Review Detail

THE BALLAD OF NEVER AFTER is an explosive and enthralling YA fantasy sequel. Picking up after the first book ended, Evangeline has learned from her mistakes, and while she wants to see the good in everyone, she holds a lot more skepticism than she used to - particularly with regards to the cold-hearted Fate, Jacks. Evangeline is determined to stay away from him and the thing he seems determined to use her for - the opening of the Valory Arch. While due to a curse, no one knows what would happen if she does so, there seem to be quite a few people who feel strongly about whether it should be opened or not.

She continues to visit Apollo as he exists in the cursed state, hoping that she can find a way to release him from it. However, soon, a darker and more dangerous curse takes hold, and now, Evangeline's only chance for survival is the opening of the arch. Together with Jacks, who is becoming harder for her to hate, she must search for the missing stones to complete the arch so that it can be opened. Their quest is fraught with danger, curses, and unexpected revelations.

What I loved: This sequel was even better than the first, pulling the reader right into this magical and mystical world of curses, stories, and half-truths. The plot takes off quickly and pulls the reader into Evangeline's story. There is a great mysterious atmosphere that hangs over the whole story with questions about the Valory Arch, the Fates and their roles in the past, and what Jacks is truly thinking. Evangeline is surrounded by half-truths and fairytales that mask the past, with those who know the truths of it all unable and/or unwilling to tell her more. The reader must simply experience it alongside her.

Evangeline is not the girl she was when she first sought out Jacks. She is really coming into her own in this book, with personal revelations throughout. Although she knows that Jacks is not to be trusted, Evangeline is learning to trust her gut and her own intuition, approaching those around her with good faith and giving the benefit of the doubt while also carrying some hefty skepticism. The Fates are immortal and seemingly cold-hearted, while they are often ironically driven by a desire for love. Their frequent betrayals should leave Evangeline jaded, but she holds onto her hope and kindness, even in the face of their cruelty - though she is not as naive as she used to be.

There are some great themes around forgiveness, love/romance and its many (sometimes unhealthy) forms, mistakes, the power of choice, regret, vengeance, and home. Love is central to the plot for nearly all the main characters. Evangeline became wrapped up in this over what she believed was her chance at love, but she is learning that love is not so simple - there are no straight paths to love or fated romances and love is something that has to be worked on every day. The Fates, Jacks and LaLa are both compelled around love as well, and their curses force them to love and lose constantly, feelings that have no doubt taken a toll. As their coldness and cruelty plays out with a backdrop of love, Evangeline learns from their actions and inactions. The reader also begins to see the way Jacks is, in some ways, on a more primitive path than Evangeline, still growing and learning. He also has the opportunity to confront his misgivings and understand some harder truths.

The book includes some explosive twists and shocking turns. While there were some smaller ones that seemed obvious as the book unfolded, there were still others that were completely incendiary, throwing the characters and readers for a loop. The end of the book left me gasping and speechless - there are not enough words to describe all the feelings of shock, awe, upset, heartbreak, and so much more.

Final verdict: An evocative and explosive sequel, THE BALLAD OF NEVER AFTER features compelling characters and thought-provoking themes in an absolutely riveting and unputdownable YA fantasy. Highly recommend picking this one up!