4.5 ⭐️ I absolutely devoured The Rose Bargain, a magical YA romantasy. A perfect blend of The Cruel Prince, Bridgerton, These Hollow Vows, and The Selection, it delivers a high-stakes romantic competition with a dark fae twist.

Set in a Victorian-inspired world, the story revolves around a cruel faerie Queen and her son, Prince Bram, who is searching for a bride. Ivy, one of the girls competing for his heart, finds herself unexpectedly drawn to Bram’s human brother, Emmett, creating a deliciously forbidden love triangle. I especially loved the strong, evolving friendships between the girls. By the end, they’d formed a tight bond after surviving the unpredictable trials they were thrown into. While the pacing was a bit slow at the beginning, the last 30% is intense. There were lots of twists I didn’t see coming, so excited for the next book!


👑Political intrigue
🌹Forbidden love
👑Friends to lovers
🌹Slow burn
👑Love triangle-brothers
🌹Female friendship
👑Found family
🌹Faerie Bargains

Imagine a world where Edward the IV doesn't become King of England after the War of the Roses. Instead, he dies shortly after winning, and the Fae Queen, who helped him, takes the throne, cutting England off from the rest of the world and ruling for hundreds of years. This is the world Lady Ivy is born into. The Queen has ruled for hundreds of years, granting bargains to her subjects in exchange for something else. Ivy wants no deal or marriage, but with her family on the verge of financial ruin and because of a scandal involving her older sister, she has no choice. When the Queen announces her son, the fae prince Bram, will select a wife this year, she eagerly signs up and is one of six ladies chosen to compete for his hand. He seems charming, and with the help of his step-brother, the human prince Ivy is determined to win and overthrow the evil queen in the process. But she never expected to fall in love, and not everyone is who they seem to be.

It is a beautifully told story, mainly from Ivy's point of view. There is love, adventure, betrayal,
finding family, friendship, and so much more. I highly recommend this read to anyone who loves a good fantasy story with just the right amount of romance. The cliffhanger has you holding your breath and anxiously awaiting book two's release.

Man, I should’ve read this one sooner. It was surprisingly good.

I loved the London setting and Bridgerton vibes, while the competition and magical elements added some extra umph to it.

The characters were very well thought out. Each of the girls served the story as a whole very well.

The pacing was also phenomenal…there was almost no fluff and I was never bored.

I’d definitely recommend for the romantasy girlies.

Thank you Harper Collin’s and NetGalley for this eARC.

The Rose Bargain
Written by Sasha Smith
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 ( rounded to five)

This story takes place in 1840s remained London, where a Fae queen has rules for 400 years. Everyone get a chance to make a bargain with Queen Mor - for a price.

Ivy Benton is her family's only hope to remain in the ton, after her sisters disastrous debut. She was going to use her bargain to make things back to how they were. Until the Queen announces that her son, Prince Bram, would be taking a wife this season. But there is a catch, it will be a competition. Surely wearing a crown would fix all of Ivys problems.

This book had me gripped beginning to the end! I can't wait for the next to come out!

The Rose Bargain is a set in a reimagined 1840s England with an immortal faerie queen reigning over the realm and provides each citizen a bargain - at a cost.

The story follows Ivy Benton as she makes her debut into society and is thrust into a competition to secure the heart of the Queen’s fae son, Prince Bram. A prize that could save Ivy’s family from ruin… and free her sister from the bargain that destroyed her. As she ventures deeper into the competition she soon realizes the contest has a dark plot and could destroy everything Ivy knows.

What I loved about the book:

- Sasha Smith did a beautiful job blending elements of historical fiction with a fantasy twist and fully immerses the reader into 1840s England.
As I was reading, the book was was giving me Phillipa Gregory vibes from White Queen, Sasha did a great job :)

- Strong Female Lead Character

- The slight love triangle between Prince Bram, Prince Emmett and Ivy.

- Political Schemes

- The ending- you will be adding the second book to your TBR list for sure with that rollercoaster of an ending!

Things I didn't like / I wish were more developed:
- Personally, I would have loved the competition stakes to be a bit higher but maybe that will happen in the next book.

The Rose Bargain is the perfect YA Fantasy book for any reader who devoured The Selection and The Cruel Prince series.
Overall, The Rose Bargain is a book I highly recommend and I look forward to book number two.

Thank you to the HarperCollins team, NetGalley and Sasha Smith for sending me the arc.

Can I just say I loved this! As someone who loves fantasy and historical romance, this book gave me EVERYTHING! It has romance, political intrigue, fae magic, tricksters, games and so much more. Just went you think you know what’s going to happen, the authors throws in another twist! I also enjoyed how we got mini chapters from all the girls and we got to see their motives for why they joined the contest. Great job! Can’t wait to read book 2!

I can't believe we're only a couple weeks into 2025 and I have already read what is likely to be one of my favorite books of the year. I absolutely loved The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith. The Rose Bargain is the perfect combination of Victorian-era romantasy, tense competition, brooding royalty, and fae. After an embarrassing and traumatic debut season for her sister, Ivy has absolutely no prospects or social standing as she prepares for her own debut. When the queen announces that this will be the season in which her son will choose a bride, Ivy knows that that is the only way she can save her family. Thus, despite the potential consequences, Ivy enters the competition for Bram's hand. Ivy enlists the help of Bram's brooding brother in order to ensure her victory. What follows is a fierce competition full of vicious trials, backstabbing, and court drama.

I seriously loved this book! The world building is absolutely beautiful and epic. The author creates an alternative England with a fae queen that is both believable and magical. The author cleverly weaves history with fae lore; I especially liked the emphasis on some of the darker characteristics of the fae. I really enjoyed getting to know all of the characters. While Ivy and the princes are well-developed and fantastic main characters, the side characters are also super intriguing. The majority of the story is told through Ivy's POV; however, each of the girls receives their own POV chapter, which really adds to their development and the overall story. I honestly was just as invested in Faith's story (and Olive's and Greer's, etc) as Ivy's. Emmett is by far my favorite character, and I cannot wait to find out what happens in the next book (yes, this book does end on a cliffhanger). The Rose Bargain is such a fast read; it is action packed with some slow burn romance and just enough spice.

While I read this book on my kindle, I will definitely be buying a hard copy for my shelf. I can't wait to talk about this book with everyone once it comes out. I will absolutely be reading more by Sasha Peyton Smith. Easy 5 stars!

This is such a twisty read. I loved how the drama of high society and the rumor mill combined with the pressures of the magic system. It was interesting to have something so comparatively human and small still exerting so much pressure on Ivy as she tried to do what was best for her family. The concept of a rose bargain and how seemingly frivolous and simultaneously deeply important was so well done and it was interesting learning about different bargains the girls and other characters made. All around the magic system was so well done and really drew me in. I also really enjoyed the pacing of the book as the stakes got higher and the competition progressed it became very hard to put my book down. I really love these characters and the ending was marvelously done, I can't wait to see more of them in the second book, and love that this was done as a duology. All around a great book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good fey bargain.

When you think regency era and fae this is it. It's fun, full of lore, and gives just enough vibes of historical romance. This book had me hooked from page 1. The main character Ivy is a youngest child thurst into the responsibilities of an oldest child and it shows in her character and her language. The girls are diverse and their interactions are top notch and don't come off as "annoying teens". The princes aren't your typical book boyfriend for Romantasy they are 2 different people and no real big magics. I loved how simple yet complex the story was like the plot was straight forward but the weaving of characters and events were amazing. I cannot stop raving about this book. It is "the selection" but 100'xs better with the characters and plot. Would recommend to those who love historical fantasy.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Colins for the opportunity to read this book! This review is my own honest thoughts of the book.

This book is fabulous! Smith has created a story, cast of characters and a world that has a lot of punch and potential for its future novels. It has great banter, interesting relationships and explore a variety of feelings and experiences that there is something for everyone. Fans of The Cruel Price and Once Upon A Broken Heart will love this one.

I adored The Rose Bargain so so so much! I don't think I have ever preordered a book that I have read as an ARC so fast. This one is perfect for fans of The Selection, but set in a world of fae in Victorian England!
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC of The Rose Bargain. Pub Date: February 4, 2025

This story is set in the early 1800s and is a masterful blend of mystical elements of dark fantasy worh historical fiction. The romantic elements and love triangle between two brothers was emotional. This was very engaging and enchanting. It ends with dark plot twists and a cliffhanger. I recommend reading!

Thank You Netgalley for the ARC.

I was looking forward to this book so much but then it fell flat. The story is absolutely cool and fun. Trials to become the princes bride and a secret plot to over throw a Kingdom? Throw in some fae. It's regency. It's wonderful.

Now here is where the problem comes in.

The writing. She just tells us what is going on. There is no imagination what so ever. It was so straight forward. The dialog fell flat and by the end of the book I felt like I couldn't connect to one single character. I could care less at the end of the book.

It is also a YA book and this is lower young adult writing (13/14) but then the sexual content makes it older.

Leaving perplexed and a little let down unfortunately.

Fae and royalty and bridgerton-esque vibes that suck you into the story. You meet a young girl about to make her debut into society and she learns she can compete to win a chance to marry the fae prince. This story truly pulled me in and held on until that ending.

I'm not typically a fan of historic but I couldn't put this down. I don't think I've had this much fun reading a book in a long time.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and absolutely need book two now! (Please... that ending was absolutely evil)

Going into this I wasn't exactly sure what to expect -- I typically love historical fiction (especially anything set in England), but tend to be 50-50 on fae books -- but ultimately I really enjoyed this!

Something I particularly liked about The Rose Bargain that I haven't really seen in other similar "Selection-esque" books was the inclusion of chapters from the POVs of all the other girls in the competition -- I thought it helped to give more insight into their characters and made me more interested in their stories than I typically am for side characters!

My one small complaint (besides the inevitability of having to wait for the sequel) was that I wish the romance was fleshed out a bit more -- it felt just a bit too insta-love for me personally.

Overall though, I would absolutely recommend this for anyone looking for a quick and easy (yet entertaining and distressing) fantasy read, and I will be anxiously awaiting the sequel! (please I need answers)

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc!!

If you are looking for a fantasy read that combines the grace and courtly competition of Bridgerton with the wickedness and scheming of The Cruel Prince, The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith should be your next read. I was immediately swept away in this alternate Victorian London where blood and bargains are the currency to curry favor with the crown. The world building, palace intrigue, and magic system were both beautiful and cunning. Ivy was smart, full of grit, and passionately cared about those she loved most, and I really enjoyed seeing her blossom throughout the story. I also thoroughly enjoyed the dynamics between the princely half-brothers, Bram and Emmett, and how they each captured Ivy’s attention. This is not a fairytale of fair and kind-hearted Fae, but rather an insight as to what we would bargain away for what we desire the most, and how we live with those choices. I laughed, I squealed, I kicked my feet, and I cried. Mostly, I feel like I, and my heart, have been run over by a carriage (in a good way, of course)!
As always, thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for access to this eARC for review; as always my opinion and thoughts are my own.

I could not put The Rose Bargain down and cannot wait for it to come out in a few weeks so everyone can read it and be equally enthralled.

The Rose Bargain is a young adult romantasy that took me right back to the feeling of my favorite books from high school and is full of pining and tension. The world building was so well done and I loved the mix of magic and with well known London landmarks. I adored all of the characters but especially loved the dynamics between all of the girls competing for the prince's hand. Getting a glimpse into the POVs of the other girls besides our FMC was top tier.

I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book and was 0% prepared for the ending. The only con of being an ARC reader is having to wait even longer for the next installment 😂

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Get ready to be whisked away into a Victorian-esque England ruled by a wicked faerie queen. Ivy Benton is about to make her debut in society—and her bargain with the faerie queen that every girl makes when she comes of age—when the queen announces that this year, the prince will find a bride. After her sister went missing two years ago and returned with fractured memories, Ivy has nothing to lose and everything to gain by entering the competition for the prince’s heart. But the more she learns about the cost of the crown and the faeries who offer it, the more dangerous the game becomes.

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith is everything historical fantasy fans could want from a story. The author does an incredible job of integrating faeries into the historical timeline until the period feels natural. While the main female characters are very clearly written for a modern audience, I appreciated that they wouldn’t have felt completely foreign to actual Victorians.

Ivy was an incredible heroine. I loved how she struggled to balance her relationships with what she wanted, and that she tried to look for the best in people, always. Her courage was inspiring while still feeling real, and I adored that she was flawed and feminine without being villainized for those things. Her love was complicated and cruel and so, so honest. I spent the story torn between wanting to hug her and wanting to become her.

Emmet (our love interest who is most certainly not the prince Ivy is supposed to be courting) was Ivy’s balance in every way. He was the best kind of rake and was complicated without being annoying. His complex feelings for his brother (aka the prince Ivy was supposed to be courting) grounded the story and offered a perfect parallel to Ivy’s relationship with her sister.

The plot was perfectly paced, with moments of action and reflection placed exactly as they should be. Character growth was believable because it was subtle and unrushed. The writing was enchanting and easy to read, while the dialogue flowed naturally. The one thing I didn’t love was the rather abrupt twist at the end, though I definitely see the foreshadowing.

At its heart, this was a novel rooted in female friendships. Every female character was well-fleshed out and unique. They all existed outside of their relationship with Ivy, which I greatly appreciated. They truly seemed like a group of girls who would defend each other, no matter the cost. After Smith’s incredible female cast in The Witch Haven, I can say with certainty that she is a master of writing sisterhood and an instant buy for any YA fan looking to read about women supporting women.

“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!