A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber

This book review was delayed while the mourning of the ending of this series happened. Thankfully, there will be a Caraval Holiday novella released later this year and there is hope that this wonderfully, magical world that has Fates walking around and vampires lurking behind masks may continue. The Vales have awoken, and while they claim they do not want to rule, Apollo does not believe or trust them, but he has no problem making deals with Aurora. Evangeline does not remember Jacks, but when she spends more time with him she starts to regain her memories. Apollo is keeping secrets from Evangeline, but it takes awhile for Evangeline to realize how dangerous he really is. Jacks is trying to keep his distance from Evangeline and Castor, but he cannot stay away from Evangeline so he decides to destroy his heart so he does not feel the heartbreak anymore. LaLa, as fashionable as ever, surprises Evangeline and helps her find out from Aurora what spells she put on Jacks and how the story cursed changed what she really did and so Jacks has the wrong impression about Donatella. Wolferic warns Apollo not to go near the Tree of Souls as it kills the person he loves most to make one immortal, and it is with that fatherly advice that Apollo’s intentions are set. I think the funniest scene is when Evangeline meets Dane and how she reacts to LaLa’s love who can turn into a dragon.  There are so many great scenes that this book is a must read for those that love the magical world Stephanie Garber has created. 

 

Character List/Book Summary:

Evangeline Fox – starts off having no memories after her father died, there is a gap from his death to when Apollo was holding her crying outside the Valory and tells her she is a Princess because they are married. While walking in the castle she can hear voices coming from the doors of the Valors that no one else can hear. Does not know where her broken heart scar came from, and feels there is a piece of her missing but does not know what it is. Starts to remember pieces of information when Jacks visits her, telling her he is the Archer. When Jacks sprinkles her with gold dust Evangeline regains her memories and knows who took them from her. Evangeline then sets off to rescue Jacks and is slowed by Aurora Vale, and helped by Castor Vale and LaLa. 

Jacks, Prince of Hearts – tries to get Evangeline to remember who she is, and that she is a fighter she fights for people she loves and believes in. Kills Evangeline’s assassin on the night of the feast. Knows that if he explained to Evangeline that he did turn back time and why he did so, she would not be safe. Has a hard time being friendly to Castor who killed Evangeline before he turned back time, and entire family now that his helmet is off. Is blamed for hurting Evangeline and many others by Apollo. Is stopped from trying to save Evangeline from Apollo by Dane Vale and his brother under their father’s orders. Has a great conversation with Aurora about how she is shallow and why he would never be interested in her (that may have been the best revenge the readers can get since LaLa wasn’t not allowed to torture her). In a surprising show of kindness to people other than Evangeline, Jacks admits he started the story about Chaos, so that people would not think Castor was the vampire. 

Apollo Acadian – 20 years old and now that he “died” and returned to life he is focused on what his late father always told him, be more. Tells Evangeline that she is his wife and Jacks erased her memory, when in reality he made a deal with Aurora to take Evangeline’s memories of Jacks away. Creates stories of the horrors that Jacks committed while he was dead, and that he mascaraed one of the great houses on the night of the feast. Is sad that his brother, Tiberius, gave him the scars on his body, but uses them to convince people he fought his way back from the dead to return to his people and his lovely wife. 

Dr. Irvis Stillgrass – a physician sent by Apollo to see how long Evangleine’s memories were taken, sees her everyday to see if her memories have started coming back. 

Kristof Knightlinger – snuck in while Dr. Stillgrass was questioning Evangeline and offers her his card to answer her questions. Is a reporter for the Daily Rumor, and Evangeline is not allowed to leave the castle when she tries to go and see him. 

Wolfric Valor (aka Lord Vale) – first king of the North, had been locked in the Valory with is family until Evangeline set them free, but she lost her memory of this. Tells Apollo not to search for the Tree of Souls that makes one immortal, because it is evil and only poor choices will make Apollo think he needs it. Does not want to think of his daughter, Aurora, as a monster but agrees to “hunt” her after what she did to Apollo, Evangeline, and Jacks, which Jacks explains means they will give up after two days.  

Honora Valor – Wolfric’s wife, cured Apollo of the Archer’s curse. Makes Apollo feel shame that he is asking about the Tree of Souls instead of chasing after his wife when she has been kidnapped by Lord Belleflower.

Lord Byron Belleflower – welcomes the new great house of the Vales, to the council. Does not like Apollo and Evangeline is not sure if he is trustworthy but goes with him instead of Aurora to try and find Apollo before the hunt starts. Kills Hale and attacks Evangeline to make her pay for what she did to Petra, his former lover. 

Garrick of the Greenwood – leader of the Guild of Heroes, his bird scratches Evangeline to get her blood.

Lord Robin Slaughterwood – tells Apollo he does not have the Vengeance Slaughterwood cuff, but gives Apollo a heavy scroll. He is no longer engaged to LaLa. 

Aurora Vale – has violet hair, Evangeline feels a kinship to her on the night of the feast. Tells Evangeline that they will be good friends. Scolds Apollo when he laughs at something Evangeline is confused about. Evangeline sees her give Apollo a note after the hunt. Makes several deals with Apollo to help him keep Evangeline away from Jacks. When taunting Evangeline she tells her what the real curse she put on Jacks is and how the story curse warped it to what Jacks thinks it is. 

Castor Vale, Chaos – a vampire, but the story curse was started to prevent stories of vampires to draw attention away from Castor. Evangeline was killed by him before Jacks turned back time. Killed the Fortuna Family. When Evangeline sees him for the first time since she lost her memories tells her they are friends. Explains to Evangeline that Jacks gave his second heart to Aurora and he doesn’t know what his sister will do with it but he doesn’t think Jacks will be the same when it is all done. 

LaLa, Unwed Bride – a Fate, dresses up as a guard to see Evangeline in Merrywood Forest. Worries about how the world has changed since Dane was locked up in the Valory. An original Merrywood, still mad at Aurora for what she did to her family. 

 

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