Thank you Netgalley for this ARC but unfortunately I did not finish the book. I was not invested in the beginning of the book so I stopped reading.

I finished The Midnight Bargain within half a day. I pretty much went in blind. The book had been on my Netgalley shelf since the end of summer and though I did check out its page before starting, I was still clueless. Imagine my surprise when the setting was quite like the Regency-era of Bridgerton! This makes it easy to imagine the world. Besides that, however, I’m a little bit disappointed. I can’t exactly put my finger on the “why”, though. It’s this huge new fantasy world with different countries, languages, and cultures; which is great! Some elements were developed really well, while others lacked a bit.

The Midnight Bargain has a small cast of interesting characters. Beatrice and Ysbeta are interesting characters. They’re both after the same thing for reasons that are both very similar and very different. I liked their dynamic because of it. I simply adore Ianthe. He’s such a gentleman! He’s a great brother and love interest. As for Beatrice’s sister Harriet; what a delight! For the most part, she’s such a joyful, caring little sister and she brought some light and happiness to the cast of serious characters.

Like I mentioned before, The Midnight Bargain reminded me a lot of Bridgerton and that’s probably why I liked it so much. Other than that, though… The more I think of it, the less I actually like the book. The pacing was really slow – if there was any at all. For the most part of the book, nothing actually happens. It’s probably because of this fact that the ending felt utterly rushed. The end left me sort of satisfied, as well as wanting more.

With a title such as The Midnight Bargain, I hoped for a dark, magical fantasy. Unfortunately, it didn’t really deliver. Which probably has more to do with my expectations than the book itself. As for the magic – or lack thereof – I’m not impressed. That goes for the romance as well. Don’t tell me I’ll be reading this romantic fantasy with sorcery when there’s barely any magic and the romance falls flat. As I was reading the book, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I really did! But looking back, it just lacks the things I really love in books, which is a shame.

Reviewing The Midnight Bargain was difficult. I like it enough to say I’ve genuinely enjoyed it, but at the same time I’m just very unimpressed. The setting was great and the characters interesting to read about. Unfortunately, it lacked when it comes to the plot and the “romantic fantasy” we were promised.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
A intriguing and fascinating story full of witchcraft and romance. The reader is drawn in from the very first page. An cast of interesting characters with plenty of action and drama.
A good read.

This was a surprising book. I am a huge fan of historical romance, so to see it taken in this way, twisted into a fantasy with a fascinating form of magic, and a diverse set of characters to boot---I absolutely adored it. Can't wait to read more from CL Polk.

If you're looking for a complex fantasy that feels historical, and deals with the social consequences of society on magic practitioners, this certainly hits the mark. There's a lot going on, from romance to social expectations to experimenting with serious magic, and it ties together really well. There's also a very lovable spirit who just wants to go running on the beach at night, which I think is something that many readers can understand and relate to.

The Midnight Bargain manages to capture the tone of historical fiction while being set in a completely different world to our own. The society events, the gossip, the patriarchy was all there, but the way magic was woven into to the fundamentals of society meant that this pseudohistorical setting worked strongly as a fantasy world that retained that vivid feeling that historical fantasy has. Normally I hesitate when a fantasy has the same prejudices that our own world has, unless they're done well and in a way that breaks down those behaviours. TMB achieves this really well regarding patriarchy, deconstructing why women are stopped from accessing their magic in the eventuality of a child. The conflict between wanting family and magic is also something that occurs throughout, and though the resolution to this was perhaps a little binary, I still though it was interesting and effective to see in fantasy.

The main characters and the journey they take was also very compelling: Beatrice had to come to terms with her desire to practice magic versus her desire to marry Ianthe, and Ysbeta wanting to reject all of society's expectations to practice magic. They're both very different in terms of upbringing and even personality, but their driving force is the same, and they're both very strong narrative leads. Ysbeta was headstrong and rather reckless, but her ambitions and fears rang so true that it was impossible to fault her for what she was trying to avoid. Beatrice was a slightly different case, as her feelings and desires were not quite so defined. There was a certain amount of hesitation that did slow things down, because the motives for some decisions weren't quite so clear or were in contradiction with her other actions, but in general, she was a well-rounded main character. The characters really drove the story, because it was quite a personal plot in terms of why it was happening, so they truly had their time to shine.

I ultimately enjoyed The Midnight Bargain, and thought it was really good as an exploration of magic in a pseudohistorical setting and the societal consequences that would have. It wasn't perfect, and could have easily been a duology to have time for plot points to develop and the world to be explored in depth, but it still worked well as a standalone, and I would highly recommend it to those who want a more mature and analytical book about more than just magic and proof, with an innovative setting.

This review can be found on my blog and my Goodreads. Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

** Many thanks to the author, C.L. Polk, and publisher Erewhon Books for providing a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. **

C.L. Polk's recent fantasy-romance release, The Midnight Bargain, is a charming tale of magic, politics, and spirits delivered in a beautifully written package. Beatrice Clayborn makes her debut into proper society in quest for a suitor against her will. As her father's final investment and last hope, her actions will make or break their family. Amidst this intense pressure Beatrice still yet cultivates her magic in secret, hoping against hope for a life unchained. She's on the hunt for grimoires - books enchanted with a hidden code that divulge secrets of the men's tight-lipped world of magic - when she happens upon Ysbeta and Ianthe in a bookstore. What begins as a tense face-off blossoms into an unexpected friendship as they dabble in dangerous business capable of either unleashing their power or destroying them in the process.

Beatrice is a bold heroine of humble origin. Readers can easily sympathize with her yearning for a world unreined, where she can achieve her full potential. The world that's been crafted is terribly unfair to women, locking them into unhealthy relationships, using them as bargaining chips, and weakening if not snuffing out their power completely, citing fear of spiritborne children. It was a bit unclear how infertile women fit into this structure where women are either thornback rebel mages or placid, restrained mothers. (It didn't seem like there was much middle ground..) But glossing over that it's clear the position we're meant to take as readers. Ianthe, Beatrice's father, and in fact every male character we're presented with is either actively campaigning to maintain this system or passively complicit. Those who are reasonable and open to conversation are potential catalysts for change but even they are difficult to convince. And of course as we know societies themselves are slow to change. On whole it's an unenviable position, and one unfortunately still present some places in the world today.

Moving on to other elements, the spirit mechanism in the book was quite exciting. We only got to hear of a few spirits unfortunately, though, and only really got to know one more fully. It would have been nice to get a richer picture of the breadth of spirits and their capabilities. Similarly the men's mage chapterhouses were fascinating but glossed over a bit, presumably since we follow Beatrice who's a female and outsider. Ianthe's membership, however, and other events could have presented an opportunity by which to lift the veil a bit and add meaningful complexity to their business.

Overall this was a neat fantasy. Themes on breaking the shackles of patriarchy were a bit heavy handed but execution of the story on whole was well done and read easily. The romance element and various entanglements were also fun to read. This would be entertaining for any YA fantasy fans, or anyone who wants a dash of old time courtship with their magic.

I wasn’t sure about this book at first, but I’m glad I stuck it out!

Beatrice is a woman in a society that only values her as a wife and mother. Only men are allowed to become full sorcerers, a fate Beatrice has dreamed of since she was a young girl. She is determined to make that dream a reality, both for herself, and so that she can aid her family in rebuilding their fortune. However, once she meets Ianthe, Beatrice begins to fall in love. Now she must choose between the magic she has dreamed of, or the man she never knew she could desire.

The strongest point of this book for me was the setting. I loved the historical/romance aspect of it mixed with magic. It was really enchanting, and the way the scenery was described made me feel so relaxed. It was a world I wanted to reach out and experience for myself, from the cherry blossom trees, to the lavish carriage rides (minus all the misogyny).

I didn’t really feel strongly one way or another about Beatrice. I admired her desire to rebel against the patriarchy, and was with her right up until the end. Once again, it all worked out fine, but that one decision she made just didn’t make sense to me (you’ll get what I mean if you read it). Ianthe was nice enough, but I wasn’t swooning over him. The star of the show for me was really Ysbeta. She was SO strong and I loved how much she challenged the views of the society, even more so in my opinion than Beatrice. Not only did she want to be a sorceress, but she had no desire to be a wife or mother. Everyone else was either irritating (I’m looking at you Harriet), or I downright hated. Also, the spirit Nadi gets pretty funny at times.

My biggest complaint was that I was confused in a lot of places. If the magic system had been better explained early on, I would have been able to focus on the story instead of trying to decode what everything meant. I also had trouble keeping track of the scenery because there would be abrupt shifts (literally one line is in the house, and the next a character is all the way across town). However, I wonder if the final version will include some mid-chapter breaks to indicate that change.

Overall, this was a pretty entertaining read. The concept/main themes may not have been new, but I enjoyed the way the story was told.

Rating: 3.5/5
Pacing: medium
Intended audience: YA
Content warnings: forced marriages, mention of miscarriages

Absolutely loved this book. Victorian social season with demon summoning, a lot of awesome feminist takes and a really likeable love interest.

I did enjoy this book. It was an interesting spin on the age old issue of career vs family. I liked the way the author dealt with it and the opinions these girls had! And the fact that they were both fairly well off women who still would rather keep their passions was fun, because we don’t see that too often in stories!
Overall it was enjoyable. The romance was good, the friendship was better, but the ending did feel a bit rushed!

I somehow wasn't expecting this book to be as cute as it was. I thought it might be darker. The spirits were purported as dangerous but came across as more prankster-ish, but I'm not complaining! Will definitely recommend.

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