The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill was a book I just couldn’t resist. And it was perfect for my mood when I was listening to it! While I wasn’t a fan of some of the voices done by the narrator, I really liked her narrative voice for the book in general. I thought it worked really well for this story!

This year has really gotten me to enjoy books with witchy vibes so if that’s something you like, for example after reading books like Weyward by Emilia Hart, then definitely give this one a go (and let me know what else I should be reading!). The involvement of nature and the fae was skillfully done in a way that had me craving more and more of their involvement as the book went on.

There were two female MCs that this book revolved around with a wide variety of supporting characters. As it often happens, I eventually grew to prefer one over the other, in this case because I felt one made more sense than the other as well as because I struggle to stay engaged with characters that are pushed along by the story rather than them pushing along the story themselves (the way my preferred character did here).

I do have to admit though that the situation she was in can sometimes cause people to take a more passive role in their lives so it’s not necessarily unrealistic. It’s just more difficult for me to stay engaged with them in a story. I felt that the issues in her relationship came out of nowhere and weren’t introduced very smoothly but if you look past that, the rest of that storyline was done well and realistically in that regard. I also liked that, eventually, she took the reins of her life back into her own hands and started taking a more active role.

Which brings me to something else that I really enjoyed about this book: the parallels between the two sisters’ storylines. Apart from the obvious relation and sharing a family, there always seemed to be something that connected them either in the way their feelings developed over something, the way they handled specific situations, or later in how their roles in their lives seemed to reverse with how active or passive they either chose or were forced to be.

While I did struggle a little with imagining the world of the fae, their involvement was still a fun aspect of the book that was slow to develop but took over more and more in importance. I liked how the bargains were just a small part at the start but turned into something so much bigger.

I said earlier that I preferred one sister over the other because of how much more of an active role she took on in her life. She was a badass from the start that took matters into her own hands when it came to women’s rights in her community and I was here for it! While I wasn’t always a fan of her justifications for certain decisions, it was nice to have a character that went for what she believed she deserved and fought for those she cared about.

Overall, this was a really fun book that I was happy to listen to and love to recommend since then. I’m eager to take a look at the author’s other books because she did really well with taking old things and adding her own spin to it.

I was slow going with this book. I just couldn't get interested. I ended up DNFing at 20%. I didn't have a problem with the content or the writing style....I was at the beginning of a reading slump, so I will eventually go back and read it in the future.

I really love any stories involving fae and faerie bargains, and I also really love tales about sisterhood - so I was prepared to truly love this book, but it just didn't blow me away. I think the initial pacing was hard to get through - and I wanted more of the actual magic in this story. I think I would have liked this story better if it was more like The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno Garcia, and the story was historical with a hint of magic, but with the title and premise I expected this to have a lot more magic than it did and I was left a bit underwhelmed. I still think the writing was well done, I just think it wasn't quite what I had hoped it would be.

This is a good choice for a book if you are looking for something cottagecore, something cozy that involves fairies. It takes place in the early 1900s and follows 2 women whose grandfather bargained with a fairy creature for the land that this family has owned forever. I’m not going to go in anymore detail than that. It is rather slow though as I find that’s just how this author writes as I’ve read a couple by her now, very slow plot that is just following the lives of running an orchard and some problems they run into so it’s not for everyone. This is another one of those slice of life kind of stories that explores how far these characters are willing to go to ensure that they have happiness, safety for there family. It’s a story that’s not going to take a ton of brain power and you get to enjoy the beautiful and vivid scenery and writing. It involves a lot of small and nuanced moments with these women we follow. Honestly I’d recommend this to someone who enjoys Ann of Green Gables so if you’re looking for that then give this a try, add it to your summer tbr.

I love this cover and the idea of this book but I don’t love this period of history, so I struggled a bit. I think I really prefer secondary world fantasy as historical fantasy often throws me off. If you enjoy historical fantasy and the 1900s I think you would enjoy this book.

Set at the turn of the century in a small town, where magic truly happens, this was a magical read.

Admittedly, the first half of the novel did take me much longer to read than the second half, but I absolutely adored this novel, and will be recommending it to everyone that I know.

Following two sisters, Alaine and Delphine, this is a story of sisterhood, understanding and dangerous magic. Bargains have always been a part of life on Prospect Hill, and help with the little things, like a sunny day, or a well-kept living room. Alaine has always made bargains, and finds herself drawn further and further into the Fae’s promises as she discovers new ways to bargain. Delphine knows that bargains won’t work in the shiny city, and relies instead on the bargains that her sister makes for her. When worst comes to worst, the bargains seem to save the day. However, the Fae often trick those who bargain with their words. When Alaine’s daughter goes missing after a well-meaning bargain, it is up to Delphine to bring her back, and learn just how the Fae live.

I really enjoyed how the chapters changed between perspectives, as it made for a very enjoyable, and easy-to-understand timeline. I also liked how the writing fit a historical novel, and felt more like a classic than a modern mystery. The plot twists and turns were very unexpected, and truly made the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Redhook Books and the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was expecting a 5 star read but got 3.5 instead.

The first half of this book is SLOW, unbelievably so. It's made even more apparent by how well paced and interesting the second half of the novel is. The second half truly propped it up, enough that I would still recommend this book to others.

(3.5 rounded up to a 4)

The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller is a historical fantasy set at the turn of the century about sisterhood and the fae. I listened to the audiobook, which clocks in at sixteen and a half hours and is narrated by Jesse Vilinsky. Our point of view shifts between our two main characters.

Prospect Hill is located near a thinning of the veil between our world and the world of the Fae. Farmers often bargain for small trades to make life easier. But what happens if more major bargains are needed?

I absolutely love this cover. There are so many details from the book in this illustration and it is super well done. The gold foil is an amazing touch.

The story takes a bit of time to get going, but I got attached to the characters fairly soon. This book is a little over 400 pages, and I think that the beginning could have been tightened up a bit with more editing.

I've seen this book compared with H.G. Parry's The Magician's Daughter as both are cozy fantasy. I enjoyed Parry's novel a wee bit more than I did this one, but if you like one of them you should absolutely check out the other.

CW: domestic abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, gaslighting, animal death (chicken)

I ended up picking this up because the idea of bargains with Faerie and a shitty marriage that a woman might otherwise be trapped in really appealed to me. This ended up being more about the shifting tide of industrialization, men being complete fuck bags, sisterly bonds, and an ever so gentle hint of women's lib that shows up in a gentle way (oh Emily can go to college! her aunt lives in CHICAGO! ALONE!) but never really takes center stage. It felt like it could've been a little bit slimmed down to me, and honestly, I think what irritated me the most is that we got hints and intimations of maybe Delphine being a lesbian, but never seemed to want to commit fully. Ultimately, I ended up missing the "cozy" part of the descriptor, and that probably would've aligned my expectations differently. I think a lot of people will like this, and as a debut, it's really solid! It's just not for me, long term.

i could not get engrossed in this book

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the review copy.

The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowena Miller was an enchanting, engrossing, unique and powerful read. Highly recommended!

A huge thank-you to Redhook and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this magically wonderful book. On the other side of Alaine and Delphine's family orchard home lies the world of the Fae. Generations ago, their family's farmers learned to trade - or "bargain" - small items to the Fae in return for good fortune, a good harvest, or good weather. Now, in the early 1900s, Alaine still carries this magic with her, making small bargains to the Fae. Her sister, Delphine, is set to marry a businessman and move away from their Prospect Hill orchard, but she soon realizes he's not the man she fell in love with. Alaine agrees to help her sister escape him... with a little help from the Fae. But the Fae are masters of trickery and word-play. The price of Delphine's freedom is a bit steeper than Alaine bargained for.

I absolutely loved this book. It's a light-hearted fairy tale reminiscent of the magical realism stories I fell in love with when I was a child. I loved that family was at the heart of this story, and that magic bound the family to each other and to their home. I loved Alaine and Delphine's relationship, and I especially loved Delphine's character arc throughout the story (and especially at the end). The realism of this story was also enjoyable - there's class and gender commentary, and plotlines surrounding the industrialization of the US in the early 1900s. I loved the realism - and I loved that Miller made us think a little about what might be going on just beyond the reach of our mortal eyes and minds. This was an enjoyable story that I'd recommend for fans of magic, historical fiction, and women's fiction.

The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller is a book where historical fiction meets a whimsical fantasy world that focuses on strength, redemption, humanity, and sisterhood. The Historical Fiction aspect of it revolves around a society that is amidst industrialization where progress and gender equality struggle to exist at the same time. The novel explores this aspect of the human experience. The first half of the book is very grim and I would highly encourage anyone thinking of picking this book up to look up the content warnings as it simply isn't going to be for everyone due to the topics explored. With this being said, the first 50% of the book is hard to get through but it is not due to the writing. As a matter of fact the prose is actually quite beautiful and allows for the reader to fully immerse themselves into the world.

A fun fantasy read for lovers of the fae. This will surely be a springtime favourite for years to come.

What a lovely tale of sisterhood and love! This was such a unique take on fairy bargains and the fae. Especially, when most fae stories take place outside of the united states. Bringing the fae to the wild west was inventive and an amazing plot device to lead to a great story of sisterhood.

Thank you to Rowenna Miller, Redhook Books, and NetGalley for the digital review copy!

This book had an interesting premise and beautifully written prose. Unfortunately, it had a very slow pace that never seemed to gain speed.

This is a historical fantasy set in the 1900's Prospect Hill. It has mythical creatures and magic. I loved siblings Alaine and Delphine's relationship. Alaine is married to lawyer Jack w/ a 6-year-old daughter Emily. She's a leader in the community-President of the Agricultural Society but has been accused of being a suffragette for having opinions. Delphine is getting married to a very rich man with a lucrative glass factory-Pierce Grafton. She quickly discovers her marriage isn't what she thought, and her sister Alaine is willing to deal with the Fae to help her get away from it. Delphine is naive and just wanted her HEA, but Pierce had other ideas. He wanted to control everything and have his wife just "look pretty." I loved the scene when Delphine came to visit and tried to talk politics w/ him.

It's dangerous for them to bargain and trade w/ the Fae. There's superstition and sacrifice they both make in the name of sisterhood and self-discovery.

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily give my review and all opinions are my own.**

The story had a slow start, but did get more interesting as it went on. It was a unique story. I wanted to like it more, but the characters were frustrating and hard to relate to and I think the writing could have been done a bit better.

I'm on the fence with this book. On one hand I love Fae bargains and how they can go so very wrong. The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill feature such a bargain, which pleases my dark little heart. However, it take fooooorrreeevveeerrr to get to it so on the second hand, I wanted to slam the book against the wall far more times than I care to count and scream, "Get to the freakin' point already!" My antagonistic view of the first half of the book wasn't helped by the disconnect I felt as a reader to the two sisters, Alaine and Delphine.

The sisters don't exactly see eye-to-eye on several issues, but that's to be expected. I have two sisters and if the three of us ever agree on anything, then chances are Hell has frozen over. I do like the naturalness of that sibling relationship, especially once it become obvious that Delphine is in over her head, both with her abusive husband and with the Fae.

The writing is beautiful, I must admit. It has a lovely lyrical quality that's hard to capture and reminds me of so many fairy tales I read as a child--and still love to read, if I'm honest--and yet, the slow pace of the beginning almost made this a DNF for me. But once the plot truly clicked into place--namely the major bargain demanded of the sisters--the pace picked up and I blew through the pages. Getting to that point, though, was more of a chore than it should have been.

Overall, Rowena Miller has crafted an interesting blend of fantasy, feminism, and Fae bargains. If you enjoy a slow build fantasy book with a fast payout at the end, then you'll be happy with The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill.

The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill is a book steeped in fae-lore, portrays complicated family dynamics well, and slowly raises the stakes for the main characters until it turns into a fantasy adventure. It goes over familiar lore with the fair folk, and while it could do with a bit whittling down, it was mostly a story I found quite immersive, and enjoyed my time with it.

Detailed review on the blog!