Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in return for an honest review.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I was definitely surprised at some parts in the end but also saw some things coming. I cannot wait for book 2 to come out. Will definitely pick it up to see what happens to everyone. If you are looking for Bridgerton meets Fae vibes, this book is definitely for you! Sasha never disappoints!

At this point I think I am all fae-ed out! "The Rose Bargain" was unique in its own fae way, but you know it really was just the usual; other worldly beings dabbling in violence and trickery. Being a YA story, I think it was pretty decent for what it was. The world building is what I expect from this genre. Honestly, it didn't get interesting to me until the 50% mark, but it did prove to be entertaining enough to binge.

Sometimes when I read young adult books, I get confronted about my ideals of what YA should be. I keep trying to put YA in a box when it comes to mature themes but YA ain't having it. Basically, I was kind of shocked at the sex scene that was thrown in here. Idk why I am always shocked. I mean, they were cutting off toes, pinkies, and stuff, so I guess sex isn't too far of a reach. My question is though, how are you riding as a virgin and it's just a blissful experience for you? Girl, you know it had to sting a bit. Like, you are at a level 0 at this and it just a rodeo to you. Okayyy.

I did not see the plot twist coming as I wasn't really looking for a twist, but I think it was done well. I am going to keep it real honest though. I am not reading the next book. I think more books need to be standalones. It may be unfair to the authors but it's like, if it ain't something new or fresh can we keep it to one book?

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

The Rose Bargain, set in an alternative England where the queen is fae, follows Ivy Benton as she enters a competition for the prince's hand in a desperate bid to uncover the magical bargain her sister made with the queen.

I'm always wary when books make a promise as lofty as The Cruel Prince meets The Selection, but The Rose Bargain actually delivered on this for me. I found myself feeling exactly the way I felt when I read The Selection for the first time, exactly the way I felt reading The Cruel Prince for the first time. These were both series I tore through voraciously, and The Rose Bargain had me glued to the page in an identical way. And the ending! I'm really hoping this is, in fact, a series, and that there will be a second book, because I'm not sure how to move on at this point.

While I certainly have some qualms with it overall -- some of the early pace felt odd, a couple of the more action-y moments didn't quite land for me, and ultimately the comps did make some aspects of the ending feel rather predictable -- I think this was just a super solid YA romantasy that I hope will find its home with teens the way The Selection did for me when I was younger.

The characters were good but not great. I didn't feel attached to anyone and i only liked the Villian queen. I felt like her story and background had such good bones and history.

The world building was definitely lacking, but it could improve in the next book, so i wasn't too critical of this point.

The pacing was good but there were some very repetitious scenes. Most of the trials felt the same with only a few tweaks.

The dialogue was fine but nothing particularly special or creative.

I liked getting to know the other ladies through their POVs but i also felt like we were wasting precious time that could be spent on improving the main relationship and world building.

The romance is where this really fell flat. It's crystal clear how the romance will play out once you meet the two MCs. I didn't see any emotional connection. It all felt superficial, and the love declarations had no foundation.

The love scene felt rushed, and not in the least bit romantic for me.

.

***Slightly spoiler below......

She has quick sex with brother 1 and then right afterwards, she's telling him she has to go marry brother 2. Lover boy 1 is supportive and lets her go but then the next day he's desperate to stop her? Make a decision and stick to it please.***

I'm so tired of the same tropes.

The ending surprise was also predictable, (simply because this type of twist is always used in romantacy lately) but i liked the direction the story is taking. I think the next book will be even better than this one.

OVERALL: this book is good and has so much going for it, but im just not sure if YA/NA romantacy is meant for me anymore. If you loved The Selection, The Bachelor and Victorian England vibes, then you should give it a try.

ROMANCE: Open door/descriptive intimate scene.
CONTENT: LGBT representation, mild violence and mild language.

Thank you to HarperCollins for this e-ARC of The Rose Bargain in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book. It's truly not often that the comps for the book describe a book so perfectly, but Bridgerton meets The Cruel Prince nails it. If you've read Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington, it's very similar to that as well, but obviously with pretty dresses like you see in Bridgerton. The author truly nails IVy's naiveté, and the characterization, alongside the way she explores their pitfalls in this book, were so well done. It truly felt like a coming of age story, something that a lot of YA fantasy are lacking. Emmett's character was a little corny, but I have to give him some grace as he's only 18. That was the best thing - the characters were young and felt like it, but they were all making decisions where you could see WHY for their age.

Sasha Peyton Smith's pacing was also excellent, and I was SO immersed in the world that she described. I loved the backstory of why there was fae in London, with it being both simple and easy to follow as well as mesmerizing. I truly saw this world come to life with Sasha's writing. I loved this book and I can't wait to delve more into the fae world in Book 2! This book definitely deserves its roses.

The perfect combination of Cruel Prince, The Selection and Bridgerton. This is a hit!

I am incredibly impressed with this debut.

What I liked:
+ the characters are well written and fleshed out
+ different POVs
+ the stakes feel real and make sense
+ easily digestible setting - basically Bridgerton/regency era
+ the mysteries that unravel organically throughout the story
+ the tension filled romance *definitely check out B&N bonus chapter*

I have not been able to stop thinking about this since I finished! The tag line is spot on, it really is The Selection mixed with Cruel Prince, and it’s very well executed! The fae in this defiantly scratch the Cruel Prince itch, which imo is very hard to do. My favorite part though was the character journey we see the MFC make along with the other girls competing for the hand of the prince. I don't want to spoil anything but there's real heaviness that some of them have to unpack. The romance and yearning was also chefs kiss!! I usually don’t like love triangles but this one didn't bother me. PS there is a bit of spice!

Can’t wait for book two! That ending had me spinning!

This book had an intriguing premise—Regency-era British royalty mixed with the dark magic of a ruthless Fae queen—but it didn’t fully deliver on its potential. The idea of debutantes striking dangerous bargains for beauty or intelligence, with sinister and unpredictable prices, was fascinating, and Ivy’s motivation to restore her family’s reputation added depth to her character. The high-stakes twist of competing for Prince Bram’s favor, with dire consequences for losing, set up plenty of drama.

However, the trials lacked intensity, and the romance felt flat and underdeveloped. Ivy’s decisions often seemed driven by the plot rather than her emotions, and the shifting points of view disrupted the pacing without adding much value. While the writing was smooth and the world creative, the ending lacked the impact I’d hoped for, and the story left me wanting more depth and emotional resonance.

Overall, it’s a decent read with some enjoyable elements, but it didn’t quite live up to its intriguing premise.

Overall, I thought that "The Rose Bargain" was a fun and quick, easy read. I was drawn in with the comparisons to "The Cruel Prince" and "The Selection" and that immediately made me interested. The Victorian England setting with Bridgerton vibes were great, though the book was a bit slow to start and it took a bit to get really invested. Would still recommend as a read if you enjoyed the series that it is compared to!

This was a great read!! It was perfectly marketed for fans of The Selection, Bridgerton, and The Cruel Prince!! Any book I can inhale in a day is one I am going to rate highly because the means the story is engaging and fun to follow!! I really loved the two brothers in this book- seemingly the sun and the moon! The dark notes of Fae lore in this book drew me in immediately- like Ivy, I wanted to know everyone’s bargains. I loved the Trial aspect and the way Ivy progressed through them while bonding with the brothers! This book is definitely worth the read if you like any of the premises I mentioned!!

I am freaking OBSESSED with this book. I read it in a single night and devoured it. Sasha you will always be one of my all time favorite authors

This book was kind of like an amalgamation between The Selection, A Game of Veils and The Cruel Prince, but it didn't quite match those titles in greatness for me.

I definitely had mixed feelings on this read.

I think it had a lot of potential, but in the end, it fell flat for me.

I loved our main character, but the love triangle was not for me and things felt a little cliche. The romance in general just fell flat. I wanted so badly to like where the author was going with this.

But I really enjoyed a regency setting and the lore of the fae we get. The vibes were immaculate in that department.

I am, however, looking forward to a sequel after the ending. I feel like this author can still do something really cool with the series.

I absolutely loved this book! The setting was great and I could not put this book down! I highly recommend reading this book.

Thanks netgalley for sending me the arc for this book the first thing that drew me in was the cover and from there I was just pleasantly content with how the book went. I like the bridgerton and hunger games vibes. I like the mystery and the family bonds. I would love to read the next one and more from this author.

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith is the first book in a duology that introduces you to a world of faeries that will have you wondering just who can you trust and how dangerous can wishes be.

In this world, every citizen of England is granted a bargain from the immortal fae queen and high society girls are expected to bargain for qualities that will win them suitors - but the bargains come at a cost. But when it is Ivy's season to debut, there is a shocking twist. The queen announces that her son, Prince Bram is going to marry but this requires a competition. Ivy's hope is that this could save Ivy's family from ruin and free her sister from the bargain her sister made which destroyed her. Little does she know that at the center of this contest is a plot that could destroy everything.

Ivy actually has no real desire to marry or make a bargain but she is willing to do anything for her sister and her parents so she enters this competition and finds herself in the middle of something she never really expected. The queen's bargains have gotten out of hand and there is a way to stop her and her games and Prince Emmett, Bram's human brother is determined to make it happen. To do so, he needs Ivy's help so he starts giving her tips and lessons on how to win Bram over but along the way, they start to become more than friends and that is where things start to go sideways.

The competition portion was interesting too. It is clear that the queen is bored and trying to do everything she can to scare these girls away. They go through everything from humiliation to pain but each one has their own reason to stick it out. I liked how Smith built out the relationships between these characters and give us snippets of each of their backgrounds by giving us chapters from their points of view.

The romance between Ivy and Emmett was a bit rushed but that was only because they didn't get to spend enough time together (in my opinion). There were only snippets of time where they could be alone and even then it wasn't very long. That said, I do look forward to seeing how things end up in the next book for these two.

The end of this book is where you'll be on the edge of your seat. I'll admit that I saw it coming but I was still waiting to see how it was going to all come together. There are some pieces that had me shaking my head - if you've read, you should know what I am referring to. And while I understood why Ivy made the bargain she did, I didn't want her to do it...and that's all I have to say about that.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend anyone looking for a historical fantasy to consider picking this one up. Especially if you enjoy faeries. Smith did a great job of setting the stage for the next book and I can't wait to have it in my hands.

Oh my, where to start. I absolutely devoured this book. The narrators did a truly amazing job at bringing the story to life, my hats off to them. If you're a fan of The Cruel Prince and Bridgerton, you'll probably enjoy this one. It has a bit of Fae, a bit of mystery and (forbidden) romance all set in a scene where people were big lavish dresses and live in castles. Our FMC must enter a contest to win the heart of the Fae Prince to help her family whom is struggling. The Queen has each pledge ask for a favor in which she gives them a bargain in exchange for it. It is considered YA, so no worries about spice if you're avoiding that, there is one scene but it's tastefully done and short. There is plenty of romantic tension between our two MMC's and our FMC. I was not expecting the plot twist at all! I went into this book without reading the synopsis as I like to be completely caught off guard by a book. The writing was very well done. Would I recommend it? Absolutely, yes. I look forward to a reread before book 2 comes out. YES, there will be a second book as this ends on a cliffhanger!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for giving me access to an ARC copy to read

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc. I agree with other reviewers too much telling and not showing. I also felt there was too much torture and violence placed on the girls.

“Rose bargains, they’re called. Bargains to make us beautiful, fragile, sweet—perfect English roses.”

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishing team for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s been so long since I was last shocked into silent panic, and I wasn’t expecting it at all from this book. I read and watched some reviews of The Rose Bargain before committing to it, and the general impression I got was that of a romance with Bridgeton vibes but with fae. I read the book expecting a cute romance, some drama and overall lovely vibes. While it did deliver on that aspect, it was so much more than that.

<img src="https://s3.gifyu.com/images/b2B7C.jpg" width="400" height="150" alt="shadow and bone aesthetic"/>


World-building: 10/10

Absolutely stunning. This novel takes place in the victorian era; the description of dresses, cakes, rooms, buildings was beautiful and all I expected from it. Smith’s writing immediately immersed me in her world, and made it easy for me as a reader to picture every corner of it.

I want to avoid mentioning the magical part of it because of spoilers but if you’re someone that loves the idea of slow world-building, this one is for you.

Characters: 10/10

I loved every single one. I don’t think there’s one character in this book that is simple in their motives and personality. At first, I underestimated the main character and her rivals/friends, and I was so wrong for it. When the plot started taking off, I convinced myself that the other girls weren’t going to be as important, I imagined they would be bickering and taking part in other behaviors that have been cliche for a while in fictional stories, however the author decided to create a small found family that I feel completely and irrevocably in love with, and now I need so much more of it.

Romance: 10/10

Perfect, no notes. It doesn’t take over the overall plot, it’s not rushed or exaggerated. It’s easy to see from their first meeting that they were going to be inevitable, and I can’t wait to have more of them.

I don’t see a second book or series name anywhere which tells me it’s not a confirmed duology or trilogy yet, but I really hope this changes soon because The Rose Bargain definitely feels like just the beginning of a much more complicated story.

In summary, this is a short, no-spoilery rant of me asking Sasha Peyton Smith for more.

"When one makes a faerie bargain, one must be prepared to pay the price. There is one silver lining. I have nothing to lose."

This book sucked me in from the first page.
I was immediately immersed into a fully formed world.
What if fairies were real? What if they shaped the history of Great Britain? The characters were both fully fleshed out and also lovable. The story kept me so entranced, I had to keep reading. The ending shocked and delighted me. I would very much like book 2 immediately.

3.75

This book was w o w.

I am not normally a YA girlie but I finished this so fast. like faster than I've read anything in awhile.

I loved that it felt very Bridgerton like but also with a fae-like twist! I can honestly say that I was hooked on this from the second I picked it up. I did not want to put my kindle down for one second to see what was going to happen next.

When I started this I thought this was going to be new age take on the Twilight-like love triangle that I read so much of when I was younger but this was definitely not that. Ivy wanted Emmett but had to be with Bram to take care of her family and than later as she learns, all of Britain.

I liked Bram but he was so unseeming and sweet, we really didn't get to spend much time with him so the more moments we had of sarcastic and charming Emmett, I liked Emmett more anyway lol He just wanted to be loved.

I liked that the competition aspect of this did include some moments where the girls were suspicious of each other and sizing each other up but in the end they trauma bonded hard and became somewhat friends. Expect Greer, Greer deserved better and I like to believe that she did run away with the stable boy.

I did feel that this could have been a little longer to go more in depth with the Queen's trials and to give some more time for the romance to blossom between Ivy and Emmett but I don't think it was the most rushed all in all. The girls pushed back in a way I didn't expect in the trials, often with books like they, they have that "I don't have a choice" mentality, so it was nice to see them in the end be like you know what, no. Even if it back fired lol

Bram was sweet but Emmett was charming and witty. I liked Emmett.

This did not give me insta love vibes more than it gave me a young romance were everything can feel heightened and move at a quicker pace because young love. I am not normally a fan of that but since this was YA, I didn't seem to mind it.

I will say her sister annoyed me in this book up until the end. I did see her being over there in the other world, the clues were there but I just felt at times she was just annoying. I could relate to all of Ivy's love hate complicated feelings towards her sister.

I was very surprised at the ending. I did not see Bram being a king over there, I could see him either being bad or this being a love triangle - so when the love triangle did not come, I was wondering what was going to happen next when we got to the wedding. I will say the I am so shocked at where this story leaves us with a cliff hanger and I cannot wait to read the next one to see where this goes!

I love stories that are about the Fae and set in historical Victorian England, which The Rose Bargain is. There is just something about that atmosphere that brings its own kind of magic.

I had actually kept passing up the book at first, thinking that I would not be as interested in the fighting in a competition to win the Prince. I’ve enjoyed books with competition dating but I wouldn’t consider them my favorite. I really liked how the competition was done in The Rose Bargain, mostly because it wasn’t focused on the competition itself as it was the girls stories and what brought them to the point they were at. That made it interesting to me.

I’m a suspicious person and I think books make me that way. So I’m always like if something seems too good to be true it probably is. I thought the set-up for the way the book ends was good though.