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.

The Midnight Bargain was a surprisingly engaging read, if a bit rough in the beginning, with quite a bit of tension and a writing style that was easy to get into. The world-building was really intriguing–the questions it raised and the answers provided were some of my favorite things about the novel.

The characters were all pretty interesting, but some of them could have been more fleshed out. The novel was told entirely from Beatrice’s perspective and, in the first 25%, it was a bit difficult to get a good sense of her personality. She did have amazing moments of development throughout the novel, though, and the last 30% or so showed the heart of her.

The romance was pretty sweet (and a bit tragic, but not for long!) and I loved so much how Polk addressed the main conflict between Beatrice and Ianthe when it came to children. That was not a topic I’ve seen much in Fantasy, even when it’s so prevalent in society, and the way that unfolded was so great.

I did have a tiny bit of an issue in the first few chapters with some of the plot points: they seemed to be incredibly convenient and made to put Beatrice in a difficult situation. Yet the way the final chapters progressed and the plot twists were so! good! They hooked me and I could not put the book down until I reached the ending. It was amazing 😀

Such an interesting take on fantasy and historical fiction. Well written with strong characters and an intriguing exploration on equality for women.

My favourite thing about the book is probably the cover though....It's an enjoyable read but not a favourite.

The Midnight Bargain is set in a country where women are prized for their magic ability, yet that very magic is kept from them.

Beatrice has wanted to do proper magic her entire life, but as she turns 18, her family's financial fate rests entirely on her ability to find a husband. Desperate to find a way out, she teams up with Ysbeta Lavan, Bargaining Season's most eligible woman, in order to get both of them out of their predicament.
What starts out as a grudging friendship, turns into a deep bond between the two women. The progress of their friendship was lovely to read. They're both head strong so there's a lot of give and take, but it just makes them stronger, especially once they come together.
Ysbeta is especially headstrong, having come from a family with a powerful matriarch, and a country that allows women more freedom, which makes her especially desperate to get out of being married and collared. This makes her character rather unlikable in the first half of the book, a welcome surprise in a YA novel.
Beatrice, on the other hand, starts out with a singular quest in her mind but slowly becomes more and more torn as she falls in love. Even in a freer country and more allowing husband, she would still be subject to his whims.
That brings us to the main theme of the books: its gender politics. The Midnight Bargain delves into what it means to be beholden to a partner, and how that feels. Beatrice doesn't start out with a desire to free all women from their collars, just herself, but she grows into the idea the more she learns about the effects of the marital collar.

The romance is beautiful. I loved how it developed, and I particularly loved how messy it was on an emotional level. Unlike many other YA stories, the outside forces at work to stop this union pale in comparison to the main characters' own convictions. I won't say any more on that to avoid spoilers.

The Midnight Bargain is a fantastic book. It pulled me in with the magic and kept me there by entwining that with gender politics that resonate even in our world. Its engaging plot and wonderful characters only serve to elevate the book further. I would recommend this without reservation.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book.
It was very hard to rate this book with a star rating, as there were things I really enjoyed about it, and things I found different.
I liked the relationship that Beatrice had with Nadi and the possibility of this world being shared with spirits. What I found was, that I wanted to know more about how these spirits came about. Being a stand alone I was sad not to have explored this.
I liked that feminism (or just equal rights really) was a major theme in the writing. Beatrice's father annoyed me a bit and it definitely reminded me of how society works today.
The writing was easy to read, it was just tricky to know whether it was a Young Adult novel as sometimes it felt like one.
3.5 stars

What a great find! A friend recommended and I’m glad I was able to get a copy from @netgalley.

Such a great story with such a good message for females that we can do a lot even when things are stacked against us. And that there are males, who are in power, out there that will support us.

The story centers around Beatrice and Ysabel, two young women that being, essentially, sold to the highest bidder. We follow them as they try to find ways to rebel against what their society expects from them. They fight tooth and nail foe their dreams. Luckily, in this story, they have Ianthe not only being sympathetic to their cause but eventually is able to help them on their journey.

I really enjoyed the world building, the character development, he characters, both the harsh relationships and the good ones, and how the story comes to a conclusion. I was only supposed to start the first chapter or so when I started but I was hooked, kept saying “one more chapter...”!

There are different ways that I decide which books are good, great, excellent, etc based on emotions I get, physical reactions, and how the story sticks in my head. This one is definitely up there because throughout the story I had all 3 reactions. The ending while good, kept me wanting more!

This book is by far one of my new favorites! C. L. Polk was Abe to write fantastic relationships and kept the reader on the toes the entire time. Beatrice is an excellent female character and I couldn't be more happy with how her story ended. Any fans of fantasy or witches, this is a must read and it promises not to disappoint!

I couldn't get into this one. It could be a timing issue, I'm pretty burned out on fantasy at the moment, but The Midnight Bargain felt similar story-wise to several other books I've read recently. Stories with grimoires and spirits being summoned and that sort of thing. This one just didn't stand out in the mix. It also felt a bit insta-lovey to me, something I'm really not a fan of. I did somewhat enjoy the main character, she was fun and spunky. It just wasn't enough to really make this story pull through for me.

Firstly, I’d like to thank Netgalley and the publishers of The Midnight Bargain for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Plot: 4⭐️
When I began the book I was quite skeptical about where the story would go. It took me a while to get used to the names of the locations, surroundings, and the magic system. It felt like I was missing important information when I read the book. Plus, I was really worried about how the story would play out in the end and how the romance between Beatrice and Ianthe would continue as Beatrice became a mage. But surprisingly, I was actually happy with the ending and ended up liking the plot points leading up to the climax.


Pacing: 4⭐️
This was one of the rare books where I liked the pacing and didn’t think it was too slow. I did, however, think that some scenes were a little too rushed, making it hard to keep up.

Character Development: 3⭐️
In terms of the characters, I have mixed feelings. I really liked Beatrice and Ysbeta’s growth in the story and how they both ended up getting what they wanted through different paths. I also enjoyed the message about gender equality in relationships and society, as well as the commentary on classism. However, at times I found myself feeling quite frustrated at Beatrice and her decisions and I was not sure whether I should root for her or not. It also felt like Ianthe and Beatrice’s love for each other was a bit too instantaneous.

Writing Style: 3⭐️
Personally, I felt like the writing style was just not for me and I couldn’t figure out why. Perhaps, it could have used more editing. Also, I would have appreciated more information about the world and the history behind the magic.

Would you recommend it?
I would still recommend this book to anyone who likes Fantasy or Historical Fiction.

I love romantic arcs in fantasy but oof I did not feel the chemistry here. Interesting worldbuilding and Polk's writing is great as always, but I can't love a book if I don't love the ship.

As someone who loves Regency romances and historical fantasy, this book was so much fun! My only disappointment was that in skimming other reviews and seeing there was a Beatrice/Ianthe romance, I'd gone in thinking Ianthe was a girl, but I liked male Ianthe and their relationship so I quickly got over that. :) I'd recommend this title for fans of Susanna Clarke, Patricia C. Wrede, Mary Robinette Kowal, and Stephanie Burgis.

i want to thank netgalley and the publisher for giving giving me the possibility to read this book!

I have not read C.L. Polk's previous novel "witchmark" so I cannot comment on the likeness to it, or if it's as good. But this novel was strong in some things. The feminism which is portrayed is done well and with good intent. The magic system felt realistic and beautiful. It made sense.
I love the relationship portrayed by Beatrice's mother and her. How you can see and feel the constraints in her relationship with her husband, and how she tries to give Beatrice an opportunity. I enjoyed Nadi very much. Ysbeta also adds a certain flair to the story which I enjoyed.
How Polk drags in bodily autonomy in such an interesting way which she did it in this as well as the ramifications which can happen was something that was tackled in such a good way. I really enjoyed reading about it, and how it differed from culture to culture. It tackled the feminism aspect on it very well.

I didn't immediately fall for the love story in this, which is a shame. I feel like the romance could have been developed a tad bit more to make it more interesting and believable. Ianthe felt at times flat and not someone I could relate to being in love with at all.
For me, this is a 3.75 stars. I think this would fit well for someone who is into Regency novels, feminist fantasy and like complicated relationships.

2,5 rounded up to 3.

The Midnight Bargain is an upcoming Fantasy novel that tells the story about a girl named Beatrice, who lives in a patriarchal society in which young women must put on a collar to control their magic powers in order to conceive healthy children. Beatrice's family has larges debts so is mandatory that this bargaing season Beatrice find a man to get marry to. As she want to keep practicing magic, she looks for a grimoire to learn how to make a bairgan with a Greater Spirit and becoming a Mage.

The premise was very compelling and I really liked the way the author handled important issues such as women empowerment, our rights to decide how and when to conceive children and patriarchal society. My main problem was that in order to treat these topics the author did loose some focus on the main plot that was Beatrice getting the grimoire back.

Another thing that I struggled with was the book's pacing. The first two chapters felt like a mess, too rushed in my opinion and then it slowed down a little bit too much. It would have been better if the author described more the magic system and the society the characters lived in at the begining with the intention of making the readers more attached to the characters.

The ambientation though was really good and it suited well the society the author wanted to create (not really far from ours unfortunately). Also once I figured out how the magic worked I thought it was really unique and appealing!

Overall, I think the book is nice and you can tell that C.L Polk has great ideas, but I believe that the excecution could have been better. Surely I will give any other C.L Polk's book a try!

C.L Polk is the author of one of the books, Witchmark, that got me back into reading and blogging after several years without it. So I was inordinately excited to read her new book, The Midnight Bargain. I was a little wary during the first 20%, but after that, the plot and characters really begin to shine and I couldn't stop reading!

The Midnight Bargain follows Beatrice, a young ingenue in her first bargaining season, whereby gentlemen try to woo and win over women for marriage. Beatrice needs a good match, as her father's fortunes were decimated by a bad investment and now the family is close to ruin. But if she marries, Beatrice is forced into a binding collar, which removes all her magic in order to protect any unborn child who might be possessed by a spirit. Beatrice is torn between wanting to help her family and wanting to pursue her dreams of freedom without a binding collar. It becomes an even harder decision when she falls in love with one of the gentlemen, Ianthe. But she has found someone who understands her desires in Ianthe's sister, Ysbeta, who also does not want to marry. The two plan to help each other bind a greater spirit which will prevent anyone from marrying them.

The first 20% of this book I did struggle. C.L Polk, along with V.E Schwab, is one of those authors that I really struggle to care about their female characters because they are just so annoying. I felt this in Witchmark with Grace, a character we're supposed to care about when she wants to enslave her brother for her own power? Yeah no thanks (it's why I haven't ever read the sequel to Witchmark despite how much I adored that book). And I worried during the first 20% of the book because Beatrice, our main character, starts out a little bratty and whiny. It really isn't clear why she wants to pursue magic, and thus the initial conflict between magic and marriage that will save her family doesn't feel particularly strong. It seems like a whiny selfish girl not wanting to help her family. Which is fine if that was who Beatrice was! But she was portrayed as really wanting to save her family and give up her life for them, so it felt very contradictory when you can't really see any strong reasons for why she wants magic at such great expense to her family. Add that to the insufferable Harriet, Beatrice's sister who seems to care naught a single bit for her sister, doesn't care what Beatrice might desire and more importantly, doesn't care what Beatrice might suffer. So I did spend the first 20% thinking oh god not another book with insufferable female characters.

BUT! PUSH THROUGH! Becayse after about 20%, everything really changes. As Beatrice meets Ysbeta and Ianthe, we really see her personality blossom, along with her two desires: saving her family and being a mage. I really loved this exploration of individualistic vs collective goals in this society, and to see Beatrice's struggle to reconcile her wish to save her family with her wish to not be shackled and sold off in a marriage contract, no matter how much she loved Ianthe. I really appreciated the emphasis on Beatrice's family and the strength of her love for them throughout the book, no matter what happened. A lot of other books exploring this, the struggle never really feels fully real - you always kind of know of course the person is going to pick themselves. And I loved that that feeling wasn't there. I had no idea what Beatrice would do and I think that's down to the strength in the second half of portraying this sense of selfish, individualistic wishes alongside the hopes of her family who have bankrupted themselves for her.

I adored the friendship with Ysbeta. The fire in these two as they try to find a way out of marriage really helps bring Beatrice's desires into a much stronger and clearer light, and thus my initial problem with her characterisation in the first 20% disappears. They have such a strong friendship and I really appreciated Ysbeta's character. In a book so focused on marriage and tying yourself away to someone, Ysbeta was a breath of fresh air as someone who knows she doesn't ever want to get married. I very much read her as somewhere on the ace spectrum, though it isn't on page rep, as her desires to not get married felt like they went beyond just her wishes to be a mage and travel the world.

I'm also a huge Ianthe fan. In a society such as this, he of course does not start off perfect. I loved that Beatrice was unafraid to stand up to him and the two had so many fierce discussions around the morals and ethics surrounding Chasland society and culture. The way she challenges him made the relationship feel so much more positive and really makes you root for them because Ianthe is so willing to change and grow for Beatrice.

I really enjoyed this book. Despite my intiial concerns during the first 20%, they were completely blown away by the rest of the book. I loved the emphasis on friendship, Ysbeta is pretty much one of the best female characters I've read all year and the relationship was very sweet.

Beatrice Clayborn lives in a patriarchal fantasy world where most people have some magical talent. However, only boys are trained in magic and inducted into a magical society. Girls are allowed to learn charms and minor childish magic but are never taught higher skills. When they marry they must a collar that blocks their magical abilities to protect their unborn children's souls being taken by a spirit. Beatrice, however, has taught herself magic from grimoires that she found and decoded. Instead of marrying she wants to become a sorceress and help her family rebuilt their wealth, but her father is determined that she will find a husband in this year's season of parties and balls.

This is an enjoyable fantasy and romance, but I thought the world building, system of magic and even the romance could have all done with a bit more development. I felt we really just got the bare bones of all of these. There was so much more we could have learnt about this fascinating world and it's magic. I enjoyed the spirits, especially the exuberant and joyful Nadi who Beatrice conjures up, but I really didn't learn much more of what other magic could be done in this world. The romance was also very sudden with very little build up to make it interesting. Beatrice's love interest Ianthe was also a bit flat, especially early on during their courting and a little more rounding of his character would have made him even more delightful.

Rating: 2.5 stars

"Tell me how can I be happy when you have sent me this terrible choice? Who do I save: my family or myself?"

Beatrice Clayborn must choose between true love and her lifelong dream of becoming a mage. I wish I could say The Midnight Bargain induced such intense or even conflicted feelings, but I finished the book just feeling...underwhelmed.

I feel like YA has become so enamored with Strong Female Protagonists that authors avoid any mention of familial obligation or maternal instincts for fear of ruining their heroine's image as a strong, independent woman. I was hoping for a nuanced exploration of the tension between Beatrice's desire for love and her passion for magic--especially when she went off about the innate desire to protect and care for babies even when they're not your own.

Unfortunately, this felt more like an extended, heavy-handed metaphor for bodily autonomy.

In the interest of full disclosure, I wasn't super into the setting to begin with. The magic resolves around summoning spirits that inhabit the user and was a little too occult-y for me. Still, the world-building was lackluster and superficial. The magic system wasn't fully fleshed out and bit confusing at times. I also found the pacing a little strange. The story meandered for most of the book, but everything was rushed once we hit the climax.

My bigger issue with the book, though, was that the characters were flat. I never really got into the story because I wasn't invested in any of the characters. Beatrice, in particular, was especially undefined. Her most notable characteristic was her polemic, and even then she came across as more of a watered-down SJW than anything else. Ianthe was simply another rich and handsome love interest with no other distinguishing feature. I feel like Polk was trying to build a healthy, supportive relationship between the two, but it reeked heavily of insta-love and lacked any kind of meaningful development. Their relationship was essentially Beatrice getting up on her soapbox and Ianthe thanking her for educating him. Ysbeta was probably the most interesting of the trio, but even she was never fully fleshed out. Ironically, Beatrice's sister, Harriet, was probably the character with the best arc and development, but she plays a rather minor role in the story.

Despite the promising premise, The Midnight Bargain was a bit of a let-down for me.

Thanks to Erewhon Books for the ARC!