Caraval Reading Order
By the Ember team · Updated July 2026
Stephanie Garber has written two trilogies set in the same world. The first is the Caraval trilogy: Caraval (2017), Legendary (2018), and Finale (2019). The second is the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy: Once Upon a Broken Heart (2021), The Ballad of Never After (2022), and A Curse for True Love (2023).
Both series are complete. They share a world, a magic system, and one key character: Jacks, the Prince of Hearts. You can read Once Upon a Broken Heart first, but doing so will spoil major reveals from the Caraval trilogy. If you want the full experience, read the Caraval trilogy first.
Short answer
Stephanie Garber has two trilogies set in the same world: the Caraval trilogy (Caraval, Legendary, Finale) published 2017-2019, and the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy (Once Upon a Broken Heart, The Ballad of Never After, A Curse for True Love) published 2021-2023. Read Caraval first to avoid spoilers and get the full context for Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, who bridges both series.
Caraval trilogy
Caraval
Released January 31, 2017
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their abusive father. But when Scarlett finally receives an invitation to Caraval, a legendary game where the line between reality and performance blurs, everything changes. Tella disappears, and Scarlett is pulled into a dangerous game where nothing is as it seems.
Legendary
Released May 29, 2018
This time, Tella is the one pulled into Caraval. She made a deal with a dangerous immortal, and now she has to win the game or pay a price she cannot afford. Told from Tella's perspective, this book reveals the darker side of Caraval and introduces Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, who will become central to the next trilogy.
Finale
Released May 7, 2019
Scarlett and Tella are both back for the final Caraval. The fate of their world hangs in the balance, old debts come due, and the sisters must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice. The ending sets up the world and characters that carry into Once Upon a Broken Heart.
Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy
Once Upon a Broken Heart
Released September 28, 2021
Evangeline Fox is desperate to stop the love of her life from marrying someone else, so she makes a deal with Jacks, the Prince of Hearts. Jacks is a Fate, dangerous and cursed, and his bargains always come with a cost. Evangeline soon realizes she has traded one heartbreak for something far worse.
The Ballad of Never After
Released September 13, 2022
Evangeline is cursed. She cannot remember the boy she loves, and Jacks is the only one who can help her break the curse. But Jacks has his own agenda, and the closer Evangeline gets to the truth, the more dangerous her world becomes. The book deepens the romance and raises the stakes for the final installment.
A Curse for True Love
Released October 24, 2023
The final book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy. Evangeline and Jacks face the consequences of their choices, and the curse that has haunted them both must finally be broken. This book delivers the emotional payoff readers have been waiting for since the first chapter of Once Upon a Broken Heart.
Where to start
Read Caraval first for the full experience
This is the recommended order. You will avoid spoilers, understand Jacks and the Fates, and experience the world-building in the order Stephanie Garber intended. The Caraval trilogy sets up the magic system, the politics, and the mythology that Once Upon a Broken Heart builds on.
Start with Once Upon a Broken Heart if you want romance first
If you mainly care about Evangeline and Jacks and want a romance-forward story, you can start here. The Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy is more romance than mystery. But be aware: you will get major spoilers for the Caraval trilogy, and some reveals will not land as hard because you are missing the setup.
How the series connect
Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, is the bridge between the two trilogies. He is introduced in Legendary, the second Caraval book, and plays a major role in Finale. In the Caraval trilogy, he is a secondary character with his own agenda. In the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy, he is one of the two main characters.
If you read Once Upon a Broken Heart first, you will know things about Jacks that are meant to be reveals in Finale. You will also miss the context for why Jacks is the way he is. His motivations in the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy come directly from the events of the Caraval trilogy.
The two trilogies feel different. The Caraval trilogy is more about illusion, mystery, and spectacle. The Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy is more about romance, curses, and emotional conflict. But the world, the Fates, and the magic system are consistent across both.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Caraval reading order?
Stephanie Garber has two trilogies set in the same world: the Caraval trilogy (Caraval, Legendary, Finale) published 2017-2019, and the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy (Once Upon a Broken Heart, The Ballad of Never After, A Curse for True Love) published 2021-2023. Read Caraval first to avoid spoilers and get the full context for Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, who bridges both series.
Should I read Caraval or Once Upon a Broken Heart first?
Read the Caraval trilogy first. While you can start with Once Upon a Broken Heart, doing so will spoil major reveals from the Caraval trilogy. Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, is introduced in Legendary (Caraval book 2), and his backstory and motivations are rooted in the events of the Caraval trilogy. Reading Caraval first gives you the full context and makes the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy more satisfying.
Are Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart connected?
Yes. Both trilogies take place in the same world. Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, appears in Legendary and Finale (Caraval books 2 and 3) and is one of the main characters in the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy. The two series have different tones (Caraval focuses on illusion and spectacle, Once Upon a Broken Heart focuses on romance and curses), but the world, magic system, and key characters connect them.
How many books are in the Caraval series?
The Caraval series has 3 books: Caraval (2017), Legendary (2018), and Finale (2019). If you include the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy (which takes place in the same world), there are 6 books total across both series. Both trilogies are complete.
Do I need to read Caraval before Once Upon a Broken Heart?
No, you do not need to read Caraval first. Once Upon a Broken Heart can be read as a standalone trilogy. However, reading Caraval first is strongly recommended. You will understand Jacks better, avoid spoilers for the Caraval trilogy, and get the full emotional impact of the world Stephanie Garber built. If you only care about Evangeline and Jacks, you can start with Once Upon a Broken Heart, but you will miss important context.
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Sources
Series order and release dates verified as of July 2026.
- Caraval Series on GoodreadsUsed for Caraval trilogy publication dates and series information.
- Once Upon a Broken Heart Series on GoodreadsUsed for Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy publication dates and series order.
- Caraval WikiUsed for series connection and character context.
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