When you think regency era and fae this is it. It's fun, full of lore, and gives just enough vibes of historical romance. This book had me hooked from page 1. The main character Ivy is a youngest child thurst into the responsibilities of an oldest child and it shows in her character and her language. The girls are diverse and their interactions are top notch and don't come off as "annoying teens". The princes aren't your typical book boyfriend for Romantasy they are 2 different people and no real big magics. I loved how simple yet complex the story was like the plot was straight forward but the weaving of characters and events were amazing. I cannot stop raving about this book. It is "the selection" but 100'xs better with the characters and plot. Would recommend to those who love historical fantasy.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Colins for the opportunity to read this book! This review is my own honest thoughts of the book.

This book is fabulous! Smith has created a story, cast of characters and a world that has a lot of punch and potential for its future novels. It has great banter, interesting relationships and explore a variety of feelings and experiences that there is something for everyone. Fans of The Cruel Price and Once Upon A Broken Heart will love this one.

I adored The Rose Bargain so so so much! I don't think I have ever preordered a book that I have read as an ARC so fast. This one is perfect for fans of The Selection, but set in a world of fae in Victorian England!
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC of The Rose Bargain. Pub Date: February 4, 2025

This story is set in the early 1800s and is a masterful blend of mystical elements of dark fantasy worh historical fiction. The romantic elements and love triangle between two brothers was emotional. This was very engaging and enchanting. It ends with dark plot twists and a cliffhanger. I recommend reading!

Thank You Netgalley for the ARC.

I was looking forward to this book so much but then it fell flat. The story is absolutely cool and fun. Trials to become the princes bride and a secret plot to over throw a Kingdom? Throw in some fae. It's regency. It's wonderful.

Now here is where the problem comes in.

The writing. She just tells us what is going on. There is no imagination what so ever. It was so straight forward. The dialog fell flat and by the end of the book I felt like I couldn't connect to one single character. I could care less at the end of the book.

It is also a YA book and this is lower young adult writing (13/14) but then the sexual content makes it older.

Leaving perplexed and a little let down unfortunately.

Fae and royalty and bridgerton-esque vibes that suck you into the story. You meet a young girl about to make her debut into society and she learns she can compete to win a chance to marry the fae prince. This story truly pulled me in and held on until that ending.

I'm not typically a fan of historic but I couldn't put this down. I don't think I've had this much fun reading a book in a long time.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and absolutely need book two now! (Please... that ending was absolutely evil)

Going into this I wasn't exactly sure what to expect -- I typically love historical fiction (especially anything set in England), but tend to be 50-50 on fae books -- but ultimately I really enjoyed this!

Something I particularly liked about The Rose Bargain that I haven't really seen in other similar "Selection-esque" books was the inclusion of chapters from the POVs of all the other girls in the competition -- I thought it helped to give more insight into their characters and made me more interested in their stories than I typically am for side characters!

My one small complaint (besides the inevitability of having to wait for the sequel) was that I wish the romance was fleshed out a bit more -- it felt just a bit too insta-love for me personally.

Overall though, I would absolutely recommend this for anyone looking for a quick and easy (yet entertaining and distressing) fantasy read, and I will be anxiously awaiting the sequel! (please I need answers)

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc!!

If you are looking for a fantasy read that combines the grace and courtly competition of Bridgerton with the wickedness and scheming of The Cruel Prince, The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith should be your next read. I was immediately swept away in this alternate Victorian London where blood and bargains are the currency to curry favor with the crown. The world building, palace intrigue, and magic system were both beautiful and cunning. Ivy was smart, full of grit, and passionately cared about those she loved most, and I really enjoyed seeing her blossom throughout the story. I also thoroughly enjoyed the dynamics between the princely half-brothers, Bram and Emmett, and how they each captured Ivy’s attention. This is not a fairytale of fair and kind-hearted Fae, but rather an insight as to what we would bargain away for what we desire the most, and how we live with those choices. I laughed, I squealed, I kicked my feet, and I cried. Mostly, I feel like I, and my heart, have been run over by a carriage (in a good way, of course)!
As always, thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for access to this eARC for review; as always my opinion and thoughts are my own.

I could not put The Rose Bargain down and cannot wait for it to come out in a few weeks so everyone can read it and be equally enthralled.

The Rose Bargain is a young adult romantasy that took me right back to the feeling of my favorite books from high school and is full of pining and tension. The world building was so well done and I loved the mix of magic and with well known London landmarks. I adored all of the characters but especially loved the dynamics between all of the girls competing for the prince's hand. Getting a glimpse into the POVs of the other girls besides our FMC was top tier.

I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book and was 0% prepared for the ending. The only con of being an ARC reader is having to wait even longer for the next installment 😂

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Get ready to be whisked away into a Victorian-esque England ruled by a wicked faerie queen. Ivy Benton is about to make her debut in society—and her bargain with the faerie queen that every girl makes when she comes of age—when the queen announces that this year, the prince will find a bride. After her sister went missing two years ago and returned with fractured memories, Ivy has nothing to lose and everything to gain by entering the competition for the prince’s heart. But the more she learns about the cost of the crown and the faeries who offer it, the more dangerous the game becomes.

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith is everything historical fantasy fans could want from a story. The author does an incredible job of integrating faeries into the historical timeline until the period feels natural. While the main female characters are very clearly written for a modern audience, I appreciated that they wouldn’t have felt completely foreign to actual Victorians.

Ivy was an incredible heroine. I loved how she struggled to balance her relationships with what she wanted, and that she tried to look for the best in people, always. Her courage was inspiring while still feeling real, and I adored that she was flawed and feminine without being villainized for those things. Her love was complicated and cruel and so, so honest. I spent the story torn between wanting to hug her and wanting to become her.

Emmet (our love interest who is most certainly not the prince Ivy is supposed to be courting) was Ivy’s balance in every way. He was the best kind of rake and was complicated without being annoying. His complex feelings for his brother (aka the prince Ivy was supposed to be courting) grounded the story and offered a perfect parallel to Ivy’s relationship with her sister.

The plot was perfectly paced, with moments of action and reflection placed exactly as they should be. Character growth was believable because it was subtle and unrushed. The writing was enchanting and easy to read, while the dialogue flowed naturally. The one thing I didn’t love was the rather abrupt twist at the end, though I definitely see the foreshadowing.

At its heart, this was a novel rooted in female friendships. Every female character was well-fleshed out and unique. They all existed outside of their relationship with Ivy, which I greatly appreciated. They truly seemed like a group of girls who would defend each other, no matter the cost. After Smith’s incredible female cast in The Witch Haven, I can say with certainty that she is a master of writing sisterhood and an instant buy for any YA fan looking to read about women supporting women.

“The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith is like The Cruel Prince meets The Selection, but with a fae twist! In this world, you can bargain with immortal fae for anything – imagine trading your childhood memories for piano skills or your taste for a perfect smile.

But Ivy's debut season throws a curveball: a competition to win the heart of the FAE PRINCE! To save her family from ruin and break the curse that destroyed her sister, Ivy must navigate a court of glittering fae, deadly games, and hidden enemies. Will she succumb to the allure of power, or will she uncover the truth about the fae prince and the sinister plot that threatens to destroy them all?

I got an ARC and I can't put it down! This book is full of heart-stopping romance, vicious courtly drama, and gorgeous, dangerous fae. Prepare to be obsessed!

The Rose Bargain is a romantic and magical historical fantasy.

400 years ago, Britain crowned a faerie as its monarch. Queen Mor is immortal and powerful, and willing to grant any of her subjects a bargain, for a price. Each spring, the ladies of marriageable age debut at the palace for the season, and each asks the Queen for a bargain. This year though, things are different, because Prince Bram, the queens faerie son, is ready to take a bride. Ivy Benton only wants to restore her family's status in society, and save her sister from the desperate sadness that has clung to her since she mysteriously disappeared and was found a few months ago. If that means entering a bargain with the Queen to compete for the prince's hand, then Ivy must win no matter what. But handsome Prince Emmett has plans of his own - he wants Ivy to win as well, but he's hoping to ally with her to overthrow the queen. With Emmett's offer of help to endear her to his brother Bram, Ivy thinks she may have a shot at winning after all. But the draw between Ivy and Emmett grows stronger each day of the competition, and Ivy wonders if the bargain is really worth the cost after all.

This was a fantastic story! I read it in one sitting, as it was a quick, fast paced read, and I could not put it down. A lovely historical fantasy, it blended the "season" vibes of regency era England with trickster fae and their darker side, and vicious competition to win the title of princess. There is a found family vibe with the contestants, and the romance between Ivy and Emmett and Bram. This is a YA book, so the characters are younger and their actions reflect that. I did love Ivy's realistic relationship with her family - especially her sister Lydia. Her growth through this and learning to trust her self I think made this story really emotional and deep. Emmett has a difficult past as well, and I enjoyed how their relationship evolved. While the story is told primarily through Ivy's perspective, we also get a few POV chapters from other characters that tell us more about their motivations and add a richness to the story. I will say the ending left me absolutely gasping, and I am so ready for the next book in this series.

Thank you so, so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

THE ROSE BARGAIN

Releasing 02/04!

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I really enjoyed this book! It’s like a Victorian romance/fantasy book with The Bachelor vibes. It has a fun little love triangle, strong female friendships, and a diabolical faerie queen. I would recommend it if you liked The Selection or Princess Academy.

There is a younger feeling to the writing, but I wouldn’t classify as true YA because of some content. I wish there were a few more chapters because I felt a little confused by the ending. I am looking forward to the next book though to see what happens to these characters!

romantic content: vague open door

*Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC!

In this immersive historical fantasy, Ivy must do whatever it takes to win the faerie prince’s hand in marriage- whatever the cost.

This was delightful! I sometimes find it hard to fall into a historical book, but this one had me hooked from the beginning. The characters are all out for themselves and have varying levels of moral ambiguity- think Jude from the Cruel Prince- but you can’t help but love them anyways.

The plot was action packed and well paced. I was a bit confused towards the end as this book was never advertised as the beginning of a series. That’s neither here nor there, because I will be SAT for book 2.

The last twist was such a huge surprise to me, but looking back I do see some of the foreshadowing. The romance was definitely a subplot, but it was done really well and added to the story nicely.

The description of this being The Cruel Prince meets The Selection is spot on. Add in Bridgerton and you have the recipe for The Rose Bargain. In this version of Victorian England, Queen Mor has been in power since the War of the Roses and yes, she is Fae. We are introduced to Ivy Benton and other girls in the Ton wanting to find husbands. Ivy was a great FMC who grew up knowing she was always supposed to be “the spare” and then found herself suddenly thrust into society as the family’s only hope. As for the MMC, Prince Bram and Prince Emmett were a lot of fun throughout the book (both for the way they are together as brothers, but also because of how different they really are). Prince Emmett in particular was beyond swoon-worthy for my morally grey loving heart.This will be spoiler free, but that ending... we will need to speak about it once you read this one! I am already impatiently waiting for Book 2! This was a fun and quick read and I can absolutely see why it is getting a lot of looks by subscription boxes and book bloggers. It definitely deserves the hype and I think fans of romantasy books won’t be disappointed.

4.25⭐️
this book immediately gave me powerless x these hollow vows vibes and i absolutely loved it. the two brothers, emmett and bram were essentially kai and kitt, so naturally emmett was making me SWEAT 🥵.

“Bram, sunny, kind, and safe, tends to appeal to girls who share similar qualities. It’s Emmett, with his bitten lips and sad eyes, who plays in the fantasies of the risk-takers.”

the relationships between all the characters felt very much like powerless and i loved it. especially between the girls during their trials/lessons.

there were some parts that confused me and i thought there were some plot holes, but EVERYTHING came together in the end. it was such a full circle ‘aha’ moment. but that ending… y’all. give me book 2 immediately, i’m not even joking. there were some really good plot twists in here that i was not expecting 10/10 for that 👏🏼

you will catch me buying the BN exclusive on release day 🫡 see you then ladies

book tropes:
🌹 fae / faeries
🌹 marriage trials
🌹 love triangle
🌹 forbidden love (ish)
🌹 book 1 of 2

I really loved this one. I'd call it Bridgerton plus fairies. I've recommended it to several friends already. The characters were excellent, the world building just right and I can't wait for the next one!

Long story short, I LOVED this story! The writing was very easy to read and well done, I loved all the characters, the love triangle, and the setting. Combining regency England and fae is absolutely fantastic and I cannot wait to read more in this world. I loved the idea of the bargains and how Ivy handled her circumstances. While it was definitely fantasy, it felt rooted in real British history and practices. And the ending - absolutely a great way to end the story and I cannot wait for the second book!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was interesting. I really liked the beginning and the end went some ways I wasn’t expecting, but one thing that happened at the end was predictable. I wanted more from the plot and romance, especially towards the middle of the novel.