The prose on this book was utterly gorgeous😍 this isn’t as steamy as my usual reads but I really enjoyed this book, totally recommend it!

The Midnight Bargain was an extremely interesting book that mixes feminism, oppression, and magic. I loved how Beatrice and her friend both knew that they wanted to practice magic more than they wanted a husband and kids. I felt that their confidence and determination for magic in the fantasy world that was in this book was similar to the women of our world choosing a career over having a family. The difference was that in Beatrice’s world women could not have magic and a family. They were oppressed so that they could not practice magic. This is the story of Beatrice’s journey with indecision on whether she should choose magic over marriage to a man she loves that would provide financial security for her parents.

I felt that this book was beautiful and thrilling. The story was breathtaking, as was the world-building and character development. It was one of my most recent favorite books.

Annie from A Bookish Type was enthusiastic about this fantasy novel, and so I requested it from Netgalley. She highlighted the feminist approach of the novel, and I was all for it. (Also, it did help that I fell for the gorgeous cover art). But I’ll cut to the chase and confess that it didn’t quite work for me as much as I’d hoped. Maybe it was a case of me being disoriented by this particular type of fantasy. Maybe it is a case of too much buzz / too high expectations, the jury is still out there. So if you want to know, and if you’re familiar with fantasy, my advice would probably be to try it for yourself… and to come back here to discuss it with me!

The novel is set in a fantasy world that is closely similar to 18C or Regency England, but with magic. Some people have magical gifts that let them invoke powerful spirits, but only men have the right to learn to master that skill and use it. Women are expected to be pretty and not think much, so they should not learn any magic and if any, suppress it (by wearing a collar which is a sort of lock) when marrying because it might endanger the baby. And (male) heir producing is the main purpose of women in that fantasy land, where young women of the aristocracy go out into the world for a season to attract the best suitor. I was ok with the premises, but not really enamored with it. I felt that the feminist agenda was forcefully pushed into the story and that magic was just a fantasy addition to justify it.

Beatrice Clayborn’s family is near bankruptcy, and her father needs her to marry well, in order to save the family’s fortune. But Beatrice’s own dream is to learn magic and therefore, not to marry. She has been studying books in secret for years. She is certain that she would be able to help her father recoup their fortune using magic, but he doesn’t want to have a daughter who would do magic, that would be shameful and she might be persecuted. As Beatrice is heading for her season into the world, a series of parties and outings where she’s supposed to shine, she attracts the attention of wealthy young Ianthe Lavan. Despite herself, Beatrice finds herself falling for the charming young man. It would be right to marry Ianthe, but it would certainly mean the end of her magical aspirations. Beatrice also meets Ianthe’s sister Ysbeta, who just likes her wants a career over a marriage.

So basically, the author is mixing a traditional romance (the insta-love between Beatrice and Ianthe made me kind of cringe, especially as Ianthe is a bit of cardboard perfect boyfriend), fantasy / magic, with the heavier theme of career vs. marriage. The juxtaposition probably explains why the book pace feels uneven. The magic theme was not developed enough to my taste, and as a result I didn’t really get invested in Beatrice’s and Ysbeta’s passion. It was clear that these two wanted to have a career on an equal footing with men, but it seemed to be that it could have been running any business rather than grimoires and curses. And the fact that both girls are privileged and rather self-centered didn’t make them very endearing to me.

I think that the novel is targeted for a YA audience, but the ending seemed too rushed and everything tied up way too neatly for my liking. The fantasy world that the author built made it extra difficult to resolve the dilemma of career vs. marriage, and it is only thanks to a miracle (an implausible chain of events) that we are able to find a way out of the stalemate.

To sum it up, it was a fun ride out of our grey 2020 world (and one that makes me thankful that I live at a time where I can be married and still have a career), but it felt a bit frustrating to me.

Got this book as an ARC through NetGalley wayyyy back, only getting to it now. :')))

The magic system was pretty cool, but another reviewer said it felt like it had "holes" in it and I agree. With magic that potent, and with what Beatrice alone can do, it should have so much stronger of a presence in the world and culture which it just didn't. What does Ianthe's spirit even do?? It's barely mentioned. What do they use magic and spirits for in a wider sense, with all the magi?? The worldbuilding was okay but definitely felt a bit thin.

*spoilersssssssssssss*

I was so mad at Beatrice for rejecting Ianthe's proposal lmaooo what was that??? Honestly it was such a generous outcome for her and the only way she got away with that was by Ianthe sacrificing everything. And plot convenience, bc that ritual scene and none of them dying was s u c h a plot armour moment, hhhhhhhhhhh. Even with all that, the happy ending was only possible by Ianthe sacrificing everything and I feel that was brushed over too lightly.

Bea herself was okay, I guess, kinda bland. Not much memorable about her except she's a passionate feminist. Yzbeta was kinda the same, and Ianthe was just the token insta-love love interest to be able to have the money/power to supply the happy ending.

I swear there were things I liked lol but it's easier to talk about things I didn't like in books, those are more memorable somehow. The writing was fairly nice, above average, and the pacing was pretty good. Though I was kinda bored at a lot of times by the low stakes of courting and etc etc, but then again historical romance isn't really my thing. I definitely liked the fantasy aspects a lot more and Nadi was my favourite character. :)

The Midnight Bargain started a bit slow for me, but once it picked up, I ended up enjoying it. While it wasn't my favorite, I thought the book was creative and interesting. It is a great YA novel for young girls and women who are looking for inspiration to live big. 

I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style - it seemed forced at times and for lack of a better word - tense. I felt it didn't flow as well as I would have liked and that took away from the plot. I also feel like there were a lot of things going on, but none of them fully developed. The magic was a let down and the romance was just meh.

Thank you NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the arc.

i genuinely liked the concept of the novel-- of women fighting for equal rights in a magical world. i liked the relationships and the characters. but this novel felt contrite for over half of it. it was easily predictable and because it was so ordinary the book dragged.

I have always had a complex relationship with books about romance that play with Regency period, or engage in Jane Austen-homages, because whatever the cover blurb may say about strong female characters, marriage always seems to be the end goal. As someone who has never been particularly interested in marriage, this has never been entirely compelling to me as a reader. Polk's premise and worldbuilding in The Midnight Bargain feel like an entirely new entry into the genre. 

Beatrice Claybourn is approaching the start of the Bargaining Season, where young women like her are expected to find acceptable husbands. But Beatrice, though she feels pressure to find a wealthy match, who can absorb her family's debts, also knows that marrying will require her to accept a warding collar, which will prevent her from using and developing her own magic, or becoming a Mage (a role restricted to men). Beatrice identifies a book that has spells that may help her -- unfortunately, another eligible young woman, Ysbeta Lavan, manages to buy it first. To get access, Beatrice has to work with Ysbeta, and potentially with her older brother, Ianthe Lavan -- who is also searching for a wife.

I don't think I've ever seen a novel focused on a Regency-style season where the female protagonist is so focused on finding a way to avoid marriage, rather than discovering that the right match does in fact exist. As a result, Midnight Bargain is really a novel about political revolution, as much as it is about relationships -- and Beatrice's relationship with Ysbeta is as central to the book as any of the more romantic relationships that are featured. Polk is adept at entangling the stories of characters who want very different things -- and right up until the last 30 pages, I wasn't sure where the novel would go. I was utterly delighted, and I hope that we see more in this world.

A beautiful fantasy romance! I loved the slightly different twist on Regency England here with magical elements — and the struggle the heroine faced between the possibility of marriage and a family and being a subjugated wife and mother, giving up the power she was desperate to hold onto and learn more of. Some of my favorite parts involved Beatrice’s conjuration of a lesser spirit and said spirit sort of becoming like her inner child, emboldening her to do new and daring things for once in her life. This is my first book from CL Polk and I don’t believe it’ll be the last, although fingers crossed we get a sequel for this... maybe Harriet’s book or Ysbeta’s? 

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

While the premise is utterly promising and the author does a good job of representing the central conflict, I wish so fervently that the romance was not of the "insta love" kind. I was expecting something slow burn and angsty, with powerful payoff, but that was simply missing. I did however immensely enjoy the author's writing style and I do look forward to whatever work comes next.

***I received an uncorrected proof of this ebook from netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

"The talent for sorcery in women is a curse when it ought to be a blessing."†

Beatrice Clayborn lives in a patriarchal fantasy world where magic is a boys club. Married women are forced to wear a collar that blocks their magic, and also dulls their senses. Uncollared women risk becoming pregnant with spirit-possessed ~demon spawn~. Beatrice doesn’t want to wed, but wants to become a powerful, independent sorceress. Unfortunately, her family is counting on her to save them from the brink of financial devastation via a profitable marriage.

Beatrice self-learns magic in the attic with her secret collection of grimoires and the help of her summoned luck spirit, Nadi. Nadi is my absolute favorite. Where’s my lesser luck spirit, huh? Beatrice meets Ysbeta, daughter of an influential shipping magnate with similar sorceress aspirations, and Ysbeta’s handsome brother, Ianthe. For a while I was worried, because Beatrice had far more chemistry with Ysbeta than with Ianthe. Luckily, partway through the book, Ianthe began to develop a personality. (In all fairness, he wasn’t on page enough early in the book).

Beatrice must ultimately choose between love and power, and she really comes into her own along her journey. When I tell you I SCREAMED when Beatrice punched [Danton (hide spoiler)] so hard that he lost a tooth….
She stepped back to give him room, her fists still raised. “Get up,” she said. “Get up and face me. [...] I demand satisfaction. Will you fetch your pistols?”✝ What a bad b*tch.

The development of the romance left something to be desired, but I tried to cut it some slack because the romance in this time period does seem to be generally superficial. While I wish the magic system had been explained more, the canon we were given was extremely intriguing. Nadi gave us some great insight into the way of things, but she was just one spirit.

This book was sailing straight towards a four-star rating until that ending. I cannot imagine a more perfect ending for this story, set in this world. Is this book a true five stars? Unsure. But I could not put it down and I enjoyed the hell out of reading it (even if I wanted to strangle Beatrice at least five times). I would honestly love a follow-up in this world now that Beatrice, Ysbeta, and Ianthe have upset the balance.


✝check against final text

I really wanted to love this book but found I couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the main character had not found the ‘instant love’ as I feel that trope has been done to death.
Loved the concept of women not being allowed to practise magic

Beatrice Clayborn wants nothing more in life than to be allowed to practice her magic. However, as a woman, she is required to keep her ability secret living in fear of the day she is required to marry when she will be locked into a binding collar and her magic will be cut off. When she meets Ysbete and Ianthe Lavan, her future begins to look differently than she could have ever imagined, until she learns the truth about her bargaining season (like...her debut as a young woman of of age to marry) and how desperately her family need her to make a good match in order to ensure their future. 

If Beatrice marries, she loses her magic. If she doesn't, she could lose everything else. 

I wanted to like this book. It checked so many boxes for me, but it took me FOREVER to read and finish this title. I struggled to find anything that I really liked about the characters (especially Harriet-she was insufferable). The world-building at times was confusing and I wasn't always sure what was going on in the world or why people were allowed to get away with some of the things that they did. 

This book just wasn't really for me.

I liked the writing but I hated the romance and, considering that's the entire plot, I didn't like the story. I'm just not a fan if Insta-love. If that doesn't bother you and you're looking for a historical romance with some fantasy, then you might like this.

I absolutely fell in love with the characters and world woven into life by C.L. Polk! We follow Beatrice as she fights for her right to wield magic instead of being forced into gray oblivion all women are upon the act of marriage and the silver binding collars placed by their husbands.

A fine and fun book, with an interesting world, although the most compelling relationship was between the two female leads, and I was disappointed in the choice of romantic partner for the main character.

In a world where women must put on a dampening collar to reduce their magic when they get married, two girls dare to wish for freedom. Beatrice Clayborn must make a good match in order to restore her father's coffers during the annual bargaining season. Another young woman, Yselta Lavan, also wishes to pursue her own magic path, but she is rich and has no need of a fortuitous match. Alas, her brother, Ianthe, has fallen head over heels in love with Beatrice. Ianthe swears he will protect Beatrice and permit her to use her magic as long as she agrees to wear the collar while pregnant to protect a child from being spirit-possessed. The world building is quite well done, I especially appreciated that there were people of color involved. I will have to wait to see how the series develops; it was an intriguing start, but I do not see how it will proceed.

Beatrice wants to learn and practice magic. But in her patriarchal world only boys can learn magic and women need to wear a collar that prevents them from practicing.
There's something about this concept that intrigues and repulses. Perhaps it is just due to 2020, but I really struggled with the sexism in this book despite these concepts being based off societies from not that long ago with young girls needing to marry for certain family status and power.

The characters and world building were good, but not great, and could have been explored a little more. In summary, I recommend this for teens or those who enjoy a bit of YA fantasy.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another book set in the past were women has little to no rights. Sprinkle in some Naomi Novak writing and you have The Midnight Bargain. Didn't love this one but I could see how some would. I sped read this cause I  just didn't care for the character much. Not for me. 2/5 stars.

Young sorceresses in Chasland are highly sought after; however, it isn't their magical talent that entices potential marriage partners. It is their ability to pass down magical genes to their future offspring. In order for a sorceress to safely bear a child, she must wear a warding collar which cuts off all access to her magical talents from the day of her wedding until the day she can no longer bear children. Beatrice Clayborn is a talented sorceress who is desperate to escape the warding collar that comes with marriage and continue to access her magical abilities. Beatrice wants nothing more than to be absolutely free until she meets Ianthe Lavan, son of a very wealthy family, during bargaining season. How will Beatrice choose between her magic and the man who she loves?

This is a regency romance with some magic thrown in. Expect lots of manners, social customs, descriptions of outfits, and incredibly boring parties. Ultimately, readers of regency romances might enjoy this, but I did not.

In a world where marriage is the only option what can a woman who wants more do? 
And what happens when after making her decision to live a life chasing her dreams she meets someone that makes her realize that maybe...you don’t have to give up anything?! 

Great YA novel about a world that tried to keep women in their place and a friendship between two women who disagreed where a woman’s place should be.