Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

The Rose Bargain was very engaging. I was intrigued with the Queen being fae in an alternative England. The book is fast paced and interesting. The premise of the bargains was unique. If you like the Selection then you will love this book.

A fun, romantic, propellant read. Ultimately in the slew of books I read (it's my job!), THE ROSE BARGAIN is likely to become forgettable after a couple of weeks, but that matters little when I had a blast reading it. Combined with a cliffhanger ending (you've been warned...), accessible characters, and mostly likeable characters, I sped through this one. Worldbuilding felt decent if not a tad underdeveloped in some areas, the romance was cute, and generally was very fun.

3.5 rounded down.

I think this is the definition of a “popcorn fantasy.” This is so bingeable and easily digestible, but there isn’t anything particularly special about it. It hits all the right tropes and has a great premise, but it doesn’t do anything extra.

I love the plot (until the end). It was so interesting to read, but it definitely went the more predictable route at the end which was disappointing. I also felt that the romance was highly forced and underdeveloped. It was rushed and didn’t need to be since this isn’t a standalone book. A little more time and patience needed to be taken with the ending and the romance to really make it stand out and take it to a new level.

An absolutely stunning story I was drawn into from the very beginning.

I enjoyed Sasha Peyton Smith’s debut so I was excited for this story when I first heard about it. But oh my goodness, this blew it out of the water for me.

The Rose Bargain is a fascinating alternate-past story where the British royal court has been overtaken by a fae Queen. Each subject is allowed to make one bargain once they reach the age of majority, and must pay the price the queen demands. Young noble girls are expected to spend theirs on something to make them more desirable to prospective husbands, thus theirs are dubbed ‘rose bargains’.

But this year is different. The queen is looking for a wife for her son, and to be in the running the girls must promise never to take another husband if they are unsuccessful - a good deal for some, who don’t wish to marry anyway, or don’t wish to marry the man their family have lined up.

The group that choose and are chosen to compete for his hand are fabulous, and the tasks they are set portray the ‘cruel heartless fae’ stereotype which I really enjoy.

I was thrilled to realise at the end of the book that it’s going to have a sequel, and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here!

I really enjoyed this! It felt like a mix of Bridgerton, the cruel prince, and the selection and all tied together. And the ending - I can’t wait for book 2!

I had so much fun with this one! I loved how like the bachelor it was, and the setting was so much fun. I do wish it had been advertised as the first in a series, not because it would've kept me from reading it, but because I was expecting a standalone, and I ended up feeling a little tricked when I got to the cliffhanger. Still, I'm very much looking forward to the sequel!

SO GOOD!!!! i really liked this one! really refreshing story. good plot. extremely likeable characters

This is absolutely the next big YA Fantasy. If you loved Heartless Hunter & Rebel Witch and you were left wanting more, look no further (except now I can't wait for the sequel to this book, too).

Set in an alternate 1848 London ruled by an immortal fae queen, this novel is a mesmerizing mix of court intrigue, deadly bargains, and high-stakes romance. For centuries, Queen Mor has kept England under her control, offering each subject a single chance to make a fae bargain in exchange for their heart’s deepest desire.

But as Ivy Benton prepares for her debut season (very Bridgerton-esque if you love that!), she knows that not even magic can fix her family’s crumbling reputation... so when the queen announces a competition for the prince’s hand, Ivy sees her chance to claim a crown instead.

From the very start, this book pulls you into a world that is both dazzling and sinister. The glittering ballrooms and royal court set the stage for a competition that’s far more dangerous than it appears. Ivy is a compelling MC... ambitious, determined, and willing to take risks, even when the cost of losing could be devastating.

Then there’s Prince Emmett, the charming but unpredictable younger brother of her intended, who offers to help Ivy win…for a price. Their dynamic crackles with tension, making every interaction between them layered with intrigue and unspoken motives.

What makes this book stand out is its balance of romance, political scheming, and the ever-present danger of dealing with magic. The queen’s trials become more ruthless as the competition unfolds, and the deeper Ivy gets, the more she realizes that winning a prince’s hand is the least of her worries. The writing is immersive, the pacing is sharp, and the twists come at just the right moments to keep you hooked.

If you love books with high-stakes romance, cunning heroines, and a world where every choice comes with a price, this one is a must-read. It’s dark, addictive, and filled with just the right amount of danger to keep you turning the pages late into the night. I listened to the audio of this one and it was wonderful and immersive!!!

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith is a beautifully written, magical story with a gripping plot and a strong heroine. The atmosphere is rich and eerie, making it a great read for fans of historical fantasy.

Illegal cliffhanger.

This book definitely gives vibes of The Selection, Bridgerton, and The Cruel Prince. There were a couple times I had to re-read to understand what happened, like a certain spicy scene that was kind of luke warm. All of a sudden things were happening and I was like where did that come from.
Now that being said, I was thoroughly entertained. The last few chapters were a whirlwind and I can’t wait to see what happens next for Ivy. She better get her HEA with a certain someone…

This book is an excellent mix of historical fiction and fantasy. The way that bargains that a fae queen makes with each member of the English aristocracy ties in with the series of trials for the prince's hand makes this an extremely compelling story that I didn't want to put down. Ivy having to learn to navigate through these trials, as well as form alliances within the court and the other competitors to try, and solve the mystery about what is going on with her sister all weave together to form a braid that makes the reader want to know what happens next. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am excited to see where the story goes from here.

Again, this was another almost 4-star read. It was pretty solid for the most part except the romance was a bit too detached for me, not too many moments really focusing on interactions between either Prince Bram and Ivy, or even Prince Emmett and Ivy (since this was a squiggly love triangle, in a way). Prince Bram x Ivy was pretty obvious, that it wasn't true and meant to be. She never even truly liked him, but I don't think she did enough to really grab his attention, as this was a competition to win his heart. The whole premise of these girls being pitted against each other to win his heart, and Prince Bram getting to move freely between all the girls was a bit icky for me. I didn't care for that at all as it doesn't give off the idea of true love. It's a very superficial way of simply finding a pretty wife that meets the mold. But I did like some of the moments where the girls stood their ground as a unit, even if it felt cheesy at times. The 6 girls were most definitely unique in their own way, as well as the two princes and Queen Mor. The prose/writing style was pretty good, and I very much enjoyed it. This was also very funny! I found myself laughing out loud and chuckling at some of the moments.

One of the biggest issues I had with this book was the timeline. It wasn't very consistent. There were multiple moments where Ivy "passed out" or "felt sick" and had to lay down for days at a time, and it felt like a cheap trick to make it seem like 5 weeks had passed (that's the entire timeframe of the book). There were also some scenes that really zipped by and felt too quick, like some of the trials, and dear god that sex scene. In all honesty, that really didn't need to be in there. It was so bizarrely placed, it literally made me for sure knock it down from 4-stars.

The Rose Bargain was a book I had on my TBR and is my first book from Sasha Peyton Smith. What intrigued me most of all was the description The Cruel Prince meets the Selection and I just knew I had to read this.

I rate this book a 4.25 ⭐️ .

I was immediately engaged in the story and loved the work building- it felt familiar (real places in England) but unique . This was a fast paced easy read for me and the last part had me on the edge of my seat (I'm just sad I have to wait for the next book).

The competition elements and the banter and tension between the two main characters had me wanting more.

I can't wait to read more from Sasha Peyton Smith. (I have this.a few versions of this book).

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC of The Rose Bargain. I though this was a solid start to a series(?). I enjoyed the regency setting, the forbidden love, the secretive magic and (extremely) morally gray faeries. As a fan of Holly Black's faeries, and The Courting of Bristol Keats, and the Emily Wilde books, this was a fun exploration of similar worlds and lore. This book is definitely YA and the main character, Ivy, makes a lot of questionable judgement calls and there were several plot points and drama that could have easily been prevented. I personally found this frustrating, but to be fair, I have kids closer to her age than I am. I do feel though, that there were some miscommunications that could have been easily prevented at any age. I had a hard time staying engaged through parts of it, and the ending was predictable, but also what I was hoping for. Overall the plot moved quickly though, the pining was perfect, and I really liked the ending and how it set up the rest of this series.

I found this book very easy to read quickly, but everything felt very surface level. I read maybe 60% of it on a plane ride home, then when I took a short break from it, it all sort of drifted from my head. The plot and world building are interesting, but the characters and romance feel one dimensional, which detracts from the overall reading experience. I would have liked to see more development from all the characters to make them more complex.

This book is everything I have ever wanted in a Young Adult fantasy novel. Sasha Peyton Smith checks ALL of the boxes! Amazing heroine, fun love triangle, mystical and magical world and story. I cannot wait for the second book in this duology!

This book was SO FUN. It reminded me of The Selection with trials to win the hand of the prince, but darker with magic and a dash of fae. I read a review that said The Selection + Bridgerton + The Cruel Prince. And I’d AGREE! 👏 Definitely a fantasy book I’d recommend!

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I THOROUGHLY enjoyed Sasha Peyton Smith’s The Rose Bargain. I devoured this book and read it in 24 hours. The Rose Bargain is a unique look on the current fae phenomenon. My favorite aspect of this book was the focus on all of the female characters. The other women competing for the prince’s hand were fully fledged characters with their own personalities and desires. This is especially due to the inclusion of chapters from their points of view. The other women were not side characters with the only purpose of furthering the plot. The stakes are high in this book and I could not be more pleased. The plot was very compelling and had me on the edge of my seat.

I cannot wait for the sequel!

Thank you Epic Reads, Harper Collins, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I absolutely loved this one - such a fun alternate universe/romantasy take on Victorian England. In a world full of romtansy, pick this one up.