Thank you to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the Arc. Three word review: “An absolute delight!” This book broke my reading slump. Perfect for a witchy October. Regency meets Fantasy let's Feminism.

I unfortunately had to DNF this book at around 35%. I really struggled to get my head around the magic system and found the MC to be slightly annoying and self obsessed.

I really enjoyed the writing style and the world the author was creating, but simply struggled to 'get involved' with the book in any way.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

There were parts of this I really liked, but then other parts I found less engaging. I really enjoyed the authentic historical aspects of the story and found the basic premise to be really thought-provoking, but I think the social commentary overall could have been a bit more nuanced (i.e. the fact that men need to play an equal role in child-rearing and that women are in charge of when they have children was the conclusion--I was kind of like? Uh, duh?). I also found the main character, Beatrice, while very headstrong and independent, often used those attributes to act quite selfishly, which lead to the main conflict coming to head in what was, frankly, an incredibly eye-roll worthy way, IMO. I also thought, like other reviewers, the romance could have used a bit more development and nuance (it felt quite forced to me than the male love interest was literally perfect and still Beatrice acted the way she did, and I think it could have been more natural had Ianthe had more flaws that made Beatrice's feelings towards him more complex). Overall, I would recommend this one, but it was not a new all-time favorite.

Thank you to Erewhon for providing me with a free early copy of this work through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Midnight Bargain is out now.

Title: The Midnight Bargain
Author: C.L. Polk
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Beatrice Clayborn is a sorceress who practices magic in secret, terrified of the day she will be locked into a marital collar that will cut off her powers to protect her unborn children. She dreams of becoming a full-fledged Magus and pursuing magic as her calling as men do, but her family has staked everything to equip her for Bargaining Season, when young men and women of means descend upon the city to negotiate the best marriages. The Clayborns are in severe debt, and only she can save them, by securing an advantageous match before their creditors come calling.

In a stroke of luck, Beatrice finds a grimoire that contains the key to becoming a Magus, but before she can purchase it, a rival sorceress swindles the book right out of her hands. Beatrice summons a spirit to help her get it back, but her new ally exacts a price: Beatrice’s first kiss . . . with her adversary’s brother, the handsome, compassionate, and fabulously wealthy Ianthe Lavan.

The more Beatrice is entangled with the Lavan siblings, the harder her decision becomes: If she casts the spell to become a Magus, she will devastate her family and lose the only man to ever see her for who she is; but if she marries—even for love—she will sacrifice her magic, her identity, and her dreams. But how can she choose just one, knowing she will forever regret the path not taken?

I ended up enjoying this a lot, although Ianthe seemed just a little bit too good to be true. I mean, handsome, rich, open-minded and for women’s equality in a society where it’s unheard of, willing to give up his status, wealth, and family? But I enjoyed reading about him—and his fabulous clothes—as he and Beatrice got to know each other better.

The society was well-done, if a bit horrifying, and the author didn’t get bogged down in the details, giving the reader just enough detail to bring the setting to life without smothering them with minutiae. I wanted to smack Beatrice’s little sister several times, but on the whole, I very much enjoyed this read.

C.L. Polk lives in Canada. The Midnight Bargain is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Erewhon in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 10/23.)

“You will dance. You will eat cake. You will see starlight. You will have a kiss by midnight, and then our bargain is done.”

I liked how this book explores and woven the themes of gender equality, women’s freedom, and independence into the novel. However, I felt like this novel lacked nuance in some areas. I appreciated the rhetoric regarding equality, however, at times it felt too heavy-handed and on the nose, thereby affecting my reading experience towards the 80% mark of the story. In saying that, I do agree that the discussion regarding equality and independence is crucial, and whilst I may find it a bit on the nose at times others may not find it so.

Characters:
Also, I liked how driven and determined the protagonist (Beatrice) was throughout the story. My two favourite characters were Beatrice, Nadi, and Ysbeta. I particularly liked Beatrice and Nadi’s dynamic. And I liked how Beatrice and Ysbeta grew together, fostering a great friendship.

However, unfortunately, I could not come to love the love interest (Ianthe). I felt like the romantic interest was too perfect in the sense that he was consistently understanding, open-minded despite living in and taking part in a world that constantly benefited him. It felt unrealistic. From the top of my head, I can’t think of any flaws. I mean, the love interest is even good looking and rich.

Despite the constant focus on the romance, the romance felt underdeveloped and rushed. I didn’t feel emotionally invested nor understood the romantic connection between the characters. I feel that there was no romantic build-up for me to really cheer for the two characters.

In terms of the world-building and magic system, I liked how intriguing the magic system was. However, this could be due to my lack of understanding, but I found the magic system vague. Despite that, I did find the magic system fascinating and enjoyed it.

Without getting spoiler-y, I both liked and not-so-liked the ending. I found it unrewarding in the sense of how it opposes certain themes presented throughout the novel regarding marriage, children, and Beatrice pursuing her passion. I felt the ending felt too convenient to be believable. Despite that, I did like how Beatrice chose and paved her own path for both career and family (I’m trying to be as vague as possible here).


GUSH:
- Gripping, I devoured this book in one sitting
- Interesting world and magic
- Determined protagonist wanting to pursue their passion and a strong sense of women empowerment

GRIPE:
- I didn’t feel too invested in the romance
- Not enough information regarding the world-building and magic
- The ending felt too convenient

Recommended for: fans of historical fiction set in Regency era, themes of politically arranged marriages, and feminism

CW: themes of misogyny (women wearing collars after marriage to subdue their magic and protect potential children)

𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘱𝘺 (𝘈𝘙𝘊) 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (Erewhon Books) for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Would you risk everything for magic? Beatrice Clayborn faces this choice in C. L. Polk’s latest fantasy novel, The Midnight Bargain. Polk expertly explores themes of women’s rights and bodily autonomy by taking the tropes and atmosphere of a Regency romance and transporting them into an original fantasy world where the practice of magic is segregated by gender. The Midnight Bargain was released just last week, and you can find it in stores now.

Beatrice Clayborn wants the one thing women in her society aren’t allowed to have: magic. While male sorcerers study at elite chapterhouses, Beatrice has spent her youth teaching herself magic out of illicit grimoires. But that’s all about to come to an end with this Bargaining season: once her family negotiates an advantageous match for her, Beatrice will have to put on the marriage collar that cuts her off from all her magic, lest a wandering spirit take advantage of any pregnancy to possess her unborn child. Yet Beatrice has a plan: if she can make the great bargain with a spirit, then she’ll be a fully-fledged mage. She can use her magic to turn her father’s business around and live her life as an unmarried spinster, practicing magic in the shadows. Of course, she didn’t count on falling in love with one of the most eligible bachelors in town for Bargaining season, Ianthe Lavan.…

In The Midnight Bargain, young women practice magic with a recklessness that reminded me a bit of Hannah Abigail Clarke’s The Scapegracers. Though rather than having the chaotic energy of Sideways Pike, Beatrice just has a bit of a gambler’s heart. She’s always willing to take a few risks if the potential payoff is big enough. In this case, that means allowing a mischievous spirit of chance named Nadi to invisibly accompany her to all of the delicate social functions of Bargaining season. The magic system in this novel was reminiscent of one of my childhood favorites, the Bartimaeus Sequence by Jonathan Stroud: sorcerers summon dangerous spirits, and must be careful to word their bargains carefully and keep their supernatural servants under tight control. But perhaps because of her own refusal to be controlled, Beatrice doesn’t see her relationship with Nadi as one of master and servant, teetering on the edge of victim and monster. Instead, Beatrice and Nadi form a close friendship built on mutual respect and trust. And while it may seem reckless to trust a spirit that just wants to gulp down three cups of punch, kiss a stranger, and hex your enemies, sometimes you just have to take that leap of faith.

Apart from the magic system, one of the most notable aspect of this novel is its subversive world-building. Beatrice’s home country of Chasland resembles Regency England. But rather than this society being lionized, Chasland is actually viewed as somewhat backwards and regressive, particularly in its treatment of women. And perhaps more importantly, The Midnight Bargain rejects one of the most problematic tropes that plagues both Regency romance and second-world fantasy: not everybody is white! And the Black characters aren’t just visitors from some exotic equatorial island at the edge of the map, either. Ianthe and his sister Ysbeta are from Llanandras, the most powerful country in this world’s trade economy and the seat of beauty and fashion. The Llanandari language is the lingua franca among the international socialite crowd and Llanandari fashion sets the trends for the rest of society. The Llanandari are more socially progressive, as well, allowing women more reproductive, economic, and even magical freedom than in Chasland. Although, even the most progressive society falls short of true equality. And so, Beatrice and Ysbeta team up to imagine a better world, in which women are free to make their own choices, and neither their magic nor their bodies are under the control of men.

If you’re looking for some fun, feminist magic with nuanced world-building and a sweet romance, don’t miss The Midnight Bargain!

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I know I post mainly books I really love on my blog, but I feel it’s also important to post reviews for books I didn’t care for. I didn’t love this book. I felt confused by the magic and the world as a whole.

The upside was it was a quick read. It wasn’t hard to read, just confusing. I will leave this review kind of short, but I just didn’t love this.

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

The Midnight Bargain has an intriguing premise. It's a fantasy set in a Regency-like world, where women cannot practice magic after they are married. They are forced to wear a collar that blocks their magic because it is believed that without it, the spirits can possess their unborn children. Most women don't even have a choice of practicing magic instead of getting married. The main heroine, Beatrice, wants to become a Mage, but her father wants her to marry a wealthy man to save the family from bankruptcy. This a society where women sacrifice everything but men sacrifice nothing.

I was looking forward to reading The Midnight Bargain and was hoping for a satisfying feminist story, but unfortunately, I was left disappointed. First of all, this book is marketed as fantasy romance, but it reads more like YA because of how young and immature all the characters are. The story is simplistic, with not a lot of worldbuilding or nuance. The characters are one-dimensional and lack development. Not to mention, the romance is very unsatisfying. It's an instalove relationship that lacks chemistry. The one character that I did like was Nadi, the spirit with whom Beatrice bonded and became friends. But, overall, I didn't enjoy this book and would not recommend it, especially not as an adult fantasy romance.

Thanks to Erewhon Books for the DRC!

Oh. my. God. This book is so amazing!! I just couldn't put it down.
It's one of the best historical fantasy books I've ever read.

At first, it may seem like you've read this story before. Beatrice Clayborn needs to marry a rich man to save her family. They don't have much money left, and she worries about her sister's future. The problem is: she doesn't want a husband. She wants her freedom. She wants her magic. And women are not allowed to practice magic if they're married.

At the time, women basically only existed to have children and please their husbands. Their opinions weren't important. They had to ask permission for everything. If the husband said "no", that was final. There was nothing else they could do. If their fathers said, "You must marry this man, even if you don't love him", they had to do it. And so, obviously, no husband would ever allow them to use magic, especially if they were pregnant. They were afraid it could be dangerous to the babies. So, after the marriage, the wives had to wear warding collars around their necks, cutting off their connection with magic. Only the husbands had the keys. Ugh, the patriarchy.

Beatrice didn't want this for herself. She wanted to help her family, but she wanted to be happy too. And maybe, just maybe, there was a way to save her family using magic, without having to submit herself to husband's orders, without giving up her dreams.

Things get even more complicated when she falls in love with Ianthe Lavan... and he loves her back.
But still, she doesn't want to give her freedom up. Even when he promises to let her use her magic once in a while, she wonders: "If I can only use my magic when you deem it safe, does that magic belong to me, or you?".

His sister, Ysbeta Lavan, understands Beatrice better than anyone else, because she also feels the same way. Together, they sort of start a feminist revolution, going after their dreams and doing all the forbidden stuff. Nothing can stop these two. Not even Ianthe.

I think the "instant love" between Beatrice and Ianthe was a little weird, but I'm gonna let that pass... So many things still had to happen later, so I understand that this aspect had to be understood since the beginning. But still, maybe, just maaaaybe, I wish Beatrice had taken longer to realize that she was actually in love, that choosing between that feeling and her freedom wouldn't be easy.

But I really, really enjoyed this book! I'm hoping to read more from this author in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest option.

This book has the most beautiful cover but unfortunately that’s where the appeal ended for me. I really wanted to like this, but I found it somewhat confusing. I couldn’t understand was main plot or how the magic worked.

This was a fast read so if you are in a read slump this book is a great pick for that.

3.5 Stars

C. L. Polk, author of the World Fantasy Award-winning Witchmark, and the Kingston Cycle, has written a standalone feminist romance fantasy novel in The Midnight Bargain. Set in the fictional Chasland, which is a lot like a magical Regency-era England, we meet Beatrice Clayborn, one of two daughters from a somewhat socially disadvantaged family. Beatrice, a young woman with ideas far above her given station as a woman, is a sorceress. Young women of Chasland are basically auctioned off by their families in bargaining season, a period of grand balls and outings in which young women are displayed to eligible young men. One of the problems with marriage in Chasland is that any magic that a young woman possesses is dampened by a c collar they must wear from the moment of their marriage. These collared women lose all their magical ability and their sense of connectedness to the world around them. Beatrice, who is in possession of several grimoires, wants instead to make a bargain with a greater spirit and become an advisor to her father. Her father, who has invested poorly and bet everything on Beatrice making an excellent marriage in her first bargaining season, angrily opposes any suggestion of women using their magic. Magic is for men. This is in part because of the concern that feral spirits could damage a woman's unborn children (hence the need to ward wives with the collars). Clayborn is still hoping his wife is fertile enough to give him a son, even though his daughters are in their late teens. Beatrice's prospects for independence are improved when she finds a disguised grimoire that is a guide to calling on greater spirits and bargaining with them. Unfortunately, Ysbeta Lavan, a young sorceress of much higher social status from the nearby country of Llanandaras, is drawn to the same bookshop and book. She is in the shop with her handsome brother Iante. Conceding to social pressures, Beatrice reluctantly lets Ysbeta purchase the book but the Lavans offer to share access to it. In fact, Ysbeta needs Beatrice's help to reveal its magical keys to calling on spirits. But why does Ysbeta want this book? Could the two women be balking at the same future plight? Could they join forces to mount resistance to the too-common fate of women of a certain social station in this magical world? With touches of Jane Austen (especially about the importance of a young woman making the "right" marriage) and Mary Robinette Kowal's The Complete Glamourist Histories this can be a diverting read for those looking for fantasy-themed romance.

There was a lot to love in the idea of this book but I found the almost instalove aspect of the relationship be between Beatrice and Iante rather annoying, in part because Iante just read as such a flat character. I enjoyed Beatrice, Ysbeta, and Bea's sad but still defiant mother. Miss Tarden's character provides some interesting insights into the freedoms of the unmarried women of the working class in Chasland. One of my favorite characters of the novel is the spirit Nadi, who was just a delight. I really enjoyed the development of the relationship between Beatrice and Nadi and their fortunate Midnight Bargain. But Iante? I wanted to know more about how Iante became open-minded enough in the first place to appreciate Beatrice and I wanted him to become more insightful about his sister's plight far earlier in the book. His failure to make the connections between what Beatrice's fears are and his sister Ysbeta's situation until the last fifth of the novel was frustrating for the reader. I also felt the way the magic system worked in this world, for instance how some men did or did not use magic, rather puzzling. The exploration of the fact that women seemed to have so much more natural facility than their men, and had it dampened, felt somewhat glossed over. Men like their upper hand over the women. Did they deliberately suppress any information about how women could safely become pregnant without harming their children in order to snatch that upper hand? Why was this knowledge "lost" when it seems to be in everyone's interest to have it? For those looking for a somewhat witchy romance for Samhain, you might want to give this a whirl.

The audiobook is narrated by the delightful Moira Quirk.

I received a digital review of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I did not finish this book. I could not get into it at all. I would try for a couple of nights but just couldn't pick it up on the third night.

I do not know why I couldn't get into it. Maybe it were the thoughts more bad would befall Beatrice that it made me hesitate. The characters were interesting, lots of descriptions for me to "see" the scene but for whatever reason this wasn't a book for me.

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you!

The Midnight Bargain is the story of two young girls Beatrice and Ysbeta who fight for their right to practice magic and to become Mage. In this world of Regency England, the young girls had to be married and married women doesn’t have the right to practice magic and they had to be collared to protect their unborn children.

Beatrice and Ysbeta want to avoid marriage and for that, they have to learn more about magic. They want to use their freedom to help other women like them to have the right to choose if they are collared and to find ways for women to become mothers without sacrificing their magic.

Every time I see you, I am awed by you, delighted by you, comforted and moved by you. I am a greedy man, and I want every moment there is to have you.

Beatrice meets the beautiful Ianthe and she fell in love with him. But at the same time, she isn’t ready to give up her dream to become Mage. Ianthe like Beatrice practice magic and he understands her need to practice magic.

For Beatrice wasn’t easy to decide between magic and the love for Ianthe and her family. I like Beatrice because she fought for her right to practice magic and to have control over her own body. Read The Midnight Bargain is you want to see women who fight for their rights.

Review live on the blog: 10/19/2020

I enjoyed this immensely. Flavors of magic, rebellion, and regency-style ballrooms. I would gladly read more books set in this world.

At the start, it took me a chapter or two to settle into the world and learn the rules. Some folks have magic, but women are "Collared" when they wed which takes away their magic. Ostensibly for their own good, this form of oppression is actively resisted by Beatrice, who has discovered secret books of magic written by women.

The world was brought to life for me, and I especially enjoyed Beatrice's interactions with Nadi, a spirit B. contacts. There's an undercurrent of romance in this book, but it's by no means the primary genre of this book.

After reading this, I find that I need to go back and read Polk's backlist because of it.

I received an ARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley.

I was lucky to get a free eARC of this book to review. This book was incredibly creative in the plot and the culture the author created for this world. The book takes the question of what would happen if women had magic in Regency England and put it into action. I think the way the author talks about the oppression of women at this time if very well rooted in reality, which I think made it more believable when they added magic into the mix.

The magic system however, is very confusing. There are descriptions of what the characters are doing and feeling to make certain things happen which I got completely lost on more than once. It almost feels like the reader is supposed to just understand what’s happening without any proof or explanation about it. Also, some of the character decision at the end are completely unbelievable, especially the parents of our main characters. They’ve been built up one way the whole book, and then at the drop of a hat they switch completely which I personally didn’t like.

With all of that being said, I really did enjoy this book and the story the author created. It had some flaws, but most times. Found myself on the edge of my seat wondering what the next move was going to be. I felt for the characters, and I stressed with them. The plot was not predictable, and I honestly didn’t know how it was going to end. Overall, this was a great stand alone fantasy that I really enjoyed reading!

The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk is a fun adventure in a world where her father or husband controls a woman’s magic. Our plucky heroine has other ideas about if men should own her magic. She gains the friendship of a sister and brother, as well as a spirit, to help her in her fight.
The book had a fairly predictable plot, with everything being tied up in a nice bow at the end. However, the characters were likable, and the ride getting to the end was fun!

Thank you to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Content warning: Institutional reproductive sexism and the many things that can happen to AFAB people because of it.

The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk
The Midnight Bargain is a romantic fantasy novel by C.L. Polk. This is her second novel of the year, after the excellent Stormsong, the second book in her Kingston Cycle. The Midnight Bargain is not set in the same universe as the Kingston Cycle, and appears to be a standalone (though I would love a follow-up).

In The Midnight Bargain, young women with magical potential are often not allowed to use it. Instead, their fathers make bargains for their hand each year, in what is known as the Bargaining Season. When these women get married, their husbands put a collar around their necks, preventing their use of magic. These collars cannot come off without assistance. Although this is the proven solution to protect any children they may concieve, it still takes a lot away from the woman collared.

Beatrice Clayborn wants to pursue magic as men do. However, her family is deeply in debt, and need her to marry someone rich to save the family finances. When she finds a grimoire that can help her escape her fate, it is quickly taken out of her hands by Ysabeta, who wishes to escape marraige. Beatrice makes a deal with a minor spirit to get the grimoire back, but part of the deal is kissing Ysabeta’s brother, Ianthe. Let’s just say that this isn’t the worst decision Beatrice has ever made. Soon, Beatrice is further torn between two choices: love and imprisonment or freedom and social disgrace.

Marriage as Loss of Autonomy in The Midnight Bargain
Although society in The Midnight Bargain insists that women should get married to protect themselves, the collar seems far more of a cage than a shield. Women have to wear it whenever society thinks it likely that they could get pregnant (this differs from country to contry). One of the sadder things about this confinement is that the narrative makes clear that there is a threat to pregnant people. However, the men in this world are happy with the solution they have, although Beatrice is not the only discontent. They’re okay with the situation because the wives provide them with a specific service: the creation of sons. If they have to think of them as people, the whole situation gets complicated.

The same week I read The Midnight Bargain, I listened to an episode of the podcast You’re Wrong About on The Stepford Wives. In that episode, one of the hosts notes that housewives are the ultimate technology. They cook, they clean, and they make the home seem as respectable as possible. It really feels like The Midnight Bargain drills down to how wives are seen as assets before they are seen as people. This book also clearly expresses how horrible that would be for someone who feels like looking at these “assets” is looking at what they will be reduced down to. I keep coming back to these parallels literal months later.

Conclusion – Picking up The Midnight Bargain Shouldn’t Be A Hard Choice

The Midnight Bargain is a well written book with an allegorical magic system, a sweet romance, and a thrilling pace. I literally stayed up until three in the morning to finish it. Throughout the book, I really worried that Polk might not be able to pull off a satisfying ending. Without spoilers, I can tell you that she stuck the ending perfectly. This might be another one of my books of the year, and you should honestly read this and then pick up Polk’s backlist. You won’t regret it.

I received this title from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

3.5 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is another good fantasy novel from the author. The great thing is that this is a stand alone, which is rare to find in fantasy books.

Beatrice Clayborn is a young sorceress that practices magic in secret. She dreams of becoming a full-fledged Magus like men and practicing magic full-time. Women are not allowed to practice magic other than simple charms once they are married. They are collared and their magic is suppressed to protect their unborn children from being possessed by a rogue spirit. Beatrice's family is broke and her father has placed the families' future on her making a good match during the Bargaining Season, when well-to-do families gather to negotiate marriage contracts.

One day Beatrice finds a grimoire that has the knowledge she needs to become a full Magus, but before she can buy it another sorceress steals it out from under her. Beatrice conjures a minor spirit to help her get it back, but the playful spirit demands something of her - a kiss from the brother of the rival sorceress. As Beatrice's relationship deepens with the siblings, her choice becomes more difficult to make. She can't have it all, and no matter what she decides, someone will be devastated. Does she sacrifice her freedom, dreams and happiness to save her family, or does she choose herself but doom her family and lose the man she may grow to love?

This is a good, fast-paced book with plenty of action. I really liked Beatrice and her rival, Ysbeta Lavan. They are unapologetically focused on what they want out of life and don't cower in the presence of men or dim their personality simply to fit in or please them. In contrast, Beatrice's love interest, Ianthe Lavan, is pretty one-note. He's earnest, wears his heart on his sleeve and his instantaneous infatuation with Beatrice is not believable. In fact, the whole romance part of the story felt forced and was the weakest part of the book.

The whole focus of the book is about magic, but there is actually very little magic practiced in the book which is a bit disappointing. The spirit that Beatrice conjures to help her, Nadi, is one of the best parts of the book. She's childlike in her joy of little things as well as her fierce devotion and desire to protect Beatrice.

Overall, this is a good, stand alone fantasy book that is a quick and easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I chose to read this book because I love Halloween and magic but I really hate horror and to be scared. (Yes, I'm a wuss.) This book appeared to be safe to feed my Halloween/magic love without causing me nightmare traumas and I was right. It is a feminist novel with strong women who demand their own rights but are being thwarted by the Patriarchy of the era. The setting is an alternate reality of Regency England ( early 1800's). There is magic, sorcery and conjuring of spirits but ultimately women and magic are controlled by men.

I enjoyed this book very much even though I thought it a bit slow in the middle. It took off toward the end to a very satisfying conclusion. I liked how the author didn't deny the characters emotional feelings just because they were feminists. Love and feminism can live together and I was happy for that. What was a bit disturbing was the explanation of the consequences of disobedience to the Patriarchy. No spoilers here but it was rather gruesome.

This is a fun read full of action, magical adventure and romance. I recommend this book to Fantasy and Historical romance readers.

Thank you NetGalley and Erewhon Books for providing me with a free e-arc of think gorgeous book in an exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn into this book because of the cover. I know they say that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but when a book has this level of beauty on its cover, one can't help but judge it.
Now for what lies under the cover, I don't think it is quite at the same level as the cover, but I still really enjoyed this book. The overall plot of the story kept me interested and I liked the characters, especially Ysbeta. The magic system was really unique and I would've definitely liked to have seen more of it.
As for the pacing, I felt like it was a little off. Some parts of the plot seemed to fly by, and others dragged on. Also, I really wanted to see more of the romance. I feel like the romance was just automatically there and we never got to see much in how it developed.
Overall though, this was a great book and I am definitely interested in reading more by C.L. Polk.