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

Beatrice Clayborn lives in a society where women are banned from practising magic. (Patriarchal much !!!!) They are literally forced to wear collars to diminish their magic, could this book be any more male society bullshit. Beatrice wants to fight for her rights (yes bitch!!! I am rooting for you) her independence and she has a partner a friend to support her Ysbeta.

"You are going to upset everything. Beatrice. You aim to turn the world upside-down" "I mean to do exactly that, Father. If that means you cannot accept me as your daughter any more -"

Then there is Ianthe, he is the MAN, let me tell you he is the person who supports Beatrice, tries to understand her, and be with her even it will mean that he will sacrifice his family over some patriarchal bull shit. (Though I don't think men like him exist)

"I fight what she fights. Too many gentlemen believe that sorceresses are happy to deny their full potential. There must be other men who support freedom"

The world was beautiful, with gowns, carriage, flowers, parties, card games, bargaining season reminded me of Jane Austen classics.

"That's enough. I am tired of you parroting out the plots of all your lace-ruffle novels as if they paint a real picture of bargaining season. I am not a prize for a raft of gentlemen contesting among themselves to win me, and I will not manipulate anyone into competing for my hand"

What I didn't like about this book was that this book's writing style didn't suit a lot of those internal dialogues made this extremely enjoyable plotline quite boring. Also the ending I mean, everyone made peace in a single chapter in a single page, what happened to what the society will say and what about your belief systems. How can these things evaporate in a minute?

"So the device women have to wear for the safety of their children is an instrument of punishment to men in the chapterhouse. I could spend a very long time getting angry while thinking about that."

Overall, I enjoyed the plot a woman fighting for her right to choose, be independent. I loved how the points Beatrice makes throughout the book had a mirror impact of the sexism and misogyny present in the real world. I enjoyed the pace of the book (except maybe in end) I enjoyed a few characters they were written so wonderfully, some not so much. I didn't enjoy the ending, it felt as if the ending was written in a form to place a nice little bow on the perfect gift wrap. It just felt too perfect and forced

Set in an alternate Victorian universe, The Midnight Bargain explores the Victorian gender roles using magic as the rights and privileges women must sacrifice for their husbands. In this world, both women and men have the ability to perform magic. When a woman comes of age she is courted and forced into an arranged marriage where her husband places a collar on her neck that blocks her magic. She must wear this collar especially when she is pregnant to avoid attracting spirits into her unborn child. All magical rights are given over to the husband. In this story, two young debutantes and aspiring sorceresses team up to find a way to avoid marriage and instead choose a life of magic, grimoires, and freedom. 

This was an action packed read about bewitching feminism and forbidden magic. The neo-victorian world that the author created was detailed and descriptive without being confusing or convuluted. There are many important points and lessons the story offers about disenfranchised women, social norms, individuality, and choice. I really appreciated the fantastical interpretation of women's rights which many readers will resonate with.

There is plenty of magic found in this book from grimoires and spells to rituals and invocations. Action, adventure, mystery, and mayhem are plentiful in the story along with romance, conniving characters, and surrepitious spirits.

The Midnight Bargain is a spellbinding neo-victorian fantasy about the magical rights of women and the brave individuals who will stop at nothing for their emancipation, navigating a harsh world of business transactions, social contracts, and forbidden magic.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Midnight Bargain was a roller coaster for me. It started off okay-ish but then the pace would just go up and down throughout the book. It wasn't steady enough for me so I will admit that I got bored in a few chapters.

Then there's the romance. Eh, it was okay. I mean, Beatrice was no Elizabeth Bennet.. but she also wasn't blind to Ianthe's feelings towards her. Heck, they even said special words to one another at a certain point. They were okay to me and nothing really felt forced to me but I wasn't here for the love.

Well, unless we are talking about the magical world that is. Honestly, this word was pretty intriguing. I just wanted to know everything about the magic but was left a bit disappointed. It just felt like this book was focusing on things that weren't deemed important to me. For example, the drama.. ugh. Then the ending/epilogue was pretty cute but I'm not sure how I truly feel about this one.

It had potential to be a great love though.

The Midnight Bargain's insides are as beautiful as its cover! Ingenious world building kept me gripped without feeling overloaded, while the pacing started gentle and quickly built into a masterful fantasy tale.

The characters are brilliant, three dimensional people with complex motivations. The friendship between the main characters was so beautifully written that I wanted to befriend them both myself.

My heart was in my mouth for most of the last quarter of the book as the story built to an incredible conclusion. I was disappointed to have it end, but feel so pleased to have read it!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This review has been posted to Goodreads and will be submitted to Amazon after release.

I'd previously read another of C.L. Polk's books (Witchmark, the first in her Kingston cycle of books), with some reservations about the strength of the characterisation and its treatment of class, so I suspect I was never going to be 100% sold on The Midnight Bargain unless those two issues were dealt with better here.

The basic premise of the book is that it's set in a country where both men and women can do magic but only men are allowed to study it to a high level and women with similar powers are admired only as breeding stock. To support this, women with inherent magical abilities are locked into warding collars from marriage to menopause, to protect their children from being possessed by a spirit in utero. It's revealed partway through the book that the majority of women who undergo this have no idea what it's like until it's too late - their particular society is massively patriarchal (think Victorian laws around women owning property) and therefore self-perpetuating.

Enter our female protagonist, Beatrice, who unbeknown to anyone has already acquired magical knowledge she's not supposed to have and is on the marriage market this year only because her family are drowning in debt. A good marriage is the only way to save them, even though this is the last thing in the world Beatrice wants - she wants to become a sorcerer, even though there is no opportunity to do this, not lose her magic till she's past child-bearing age. Early on, Beatrice falls in with a brother and sister, only to discover the sister is in a similar boat to her and they form an alliance, promising to help each other learn more about magic and discover if they can both avoid marriage and the loss of their powers.

So far, so good, if a little heavy-handed in terms of the allegories about bodily autonomy. Where it goes awry for me a little is again in characterisation - in this case, Beatrice falling madly in love with her new bestie's brother after one conversation and said brother's lack of 3-dimensionality. Ianthe, for that's said love interest's name, is everything the plot requires him to be: sensitive and thoughtful, willing to turn a blind eye (or assist) in whatever Beatrice and his sister are getting up to, and pretty to boot. It's your classic YA-instalust situation, with Beatrice thinking 'well, maybe losing my magic part-time wouldn't be so bad, if I'm shagging this hottie!' and wavering all over the place.

As a standalone novel, the author also falls into the trap of wanting everything to tie up neatly - the heroes get what they want, wrongdoers are punished, there are plans afoot to turn the world upside down after Beatrice figures out how to have their cake and eat it. It's a little like eating too much cake, to be honest, as the experience goes from sweet to slightly sickening in a matter of moments and I'm not sure I liked it all that much as a result.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I was enchanted by this story from the very beginning! I cheered for Beatrice throughout the entire story and couldn't wait to see how it ended. I loved her strength and courage to stand up for her freedom and wouldn't let anything get in the way.

This book had the perfect balance of magic, romance and suspense to keep you wanting more!

C.L. Polk's fantasy novel The Midnight Bargain is a prescient take on women's autonomy and strength. In this Regency-esque alternate world, our heroine Beatrice is expected to fall in line and marry an eligible bachelor to secure a fortune that will salvage her father's failed business ventures. However, she is a skilled sorceress (a quality many women in her world possess), but all married women are forced to surrender their magic upon marriage to prevent the magic from corrupting a pregnancy. She is resolved never to marry until she meets the handsome Ianthe Lavan and his passionate sister Ysbeta. It turns out that the similarly-gifted Ysbeta shares Beatrice's fear of losing her magic to matrimony, and the two strike a deal to secretly improve their skills and become Mages in defiance of their patriarchal society. Yet Beatrice can't help but fall for Ianthe, who respects her talents and listens to her fiery opinions, leading her to question what choice she should make.

This is a feminist tale that fantasy readers will enjoy, along with those looking for all the dreaminess of a Regency-era love story but with more resistance to the stereotypical societal pressures. I was not captivated by the novel, but I appreciated it and its firm stance on female agency. The magic systems were sometimes confusing (along with my personal pet peeve of lots of fantastical names that I don't know how to pronounce).

[3/5: A fun fantasy where a lead gets the man and to follow her dreams. Felt more YA than adult lit, so would likely appeal to both.]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was, to be honest, a little disappointing. The first of Polk's Kingston trilogy was one of my favourite reads the year it came out, so I was expecting more. It's a pleasant read, but I found the rather obvious "women's power over their own bodies" metaphor rather heavy-handed and the romance unconvincing.

Beatrice’s empowering need to do something for independence and for the women of magic shines through C.L. Polk’s novel, The Midnight Bargain.

Beatrice Clayborn is a sorceress trying to discover how she can become a full-fledged Magus by practicing in secret. When she discovers a grimoire at a bookstore one day, she bumps into Ysbeta Lavan who is also after the same grimoire, alongside her brother Ianthe Lavan. Ysbeta takes the grimoire leaving Beatrice to strike up a deal with a spirit as long as she kisses the handsome, kind, and amazingly wealthy, Ianthe. Would she decide to risk becoming a powerful Magus for a kiss to seal the deal?

I gave The Midnight Bargain five stars, absolutely loving the magic and lessons behind the story. Beatrice was a really strong character to read and through her point of view we read the difficulties it was to be a women who wanted to become independent and become something in the world. Beatrice showed that women don’t need men to fuel their ambition.

The message behind Beatrice’s actions when having to strike up the deal and work with both Ysbeta and Ianthe were something that was very meaningful throughout the story and I really enjoyed the way they became friends and held each other closely throughout this book.

I loved the way Beatrice and Ianthe had an immediate connection with each other and that both of them worked hard to show each other that they were important in each other’s lives but also showing each other that they can equally have each other out of their lives. They romance in this book in this book developed strong and they were both understanding toward each other. For me, Ianthe didn’t take Beatrice’s magic and determination for granted, he stood by her side and believed in her and how she was a strong sorceress.

This was an absolutely fantastic read and I loved the character growth of Beatrice as she developed and improved her magic more. She fought for herself and was dedicating her time to solve the grimoire and become a powerful Magus to solve her toughest questions.

This was a fantastic read that I really enjoyed unexpectedly. I grew to really enjoy the plot and the magic that was pretty well developed throughout the story made me interested in continuing to read this.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review

The Midnight Bargain is *exactly* my type of book. Regency romance, ladies fighting for their rights, and witchcraft all rolled into one beautiful novel that sparked my soul again and again with every deepening friendship, every injustice, every bold action that could result in freedom or despair. It’s like Glamourist Histories meets Handmaid’s Tale, with more than a few nods to Revolutionary Girl Utena. My two favorite genres are clever period romance and feminist fantasy, and I honestly can’t imagine a better story to unite them as equals. I made the mistake of starting it when I only had 15 minutes free and then was irrationally angry for hours until I could pick it back up again, at which point I stayed up all night to finish it.

I loved Beatrice from the very first page. I think it’s sometimes a dirty trick to introduce a character we’re meant to like by showing them searching for books in a bookstore, because everyone who reads it is going to be like “mmm, girl I KNOW,” but the problems that led her there and the additional conflict that occurs there caught me up in her dilemmas and I was hooked. I don’t want to give away too much of the story, but Beatrice is the heroine of both a romance and a revolution, and while those conflicts are often at odds, the genres aren’t. There are so many stories out there where one or the other feels tacked on, but the writing in The Midnight Bargain is so excellent, the two in tandem feel not only natural but necessary.

It looks like the pub date is still three months away, but I can’t wait to buy a copy for myself. And, let’s be honest, probably for several of my friends too. I would devour an entire series of this, but will remain content with this perfect morsel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc*

DNF *4o%*

I'm sorry but this in not my cup of tea. The plot has been so interesting and appealing and what I've found it was quite boring starting from the beginning.. I'm afraid I've read too many books with a sort of insta-love to be a fan of it, and the fact that the stories begins with no real introduction in the setting upsetted me a lot.
Maybe I haven't found the right connection with the author's writing style.

This book was a quick and entertaining read. It touched on the topics of magic, feminism, friendship, loyalty to one's family, and romance. Character development is one of this book's major strengths. The main character, Beatrice, has a unique, well-defined personality and voice. Even when Beatrice makes decisions that the reader might not agree with, she has rational reasons for everything that she does. She is intelligent and charming, which makes it easy for the reader to root for her. Additionally, I was also happily surprised by how focused this character was on women's rights. This topic becomes a driving catalyst for major plot points in the book. In summation, I really enjoyed Beatrice's adventure and would happily pick up the second one if the author decides to write a sequel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy.

Beatrice enchanted me from the very first sentence. I could not put this book down!

Beatrice knows what she wants: a life as a single woman practicing magic. In Chasland, a woman sorceress has to put on a collar that takes away her magic the day she marries. And since her abilities are strong, she’s sought after as a wife. Beatrice is determined to find the magic she needs to determine her own destiny.

Beatrice is seeking a book with the instructions she needs when she runs into Ysbeta and Ianthe. Ysbeta’s family is seeking a husband for her as well, and Beatrice and she form an uneasy alliance when they agree to share the book both wanted for themselves.

But Beatrice’s father has spent every penny he has and then some on helping Beatrice land a rich husband. And Beatrice didn’t expect her heart to leap every time she laid eyes on wealthy, handsome Ianthe, who’s falling for her as well. Beatrice faces an impossible choice between love and magic.

All of the characters were captivating and leapt off the page, especially headstrong Beatrice, who would risk everything for freedom in a world where women had none. I had to keep reading to see if Beatrice would find a way to make the life she wanted.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely enjoyed reading this book especially because it involves magic and feminism.although it is 400 pages i flew quickly threw this book and could not wait to see what would happen next!

Story is set in Regency England where women’s magic is taken from them when they marry.
Beatrice Clayborn is a sorceress who dreams of becoming a full-fledged Magus and practices magic in secret. Her family is in severe debt, and only she can save them, by securing an advantageous match before their creditors come calling.

I've enjoyed this romantic fantasy.

I was given a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I can honestly describe this book as fun. It has all the traits of a great regency romance but with magic. I really thought the author did an excellent job at weaving the magic system into a discussion about women’s body autonomy. I also thought the romance was very sweet.

The only problems I had with the book was that I didn’t get fully invested into the story until chapter 8. Another issue I had was I felt that some parts needed more dialogue tags.

Overall I loved this book so much and I will be picking up a finished copy when it officially is released.

The premise is reasonably good and the writing is a step or two above palatable, but points off for the easy 100 or so pages of waffling and indecision from the ingenue.

A secondary-world fantasy that is strongly Regency-romance-adjacent, and has (for me) the best parts of Regency romance.

It's all too easy, I suspect, to write a Regency romance about silly, vain women and stern, harsh men without confronting key truths about the era. Namely, that women of the upper and upper-middle classes were prevented by their society from doing anything productive or learning any useful skills, that they were <i>supposed</i> to be silly and vain, and that their economic security hinged terrifyingly on marriage to a (probably) stern, harsh man who would quite likely keep getting them pregnant until they died of it.

Those facts are very much present in this book, which also adds a fantasy layer that brings them out more sharply. In this setting, several different kinds of magic exist, including "high magic," which involves summoning and binding spirits. These spirits are capricious and hard to control, and love to experience the physical world via their hosts; if a pregnant woman has one, it will embody itself in the child, taking over from the human soul. So married women are bound with collars that prevent them from accessing magic throughout their fertile years.

The two main female characters of the book find this horrifying, and one of them is (in present-day terms) asexual or something like it as well; she wants to avoid marrying completely, and pursue magic instead. The other, the main protagonist and viewpoint character, also deeply desires magic, but she is in love, and struggles to choose between what seem like two incompatible goods. The object of her affections is a man who isn't stern and harsh, but empathetic and supportive; despite this, he still doesn't really get what the women are on about for a long time, a touch of realism that I appreciated.

The whole is well handled, with a motivated protagonist in a dynamic situation from the start, a powerful and seemingly insoluble dilemma, strong secondary characters both supporting and antagonistic, courageous and determined action from the main character, and a rich setting. The only criticism I really have is that I didn't see enough evidence of magic's impact on society in ways that didn't relate directly to the plot.

Highly recommended if you enjoy Regency romance with a feminist slant that still has room for positive portrayals of men, and adds in a magical dimension that contributes greatly to both plot and theme.

I received a review copy via Netgalley.

A good book, very light read, as I didn’t feel strongly connected to the characters. The world building was very confusing at first but with time I got used to it.

*I received this as an ARC ebook from Netgalley*

So the description of this story caught my eye on Netgalley and I'm glad to have gotten a copy. It was a little hard to get into at first but once it gets going, it's hard to put down. I don't even know what to compare this too, it's such an original story. I don't want to give too much away but I could absolutely see two more spin offs of this. I'd love to know what the trio (and their spirits) get up to in their search for the mother sorceress solution, especially if they do a little pirating on the way! I'd also love to know more about the secret society of women who maintain their magic, especially how they started and how they keep it all a secret. This is a great read for readers who like magical fantasy, strong female/feminist characters and a little bit of period revisionism.