I’ll be honest, I’ve gotten to the point where I generally see “faery” in a book synopsis and promptly move on. The description of this one caught my eye, though, and I was immediately intrigued. The blurb touts elements similar to those in Neverwhere and The Night Circus, both of which are absolute favorites of mine.

I tend to be a fan of books with multiple facets of London, and the underground magical market in this one lived up to my every hope! Simultaneously whimsical and enticingly dark, almost any kind of magical bargain can be struck at the Untermarkt. The characters, though they are young, are indentured and have to act beyond their years, both above ground and below, to keep their wits about them and survive. That being said, there are plenty of teenage shenanigans that take place, especially in the relationship between two of the main characters.

There was a bit of insta-love, which I’m not really a fan of. That being said, the relationship in the book is delightful and also isn’t what solely carries the plot. Instead, the story hinges mostly upon characters’ fights for freedom and the deals they make to warrant that independence. The bargaining and sharp-witted thinking throughout the book keeps the characters and readers constantly on their toes. Plus, there are magical heisty vibes to the plot, along with various schemes, hijinks, and strategic plans.

The pacing felt mostly even, though the end felt a bit rushed, but overall it didn’t really impact my enjoyment of the book. This is definitely one I can see myself reading again a few years down the line, when I want a fun and magical world to visit!

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Titan Books for this advanced readers copy!

A Market of Dreams and Destiny is delightful romp through an underground world of fairy magic, bargains, and queer love. I agree that the world building fits right in line with Neverwhere and the Night Circus, as referenced in the book description. The author is very clever, I was immediately entranced with Desi using the in-depth knowledge of the market that he has gained working as an indentured servant to his own advantage, from focusing his desires to trick the market into creating shortcuts through the stalls to trading questions and answers for nights out of the town.
#AMarketofDreamsandDestiny #NetGalley

ended up dnf'ing this book at about 10% through, I just couldn't get into it - which is really disappointing considering how good it sounds and how excited I was to read it.
it reads to me almost like prose or a poem and it made it really difficult to follow along, especially when thrown in with the world building of the novel.
I may come back to it at some point and try again but I think it'd be more appealing towards those who like poetry style writing and those who are interested in a fantasy x alternate earth timeline genre

I found this book to be really engaging and I loved the premise. I'm a sucker for rich fantasy with great world building so this story was right up my alley. I am looking forward to reading other books by the author.

"A Market of Dreams and Destiny" by Trip Galey is a captivating historical fantasy debut that whisks readers away to the enchanting and treacherous world of the Untermarkt beneath Covent Garden in 19th-century London. This novel weaves a spellbinding tale of fate, fortune, and the high-stakes trade of dreams, all set against a backdrop of magic and intrigue.

The story follows Deri, a young man who was sold into servitude as a human apprentice to one of the most powerful merchants in the Untermarkt. After seventeen years of stealing secrets and plotting his escape, Deri seizes an opportunity to buy not only his freedom but also a chance at gaining power and influence among the Untermarkt's elite. When a runaway princess enters the scene, offering to sell her destiny, Deri senses the chance of a lifetime. However, as he navigates this intricate web of deals, bargains, and risks, he finds himself drawn into a world of danger and deception.

Trip Galey has created a vivid and atmospheric setting with the Untermarkt, a marketplace where anything can be traded, from emotions to luck, with each transaction having its own price. The author's descriptive prose brings this fantastical realm to life, immersing readers in a world that is both enchanting and perilous.

The characters in the novel are multidimensional and compelling, with Deri at the forefront as a resourceful and daring protagonist. His interactions with a charming young man add depth to his character and bring an element of romance to the story. The supporting cast, including the enigmatic Master Merchant and the runaway princess, contribute to the intricate layers of intrigue and plot twists.

"A Market of Dreams and Destiny" is a book that skillfully combines elements of historical fiction and fantasy, creating a unique and engaging reading experience. The plot is filled with suspense and surprises, making it difficult to predict the outcome as the characters navigate a world where dreams and destinies are traded like currency. With its richly imagined world, complex characters, and a captivating blend of magic and mystery, this novel is a must-read for fans of historical fantasy who crave a story that transports them to another time and place.

Deri is an indentured apprentice to the merchnt maurlocke in the Untermarkt - the vast Goblin market somewhere beneath Covent garden in an alternate Victorian era London where magic is recognised (but there are treaties with the fae in place to limit its use. When Deri cuts a deal with a runaway princess he acquires her royal destiny, and extremely hot commodity that could get him into a lot of trouble if he's not very very careful. It's price could buy him his freedom from his master. He meets the man of his dreams, Owain, also indentured, but 'topside' to an unscrupulous factory owner, and becomes involved with labour politics, merchant deals and indenture issues. Previously only thinking of himself, Deri now has a wider 'family' to help. Read about twisty contracts, deals and more deals, m/m romance, dastardly workhouse owners and an unexpected resolution.

I couldn't get into this at all. It started promisingly but the use of terms was strange (unsure if poorly edited or a pronoun I am unaware of) 'ys' etc. Had to give up. May appear to others and liked the characters, however, and otherwise well written.

I'm disappointed I didn't like this book, because based on the description, the cover and the comps, I thought it would be exactly my thing. I'm confused as to why it's been comped to the Night Circus and Neverwhere when it's not like either of those in style at all - it's just got kind-of-sort-of-not-really similar subject matter. I would put this a lot closer to Caraval probably, especially in terms of writing style. The cover is also giving a Marvellous Light, which was part of the reason I picked it up, but I was disappointed on this front too.

The writing style was firmly not for me, but it will probably work for others. I found it to be a little frivolous and shallow, the descriptions not really doing anything for me and the dialogue being quite clunky and cheesy. I never really got a good idea of what any of the characters looked like in my head, and tbh I spent the first 10% of the book thinking the two MCs were children and being super confused.

It's definitely quirky and has a fast moving plot, so I think some will really enjoy, but I personally found the characters too surface level to work for me. I think I would have felt differently overall if this had been marketed and edited to be YA rather than adult.

I also had a few antisemitic alarm bells ringing in terms of goblins/goblin market and indentured servitude - I did some reading up on this and it's toeing a line there. I hope that the publisher had some Jewish sensitivity readers for this to weigh in.

I stumbled upon this book while browsing upcoming releases back in the spring, and it had me hooked from the very premise. Everything about it, from the description, to the stunning cover, to the promise of a story reminiscent of The Night Circus but fae was so very much exactly what I hadn't realized I was looking for. And it absolutely delivered. It has the magic and mystery of The Night Circus, the old-school longing and English-ness of A Marvellous Light, and the (almost hidden) underworlds of Neverwhere - but with more faeries and talking cats.

Deri is an orphan of the Untermarkt, a goblin market beneath London that anyone can find if they know where to look - and where they can find anything, for the right price. Merchants trade in destinies, replacement limbs, hair colors, love, if only the proper recompense can be offered up. Sold to Maurlocke, one of the market's richest and most powerful merchants as a babe, Deri longs for the day he'll be free of his indentured servitude and have the chance to make a name for himself among the many traders. Slowly, he's been building up a small fortune to buy out his contract. Then, he meets Owain, a young man in the forced service of one of the most evil factories topside and and finds he has more reason than ever to create his own fortune... And he gets his chance, when the runaway princess comes to him to trade away her destiny in exchange for freedom and he suddenly has the most valuable bit of merchandise in the market - if only he can hold onto it long enough to free both himself and Owain.

From the very opening paragraphs of the book, the setting just had me hooked. The magic and glamor of the Untermarkt oozes through every page, full of colorful stalls and even more colorful merchants. There are bells that speak if you know how to listen, and anything is available if you can offer up the right bargain. But with Deri narrating, we also have the opportunity to see the seedy under-underbelly of the market, where everything only functions on the backs of children sold into servitude and merchants make bank creating contracts to enable employers topside to trap their own servants in a never-ending cycle of labor and misery. But the horrors revealed are well-tempered by Deri's own love for his home in the Untermarkt, and his genuine belief that he can come out on top in the end.

Deri as a lead is so much fun to follow. He's as cunning and reckless as you'd expect of a young man raised in the goblin market, squirrelling away bits of fortune he's acquired during his free moments away from his master. And yet, once he finds Owain, he starts giving up those pieces of treasure, both for more time with the man he's fallen in love with, and to help the other children that Owain cares about at the workhouse. And Owain is every bit as careful and cautious in comparison, equally in love with Deri. Their romance is fast, but I enjoyed the fairy tale-like quality to it.
The secondary characters are all equally interesting, from Maurlocke, Deri's merchant master with a quiet, seething sort of evil to ym, to the Graspars who run Owain's workhouse who are the more outright predictable villains of the story. There's a noble knight, Dame Aurelia, out to rescue a princess uninterested in rescue, and a workhouse slave out to help start a labor revolution. And, of course, Bess the talking cat.

The story wraps up so well in a combination of magic and politics and negotiations that left me more than satisfied, though I certainly wouldn't turn down an opportunity to return to the Untermark in the future for more stories. For Trip Galey's first trad pub book, this is an amazing debut and I cannot wait to see where he goes from here!

"Enter the bazaar of the bizarre - where fate and fortunes are for sale just beneath Covent Garden - in this high-stakes historical fantasy debut set in 19th-century London, perfect for fans of Neverwhere and The Night Circus.

Below Covent Garden lies the Under Market, where anything and everything has a price: a lover's first blush, a month of honesty, five minutes of strength, a wisp of luck and fortune. As a child, Deri was sold to one of the most powerful merchants of the Under Market as a human apprentice. Now, after seventeen years of servitude and stealing his master's secrets, Deri spots a chance to buy not only his freedom but his place amongst the Under Market's elite.

A runaway princess escapes to the market, looking to sell her destiny. Deri knows an opportunity when he sees it and makes the bargain of the century. If Deri can sell it on, he'll be made for life, but if he's caught with the goods, it will cost him his freedom forever. Now that Deri has met a charming and distractingly handsome young man, and persuaded him that three dates are a suitable price for his advice and guidance, Deri realises he has more to lose than ever.

News of the princess spreads quickly and with the royal enforcers closing in, Deri finds himself the centre of his master's unwanted attention. He'll have to pull out all the stops to outmanoeuvre the Master Merchant, save the man he loves, make a name for himself, and possibly change the destiny of London forever."

Yes, Freya Marske's The Last Binding book cover design is now a thing.

This had such a promising start and remained a fun read (more workers strikes as plot points, please!) but I felt like at about the halfway point the wonder of the world and magic stagnated instead of continuing to grow. I also wanted more of the characters. Owain especially felt like he was defined entirely by his role and relationships. For a book that has love as a major point of the climax, I wanted to feel that connection more.

This was amazing, and I hope it gets the hype it deserves. A fairy market beneath London where you can buy anything and everything. Deals are made the old fashioned way, locks of hair, contracts, bargains, deals, anything you can imagine has a price. Our min character has spent his spare time colllecting trinkets and items to bargain and favours. All in the hope to find his way out of his contract. Of course, some of these bargains intertwine and weave together and Deri has to use his knowledge and skills to find a way to get what he wants. I love the way this book is written, the writing flows beuatifully and it even gives me 'Night Circus' vibes. I love the characters and the way we learn about the world. he level of detail is phenomonal and i felt i could really get lost in the market myself.
Theres even a love story flowing throught it as well (which is cutre and heartwarming). What more could you want!!! READ THIS BOOK!

If you love books based in Victorian London and one that involves faeries then this is the book for you!

I only have a couple of negatives that the story dragged a bit in the middle but I think it was just adapting to a new authors style. I also felt that the characters didn’t get enough chance to build on a relationship before they were suddenly in love and it just put me off slightly and I don’t know why.

Overall though I enjoyed the book and would love to read more on this world that has been created.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys some magic and romance.

This one is another case of the writing sounding ‘out of tune’ to me – a problem I run into all the time, but still don’t know how to explain, or if anyone else on the planet experiences the same thing.

Galey’s Undermarket is exactly what I want from a magical market – peopled by all manner of strange, scary, and wonderful beings, with all sorts of intangible things for sale; whispers from loved ones, memories, promises, and, of course, destinies, alongside ‘yell-hounds’ (hellhounds?), arrows that never miss their targets, and firstborn children. After several very unsatisfying goblin market stories in the last few years, the Undermarket was a delight.

And I absolutely loved the explanation for how magic ended up back in the world: Henry the 8th accepted the ambassador of Faery’s offer of druidism rather than inventing the Church of England! It’s a small detail, not really relevant to what’s actually happening in the story, but it’s the kind of small detail that often makes or breaks a book for me.

But no matter how badly I want to adore this book, I just can’t deal with the prose. It’s not objectively bad; it’s just that sense of being out of tune, like the writing rhythm is just off. To me, it reads as awkward and clunky, stopping and starting constantly; distracting and discordant. But as I’ve confirmed many times, this is one of those things that not only doesn’t bother other people, other readers usually have no idea what I’m talking about – so if Market of Dreams and Destiny sounds good to you, I encourage you to go for it: it’s unlikely in the extreme that you’ll have the same issue with the prose that I do.

And aside from my issues with the writing? This book is kind of ridiculously awesome. So a DNF from me, but I do recommend it despite that!

This book felt really unique, blending faeries with the industrialization era to create a fascinating setting. In London, there's a place called the Under market, where magic rules and everything has a price. This is basically a goblin market, with a wide array of people and deals being made. The two protags Deri and Owain are both a part of this society in different ways, Deri is indentured to a market merchant while Owain is stuck working in a factory. The bulk of society and industry is run on indentured work, which is enforced and fueled by faerie bargains, so the setup has weaved tech and magic together really well. There's a dual pov, though Deri often felt like more of the main character that Owain, given his role in the plot. I felt like the book dragged a bit in the middle, and the narration and writing style, while unique and well-suited to the type of story, got confusing for me at times and I have to do a lot of rereading to fully understand what was being said. The end was fantastic, though I felt like the reveal was not always hinted at well throughout. Despite that, I enjoyed this book and thought it was very fun and unique.

A wild ride in magical alt-Victorian London.

A treaty between Faery and the human world allows for the existence of the Untermarkt, where material goods aren't the only things exchanged and where the protagonist, Deri, is indentured to the the wonderfully named Maurlocke (pronouns, yse, ym, ys, and by the way, thank you, H.G. Wells), who speaks the Language of Gold and who, naturally enough, isn't human. Almost none of the Untermarkt's merchants are. (Merchant Peaseblossom!)

Speaking of names, Galey totally let his inner Dickens (as well as his inner Shakespeare) run away with him: we have, for example, the Graspars, a vicious mother-son pair of workhouse owners, and Mssrs Copperfield and Steerforth get a look in, as does Miss Havisham, and a fellow named Fey Ghinn sells children into servitude. So, like, Dickens if Dickens took LSD?

Not only the setting but the twisty plot might call Dickens to mind: villainy, heroism, downtrodden children. The twistiness turns into a sort of caper, as Deri's bargains and stratagems, which begin with him wanting to shorten his own indenture, turn to the matter of freeing his lover Owain (indentured to the aforementioned Graspars), and then to destroying the indenture system root and branch.

I want to give this five stars for sheer inventiveness in setting and plot, but I wound up at 4.25 partly because of some minor editing problems ("There was a healthy stock in trade with the latest news and scandal": No. There was a healthy trade, or else some merchant's stock in trade was news and scandal. Please and thank you) and mainly because there were a few places where the author elided important emotional and/or plot developments. I didn't feel, for example, that the relationship between Deri and Owain had enough space to grow before the narrative was calling it true love. And Vimukti's work on organizing the workhouse strike got short shrift, as did Deri's creation of the web of obligations and favors that see him through his final confrontation with Maurlocke and the Graspars. Dickens would have 100% run with those episodes; maybe we 21st-century readers were thought to be bored by anything that didn't hew closely to the main plot?

All that having been said, A Market of Dreams and Destiny is wonderfully imaginative and suspenseful, and I loved the rabble-rousing. Definitely recommended, with thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for the ARC.

The rhyming within all the prose was extremely difficult for me. I found myself tuning out and confused about what happened, leading me to restart the book (three times). After making it to the end of chapter 1, I didn’t find myself invested. Kudos to the author for trying something I haven’t seen in the market for a while.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan books.

If you ever enter the Under Market beware. Everything is worth something, sometimes more than you can imagine - the use of a smile for a day, someone’s soft sigh, a destiny to be fulfilled. But the cost, and the tricks left between the lines of your agreement! The cost may be more than you are willing to pay. But, but, if you are skilful in the art of negotiation, if you can deal with issues of the fly, then, then, you might just find a life with the love of your life is yours to gain. Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

This book reminded me a lot of Stardust by Neil Gaiman in the best way possible. The worldbuilding was awesome, but the dialogue felt a little off at times.

This book made me smile. Fairy magic, queer rep - love it.

Reminded me of The Night Circus and if you loved this book, you'll love A Market of Dreams and Destiny.

It kept my attention throughout and will definitely re-read soon.