#valory arch

[onceuponajacks]

❣️ A Curse for True Love spoilers ❣️

Since I already did a list of things I wished had happened in the book, here’s a list of things I loved:

Evangeline slapping Apollo it was just so perfect

The evajacks kiss. How reluctant Jacks was. I just love them so much.

Their happy ending in the Hollow of all places 🥹

Jacks knocking Aurora out. I mean usually I would find it terrible if a guy hit a woman but these people are hardly human and let’s be honest, Aurora is a tough bitch. And she had it coming I felt.

Jacks favourite day being the time he spent in the Hollow with Evangeline… I almost cried.

The part where Jacks said he couldn’t even remember what Donatella looks like. Like you’ve finally come to your senses I see.

The Tree of Souls scared me but a tree having a heartbeat is just insanely cool.

The fact that one of the first things we learn about Eva in OUABH is that she is always hopeful. And it is that hope that lets her and Jacks finally be together.

Apollo dying because he loves himself the most. He was so sure it was Evangeline that would die but he did it anyway and then he died. It’s just the perfect irony.

That scene where “Archer” is teaching Evangeline to defend herself and it’s pouring rain and their clothes are becoming sheer. The visuals I had while reading that are fucking fantastic I wish I could draw.

Despite it being utterly cruel and heartbreaking, that scene where Jacks tried to kiss Evangeline because he was just “giving her what she wants” knowing she would die anyway. It’s Jacks-core. And it’s hot.

When they take turns undressing each other. I mean you can’t even kiss it’s just so angsty!!!!

When Jacks says “I love you” best thing I ever read

Chaos and LaLa having a little spark between them

Jacks selling his soul so Evangeline can be safe (like he literally gave up his heart in exchange for a cuff to ensure no one could hurt her. It’s just so touching 🥲)

Evangeline describing him as an Angel

The fact that even after she forgot Jacks and before he came back as Archer that she was still insanely curious about him. She always wondered about him and was desperate to know about him.

The inclusion of another inn since the one in TBONA has so much relevance

When they toasted to curses. I thought that was so brilliant it just proves how nuts everyone is.

LaLa not being sure that she loves Dane anymore. It just felt so beautifully ironic that she never married because of him and now that he’s back she’s not sure. That’s what being a Fate is all about and I love it.

When Jacks tied them together and flowers started growing and he’s so offended when she asks if he made the flowers grow

The mental image of Jacks with torn clothes and a bruised and bloody face after his fight with the Valor siblings

I’m sure there are many more and I’ll update this post as they come to me. Feel free to share what you loved most in the comments!!

[ask-tdw-0666]

You guys had no idea how much fun I had drawing this XD

Yes, I ship these two.

[foxballad]

Imagine a keyblade wielder going to Valorfell, meet Evangeline and have to witness everything that happened to her there.

[kigozula]

Jacks definitely fell for Evangeline much earlier before the end of TBONA. It doesn’t matter if he needed her for the Valory Arch, this guy protected her by reflex many times and genuinely worried for her. He was even angry when Evangeline thought the worst of him (which he deserved from her pov). He was mad when he saw her struggling under Chaos, yet couldn’t do anything because it would ruin her.

Chaos indirectly told Evangeline that Jacks cares about her. In the Hollow, no matter what his original and current plan was, he left it behind to stay there with Evangeline. If it wouldn’t have been for Evangeline, Chaos and Lala, Jacks was happy with Evangeline there and put everything behind. It was her that made him leave.

And it was so sad. Jacks was hurt ans Evangeline was hurt. He just wanted to believe she loved and wanted him the was he does. He wanted to stay in the hollow with her. I got so sad myself*-*

Both Chaos and Lala noticed and sensed since OUABH that they have growing feelings. Especially about Jacks since they know him better.

In ACFTL, he admitted he thinks about her and wants her from the beginning. But he lied to himself because he would hurt her (that’s what he thought). And tell me all what you want, but I am still not convinced that all his goal was going to Tella. And if, then it actually became a plan at the end to save Evangeline. Because if she can’t remember him, the risk of hurting her decreases. And after her memories were taken away, he realized how much it hurts him. How much it would have hurt him even when he would have went to the past with the stones. He would always crave her, love her and want her.

I think he planned too much behind her back for the Valory Arch. But Jacks is a loyal man. He didn’t do all of it for himself. He did it for Chaos and Lala and the Valors too.

And since the curse on Evangeline that Lala put on her (I still can't believe no one was mad at her and she got away without any consequenses when she constantly hated on Apollo and Aurora although she did the exact things) would kill her, Jacks' motive changes again: to save Evangeline from the Archers and Mirror curse.

The only thing I truly hate is, and I also just skip because it is absolutely irrelevant, yet I want you guys to know: the Darling Sister, and the first fox disaster. The Darling thing was just for mock, to unnecessarily fill a page that made zero sense and was completely banal and disgusting. A page I rip. Though about the fox girl, it is confirmed that he wasn’t in love. Evangeline is the only girl ever he fell in love with. Cares for. Wants and loves.

And the things he told Lala. I absolutely think he is corrupt to lie to others and himself because deep down he knows telling the truth will hurt Evangeline, kill her.

And Apollo, oh boy. I wished he would have had another end. He clearly cared for Evangeline and his struggle in TBONA was so heartbreaking. Jacks saw that and that is why he told her in ACFTL that he believed she is safe with Apollo. I liked Apollo too and would have welcomed it if he would have had a happy ending himself. Same goes for Luc. Both of them got cursed and then their lives changed for the worse. And no one cared?

I honestly didn’t expect it to be like this, but I am so glad it is the way it is! Jacks true love as in, the only girl he truly fell in love with, loved so deeply and couldn’t stay away and who felt those things for him as well, is the one who breaks the curse. Which is Evangeline Fox!

[moobell55]

Thinking about how throughout OUABH and TBONA Jacks is the only person who truly acts in Evangeline’s best interest.

Like Marisol, she doesn’t give a damn about Eva.

Chaos doesn’t want anything to happen to her because he needs her but also let’s them be hunted by vampire in OUABH, not to mention kills her eventually in TBONA.

Even Lala, who Evangeline considers a friend, curses her with the intent to cause harm to her. Like the Mirror Curse, Lala knew Apollo was dangerous after the Archers curse was placed on him. This also insured that Jacks couldn’t harm Apollo to protect Eva because he’d also be hurting Eva. She also gaslights Eva, telling her she’s only doing what she’s doing to reclaim her lost love from the Valory Arch. I understand that’s she’s a Fate who feels limited emotions, but her choosing to punish Eva for refusing to open the arch was extremely cruel.

Apollo her own husband, doesn’t care what happens to her. He’s aware of the Archers and Mirror Curse being placed upon him. He knows that every time he’s by Eva, that no matter how hard he tries fighting it he will still try to kill her. In TBONA, he sneaks into her bedroom at Chaos castle to try and sleep with her, claiming “he’s been waiting for so long” and kisses her and starts taking her clothes off. But guess what, the Archers curse kicks in and he’s now strangling his wife. He would’ve killed her if it wasn’t for Jacks intervention, but even when Jacks try’s taking her away, Apollo begins screaming from the cage “To get his hands off his wife, and not to touch her.” Instead of begin horrified of almost killing his wife he’s more jealous of Jacks saving her from being killed.

And sure Jacks has his own motives that he doesn’t tell her about. But at every given instance he’s protected her, he risked Turing into a vampire to keep her safe. He jumped off a cliff with her in his arms, (As a swimmer and a lifeguard this is extremely dangerous, especially oceans with carry strong riptides and currents, also please never cliff dive if you aren’t aware of what lord beneath) knowing that her not being able to swim could possibly kill him. He jumps anyways and swims back to shore with her in his arms. Not only that but he carry’s her back to the castle so she doesn’t cut her shoeless feet on the rocks. He constantly protects her, telling her he’d kill any one who dared hurt her. In the end he choose Eva’s safety over his feelings for her. He knew if he stayed with her he would’ve kissed her, believing it would’ve killed her. He’d rather be unhappy for the rest of his life without her than risk her safety.

In conclusion Jacks is the only character who truly cares about Eva and choose to protect her every single time.

[heartbreakprincexsweetevangeline]

A Case For True Love 

There is nothing that the OUABH fandom is as invested in as the question who is the Prince of Heart’s One True Love–the one person that could make his heart beat again, whose kiss wouldn’t be fatal to, and his only weakness. 

It wouldn’t be as vexing if it wasn’t for the paradox that One True Love have supposedly been found and yet it was anything but love, and here’s another person who finally challenged the supposed unrequited love the Prince represents and yet they are denied to be rightfully called as “True Love.” 

That's what makes everything so confusing and compelling all the same. And  I sincerely believe that the One True Love, a powerful force in this universe, has always been the backdoor. 

Perhaps, like the Northern Tales, the promised One True Love had been twisted by the story curse until only bits of truth remained and none, even the Prince of Hearts is, the wiser

—----------------------------------------------------------------

Forewarning 

Before we proceed, I would hate to deprive you of joy of experiencing the stories you have not read before so please be cautioned that this will contain major spoilers for the Caraval book series (Caraval, Legendary and Finale) in which the Prince of Hearts first graced us with his presence. And obviously, the Once Upon a Broken Heart series (Once Upon Broken Heart and The Ballad of Never After) just in case curiosity got the best of you.

Lastly, I am aware that in one of the author’s IG story, Ms. Stephanie Garber have said that the third and the last book in this series, A Curse for True Love’s ending has changed. Thus all of my interpretations and theories based on the OUABH and TBONA would be rendered useless (ouch). 

And I've heard more people have received their copies of A Curse For True Love which sucks greatly, so at this moment, many have already know the ending and this is useless once again.

But I supposed if I love this series any less, I wouldn't feel be driven to write all of this.

Now all of that is out of the way, I hope you will have fun reading, as much as I had writing it. And perhaps could gain deeper appreciation of the wonderful, heartwrenching, but just as magical world of Once Upon a Broken Heart.

Paradox of The Prince of Hearts

One True Love that Perhaps Never Was 

The Ballad of the Prince of Hearts

The Key to the Valory Arch and More…

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·. Paradox of the Prince of Hearts

Some of us may know the tale of the Prince of Hearts by heart, but for all intents and purposes, let’s revisit what we’ve known about him, beginning from the 2nd book of Caraval Series: Legendary. 

Chapter 3, Legendary 

The description of the Prince of Hearts is the same as it is in Once Upon a Broken Heart, with the difference of Evangeline, being an angel as she is, couldn't imagine a more tragic existence.  She knew Fates weren’t saints or saviors, but she hoped that the Prince of Hearts was more feeling than the others. (OUABH, Ch1)

But that illusion is shattered. The Prince of Hearts is indeed a Fate. If not cruel and evil, Fates are dangerous because they couldn’t tell the difference between evil and good (OUABH, Ch 2). She thought Jacks wasn't a savior but someone needed saving from (OUABH , Ch 4)

And that makes the Prince of Hearts and his curse very baffling. On one hand, his entire driving force is to break his curse of fatal kiss, to find his one true love, and yet he himself is incapable of love. I

t’s not hard to imagine how he’s trapped in eternity of heartbreak, for in him exists the duality of Fate and very human desire–love. 

Contrary to belief, Fates are not entirely unfeeling as Lala said to Evangeline:

(OUABH, Ch 38)

As mentioned throughout, Fates are also very jealous, possessive and obsessive. They are not entirely incapable of love, but loving is antithesis to the very nature of Fates, and perhaps that’s why love will turn them human.

(Finale, Ch 20)

Jacks’s strongest feeling is to find his true love, in itself goes against being his Fate. Perhaps, that’s the problem- finding true love, but not allowing to experience love.

(OUABH, Ch 38)

Jacks could still be attracted to anyone, driving him to kiss even with tiniest hint of attraction. Operative word being “tiny hint of attraction” perhaps this is characteristic of Jacks’ Fatedness’s deadly combination of intense urges, obsessiveness, and inability to think of someone else’s welfare before his. As Evangeline puts it, Jacks being cruel as he always do. 

(OUABH, Ch 44)

His Fately powers could help him attract a person with his beauty, and indeed his kiss felt like it was worth dying for. But it is also the very thing that stands between him and breaking his curse, as if it wants to ensure he will remain a Fate.

And perhaps, a part of Jacks didnt want to become a human after lifetime of hurt. So the more he hurts the more heartless he becomes. But then again, his raison d'etre is find his one true love.

Thus the more heartbreak he experiences, the more his understanding of love becomes thwarted, perpetually damning him to remain Prince of Hearts and embodiment of heartbreak. 

Hope seems dire, until he finally comes across the girl who made his heart beat, the one who did not die of his fatal kiss, the most awaited One True Love…

︑︒⚬∙︓·⠄.*+:｡.｡　　｡.｡:+*·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.*+:｡.｡　　｡.｡:+*︑︒⚬∙︓·⠄

One True Love That Perhaps Never Was

In Once Upon a Broken Hearts, Princess Donatella of Valenda has been repeatedly mentioned and it’s becoming apparent that the sister of the Southern Empress is connected with the Prince of Hearts. 

It’s been said that she broke his heart (OUABH, Ch 13), Evangeline noticed Jacks had been tense at the mention of her (OUABH, Ch 40).

In OUABH, Ch 44, Jacks revealed to Evangeline their brief history- they first met at the sky carriage, she threatened to throw him off. The second time they met, he kissed her. He lied that she wouldn't die if she got him what he wanted. But as we know, she’s alive and well. And it’s because she’s made his heart beat and she’s the mythical One True Love promised in the story of Prince of Hearts. 

But as we could infer, it didn't work out. Jacks said that she never forgave him for their first kiss, fell in love with someone else, and stabbed him with his own knife. 

With Jack's propensity for cruelty, obsession, and selfishness, it's not hard to imagine why. But why is that the supposedly powerful force in the universe OUABH exists in itself could be so flimsy? Jacks himself repeatedly said that true love could break a curse, so why does it feel it’s the one being broken?

Most pressingly is the question, is there really true love in that One True Love? 

• • • • • • • SHORT NOTE• • • • • • •

Due to the bullet limitations, I had to cut out the timeline I created beginning from the second and third book of Caraval Series-- Legendary and Finale--up to the beginning of Once Upon a Broken Hearts. I will attempt to condense them and post them here in tumblr or on another platform.

But for now, I did as much as to include the most signficant moments and include the chapter in which you could find it

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Without further ado, let's proceed

*+:｡.｡　　｡.｡:+*

Reading the Caraval series definitely has my impressions vastly changed from what is told in the Once Upon Broken Heart series. That is just like the fairytales in the Magnificent North where stories are made both of truths and lie.

And I’d like to start with Jacks’ version of the story particularly on the part that it didnt work out :

(OUABH Ch 44)

First of all, Tella was able to forgive him, numerous times if I may add. She trusted him and she had been grateful for the kindness he showed her. She’d started to believe he was trying to fight against his nature for her, but ultimately betrayed her trust and hurt (Finale, Ch 39)

Jacks also conveniently left out that Tella was left with no choice but to stab him in the heart because it’s the only way to break out of the marriage he tricked her itno when that concept seems out of her card ( Finale, Ch 44) And when Tella thought that Jacks allowed their marriage to end because somehow the bond made him genuinely care beyond the immortal's feeling of obsession, all remains are selfish impulses. He wanted to use his restored full powers (which he was made to promise not to use against Tella or Legend but ofc he said unless they ask of him) to control her feelings for eternity. (Finale, Ch 54) 

 But most importantly, she has always been in love with someone else. She wondered if Legend felt love in the lust, obsession, and desperation in the feelings the Immortals’ possess (Finale, Ch 32). Or how during their kiss after they got unknowingly married and he’s absorbing her pain, her mind wandered to Legend (Finale, Ch 12). She didn't want to get married and yet in her mind Legend is the one that could tempt her to (Finale, Ch 22). When Tella was tempted to undo the immortal bond with Jacks she severed since she felt less alone when they were connected, Jacks wasn’t the person she wanted to be connected to. (Finale, Ch 45) 

If anything, Jacks simply made it easy for her to not to be swayed even when the object of all her desires has broken her heart numerous times.

Jacks may have wanted Tella, but to her wanting someone is not the same as loving (Finale, Ch 40) To her, love is messy but powerful all the same that you think more about someone else’s life more than your own. (Finale, Ch 34)

Of course, sometimes feelings and emotions are hard to untangle from each other. It’s hard oftentimes to say if they are the cause or the effect or something in between. Two contradicting things could be true. But I think it’s intentional that between Jacks and Tella the One True Love they shared is the lack thereof. 

As we’ve seen when Jacks kissed Tella during their marriage that allowed her to feel his emotions, there’s no love. (Finale, Ch 12) 

Or when the Ruscica that told the story of Donatella Dragna (which appears to only include objective truth) revealed that Prince of Hearts is still not capable of caring even though Tella, who supposedly made his heart beat. (Finale, Ch 44)

Perhaps, believing that he found his One True Love that thwarted it all. There’s no love that could counteract his Fately nature with propensity for cruelty and obsession. He only warmed up with Tella after the fact she’s possibly the One True Love, and it seems genuine, after all he disclosed intimate details about him and the fact he was once a human (Legendary, Ch 42).

He said that he didn’t know if she’s his One True Love, but he wanted Tella to be (Legendary, Ch 45). But is it Tella herself that dares him to hope, or because he wanted it to be true that One True Love has come? When he kissed her with all the passion and longing, did he truly want to kiss her because the lips belonged to Tella or is it because his kill wouldn’t kill her? Unlike Legend, not once Jacks said what he liked about Tella.

So if there’s no love, then why do Tella possess the characteristics of One True Love?

In OUABH, we have known there’s actual spell to turn someone into One True Love (OUABH, ch 47)

Then seven years before the events of the final book of Caraval series, Tella pulled up three cards and one of them is the Prince of Hearts. Because of this, Tella believed she’s doomed to loveless future for Prince of Hearts symbolizes unrequited love. (Legendary, Seven Years Ago)

 So maybe they got unknowingly cursed, as if dooming that their love will be loveless, and for Prince of Hearts to remain forever heartbroken. That future tried very hard to bring itself. Perhaps just like magic spells could mimic Love, some kind of curse could also mimic the promised One True Love.

So Prince of Hearts’ true love is told to be: 

Immune to the fatal kiss

Will make his heart beat

His greatest weakness. 

Let’s start with weakness. 

So it was said that Fate’s weakness is love because they will lose immortality. Well, Jacks didnt turn human, and if anything he became exactly the Fate and their destructive obsession that Tella was warned about.

With regard to weakness as in the kind of vulnerability that you could do unimaginable things for your love, or you’d sacrifice even yourself if it means they will be safe and happy – what actions did Jack do for Tella? 

Throw away his morals- he didn't have it to begin with.

 Willingness to sacrifice– regardless of his intentions, he put her life as a bargaining chip that made Tella think that he wanted his powers more than he wanted her (Finale, Ch 40) He betrayed Tella when she thought he'd try to fight his nature (Finale, Ch 39)

Unimaginable things– marry her without her knowledge and manipulate her feelings for eternity. 

Tella should've been her weakness but everything he did was less for her but more like for him and his own heartbreak. He may never intended to harm her, but as Tella said he already have. (Legendary, Ch 44) 

Making his heart beat

This one is baffling indeed. Jacks kissed Tella during the First Night of the Caraval (Legendary Ch 11), and Tella felt his pulse beating as fast as hers during the Fifth Night of the Caraval (Legendary, Ch 35). Firstly, Tella’s heartbeat weakened after the first kiss , and then it went fast, then it slowed down again until this moment. Secondly, four nights have passed by since the first kiss, did Jacks not just notice this until Tella pointed it out? 

There is a possibility that their heart beats synchronized at that moment because of One True Love binding them, and Jacks’s heart just took its time to beat. But at the same time, nothing stood out at that moment except the burning hate Tella had that made her attack Jacks, which he effortlessly avoided. 

There is another possibility that there are other things that have triggered Jacks’s heart to beat within the 4-night window. After all, Jacks is a busy man, a calculated collector, with many people writing to him asking for favors or meetings as Evangeline noted in OUABH (Ch47). There is a possibility that his heart beat far longer as there’s no definitive indication that he didn't have a heartbeat before that kiss. 

Immunity to Fatal Kiss

There were a lot of intimate moments and attempts at kiss but there about three times that Jacks and Tella shared a kiss and she didn't die. First, of course at the Fated Ball/First Night of the Caraval (Legendary, Ch 14). Second is the night Tella grieved for her mother and Jacks took her sorrows (Finale, Ch 13)

First kiss

With the first kiss, Jacks told Tella he wouldn't kill her if she got the second thing he wanted, but warned her that she’d still feel the effects. And so she did. Throughout the first to third night, Tella’s heart beat slowed down, even stopping in between (Legendary Ch 15, Ch 22). Blood pooled down from her ears to her neck, and beads of blood even fell from her fingertips. (Legendary Ch 16, Ch 24)

So if she’s One True Love, why is she showing symptoms of dying? 

By OUABH (Ch 44) , Jacks said that he purposely slowed down her heart so that she wouldn’t die immediately. That explains the heart beat. 

But I feel the revelation that Jacks lied to Tella, in a separate series, is quite significant. He purposely said that she could still feel the effects of the fatal kiss so she wouldn't suspect and still do his bidding, just to survive.

Perhaps that also explained why her heartbeat went abnormal again (fifth night of the Caraval, Legendary Ch 31, 34) just when her heart raced and healed her wounds after she was fed blood from Legend two nights ago (Third night of Caraval, Legendary, Ch 26 to 27). It healed her wounds and not completely counteracted the fatal kiss (Fifth night of Caraval, Legendary Ch 31, Ch 34). Tella was indeed dying. 

But then on the same night, Tella felt Jacks’s heartbeat pulsing . And her heart racing at the same time, which further confirmed to Tella that she’s his One True Love. The day after, she awoke with her heart pounding that further confirmed that Tella has survived the Fatal Kiss. (Fifth night of Caraval, Legendary Ch 35-36)

As mentioned with the heartbeat, there is a possibility that the One True Love activated at this moment which might explain why Tella’s heart quickened when she felt his heartbeat and no longer felt like she’s dying. 

Or perhaps, the love she had for Dante and her mother, somehow broke the curse. 

She might’ve hated her mother at this point that she no longer cared to win the Caraval especially now she knows she wouldn't die by his fatal kiss. But she wouldn't have felt so hurt by the betrayal had she love her any less. Despite the ruling anger, deep down she loves her mother very much. She was also increasingly conflicted about Dante who she suspects is Legend. That even if he wasn't, she feels she would still be betraying him. Tella was getting conflicted that she may have to choose between them so maybe the desire to save them both is what broke the curse. 

Second kiss

The second kiss took place at night (again) just after Tella’s mother had been killed. Overcame with grief, Tella agreed against her better judgment to accept the help Jacks was offering by temporarily taking away the unwanted feelings. Unknown to Tella, the blood exchange, and the words they uttered would tie them with an immortal bond that would forever tie their souls together in eternal matrimony. They proceeded to kiss as he took in her grief. (Finale Ch 12-13)

Unfortunately we don’t know if Jacks have experimented with someone else before. We also don't know how this exactly works. If the immortal bond goes beyond the grave— what happens if one half is immortal who has not become human, will the soul of the other half remain like some ghost?

There is the possibility that since the matrimony happened before the kiss, it could've saved Tella from the fatal kiss by an immortal bond that tied her soul to Jacks who was still immortal at this point. 

On other hand, I would imagine that if they were truly One True Love, they would’ve some existing bond before this..

• • • • • • •

Perhaps, the One True Love between Jacks and Tella is a cursed one, hence it mimics some of the supposed signs. 

Or maybe there is a universe where Jacks and Tella would’ve worked out in the infinite possibilities. And possibly the contradictions were due to the fact it failed to realized. 

What is clear to me, in this timeline, Jacks and Tella's love story felt almost doomed—not in a star-crossed lovers way, but doomed to never happen with every odds not in their favor. 

Perhaps their meeting and connection are necessary–Tella to challenge her notions of love. From a person who didnt allow herself to fall in love, to someone who embraced her heartaches, fought for love, and finally experienced all its wonder. 

Maybe, true could be said for Jacks. His story continues, and his true ending and ever after awaits him…

︑︒⚬∙︓·⠄.*+:｡.｡　　｡.｡:+*·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.*+:｡.｡　　｡.｡:+*︑︒⚬∙︓·⠄

The Ballad of The Prince of Hearts

It wouldn't take a genius to say that Prince of Heart’s concept of love is rather terrifying. It’s easy to chalk it up to him being Fate but we know that he was once a human. He might say he’s grateful it lasted for short time, but there's a hint of regret. (Legendary, Ch 42)

He was genuinely brokenhearted when the supposed One True Love didn't feel the same obsession as he felt for her. (Finale, Ch 44). Tella even thought that whenever she thinks of heartbreak, she will forever think the way he looked at her for the rest of her life. (Finale, Ch 45)He longs so much that he’s willing to manipulate if he could have a taste of true love. 

But we also know that using magic to make someone love you rarely ends well –we’ve seen that with Luc and Marisol, Tiberius and Marisol, Evangeline and Apollo. Their experiences may have differed but they are all left with the same despair (OUABH, TBONA). For Jacks, it's witnessing with his own eyes how his spell even with his fully restored powers, would be broken by true love. (Finale, Ch 59) 

If he witnessed true love, then it seems his notion and concept of love barely changed. Why is his concept of love twisted to begin with?

From Lala we have known that Fates are not entirely unfeeling. When they do, it’s intense and consuming; and the greatest of these feelings is the urge to be which they were made to be. (OUABH, Ch 38)

For Lala, it’s to be loved. As the Cursed Bride, she’s left alone at the altar crying poisoned tears. 

For Jacks, it’s to find his one true love. 

To help with the urge, Lala makes gowns, seeing brides happy in ways she couldn't be.

To Jacks perhaps it’s the apples. After all there’s no other constant with Jacks than apples. Perhaps that’s also why his diet varies only with the colors of the apples, because there’s nothing his lips wanted more but to feel someone else's'.

Later on, Lala revealed there’s more to her curse . The reason she’s Cursed Bride is because she’s unable to move on from her first love, calling off her weddings. She had chosen to become a Fate, thinking she would be able to stop loving him, to let go but she couldn't. (TBONA, Ch 38)

Perhaps the same is true for Jacks. Perhaps there’s more to his curse and how it was borne because of love.

Evangeline’s favorite tale is the Northern Tale Ballad of the Archer and the Fox , a romantic tale about a crafty peasant girl who could transform into a fox and the young archer who loved her, but was cursed with the need to hunt her down and kill her. (OUABH, Ch 8)

It was said that Northern fairytales and history were treated as one and the same because their stories and histories were all cursed. 

Except this one is true and it was Jacks all along. He wasn't lying when he said truth is never the what you want it to be– he, the Archer killed the Fox (TBONA Ch 43):

Jacks said he didn't know if he really loved the Fox, but if he hadn't he wouldn't have broken the curse that makes him want to hunt her. He wouldnt own seven volumes of the Ballad, and which is the only collection precisely positioned (OUAB Ch 47) The Fox appears to have felt the same; she's the one who encouraged him anyways and chased him even when he’s driven to kill her. 

Perhaps that’s how his idea of love had become so twisted. Could he even dare to call the love he shared with Fox as true love when even though they broke the curse, she still ended up dead. 

Maybe his perception of love has become opposite of what he had once felt for Fox, because it seems it’s not meant to be. 

So when the girl that was immune to his kiss appeared, it didn't matter if there was love. He could just rely on magic to make her feel things, and perhaps that was enough. 

But we know that he desired true love. He needed true love. Because he’d be trapped in eternity of misery for chasing someone who didn't love him; for relying on love borne out of magic, an illusion so fragile that would always end up shattering.  He very deserved true love.

︑︒⚬∙︓·⠄.*+:｡.｡　　｡.｡:+*·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.*+:｡.｡　　｡.｡:+*︑︒⚬∙︓·⠄

The Key to the Valory Arch and Possibly More...

As we’ve established, Jacks’s qualities as Fate with propensity for cruelty and obsession might be the reason he is unable to break his curse. But at the same time, his strongest feelings is to find his true love, which is very human desire, and itself antithesis to his being Fate. 

But a lifetime of heartbreak– killing his Fox, being trapped in the Decks of Destiny, and the One True Love that should’ve been promised to him didn't work out– desensitized him from feeling any remotely human feelings, and fueling his obsessive nature even further. 

And perhaps he just needed something that could make a tiny track in his hard exterior, and something that could prevent his obsessive nature from taking over. That someone could make him tempted to actually love, to care for someone so much they’ve become your weakness and you will do anything in your power to keep them safe and warm. That for a Fate like him, he’d do anything within his power to fight against his nature. 

Jacks might believe that the key to the Valory Arch is his last chance to get his One True Love–and he may not be incorrect, because that will also lead him to actually experience one of a kind love..a true love in the truest sense of the word. 

*+:｡.｡　　｡.｡:+*

The moment Jacks’s realize that Evangeline could open doors, and saw the color of her hair, he have already thought of the prophesied key (OUABH, Ch 2) :

“You will know her because she will be crowned in rose gold. She will be both peasant and princess–  a fugitive wrongly accused, and only her willing blood will open the arch. (Ch TBONA 53) 

At that point, he still had some leverage over his supposed One True Love as their souls were still bound for eternity. [Note: It was reported that wedding turned to stone but was saved by the bride's sister arrived the morning after the marriage (Finale, Ch 12, 15, 16) ]

Jacks could find her use for later. 

But that’s not the only surprising thing about Evangeline–when he helped by turning something worse to even worse, she couldn’t just stand back and drank the poison to take the place of the boy she loved and people who turned to stone. Jacks must’ve been reminded of the person he used to be when he warned her heroes don't get happy endings–they give them to other people, and she should want her happy ending. (OUABCH, Ch 3)

Maybe that’s prompted Jacks to become a hero even for a short while when he gave Tella the Map of All, despite knowing she will find out about their secret marriage (Finale, Ch 40). And when he did not fight her, encouraged her even when she was reluctant to sever the bond. (Finale, Ch 44) 

As we know, he’s the one that asked Poison to save her, and suggested that the Empress send her to the Nocte Neverending, get her married by making the Crown Prince in love with her, all so she could fulfill the prophecy. 

But he also needed her willing blood, which prevented him from directly manipulating her. He needed her alive, so he needed to protect her. And all of this perhaps is how he has grown to genuinely care for her well-being. 

Unbeknownst to Jacks, Evangeline has started hearing his voice way back in the Nocte Neverending “Self-pity doesn’t look good on you, Little Fox.” (OUABH, Ch 19). And it was confirmed further when he tried to take away her grief of sorrow that was being amplified by the poisoned tears (OUABH, Ch 36) Not only that, his magical manipulation wouldn't work on her. And from there on, they could project and hear each other's thoughts, which is reminiscent of the immortal bond that Jacks once attempted with Tella. 

But that didn’t stop Jacks from betraying her trust when she realized that he’s the one who cursed her husband in suspended, thwarting his scheming (OUABH, Ch 44). Even so, Evangeline was able to gain her autonomy, as if she possessed some kind of charm that Jacks couldn't fully manipulate with magic or elaborate scheming. 

Jacks also needed Evangeline alive, that’s why he had been overprotective over her– he quickly shoved her out of the way when a vampire lunged at her (OUABH Ch42) or when he hold onto her like a grudge and didnt let go, so she could properly recovered for being given poisoned tears (OUABH Ch 36). But as Evangeline felt, perhaps with increasing intensity over time, how he genuinely protected her for her– he held her close and carried her as if his life depended on it instead of hers. (TBONA, Ch 13). Even Lala knew that he wouldn't let Evangeline die (TBONA CH23) His nostrils flared when he saw her arms with crudely carved words (TBONA Ch 20)

Not only is he protective of her, he’s gentle and comforting. Unnecessarily to his goals, and excessively even. Maybe he held her like a grudge, but then his arms were tight as if he had no intention of letting her go. When he slid his hands across the rail and twined his cold fingers with hers; he didn't even let go when she squeezed his hand (OUABH Ch41)   Or when Jacks offered to kill people who were whispering bad things about Eva (TBONA Ch 23) Even he kept warning Evangeline about Petra, Jacks was never condescending about how he is right and just crushed Evangeline to his chest, gently pressing her head to his shoulder. When she got a slash across her back, he slid his arms carefully and under her neck as he cradled her to his chest. How he comforted her when Evangeline said how much it hurts “I know love, I’m going to take you somewhere safe.” (TBONA Ch 31). 

Perhaps Evangeline is easily dazzled that Jacks had fun teasing her– claiming she is tempted to kiss him or that she's jealous. When it’s increasingly obvious he is the jealous one; but it feels that it wasnt because he is a Fate, it felt something that belonged to Jacks; something that we havent really seen him do with his supposed OTL. 

Jacks was off-kilter when Evangeline pulled her hand free from him in her desire to answer Luc’s pleas for help. He told her how to most people, he’s the worst thing that can happen to them, but not to her, as if she’s willing to be destroyed and he was only a human (OUABH Ch 42) Or how he told Lala he’s only giving her what she wants, when he just terrorized every man approaching Evangeline before (TBONA Ch 25) then wouldn't allow Luc to take her to a dance (TBONA Ch 30). 

Jacks kept reminding Evangeline that he’s not a human, and it seems Evangeline is the human that is tempting Jacks to love.

Maybe when he told Apollo for weeks how gorgeous she was, it wasn't entirely because of match-making purposes (OUABH, Ch 15) Evangeline felt the way Jacks slowly took in every inch of her black thigh-high boots, her shortened skirt, and the form-fitting lace corset cinching her waist and the muscle in his jaw (OUABH Ch 39) Or when he couldn’t seem to let go when they were wrapped in embrace even after the vampire effects have come to pass (OABH Ch 45) How as he take his took slow bite of his apple, his eyes darkening moving from her lips to her neck, to her clavicle then to her breasts (TBONA Ch 15) The way he looked her where you weren’t supposed to watch someone when they knew that you were looking —bold and unabashed and utterly inappropriate. (TBONA Ch 25) Or the occasional brushing of his fingertips to her stomach or ribs, occasionally her breasts (TBONA Ch 25) And that he knew her wounds would heal on its own but he tended to them anyways  because he wanted to take off her clothes off. Evangeline was dying, yknow! (TBONA Ch 37). 

Perhaps, Jacks has always been attracted to Evangeline, after all a sliver of attraction could drive him to kiss. But he needs her alive, thus he needs to keep fighting his urge, his nature as Fate, that only grew in intensity over time. 

Even when he was burning with desire, about to kill another unsuspecting girl, he was able to fight against his nature because Evangeline didn't want him to. And as he touched her, grazing the slit of her skirt with fingertips soft as they traveled higher, and how he reached for her hips and hitched it to his– he reminded her “I’m not a human, Evangeline. And I’m not your friend, or your husband, or your lover.” It is apparent that he was being tempted–“Then don’t try to make me act like it. It doesn’t end well.” (TBONA Ch 25)

Even he was feeling blissful –perhaps as an effect of Mirth stone– he kissed her neck instead, as if he’s not taking any chances. His mouth pressed against her throat, slowly traced a blissful line next to her ear. (TBONA Ch 38) Or when he held her tightly that it hurts but Eva didn't mind, wrapped in embrace she knew they both wanted. Even when he deliberately fell his gaze on her lips, he licked only the center of her lips softly. She could feel his fingers against her scalp, holding her firm–he’s keeping his lips just shy of hers, he wants to kiss her but her safety is undoubtedly his priority.  (TBONA Ch 43)

Perhaps because he believed the mystical One True Love has come already, that from the beginning he, warning her that he is a Fate. If he loved her any less, he wouldn’t try so hard to push her away. After all, as Chaos said, she reminds him of his first Fox (TBONA Ch35) ; he doesn't want Evangeline to end up just like her (TBONA, Ch 43). 

But ust like the Fox, Evangeline had faith in Jacks. She kept chasing her even after knowing all this time he wanted to go back in time to his supposed One True Love, pleading with him to come with her instead. That he’s wrong that they aren't meant to be (TBONA Ch 45) And one last time, despite the hurt that he wanted her to just leave, she wanted to run back to him, tell him how much she felt. On one hand she believed that love was the most powerful magic of all, and on the other, it didn't matter if they stayed forever cursed–all that matters is he stayed. (TBONA ,Ch 46) 

How she couldn't love him?

 She kept being warned against Jacks, just like Tella. The moment Evangeline stepped in the Church of the Prince of Hearts which aroma supposedly would be one’s greatest heartbreak, it smelled of apples and blood. (OUABH Ch2).

When they jumped off the cliff, where she felt like that he held her close and carried her as if his life depended on it instead of hers —she hasn't stopped failing, she could no longer deny her feelings (TBONA Ch 37).

Maybe it has been foretold when the dragon-roasted apples that were supposed to taste true love, tasted hot, searing sweetness and Jacks–(OUABH, Ch 16). 

The same man who had admitted that he’s selfish, is asking Evangeline to stay with him for one night, asking her to let him pretend she’s his. Or if it will be easier, he asks that she could also pretend she wants to be his. The man who is said to know how only to take, is asking someone to take him (TBONA, Ch 37)

Romantic as she always is, Evangeline didn't want to be person that could disappear without anyone knowing she’s gone; she wanted to be important to someone, that if her heart stopped, she wanted someone else to feel it (TBONA, Ch 14) 

Only it did happen, and only if she knew afterwards the agony, the sort of raw grief that was only seen once in a century, how horrible the scream he let out as he held her in his arms when he lost her once. How he cried bloody tears for her. 

(TBONA, The End)

Evangeline might not be the one that made Jacks’s heart beat, but she is the one that tempted him to love, to truly love again.

 Evangeline has become his weakness–he’d fought hard against his nature as Fate. He would’ve traveled through time he used to be against for the One True Love, his raison d’etre—But he did it for Evangeline. All the scheming, the hardships they went through was so he could get back to his One True Love, his reason for being, but he didn't bat an eye and sacrificed it all for Evangeline. (TBONA, The End)

To Jacks, there’s nothing of equal value to Evangeline. 

*+:｡.｡　　｡.｡:+*.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.*+:｡.｡　　｡.｡:+*

Conclusion

No doubt in my mind that the “One True Love” promised in the story of the Prince of Hearts is the true love in the truest sense of the word. The same love held with highest regards, the powerful magical force on its own. 

Perhaps, this will also mark the ending of the Prince of Hearts– his heartbreak will cease, his love no longer unrequited because he knows how to love and someone could return it with the same intensity. 

He breaks out the curse, and perhaps he embraces the humanity he once discarded after a lifetime of heartbreak. 

The Prince of Hearts and the Valenda’s Sweeheart Savior may have experienced the greatest heartbreaks, but maybe in A Curse for True Love their story shall be remembered as a love story of astronomical proportions. 

[the-maidendeath]

@archerslittlefox hi evangeline, i’m so sorry your tea party was canceled!! are you okay? also, may i ask you a couple of questions about the valory arch?

[archerslittlefox]

@fatedprinceofhearts do you still have the stones for the valory arch?

[sweetingseva]

Hi! I recently completed the OUABK series and it was good but I had a lot of unanswered questions.

So what happened to Lala and Dane? She said something about finding him but things changing and something. So like is she over him when he is actually back and if she is then why? Then when she met Castor she was not normal. I guess there was a line about her blushing while he replied her. So like is she and Chaos together or is there something going on between them? We never got to know about her love life and what happened to her in the end.

Hello! Thanks so much for your ask! 😊

Yeah, the love story between Dane and LaLa is over. Back then, they were a different versions of themselves, but through time apart (Dane in the Valory and LaLa living her life as a Fate), they grew apart, even if it wasn't by their choice. When Dane finally escaped the arch, LaLa realized that she has changed so much as a person, enough so that the new version of herself likes someone else.

It's kind of natural that this happens.

Castor and LaLa are a possible couple, evidenced by their flirting and darkening eyes. Last I heard, they could be the next couple to see on page 💗

[aoibheann04]

I think that Stephanie Garber might be sort of merging her different series now. It would be very very difficult not to if her next books are set in the same universe as Caraval and OUABH. At the moment, her series can be read separately. You don’t have to read one to understand the other.

It seems that ACFTL might be setting up a possible future story about Castor, LaLa and the Valors. And it will be hard to write a story involving the Valors that doesn’t mention the fact that they were trapped in the Valory Arch for years. Which would be a huge spoiler for OUABH and most of TBONA.

So if this is indeed the case, and the next series by Stephanie Garber will require the previous ones to be read first, then ACFTL is not the end of our evajacks moments. They could appear together in future series! Similarly so could Scarlett and Julian and Tella and Legend.

But really more than anything I just want to see my baby boy Luc again. I just love him so much. He deserves the world and should be reinstated as King of the North.

[onceuponajacks]

❣️ A Curse for True Love spoilers ❣️

I’m gonna put a warning right now and say that I did love the book but it was definitely lacking something. I don’t want hate because I 100% support Stephanie and love all of her books and her imagination and her writing style but here is what I was hoping for in the final book (please remember this is my opinion and feel free to disagree but do it respectfully):

I wish that Jacks had known it was Apollo who stole Evangeline’s memories from much earlier in the book. I think it would have made such an interesting plot point and I imagine he would have wanted to murder Apollo but he’d be far more focused on begging and pleading and trying everything he could to get Evangeline to remember him.

I really thought that the letter Evangeline wrote to herself in the beginning on Ballad would have played a more significant role in ACFTL because it never appeared again in the second book. I assumed after she had her memories erased that Apollo would frame Jacks or at least try to ruin Jacks in Evangeline’s eyes and then when she found that letter in her room Apollo’s stories would have only been confirmed. This would have made it ever harder for Jacks to convince her he is not the villain and harder for her to trust her memories.

I didn’t like that Jacks masqueraded as “Archer” I thought it was a pretty weak plot point. I know he couldn’t tell her his name but as a reader and avid lover of Jacks, it felt weird.

I loved that trees played such a significant role in the story but I do wish that magical trees would have been mentioned at least once before they became a main plot point. Like anything, even a story Evangeline could have come across in the library about all the magical trees in the Magnificent North.

I wish Evangeline did more digging. I felt her sitting there trying to remember wasn’t really enough. I think it would have been interesting to see if she looked through old copies of The Daily Rumour and (I actually can’t remember what happened to Kutlass so correct me if I’m wrong) but she didn’t end up going to see him after he gave her his card right? I know she wasn’t allowed to leave but it was just kind of forgotten.

I was very happy to see a Jacks pov it’s what I always wanted but I did like the mystery of not knowing what he was thinking or feeling. This one’s not a complaint or anything I just missed the mystery that was Jacks of the Hollow in TBONA.

I was shocked when she used the word “bitch”. I mean she’s never used it before in the OUABH trilogy and for me it set ACFTL even more apart from it’s prequels. As many others have noted the third book did have an entirely different vibe from the first two. And while I loved it it was quite an adjustment because I re-read them before diving into ACFTL.

There were many missing characters and underdeveloped/unnecessary characters. I hate Marisol but I at least wanted to know if Luc ended up doing away with her or what even happened to Luc. I felt he was quite relevant even as a side character. I felt like Belleflower (was that his name? Something like that) just appeared and then disappeared just as quickly. And was he the one who sent that man to kill Evangeline slowly and painfully? That was never confirmed but I assume so. And then the man with the bird who bit Evangeline. I think his name was Garett but please do correct me because I can’t really remember. Him and his whole band of guards had soooo much potential, but as with a lot of things in this book I feel they were underdeveloped. If she’d just etched them out a bit more or made them do something very relevant to the story it might have made all the difference.

There may be more and if there are I will edit this. But for now, this is my list of wishes for what the story could have been. I rate it a solid 4/5 because I loved it regardless of these points and I loved the ending and was so happy that Jacks finally found his true love and that Eva got her happily ever after.

Soon I’ll make a post of everything I loved in the book ! It will be a very long post ;)

[rosesfox]

no one ever talks about how jacks literally sacrificed HIMSELF in place of evangeline when she opened the valory arch the second time around. jacks lets himself get bitten by chaos so he wouldn’t hurt evangeline again 🥹🥹

omg, it's true! 🥹❤️ he literally takes her place, and that's only one of the times he sacrifices himself for her in this book.

he gives up his own security and happiness for her. he thought time would take something away from him and he didn't care as she would be safe. he exchanged his own heart for her, and i know i've said this several times, but it's insurmountable! i don't know how people can still have doubts that jacks loves evangeline with every cell in his body. just look at ALL his actions.

[ask-tdw-0666]

Practice.

[hollowinmyheart]

Jacks's Apple Color

Did anyone notice whenever jacks thought about the valory arch open to get back to tella his apple turns into blue and when jacks is attracted to evangeline his apple's color is pink. I think the shade of his apple changes according to about whom he is thinking about. Tella's color is blue and evangeline's hairs are rose gold a shade like pink. And definitely his apple eating is representing the urge to kiss someone ig.

[boosreads]

eva realizing her life wasn’t full of moments leading her to the valory arch but instead it was full of moments leading her to true love, to jacks.

[thebestbrunettee]

evajacks

okay but like the way evangeline and jacks dressed up as the archer and the fox at lala’s party because jacks must’ve been freaking out on the inside. like jacks is so clearly in love with evangeline but he obviously didn’t do anything because of his curse, and now with her dressing up as the one thing he fears evangeline will become?! this whole time he’s been suppressing his feelings towards her because he knows it can only end badly and he’s going through so many precautions to protect her (whether for the valory arch or otherwise). and now they arrive at this party together, looking like a couple, jacks is already struggling with his inner turmoil, and on top of that dressed up as one of jacks’ biggest regrets. he must’ve been going through so much internal pain right???? i may be way off but that’s just my opinion.