For me this one just was really for me I guess. I thought that the high seas adventure was going to be amazing but I just felt bored.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and it exceeded all my expectations! The Wicked Bargain was kind of like Pirates of the Caribbean except way more queer. One of my favorite things about this book was how unimportant gender identity/sexuality was in this book. The characters were just being themselves, no questions asked, which I loved. Sometimes in queer YA, there's a habit of having a lot of angst around one's sexuality and though I do enjoy those stories as well, I also really like when queerness is treated as no big deal. Therefore, the drama has to come from somewhere else... and boy was there lots of drama in this book! Botched bargains, el Diablos, demonios, Spaniards, magia, and, of course, lots of pirates! The Wicked Bargain had me in a chokehold from the very beginning. Also, don't even get me started on Mar and Bas, love them both with my whole heart!

4.25/5 ⭐️

“Man may not be quiet right, but it’s not entirely wrong, and certainly nowhere near as wrong a woman. Boy feels better, good even, though it’s not completely right, either.”

The Wicked Bargain is the first book that I’ve felt has represented my relationship with gender. It’s like the author read my mind. I’ve described by gender in the exact way the quote above does many times! While I’ve read many amazing books with non-binary main characters, this is the first one that has anything beyond an androgynous presenting character. There was also a genderfluid character in this book, meaning it’s hits two of the vast, diverse identities under the non-binary umbrella.

The aspect I enjoyed, and wasn’t expecting (to be honest I didn’t read beyond trans masculine non-binary before hitting and to tbr) was the setting. This takes place in the 1800’s in the Caribbean. The main characters are fighting against Spanish colonialists while also fighting the devil! The prose in this book absolutely paints a picture of the setting as well, and I felt like I was there the whole time. The way the main character uses their magic is also explained really visually and thoughtfully. Another thing it handled perfectly was the process of grief, and shows how it comes and goes in waves. Along with a wholesome romance, there is something for everyone.

My main criticism was the pacing. There was a part where very little plot movement was happening. It started fast, and then immediately slows down for a large portion. However, the second half was action packed.

The Wicked Bargain is a swash buckling pirate adventure with magic and a dash of romance thrown in. A fairly quick read, with good world building and an interesting plot!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review

[3.5] i know i am not the target audience (YA is not my standard fare by a long shot), but a transmasc nonbinary latinx pirate possessing magia PLUS that gorgeous cover? i couldn't resist requesting this literal pirates of the caribbean story.

my favorite aspect of the book: Mar is the perfect vehicle for proper lgbtqia+ representation. i love that in this world, no one bats an eye at people's gender identity or sexuality. Mar still has to confront their feelings of body dysmorphia, but it's depicted in a sensitive manner that i believe any reader in a similar boat can relate to and feel seen. this is coupled with their arduous process of coming to terms with their magia as a power for good and not evil during their quest to save the people they love.

the story is very much plot-driven - some developments a bit cliché at times and the grand finale predictable, but one that i imagine a younger me would have had fun with. my biggest niggle comes with the dialogue. occasionally stilted, it made getting a nuanced feel for the characters beyond a broad overview challenging, such as the love interest Bas. he's a supportive, happy-go-lucky guy with a talent for maps but that's everything i could glean from the text. i think i was hoping for him amongst other characters to have been fleshed out more. but that being said, i'm also a sucker for found family and unlikely allies, so it was most exciting for me to find that both featured prominently. those tropes truly reign supreme!

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of the book - this is my honest review :)</i>

I could not move through with the story. I read a couple of chapters but for some reason I didn't feel like I could continue reading

This book was perfect for coping with the OFMD brain rot. I loved reading about a found family of so many queer pirates of color, and the transmasculine nonbinary representation was great. I'm wondering if there's going to be a sequel at some point? I hope so, because there's still so much more in this world that could be explored.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

The Wicked Bargain follows nonbinary teen Mar as their father’s deal with El Diablo comes due. When Mar is the only person from their pirate crew to survive, they must choose whether to try to use their secret magic to fight El Diablo, or else give up their soul or never see their father again.

The Wicked Bargain offers a fun, fresh, pirate- and magic-filled adventure that I absolutely could not put down. It was easy to love Mar, and to root for them as they struggled to reconcile not only with their magic, but with their identity and future.

In some ways, I do wish this book offered more — perhaps more quiet moments with our characters, more of an explanation of Mar’s magic, more atmosphere, more pirate history. But none of that detracted from my overall enjoyment of this riveting and joyous read. I can’t wait to pick up another Gabe Cole Novoa book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an e arc of this book.

When Mar finds out the story their father always told about a deal with the devil is true, they also lose their whole crew in one night. Stranded with another pirate crew, Mar has to hide their magic and try to save their father's soul.

This book was so good! I love Mar so much and also love Seb! The piratey parts of the story are so much fun and the cover is gorgeous.

I did feel like this moved a little slow in places but overall loved it so much!

CW: death, fire, death of a parent, sexism

What an excellent and exciting story! The Wicked Bargain is the perfect pirate tale filled with magic, high stakes, wicked demons and life on the line adventure.

Mar is a wonderful MC that I really enjoyed following through this one. They have plenty of internal struggle with themselves but never lose sight of what's most important and what matters to the people they care about. I really liked Bas and Dami as additional characters and easily found myself rooting for them.

I love the nods of representation in this book and how natural it felt in the world. Mar being transmasc was just a part of who they are and it wasnt over used as a big plot point or distraction from the main plot which allowed Mar to have a really strong story and growth as a character.

I would have loved if this book was even longer, or maybe had a part two, so the ending could have gotten a little more detail to it but theres definitely room for a future adventure if the author ever felt inclined to do so. Overall this works great as a stand alone and was very enjoyable!

I really liked this book and had a hard time putting it down. Mar was an interesting character to read about and I liked their interaction with Bas and Dami. I loved their magia and wish we got to see more of it in action. I especially enjoyed reading about Mar sailing the seas as a crew member. I just sort of wish we got more of that. It felt like the majority of the book was Mar fighting their abilities. It sort of stalled the action. By the time they figure it all out the book is almost done and I was still left wanting more. This book was well written and overall a great read that I would recommend others check out.

I really enjoyed this one! I'm a sucker for pirate stories, so I knew this one would be a hit for me as soon as I saw the cover. I'm glad to say it didn't disappoint.

If I had to give a single complaint for this one, it would be that it wasn't long enough. I wanted more of the adorableness that was Bas and Mar. I wanted more of the pirate crews. I wanted more of Dami and their shenanigans. This easily could've been 500 pages and I would've been just as in love with it.

I would've been just in love with it because all of the characters were incredible. Bas and Mar had the cutest relationship. Bas was the perfect cocky pirate lad, and Mar was just sweet and endearing. Both of them shone in this, and I'd love to see more of them.

As for Dami, I loved them to! I love tricksy bargains, so I loved all of their scenes. Watching them scheme throughout was amazing, and the twist near the end had me gasping.

Everything about this book was tons of fun, so I'd definitely recommend it! It was the perfect romp through pirate-infested waters, filled with an adorable romance and plenty of dangerous bargains!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

In “The Wicked Bargain” by Gabe Cole Novoa, it is all about family, especially found family. It is rich with characters that are three dimensional and authentic. I loved how it sets up the character, gives us background on Mar, and sets up the dilemma. Mar is also presented authentically, presenting the body dysmorphia realistically and giving readers a nonbinary character to connect and empathize with. 

As I read the book, I found myself empathizing with Mar, loving Mar’s origins and the flashbacks that details Mar’s life with their father and family. But I also like how the author builds Mar’s new relationships after losing their father. The relationships are rich and complex as Mar tries to find a solution to their dilemma, how to save their father without falling into El Diablo’s trap. 

If you love diverse and authentic stories, especially with young adults characters, I highly recommend The Wicked Bargain. With the nonbinary characters, the theme of found family, and the rich worldbuilding, this novel is not to be missed. It offers a beautiful story with well thought out magic and the ending is beautiful.

This comes out on Tuesday and you should absolutely read it. I had so much fun with this one. Pirates, deals with the devil, shipwrecks and jailbreaks, and characters I adored. I absolutely loved Mar, Bas and Dami. A perfect middle grade/YA book. I was hooked from the start and all the exciting twists and turns of the story had me eager to keep reading. I loved reading about Mar finding themself and coming to understand and encompass their own power. And Dami is one of those characters I can't get enough of. Highly recommend!

The Wicked Bargain is the tale of Mar, a transmasculine and non-binary young pirate who has had their entire crew and family ripped away from them in a single night. A sinister creature known as El Diablo has called in a bargain made with their father for safety and legacy. When Mar somehow survives the night, they find themselves on a ship with a ragtag crew. Most annoying is Bas, who is arrogant and enjoys ordering Mar around. But when Mar is given a choice to bring their father back, they must use all the magia and alliances they possess to try and outwit El Diablo.

I couldn’t put The Wicked Bargain down! Gabe Cole Novoa has created an intricate world filled with dangerous magic, sky-high stakes, and lovable characters. I always want to read diverse, inclusive pirate stories and am thrilled to be seeing more of them. Mar is such an excellent character and I loved watching how they learned to trust themselves and how their control over their magia grew. Bas and Mar have a searing, slow-burn romance that you won’t be able to look away from. I loved the supporting cast as well, including Tito and Dami. Dami is a chaotic and mysterious gender-fluid demonio, who helps Mar learn to unleash their magia for good. I really appreciated how Novoa wove in so much beautiful Spanish. It was always clear what was being said if a direct translation wasn’t provided.

The Wicked Bargain is a book I would recommend to anyone, but especially readers who love diverse and LGBTQ+ reads. The Wicked Bargain is an adventurous, clever, and epic story that won’t soon be forgotten after the last page. I would highly recommend it! I can’t wait to see what Gabe Cole Novoa writes next! Readers who seek stories with queer love, pirate adventures, and found family, such as from stories like Our Flag Means Death, will love The Wicked Bargain.

The Wicked Bargain is available February 28, 2023. Thank you to Gabe Cole Novoa, Random House Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

This was fun! I enjoyed how unapologetically queer the universe was, and I liked the comradery among the crew. Stories that center on trans joy and acceptance are always special to me. The story also had a very snappy pace, so it was an enjoyable way to spend an evening. I appreciate that there is going to be another story in the world for LGBTQ young people, and I think they will really enjoy the pirate setting.

All I read before getting this ARC was:
- transmasc latinx MC
- fantasy
- pirates

Need I say anymore??

I loved the elements of magia in this story and the way that it ties into real history and beliefs on gender.

Mar is a wonderful MC and I loved how their identity was handled; the way gendered words didn't feel right, but some felt less wrong than others, and their struggle with binding their chest. As a nonbinary/transmasc person, I loved reading a book where one of the characters had similar feelings. Some parts of the story were harder to read because it was just too personal and I was honestly jealous over one of the deals Mar made with Dami.

Mar had a tremendous about of growth over the book with learning how to control and love their magia. Bas may have been arrogant at the beginning, but he came around and was a strong and loyal supporter of Mar.

There is nothing I would change about this book.

The Wicked Bargain is a whirlwind adventure that’s impossible to put down!

I legitimately could not tell you the last time that I had this much fun with a YA novel, but I can confidently say that this book is an immensely enjoyable read whether you’re a die-hard YA fan or not! Every chapter had me mentally telling myself ‘just one more,’ and the adventure and stakes were everything I wanted when I first saw the synopsis of this story! I also absolutely adored the casual queerness, and the fact that this was told in third-person pov! I feel like it’s hard to find stories with protagonists who use they/them (or any other pronouns outside of he/she) that are told outside of first-person, and it’s so much more satisfying when it’s front and center in the narrative!

I absolutely fell in love with Mar from the start, and the rest of the cast was no exception! I loved the found family they were able to have and I loved watching them grow and learn to trust Bas and the rest of the crew! Dami was also a highlight for me–I always love a morally gray, genderfluid character!

I wish this book was longer–I felt like everything was tied up well, and it was long enough, but I wasn’t quite ready to part with the characters yet! I think I could read about Mar and Bas and Dami endlessly without getting sick of them! I’m definitely going to be thinking about this book for a long time, that’s for sure!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

When I tell y'all this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023 from the moment author Gabe Cole Novoa announced it on his Twitter... I was so excited to get my hands on an ARC. I think there was keysmashing to my friends involved. And I'm so pleased to say it was worth the hype. This is a beautiful book full of needed representation, adventure, new ideas, and surprisingly soft relationships in a hard world of pirates and magic and violence.

Mar is a transmasculine nonbinary teenager born with the incredible ability to do fire and ice magic. For their first sixteen years, their life has been relatively great, until, on their birthday, El Diablo comes to collect. Because Mar's father made a deal sixteen years ago, and it's come due. The cost? Their father's life, and the lives of the entire crew. Mar is the only one to miraculously survive, rescued by the only pirate crew left in the Caribbean. But El Diablo is still after them, demanding their soul in exchange for their father's by the next harvest moon. Mar's only allies are Bas, the frustratingly cocky (and then frustratingly attractive) son of the new ship's captain, and Dami, an untrustworthy genderfluid demonio. If Mar can learn to channel their magic by the next full moon, then maybe they stand a chance of saving their father. If only they had the courage.

The Wicked Bargain was everything I hoped it was going to be going in. Found families of pirates where queerness just exists. While Mar does experience some angst over their identity since it is such a large part of who they are, it always comes back to a place of acceptance with those around them. The pirates don't question queerness - everyone just is. And all of that against a diverse Caribbean Latinx background is such a lovely thing to see. Novoa does such an amazing job writing Mar's body dysphoria over their nonbinary identity and how that gets so tied up in their anxiety over their magic. We see a world that is quicker to accept queerness than they are magic, and the implications seen in that regard are fascinating.
The setting itself is so lush and atmospheric, letting you fall into the story. You're never able to forget that, although this is a world where magic exists, it is also still a world where the Latinx are fighting for their freedom from the Spanish invaders.

I adored this story and I absolutely cannot wait to add it to my school shelves!

I really enjoyed THE WICKED BARGAIN and all it had to offer: A compelling story, inclusive representation (both cultural and queer!), and solid writing. Writing reviews for books I enjoy (but didn't overwhelmingly LOVE) is difficult, so bear with me, and this might be a little on the shorter side.

My dislikes of this title are that part of it felt familiar fantasy-ish worldbuilding with a more pirate-y flare. And that's not a bad thing. But I do read a lot and there is a point where I just crave something different and more, and there were parts of this that just didn't deliver for me. I'm not overly fond of elemental magic and the "wicked bargain" sort of storyline has become tiring for me.

Boil the story down and you've got a fairly standard YA fantasy (not a bad thing) but with much more inclusiveness (ever a good thing.) The writing was enjoyable enough to have me tearing through the pages and the characters intriguing enough for me to root for them.

So, while not a four- or five-star read, I still recommend this work, especially for those of queer orientation, who will get a genuine kick out of the acceptance (generally speaking) and badassery of this work. Looking forward to recommending this to teens in my library who I know will enjoy it.