“The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith is like The Cruel Prince meets The Selection, but with a fae twist! In this world, you can bargain with immortal fae for anything – imagine trading your childhood memories for piano skills or your taste for a perfect smile.

But Ivy's debut season throws a curveball: a competition to win the heart of the FAE PRINCE! To save her family from ruin and break the curse that destroyed her sister, Ivy must navigate a court of glittering fae, deadly games, and hidden enemies. Will she succumb to the allure of power, or will she uncover the truth about the fae prince and the sinister plot that threatens to destroy them all?

I got an ARC and I can't put it down! This book is full of heart-stopping romance, vicious courtly drama, and gorgeous, dangerous fae. Prepare to be obsessed!

The Rose Bargain is a romantic and magical historical fantasy.

400 years ago, Britain crowned a faerie as its monarch. Queen Mor is immortal and powerful, and willing to grant any of her subjects a bargain, for a price. Each spring, the ladies of marriageable age debut at the palace for the season, and each asks the Queen for a bargain. This year though, things are different, because Prince Bram, the queens faerie son, is ready to take a bride. Ivy Benton only wants to restore her family's status in society, and save her sister from the desperate sadness that has clung to her since she mysteriously disappeared and was found a few months ago. If that means entering a bargain with the Queen to compete for the prince's hand, then Ivy must win no matter what. But handsome Prince Emmett has plans of his own - he wants Ivy to win as well, but he's hoping to ally with her to overthrow the queen. With Emmett's offer of help to endear her to his brother Bram, Ivy thinks she may have a shot at winning after all. But the draw between Ivy and Emmett grows stronger each day of the competition, and Ivy wonders if the bargain is really worth the cost after all.

This was a fantastic story! I read it in one sitting, as it was a quick, fast paced read, and I could not put it down. A lovely historical fantasy, it blended the "season" vibes of regency era England with trickster fae and their darker side, and vicious competition to win the title of princess. There is a found family vibe with the contestants, and the romance between Ivy and Emmett and Bram. This is a YA book, so the characters are younger and their actions reflect that. I did love Ivy's realistic relationship with her family - especially her sister Lydia. Her growth through this and learning to trust her self I think made this story really emotional and deep. Emmett has a difficult past as well, and I enjoyed how their relationship evolved. While the story is told primarily through Ivy's perspective, we also get a few POV chapters from other characters that tell us more about their motivations and add a richness to the story. I will say the ending left me absolutely gasping, and I am so ready for the next book in this series.

Thank you so, so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

THE ROSE BARGAIN

Releasing 02/04!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I really enjoyed this book! It’s like a Victorian romance/fantasy book with The Bachelor vibes. It has a fun little love triangle, strong female friendships, and a diabolical faerie queen. I would recommend it if you liked The Selection or Princess Academy.

There is a younger feeling to the writing, but I wouldn’t classify as true YA because of some content. I wish there were a few more chapters because I felt a little confused by the ending. I am looking forward to the next book though to see what happens to these characters!

romantic content: vague open door

*Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC!

In this immersive historical fantasy, Ivy must do whatever it takes to win the faerie prince’s hand in marriage- whatever the cost.

This was delightful! I sometimes find it hard to fall into a historical book, but this one had me hooked from the beginning. The characters are all out for themselves and have varying levels of moral ambiguity- think Jude from the Cruel Prince- but you can’t help but love them anyways.

The plot was action packed and well paced. I was a bit confused towards the end as this book was never advertised as the beginning of a series. That’s neither here nor there, because I will be SAT for book 2.

The last twist was such a huge surprise to me, but looking back I do see some of the foreshadowing. The romance was definitely a subplot, but it was done really well and added to the story nicely.

The description of this being The Cruel Prince meets The Selection is spot on. Add in Bridgerton and you have the recipe for The Rose Bargain. In this version of Victorian England, Queen Mor has been in power since the War of the Roses and yes, she is Fae. We are introduced to Ivy Benton and other girls in the Ton wanting to find husbands. Ivy was a great FMC who grew up knowing she was always supposed to be “the spare” and then found herself suddenly thrust into society as the family’s only hope. As for the MMC, Prince Bram and Prince Emmett were a lot of fun throughout the book (both for the way they are together as brothers, but also because of how different they really are). Prince Emmett in particular was beyond swoon-worthy for my morally grey loving heart.This will be spoiler free, but that ending... we will need to speak about it once you read this one! I am already impatiently waiting for Book 2! This was a fun and quick read and I can absolutely see why it is getting a lot of looks by subscription boxes and book bloggers. It definitely deserves the hype and I think fans of romantasy books won’t be disappointed.

4.25⭐️
this book immediately gave me powerless x these hollow vows vibes and i absolutely loved it. the two brothers, emmett and bram were essentially kai and kitt, so naturally emmett was making me SWEAT 🥵.

“Bram, sunny, kind, and safe, tends to appeal to girls who share similar qualities. It’s Emmett, with his bitten lips and sad eyes, who plays in the fantasies of the risk-takers.”

the relationships between all the characters felt very much like powerless and i loved it. especially between the girls during their trials/lessons.

there were some parts that confused me and i thought there were some plot holes, but EVERYTHING came together in the end. it was such a full circle ‘aha’ moment. but that ending… y’all. give me book 2 immediately, i’m not even joking. there were some really good plot twists in here that i was not expecting 10/10 for that 👏🏼

you will catch me buying the BN exclusive on release day 🫡 see you then ladies

book tropes:
🌹 fae / faeries
🌹 marriage trials
🌹 love triangle
🌹 forbidden love (ish)
🌹 book 1 of 2

I really loved this one. I'd call it Bridgerton plus fairies. I've recommended it to several friends already. The characters were excellent, the world building just right and I can't wait for the next one!

Long story short, I LOVED this story! The writing was very easy to read and well done, I loved all the characters, the love triangle, and the setting. Combining regency England and fae is absolutely fantastic and I cannot wait to read more in this world. I loved the idea of the bargains and how Ivy handled her circumstances. While it was definitely fantasy, it felt rooted in real British history and practices. And the ending - absolutely a great way to end the story and I cannot wait for the second book!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was interesting. I really liked the beginning and the end went some ways I wasn’t expecting, but one thing that happened at the end was predictable. I wanted more from the plot and romance, especially towards the middle of the novel.

I went into this book with zero expectations and only a cursory glance at the synopsis. I had read Sasha Peyton Smith's first duology and thought it was decent, and was excited to see where she would go next. I never could have guessed how much I would be blown away by The Rose Bargain.

The Rose Bargain is set in an alternate regency England where an immortal and cruel faerie queen rules. Anyone can make a deal with her, but you may lose more than you bargained for. I don’t want to say too much more because I think going in blind really helps to keep you guessing and surprised. I loved so much about this book, especially all the characters, I loved getting to know every single one. If you like plot twists this book will not disappoint! My only complaint is that I didn’t realize this wasn’t a standalone and now I have to wait to find out what happens… And after that ending I am going to struggle until I can get my hands on the next book.

I definitely recommend this book and can see this becoming a favorite for sure. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

What’s it about?
Ivy Benton prepares to debut into society while her family is on the brink of scandalous disaster. When she gets an opportunity to enter a competition to win a prince’s hand, she signs the contract with devastating consequences if she should fail.

My thoughts:
This was one of my most anticipated reads for the year and in the end, I found it lacking. This is a YA book, which I tend to love, but this leans more on the junior side of the spectrum. If f I was in middle or high school, I would have thoroughly enjoyed this book!

My main problem was the pacing, it almost felt like it was not fully fleshed out and skipped over parts. While the end did shock me and I am super intrigued about where this will go and might pick up book 2, book 1 read like a prequel to the series. Because the author had a lot to set up in book one and things felt rushed, unfortunately, all the characters felt surface and I couldn’t connect to any of them. Although my favorite parts were the intermittent chapters from all the side characters and I HOPE that book 2 leans on other POVs because Ivy is the least interesting character in the bunch.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for these eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I adore Sasha Peyton Smith’s writing (her first duology is one of my all-time favorites) so I jumped at the opportunity to read an ARC of The Rose Bargain as soon as it dropped in my inbox. Impossible to put down, The Rose Bargain is compulsively readable and felt like a coming home to my teenage self. It’s literally pitched as The Cruel Prince meets The Selection which couldn’t be more on brand with my interests if it tried.

In an alternative regency England, a Faerie Queen sits on the throne, granting bargains to her subjects while taking something from them in return. As her debut season begins, Lady Ivy Benton has one goal in mind; save her family from looming destitution. She plans to petition the Queen to right her older sister’s disastrous bargain and gain back her family’s standing. Only, when Ivy arrives to the palace, the Queen announces that her son and heir Prince Bram plans to take a wife. Any eligible debutant may compete to win his hand and so Ivy, backed by Bram’s roguish brother Emmett, enters the competition. Nothing is as it seems though, and Ivy must face dangerous trials at the whims of the Fae Queen in order to gain the Prince’s favor, all while attempting to subdue her growing feelings for his captivating brother.

I can’t get enough of this story and I predict that my obsession will continue for the foreseeable future! Smith skillfully combines historical fiction and fantasy to create a dark fairytale with a meringue-soaked facade. The faerie bargains are proof of the sinister undertones at play in this universe and the consequences they bore were incredibly imaginative. I loved this element of the magic system and felt like it was crafted in such an innovative way.

Ivy is exactly the type of heroine I gravitate towards, earning my admiration with her sensitive yet clever approach. She is formidable without sacrificing what she believes in and despite being caught in a web of other’s fancies, she refuses to become tangled. I turned into putty during every one of her and Emmett’s exchanges and couldn’t get enough of their dynamic. The intoxicating love triangle between Ivy, Emmett, and Bram is reminiscent of classic Young Adult literature but as is expected, there is more to these characters than meets the eye. The same can be said about Ivy’s fellow contestants, a group of five other girls who each shone in their own right. I loved the interludes from their POV’s and really got to understand them on a deeper level through their own lens.

Sasha Peyton Smith does duplicity expertly. I should have been prepared considering the twists that The Witch Haven put us through, but nothing prepped me for the jaw dropping cliffhanger at the end of The Rose Bargain. I know it isn’t even out yet, but I will be counting down the days until The Rose Bargain’s sequel arrives on shelves. Until then, you are not going to want to miss Sasha Peyton Smith’s exciting new addition to the romantasy zeitgeist, an homage to magic seekers and fairytale adventures.

Thank you HarperCollins Children’s Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t usually share my fantasy reads but I had to share this one! I’m so thankful to have read this ARC! The Rose Bargain comes out 2/4 and you’ll WANT to read it!

The Selection 🤝🏻 Fae

I had NO CLUE how it would work for everyone in the end and this author seriously surprised me!

In this story, Ivy, a girl who’s always been obsessed with the Otherworld of fae and magic finds that her English high society family is outcast after the disappearance of her sister Lydia. With her coming out season, the Queen, who is fae in the human world, allows one bargain to be made for a price and Ivy’s bargain decision was easy (it’s not what you think). But her coming out season takes a turn when the queen’s son, Prince Bram, decides to take a wife and now 6 girls are pitted against each other for the Prince’s affections. But Prince Bram has a brother who has other plans up his sleeve.

I thoroughly enjoyed this original plot and VERY original take on fae and magic. The characters were flawed and very enjoyable. The pacing was fantastic and this was such an easy read with small, necessary details sprinkled throughout. This read was quick and such a page-turner!

And I’m DYING for book two! I can’t wait!

Thank you so much Harper Collins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. The Rose Bargain was my first five star read of 2025. It was everything I wanted, and more. I loved the backdrop, the love triangle, and BOTH of the princes, and that twist at the end????? DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. Review posted on my TT and IG, and currently I am foaming at the mouth waiting to get my hands on a physical copy, AND of the next book in the duology!!!

DNF at 10%. May revisit
* Note, I may not have finished this, but based on what I did read, I think this book would be great for fans of the Selection, Fragile Enchantment, & Crimson Moth. The concept and ideas were great, I just personally didn’t mesh with the writing style.
I wanted to like this so bad. Regency meets faerie bargains. And the prologue was so cool. Like the faerie queen was so intriguing. Chapter 1 though, immediate and steep decline. The prose is short and choppy that I couldn’t sink into the story. Then it would change topics with little to no transition. Like it doesn’t flow. It feels like sentences take sharp 90 degree turns. Then the narrator came across as much younger than she was. It didn’t help in my case that she also is my least favorite kind of FMC that dominates in YA and NA fantasies/romantsies; the girl trying to be a badass but only comes across as rude. Like she’s trying to be cool and aloof and instead comes across as a high school mean girl. But I kept going, hoping it was just chapter one growing pains. Even though it also hit another trope I hate. The one where the FMC meets the Prince “by chance” before the games/trials. Their dialogue was cringe. Still I kept going.
It didn’t get any better. There was wayyyyyyyy too much telling for my liking. I didn’t feel like I got to experience any emotions or feel grounded in the story. It continued to rush past like it was the side effects portion of a medicine/drug ad.
Then I did what I normally do when I’m not sure I’m going to like a book, I checked out the reviews. Both good and bad. And well, even the good said it was entertaining but went downhill halfway through. I wasn’t even enjoying the beginning. Then some of the lower reviews hit on things I hate. Like YA books that sound and act more on the younger side but have older character and have rather graphic sex. These stories make it so hard for me to market. Like I don’t feel comfortable recommending this to a younger audience that would fit the tone of voice of this story. Nor do I think older readers will enjoy this younger tone of voice with the mature content. However, I acknowledge I also didn’t reach far enough to read these scenes to personally comment. But based on this and my feelings around this, I feel like I can say, if you liked the Crimson Moth, you’ll like this.
I’m also sad cause there were nuggets in what I read that was cool and intriguing. I think I could’ve really liked this if the narrative voice was older and it cut down severely on all the telling.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

I was told that this was a mix of The Selection, ACOTAR, and the Cruel Prince. I could see why, but I did not end up enjoying this book.I have a hard time liking books with the trope of guys/brothers where one is nice and the other is a bad boy type and the FMC always chooses the bad boy type. It is very overused, especially when I am team nice guy. I feel very bamboozled. I kept getting annoyed that the FMC was more intrigued by the womanizer instead of the nice interested one. Boy was I wrong 😳 now I’m considering reading the next book just to find out how all of this plays out. I do think the best parts of this book are the bargains, the selection type characteristics, and the otherworld king.

Thank you to the author, HarperCollins Children’s, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

The story had a strong start, but it lost its way as it went on. I even thought about putting it down but decided to push through, hoping something would catch my interest (didn’t happen).
My biggest problem was with the love interest, I didn’t find them likable at all, I also hated the love triangle, it’s wasn’t really necessary. On the other hand, I really enjoyed the other girls in the story.
I think a lot of readers will enjoy this, and I’m sure it’ll generate buzz when it’s released. Unfortunately, it just didn’t live up to my expectations.

2.5-2.75 ⭐️s

I desperately wanted to love this book. I love historical fantasy and regency era romance is probably some of my favorite plain romance to read if I’m looking for a fun time. This book definitely delivered on its “Bridgerton” vibes and fae elements but the rest just fell flat for me. I did appreciate the fast pacing of this book even if it felt rushed/disjointed at times. I did really enjoy the Queen as a character and would have loved more on her.

My biggest complaints were:
-the lack of transitions from one scene/activity to the next
-the love triangle
-the trials were so boring and had no true stakes
-this book read way younger (13-15ish) than the main characters who are 18-19 in this book. I love a good YA. I love a solid romance with non-explicit spice or fade to black. But the age this book felt written for just did not vibe with the themes or the main characters IMO.
-the 15 or so percent of the book that happens after the plot twist felt like I was reading a whole different author or book.

Will I pick up the second book of this duology? Probably. Will I be in a rush to read it? Definitely not.

3.5 ⭐️

I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if I had read it when I was like, 12-15 years old. Much like tween-teenage me, this book struggles to figure out its identity.

━━ ˖°˖ ☾☆☽ ˖°˖ ━━ The Writing, Plot, & Worldbuilding ━━ ˖°˖ ☾☆☽ ˖°˖ ━━
Likening itself to the incredible Folk of the Air trilogy did this book no favors. There is hardly any actual “faerie political intrigue” until the eyebrow raising end. Until then, it is romance heavy and a whole lot of “today my lady in waiting put me in a tight corset and I went on a walk with a lacy parasol to go eat finger sandwiches. oh no! my propriety!”

The writing is very much tell-not-show and YA all around, but then there is also an open door sex scene that is explicit enough that any reader can discern what is happening. There are also random one-off chapters told from different POVs of various characters scattered throughout which occasionally threw off the pacing.

Because the world is set in regency era England, the author seems to assume the reader has already watched/read Bridgerton - another series it has likened itself to - and so there is little world building. There was a war, the current Faerie queen put an end to it by tricking people and now everyone lives in fear/awe of her. That's kind of it. Queen Mor and Bram hardly feel fae-like at all, except for the occasional reminder that they had pointy ears and "couldn't lie." The last several chapters felt as if the author suddenly remembered she was writing about faeries and dumped in as much "fae trickster" elements as she could to salvage the story.

₊˚ ✧ ‿︵‿୨୧‿︵‿ ✧ ₊˚ The Characters & Relationships ₊˚ ✧ ‿︵‿୨୧‿︵‿ ✧ ₊˚

The romantic relationship between Ivy and Emmett feels unearned. Upon his second time ever meeting her, Emmett dumps his seditious, treasonous plans onto Ivy and expects her to become his accomplice without so much as a “can you keep a secret?” Even though Ivy is inclined to dislike Emmett based on *gestures to various background reasons*, she still agrees to work with him. Then they're suddenly in love! They literally go from "no way I could be in love with you lmao" to "what is this tingly feeling" to "I love him" in the span of one day. I think I would have bawled my eyes out reading the angsty chapters at the end - and I really, <i>really</i> wanted to feel that angst - had I actually been invested in their relationship. The friendship developed between Ivy and the other contestants also felt a bit shallow but more fulfilling than the one she has with Emmett.

All in all, this book had a very interesting premise but a weak execution that suffered from tell-not-show writing.

Thank you to HarperCollins for the eARC via NetGalley! ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖

Ate this one up ngl. I love stories like this: romance, political intrigue, interesting characters !! I will be recommending this to everyone who asks for a book rec.