I would like to make a rise bargain to the queen for the next book! Please and thank you!!

The Rose Bargain was so addictive from the first page! Learning how the Others came to rule England and the bargains that followed after was wild. The creativity of Queen Mor’s bargains too, oh my gosh! Greer’s had me cracking up every time it came up.

A little summary: at the beginning of the social season, every young lady who is coming out must make a bargain with Queen Mor at the beginning of the season. The cost of the bargain could be a toe, a memory, a finger, etc. in exchange for something they desire like a new skill or a change to their appearance like height or hair color. When it is finally Ivy’s season to come out, Queen Mor offers a new bargain to become Prince Bram’s wife. Little do the hopeful misses know that the cost of trying to marry Bram may cost more than they would like.

When I tell you the yearning in this story is everything! Not only for romance but for the secrets that must be unraveled. And the povs from the other contestants broke my heart and made me hate the queen even more.

The tropes I loved so much:

- One bed
-Forbidden Romance that will rip your heart out
- Competition
- He falls first

The writing was amazing, and I really liked the narration of the MC (as well as the in between narrations by each of the other characters, that was so cool)

I loved the first half, but I felt that the second half went way too fast? The romance between the MC and Emmett, and all the new friendships between the six contestants were thrown out in order to get to that cliffhanger, but those were my favourite parts :P

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Sasha Peyton Smith's THE ROSE BARGAIN exceeded my expectations. I really enjoyed this alternate timeline of British history with the fae and how well-developed the characters were. It was like the Bachelorette meets Regency England but you actually get to know the back stories of the other candidates through all the different POV presented so you're not just invested in Ivy--though she's a great main character. I absolutely did not see the ending coming though I knew there was definitely something up with that character (no spoilers) because they seemed too good to be true. Excellent plot development. I really look forward to the sequel and hope it's as riveting as THE ROSE BARGAIN. If you generally enjoy romantasy and liked Kiera Cass's THE SELECTION, THE ROSE BARGAIN is for you.

The Rose Bargain is a YA fantasy in an alternate reality where Regency England is controlled by a Fae Queen. Ivy, to potentially save her family, enters a series of challenges to be chosen as the Fae prince's wife.

I had such a good time reading this book! I really liked the characters, the writing, the world, and the plot. The setting was super creative and I liked how it wove in elements of English history in a fantasy world. It was not afraid of getting gritty, but it did so in a way that was important to the plot. I really liked Ivy as a main character. The side characters were also interesting. I enjoyed getting to learn about everyone's backstories and find out about their motivations.

Alsooo I had NO IDEA this was a duology so I was not prepared for the ending. And now I'm not prepared to wait!

I had an amazing time with this book and highly recommend it if you find the premise at all interesting! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 from me. Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book, my thoughts are my own!

Rating: 5 ⭐️
Spice: 1.0 🌶️
Tags: enemies-to-lovers; romance; love triangle; fiction; fae; multiple POV

This book is one of my few 5 star reads of the year thus far! I literally could not put this book down, and stayed up until 4:30 am to finish the book, knowing I had to be up at 7 am for a busy work day. If you are a fan of Bridgerton, Hunger Games, The Selection, The Cruel Prince, or ACOTAR, then you MUST read this book. Fair warning, it does end on a cliffhanger, and I needed book two in my hands YESTERDAY.
Set against the richly imagined backdrop of 1840s England, the book follows Ivy, a determined young woman caught in a perilous web of politics, passion, and ancient magic. As Ivy vies for the heart—and hand—of the enigmatic Prince Bram, she must also contend with the complex guidance of his charming stepbrother, Emmett, who may have motives of his own. But Ivy’s mission goes far beyond romance: convincing Bram to marry her is the key to securing her family's future and ending the centuries-long reign of his immortal fae mother, the formidable Queen Mor. With high stakes, tangled emotions, and a lush historical-fantasy setting, this book offers a compelling blend of court intrigue and slow-burning romance.
This book provides many great tropes - enemies-to-lovers; forced proximity; love triangle; trials, competitions, and bargains; and fae. I am completely obsessed with the storyline and would recommend this book to almost anyone. I found myself feeling the emotions of each character, and the multiple POV provided great insight to the characters through various lenses. I rated the spice level a 1.0 since there was a smexy scene, however it was not overly descriptive. If you are not a fan of spice, you can easily skim past the scene and it does not take away from the book.

This book, although it follows similar tropes as other fantasy books, did a beautiful job at executing its plot points. I give this book so much praise here and to my friends because Smith's understanding of her characters is so deep to the point that their hurt and anguish bled into my feelings. Specifically, Emmett's character, who's fears and backstory were so clearly written, his POV wasn't pivotal to understanding his anguish. Most of the characters don't wear their heart on their sleeve, but getting chapters from their perspective made it very easy to love them for their strengths and flaws. The only detail that kept this from being a full five stars for me on fable and story graph is that the ending felt too fast-paced for the twist it had. I believe this book could have been longer to slow the pacing of the final twist, I would have enjoyed an extra 50-100 pages of well-paced writing to finish off this first book more than I enjoyed the rushed last chapters. (+Extra: the main couple reminded me so much of Laurie and Amy in little women, I loved it.)

I came in with low expectations, was enjoying myself and then the ending just blew me away.

I fully expected this to be like a solid 3 star read and then the last 10% or so bumped it up a full star. It had me audibly gasping in the grocery store.

I loved the mystery around Queen Mor and the ‘will they won’t they’ of the love interests. The found family, the sporadic chapters where you’d get another pov, and the ENDING AGAIN AH. I cannot wait for the second book.

I listened to this one on audio and highly recommend it. The narrator was great, even at my insane speeds.

Super interesting read! Felt like a cross over of bridgerton and Bachelorette and I loved the ending! Will definitely be requesting this book for my bookclub when it’s available!

This book left me speechless! It reminded me so much of my favorite YA dystopias like OUABH and the Selection. This book combines elements of fiction and fantasy to create a world that is vibrant and new while still slightly familiar. This was such a fun book that instantly drew me in, especially in the last half. While I loved the plot and world, I hope there is more depth with the characters in the next book.

I really liked this tale! I thought the world was fascinating and the characters were well written. Ivy had great chemistry with Emmett. I didn't see the twist at the end coming! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

This book was such a fun and wild ride. Magic, royal drama, fae deals with creepy twists—what’s not to love? I really liked Ivy as a main character; she’s smart, determined, and easy to root for. The whole idea of people trading pieces of themselves for beauty or talent was super cool and kinda messed up in the best way. There’s a good amount of romantic tension, some solid plot twists, and just the right amount of drama. If you’re into fae stories with a bit of darkness and a lot of heart, definitely check this one out!!

The Rose Bargain is a promising start to a series that blends romance, magic, and political intrigue. While it may not break new ground in the genre, it offers an engaging and immersive experience for readers who enjoy tales of fae courts and forbidden love. With its compelling world-building and complex character dynamics, it sets the stage for an exciting continuation in the forthcoming sequel.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

4 stars
This book was a wild ride. Thankfully, my mom also read the ARC so I had someone to discuss with because that ending, what?! I went back to read our messages in order to refresh my memory and feel like this kind of sums it up. So here you go, my unfiltered thoughts right after finishing "The Rose Bargain".

Me: I finished the rose bargain last night and you were not wrong about the ending hahaha
Mom: It was just so abrupt
Me: I did like it but geez hahaha
Mom: I had no idea that (spoiler) was not as advertised 
Me: Some of that could have been saved for book 2 surely
Me: No me neither and I liked that twist but kind of wish they'd foreshadowed it more
Mom: Yes! Like about where (spoiler) was
Mom: I did like the (spoiler) they told us about that (spoiler) did of (spoiler)
Me: They should have ended it with her being (spoiler) at the (spoiler) and shit blowing up there
Mom: Yes!
Me: I also was like woah why are we having sex
Mom: I thought everyone throwing up was hilarious
Me: her urgency of being like I (spoiler) WE HAVE TO (spoiler) I HAVE TO (spoiler) WITH YOUR BROTHER had me very confused. 
Mom: yeah, smarter that they do it after she is (spoiler) and (spoiler) to (spoiler)
Me: and then she only (spoiler) for like 5 minutes. I thought for sure that would be a mid next book thing.
Mom: it should have been
Me: It did make me think that you'd really like the cruel prince books if you liked the dark fairy parts of this
Mom: "Dark fairy parts" ;)

The Rose Bargain is a thoughtful and emotionally rich story that weaves themes of sacrifice, love, and redemption into a modern-day fable. Jesse Garcia creates a mysterious atmosphere with elegant prose and symbolic depth, centering around a seemingly simple exchange that carries profound consequences. The characters are subtly drawn, yet their motivations and inner conflicts resonate powerfully. It’s a compact but impactful tale that lingers after the final page—a quiet reminder of what we give up and what we gain in the name of love.

Posted via Goodreads and Fable, scheduled post via Instagram goes live 04/19/25

4 stars!

Woah so uh... man where to start?

First I LOVED the idea for this and the way the author told it was phenomenal too. Historical England mixed with fae romantasy? Heck yeah!
Our main character had her flaws but you still rooted for her and the other girls in this fantasy version of The Selection mixed with Bridgerton fantasy.

Characters were complex, the story was great, and that plot twist at the end had me flipping pages and beyond shocked (maybe my favorite part!)

Romance wise... I was a little surprised at the spicy scene given that I thought this book was marketed as a young adult book?

I personally loved the romance between Emmett and Ivy, I loved the banter and connection they had and ended up laughing at so many scenes with them and rooting for them. Like I said though, there is a spicy scene. Now I don't mind spice (I sometimes really love a spicy read), but when I'm expecting a young adult read... just a heads up.

Very excited for book 2!!

Loved, loved, loved it. I was hooked from the blurb and didn't lose interest once. I thought the story was great, the characters were amazing. It was a super quick read for me. Will definitely read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an arc for an exchange of an honest review.
This book is about what you want and what the price you are willing to pay for it. This is a YA book. For about 400 years England has been under the reign of a fae queen that happens to be immortal. She made a bargain on the field to gain her title. The fae queen will grant your wish, but comes with a serious cost. The fae queen has announced her son is going to look for a bride and there is a competition to win his heart. The human world and the fae world are different and humans are looked at different.
Ivy decides to compete to win his heart. There are ulterior motives among some characters in this book. This is a spoiler free review and will not go into more about that. Ivy has to learn who she can trust in this process as not everyone's motive is pure for Ivy winning.

The Rose Bargain
by Sasha Peyton Smith
Pub Date: Feb 04 2025

London, 1848—For four hundred years, England has been under the control of an immortal fae queen who tricked her way onto the throne. To maintain an illusion of benevolence, Queen Mor grants each of her subjects one opportunity to bargain for their deepest desire.

As Ivy Benton prepares to make her debut, she knows that not even a deal with the queen could fix what has gone wrong: Her family’s social standing is in shambles, her sister is a shadow of her former self, and Ivy’s marriage prospects are nonexistent. So when the queen announces a competition for Prince Bram’s hand, Ivy is the first to sign her name in blood. What a bargain can’t fix, a crown certainly could.

Ivy soon finds herself a surprising front-runner—with the help of an unexpected ally: Prince Bram’s brother, the rakish Prince Emmett, who promises to help Ivy win his brother’s heart…for a price. But as the season sweeps Ivy away, with glittering balls veiling the queen’s increasingly vicious trials, Ivy realizes there’s more at stake than just a wedding. Because all faerie bargains come with a cost, and Ivy may have discovered hers too late.

A great YA romantasy! Perfect for fans of bridgerton or the selection series based on the atmosphere of the book. Loved the POVs from some of the side characters. The ending was perfect for the set up of the next book. My only complaint was the one “smut” scene. It felt rushed and forced. It either needed to be executed better or just should have been a fade to black scene. The kiss scene was executed perfectly though!

First I would like to thank Netgalley for approving this arc for me to read and give an honest review back.

I was a bit nervous going into the book that it would not live up to the excitement I have had for the book, and it did quite the opposite. I thoroughly enjoyed the book way more than I had expected. I love the banter between the girls as they navigate the bargain they have made with their lives, the banter of the princes, and the main character with both love interests. The turn of events and twists in the story kept the thrill going of what might happen or not, and Sasha Peyton Smith living up to how she ended her other series, gave us the same shock with this one. Another book I will add to my list this year I have enjoyed and some more characters I have really loved.