sure what or why.

So I may have read some spoilers for the sequel and I am very excited to see more Evangelina x Jacks. On the one hand, she really does need to remember he is a Fate and he is self-serving. On the other, he is almost as foolish in his pursuit of a single-minded purpose as Evangelina.

It's almost kind of funny how he takes on the role of Legend in his creation of a story that Evangelina would have liked. Especially when it backfires because of course, she doesn't like the idea of being manipulated. (hide spoiler)]