I loved this book and its references to historical beliefs of nonbelievers when bargaining with the world of the fae. Every day, life became less complicated when a small bargain or two with the fae proved beneficial. Rowenna Miller does an excellent job of portraying how the fae were represented in older novels, none of the fae as your next nightmare. When larger "favors" are asked of the fae, the bargains that must be struck prove much more costly. The whole storyline flowed quickly and smoothly. You don't notice the tension building until you find yourself eagerly flipping the pages. I recommend to anyone who enjoys a story that pulls you into a fantasy world built side by side with everyday living.

I really wanted to enjoy this book because I have a weakness for fairytales. However, this book was very slow-paced. I also did not care for the characters. However, I did love the writing and thought it was very beautiful! Therefore, this novel could have been more enjoyable if it had relatable characters and a faster paced story! I still recommend this for fans of fairytales!

The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill sounded like a wonderful historical fantasy book. Instead, it was a very boring, predictable story that mentioned fae. The pacing and plot were not what I expected and I honestly don't even remember what I read. It may be for some, but it was not my cup of tea.

After their father’s death, sisters drift apart. Alaine into the family orchard, & Delphine into marriage w/ a businessman from the city. When Delphine’s new husband turns out to be not what she wanted, Alaine must decide what she is willing to bargain to save her sister.

This was such an interesting read! I loved the interweaving of the magic of the Fae into rural American folklore. And the complexity of the relationship between the two sisters was so fascinating and got explored in some impressive depth.

The other characters felt a bit flat, and while I understand that most everyone else was secondary to the sisters, I would have liked some more depth, especially to their mother. And I would have loved more in fairy land. We kept getting told how unworldly it was, but I wanted to feel it in my bones.

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for this arc.

Alaine and Delphine Canner were raised on Prospect Hill, where the fae are close by and willing to bargain. Their grandmother taught them the rhymes and charms that signify all the safe, predictable bargains in her repertoire. Alaine, who now runs the family orchard, handles all the little bargains that keep things running-- asking for rain or not, for help finding a lost item, or for the hens to lay more eggs. Those bargains can't help her with her biggest challenge, though. It seems that her father and grandfather took out a loan in the 1890s, and last year's drought means they've fallen behind on payments. As Alaine and her husband fret over their options, Delphine prepares herself for the wedding that will launch her into a different social stratosphere. Though Delphine loves the family farm, she's always felt an accessory where Alaine is necessary. Marrying into the wealthy Grafton family means leaving home for a town twenty miles hence and establishing herself as a lady of society in Perrysburg.

I know enough about myself to expect that a book about fairy bargains is going to make me nervous. As our two sisters' paths diverge and Alaine sees no way forward except to stray outside her Gran's rules for bargaining, my anxiety started to ratchet up, and it became a continual climb as she finds new reasons to push the envelope. At first, I found that series of events even more stressful than the story of how Delphine learns the hard way what it really means to be a society wife. Her freedoms are curtailed, her relationships managed, and her opinions squashed. Both stories deteriorate to the point that I was equally and egregiously stressed at all times. It was almost a relief to have the consequences of it all come to light with a third of the book left. It becomes time to jump into action and do something about the mess. Then we get to see Fae Court politics with a deeper dive into what makes them tick and what bargains mean to them. We enter their twisted world and learn all it takes to go up against it.

I love the historical detail in this book, which includes economic concerns like the labor movement and political ones like the suffrage movement (obviously intertwined and complex). The author avoids the obvious road in ways that I think give the story more texture. For example, our leading ladies have complicated feelings about suffrage and don't share the same thoughts. Delphine is shocked to discover that suffragists have anything more to say than talking about the vote, which not only speaks to how that movement ignored women's realities to focus on one issue as a cohesive message but also how specific women agitating at the grassroots level could be a different story rather than parroting the party line. I also appreciate that the book takes place in a sort of Midwestern backwater from a point of personal validation as well as an interest in something fresh. A lot of politicking and social nonsense happens just about anywhere, the local scale making it no less important for everyday lives. We see Alaine rise to the presidency in the local chapter of the Agricultural Society, which has a collectivist bent. We see the sisters seek out the intricacies of their legal rights when they need them most and discover how convoluted and messy it can be for women to claim those rights. We also see how much family matters in determining a woman's quality of life.

While I found this a stressful experience, I think this book has a lot of interesting things to say and makes for a carefully considered work of historical fantasy. For readers who enjoy that blend of social commentary and fantastical elements, this one's for you. And for women who want to see more stories where we resist and make space for ourselves against steep odds, it's for us, too. Thanks to Redhook for my copy to read and review!

Welcome to Prospect Hill! A small farm in America adjacent to the fold that allows the fae access to our world. Throughout the years, the family of Prospect Hill learned to make bargains with the Fae to get the things they need. One of the family members finds out her husband is not who she thought he was and used the fae to fanagle her way out of marriage. But in doing so did not realize that bargain involved bargaining away her own niece. She must travel to the world of the fae to try and get her back. This book was really not my cup of tea. I do enjoy a bit of magic in my books but this one did not catch my attention.
Id give this book a 2 out of 5

However, as two sisters bargain for more than they realize, the story drew me in and held me entranced until the ending. Lessons learned. Sacrifices acknowledged. A fairy tale for adults. Delightful for this reader.

This was an average read for me--it was cute and cozy but could have been so much more. I loved the concept of making bargains and the world now lacking in magic, but the pacing was way too slow for my liking.

Wow. This book was very different. The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill is a unique mix of historical fiction, fae fantasy, agriculture and feminism. The main characters, sisters Alaine and Delphine were great and I also enjoyed the supporting characters as well.

A bit predictable and slow; the story is about two sisters who are devoted to each other. The story is an odd meld of magic, agriculture, feminism and family devotion.

I am trash for faery stories, so The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill has been on my shortlist TBR for a while. I'm pleased to say that it didn't disappoint! The story focuses on two sisters with dual POV narratives, and I loved following each of the character's perspectives. I will say that parts of the book were darker than I was expecting, but I actually think it worked really well for the novel, as faery stories are often dark and thematically rich. That said, I would look up content warnings if you have triggers to consider. Overall, this was a dark and whimsical fairytale for adults and I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've always preferred fairie stories that are more about the riddles and games, bargains and mischief. This was a very enjoyable read, with the kinds of twists that I expect from a fairie story. The focus on sisterhood and women overcoming an unfair society was beautifully done. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who likes a little magical realism in their tales of the strength of sisterhood.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

"In the early 1900s, two sisters must navigate the magic and the dangers of the Fae in this enchanting and cozy historical fantasy about sisterhood and self-discovery."

This was pretty meh in my opinion... I love books about the Fae, and this had the idea...

The author's name suits this story so well, like "Rowenna" just fits perfect with the whimsicial magical association most of us have with fairy. I really enjoyed this tale especially the world building elements. Also the idea of fairy bargains are so intriguing!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

<i>”I thought if I just kept on, I’d eventually get somewhere. But if you choose the wrong path, you’re not going to end up where you wanted to go by charging ahead, are you? You have to stop and turn around sometimes, even if it’s not easy.” </i>

The women in The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill are tough and not easily put down. Thank goodness for that as they live in a time of extreme patriarchy and have to fight for every single small gain they get. The characters and premise that Rowena Miller gives us is brilliant.

Miller has a way with words that always captivated me early on. Sadly it didn’t hold throughout the novel. There is a lull about halfway through, about 75 pages, that felt too repetitive and boring. There didn’t seem to be a large need to show every single bargain made at that point. Thus, sadly when we got to the real fairy interactions portion of the novel it had lost its hold on me. I still enjoyed the last portion and the intricate bargaining with the fairies; but not near as much as I felt I should have.

Miller has not written a plethora of books. This is really only her second world (as her debut was a fantasy trilogy) so perhaps the refinement I desire will come in future stories. I would certainly read another novel by Miller, as I do think she has a true talent in writing. It just may be that a more stringent editor is needed to slice out those repetitive sections that do not serve to move the plot forward.

I really enjoyed the idea behind this, as someone who reads romantic fantasy. But something about it fell flat. I was not as invested as I wanted to be. I can see why others enjoyed it though.

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The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill had so much potential but for me ultimately missed the mark. This one is set in the early 1900’s and follows two sisters, one who marries out of her country home into the city to a husband who turns into someone she didn’t expect. The other is managing and thriving their family farm but also quickly falling into the power and lure of Fairy Bargains - for nearly everything.

If you’re looking for a slow paced fantasy with a slow build up of dread this could be a great pick for you. It’s a slow build. We see Delphine move away from her home and quickly realize that the marriage she hoped for is not the one she expected - and knowing how that will end adds to the dread. Meanwhile Alaine is back at home and we see her spiral deeper and deeper into Fairy Bargains, leaving trinkets and requests for the Fae that reside on the hill. The path of the story seems pretty obvious based on the two actions of the sisters, and it does indeed go where you’re worried it will.

The last third of this one is where I was truly lost. I really did love the slow pace and interesting dynamic and juxtaposition between the two sister’s stories. Unfortunately after the 3/4ths mark the story became intensely predictable. A bad choice, a bad bargain and something hinted at occurs. The story goes to another location and it felt… disappointing. Not to mention the way the chapters kept both PoVs and moved between them within paragraphs caused for a jarring reading experience.

Sadly this one just didn’t quite work for me. With a letdown of an ending and predictable twist I was left unhappy. The first half did have me! But after that I was lost and unhappy with the path of the story. If you don’t mind a bit of a predictable story with a slow, early 1900s feel - this could be a real good pick for you! Otherwise maybe a skip.

A unique and charming story! Recommended for those who like to live outside reality and love to believe in a little magic.

📖The Details:
The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill
By Rowenna Miller

⏱️Quick Summary:
Alaina & Delphine are two sisters who grew up in the 1900s on a farm in Prospect Hill learning from their mother and grandmother about making bargains with the Fae. They have always followed the rules, but lately Alaina goes beyond the typical bargains to help her the farm, her family, and her sister - which can be very dangerous.

💁🏻‍♀️My Take:
I don’t typically read this type of book - fantasy or historical - but I really loved this one. It did take me a little to get into it - there was a lot of scene setting - but it all paid off. Parts of it felt a little over explained - especially when it came to the rules of the Fae - but I was so caught up in the magic that it all still worked. It was charming and captivating and the characters were so well developed. There was a bit of feminism and environmentalism thrown in as well! A journey for sure!

👍Big Recommend!

Interesting story of two sisters and the fairy bargain that was made to attain their family farm. This was a pretty slow read and I struggled a bit to finish