Midnight Bargain is the successful melding of magic and regency era classics reminiscent of Jane Austen novels. I hate when reviews use other books to describe it, but in this instance, I couldn’t help it. As a fan of Austen, I could not help but mark the social similarities, but the women of Midnight Bargain have much more at stake. Those with magical abilities are collared when they marry, suppressing their powers so their unborn children may be protected from possession by spirits. For individuals with aspirations to become sorceresses like Beatrice Clayborn and Ysbeta Lavan, marriage is the equivalent of imprisonment. The choice before Beatrice is to choose between her family or her own desires, which is not much of a choice at all. This is made more difficult when the Bargaining Season—a time when eligible women are put on display and forced to entertain potential suitors—brings Ianthe Lavan. Now it’s not only her family and her dreams but also love that is on the line.

The Midnight Bargain is an engaging read and was difficult to put down. This has much to do with Beatrice Clayborn as a smart, strong-willed main character. (But there are some decisions she makes that cause you to question just how smart she is because they do not make much sense. She doesn’t necessarily need to be infallible but these decisions just seem so foolish for someone like her.) Beatrice’s struggle for autonomy in a patriarchal system designed to oppress women, especially those with magical abilities, is one that can easily be identified with. This book only really scratches the surface of this dilemma but it opens up the conversation for those who would like to discuss it further.

I particularly liked Beatrice’s relationship with Ysbeta Lavan. While Beatrice is uncertain, Ysbeta is more resolute about not getting married. While I did like Ivanthe Lavan, he was underdeveloped and seemed too good to be true. He was very much a token love interest--a very good one at that. As Beatrice’s sidekick, I adored Nadi. I loved how their relationship evolved.

I was quite taken by Polk’s writing style within the first few pages. Being new to Polk’s work, the first thing I noticed was the purposeful word choices; the words are not wasted on the page. Rather than a horse-drawn carriage, it is the “fiacre” or “barouche” that characters are riding in, helping to place me in the time period. Her descriptions are particularly vivid. For instance, this one of Beatrice’s hair is memorable, “the peculiar, perpetually autumn-red tint of her frowzy, unruly hair.” Then there is the common “butterflies in the stomach” feeling elevated to “the butterflies burst into delirious flight.” If having butterflies is a familiar sign of falling in love, then what Polk evokes is better; it’s akin to a heart bursting, overcome with love's euphoria.

The magic system Polk builds is an interesting one. Explanations of how magic operates are weaved throughout the book as opposed to being blocked off into a section and fed to the reader in the beginning. It contributes to the smooth flow of the book but there were times when I wanted more information. I’m used to greater detail about magic so would have appreciated it. I had to set aside some questions about the system and was able to enjoy the book much better after doing so.

Things are tied up nicely and I was unsure how I felt about that. There is so much more to this story and I would not hesitate to read more but the inclusion of an epilogue with a bow seems to dissuade this potential. But, one can still hope. (And, I’m serious. I keep hoping.)

The Midnight Bargain is a solid 4 stars for me. I’ve already started rereading it again to try to see if there is anything I may have missed. I am a serial rereader and this is one of the best compliments I can give a book. If you’re thinking about picking this up, be forewarned excitement is not present on every page. If that is what you’re looking for then this book is likely not for you. On the other hand, if regency classics interest you and you are prepared to read it with a dose of magic, this might be something you will enjoy. I thoroughly did.

I received a free ARC of The Midnight Bargain from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

The Midnight Bargain by C. L. Polk follows the story of Beatrice Clayborn, a sorceress in a world in which women must give up their magical abilities once they’re married. Beatrice is now old enough for her bargaining season, during which her father will find her an appropriate suitor and “bargain” for her marriage.

Beatrice, however, has no interest in marriage. Her love is magic, and she intends to fumble her bargaining season and bind to a greater spirit, thereby securing her abilities as a sorceress and making her unmarriageable, so she can stay at home and practice magic.

Bargaining season takes place in Bendleton, a major city in the nation of Chasland, and far from Beatrice’s home. On her first day in Bendleton, she finds a sorcery book that will help her bind to a greater spirit, but is prevented from purchasing it when Ysbeta and Ianthe Lavan, daughter and son of the wealthy Lavan family, are also looking for the same book. Ianthe encourages Ysbeta to share the book with Beatrice, and a tentative friendship begins.

Over the course of the story, Ysbeta and Beatrice become true friends, and Beatrice falls in love with Ianthe. It’s revealed Ysbeta, like Beatrice, has no desire to marry, and the two plot to spend the six weeks of bargaining season training to become fully-fledged sorceresses.

The book is truly wonderful, full of all of the drama, romance, and intrigue one could hope for from a fantasy novel. I honestly loved it. There is so much in the novel about respect in relationships, true freedom versus being temporarily freed, female friendship, and the sacrifices women are expected to make.

The characters are all fully developed, and every scene felt so alive I felt transported to Beatrice’s world. There were so many good themes and moments that I felt myself wanting to thrust the book in the face of every young woman I know and say “read this!” I honestly think reading this book as a young woman would have shaped my life.

Something else that was important to me was that Ianthe and Ysbeta are Black, traveling to a largely White society, and are presented as royal, regal, intelligent, and important, defying all the horrible ways BIPOC have historically been portrayed in fantasy novels. Ysbeta is whip smart and highly desired by suitors, and Ianthe is the most handsome and kindhearted suitor available. The Lavans are unquestionably the most important family in Bendleton. I think reading this as a youth would have helped counter some of the racism one unintentionally internalizes while going through life.

All that being said, the ending fell flat to me. It felt rushed and as if every challenge the characters faced in the novel was for nothing. All this drama and emotion was so heightened, only for everyone to suddenly get a happily ever after. It’s an ending I mind as an adult reader that I don’t think I would have minded one bit as a teenager. So, while that knocks off a star for me, I do still intend to recommend this book to just about everyone.

I loved The Midnight Bargain and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fantasy novel starring fierce women. I can’t wait to see what C. L. Polk writes next.

I really enjoyed The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk. In many ways it reminded me of some of the favorite fantasy books of my childhood--Crown Duel and Sorcery and Cecelia. If you are looking for a book with fabulous clothes, restrictive social mores, and magic, look no further. The plot, which revolves around whether our heroine, Beatrice, will save her family by entering into an advantageous marriage or turn her back on the constraints of society to embrace forbidden magic, is in many ways familiar. What makes this book special are the choices of the characters. When you want to shake some sense into all of them at various points, but still understand why they are making poor choices, you have to keep reading to see if it all turns out alright in the end. There is enough complexity here to discuss with friends or at a book club. Some quibbles--this reviewer is rather tired of 18 year-olds getting married and having children in fantasy fiction. Surely fantasy lands can accommodate plots involving forced marriage when the parties involved are at least in their twenties. Although younger protagonists will likely appeal to the teenage set, this book was marketed as an adult fantasy, so the young age of the characters seems unnecessary. I read an ARC and am not sure if formatting issues will be resolved in the final book, but there were several times when a scene shifted location or time passed that were not marked with a new paragraph or any other indicator. This made for a confusing read at times. All said, I highly recommend this book. There is much to enjoy and think about here, but I would be remiss if I wrote this entire review without mentioning the mischievous spirits, who are exceptionally entertaining. My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I look forward to enjoying many more books by the talented author, C.L. Polk.

This came along as an ARC from Erewhon Books right when I needed it, honestly. I tore through this in about six days, and apparently this is pretty close to 400 pages in the physical edition. The setting is a Regency-reminiscent country with a strong fantasy mark - spirits, magic, and pacts. It’s marriage season, and our main character’s family is deep in debt and depending on her making a good match - but Beatrice wants to make the great bargain with a spirit and become a full fledged magician - but women are forbidden from joining Mage lodges and there is an additional autonomy bit that is taken from women with magical talents. The autonomy part is very strong and very up front - when a female sorcerer marries, she is collared with a warding collar from the moment of marriage to prevent her from using magic and spirits from possessing her unborn child. Polk is very up front about what it does to the women who wear it, and one of the most heartbreaking moments in this book is when Beatrice’s mother puts it on her and lets her experience what she is in for when she marries, and Beatrice realizes what her mother has given up as well. This base world would already be a hell of a novel premise, but throw in an incredibly well written romance with another male mage, his sister who wants to also make the bargain for herself and is bought into Beatrice’s life, and a great supporting cast, and you have a great, enthralling story. Polk is amazing at escalating the story threads perfectly and knowing her regency romance tropes and when to lean on them just the right amount. I ended up gasping out loud at several points during my read of this. This comes out in October, and absolutely get it when it does. You’ll be in for a great treat.

An extraordinary work of fantastic fiction. I loved books that take place in an alternative history and Polk does a wonderful job creating a world that is familiar yet different to our own history. But as we all know, fantasy and sci fi novels with magic are never just about the magic. It is almost always a metaphor for something and Polk carries on this tradition of thought provoking fantasy novels.

Beatrice is our heroine and she is incredible with a very intriguing story to follow. I was immensely interested in her and her journey, of what she wanted and what she was willing to do to get it. In this world just like our own there are expectations of what a women should do and how she should be. To go against the grain and question what has been happening causes others to truly think about why they are in the situation they are in.

I’ve never read a book by C.L. Polk before but I can’t wait to read her backlist now.

I greatly enjoyed reading this book. So much so, I read it in one sitting.

I was completely drawn into the world that the author so painstakingly built. The historical and magical aspects are deftly depicted. It is a fine example of world building.

I liked the feminist aspects of the book as several female characters strive for equality, the right to chose their own paths.

My main criticism is that the male characters lacked dimension. In particular, Ianthe was too good to be true. He was very much the archetypical Hero and didn't have the depth of the female characters. The other men served as foils for the women to react against.

On the whole, this is a charming, well written historical fantasy and I highly recommend taking the time to read it.

I received a free ARC. I am leaving my honest review.

There was so much I loved about this book. The plot was wonderful and unravelled at a nice pace, holding me from start to finish in a grip that wouldn't let me put it down. I loved that as I thought Beatrice would do his, or have that sorted, something new or unexpected happened. She took charge of her life in a way that I admired, but I also really liked that all of her moves didn't work out and some even resulted in more trouble. The magic system of the world was fascinating and the society rang familiar to older societies in our world.

For me the characters were such a strong point to this. Beatrice was clearly my favorite, though Ianthe also stole my heart along with hers. He intrigued me right from the start and I knew after the first kiss I was totally in love. All of the secondary characters were so well fleshed out that even the ones I didn't care for felt like they had real, solid reasons for doing what they did, not saying I agreed them, but they felt real and added to how easily I lost myself in the world. Nadi... what can I say, I simply adored the playfulness there.

The story is complete and there isn't any indicators there will be more in this world, but... I'd love to see where Ysbeta finds herself and what she learns.

I highly recommend this must read fantasy.

Magic, feminism, and regency romance, oh my!

The book was charming and heart-rending and powerful and managed to do all three things remarkably well at the same time. Beatrice Clayborn lives in a society where women are banned from practicing magic due to the danger of spirits possessing their unborn children. They are forced to wear collars binding their magic and diminished to being child-bearing accessories of men (does that second part sound familiar?) The story follows Beatrice as she struggles to navigate and ultimately escape the so-called "bargaining season"--in which a woman in forced to find a fiancee--while maintaining her autonomy and keeping her family from financial ruin.

I adored Beatrice--she was brave and infallible in her efforts to maintain her independence and fight to practice the magic she loved. I was similarly entranced by her friend and partner-in-crime, Ysbeta Lavan, the spirited, haughty heiress who also struggled to escape the confines of marriage. Her brother, Ianthe Lavan,--Beatrice's love interest--was utterly swoonworthy if somewhat unrealistic (but what Regency hearthrob isn't?). Speaking of Regency, the aesthetics of the novel were fantastic. The world was beautifully imagined, full of cherry blossoms and carriage rides and gorgeous descriptions of fancy parties and gowns adorned with hand-hooked lace. If you're a fan of the 2005 adaption of Pride and Prejudice, you'll appreciate the classical, elegant beauty of the environment.

My true love for this book, however, lay in Beatrice and Ysbeta's fight to free themselves from the horrible expectations of women in their society. The whole concept landed very well as a modern commentary on the rights of women to bodily autonomy. I was less enthused by the conclusion of the book. It felt sudden and rushed and tied up uncomfortable loose ends in a way that really stretched the limits of my belief. Characters were forgiven and everyone made nice far too quickly and easily--I didn't think Beatrice's father, for example, deserved to be so quickly pardoned. Similarly, while the epilogue was charming it felt somewhat unnecessary. I think that this book could have easily been the first half of a duology, but the conclusion attempted to dissuade that notion in a way that felt unsatisfying.

Overall, the Midnight Bargain was a well-paced, enjoyable read for lovers of feminism and and magic regency-era escapades! I can't wait to see what C.L. Polk writes next.

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?- Goodreads

This will be a short review not because the book was bad but because I was left a bit speechless once I finished reading it. Even as I write this review, I am at a lost of words. 

This is my first book by C.L. Polk  and it won't be my last. It was beautifully written and (sometimes painstakingly) detailed.  The ability  for women to use magic and to be able to have a say within their future is what this novel is about. Beatrice does a good job defending herself and fighting for what she wants (in her own way) but I would have liked to see the romance aspect of this novel have more chemistry.  

But beyond this, I loved the historical aspect of this novel (I'm a sucker for this) and how deep the author gets about magic. I would love to read a book about Beatrice's "adversary" though. 

Overall, 

4 Pickles

I feel like this story had many characteristics that reminded me of a YA fantasy instead of an adult fantasy, as I’ve seen it being tagged. The main character was young, in age and mind. She seemed to struggle a lot with selfishness and looking at the bigger picture. Luckily, by the end of the book, she had experienced some growth. The romance was sweet and innocent. I felt like the side characters were not very developed. Ianthe behaved a little unbelievably. Even though he came from a more progressive culture, the way he reacted to Beatrice breaking all the rules was way too supportive. He was just in awe of her, which I guess is cute.
The plot and the world were not very detailed, but I liked the overall message of this book. Having a female main character fighting a society that chooses to oppress women is definitely an important theme. The magic system was really interesting, and I wished we got more information about it. Some historical elements would have been nice.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable light fantasy read.

"Very thankful to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review"

3.75 stars

This books delves around women's body autonomy and the outdated (tho still happens) "tradition" of arrange marriages. Basically, the story follows Beatrice, a wannabe sorcerer/witch who would prefer to stay single and keep studying to become a greater priestess(?) than becoming a wife and mother being stripped from all her magic, which is what her family, her father more specifically wants. The story follows her through a time were the illegible women in the country/kingdom are put in display for the bachelors from around the again country/kingdoms choose a wife; that aspect was so realistic that it bugged me deeply. Seeing/reading about women, young women, being use like things for profit or to get a business deal was sad and enraging, that's probably why my least favourite character was Ysbeta and Ianthe's mother.... God, I hated her. She treated her children like merchandise, it was horrible.

Now, my favourite bits of the story were Beatrice playing with magic, especially when she summoned Nabi (my favourite) it was so much fun to read that.

I must say the ending tho I do like it, I was expecting a lot more. I wished different things than what we got but it was still okay.

I really enjoyable book overall.

In Beatrice's world, magic is pretty much frowned upon, unless you are a man. Women can't pursue high levels of witchcraft, but that is exactly what she dreams of. Her aim is to navigate this Bargaining Season without ending up betrothed to a man, forced to wear a collar that dampens her abilities, but her family's future also depends on her actions..

This story reminded me of Pride and Prejudice but put a witchy twist on it that made me read this in a day at work.

This book was so much better than I thought it would be. Actually, I could not stop reading it !

The writing of the author was most of the time very smooth ; She created a world with its own magic system that she explains without stopping the plot or the actions.

The Regency England-like setting mixed with magic was a delight for the descriptions but also for the social issues that it raised, allowing the author to seamlessly tackle many delicate contemporary subjects.

The reader is carried away in a story -which if it is sometimes a little bit long- remains interesting and addictive.

I loved the evolution of the relationship between Beatrice and her friend, these two strong and bold women added the perfect touch of feminism that all fantasy novels need. And Ianthe, the love interest, was so kind and supportive, my heart melted !

This book is the perfect combination of feminism, fantasy, romance and friendship.

It's soooooo good. I could tell you all about the plot: about Beatrice, who refuses to diminish her worth for any man, even the one she loves; about Ianthe, who is a man among men when it comes to both wealth and having his own opinions; about Ianthe's beautiful sister Ysebta, whose dreams are too big and too different for her time. I could tell you how the in-world system of magic is unlike anything I've read before.
But I don't need to. All I have to say is, it's soooooo good.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book.

'Magical' is a way to perfectly describe this book. The story is centered around a witch's journey to fulfill her dreams and the friendship she gains along the way, with a spoonful of romance. The plot is good. The blurb certainly makes you take an interest in the book and the dialogues are entertaining. This book made me wish spirits, spells and witches are true. I would recommend it if you like YA fantasy books. It was my first book by the author and I would love to read more of her works in the future.

Happy reading!

I just could NOT put this book down!
I realized only now that the book is nearly 400 pages and I just flew through them. Wow. I have many thoughts on this book, and I will try to tackle them all in my review.
I liked the smooth way in which the author explained the magic system. There wasn't any information dumped through the pages carelessly, and, I have come to consider that part of the magic of the book came from learning with the characters. It was compelling and made me crave to know more about how it worked and why it was a necessity to our main characters, Beatrice and Ysbeta. Additionally, I found the world and different cultures entrancing and defined.
I loved the plot. It was intriguing, compelling, and kept me engaged the entire read. It seemed unique and fresh, and, although centred around a regularly used trope, felt like a new story.
But, overall, what did it for me were the characters and their interactions with each other. Two sorceresses in their search for knowledge and freedom while fighting the patriarchal society suppressing them. All this, never suggesting that their dreams are less worthy than the men in power. Besides, the romance was so cute it had me rooting for them since their first interaction. Yes, Ianthe was too good to be real, but I loved him.
The only perk I have found in this book is the writing. It was not bad, but I feel that a more atmospheric writing style would have made this novel shine even brighter. The dialogue between characters was blunt and made it difficult to understand what they were feeling. But this might be changed, as I am reviewing an ARC after all.
But, overall, the strongest point of the book is what it represents. This feminist tale, of love and friendship, sends a strong message relating to sexism and misogyny, issues that are still present in the world. And this made is what made The Midnight Bargain one of my new favourites.

A fun mix of magic and mayhem with a healthy dose of feminism thrown in.

Beatrice must find a husband to save her family from financial ruin and societal disgrace. Unfortunately, once she marries she must give up magic and her dreams of becoming a mage.

Enter Ysbeta and Ianthe, two wealthy and prominent siblings from a land where the rules are a little more lenient, but perhaps not lenient enough.

While the build up took a little time, and the the ending felt slightly rushed, all the in-between parts were marvelous!

Two strong female characters fill the pages, and never once is it suggested that their dreams are any less worthy than their male counterparts.

The Midnight Bargain is a quick and entrancing read. The beginning took a little time to get moving but once it did I wasn’t able to put it down!

I REALLY LIKED THIS! Ugh maybe I'm just lonely and a sucker for some good historical romance with a magical bend but this was really lovely! Can't wait to check out more from Polk.

I LOVED this book and enjoyed reading it so much. The storyline captivated me and at times was just a little slow, but thats just because it grabbed me so well. Some parts were a bit predictable but may not for the general audience. Historical romance and fantasy are right up my alley. Solid book, looking forward for the hard copy!

C.L. Polk builds a beautiful, intricate, and magical world. It’s like Jane Austen, but interesting. Beatrice carries the gift of magic, but in the bargaining season, she must find a groom to improve her family’s fortunes. When magical women marry, they’re given a warding collar which strips their magic and dulls their senses, all under the guise of protecting their as of yet unborn children.

But Beatrice craves magic. Beatrice meets Ysbeta and Ianthe, two wealthy siblings with a penchant for magic. A love story unfolds between Beatrice and Ianthe, passionate and filled with the moody missteps of youth. Ysbeta is a powerful and influential asexual character. Finding openly described asexual characters in novels is so damn refreshing. Ysbeta cares not for love or lust - she cares for knowledge, she yearns to travel the world to collect and share magical knowledge. But she has to escape some social expectations and outdated practices first.

This book is fun and fast and interesting. There’s a lot of spirits coexisting in human bodies and those internal discourses between humans and spirit are some of the best parts of the book and has me waving my arms around trying to summon a spirit to come use my body to eat some cake and run on a beach and go gamble.

There is a part of me that yearns to hear a different story though - not of these people endowed with prettiness/wealth/opportunity/youth. We glimpse into a network of lower class magic women who have found their own mode of practice through secrecy, codes, and hidden pathways. (Until privileged Beatrice shows up and makes them feel bad for wanting to protect the network they have spent years and risked everything to build.) The seamstresses, the maids, the cooks, the village women, the farmers’ wives, the spinsters, and all the women and non-binary folk we don’t see who are enriching the lives of the women we do see (and at what cost). A story that surrounds us every day, a story we must engage with.