I thoroughly enjoyed <i> The Bard's Bargain </i>. It's fairytale-esque, whimsy, and a light and cozy read. The character growth was realistic and much appreciated (the FMC was a bit insufferable in the beginning) and the story itself is so magical. It's a great read for in between longer books.
It did read a bit YA but had some spicy scenes so that bit was bit... *off putting* but overall, a great read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review :))

3⭐
I must say I was a little disappointed with this book.

But let's get to my pros and cons:
PROS:
👍 slow burn -and I mean BURN - it was really great although sometimes it was just too convenient for my taste
👍 Tyram - in the beginning I thought I'd never like him but he definitely grows on you - thank god for dual POVs
👍 found family - if you like this trope this book for sure will be up your alley
👍 FMC development was one of the best in recent books I read - it gave me some Nesta from ACOTAR vibes sometimes

CONS
👎 pacing - it was really jumpy for me, some things were really dragging and then BoOM and then dragging again - it almost made me DNF it
👎 Alexandra - I just didn't like her. I loathed her in the beginning then she had some ups but still I just couldn't make myself to like her
👎 Ending was rushed and chopped and it made the plot flat

Overall it was a fun read but I definitely won't remember anything about it in a few weeks

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

The Bard’s Bargain is a retelling of King Thrushbeard, the Brothers Grimm fairytale, and the author kept the message of the fable close to the book’s heart while weaving a tender, heartfelt romance. The FMC, Alexandra, has been left alone with her grief since the death of her beloved father, and she wears her spoiled princess persona like armour to keep people at arm’s length. All she wants is to be named her brother’s regent and wear the crown, and she truly believes that she’s the best person for the job, despite her mother’s protestations. She rightfully points out that Alexandra is prideful, selfish, and knows nothing about the kingdom’s subjects - and worse, she doesn’t even care to try and empathise with them.

Alexandra is not a likeable character at the beginning of this novel, but she is a sympathetic one. The reader can tell that underneath her snooty exterior, she is desperately lonely and just wants someone to see and accept her for who she is, instead of her title. She lashes out at everyone around her, and as a last ditch attempt to give her daughter some perspective, the Queen makes a bargain with Tyram (a.ka. Tom the Bard), the newly-appointed Steward of their enemy kingdom.

During the following months that Tom and Alexandra spend together, we see her heart soften, and the once haughty, uncaring princess becomes kind, warm, helpful, and even happy. She makes friends with people in the village, who actually do appreciate her for who she is (even when she treats them rather disrespectfully at first) regardless of her being dressed in rags, without the jewels or pomp she’s used to presenting herself with. The romance between the two main characters was definitely a slow burn, with both of them questioning their feelings and trying to push them away - Tom because he’s lying to Alexandra, and Alexandra because living in a hut in poverty doesn’t align with her goals, and, anyway, she’ll be going back to her normal life at the end of the year. Despite their obstacles, there are lots of sweet moments where we see how their feelings progress and how deeply they come to understand, respect, and love each other. The spicy scenes sprinkled throughout were very romantic and realistically written, and I liked that they were fairly spaced out instead of having to skim through one every other page.

My one criticism is that I wish that Tom’s character was more developed. I finished the book feeling like I barely knew him any better than when I first started reading, and the only real details divulged were things that he had in common with Alexandra. Because her character was so well fleshed-out and her development was so apparent, Tom fell to the wayside slightly.

This book is perfect for those who love fantasy romance with complex relationships, couples who bring out the best in each other, and just a dusting of political intrigue. I’ve been thinking about this book since I finished it, and I’m looking forward to picking up the sequel! 4/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Indie/Self for access to this title. All opinions are my own

The first book in a New Adult/Fantasy series, The Bard's Bargain is about a selfish princess( Alexandra) and her royal enemy from a neighbouring kingdom ( Tyram aka Tom) who decides to teach her a thing about being a better person. She's a b****, and he's too good for her- but the sparks soon fly and the romance is spicy.

Now, I have read my share of book reviews where my fellow readers have confessed all sorts of reasons why they hold distaste for a book. I am not perfect. Mine is a bit funny but to remain honest and true in all my reviews, I have a confession.

I almost DNF'd this book in the first chapter because Alexandra's brother, the guy who was now King because their father died.... was named Bryan.


I know, I know, it's a petty reason. To be clear, I have nothing against men named Brian, Bryan, Brient, Byron, Bran, Brien, Brion, Briant etc. It just struck me as absolutely ridiculous to think of any kingdom existing screaming " Hail, King Bryan" and " What a glorious victory on the battlefield by our noble liege lord.. King Bryan."

Thankfully, Bryan decides to go on tour and most of the references to him are off the page. That leaves Alexandra and Tom to get it on. Something that they do often. But there's also a fairly good plot here with a cliffhanger of an epilogue... it's not quite an HEA yet.






thebardsbargain #NetGalley.
Publication Date 30/11/22
Goodreads Review 02/11/24

3.25⭐️

Vanessa Green’s The Bard’s Bargain is a retelling of the classic fairy tale King Thrushbeard, blending whimsy with moments of growth and self-discovery. The story centers on the pampered Princess Alexandra, who, after spurning many suitors, is punished by her mother to spend a year living among commoners with the bard Tom. This setup is the backdrop for the books main themes: privilege, personal growth, and the complexities of human relationships.

At first, I struggled to connect with the narrative, mostly because it was hard to connected with the spoiled FMC, but I’m glad I continued. The story initially felt like a frivolous fairy tale but it began to hold my interest the more I read. Alexandra’s character arc is particularly good, as she evolves from a selfish princess into a more compassionate and self-aware individual. The writing style is simple and accessible.

However, the book isn’t without its inconsistencies. While the whimsical tone draws readers in, the inclusion of explicit scenes feels out of place, clashing with the otherwise fairy tale-like atmosphere. It felt needlessly unnecessary and detracted from the story.

I also wished for deeper character development, particularly with the more morally rigid figures, like Alexandra’s mother. A more nuanced exploration of her motivations would have enriched the story. That said, the book shines in its portrayal of Alexandra’s journey. The emotional beats resonate, especially as she confronts her flaws and learns empathy through her interactions with the villagers.

Despite some critiques, The Bard’s Bargain remains a pleasant read, especially for fans of fairy tale retellings. While some elements did not resonate with me, the heart of the story—Alexandra’s journey towards empathy and understanding—makes me glad I read the book.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

DNF.

I really wanted to like this but it just.... it was hard to get into. The main female was kinda insufferable and it made me not want to read the book. I tried to force it but it just really wasn't happening.

There is a good balance of romance and spice and plot. A very cohesive story and very relatable characters. I liked the concept of this book. Its like a dnd dream came true. A few things here and there kinda lost me but overall good

I have never read anything like this. I doubt I ever will again. This was an incredible story of a woman who assumed she had everything but was suddenly confronted with the fact that anything could be taken away. Comfort, food, even royal status. Follow along as she realizes you can lose everything you hold dear and still have a good life and find love.

★★☆☆☆ 2.5 stars

This was difficult to rate. I liked the beginning, the premise and the writing. But after we get to the heart of the story I found myself really bored. In the middle it followed always the same pattern: Tom and Alexandra would get closer, she would do something that made her pass as a spoiled brat, Tom would get mad, and then she would be forgiven. Rinse and repeat.
When the ending started to get interesting, I wasn't invested anymore, neither in the characters' relationship or the plot.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

While I enjoyed this story a lot, thanks to Tom. As Alexandra is a mostly exhausting and spoiled brat- especially at the beginning. (And due to this, to me, even after her character growth she was tolerable for me at best.)
The plot and storyline was very enjoyable nonetheless. It was whimsical and felt like a classic fairytale with a modern twist. Tom contrary to his female counterpart, was wonderful. He was sweet and a character that one could sympathize with. I wish there had been more from his point of view.

While I would definitely read more by Vanessa Green. I would not revisit Alexandra and Tom’s story, thanks to how I feel about the princesses character.

As a note: I would rate this a New Adult novel. Not a young adult novel- to me it’s too explicit for that.

I would like to state this book was WAY outta my comfort zone, and i fear my rating shows that. this book felt sorta like red queen... but not really its just the closest book i can relate it too. it is one of its own kind, i am however a slow burn lover AND hater. it made this book feel soooo boring and extra long. with that said the writing style was nice and it aids the pace. i think this is a great intro into a series and cannot wait too see where the stories lead next 3.5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Vanessa Green for a copy of The Baird's Bargain in exchange for an honest review.

In general, I love a retelling of an old story with a new spin. Green independently published this title in 2022, and in general I think she crafted a nice tale. As with everything, I want to give a rave, but there were faults in this story that hold me back from really loving it. Before I get to the faults, I'll discuss the things that I liked. I enjoyed the main character's development over time. She started out self-centered, immodest, and frankly annoying--perhaps even a bit of an unreliable narrator of her own story in the beginning. As time progressed, she seemed to mature. I enjoyed the blooming romance between the leading lady and her love interest, but it never really felt realistic. Most of the dialogue felt stilted [and here begins the negative feedback]. Green deeply struggles with pacing, dialogue, and character development and differentiation. All characters seem to follow modern dialogue patterns and sound roughly the same, though Green uses courtly language sporadically throughout the book. Green differentiated her leading lady from other characters by simply increasing the 'annoying' factor of her dialogue. Because of this, the story never felt real, never sucked me in, and never left me really wanting to read more--I was between DNF-ing and hoping it'll get better for the entire story yet never felt rewarded for my effort at any point. The biggest problem with this story was pacing. The time or content/context jumps between chapters left me feeling like Green's clumsy timeline was yanking me along at a jarring speed. Her transitions lacked finesse. Green also did not do herself any favors by turning this book into a dual POV as this choice increased the hodgepodge feeling of the story and highlighted her under-developed [and perhaps inexperienced] character work. True to the pacing problems throughout the story, the conclusion also felt cut short as though deus ex machina could just solve the problem of the plot. It left me wondering whether Green had gotten sick of writing her own story and just threw in whichever solution would wrap it up the fastest. This frankly made me frustrated as I had been waiting so long to see whether my patience would pay off.

There is a great deal of grace to be given to a new indy author, but I also believe that traditional editing methods aren't the only way to run your work through a filter prior to self-publication. Green would have greatly benefitted from an outside reviewer, even just a friend who likes to read, prior to publication. I say this because this story could have been an incredible success. The idea behind it has all the elements of a popular courtly romance: an ousted princess, the underdog love interest, wax poetics, court drama, and adventure. Taking these steps, of course, is entirely at the author's discretion and commendation must be given to any author simply for the endeavor of writing a book in the first place. Conclusively, while I enjoyed the idea behind this work, Green should have spent more time ironing out the kinks in her character work and pacing to allow the story to jump off the page.

The book surprised me in the best way! Alexandra, the crown princess of Lenwen, starts off as a drama queen extraordinaire—full of herself, over-the-top, and downright obnoxious. But beneath all that attitude is a character whose grief makes her heartbreakingly real. Watching her grow and evolve was like pure magic—character development done right!!!

And then there’s Tyram, the scheming steward of Norwen. He’s a scoundrel, but somehow, I couldn’t help but love him (even when he annoyed me!). The slow-burn romance between these two wasn’t your typical enemies-to-lovers tale, but it was perfectly timed and beautifully paced, with just the right amount of tension.

Yes, the pacing was slow, but the gorgeous writing, plot twists, and dual POVs kept me glued. The ending felt a bit rushed and didn’t quite match Alexandra’s character, but honestly, I’m just sad there isn’t more of Tyram and Alexandra in the sequel. Fingers crossed for the sequel!!

A big thank you to NetGalley, and Vanessa Green for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
#thebardsbargain #NetGalley

Thakyou to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately I could not get past the first 120 pages of this book, as the main character took a drastic 180-turn from being a spoiled brat to a fawning idiot. Within ten pages she goes from insulting her love interest to begging him to 'take her' as he tears open her bodice. I'm not of the opinion that every romance has to be a slow burn (if anything I think the trope is too common and would like a refreshing change) but this out-of-character behaviour gave me whiplash. Otherwise the book is well written, with pretty descriptions and a decent world that I would have liked to see through the eyes of a more consistent character.

This story was interesting as it's basis was a fairytale retelling that I was not familiar with. It had a nice clear message that also lead to a clear resolution. The fantasy setting was very cozy and nice. The side characters added a lot to the village as to our FMC. Female friendship being a strong theme in the book was so nice to see. The character ARCs for the FMC and MMC were strong! I definitely recommend to anyone who wants to read a fairytale cosy fantasy ~

A fun read! The character development for Alexandra was elite. I enjoyed Tom and Alexandra's love story and wasn't expecting the ending! It made me excited to read book 2! Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

A cute and fast-paced fairy tale romantic fantasy story that was pretty enjoyable despite the abrupt ending.

How can I possibly describe how much this book means to me without pouring my heart out?

I loved Alexandra from the first moment, perhaps because she reminds me of myself and my own personal character development. The story begins with her as a young woman left alone and expected to shoulder great responsibilities. In her grief, she becomes cold, selfish, haughty, power-hungry, and prideful. These aspects of her personality are her sword and her shield against a world indifferent to her. No one cares about Alexandra the girl. They care only for what she represents: her crown. Is it any wonder she turns out the way she does? The only cure for it is a patient, guiding hand and a separation from her previous life.

So no, I suppose Alexandra isn't an easy character to like for a good portion of the novel. In fact, there are some in the book who simply don't have the patience to teach her what, to them, is common sense. Luckily she has Tom, who introduces her to a world in which everyone helps and looks out for each other, not because they have some ulterior motive, but because they genuinely care for each other. In time, Alexandra is humbled, the ice around her heart melted. It's a slow and satisfying progression. And absolutely realistic. From my own experience, I know it can take years to abandon the abundance of pride that has shielded you from many hurts and to stop holding other people at arm's length. On top of that, Alexandra has a tendency toward melodrama and a quick temper. But she isn't malicious. She doesn't revel in her early behavior. Most importantly, she tries to learn and better herself. I adore her so much! She's my latest comfort character and I absolutely cannot wait to have the physical copy of this book in my hands!

This story takes place in a medieval-inspired fantasy world. It's as brutal as it is idyllic. There are moments of shocking harshness, balanced by an equal number of cozy scenes. There seem to be some inconsistencies in the worldbuilding, but nothing that stands out overmuch or distracts from the story.

Tyram/Tom is a lovely character and the relationship felt authentic with how it developed. I only wish that Tyram's own character growth was given more emphasis. I mean, forcing a person to suffer poverty, cold, hunger, and humiliation just to mold them into a person you can stomach marrying is a really shitty thing to do. I feel like he could've benefitted from a proper realization of just how thoroughly his actions hurt Alexandra. This is one of those cases where the ends do not necessarily justify the means, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong; he's a fun and charming character and a perfect fit for Alexandra, and I really enjoyed reading from his POV. However, he's made out to be a paragon for morality when in reality, he's not exactly without his own blind spots. He got off a little too easily for that.

But wow, this is enemies-to-lovers done right! Even during their heated arguments, their chemistry is tangible. You'll be mentally chanting "kiss, kiss, kiss" the whole time they're fighting! It's easy to empathize with both of them, to feel what they feel alongside them, which prevents their many conflicts from tipping into ridiculousness.

"She wanted him to yell and scream so she could yell back. She liked noise; her flair for the dramatic was a strength that she liked to exercise, a way to feel in control. Willfully, he decided the best course was to not indulge her. He would not feed her fire."

"She opened her mouth to his kisses and they began to embrace with a fever that verged on violence."

"He lowered himself to his knees before her. Alexandra had an odd moment of clarity: here was the most powerful man in Norwen, her kingdom's greatest enemy, on his knees before her."

I'm a teeny bit disappointed in the pacing of the story toward the end. After a strolling pace throughout much of the book, it wrapped up a little too quickly, too neatly. I want to know more! My only hope is that the sequel will answer my remaining questions even though it will follow different protagonists.

The reviews are all over the place so far, so I think it'd be helpful to clarify a few things for anyone who might get confused by them. There are explicit scenes (very well done explicit scenes btw) so this is definitely Adult, not YA. The cover may also be a little misleading, gorgeous though it is. Alexandra, despite being a princess, is not soft, and this story is not dark. As I was reading, the story played out in my head bright and with vivid color, but I admit that perhaps that comes down to personal interpretation. Also, I would not categorize this as historical fiction or historical fantasy. There are kingdoms and a feudal system, but the world and events are entirely fantastical. This is a retelling of the fairytale, King Thrushbeard.

Tropes:
- hidden identity
- disguised royals
- fake marriage
- betrayal, my beloved
- slowburn
- forced proximity
- riches to rags
- only one bed
- he falls first
- political scheming

First off, how stunning is the cover?
This book is a retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, something I have never read before.
This story was something I don’t typically read but I quite enjoyed it.
It is a story about love and compassion and how we, perceive and and act towards it.
I did not give it more stars just because I dislike politics in books. However, the smut scences were nice, and the overall story is worth reading.

Thank you, Netgalley, for providing me with an eARC copy of this book.

I loved how engrossing the writing style was and the romance between the two main characters. It was very atmospheric.