You know, from the very first pages, what the bargains are going to do, and who's going to have to pay for them. So you spend the first 60% of the book waiting for that to happen, but it's a pleasant wait, because the descriptions are so good and lovely, and the characters are winsome. Then the thing you knew would happen happens, and you keep reading for the descriptions and, yes, to find out what happens. And all of your predictions are right, but it's still ok, because the writing is so lovely. This is a bit hard for someone with anxiety, like me, to read, because I KNOW what's coming and waiting for it makes me itchy, but, you know, in the end, the setting and people and non-people are all so appealing to read about that it almost doesn't matter. Except for my pinky toe, which kept saying, skip ahead, already!

First off, I love this cover so much, I think it is stunning!
I loved the idea of this story and I enjoy the historical aspect of it, but it is so slow paced. The plot finally picks up around 60% when we get more fae interaction. But the buildup is rough and takes a long time to get there. I also found it very predictable. There is a lot of foreshadowing that allows you to really guess exactly what is going to happen which takes away from the climax of the story. It is a lot work for not much reward. Really wanted to love this book. I like the idea of it, just not execution.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC.

The first half of this book wasn't the best. The writing wasn't my favorite and it was slow...like snail pace slow. However, the last 50% more than made up for it! The dull beginning turned into this beautiful world fae magic and wonder, I grew to love the world and the characters, and honestly, it bloomed into it's full potential. If you can hang on, then do! I promise it'll have a great finish.

This was an enjoyable historical fantasy that had a whimsical feel. I like a good bargain story so that was up my alley. The first half of the book felt a bit slow to me because everything felt simplistic and there weren’t any real bits of tension. I was beginning to think there wasn’t going to be any real plot. Then it picked up in the second half with a lot more fae action that kept me reading. I loved the sisters relationship because it felt honest. They had their issues but love each other fiercely.

This was a really lovely sort of slide-of-life tale about sisterhood (and farming). The first bit of the book was a bit slow-paced, which I'm sure will appeal to some readers but I'm not a huge fan of that kind of thing. Once the book picks up speed, though, it becomes a super fun ride that I found myself absolutely flying through. If you like fae and faeries, and sisterly love (and farming), you'll probably really love this!

So beautify written this book brought me to tears. A historical fiction with more than a dash of Fae magic. This was such a sweet and empowering story about sisterly love in a time when women were fighting for their voice in America. This book explored themes about love and connection, about how it is ok to want more, about understanding the consequences of our actions, and that we can have a bigger impact on the world. Meticulously studied with beautiful details and well crafted writing. I absolutely loved it.

The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowena Miller

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley for review. My opinions are my own.

4/5 stars

I was so intrigued by the summary of this book. Having read a lot about fairies, this book was an entirely different world than anything I have ever encountered. I am familiar with the importance of linden trees and rituals, but bargaining was new to me.

I really loved the character development of the sisters. Both sisters were extremely well written. I especially loved seeing Delphine gain strength through the book,

My only gripe was that the final bargain at the conclusion was a bit confusing. I am still not entirely sure what happened…

This one hit a lot of the same notes as Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, but with much slower pacing. This one felt like an extremely slow buildup with less of a climax than I was anticipating. It's liberally foreshadowed in the plot that making bargains with the fae can have terrible consequences, but those consequences took so long to show up (and in one case showed up so subtly that I didn't even realize it had happened) that I felt myself getting pretty impatient with this one by the end. I also felt a bit disappointed that so much about how the fae realm works ended up being explained--this is a personal preference, but part of what I love about the fairy/folk tale aesthetic is how it often feels deeply mysterious and unknowable.

I did love the historical setting--it felt rich and real--and the parallels between bargaining with the fae for power and real-world power structures.

This was a really fun book! My favorite parts were all the Fae stuff, especially when the Fae made bargains in the human world. I got a little bored with the outside world parts, but it picked up a lot by the middle.

A dark adventure with really magical twists.

I was really excited to read this book. I expected some folklore which makes for a charming read but I did not expect an entire fairy kingdom. This book could be shelved as a fairytale but it did not have the tension and edge of your seat writing that accompanies a fairytale. For me, this book was more of a chore to finish than enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book ahead of it's pub date (March 28, 2023).

I am a sucker for a good fairy bargain and this book is absolutely full of them!

The book started off slow but don't let that change your mind about reading it! I think the author did a great job showing us the nature of the bargains and the danger of changing them.

As Alaine kept making bargains for her farm and family's luck, I was on the edge of my seat wondering when something bad was going to happen or a bargain was going to be twisted by the fae.

The story is lush with detail and truly imaginative. I definitely give it 5 stars!

Book Name: The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill

Author: Rowena Miller

Stars: 3.5

Spice : 0

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for an ARC of The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowena Miller

- Standalone
- POV switches between sisters without much difference …Borderline Distracting
- Low Fantasy
- Cozy Fantasy.
- Magical Realism/folklore
- Slow paced.
- Feminist
- Fae (from folklore)
- Riddles and Bargains.
- Similar to Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Book One of the Emily Wilde Series) By Heather Fawcett
- Similar to Small Angels by Lauren Owen
- Sisterhood
- What people will do to protect the ones they love
- Pacing issues
- Tad too much farming information
- SLOW-burn
- 50% in and I got a bit bored
- Last 30% was well done
- Could have been shorter.

I loved this book so much! I honestly feel so lucky to have read it. I love reading books about the fae, but this one just checks every single box of expectations I have for them. The relationship between the sisters and the dealings with the fairies is written so beautifully. I love the magical feeling the author creates. I want to be inside this book, it’s that great!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I cannot wait to purchase the physical copy!

“Where flowers bloom unfading And leaves are ever green Fortune’s winds are shifting By fairy touch unseen —Folk song”

I’m always up for a well written fairy story. And one of the fabulous things about this book, at first the characters seem rather prim — when of course here they are living their proper lives all the while having the fairy bargain side hustle.

Then there’s the cheeky aunt, sharing fairy secrets, hoarding others. Every chapter, every corner I found myself wondering if, when and how things are going to turn. Always right on the edge, skirting trouble— it’s fantastic!

Clever and engaging — a well woven tale that had me wanting to keep on reading! ✨🧚‍🧡

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book took until about 50% in for there to be any sort or real excitement and even then you kinda see it coming. If you know anything about fae folklore you know what’s gonna happen. I didn’t find it as enjoyable as I was hoping. It was honestly a struggle to get through. I wish we had more time in Fae and more world building there. I did enjoy the lore.

Don't let the cover fool you, which I made the mistake of doing. But after finishing this novel, I have absolutely zero regrets.

The novel starts out in a historical setting, I think around early 1900s in the US, but it's never really specified (though there are obvious context clues such as early motorcars, the suffragette movement, etc.) I wasn't expecting a deep dive into historical fiction and honestly I think it worked out well in this case! Other readers might wish for a more fantasy aspect with the Fae, but I'd recommend to keep on reading. It might surprise you.

The fairy magic was believable in a folk magic context due to the MCs' (Alaine and Delphine) multigenerational family-oriented setting and the history of oral tradition passed down through their families. If you've grown up with traditional folktales, old wives' tales, etc., then you can definitely relate to the MCs.

It took me a while to finish because the pacing was an issue. Without going into any spoilers, I really liked the latter half of the story. If that section would've occurred slightly earlier in the novel, then I think more readers would be able to hold their attention.

I'll admit, I thought this might've been a DNF for me, but I loved how the tension kept growing and growing. That drew me to keep on reading just to find out how high the stakes would go. And I'm glad I kept on reading!

Thank you to Redhook Books and NetGalley for this arc.

The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller - Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5

Content Warnings: domestic abuse, animal death, sexism, bullying

The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller is a beautiful blend of whimsical fantasy and historical fiction that tackles themes like abuse, sexism, sisterhood, and self-discovery. The story explores a culture, town, and family during industrialization, on the verge of change at the turn of the century, where "the progress of locomotives and factories hasn’t given way to equitable laws for women". The sexism explored in this story is done so on both a greater societal level and a more personal level, juxtaposing the laws surrounding the rights and treatment of women in society as a whole to Alaine's more personal experience with sexism as she tries to protect her sister from the domestic abuse she is experiencing at the hands of her husband. While tackling these deep themes, Miller then weaves in fantastical elements of bargains with the Fae as a way for Alaine to buy her sister and herself more time. The stakes are raised when small bargains are no longer enough and a greater sacrifice may be needed for a major bargain that could actually save them.

This book is genuinely such a beautiful story about sisterhood and the journey of self-discovery. The gorgeous cover art and the genre and themes (fantasy mixed with historical fiction that tackles the injustices of sexism) are what drew me in, and are also what made me stay. As a feminist and a social justice advocate, I love the ability of fiction authors, particularly fantasy and science-fiction authors, to weave real-world and social justice issues into a story that is still whimsical, fantastical, and fun at times. I think it is so important to pull real-world issues into our media and fiction for so many reasons. It gives us a creative and unique way to tackle and potentially combat and provide a solution or alternative for those issues. My only real complaint about this book was that the pace of the first half of the book was slow. Paired with the fact that the first half of the book also tackles rather difficult themes and depressing domestics surrounding the abuse of Alaine's sister, it makes the first half a little harder to get through. That being said, the rest of the book certainly ramps up, increasing urgency and tension with the introduction of bargains with the Fae. Even though I personally felt the pace of the first half was a little slow, I can see how it also may have been intentional as a way to slowly build tension and a growing sense of dread until the tipping point about halfway through the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill! It was beautifully written and I adored how it didn't shy away from tackling real-world issues in a fantastical world, instead creating a story that still draws attention to important issues without detracting from the enchanting nature of the story. The book does not heavily focus on romance but rather sisterhood, so if you are in the mood for or generally prefer romance fantasy books then this may not be the right choice. However, I think you still get the elements of tension, love, resentment, and desire just wrapped up in the context of a familial, sisterly relationship rather than a romantic one. The sisters' relationship is just as beautifully explored and it was a joy being able to watch both characters develop over time through their journey of growth and self-discovery.

The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill is a delightfully clever story about a group of sisters whose family farm is endangered. They make a bargain with the local fae that does not go as planned and forces them to reconsider what they thought they knew about their family and farm. This is a great family drama with light fantasy elements.

I received this arc from Redhook Publishing for a rate and review. Thank you for this opportunity. Book is available March 28.

This was an okay book. Nothing really grabbed me about it. Pacing was steady. Story was good. It reminded me a lot of P&P but with fae and magic. It is not a romance but a tale of sisterly love. The fierce love betwixt sisters is unmatched. If you like a light hearted read that goes perfect with afternoon tea and makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a Cottagecore novel. This is the book for you.

While I still haven’t gotten around to reading the second two books in the trilogy, I really enjoyed Rowenna Miller’s fantasy novel “Torn” when I read it several years ago. This is definitely one of those situations where my failure to complete the trilogy is completely due to my own lack of self-control in managing my TBR list and nothing to say about the series itself. That being the case, I was excited to see that the author was releasing a stand-alone fantasy novel this spring. Phew! Can’t drop the ball on a stand-alone!

While the world continues its steady march forward into modernity and industry, the family who owns the orchard on Prospect Hill still understand and honor the old, magical ways. A woven hay wreath for prosperity. A twist of nickel and ribbon for a good harvest. And while these time-tested bargains are reliable and sure, it is understood that the Fae are never to be trusted. But when two sisters find themselves confronting the limitations of a world that sees only limited roles for women, they must chance a new bargain to create a way forward for themselves and their family.

It’s no surprise that this book was a hit with me. There are so many things I like, right there in the description! A story with a historical setting that tackles the culture and challenges of that period of time. A plot that focuses on the softer, wilder side of magic. And two characters who are sisters and must navigate the beauties and pitfalls of that relationship. And Miller came through on all three points!

I really enjoyed the way this book navigated the historical time period during which it is set. Throughout the book, we see Alaine and Delphine come up against the limitations placed on them by a society that doesn’t yet recognize women’s value. But change is also in the air, with many references to the suffragettes who are hard at work fighting for women’s rights. Alaine and Delphine represent the everyday women in this period of time. Neither would label themselves as a suffragettes; indeed, Delphine’s politically-minded husband wants her to have nothing to do with the “radical” movement. However, they are still fully realized characters and women and thus quickly come up against the limitations placed on them. Delphine is interested in art and learning, forming a friendship with another female scholar. And for her part, while Alaine operates a farm and is active in local agriculture decisions, we see her again and again come up against those who would wish to see her fail. I especially liked a conversation and theme that came up towards the end of the book about how if something is a challenge for one person, there’s a good chance it’s a challenge for others. And that’s why it’s important to work towards changes that will benefit society as a whole, rather than just oneself.

I also really liked Alaine and Delphine as characters in their own right. They both felt like complete, fully-fleshed out women, complete with their own unique strengths and their own personal failings. But I particularly appreciated the way they were portrayed as sisters. The story alternates between the two of them, so we very quickly learn to see how each sister is misinterpreting and misunderstanding the other. Here are two women who are as close as you can be, but their relationship is constantly strained by their inability to clearly see the other one for who she truly is without viewing it through their own lens. It was such an honest and relatable portrayal, and I think the most successful depiction of adult sisterhood that I’ve seen in some time.

This is definitely a slower, quieter story. It takes a while for all of the pieces to come into place, so readers must be prepared to spend a good portion of the beginning of the book setting up our characters and their relationships with each other and the world around them. But then about two thirds through the book, the story takes a massive shift in what it’s doing. I wouldn’t say that it ever becomes action-packed, but it definitely went in a direction that I wasn’t expecting, but that I enjoyed the heck out of. Looking back on the read as a whole, this left me feeling as if the pacing of the book felt a bit choppy. But as I enjoyed both halves of the book so much, I’d hardly hold this against it.

Rating 8: Fairy circles and whimsical magic weave in and out of a thoughtful, quiet fantasy story that tackles important themes of sisterhood and feminism.

Link will go live March 17