Thanks netgalley for sending me the arc for this book the first thing that drew me in was the cover and from there I was just pleasantly content with how the book went. I like the bridgerton and hunger games vibes. I like the mystery and the family bonds. I would love to read the next one and more from this author.

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith is the first book in a duology that introduces you to a world of faeries that will have you wondering just who can you trust and how dangerous can wishes be.

In this world, every citizen of England is granted a bargain from the immortal fae queen and high society girls are expected to bargain for qualities that will win them suitors - but the bargains come at a cost. But when it is Ivy's season to debut, there is a shocking twist. The queen announces that her son, Prince Bram is going to marry but this requires a competition. Ivy's hope is that this could save Ivy's family from ruin and free her sister from the bargain her sister made which destroyed her. Little does she know that at the center of this contest is a plot that could destroy everything.

Ivy actually has no real desire to marry or make a bargain but she is willing to do anything for her sister and her parents so she enters this competition and finds herself in the middle of something she never really expected. The queen's bargains have gotten out of hand and there is a way to stop her and her games and Prince Emmett, Bram's human brother is determined to make it happen. To do so, he needs Ivy's help so he starts giving her tips and lessons on how to win Bram over but along the way, they start to become more than friends and that is where things start to go sideways.

The competition portion was interesting too. It is clear that the queen is bored and trying to do everything she can to scare these girls away. They go through everything from humiliation to pain but each one has their own reason to stick it out. I liked how Smith built out the relationships between these characters and give us snippets of each of their backgrounds by giving us chapters from their points of view.

The romance between Ivy and Emmett was a bit rushed but that was only because they didn't get to spend enough time together (in my opinion). There were only snippets of time where they could be alone and even then it wasn't very long. That said, I do look forward to seeing how things end up in the next book for these two.

The end of this book is where you'll be on the edge of your seat. I'll admit that I saw it coming but I was still waiting to see how it was going to all come together. There are some pieces that had me shaking my head - if you've read, you should know what I am referring to. And while I understood why Ivy made the bargain she did, I didn't want her to do it...and that's all I have to say about that.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend anyone looking for a historical fantasy to consider picking this one up. Especially if you enjoy faeries. Smith did a great job of setting the stage for the next book and I can't wait to have it in my hands.

Oh my, where to start. I absolutely devoured this book. The narrators did a truly amazing job at bringing the story to life, my hats off to them. If you're a fan of The Cruel Prince and Bridgerton, you'll probably enjoy this one. It has a bit of Fae, a bit of mystery and (forbidden) romance all set in a scene where people were big lavish dresses and live in castles. Our FMC must enter a contest to win the heart of the Fae Prince to help her family whom is struggling. The Queen has each pledge ask for a favor in which she gives them a bargain in exchange for it. It is considered YA, so no worries about spice if you're avoiding that, there is one scene but it's tastefully done and short. There is plenty of romantic tension between our two MMC's and our FMC. I was not expecting the plot twist at all! I went into this book without reading the synopsis as I like to be completely caught off guard by a book. The writing was very well done. Would I recommend it? Absolutely, yes. I look forward to a reread before book 2 comes out. YES, there will be a second book as this ends on a cliffhanger!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for giving me access to an ARC copy to read

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc. I agree with other reviewers too much telling and not showing. I also felt there was too much torture and violence placed on the girls.

“Rose bargains, they’re called. Bargains to make us beautiful, fragile, sweet—perfect English roses.”

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishing team for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s been so long since I was last shocked into silent panic, and I wasn’t expecting it at all from this book. I read and watched some reviews of The Rose Bargain before committing to it, and the general impression I got was that of a romance with Bridgeton vibes but with fae. I read the book expecting a cute romance, some drama and overall lovely vibes. While it did deliver on that aspect, it was so much more than that.

<img src="https://s3.gifyu.com/images/b2B7C.jpg" width="400" height="150" alt="shadow and bone aesthetic"/>


World-building: 10/10

Absolutely stunning. This novel takes place in the victorian era; the description of dresses, cakes, rooms, buildings was beautiful and all I expected from it. Smith’s writing immediately immersed me in her world, and made it easy for me as a reader to picture every corner of it.

I want to avoid mentioning the magical part of it because of spoilers but if you’re someone that loves the idea of slow world-building, this one is for you.

Characters: 10/10

I loved every single one. I don’t think there’s one character in this book that is simple in their motives and personality. At first, I underestimated the main character and her rivals/friends, and I was so wrong for it. When the plot started taking off, I convinced myself that the other girls weren’t going to be as important, I imagined they would be bickering and taking part in other behaviors that have been cliche for a while in fictional stories, however the author decided to create a small found family that I feel completely and irrevocably in love with, and now I need so much more of it.

Romance: 10/10

Perfect, no notes. It doesn’t take over the overall plot, it’s not rushed or exaggerated. It’s easy to see from their first meeting that they were going to be inevitable, and I can’t wait to have more of them.

I don’t see a second book or series name anywhere which tells me it’s not a confirmed duology or trilogy yet, but I really hope this changes soon because The Rose Bargain definitely feels like just the beginning of a much more complicated story.

In summary, this is a short, no-spoilery rant of me asking Sasha Peyton Smith for more.

"When one makes a faerie bargain, one must be prepared to pay the price. There is one silver lining. I have nothing to lose."

This book sucked me in from the first page.
I was immediately immersed into a fully formed world.
What if fairies were real? What if they shaped the history of Great Britain? The characters were both fully fleshed out and also lovable. The story kept me so entranced, I had to keep reading. The ending shocked and delighted me. I would very much like book 2 immediately.

3.75

This book was w o w.

I am not normally a YA girlie but I finished this so fast. like faster than I've read anything in awhile.

I loved that it felt very Bridgerton like but also with a fae-like twist! I can honestly say that I was hooked on this from the second I picked it up. I did not want to put my kindle down for one second to see what was going to happen next.

When I started this I thought this was going to be new age take on the Twilight-like love triangle that I read so much of when I was younger but this was definitely not that. Ivy wanted Emmett but had to be with Bram to take care of her family and than later as she learns, all of Britain.

I liked Bram but he was so unseeming and sweet, we really didn't get to spend much time with him so the more moments we had of sarcastic and charming Emmett, I liked Emmett more anyway lol He just wanted to be loved.

I liked that the competition aspect of this did include some moments where the girls were suspicious of each other and sizing each other up but in the end they trauma bonded hard and became somewhat friends. Expect Greer, Greer deserved better and I like to believe that she did run away with the stable boy.

I did feel that this could have been a little longer to go more in depth with the Queen's trials and to give some more time for the romance to blossom between Ivy and Emmett but I don't think it was the most rushed all in all. The girls pushed back in a way I didn't expect in the trials, often with books like they, they have that "I don't have a choice" mentality, so it was nice to see them in the end be like you know what, no. Even if it back fired lol

Bram was sweet but Emmett was charming and witty. I liked Emmett.

This did not give me insta love vibes more than it gave me a young romance were everything can feel heightened and move at a quicker pace because young love. I am not normally a fan of that but since this was YA, I didn't seem to mind it.

I will say her sister annoyed me in this book up until the end. I did see her being over there in the other world, the clues were there but I just felt at times she was just annoying. I could relate to all of Ivy's love hate complicated feelings towards her sister.

I was very surprised at the ending. I did not see Bram being a king over there, I could see him either being bad or this being a love triangle - so when the love triangle did not come, I was wondering what was going to happen next when we got to the wedding. I will say the I am so shocked at where this story leaves us with a cliff hanger and I cannot wait to read the next one to see where this goes!

I love stories that are about the Fae and set in historical Victorian England, which The Rose Bargain is. There is just something about that atmosphere that brings its own kind of magic.

I had actually kept passing up the book at first, thinking that I would not be as interested in the fighting in a competition to win the Prince. I’ve enjoyed books with competition dating but I wouldn’t consider them my favorite. I really liked how the competition was done in The Rose Bargain, mostly because it wasn’t focused on the competition itself as it was the girls stories and what brought them to the point they were at. That made it interesting to me.

I’m a suspicious person and I think books make me that way. So I’m always like if something seems too good to be true it probably is. I thought the set-up for the way the book ends was good though.

While the topic is definitely becoming overdone (a la 2010s vampires), The Rose Bargain was an interesting take on the fae romance genre. The incorporation of actual historical elements gives it cross-appeal for fans of Bridgerton and other historical romances while the competition aspect makes it an interesting follow up to The Selection or The Belles. While the cliff-hanger might be frustrating for some, the twists were exciting and enjoyable to read.

Loved this book! YA books have been really hit or miss for me lately so I was pleasantly surprised to have loved this one as much as I did! I loved the plot and the world of this book! The characters were all interesting and I loved getting to go through a rollercoaster of emotions in this book! The ending was so good and I honestly was not expecting the plot twist that came! I cannot wait for the next book to come out to see how the story plays out! Definitely recommend this one if you haven’t picked it up already!

The Rose Bargain takes off running and doesn't ease up until the very last page. I hope you can keep up, because this book barrels through its storyline. This becomes a problem when the speed at which the plot advances in turn takes away the ability for the reader to become connected to it and its characters. Although this story contains several emotional scenes, it still felt shallow. The author threw in these traumatic backstories for all the characters, but I felt like none of them had the time to marinate and make me feel emotionally invested. And that's mainly because the plot was just going too fast. The plot itself had great potential, and I really enjoyed the idea of it. However, the execution was not that great in my honest opinion. As I said, it felt too fast-paced and shallow. The romance specifically felt like it had no real depth, and I didn't feel anything while reading it.

WOW! What a read! I was absolutely sucked in from start to finish. I love the blend of history and fantasy. This book served Bridgerton meets The Selection. I am already DYING for the next book.

I had so much fun reading this book, the characters were easy to follow and I was connected from the very beginning. I can't wait to read the next book.

What a twist, that ending.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley.

I really liked this book. I thought the writing and storyline were very good. It was unique and refreshing to see fae in the real world, where they rule during the Regency era – that was very creative. However, the only reason I didn’t give this book more stars was because I didn’t feel the romance. It felt too much like insta-love for me, and I was actually rooting for the other brother, but that ship got destroyed. Personally, I can't believe or ship a main couple when they’ve only met a handful of times, for just minutes, and are acting like they know each other their whole lives. I think I would have liked this more if the FMC spent more time with the love interest and got to know him as a person before becoming obsessed with him. I also didn’t think I would like seeing the other girl’s perspective, but it definitely added to the plot and I enjoyed it.

Compulsively readable and beautifully dark and lush. Fans of Bridgerton and A Court of Thorns and Roses are about to have a new obsession.

Wowwww. That took me on a RIDE. my heart was in my throat the entire third act. This one was so much fun. A combination of my favorite things: Bridgerton and faeries. It was cleverly subtle until it all exploded in the end. I didn’t know this was a duology going in and so that was quite a shock since I excepted a nice wrap up…but I’m so eager for what book two will bring and who it will force Ivy to become.
This was my first book of Sasha’s and I found her writing beautiful and engaging. The prose itself but also the interiority of Ivy as a character. The sprinkling of extra POVs was a nice touch that really helped expand the story.
NOW I NEED BOOK 2!!

I was excited to read this book because Ive heard a lot about it. The book started out a bit slow but once the competition for Prince Bram's hand in marriage started, the pace improved. I love the slow burn between Ivy and Emmett. The plot twist of the wedding with Bram was unexpected and exciting!

Ever since her sister Lydia made a foolish bargain with the queen of England, Ivy has been a social pariah and her family's fortune is fading. When she is given the perilous choice to try for the hand of Crown Price Bram, she accepts....although the bargain is far more dangerous than it seemed.

I really loved the side characters in this book, Ivy's sister and the friends she makes while competing for Prince Bram. This is a book which as interested in the relationships between best friends and the bonds of sisterhood as they are in the romance, which was really refreshing. I loved the scenes that the women shared, and the parts of themselves that they revealed where the prince could not see. The Queen is also a complex villain, with more layers than it initially seems - there were times where I wanted to follow her out the backdoor and see what she was plotting.

I would definitely recommend this book and am excited to read the next one in the series. I think this would be particularly fascinating for YA readers who enjoy historical romance or fantasy.

I need to rave about how amazing this book was. It felt like the author asked me what my favorite tropes were, and then looked at my bookshelves and wrote it specifically for me. If you’re obsessed with The Cruel Prince, read this immediately. It’s got a lot of the same vibes, but with an added twist of a Bridgerton/The Selection setting. Ivy is one of six girls competing to marry Prince Bram, who is the definition of a golden retriever. He’s happy, kind, sweet, and a beautiful fae. What’s not to like? There is the small matter of his human brother, Prince Emmett, who is broody, damaged, snarky, and completely off limits. The romance is a swoony, angsty, delicious, slow burn, that is filled with yearning. I loved everything second of it. Ivy is completely awkward, and incapable of flirting, but it just makes her more charming. She’s thrown into a world of beautiful fae, cruel bargains, cutthroat competition, and the rumblings of rebellion. This was an absolutely enchanting read and I can’t wait for the next book!
🥀
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️ 1.5
🥀
Read if you like:
▫️Victorian era London
▫️alternate history
▫️faelike Others and bargains
▫️competition to marry the faerie prince
▫️rebellion and plotting
▫️multi POV
🥀
Thank you to EpicReads, HarperCollins Children’s Books, Sasha Peyton Smith, and NetGalley for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

*4.5 stars*

WOW, I loved this book so much more than I expected to!!! It looked very Selection-like and as a certified Selection fan that made me choose the book altogether. I'm very happy to report this is the adult, more mature version of that, plus we get some faes to shake it up a bit.

The characters are very interesting, especially hearing about the girls in first person, and I loved the relationship they ended up having. There were a couple of things throughout the book where I was a bit sceptical (I will be including examples in my linked review since I can censor spoilers there.) but the plot twist at the end singlehandedly made up for the other details.

Plus I didn't realize this was a duology (my fault) so I'm in for a TREAT when the sequel comes out!