The Midnight Bargain has a great elevator pitch for both fantasy and historical romance readers. Unfortunately, while it has moments of greatness in world-building and swoonworthy-ness, both aspects are ultimately underwritten and uneven. A+ for concept, B- for execution.

I decided to put this down at the 20% point. Unfortunately it just wasn't quite working for me. I was struggling with placing and keeping track of the world while reading this on ebook. The characters weren't gripping me and the plot pacing was a little inconsistent and slow to get moving. I really appreciated the feminist themes and thought the magic system was unique and interesting, but unfortunately nothing was holding my interest.

This is a really beautiful Regency-era fantasy that tackles female empowerment with more gusto (and explicit passion) than any speculative OR historical fiction I’ve read in a long while. Also, C.L. Polk is a Canadian author of colour—my favourite kind of writer!

But I had zero investment in the romance and didn’t feel particularly connected to any character, despite objectively recognizing that Beatrice Clayborn (protagonist) and Ysbeta Lavan (love interest’s sister; eventual friend/partner in crime) are strong women with radical dreams of empowering sorceresses throughout their lands. I’m not sure if this is a function of the book or me—I haven’t been in a headspace for fiction lately, and really didn’t have the attention span for a fantasy.

In light of this, 3 stars feels like the right rating for me at this moment: Goodreads lingo for “liked it,” which I certainly did.

That being said, I’m going to keep The Midnight Bargain in the back of my mind to revisit sometime in future (I really liked Deception by Gaslight, which wasn’t a fantasy but was historical fiction and also featured a badass heroine, and I think that was because I was in the right headspace when I read it).

Bottom line: I implore you to pick this book up—support (spec-fic) authors of colour, savour its beautiful prose, and immerse yourself in a good dose of Regency magic and romance.

This magical period piece was incredibly charming! It was charming and one heck of a fun, bumpy rollercoaster ride. The pacing was all over the place at times. I originally thought this book was going to be on the slow side (which was true in spots) with loads of women fighting misogynistic societal views regarding what type of person they were expected to be, who they were allowed to associate with and whether or not they should be permitted to perform Magic (especially after marriage in this case). All in all those topics were there but so too were my Victorian(ish) era cravings like social coming out seasons, Debutant Balls, lessons on proper etiquette and the age old dilema of whether to fulfill family obligations vs doing what your heart desires most. There were many charming facets and honestly, I couldn't put the book down. I read it in one night--> day. I started at bedtime, then bedtime turned to dawn which later saw me romping through the house (ereader in hand) trying my best to look busy while also trying not to look like I was helplessly Crazy Glued to this book avoiding my chores.


On the technical side: the writing was very well done. The world building was grand except for the Magic. The Magic system didn't get as much page time and explanation as I would have liked. I feel a bit cheated in that respect. Then there were the characters. The character's depths ran from shallow, vapid puffs of useless space to fantastically deep, rich, evocative personas. There were great characters like the spirit Nadi (who was AWESOME!!) and our MC Beatrice who was equal measures relateable, bold and vexing. She did things that made me scream at my poor ereader, begging her to see what was SO plainly laid out before her... ahem, Ianthe. Ahhhhh Ianthe! Ianthe couldn't be more delicious if he was dipped in chocolate and rolled around in whipped cream with a huge, ripe cherry on top! Their glaring Insta-love (gallant as it was) somehow managed to sweep me into its romantic fervor. Though, in my humble opinion, this ardent amore would have worked MUCH better as a slow, seductive burn. But, c'est la vie! Another beloved character was Ianthe's sister Ysbeta. Ysbeta was an incredibly dynamic character that won me over early on and I wholeheartedly rooted for her and her quest for her happily ever after.


And then there was that ending. There are too many spoiler pitfalls to navigate with regards to the ending so I will only say this... that ending was satisfying!


Overall:
This wonderfully written period piece was much better than I expected it to be... and that's saying a lot because I was over the moon about getting my hands on it to begin with. Bottom line is that I enjoyed this book so much I'd gladly buy it for a friend, myself or even my tween daughter! I highly recommend you do the same.

~ Enjoy

*** I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for sending me a free eARC in exchange of an honest review.

This book has intrigued me, not only because of its pretty cover, but I was really into the premise of the story. It involves a world wherein women gifted with magic are showcased during a “Bargaining Season” in order to attract the wealthiest and most influential families, looking to breed magic into their bloodline or just expanding their horizons. It’s the season of arranged marriages.

In this fantasy world, magic is common and men are required to be have settled down before they take the final step of being full pledge Magi. The women have it difficult, though, since in Chasland, women were required to be locked up in collars as soon as they marry. They only have a choice between staying unmarried and, therefore, a disgrace to their family in order to pursue their magic, or be married and only get to remove that collar, and get back their magic, 10 years after they last bled.

I love the themes that the book has: from fighting the injustice for women, as well as social inequality, this book was so much more than I hoped for!

I loved how Beatrice and Ysbeta developed from rival ingenues (the eligible ladies during the Bargaining Season) to the best of friends. It was a real treat to see them grow together. Another thing I loved about their characters was how they stood firm about what they want and what they believe in. Their loyalty is also something I greatly admired.

And then, there’s the romance. Ladies and gentlemen, let me welcome another book boyfriend to the mix: Ianthe Lavan, you are a gem 😍

See, the romance trope in the book was the insta love kind of thing, and I usually shun those books or just not enjoy them as much. But that’s because most books I’ve read with said trope was it just plateaus. The relationship doesn’t develop or level up. This one, though, they grew together, and just continues to make my blood boil!

“I love you. And if I have to choose between you, fully within your destiny, or a son to continue the traditions that depended on keeping you diminished, I choose you”

Beatrice and Ianthe are just so good for each other! Real OTP levels of kilig and relationship goals. He was ready to give up everything for her and he was willing to walk away if magic really was her happiness😭

And Ianthe is just so swoon worthy 🥰

“I can’t reason when I’m near you. Time flies like a thief when you’re by my side, so much that I want a spell that slows the turning of the globe just for more time with you. 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 with you. I want to marry you, Beatrice Amara Clayborn.”

So for all the hype you’ve read, why wasn’t I rating this as a five star read?

There was a part towards the end of the book and between the epilogue that just seemed rushed for me. If it were a couple of pages longer, then the dynamics would have been given a chance to settle in and blow out my mind. That being said, the ending wrapped it up perfectly. The loose ends were are polished, and the open ended last line actually adds to the appeal of the book. It made me want more of it and I look forward to any sequel (if there are any) planned.

I've been sitting on this book during my slump this year. I knew I was interested, but it just wasn't grabbing me. I regret now waiting so long to pick it up. The story gave me a Sorcery of Thorns vibe. A standalone novel with a strong independent young woman fighting for what she believes in. Torn between two options neither quite right. How will it end?! I'm pulling for her the entire read and even though some decisions hurt, this was a character I could be proud of. The epilogue gives this story great closure, but at the same time I do want more. I'm hoping maybe one day Polk will dip back into these characters and this world. Thank you to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the chance to read this arc. I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure.

In a world where women are prized for their magical ability but only for what they will therefore bestow on any children they may have, Beatrice refuses to do well during Bargaining Season so she can be married off. She's torn, of course. If she does her duty as any good daughter should, then she'll possibly save her family from the debt that's steadily mounting.

The reason for not wanting marriage is that at the wedding, the bride is shackled with a band around their neck which suppresses their magical ability, so as to not harm their upcoming unborn children. Only once they have been a year into their menopause are they freed, now that they're no longer any use as far as producing an heir anyway.

That will take far too long for Beatrice, as far as she's concerned. She wants magic and she wants it now, but to manage this she has to find specific grimoire's that will teach her how to prove her magical ability once and for all. And it's only right when she uncovers an exceptionally good one that it's taken literally from her hands by a sibling duo of far better status than she is. Socially niceties means she has to relinquish her claim, but at least she gets a slight boon in return - notice from this high born family, which will elevate her own family, and may mean a better marriage prospect for her... one she doesn't want at all but her family needs... and then, well, if her possible partner really is that handsome, kind, intelligent and such a good kisser... and if this all possibly turns into a love match then perhaps it may not be the end of the world if she marries a certain gorgeous Llanandarian.

I've read Polk's Kingston Cycle (or at least, the first two books as the third isn't due out until next year), so I was fairly sure I'd enjoy this one. I wasn't counting on being unable to put it down, even though that's how I felt with Witchmark and Stormsong... I suppose I didn't want to get my hopes up. I especially love how Beatrice isn't alone in this - she isn't a 'weird' person all alone for wanting magic. The friendship between her and Ysbeta is excellent and I wish there was more of it. And I also loved how Beatrice's sister calls her quite rightly selfish - one can totally understand why Beatrice may want for certain things but honestly, sometimes life just isn't fair. And if her Bargaining is the only thing that can save their entire family from ruin... well...

Okay, I devoured this book in an evening. One reason for this is that I've just got an ARC of Hollow Empire by the very fantastic Sam Hawke and I want to re-read The City of Lies first so I've got an awful lot of reading to do... but it's also because this was SUCH an amazing ride from start to finish, and they managed to do the impossible, and I love all three main characters to bits.

Preorder this book. Buy any limited edition that comes up. Own it in all formats. Love this book.

This book gave me mixed feelings.
It was not the best fantasy that I've ever read but it was a nice read.

So much of being a woman—the concept, not the lived experience—revolves around the question of having it all. This question has always pissed me off because it is largely assumed that women will always take care of the home and the children. Having a career is seen as extracurricular, especially in the past. I never thought that I would see this question play out in a fantasy novel. In C.L. Polk’s deeply satisfying novel, The Midnight Bargain, protagonist Beatrice very much does not want to have it all. She wants magic, which has traditionally been forbidden to women in her world. But then she meets the man who could be her true love and Beatrice has to figure out her answer to the question of having it all, all over again.

Magic is the domain of men in Beatrice’s world. Women can do magic but, if they do so while pregnant, it can cause huge problems with their children. So women are warded from the day they marry until a year after they stop menstruating, unless they live in a more liberal country that allows women to take their warding collars off when they decide to stop having children. Beatrice, unfortunately, lives in a country where women are warded until a year after they stop menstruating. The very thought of the collar horrifies Beatrice. So she spends all her free time studying magic in secret, looking for a way to help her family make money in a way that doesn’t involve marrying a wealthy man.

This background simmers underneath a plot that feels very Austenian, but with magic. In fact, we meet Beatrice on the way to a dress fitting while she’s working a spell to find a new book of magic. The spell leads Beatrice to a bookshop where she runs into a very wealthy young woman on the same mission. The very wealthy young woman is accompanied by her handsome brother, just to make things even more like a Jane Austen novel. It turns out that the two young women are even more alike than their circumstances might lead people to believe because, like Beatrice, Ysbeta is also adamant that she will not marry and will pursue magic.

I loved every page of The Midnight Bargain. I loved the blend of magic and manners, love and laments, and other alliterative pairings of delightful things. Seriously, this book was a treat. I plan on buying my own copy so that I can reread it when I need a dose of comfort. Even though this book firmly tackles the hard question of women and their choices and sacrifices, the answer the novel arrives at is thoroughly, perfectly satisfying.

DNF'd at 30%. I just couldn't finish it, couldn't get into it at all. This just wasn't what I was expecting. It had a strong historical feel even though it was set in a fantasy world. And the magic system was quite complex and felt overly detailed at times - though that is really just my preference not so much the fault of the book. The characters weren't compelling. Just not for me.

The Midnight Bargain takes place is a world different from our own, but in an environment that is not far off from that of a regency romance. The country the book is set in has a Season where young ladies are introduced to society with the intention of marrying them off to eligible bachelors. However, in this particular case, the world is also populated by people who can do magic.

However, the world is also very restrictive to women. Women are discouraged from learning and practicing magic because once they are married they are locked into a collar that cuts them off from marriage until they are past their child bearing years.

Beatrice, our main character, is desperately seeking a way to escape the fate of marriage and the restrictive collar while her family is preparing for her season as a possible match for a wealthy magus. She is torn between wanting to never marry and carry on learning magic that she has secretly learned to love and the harsh reality that her family desperately needs her to marry a wealthy man to escape their fate.

The situation is further complicated by the arrival of a handsome bachelor that Beatrice instantly feels a connection with.

This book is fun, intriguing and the romance is very compelling. I enjoyed it very much.

The Midnight Bargain centers around our main character Beatrice, who is being forced to marry, but once she marries, she can no longer practice magic. A silver warding collar goes around her neck as a married woman, "warding" her from any bad spirits so she can essentially be a babymaker and the spirits won't take over the child. (The magic system is all about summoning and using spirits)

I felt that the plot was a bit...simple at times. I really was hoping for some more plot twists to get me more invested into the novel, since the pacing could be off at times. There are some chapters that I felt didn't serve the plot or characters motivations.

I also wasn't loving the "romance", which was very instalove-y, but also had no spark? This really could have used some sexual tension and relationship building between Ianthe and Beatrice. I was really hoping for some juicy bits, but there was nothing. I also didn't feel like I knew the characters well enough. I did care for them and root for them, but didn't fall head over heels for any of them. (Nadi a bit more...she's precious)

Overall, I loved the feminism theme and the motif that women can work and have a family, as well as the interesting magic system that was easy to understand, yet complex.

Thanks to Erewhon Books and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The current system lays all of the restriction, all the responsibility, and all the burden on sorceresses. Men aren't inconvenienced in any way. They may do whatever they like. For them, the system isn't broken, so why look for a solution?"

The Midnight Bargain takes pretty social norms and rips them wide open. In a regency-style world, our protagonist Beatrice is entering her bargaining season. It has a romantic veneer, although everyone understands the cold calculations that truly drive the exercise of courtship. Beatrice's family has fallen on hard economic times, but she has a good chance of securing a marriage proposal due to her strong power as a sorceress. The catch is that she won't be able to use that power. Like all women, she will be collared to prevent magic use as soon as she is married and forced to wear it until she can no longer have children. Her own power is merely a tool to generate powerful sons.

Beatrice is not interested in losing her freedoms thus, but she also doesn't want to penalize her family by running away. Therefore, she hunts down grimoires and summons a lesser spirit. If she can complete the feat of becoming a full mage, she will render herself unmarriageable (unacceptable female behavior, naturally).

The story showcases both well-intentioned but ultimately bigoted interactions and successful allyship through productive conversation and willingness to change. The latter made Beatrice's love story truly romantic, unlike the fripperies of bargaining season.

"Love needs to be free, or else it's just ownership."

The world was familiar yet strange, the magic was fun and layered, and the main cast was memorable (look out for the ace representation!). I highly recommend it, so help support this novel by a black author when it comes out next month on 10/13!

In a world where women are forced to relinquish their magic when they marry, Beatrice worries for the day that will be her. It's a world controlled by men, where magic is practiced in the shadows and bargains are made for marriages. All Beatrice wants is to become a fully fledged Mage, and the discovery of a powerful grimoire may just be her ticket to freedom.

I enjoyed the overall story of this. The plot heavily interweaves the concepts of feminism, equality and freedom of rights with a magical spin. It's well thought out, and for the most part it gets the message across in a positive way. The world building and magical system are well explained and offer a good base on which the story builds up from.

I think my main issue with the story however is the characters themselves. Beatrice comes across as quite one dimensional, and never really reaches her full potential. Her relationship with Ianthe is also very one note, very quick and superficial. It felt very forced yet after one meeting Beatrice is reconsidering giving up her dreams for a man. It didn't sit well with me, and contradicted this message of equality and feminism.

The pacing is also a little off, with large sections of little to no plot development followed by a rush of action at the end. The plot itself is also, unfortunately, not the most original and it's one I've read many times over in YA fantasy.

Some interesting concepts, but this got a bit lost in the sea of typical YA fantasy and suffered from a severe lack of character development and chemistry.

The Midnight Bargain creates such a vivid world and the concept is fantastic! The romance was a bit hard for me to grab onto. I did love the themes and the way the author used the concept to make a connection to today's gender inequality.

An interesting story of magic set in a fantasy England. Many people are born with inherent magical abilities. Men are allowed to develop theirs fully, but women are placed in a collar when married which keeps them from using their magic - because if they can use their magical abilities while they are pregnant, their children will have destructive magical abilities. When this happens occasionally, both the woman and child are put to death.

I enjoyed the story and it was well written. Beatrice was a strong-willed female character. Ysbeta and Ianthe, the wealthy characters from Lavan were okay characters and fit their parts. But, Nadi stole the show and I really liked that spirit character. She was so much fun! There are many stereotypical women's issues portrayed in the book - they always make me somewhat angry, but they are stereotypical because they have occurred time after time throughout history, so just historical influence.

Thanks to Erewhon Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.

The Midnight Bargain is a grand mix of magic, (alternative) historical romance, and young women striving to for their rights (and secretly learning and practicing sorcery) in a patriarchal society that has ruled that only boys and men may practice magic while women will have their magic suppressed via a collar that is locked around their neck on their wedding day. While there are a few (not unexpected) Young Adult tropes, the ending was not predictable and was a joy to read.

This was one very intriguing and entertaining book! I loved all of the magical elements and the nods to a past gone by. Women are not equal to men yet... but thanks to Beatrice and her friends you can feel that tide turning in the epilogue. I must admit to taking this journey right alongside Beatrice because I was so invested in which path she would follow. Love or magic? I think that the world history was fascinating. The characters were very well fleshed out. I gave this a four star rating for a few reasons. First, there is a scene where Beatrice awakens with sand between her toes when she clearly says she knew she had removed it. Given the plot, this leads you to believe that something is amiss with her hosting. I think that is a plot hole, because trying to foreshadow I had theories that were left flat. Also, the pacing could have been evened out a tad more. We go from one scene to another frequently and I felt like maybe we could have been gifted with a few more details. Other than those issues, this is one unputdownable book. I loved the world building and magical atmosphere with enjoyable storytelling.

It took me a little while to really get into this book but once I did I was absolutely hooked. Beatrice and Ysbeta's struggle to escape the seemingly unavoidable fate of having their magical powers stripped away upon getting married and become mages in their own right really resonated with me and I was so invested in both their journeys. I also just loved this niche of feminist historical urban fantasy - I need more of it in my life after this!

This book started a little slow, but once it hooked me I stayed hooked. I was predisposed to like it, as I'm a big fan of fantasy and Regency historical romance. Polk took the best of both, turning a basic Regency world (with few choices for women beyond marriage) into a horrifyingly gilded cage that reminded me in sentiment of the Handmaid's Tale. Beatrice is an incredibly talented sorceress and wants nothing more than to pursue magic and live quietly at home promoting her family's finances. Her father has wagered everything on her catching a wealthy husband and will not hear of her practicing magic at all, trapping her into the season she does not want.

The truly terrifying part of this book is the collars the women are forced to wear once married, in order to prevent a spirit from entering their growing baby. They are shackled with a silver collar, forced to submit to the dulling of their senses and lives, unable to work any magic. For Beatrice, this is the worst fate she can imagine - and that's leaving out the cruel and selfish men she's supposed to catch.

I loved Ysbeta and Ianthe - even though their introduction isn't promising, they quickly become Beatrice's staunchest allies. Ianthe tempts Beatrice and she spends a lot of time wondering if she could submit to her magic being taken from her, if it will give her Ianthe's love. It creates a great deal of drama and indecision in Beatrice's heart.

And Nadi. I loved the luck spirit and her enthusiasm for life and the way Beatrice finds loyalty in her when she least expects it.

The ending was a bit of a whirlwind but I love the way everything played out, and I am both satisfied that the story is complete and left wanting more.