This book was a quick and entertaining read. It touched on the topics of magic, feminism, friendship, loyalty to one's family, and romance. Character development is one of this book's major strengths. The main character, Beatrice, has a unique, well-defined personality and voice. Even when Beatrice makes decisions that the reader might not agree with, she has rational reasons for everything that she does. She is intelligent and charming, which makes it easy for the reader to root for her. Additionally, I was also happily surprised by how focused this character was on women's rights. This topic becomes a driving catalyst for major plot points in the book. In summation, I really enjoyed Beatrice's adventure and would happily pick up the second one if the author decides to write a sequel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy.

Beatrice enchanted me from the very first sentence. I could not put this book down!

Beatrice knows what she wants: a life as a single woman practicing magic. In Chasland, a woman sorceress has to put on a collar that takes away her magic the day she marries. And since her abilities are strong, she’s sought after as a wife. Beatrice is determined to find the magic she needs to determine her own destiny.

Beatrice is seeking a book with the instructions she needs when she runs into Ysbeta and Ianthe. Ysbeta’s family is seeking a husband for her as well, and Beatrice and she form an uneasy alliance when they agree to share the book both wanted for themselves.

But Beatrice’s father has spent every penny he has and then some on helping Beatrice land a rich husband. And Beatrice didn’t expect her heart to leap every time she laid eyes on wealthy, handsome Ianthe, who’s falling for her as well. Beatrice faces an impossible choice between love and magic.

All of the characters were captivating and leapt off the page, especially headstrong Beatrice, who would risk everything for freedom in a world where women had none. I had to keep reading to see if Beatrice would find a way to make the life she wanted.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely enjoyed reading this book especially because it involves magic and feminism.although it is 400 pages i flew quickly threw this book and could not wait to see what would happen next!

Story is set in Regency England where women’s magic is taken from them when they marry.
Beatrice Clayborn is a sorceress who dreams of becoming a full-fledged Magus and practices magic in secret. Her family is in severe debt, and only she can save them, by securing an advantageous match before their creditors come calling.

I've enjoyed this romantic fantasy.

I was given a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I can honestly describe this book as fun. It has all the traits of a great regency romance but with magic. I really thought the author did an excellent job at weaving the magic system into a discussion about women’s body autonomy. I also thought the romance was very sweet.

The only problems I had with the book was that I didn’t get fully invested into the story until chapter 8. Another issue I had was I felt that some parts needed more dialogue tags.

Overall I loved this book so much and I will be picking up a finished copy when it officially is released.

The premise is reasonably good and the writing is a step or two above palatable, but points off for the easy 100 or so pages of waffling and indecision from the ingenue.

A secondary-world fantasy that is strongly Regency-romance-adjacent, and has (for me) the best parts of Regency romance.

It's all too easy, I suspect, to write a Regency romance about silly, vain women and stern, harsh men without confronting key truths about the era. Namely, that women of the upper and upper-middle classes were prevented by their society from doing anything productive or learning any useful skills, that they were <i>supposed</i> to be silly and vain, and that their economic security hinged terrifyingly on marriage to a (probably) stern, harsh man who would quite likely keep getting them pregnant until they died of it.

Those facts are very much present in this book, which also adds a fantasy layer that brings them out more sharply. In this setting, several different kinds of magic exist, including "high magic," which involves summoning and binding spirits. These spirits are capricious and hard to control, and love to experience the physical world via their hosts; if a pregnant woman has one, it will embody itself in the child, taking over from the human soul. So married women are bound with collars that prevent them from accessing magic throughout their fertile years.

The two main female characters of the book find this horrifying, and one of them is (in present-day terms) asexual or something like it as well; she wants to avoid marrying completely, and pursue magic instead. The other, the main protagonist and viewpoint character, also deeply desires magic, but she is in love, and struggles to choose between what seem like two incompatible goods. The object of her affections is a man who isn't stern and harsh, but empathetic and supportive; despite this, he still doesn't really get what the women are on about for a long time, a touch of realism that I appreciated.

The whole is well handled, with a motivated protagonist in a dynamic situation from the start, a powerful and seemingly insoluble dilemma, strong secondary characters both supporting and antagonistic, courageous and determined action from the main character, and a rich setting. The only criticism I really have is that I didn't see enough evidence of magic's impact on society in ways that didn't relate directly to the plot.

Highly recommended if you enjoy Regency romance with a feminist slant that still has room for positive portrayals of men, and adds in a magical dimension that contributes greatly to both plot and theme.

I received a review copy via Netgalley.

A good book, very light read, as I didn’t feel strongly connected to the characters. The world building was very confusing at first but with time I got used to it.

*I received this as an ARC ebook from Netgalley*

So the description of this story caught my eye on Netgalley and I'm glad to have gotten a copy. It was a little hard to get into at first but once it gets going, it's hard to put down. I don't even know what to compare this too, it's such an original story. I don't want to give too much away but I could absolutely see two more spin offs of this. I'd love to know what the trio (and their spirits) get up to in their search for the mother sorceress solution, especially if they do a little pirating on the way! I'd also love to know more about the secret society of women who maintain their magic, especially how they started and how they keep it all a secret. This is a great read for readers who like magical fantasy, strong female/feminist characters and a little bit of period revisionism.

I was NOT ready for the gut punch and heart twist of this book. So magical, so lovely... just the exact love story I needed at this moment. Can't wait to recommend.

The Midnight Bargain was a delightful read! Beatrice, a woman who must marry to save her family from debt, secretly wishes that she could openly learn about and use her magical powers. In her society, Beatrice’s role as a woman is to marry and produce as many children as possible. When a woman marries, her husband gains control of her magic. To save herself, Beatrice attempts to access a grimoire that may grant her the power she needs to avoid her fate. When she meets siblings Ianthe and Ysbeta, Ianthe and Beatrice form a romantic connection. Ysbeta shares Beatrice’s interest in grimoires, equally determined to avoid an arranged marriage. As both women push societal and magical boundaries, the writing is descriptive and draws parallels to the world we live in today.

With commentary on justice, women’s rights, and sexism, the issues Beatrice fights against feel very real and relevant to our world. Beatrice is a driven character- sometimes so focused that she misses something right in front of her. This can be a little bit jarring, but I enjoyed her curious nature. The ending and epilogue felt a little rushed to me, but ultimately still wrapped up well. The Midnight Bargain was a great fantasy story, with a creative intertwining of women’s rights and sorcery. This is the perfect book for fans of fantasy, regency romance, and strong women with magic. I’ll have to check out more of C.L. Polk’s work! The Midnight Bargain releases October 13, 2020. Thank you to C.L. Polk, Erewhon Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved CL Polk's Witchmark so I had very high hopes for The Midnight Bargain and I was not disappointed.

This is a charming fantasy of manners marrying an alternate Regency England with a world where some people are born with the ability to use magic.

Beatrice's family is pinning their hopes on her having a successful Bargaining Season and landing a wealthy husband to save the family after her father's poor investment choices have left the family with few options and fewer allies.

But marriage means giving up magic. A sorceress wears a warding collar until the day she reaches menopause because practicing magic while pregnant could allow the unborn child to become possessed. And Beatrice wants to practice magic, even the magics forbidden to women.

I loved the Regency romance types of details about clothing, food, and balls, even down to calling cards. The magic system was intriguing without being convoluted. And the characters.

I adored Beatrice, her determination to follow her dreams, to do the right thing, even when it was heartbreaking. Her younger sister, Harriet, was fiery fun. I know Goodreads doesn't have a sequel listed but I want to read Harriet's story.

Ianthe was the perfect Regency hero - gorgeous, wealthy, and loving. I want to read more about his sister, Ysabeta too - so bold and determined.

The ending was definitely a HEA Regency romance ending but I was so invested in the characters that that was perfectly fine with me!

Thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the DRC.

I had a tremendous amount of fun reading The Midnight Bargain! I just completely Once and Future Witches by Alix Harrow and was having a hard time picking out my next read. It was suggested that this might be an excellent book chaser for OaFW. They were correct.

I happily accompanied Beatrice on her journey to discovery magic and independence, along with her unexpected find of love and friendship. Beatrice’s world requires that childbearing sorceresses wear a unique collar restraint for the purpose of preventing a devastating side effect of magic on a fetus during gestation. This restraint has become a custom for all women entering marriage. Now Beatrice must choose between her desire to become a mage (something women have long since been discouraged if not outright forbidden to aspire to) and rebel to do so or save her family from financial ruin by submitting to marriage (to an unexpected love), which would require her to wear a collar and forfeit her magic.

Along the way Beatrice meets Ianthe and Ysbeta Lavan. Ysbeta and her become reluctant friends as they both strive to unlock the secret to becoming a mage. While their friendship missed the mark with me, my enjoyment of the dynamic between Beatrice and her sister Harriet made up for it. The romance between Beatrice and Ianthe was featured enough to make me swoon but did not over take the story. That first kiss made me a little dizzy, so A+ there. I really enjoyed how into her he was. At one point Beatrice fumes “How dare he be so openly besotted?” I happily couldn’t agree more.

Ultimately, our resident spirit Nadi stole the show. The interactions and conversations between Beatrice and her were my favorite parts of the book.

This a really fun witchy read, perfect for the beach. If you enjoyed Witchmark, you will enjoy The Midnight Bargain.

•I was given a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.• “Oh, I expect I’ll turn the world upside down” ❤️ omg I LOVED this book! The cover is gorgeous, the premise is awesome, the SETTING 😱 Regency type books are seriously my shit, I adore stories like that! The magic and spirits are super interesting, and I especially love Nadi. The romance is subtle and lovely; Ianthe Lavan is adorable. I love the strong female characters fighting for their rights. This book actually made me cry, which I did not expect, and enjoyed immensely!

Simple captivating! I was unable to put it down. Such a well-woven tale. For any lover of magical romance, this book is a must read.

I especially appreciate the parallels to the hierarchy of the woman in today's world. The heroines are people whose struggles are relatable.

A most inspiring book.z

I've received an ARC of The Midnight Bargain from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story enthralled me right from the beginning. I love stories with strong feminist characters like Beatrice that focus not just on the romance, but also the choices that she has to make, as an independent woman, a caring daughter, and a powerful mage. It's reminiscent of classics like Jane Austen, which made it all the more better.

The beauty of the novel lies in the relationships that Beatrice maintains with the other characters, especially that of her friendship with Ysbeta Lavan, the sister of her love interest Ianthe. While the two first come to blows as enemies, they share a common goal of becoming mages. Ysbeta is more certain of not wanting to marry, and Beatrice is stuck on the fence, but they both portray two sides of the same feminist coin, painting a picture of the old-as-time struggle of autonomy in a society that denies rights to women. As the two grow closer, it's all the more satisfying to read about these strong-willed women taking on the world by themselves, without needing the presence of a man to elevate their image. It's made even better by the fact that Ysbeta is a person of color, and not only that, but she's presented as royal, important, and highly sought after, which is not often found in fantasy books as of late.

On the other hand, the ending seemed a little too good to be true. It sped through the last 25% of the book, and felt a little rushed, zooming through the challenges the characters faced. The story built up the emotional intensity of the choices the characters make so much, only for pretty much everyone to get a happy end. I would rather have had an ending that was more realistic, where not everyone's problems were solved simultaneously. Nonetheless, that might just be the cynic in me, and I'm sure many other readers will find this a great read. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fantasy romance with a healthy dose of strong women.

5 enthusiastic stars. This was exactly the book I needed right now. Sweeping, epic, beautiful. I really cannot recommend this one enough!

When I started reading this book, I thought it was more of a young adult 'Jane Austen uses Magic', but then it became so much greater than that. There is magic, spirits, romance, and a definitive choice that must be made. Time is running out and the stakes are high. Its a battle between fortune and freedom.

Witches must give up their powers when they marry in order to keep their unborn children safe from spirit possession. The Bargaining season is here, and young eligible sorcerers and sorceresses are thrust into competitive society hoping to seal the best marriage contracts for their familys' fortunes and futures.

But there are a couple young Sorceresses who are searching for a way out. For freedom from the clasp that mutes their magic. They find clues to that freedom in a set of coded grimoires. Dabbling in magic, young Beatrice invites a spirit of fortune to guide her and dwell inside her body. But if this is discovered she could be forced to wear the clasp before marriage, bringing dishonour to herself and her family.

I felt as though the end could have been drawn out a bit more and even been developed into a trilogy. The lore and world building that is accomplished here is superb. I want to know more.

I really enjoyed this book. The concept was super intriguing and the execution didn't disappoint. I loved the world building and the characters were all great, Beatrice was very likable and her struggles felt very real. I also enjoyed the atmosphere the book created and the magic system was very unique and not like anything else I have read.
The plot was sometimes a little predictable and I wished for more plot twists or something to change things up from time to time, but that didn't make me enjoy the read any less. I also would have liked some more development in the romance, because it felt quite sudden, but it was still sweet and I liked Ianthe a lot.
The ending was also really good and exactly what I would have hoped would happen.

This story gripped me from the very first chapter. I love a story, especially in the fantasy genre, that will use dialogue to help with world building instead of paragraphs of tedious description. That's how Polk wrote this story. I never doubted the world that Beatrice was inhabiting, but I also never lacked for hearing her conversations. That's something that's very important to me as a reader because I love a book that moves from the very beginning.

When it comes to the content of this novel, I was enthralled by how well Polk took modern day issues and carefully wove them into this tale of historical fantasy. Women's issues were at the forefront of the themes within this book. Choice, bodily autonomy and equality were all addressed with care and were unfailingly on point.

I read an electronic copy of this novel, so I'm unsure if a map is already planned to be included in the physical publication, but I hope that it is. I had a very vivid picture of a world that looked remarkably similar to Europe based on Polk's descriptions. But seeing a map portraying the various countries she described would go a long way towards making this novel even more well-rounded.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read and I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys historical romance and a magical plot line.

*** I received an ARC of this novel through Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of the book. ***