A great book with a lot of promise!
Full of political intrigue, immersive world building and strong characters.

In the colonized nation of Viryana, Poppy Sutherland doesn’t really fit in anywhere, not with the white elite who raised her or the islanders who share her roots. When she finds out her scheming fiancé plans to get rid of her, she runs right into the hands of Hasan Devar, a notorious outlaw with magical powers the colonizers want to erase. He takes her as leverage, but Poppy’s not just a pawn, she’s got her own secrets and big ambitions. Together, they might be able to do more than just survive, they could shake the whole system. The first book in the Reckoning Storm duology, To Bargain with Mortals is a bold, character-driven story about power, identity, and fighting back.

The world building is a little complex but not daunting, it took about five chapters for me to find my feet. The pacing was a little slow to begin with but I enjoyed getting a clear picture of Poppy, Hasan & their back stories before the plot kicked off in earnest.

The pacing unfortunately didn’t pick up for most of the book, there were sections that felt really slow and that were a little hard to get through.

I found the way Poppy is written really interesting, we meet a really sheltered girl who has been kept in the dark about the realities of living in a colony. Poppy has been fed lies & mistruths about the native Viryans that she’s wholeheartedly believed for her entire life. She went from the shelter of her home as the viceroy’s daughter to the shelter of her boarding school and back again. Her character growth is really good, there were times when I was so frustrated with Poppy but I also liked that there was room for growth, she’s an imperfect FMC that we see mature throughout the book.

The magic system doesn’t feature as prominently as I thought it would so I hope to see more of that in the next book. The bit we do see is really cool and I can see it taking on a much bigger role in the next part of the story.

Thank you so much to Netgalley & Bindery Books for the opportunity to read & review this book!

The story touches on a lot of worldbuilding, the world's religions that exist, the peoples' lives, etc. I found the characters to all generally be overall well developed and everyone had flaws and was well-rounded in their own ways. Poppy and Hasan unexpectedly cross paths coming from opposite sides, but they end up having the same alignment with regards to their goals, and it was great to read their dynamic and how they work off of each other. Poppy had relatable moments and her situation provided opportunity for me as the reader to empathize, but there were some moments where I thought the writing execution of how she's trying to tie into the role(s) and her place in society could have been stronger. I would sometimes drop my jaw from reading some of Hasan's perspectives and if there is a sequel (which I thought there was set up for continuation) I think it would make sense to continue expanding on Poppy and Hasan.

Thank you for the complimentary ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

A very fast-paced novel, clearly built around a grand concept. The author deserves praise for what is undoubtedly a strong debut. I had a fine time with this book, even though some of the plot resolutions ultimately contributed to my lower rating.

To Bargain with Mortals is set on the island of Viryana, which is controlled by the Welkland Empire. The setting is clearly inspired by colonial India under British rule. The first main character, Poppy Sutherland, is the adopted daughter of the Viceroy. As a native Viryanan raised and educated by the Welkish, she doesn’t fully belong to either society. The second main character, Hasan Devar, leads a criminal organization operating on the island. His family gang gives off strong Peaky Blinders vibes. I liked Hasan quite a bit; even with his naive idealism he was an interesting character, and his POV was my favorite. Poppy, on the other hand, wasn’t particularly likeable, and I wonder if that was intentional. Without getting into spoilers, she often came across as self-centered and lacking agency, even if somehow also portrayed as powerful. Other characters were a bit of a mixed bag. The white Welkish aristos were clearly one-dimensional in their racist and closed-minded stance. Hasan’s gang members were more nuanced and morally gray - but at the end of the day, that’s the only way to portray people who do bad things in order to fight an even worse system. Still, I especially liked Zeyar – not because he was a particularly likable character, but because he was complex, which I appreciated. FYI, this book is not a romantasy, so don’t expect any romance. Although I suspect something might happen between Poppy and Hasan in the sequel, because how could it not.

The core of both the plot and message of this book is anti-colonialism. I certainly appreciate that, though I must admit the worldbuilding didn’t leave as strong an impression on me as some other fantasy novels in the same category. I'm not sure I can explain it clearly, but it basically comes down to the fact that the colonial system depicted in the book mirrors real-world history almost too closely. Stripped of its fictional nomenclature, the mechanisms are effectively a rewrite of British (and not only British) colonialism: economic plunder, physical and symbolic violence, the „white man’s burden”. It was hard for me to find a fresh perspective in that. I think the author missed an opportunity, particularly when it comes to the magic system. The book might have felt more original and impactful if magic had also been portrayed as some tool of exploitation. Instead, it is wielded only by the oppressed inhabitants of the colony, ultimately becoming just another cultural element that is stripped away by the colonizers – same as language, religion or art.

As mentioned, this book is fast-paced – there’s no scene that feels unnecessary. This is a great strength, as it allows you to fully dive into the story and follow the adventure alongside the characters. However, there were moments that felt too convenient plotwise, and because of that, not very plausible. I won’t go into detail, but the development of Poppy’s arc seemed to portray the complex issue of dismantling an oppressive system as something relatively easy – as long as you're willing and have supportive friends around you, you’re good. This aspect kind of bothered me, as everything seemed to fall into place too easily. The ending of the book felt overly optimistic and, honestly, slightly naive. I attribute this to what I previously mentioned about the novel being a near copy-paste of historical colonial mechanisms. This similarities heavily influenced my sense of what felt plausible in this book and what didn’t.

Speaking more of the plot, this is the first book in a duology. I suspect the biggest reveal of book two will concern Poppy’s true origins. However, by about halfway through this book, certain plot elements begin to surface that made it fairly easy for readers to connect the dots. Well.

All in all, this wasn’t a bad or unpleasant read. The overall portrayal of colonial realities felt very much on point. It avoids romanticizing poverty or oppression, which, sadly, is not always the norm in contemporary historical fantasy. This review may make it seem like I liked the book less than I actually did. It’s a strong debut that promises a good time. While it wasn’t perfect, I’m intrigued and will definitely read the sequel.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

To Bargain with Mortals is a vivid and emotionally rich fantasy inspired by South Asian history and myth. With lush world-building, layered cultural themes, and complex, well-drawn characters, it blends political intrigue, rebellion, and slow-burn romance into an immersive and thought-provoking story. Beautifully written and deeply human, it’s perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven narratives with heart, high stakes, and a strong sense of place.

This was so good. I am buying the physical copy as soon as it comes out. The world building is immersive and the characters are lovable in their own ways. Worth the read.

"The cost of revolution is always blood."

Thank you Skies Press for the eARC, and to Netgalley!

To Bargain with Mortals is a stunning urban fantasy with deep, intricate magic and political systems. As a huge fan of political intrigue in my fantasy books, this was the perfect book for me. Seeing this soft, feisty FMC topple man-made systems made me so proud and made me feel so much more connected to her and her story.

Poppy Sutherland is an incredibly complex woman. After being adopted by white parents, and having her culture forced out of her, she still found her way back to herself. Her relationship with her father was a stand-out. It's devastating to know how realistic that was. Hasan Devar was my favorite, though. His reckless loyalty made me root for him and I loved seeing him finally get a seat at the table.

R.A. Basu is a WONDERFUL author, and I cannot wait to see what she does with Reckoning Storm 2.

From what I've read so far, the FMCs background is confusing (is she adopted by the colonizers? what's her deal?) and the MMC's intro felt right out of an Ekta Kapoor misogynistic saas-bahu saga. Not necessarily a bad thing, but made me realize this won't be an easy straightforward read and that I'll need more bandwidth to fully process things that come up. Soft DNF until I find the right time to get into it.

What an incredible debut!!!

It is so refreshing to get a unique premise from a 2025 fantasy release, but I would argue it is because of the profoundly impactful cultural emphasis in this book.
Poppy's heritage is full of culture, history, magic and beauty, but being adopted by colonialists leaves her fighting her identity to adhere to the status quo and earn her keep in her adoptive family's empire.
But what if where we come from is the most magic part of all?

This story confronts sexism, racism and colonialism head on, exploring these topics so explosively and intimately. Not to mention our FMC Poppy is so real and raw, you are tripping over yourself to root for her.

If you want a fantasy that tackles political intrigue, varied caste systems and cultural divide, this book is wholly for you.

This debut offers more than just a fantasy plot; it’s a layered exploration of power, colonialism, and the sacrifices required for self-determination. The pacing allows tension to simmer rather than rush, giving emotional beats space to land.

◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ to bargain with mortals.


ੈ♡˳ final rating: 4.5/5
i received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating, and all opinions expressed below are my own.

to bargain with mortals offers a fresh take on the repercussions of colonialism and a girl’s fight for power—within the wolf’s den, so to speak. as the adopted daughter of the viceroy, the claim to leader had never been in her hands, especially when she’s a virian woman—deemed lower than the elite welks. the story of the unlikely alliance between poppy and hasan is one full of emotion yet leaves behind a kind of almost brutal grace that clicks really well with the overall tone being presented. it’s written quite beautifully and i can tell that a lot of basu’s heart was put into this book! can’t wait for the next book :D

thank you to netgalley and bindery books for this arc!

3.5

This book has the bones of a great book and the execution of an okay one. I think if you enjoy things like Blood Over Bright Haven or Babel and are willing to accept some weaker writing choices and stilted pacing this one might be your cup of tea. Also, tonally, this book felt much more YA than adult in terms of characters, writing style, and plot. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, just something to keep in mind. Poppy is 23, but if I had not been told that I'd have guessed around 16.

As a brief summary, we follow our two main characters Poppy and Hasan as they confront the dangers of living under colonization from very different perspectives. Both Poppy and Hasan are Virian, a people who have been colonized by the Whelks in a parallel to real life South Asain colonization. Poppy was adopted as a toddler to a high powered white couple and raised in priviledge but stripped of her cultural heritage. Hasan was raised by his family, who turned to crime and built a highly powerful gang to survive the persecution of their people. When the two come together they force one another to confront the the beliefs, biases, and cracked relationships on which they have built their lives.

I will start with what I liked about this book. I really liked Hasan as a character. He wears the guise of a well worn archetype (the angry, powerful, dangerous man who is doing what he has to to survive, but secretly has the heart of an altruist) but its used to highlight the inherent contradictions of that kind of character. Additionally he is the vehicle through which we get to explore my absolute favourite part of this book - the exploration of the fracturing that can occur within an oppressed minority as people fighting within an unjust system hurt each other. This book digs into the inequality that existed in Virian society even before colonization, and how it was used as a fulcrum to ease the colonizer's way. It also shows how those same internal prejudices have continued to fester and prevent true change. I liked how, in teaching Poppy how to see her overwhelming priviledge and acknowledge her biases, Hasan was forced to confront those same things in himself, and accept that though the system had done him harm, he was in turn perpetuating a harmful system against the caste he saw as beneath him. I though this aspect of the book was fascinating, nuanced, and well done.

Most of my problems with this book were structural or writing based. I found that much of the world building and exposition felt very awkward and inorganic. World building details, character traits, or important information would just be shoehorned in, which took me out of the story. Additionally, I found the overall pacing a little strange. There are 3 main 'sections' of the book, which can be delineated by when Poppy and Hasan are apart, together, and then apart again. The transitions such as they are between these sections felt awkward, as though they author knew that to tell the next bit of story we needed to make the transition, but it didn't feel properly paced.

My last critique is an entirely personal preference based one, as a general rule I do not gel well with protagonists who are incredibly naive but think themselves very worldly. As such, I found Poppy infuriating. There is a narrative reason why she is this way, which I understand completely, however I personally found it hard to avoid physically cringing every time Poppy opened her mouth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Skyes Press for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Poppy Sutherland, the adopted daughter of the Viceroy of Viryana, worked hard her entire life to fit into the society of her adoptive parents and to be seen as an equal. For her that meant losing her language, culture and connection to her people. When she discovers that her fiancé is using her for his own ambition and does not intend to honour his vows to her, she realises that she’ll have to stand up for herself if she wants to save herself from a future in exile, cut off from her home.

I enjoyed the writing style, which was clear and easy to read, making it easy to fly through the pages. Right from the beginning the story pulled me in and took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. The story is fast paced, engaging, with twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat.

The story is heavy on politics, set in a world reminiscent of colonial India. Thus, colonialism and imperialism are key elements to the story with themes such as, but not only, cultural identity and resistance explored in depth. There was a lot happening, and I think because of that some developments fell a bit short, but there were also moments that literally gave me goosebumps.

The worldbuilding was interesting and well thought out. However, the magic system, or rather the way the magic worked, seemed restrictive and thus a bit underwhelming.

It was interesting to see Poppy’s character grow. Minor characters, such as Harithi and Samina, stood out and added depth and meaning to the story. While the story was immersive and the characters interesting, I had a bit of a hard time connecting to them emotionally. Though I was really invested in the grander scheme of things and was rooting for the overall success of the MC’s I wasn’t all that much emotionally invested in them as individual people.

Even though there wasn’t a strong romance subplot, there were hints at something between Poppy and Hasan, the MMC. I just don’t know if I felt the chemistry, but we’ll just have to see how things develop in the next installment.

For a debut, the author has done an amazing job. I can’t wait to see how the story develops from here and what’s in store for the characters in future books.

Thanks to Bindery Books and Netgalley for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Poppy Sutherland is the adopted daughter of the Viceroy of Viryana, a country colonized by the people of Welkland. Most Virians live a life of poverty in their own country due to the oppression of the Welkish people. Poppy as a young girl is sympathetic of the Virian plight and finds herself shipped off to boarding school by her father in an attempt to instill proper Welkish behaviors and beliefs into his daughter. Seven years later upon her return, Poppy is looking to marry to ensure her place in Welkish society. She soon suffers betrayal at the hand of her fiancé and her only option is to partner with a Virian crime lord, Hasan.

This book was fast paced from the very first page and never leaves any down time. This political fantasy delves into themes such as colonization, culture erasure, caste systems, and racism. Our main characters are flawed and imperfect as they try to navigate their loyalties and morality while also trying to endure the world they have been born into.

When the action was unfolding, the story was at its strongest and most exciting. Basu crafted thrilling fight scenes that kept me fully engaged. In contrast, the quieter moments relying on conversation between characters sometimes felt less compelling. I also wish the magic system had been explored and utilized more fully, though I’m hopeful it will play a bigger role in the follow-up book in this duology.

For a debut novel, To Bargain with Mortals exceeded my expectations, and I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the second installment.

A very well written look at the effects of colonization, the author examines the varying levels of privilege affected by intersectionality with great nuance. The plot is well paced, characters are fleshed out with clear motivations. The ending leaves room for the sequel without ending on a shocking cliffhanger.

This book was a rollercoaster! Overall, such an amazing story with great writing and a great prose! The writing in this story was just beautifully written and had a great way of utilizing it to tell the story, the world building, etc.!

I devoured this book. Poppy Sutherland is the kind of heroine I live for messy, strong willed , caught between cultures, and ready to burn it all down. Hasan? Whew. Complicated, powerful, and dangerous in all the right ways. The world of Viryana is rich with tension and revolution, and the pacing had me hooked from the very beginning. It’s got magic, betrayal, colonial resistance, and two leads with serious chemistry. If you like your fantasy political, emotional, and full of fire this is the one. Can’t wait to read more work by this author. #bookrecs #bookreview #bookrecommendations #reading #reader

Wonderful worldbuilding, multilayered and rich characters, and the story was very relatable! I loved this book, and I eagerly await the next one!

Poppy is the adopted heir to the Viceroy of Viryana. A country colonized by the Welkish people. After showing sympathy to her own people she is sent to a boarding school to learn the proper customs of a Welkish lady. Upon her return she is determined to find a space in high society and cementer her right to be there. After courting the head of police she discovers a plot to exile her. She winds up in the hands of known criminal Hasan, who is the top gang leader of the city. Poppy decides to work with Hasan to cementer her political power.

I greatly enjoyed this story. The fictional world mirrors what has occurred in history while adding in a system of elemental magic. I will say I would have like to see more of the magic system as it seems interesting. This definitely is more of a political fantasy as there is a heavy focus on the colonization of this world. There is no denying the horrors that the Virians face at the hands of the Welkish. It is very obvious and in your face and makes it really hard to miss the connections to what India went through.

Overall the story was great, I thought the pacing was good, the world and magic are interesting. Excited to see where these characters go from here as things wrapped up pretty nicely in this book.

I absolutely fell in love with this book and the characters. The pacing lured me in and kept me along for the ride. I think that Basu struck a great balance with political commentary where it was clear what her point of view was, but not so heavy handed that it felt overdone and overwritten. I loved Poppy and Hasan's characters, I do think that there were times where the resolution to problems was a bit simplistic or too easy, but the writing was phenomenal. I can't wait for Book 2!

Thanks to Netgalley, Skies Press, and R.A, Basu for an eARC of To Bargain with Mortals in exchange for an honest review.