Thank you Erewhon Books and Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings expressed are my own.

*Note: Please read past the first paragraph. I sum up the points of the story first.

This is a historical fantasy that put me in the mind of Victorian London. In this story, Beatrice is at her first Bargaining Season. It is very obvious that this is the only season that she is going to get and she has no choice but to attract a suitor. The Bargaining Season is only for girls that have magical ability. It has been decided in this world that only men are allowed to move forward in the pursuit of magic and women who have the ability are “sold off” to be able to produce more magical children. Once women marry they are put into collars until their husbands let them out. Which usually only happens after they are no longer able to produce children. This is portrayed as a for their own protection move.

Okay now that I have that boiled down to what sounds like a huge gripe let me tell you that I really enjoyed this story. I loved watching these girls (Beatrice and Ysbeta) take charge of their futures and not letting someone else decide what they are meant for. I love watching strong female characters take charge.

Yes, this story does have some instalove, however, I have to think that Ianthe liked/appreciate that Beatrice did not hold back and pretend to be the perfect debutante with him. When asked she told him what she wanted even though it could have had her collared before her marriage and I think that on some level he loved that part of her.

One character that I could not stand was Beatrice’s father. There was something at the beginning of the story that gave me a weird vibe about him and it just got worse as the story went on. He did not deserve the family that he had. But that is just my opinion.

All in all, I really enjoyed this story and I wouldn’t mind a spinoff to see what Ysbeta has been up to.

Thank you @erewhonbooks and @netgalley for the advanced copy of THE MIDNIGHT BARGAIN by CL Polk,

I love fantasy with smart, independent and competent heroines and the star of Midnight Bargain, Beatrice Clayborne, definitely didn't disappoint in that regard. I found the writing to be wonderfully descriptive and unique; its historical setting and court intrigue - it was all very well done and thought out. Overall, a really enjoyable read that I'd recommend to sci-fi / fantasy readers who like stories featuring strong heroines.

I’m still confused by this book - did l like it?

There were so many good things that I did like:
•A historical romance Set in a fictional world
•Bargaining system for a wife
•The fighting against being ‘collared’ by your husband this taking your magic away

I love a good fight against the patriarchy book but sometimes it can come across too much for me and turns me off 🤷🏼‍♀️

Anywho - sweet love story. One or two kissing scenes but no steam.

Thank you Netgalley and Erehorn publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5/5

The Midnight Bargain follows one Beatrice Clayborn, a young sorceress who dreams of mastering her powers in a world that reserves such power only for men. When Beatrice arrives for the Bargaining Season, where young men and young ladies go to parties in the hopes of securing a marriage contract, Beatrice dreads the day when she will be collared in order to provide her future husband with a family. But when a fellow sorceress and her brother steal a grimoire out from under her, Beatrice finds unlikely allies in Ysbeta and Ianthe Lavan, two of the most eligible members of the Bargaining Season, as well as a spirit named Nadi. In her quest to become a full-fledged magician, Beatrice is faced with a choice: to do what is expected of her by her society and family by giving up her powers and marrying, or to keep on chasing her dream of becoming the first female magician and turn the entire world upside down.
This was a book I had mixed feelings about. First, I really enjoyed the feel of the Regency-style world that Polk has created here, although the world-building itself left a little to be desired, as we learn about Chasland and Llandras but not much else about the world Beatrice and her friends live in. We do, however, find out a lot about to social and patriarchal norms through the Bargaining Season, and this gives The Midnight Bargain a very Jane Austen-y sort of feel, which I loved. I also thought the romance between Beatrice and Ianthe was really well-done and had some very swoony moments. I also lived for the feminist themes inherent in this book. My biggest problem with this book was that I quite literally hated the majority of the characters in this book. Even Beatrice ticked me off at times. With the exception of Nadi, Ianthe, Ysbeta and sometimes Beatrice, there were just so many insufferable characters that it really dampened my enjoyment of this book. Also, the pacing could have used some work. So although The Midnight Bargain was not the homerun I hoped it would be for me, it is still an enjoyable read for people who enjoy books set in the Regency and fantasy. The Midnight Bargain is a story about duty and dreams, love and power, and the ways society uses things such as marriage and family (which is not inherently bad on its own) to deprive women of autonomy, power and equality, and of one ambitious young woman who turns her entire world upside down to achieve her dreams.

The Midnight Bargain is a magical story that weaves together a historical-style setting with some innovative and determined women who are ready to make some changes to their patriarchal society.

The Midnight Bargain follows Beatrice Clayborn, a young woman on the verge of marrying age about to begin the 'bargaining season' in which all of the young ingenues are pursued by eligible bachelors. Beatrice prefers to study magic and has no interest in marrying; she would rather focus on improving her magic to where she can one day assist her father in improving the family's finances in order to provide a better life for her family, especially her sister, Harriet. In this world, however, it is only the men who are able to continue pursuing magic into adulthood, whereas the women are only allowed to learn minor spells and charms in their childhood, before putting the interest aside and eventually donning a magical collar of sorts that completely cuts off their magical abilities.

Beatrice is a headstrong character who meets another equally headstrong woman, Ysbeta, and together the two decide to work together to help each other strengthen their magical abilities. Neither woman wants to marry, although their goals outside of not wanting to marry differ slightly. I found Ysbeta and Beatrice to be a really interesting pair, as on the one hand they held a lot of similar notions about magic and marriage, but on the other hand they also clashed a decent bit in regards to value and personality, and I really appreciated how much contrast Polk created with their characters, showing that women can want to be independent for their own unique purposes, unlike many books that often show women wanting the exact same freedoms from their assigned roles.

In regards to the magic system, I thought that Polk introduced something really interesting with her particularly brand of magic. I'm not sure I fully understand how some of it works, but what I did find exceptionally interesting was the usage and influence of the lesser and greater spirits that were such a big part of the magic process. I would love to learn more specifics about how this magic worked, as I felt that they were explored, but I'd love to see even more examples of how everything worked. There are some really neat dynamics at play that made this a compelling system.

There is some romance in this book that I did find a bit hasty at first, but given how marriage proposals and the like often work in this world (similar to our own historical basis where there is often limited courtship), I found it to be somewhat believable with how fast things would move. I liked Polk's exploration of Beatrice's own navigation into determining how she wanted to live her life and how she would balance (or not balance) love and her passion for magic, which I felt really showcased Beatrice's strong personality and ability to focus on the realities of life--all while holding onto her own dreams, of course.

One of my main problems, however, here were that there were some times especially near the end of the story where I felt as though the themes and messages of feminism and equality were almost hammered into the reader a little too much, but I didn't find this to be too much to where it took away much enjoyment. I don't mind when the messages are clear and easy to understand, but sometimes when the author does such a good job of displaying the message throughout the story they don't need to continue to spell it out for us repeatedly. Still, I sometimes find it hard to feel justified in complaining about hearing a message repeated when it's a valuable one.

I had a lot of fun with this book. I believe it's been classified as a YA fantasy (though do correct me if I"m wrong), but I personally felt as though it could easily be considered adult as well, since the characters felt slightly more mature and it didn't really seem to follow the more typical YA fantasy patterns that I'm used to.

Overall, I've given The Midnight Bargain 4.25 stars! As mentioned, I really enjoyed this one and would love to spread more from Polk set in this world in the future, but I'm also satisfied with the story I got to be a part of.

This book is an interesting read that highlights the plight of women's roles in society and the choices that they are forced to make between family and power. The characters are interesting and the story flows well.

DNF @ 21%

I really tried, but this novel simply isn't for me, which is a real shame when I've seen so much praise for Polk's other work which I'm still interested in trying one day. This had so many themes I should have liked, and I usually enjoy Regency-inspired fantasy and romantasy, but there's no nuance in this story; whenever Polk wanted to make a perfectly valid point about equal rights, I felt like I was being beaten round the head with it.

This is a story I've seen before and, to be honest, I'm a little bored of bookish heroines who aren't like other girls™ and don't want to get married. I was very intrigued by the idea of Beatrice having to choose between what she's always wanted and a marriage to a man she could genuinely have a happy and comfortable life with, but I'm afraid I didn't care enough to see this story through to the end.

First off, I loved this book. And I shall list the reasons why!

1.Witches.
2. A world set in a sort of Regency England.
3. Secrets. ALL the secrets.
4. Forbidden magic.
5. Romance. Of the steamy kind!

Need I say more? No? That's okay, I'm still going to.

The entire premise of this book is one that has really stuck with me, even after reading it. It's taken me a little bit to be able to put all my thoughts and feelings about it into words. The themes woven into The Midnight Bargain, particularly with men having the ability to take away a woman's power, literally in this book... whew, it's an intense read.

It's hard to say much more without spoiling a lot of the main points of the book, but if you're a fan of impossible choices, forbidden magic, and deadly secrets, I highly recommend picking this one up!

I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review
This was actually quite a delicious book. a young woman trying not to be forced into marriage and instead become a great sorceress is such a great concept for a novel!

A very interesting book with a strong feminist undertone and a very original world building and magical system.
It's an engrossing and highly entertaining read that kept me hooked.
Excellent storytelling and character development, a tightly knitted plot that always kept my attention alive.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Combining magic, romance, intercultural politics and the struggle against patriarchy, The Midnight Bargain is a delight from start to finish


Beatrice Clayborn is a woman with plans. As a woman from a high-class family in the highly patriarchal society of Chasland, she is expected to spend her first "Bargaining Season" attending dances, handing out her card to eligible suitors, entertaining callers and finally settling down with a man who is comfortable trading her talent for sorcery for the financial resources to get her family out of crippling debt. It's a deal that will secure her family's future and ensure that her sister can benefit from the finishing school education she couldn't afford, but there's one problem: for Beatrice to marry, as a woman with magical abilities, means that she will have to give up her magical powers, putting on a warding collar throughout what her husband deems to be her childbearing years in order to prevent her from being attacked by spirits during a pregnancy. Beatrice has far more attachment to her magic than to a future as someone's wife, and if she can only find the text she needs for a specific ritual, she can call a greater spirit into herself and become both powerful and unmarriagable: a combination that will offer her freedom to help her family in her own way.

What Beatrice hasn't reckoned on is the arrival of the Lavan siblings, both attending this Bargaining Season from the more powerful neighbouring country of Llanadras. Ysbeta Lavan quickly establishes herself as a rival to Beatrice's scholarly knowledge, before establishing that she has the same goal: escaping a politically convenient marriage to one of Chasland's most eligible elites. Her brother, Ianthe, establishes himself as an obstacle of a rather different kind, because he's smoking hot and totally amazing and it's not long before the two are rather hopelessly in love. Ianthe offers the chance at marriage in relatively more egalitarian Llanadras, where Beatrice could still practice minor magic but not call a greater spirit and train as a sorceress, and the Lavan's wealth means it would support her family as well. Of course, if that were actually a solution to Beatrice's real problems, we wouldn't be reading a book about it, and thus begins a romance that's as much about the growth of the individuals involved as it is about their growing together.

The Midnight Bargain benefits from an absolutely delightful setting, with a plot that breezes by in a whirl of regency intrigue. Over the course of her season, Beatrice encounters dances, card parties, picnics, chance meetings at bookshops, symbolic greenhouse conversations with prospective parents-in-law, heated debates in carriages and over breakfast, and even a fabulous boat party, with each set piece given exactly the time it needs to unfold and advance the plot while leaving plenty of time to enjoy each one. Of course, the patriarchal nature of Chaslander society is always on display, and every charming, witty conversation or clever use of feminine wiles comes with an edge: this is a society which burns alive women who give birth without shutting themselves off from magic, after all. Beatrice never loses sight of the game she's playing, in which she's expected to balance the number of men she encourages to chase her until she can strike the best possible deal and get smoothly handed off from father to husband. It's a tricky balance even before factoring in the danger of her attempts to escape the system entirely, or the occasional murder attempt by a jilted suitor, or the fulfilment of bargains made to Nadi, the luck spirit Beatrice invokes to help her in her quest. Beatrice's multiple competing dilemmas and the constant novelty of the scene changes kept me thoroughly hooked on The Midnight Bargain, without ever being overwhelmed or weighed down with the amount of drama it threw at me.

It helps, of course, that Beatrice is a very easy protagonist to love. This being, at heart, an m/f romance, the relationship between Beatrice and Ianthe just about edges out everyone else in terms of screentime, and that's no bad thing: Ianthe is perhaps a little too willing to let go of his ingrained cultural biases about the role of women, but I can't dispute that not being an ass about Beatrice's ambition makes him far more enjoyable to spend time with. Much of the worldbuilding of The Midnight Bargain is built on its portrayal of the different cultures of Chasland and Llanandras, with the cultural power very much held by the latter. Unlike Chasland, where women are expected to have as many children as possible and sorceresses therefore need to wear warding collars from marriage to menopause, Llanandras allows women to plan their families and only ward themselves while pregnant or trying for children. The assumption of cultural superiority underpins the Lavan siblings' interactions with Beatrice, particularly when her feelings for Ianthe begin to conflict with her desire to pursue magic. For Ianthe, learning to respect Beatrice means interrogating his biases about the role of women in his own culture, and to take her ambition and talent seriously, and he rises to the challenge brilliantly, bringing several more juicy plot twists along the way.

Ianthe isn't the only important relationship in Beatrice's life: her growing friendship and trust with Ysbeta is just as important, as the two learn to work towards their mutual goal. Ysbeta's relationship with Beatrice is also shaped by her assumptions about the superiority of her own culture, and also by her judgement of Beatrice's sexuality: it's not outright stated in the text, but it's pretty explicit that Ysbeta is aromantic, and she finds it impossible to believe that Beatrice wouldn't be better off abandoning her magical dreams even as she pursues the same goal. Ysbeta is a wonderful character and her chemistry with Beatrice is just as good as Ianthe's (until the reveal of her sexuality, I was open to this becoming a poly romance, but it was not to be). The only point at which her characterisation falls down is a spoilery late book scene, which hinges on withholding key information and a point of distrust between Ysbeta and her brother at a point when it felt like their character arcs should have moved past that point. It's a key moment to setup the book's climax, but it was the only point where I felt that The Midnight Bargain's character arcs were at odds with what its intricate plot was demanding of them at that moment.

I could go on for days about the other wonderful characters and moments in this book: aside from the main trio, there's also Beatrice's novel-reading, political-game-playing sister Harriet, her quietly supportive mother, the cast of other ingenues and men in the bargaining season who are pursuing various agendas of their own, and of course her difficult, patriarchal father, who fails to take seriously any of Beatrice's attempts to bring him into her plans for her own future. There's also Beatrice's relationship with Nadi, the luck spirit she initially conjures to help her through a dangerously high-stakes card party, and then continues to work with throughout the book, through whom the majority of the book's magical component is conducted. Nadi and Beatrice's relationship both deepens and challenges our understanding of the spirit bonds which form the heart of The Midnight Bargain's magic system, offering a counterpoint to the universally held assumption that sorcerers must control and dominate the spirits they work with for the bond to be effective. It is also, like everything else in this treasure of a book, an absolute delight.

And that's my main takeaway from The Midnight Bargain: this is just a delightful book, from start to finish, in a way that balances intrigue, incisiveness, drama and flights of fancy to create a reading experience that was pure enjoyment for me. If you're looking for any of the above, in a magical period romance setting, you really can't go wrong with this book.

The Math

Baseline Score: 8/10

Bonuses: +1 Everything about this book just made my heart very happy. If that's not worth a point, nothing is.

Penalties: Nothing, it is too fun to take things away

Nerd Coefficient: 9/10


POSTED BY: Adri, Nerds of a Feather co-editor, is a semi-aquatic migratory mammal most often found in the UK. She has many opinions about SFF books, and is also partial to gaming, baking, interacting with dogs, and Asian-style karaoke. Find her on Twitter at @adrijjy

Reference: Polk, C.L. The Midnight Bargain [Erewhon, 2020]

A lovely little book full of romance and magic. In a world where women are not allowed to use magic after they are married due to the possibility of possession of their unborn children by rogue spirits. A unique magical system that raises questions of autonomy and how far women will go to obtain equal rights. This book had a great feminist theme, and the relationships between the main characters (romantic, platonic, and sibling) were well developed and every character was believable and likeable. I do feel as though the end was a bit rushed, but overall it was a great read and highly recommended.

3.5 stars
An interesting take on historical romance. I liked the setting very reminiscent of classic historical reads. And I liked the dilemma or the moral choices that women have to make, keep families and the human race going or choose your magic, I’m not sure men would be able to make the sacrifice. As interesting as that is I was more interested in the magic system but we are unfortunately not given a lot of detail or history on it, and since magic plays a huge role in a woman’s decision I feel like it should have been fleshed out more. Overall, The Midnight Bargain is an average historical romantic read with the added benefit of having magic, but even that couldn’t keep you fully invested.

3.5 stars

This was everything I didn't know I needed in my life. It was a fun, heartbreaking, chaotic read and I want to read it again. It was delightful!

The Midnight Bargain follows Beatrice Clayborn, a young woman from the country who is her family's last hope at fortune. She is in town for Bargaining Season, when young men and women negotiate the best marriages, in the hopes of securing a good future. However, she doesn't want to marry. She wants to be a full-fledged Magus and pursue magic.

In her world, women aren't allowed to practice magic, especially after marriage. They are collared when married, meaning their magic is cut-off from them since it could affect any children they may have. Magic is solely reserved for men to study and master.

Beatrice faces many challenges and she continuously questions the choices she must make in pursuit of her happiness. I really like her character, Ysbeta, and Ianthe. Especially Ysbeta's goals for knowledge and sharing it with the world. I want a whole book just about her!

This was by no means a perfect book, though it was a very enjoyable one. I simply adored the regency setting in this magical world and the bubbling romance that Beatrice experiences. It ended too quickly in my opinion, and I wish there had been more about the world without it seeming rushes and more scenes between Beatrice and Ianthe.

Nevertheless, I was completely committed to the story and I can't recommend it enough.

The Midnight Bargain had all the makings of a great fantasy romance with a historical feel. When I started it, I could already imagine the sort of readers who would love it.

Unfortunately, for me, the book didn’t quite live up to the hype I’ve seen surrounding it.

The world is a patriarchy oppressing women. While some of the elements were a bit different from what I’ve seen,

So, of course, the protagonist Beatrice does not want to deal with that. She wants her freedom, to practice magic as she wishes without restriction. I felt like we were being set up for an amazing story of breaking rules and empowerment and overthrowing a patriarchy and while we got that… the book ultimately fell flat.

I’d say for about 50-60% of the book, I was pretty on board with the characters and the story. I liked Beatrice and wanted to root for her and Ysbeta, the sister of her would-be suitor Ianthe. Her learning magic while also navigating society, her connection to the spirit Nadi (who I absolutely adored), and the general character interactions were exactly what I was hoping for. I wouldn’t say the cast

The feel of a historical romance almost, but with the trappings of a fantasy novel.

But it was the romance that lost me for these characters. Beatrice and Ianthe have some serious insta-love going on in the bad way. There’s no build-up to it with the exception of the author outright telling the readers they have feelings for each other (I’d much rather see it). And, frankly, I felt more chemistry between Beatrice and Ysbeta and would have much preferred that be the dominating relationship. Ianthe was as boring as a love interest can be and it seemed like he was just standing in while Beatrice galivanted off with his sister.

Looking at The Midnight Bargain as a whole, I felt… underwhelmed. I anticipated it would bring something new to the table and it did a little but not enough to keep me engaged. I set it down frequently, pushing forward in small increments. Likely also due to the pacing, which was all over the place. Where the plot needed to move quicker, it dragged, and the opposite as well.

In general, the book was like eating a saltine cracker where someone forgot the salt. It wasn’t terrible. I was able to finish it in a relatively short time despite the constant start/stop. And if I hadn’t read it early, I would have bought it for the cover alone. The Midnight Bargain, while alright, just isn’t quite something I can fully recommend.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book!

This was a delightful read! It took a couple chapters for me to really get into it, so if you're struggling at the beginning- don't give up, it gets SO much better. I loved the world building, and the plot and pace of the story was great. The over all message- of feminism and staying true to oneself- was inspiring. I would 100% recommend checking this book out!

We’re looking at a fantasy world that’s similar to the British Regency Period. The higher classes meet during a season that’s called Bargaining Season, to basically sell off their eligible daughters to the highest bidder. These daughters are sorceresses. They could perform magic, but -as is so often the case- they are not allowed to. The practice of magic is restricted to initiated men. Young sorceresses learn a few spells, but never get a real chance to outgrow the nursery rhyme phase. Upon their marriage an enchanted collar will be fastened around their necks blocking their magic, so that no malicious spirit may enter and inhabit the soul of any possible unborn child. Magical women’s sole purpose, until menopause, is producing offspring.

The female lead of the story, Beatrice Clayborn, is such an eligible young sorceress. Her father, a non-magical merchant, has indebted the already financially unstable family to give Beatrice the perfect Bargaining Season. Beatrice is to find a wealthy husband so that especially her younger sister might profit by being able to go to an esteemed finishing school.

But Beatrice doesn’t want a husband. Beatrice wants to become a full Magus. Since women aren’t allowed to practice the magic that is necessary to become a magus, Beatrice had to learn to summon a spirit in secret from hidden encrypted books.

When Beatrice meets the handsome heir to a wealthy family of magi and his sister, she at first thinks she’s made enemies for life. In fact, she’s managed to make the best allies in her fight for equal rights for sorceresses. A difficult course, since neither sibling must know that the other is working to find a way for women to embrace both, magic and family.

Although the happy ending was predictable, I quite enjoyed the way it came about. A very enjoyable cosy read that had quite a lot of commentary on women’s oppression.

My impressions, during assessing this read, varied a lot.
Firstly I was enthusiastic, as I loved « Witchmark » by the author. I was a little bit wary, as this kind of victorianish fiction is more frequently weak than inspired, but still, very interested.
Alas my trust in the author powers to deliver some good story with good characters wobbled soon: the characters were two dimensional, the messages insanely insistant and the dialogues mostly cringing.
At this stade, I should have give up. But, surprisingly, my interest in the story was real, strong enough to spur me to read on, which is – for all its meanness – a solid recommandation as I’m incapable of reading on a book which annoys me.
In the end, the story was very good, I loved the main ideas, all the little details. But the writing in general was just so so, sadly lacking of subtlety, as if the book was intended for eight years old.
A shame.

Rating: 3* This is regency-style fantasy romance about a young woman who has aspirations beyond society’s restrictive social norms and is willing to give up her very soul to escape the bonds of marriage.

Beatrice Clayborn is a talented young sorceress intent on locating a grimoire which holds the key to attaining the rank of mage - a powerful master of magic - a role forbidden to women. Proper young ladies in Chasland, even those with extraordinary magical talents, must come out into society at the formal “Bargaining Season” and compete for the hand of a young gentleman of means. If an appropriate match is found and the couple marries, the young woman is forced to wear a marital “warding” collar which dampens and negates her magical powers until she is past child-bearing age. Beatrice wants none of this. She desperately seeks to gain magical power and convince her father to employ her in the family business instead of marrying her off. Unfortunately, her father has mortgaged his livelihood to clothe and house Beatrice in high-style during the Bargaining Season. She must win a husband to save her family.

In her search for the grimoire, Beatrice meets another young woman longing to pursue a life of magic sans marriage, Ysbeta, the daughter of a spectacularly wealthy family. Ysbeta has the grimoire and together the girls fight against time to unlock its secrets. Oh, and Beatrice and Ysbeta’s swoon worthy brother fall in love.Spirits must be summoned and bond and the success lies with both possession and personal freedom.
Readers looking for a regency-style - feminist fantasy/coming of age story will enjoy the Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk. Note that while characterized as adult fiction, this book will appeal more to a YA audience given the age of the characters and the insta-love relationship between Beatrice and Ianthe. (I want to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.)

A fast-paced fantasy, THE MIDNIGHT BARGAIN was quite an interesting tale. The ultimate dilemma that troubles our heroine - to choose herself or her family - made it all the more realistic I think, compared to what could have been having it been a lover instead of the family.
Discovering oneself is also another major theme in this book - one that was explored brilliantly by the author. It was also a very quick read because of this very fact. I never had a dull moment and was thoroughly engrossed throughout.