Once Upon a Broken Heart: Evangeline & Jacks – A Rollercoaster of Love, Lies, and Immortal Shenanigans (Ranked!)
If you’ve ever doubted that kissing an immortal could go horribly, hilariously wrong… buckle up.
Welcome to the twisted, glitter-dusted chaos that is Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber. For those of you who crave a deeper dive into destined romance, check out our exploration of fated mates fantasy romance. At the heart (pun totally intended) of this fantastical tale is a romance packed with deception, danger, and a Prince of Hearts who is as charming as he is unapologetically untrustworthy.
So let’s talk about Evangeline and Jacks—the cursed girl with a hopeless belief in happy endings, and the immortal heartbreak prince who leaves a trail of swoons and second guesses wherever he goes. Their love story isn’t soft and sweet; it’s sharp, shiny, and steeped in drama.
And you know what? That’s exactly why we love it.
Only Reason to Trust a Prince of Hearts (Spoiler: It’s the Drama)
Evangeline Fox didn’t plan to end up in a magical barter agreement involving three stolen kisses. But when your stepsister suddenly snags your true love and your heart becomes very literally broken, desperate decisions happen.
Enter Jacks: the blond, smirking wildcard from Stephanie Garber’s Caraval universe. He’s all charm and bad decisions, wrapped in a velvet coat and laced with emotional sabotage. When Evangeline turns to him for a miracle, she doesn’t get a fairy tale—she gets a contract (dodging princely pitfalls).
From that point on, their story unfolds like someone casting glitter all over a moving train wreck. It’s thrilling, funny, infuriating, and impossible to look away from. source
If you’re wondering where things start to go off the rails (and by “off the rails,” we mean full-blown cursed-castle-blood-magic chaos), we’ve got good news: We ranked their top 5 iconic moments. And we used very scientific criteria. Brace yourself.
What Makes a Jacks Moment “Iconic”? Our Totally Official Rating System
To rank the most unforgettable Evangeline and Jacks scenes, we asked ourselves the only questions that matter:
- Sass Level: Is Jacks being moody and melodramatic? Is Evangeline serving comebacks that make us cheer?
- Chemistry Sparks: Did we drop the book during this scene because the romantic tension was too much?
- Chaos Factor: On a scale of ‘mild panic’ to ‘someone’s getting cursed,’ how badly did things turn?
- Immortal Red Flag Count: Did Jacks ruin something good again? Probably. Let’s count the ways.
Now, onto the moments that made us gasp, laugh, and (very nearly) throw the book.
Top 5 Evangeline & Jacks Moments, Ranked (Spoiler-Free Teasers!)
#5: The Bargain
Where it all begins.
When Evangeline first hears about the Prince of Hearts, she’s looking for help—not heartbreak. But instead of asking for gold, power, or even gratitude, Jacks demands three kisses in return for breaking up a wedding. Totally normal, right? This wasn’t just a deal. It was a glitter-bombed red flag waving in a magical breeze.
“I don’t want your stepsister dead. I want her unmarried.” – Jacks
Iconic. Suspicious. Infuriatingly charismatic. The kind of opening pact that has you yelling at the book, but also turning the page faster than ever. source
Sass Level: 7/10
Chemistry Sparks: 5/10
Chaos Factor: 6/10
Immortal Red Flag Count: 100% red flag chic.
#4: The Poison Apple Incident
You know how in classic fairytales, there’s always a poisoned apple? Well… this time, it’s personalized.
Jacks pulls out what might be the ultimate “I care… but only in a vaguely murderous way” move. Not enough context to explain the chaos without spoilers, but trust us when we say: nobody’s biting into this scene unscathed.
Evangeline’s inner monologue: “Is he trying to kill me or flirt with me?”
The answer: Yes.
The line between threat and flirtation is dangerously blurry—and dangerously fun to read. source
Sass Level: 9/10
Chemistry Sparks: 7/10
Chaos Factor: 8/10
Immortal Red Flag Count: Off the charts.
#3: The Ballroom Blunder
Ballrooms in fairy tales usually bring romance. In Jacks and Evangeline’s world, they bring tension, plotting, and possibly a flying dagger.
Picture this: gowns twirl, chandeliers sparkle, and two people filled with secrets meet in the middle of the dance floor. Only one of them wants to dance without incident. Spoiler: it’s not Jacks.
And yes, there’s dramatic staring. Lots of it.
Sass Level: 8/10
Chemistry Sparks: 9/10
Chaos Factor: 10/10, someone call security.
Immortal Red Flag Count: 4, but they’re glitter-dipped.
#2: The Library of Hearts
You don’t expect the Prince of Hearts to get vulnerable… and honestly, he still kind of doesn’t. But in this moment, we see just a sliver of something real. Something hurt. Something almost tender.
Evangeline catches Jacks off-guard, and it’s the closest he gets to opening up. Naturally, he ruins the moment almost immediately.
“Did he almost say something sweet? Don’t worry, he covered it up with sarcasm five seconds later.” – Every reader ever
Still, the almosts are the moments that stick with us. And this one? Practically chapter-gold. For readers who adore magical worlds with deep secrets, delve into Crescent City: A Fantasy World of Magic, Romance, and Mystery. source
Sass Level: 3/10 (surprisingly low!)
Chemistry Sparks: 10/10
Chaos Factor: 5/10
Immortal Red Flag Count: Minimum, but we’re watching.
#1: The Kiss That Broke the Fandom
Don’t read this one in public unless you’re okay with yelling out loud.
This scene is the moment everything shifts. The tension that’s been simmering? Boiling. The stakes? Catastrophic. The kiss? Let’s just say people have been debating whether it was romantic, manipulative, or both for months.
Warning: Reader reactions include gasping, rereading, group-chat conspiracy theories, and emotional hangovers.
It was messy. It was heated. It was everything this series does best. And fans are still not over it. source
Sass Level: 6/10
Chemistry Sparks: 12/10
Chaos Factor: Major
Immortal Red Flag Count: Red. Flaming. Fandom-ruining.
Bonus: The “Jacks Survival Guide” (Because You’ll Need One)
So you’re in love with the Prince of Hearts. First of all: same. Second of all: read these tips before signing any enchanted contracts.
- Tip #1: Compliment Insurance
Every nice thing Jacks says is a set-up. Be emotionally prepared. - Tip #2: GPS Your Heart
He probably left it buried in a secret vault somewhere. Bring a map. - Tip #3: Keep a Lie Log
Seriously. By book two, you’ll wish you’d been keeping receipts. - Tip #4: Don’t Feed the Immortal
Especially not your trust, your tears, or personal confessions. - Tip #5: Embrace Unconventional Love Advice
If you’re looking for more offbeat tips to navigate love and mischief, check out our wickedly creative guide on winning your workplace rival’s heart.
The Verdict: Should You Trust a Fairytale Ending?
So where do we stand with Jacks? Is he a villain? A tragic hero? A walking therapy case with great hair?
Honestly… all of the above.
Once Upon a Broken Heart (and its sequels, The Ballad of Never After and A Curse for True Love) dances on that line between fairytale charm and full-on heartbreak mayhem. As Evangeline grows wiser and stronger—learning that love isn’t always about winning but surviving—you’ll start asking yourself…
Will she ever stop making deals with magical chaos-gremlins?
(Spoiler: LOL no.) source
Jacks isn’t here to be a perfect hero. He’s here to be complicated. And oddly enough… that’s what makes this story unforgettable.
Share Your Jacks Hot Takes!
Now it’s your turn.
Are you Team “Jacks Needs a Hug” or Team “Jacks Needs a Time-Out (and a therapist)”? What’s your favorite Evangeline & Jacks moment? Not sure who your inner magical misfit might be? Take our fun quiz, Which Quicksilver Book Character Are You? and let the fangirling (or fanboying) begin.
Fight it out in the comments!
Let the emotionally chaotic fangirling commence.
Want more fantasy romance chaos? Dive into the sequels, grab your copy of Once Upon a Broken Heart, or follow the hashtag #ImmortalRedFlags to swap theories with fellow romantasy lovers.
We’ll be here with the popcorn. Or maybe an apple. Poison optional.
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