DNF @ 15%

I am...incredibly shocked at this DNF; I really expected to fall head over heels for this book. But something about the writing is just not jiving with me. Perhaps it's that it's all a little heavy-handed, perhaps it's that it reads very, very young, I don't know! I don't dislike it, exactly, but it's just not drawing me in at all for some reason! Plus I keep seeing reviews complaining about instalove, which I've already gotten a taste of with the last scene I read, so I don't think my opinion of this book is going to improve, sadly!

Damn, that was a fantastic book. Imagine Bridgerton meeting the Handmaid's Tale in a magical fantasy world... then make it better. I need to read all of CL Polk's books now.

Settling into a new C. L. Polk novel is akin to wrapping myself in a plushy robe, hot chocolate in hand, and then fastening my seat belt. And just after I wrote this, I learned that The Midnight Bargain has been named a Finalist for the Nebula Award. I’m delighted but not in the least surprised.

The Midnight Bargain is set is a culture with many of the same technology levels and romantic sensibilities as Polk’s previous Witchmark and Stormsong, sort-of-Western-European settings in which magic is both prized and limited. In the world of The Midnight Bargain, boys master their magic through rigorous training, but girls are all but forbidden the same knowledge, no matter how strong their talents. Their value lies in the marriage alliances they will bring to their families, through the “bargaining season” of formal, organized courtship, and the magically gifted sons they will bear. Upon marriage, a bride is locked into a magic-nullifying collar, akin to rendering her half-blind, half-deaf, and half-alive, to prevent her from carrying a child whose soul can then be stolen by a demon. Only after she has passed her child-bearing years, when it is too late to achieve any degree of mastery, will her husband, the keeper of the keys, release her.

Into this world comes Beatrice Clayton, powerfully magical and even more powerfully determined to practice her talents to the fullest. Her impoverished but genteel family counts on her to make a brilliant (meaning wealthy) match. Her only hope is to find a grimoire that will teach her how to bind a lesser, and then a greater, demon, thus qualifying her as a Magus, beyond the usual expectations of marriage.

The Midnight Bargain has so many story elements I adore: a strong woman protagonist with a gift for friendship and a determination to live her own life on her own terms; impossible situations requiring unexpected, creative solutions; the enduring value of friendships; and self-worth valued above romance. As with Polk’s previous novels, the story swept me up, turning pages late into the night, in love with Beatrice and the other characters (well, not the loathsome toad ones). My particular favorite was Nadi, minor demon of luck, desperately hungry for human sensory experiences, at times childish and mischievous but always amusing.

At turns romantic, dramatic, and humorous, The Midnight Bargain is highly recommended.

Finally got around to finishing this one and I really loved it! While I wasn’t completely swept away by the characters like I was in Witchmark, I ended up enjoying all the twists and magical turns this took. I put it down a bit before I finally was able to get into it but it was worth it in the end.

A really solid story, enjoyable, but a lot of exclamation points put me a little bit out of the story -- it was always! like she was! surprised!

A little different to the flowing prose of Polk's other novel, Witchmark, and so I liked this a little less as well, but still very entertaining.

I liked this regency era take on love and magic. As a fan of regency romance novels I found this to be a neat way to extend beyond the genre more fantasy like Bridgerton’s the show except even more so. This is an insta love story which I don’t usually mind, but something about this one didn’t grab me. All that to say I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it.

I loved the premise of this book and will definitely recommend to those looking for a light fantasy young adult novel. I do feel like some of the world building and relationships could have been given more depth- although it was an enjoyable read it felt slightly surface-level.

This book sounded very interesting and had a lot of potential. Once I started reading it though I wasn't sure if it wanted to be a romance, a book on female empowerment or a book about magic. I think the concept was to broad and the story would have been better if the focus was trimmed down.

The Midnight Bargain by CL Polk is a fantasy novel set in a regency era where magic is an integrated part of their society. Women are expected to marry, wear a collar that suppresses their magic, and have magical sons. Men are free to practice their magic, be educated in it, and become powerful mages. It is considered their right. This book created a great platform to discuss male privilege, the sacrifices women are expected to make, and the policing of women’s bodies by men. The book itself uses a very binary gender, which is of course an oversimplification of the real world. I do think the messaging of the book can be applied to how our communities/governments try to control the bodies of all genders. Particularly if they deviate outside of being white, cis, and male. There is also romance in the story, however, I don’t think it’s the central focus. The central focus was the main character’s desire to fully become a mage, as should be her right, and not to be controlled by another person. She meets another woman with similar dreams and different circumstances, and I enjoyed seeing them discuss and work together. What does it mean to truly be free to choose the life you want, to sacrifice, and what does equity looks like?

Overall, I thought this was really fun to read and would recommend if you’re looking for a lighter fantasy that doesn’t have too complex world-building.

I'm really REALLY not a fan of the insta-love trope. I wish I'd read the reviews on before requesting the ARC.

Even so, thank you kindly to the author and Erewhon Books for granting me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'll make this short, since I hate leaving bad reviews. I wanted to love this novel because I do enjoy a regency romance now and then, especially with the added YA influence of magic and world building. First, let me commend the author on her fantastic writing style. I was getting Bridgerton vibes from the first chapter. The magic system and the world C.L. Polk created is fascinating and well thought out.
But I came here for the chemistry between the main characters. Ianthe and Beatrice as a couple are frankly uninspiring. Also did I mention I HATE insta-love tropes. So unrealistic when the main characters have met like ONCE and that meeting wasn't even earth shattering.

I think it's in bad taste to rant on and beat a dead horse. Suffice it to say, this wasn't for me, but there have been great reviews for it and I don't mind being in the minority here. Don't take my word for it, though, give it a chance. If for no other reason than because the writing is good.

This book was amazing! If you're looking for a seriously enjoyable feminist fantasy with an original world-building and delightful characters that really make you root for them - look no further, you've arrived to your destination.

Very excited to read this book was not a fan. I am not sure what did not click with me. But I found it hard to connect to the story and characters. The plot was confusing too and I wasn't sure what I was reading at times.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Midnight Bargain

3 stars

What I like

I really enjoyed this book. It was like a comforting 19th century period drama but with mild amounts of magic. The characters were easy to like and the romance, while simple and expected - and with an utter lack of tension and strife - was beautifully written and easy to love. The magic system in this story was interesting, although very mild. This book used the magic to bring up some very important societal issues regarding women more than it tried to create a unique kind of magic. And the way in which this story did make those statements, was executed wonderfully.

What I did not like

There is not much I genuinely did not like about this story. The writing could have been improved perhaps. How the characters came to know each other in the beginning felt a bit forced and awkward.

In Conclusion

In all, I think the rating comes down to this being an enjoyable while not groundbreaking read.

I finally got a copy myself since I didn’t realize I was given an ARC. This book has twists and turns and all the ups and downs. If you truly think about it, the way the women are treated and their ‘magic’ is taken away. Because women have always been looked down upon. But that is neither here nor there.

Nadi, omg LOVE her.

This is such a wonderfully written book that draws you in and won’t let you go until you finish it!

*I received this from netgalley in exchange for review*

It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.

Midnight Bargain is a young adult historical-fantasy romance in which we see Beatrice Clayborn, headstrong young woman who wants magic and freedom. This world is not kind to women. It's a patriarchal Regeceny style society, where women are expected to marry for politics or finances, to bear children and continue the family name. Upon marriage, women don a marital collar that cut them off from magic, explained because spirits will take the souls of their unborn children if they don't.

That seems like a reasonable reason to wear this outlandish collar I suppose, no one wants the souls of their kids to be eaten, but even if you don't marry, and don't wear the collar, you're forbidden from accessing powerful magics or becoming a Magus just because women are apparently inferior. So yeah, the foundation of the society is sexism, and the book is about Beatrice bucking these rules and going her own way.

Except... she falls instantly in love (like literally, instantly) with Ianthe, and then has to struggle between choosing love with a guy she just met in a bookshop or freedom. This might have been more realistic if he had much of a personality or their relationship had actually developed. As it was, it felt a bit too contrived and forced and kinda counter-inuitive to the idea of freedom and feminism. It's supposed to be such a large part of the plot, yet really, I think the book would have been better without it. Surely something else could have added action and a choice for Beatrice other than falling in love with a random guy? The plot on the whole was cliche and predictable, no twists to be found.

That being said, I did think The Midnight Bargain was a fun read. There was lots of intrigue and the world building was excellent, from magic to courtship rituals to politics and fashion, this alt-history / fantasy world felt vibrant and complete. The magic system was great - detailed, realistic, vibrant and filled with little personal quirks.

The overall message of overcoming adversity and fighting for equality is a good one, and the regency fantasy setting really appealed to me. I've given it three stars.

Polk's work is always so engrossing while also feeling breezy and light. Midnight Bargain is a story of love, friendship, and not wanting to compromise on the direction you want you life to take- even when you don't really have much say in it to begin with. While it didn't captivate me the way that book from other series (Witchmark and Stormsong) it was still an entertaining read. The plot moves along quickly and the romantic tension between the main characters is not at all off-putting (love triangles can be quite grating when done wrong.) The best character is Ysabetta, who becomes a trusty sidekick and partner in crime to Beatrice. This was a fun and feminist magical ride.

This book took me by complete surprise. I fell in love with the main characters as much as much as I did the secondary characters. This book did an excellent job addressing the topic of female body autonomy. However, I did feel that some of the magical aspects were undeveloped/not explained well. I also think the plot could have been expanded and steady, there was a lot of movement in the plot and then not a lot at all. So while I did like the characters, I didn't love the story. This book is definitely worth the chance,

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2021 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2021/02/2021-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

Magnificent! A powerful tale with a wonderful romance and strong friendships, colored by thoughtful politics and economics. Just what I like in a fantasy novel! Truly, my only quarrel is that I would happily have read another book or two of Beatrice and Ianthe and Ysbeta traveling the world to unearth their magical secrets — but I suppose I can be content with the Happy Ever After ending that I got. ;)