The Ballad of Never After

These opening chapters link the book’s events to the prequel, reintroduce the main characters, and establish the internal and external conflicts. At the end of Once Upon a Broken Heart, Evangeline felt that Jacks betrayed her trust; despite her growing feelings for him, she does not want to be used again. She struggles with this throughout the book, frequently questioning herself and making poor decisions based on her desire to be with Jacks. Throughout the prequel, Jacks was aloof and sarcastic; Garber retains this characterization for most of The Ballad of Never After, meaning that a sense of character development is focused on Evangeline. However, rare moments of humanity shine through, which are typically offset by Jacks reminding Evangeline that he isn’t actually human.

Apollo is still in the enchanted sleep from the end of Once Upon a Broken Heart, and Garber uses finding a way to wake him to fill these chapters’ exposition with action in contrast to more standard atmospheric opening chapters of standalone books. Evangeline feels guilty for Apollo’s situation and angry that she let Jacks manipulate her, which makes her dedicated to waking Apollo. She also believes that she wants to wake him because he’s her husband and she loves him. These reasons are something that she states, rather than shows through her actions and emotions, meaning that Garber alerts the reader to be aware of the differences between the perspective of Evangeline and the narrator (Evangeline’s reasons are excuses she uses to push away her feelings for Jacks). Apollo grabbing Evangeline in Chapter 4 foreshadows him waking up a few chapters later, and the mirror curse plays a critical role throughout the rest of the book, both for the subplot between Evangeline and Apollo and for the romance between Evangeline and Jacks.

Finding the Valory Arch in Chapter 2 establishes the story’s main plotline. Up until now, Evangeline has been able to open doors and locks by spilling her blood and asking them to permit her access. The Valory Arch is the first time her ability doesn’t work, which demonstrates development from the previous book in the series and establishes a new set of conflicts. In Book One, Evangeline learned that she was a key—born to open the Valory Arch. However, Evangeline’s beliefs in stories and happy endings suggest that the opening of the Valory Arch is just one aspect of her tale. She believes in a happy ending for herself, meaning that she sees more for her life than helping others open the arch; Garber uses this character trait to enrich the main fantasy plot with the romantic subplot. Evangeline also views herself as a side character in other people’s stories, as shown when she puts off asking LaLa about the curse to celebrate LaLa’s engagement.

These chapters introduce the book’s major theme of Manipulation. Throughout the previous book and into the sequel, Jacks has manipulated Evangeline for his own gain, leaving Evangeline feeling betrayed and used. In Chapter 1, he admits that he cursed Apollo and offers to cure him if Evangeline opens the Valory Arch, showing that he is still determined to get what he wants through any means necessary. Evangeline’s visit to LaLa in Chapter 3 foreshadows more manipulation: LaLa later reveals that she placed the mirror and archer curses on Apollo to force Evangeline to open the Valory Arch to find a cure. As Fates, Jacks and LaLa view life and morality differently from Evangeline, and neither sees a problem with using Evangeline and manipulating her emotions to get what they want. Jacks later admits that he doesn’t want to open the Valory Arch, and the reason for his manipulation is never made exactly clear, meaning that this theme helps to leave a sense of suspense for readers waiting for the next book in the series; more of his secrets are yet to be revealed. LaLa wants the arch opened because her one true love is trapped inside, and the manipulation that she begins in these opening chapters shows what she’s willing to do to get her happy ending. Lala’s actions hence allude to the darker themes of original fairy tales.