To Bargain with Mortals is an enthralling blend of fantasy and politics that grips you from the first page and does not let go. Set in the colonized nation of Viryana, this novel masterfully explores identity, power, and rebellion through the compelling journey of Poppy Sutherland and Hasan Devar.

Poppy is a protagonist who immediately steals your heart due to her strength, intelligence, and her fierce ambition. Born poor, but adopted into nobility, Poppy has spent her life caught between two worlds, never full accepted by high society yet disconnected from the people of her native land. What makes Poppy's journey so powerful is that she not only fights external oppression, but she must also confront her own internalized biases. Raised with the Welkish ideas, she struggles to see herself as a true leader of her people. But as the story unfolds, Poppy transforms in someone who does not just seek to sit back and follow the rules, instead she seeks a revolution.

When her AWFUL fiance threatens her future (WE HATE YOU RICHARD), she makes a daring escape, where she crosses paths with Hasan Devar, the enigmatic and ruthless Jackal. With his family's divine magic and unyielding spirit, he is a force to be reckoned with, making him the perfect balance to Poppy's strategic mind.

Basu's world-building is rich and immersive, seamlessly weaving in themes of colonialism, resistance, and the cost of power. This novel is beautifully written, with prose that is both poetic and sharp, which enhances the emotional weight of the character's struggles. The stakes are high, the twists are exhilarating, and the ending is tied together nicely.

If you love historical fantasy with depth and revolutionary intrigue, To Bargain with Mortals is an absolute must-read.

This book took me on an emotional journey! Prepare to cry! I loved the FMC in this, I love when the main character is underestimated and ends up proving everyone wrong! On top of that, the FMC and other characters were relatable and extremely well written! I can’t wait to get my hands on a physically so I can annotate it!

To Bargain with Mortals by R.A. Basu masterfully intertwines magic, politics, and identity in a colonized world. The story follows outcast heiress Poppy Sutherland and gang leader Hasan Devar as their paths collide, sparking a revolution. With rich world-building, gripping themes, and unforgettable characters, this first book in the Reckoning Storm duology is a must-read for fantasy enthusiasts.

My favorite books are the ones where I don't even know what words to write in a review because feelings can be difficult to translate.

Poppy is such a unique character, one who strays from the typical heroine stereotypes. She is smart and brave, but she is also flawed and naive, and we get to watch her be confronted by her own bias and grow from it. Character development for the win!

The Devar brothers are a perfect example of family dynamics. And while I adore Hasan and disagreed with Zeyar's bargain, I understand them both. Looking forward to seeing all three brothers together again.

The layered racism in this book really adds depth to the typical "good vs evil" story. I loved the slow reveal of the relationship between vasudhakt and daivyakt as we learned the different points of view. One of my favorite parts in the book was the vasudhakt maid chewing out Harithi.

I do hope Richard makes another appearance. I felt his exit was a little too easy given how much power he had and the entire plan to blackmail Poppy. His exile seemed to be more of plot convenience, so I hope we haven't heard the last of him (if for no other reason then so Poppy can get her revenge).

Lastly, I GREATLY appreciate the book not ending on a cliffhanger. It makes me excited for the next book but not frustrated at being left on the edge.

<i>Huge thanks to Bindery and Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

I really enjoyed this! It's got everything that a great fantasy needs: an interesting magic system, an underestimated but powerful female main character, a hot-headed but just male main character, and a people ready to rise and stand up to those who have colonized and exploited them for centuries.

I think what I appreciated the most with this book is that nothing is black and white. No side is perfect here, because even the Virians have had issues with discrimination and exploitation among themselves, long before the white oppressors arrived. So, to work together and cause actual change, they have to better themselves and admit their faults on various levels.

Another excellent part of the reading experience was watching the characters grow and develop. In the beginning, Poppy is ruled by fear and self pity so much that she doesn't recognize her privilege and only sees her own victimhood as important. But she learns, and meets new people, and listens to their stories, and learns about her own powerss and where they come from—and she changes her ways. The same goes for Hasan: by the end, the hot headed gangster whose only idea and response to everything is violence tries his hand at diplomacy and working for the good of his people without any personal gain. It was lovely to see!

I'm very excited to read the sequel and see where these characters end up. There were a lot of loose ends here that also intrigue me. And let's face it: we're all waiting for the Hasan & Poppy romance!

I'm so happy I got the chance to read this before release, what an honor! Please add it to your TBRs if you love fast-paced fantasy books with realistic characters, great world-building, and important commentary on colonization, racism, and oppression. It's impressive that it's only a debut novel!

I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for a review.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I thought that the characters, specifically our main character Poppy, were really well developed, and even over the course of this one installment grew and developed tremendously. You can really feel and understand Poppy's struggles, and I loved the way the author handled the balance between Poppy's hardships as minority in a majority-white space not being brushed aside and acknowledging the more difficult and systemic struggles her people have faced. I loved the political maneuvering, as well as the tense relationships between the characters. I'm also a sucker for books exploring dysfunctional and complex familial relationships, and there was definitely a lot of that lol. I can't wait for the sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC copy of the book!

I absolutely devoured this book and had trouble putting it down. This is a fast-paced fantasy with a well constructed world and a heavy emphasis on the politics within the world. The characters were written very well and had so much depth to them that developed over the whole course of the book. I am very much looking forward to the next installment and getting into more of the worldbuilding.

“You don’t have to have the same experience as someone to feel for them, only the desire to understand.”

I absolutely ate this up. It was one of those “I stayed up all night reading this story” for me. Poppy is character arc goals, and I honestly just want to be her when I grow up. I absolutely loved watching her experiences and the experiences of others change her from page to page. I, too, was chanting “Poppy! Poppy! Poppy!” alongside the Virians. Right now we need empathy more than ever, and this really gave me hope. “Poppy already had power-and with it, a responsibility to care for those without.” WE ESPECIALLY NEED EMPATHY IN PLACES OF POWER.

And when we don’t see the change we want in the world, we should recognize we’re the majority and do something about it. “ Will you risk mutiny? Those are your workers, your servants, your farmers. No amount of formal education or leadership experience can make up for the loyalty of the people. You are in the minority, and you would do well to remember it.”

I’ll probably think of more coherent things to say soon, but just add it to the TBR. If you liked Jade City, Babel or Blood Over Bright Haven, you will love To Bargain with Mortals. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. Fingered crossed for a little Hasan & Poppy situationship. I REALLY hope the Savana and Altan story was beautiful foreshadowing.

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. To Bargain with Mortals is a strong and unique addition to the fantasy genre. I'm already absolutely desperate to read the sequel.

Poppy is such a fierce and complicated protagonist. I completely fell in love with her and her quest to understand her identity and carve out a place for herself in the world.
Hasan is impulsive and so so stubborn, but his love for his family and his people guides so many of his actions that you can't help but love him.

The world-building in this is fantastic. It's inspired by a colonized India, with the magic system adding additional layers of complexity to the existing systems of oppression. The magic system that R.A. Basu has created is so unique, and one of my favorite parts of the story was the history lessons and explanations of how it works.

My eternal gratitude to Bindery for the opportunity to read and review this early. I loved it so much.

An amazing story of overcoming prejudice and learning how to connect with ourselves and our roots, wrapped in a fantasy world based on the colonization of India. Full of rich, complex characters, all with their own pasts, hardships, and prejudices to work through. A must-read for any young person learning about colonization and it's long term effects. This story strikes a perfect balance, highlighting the flaws and prejudices existing in all societies, without stripping any one group of their humanity.

I really enjoyed this book. The plot is gripping and the overall world building is great.

For the main characters, Hasan is a great character and I loved the intricacies of the relationships between the Devar Brothers some of it felt contrived but it mostly felt like brothers being brothers (and being slightly dumb). I found Poppy a bit harder to get on with. She was a great character and it was great to see her personal journey. However, I found her inner monologue trifling at times.

There were a few points in this book where I felt like the story dragged slightly. Some of the plots felt unnecessary. There were points where it felt as if a certain plot was going to lead the the final stretch. However, the plan involved in that plot was soon changed and it felt like there were a few too many side plans trying to come together. I do wish we had learnt more about the gods, hopefully these will be expanded on in the next book as Poppy grows into her ‘new’ powers.

I’m so excited to see where Poppy and Hasan’s stories go in the next book!

Thanks to NetGalley and R. A. Basu for the eArc and allowing me to review this. 4.25 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Where to begin with this book! The lush and immersive descriptions pull you in right from the start. Throughout the entire book you get vast knowledge on the history of this world, explained in a way that didn’t feeling over the top or forced.

The characters were fleshed out so well. I looooved journeying through the story with Poppy as she came to realize the power of who she is as a person and her acceptance of her daivyakt. Hasan is a brutal gang leader and oh my goodness I loved it! 😂 He uses violence as scare tactics and it created such intense and action packs moments in the story. As he progresses I loved seeing him recognize that violence, though effective lol, won’t get him to where he wants to be in the world.

Overall this book was such a fun ride full of politics, magic, tension, action, understanding, and rebellion. I highly highly recommend if you’re looking for a book to sweep you away and leave you wanting more!

This book blends colonization, identity, magic, and romance in a way that feels fresh and powerful.

It follows a girl who was adopted by a white colonizer family and raised to suppress her heritage and magical gifts. Watching her slowly unlearn that internalised shame and reclaim her power was incredibly satisfying. The turning point—where she finally stops trying to blend in and starts fighting back—hit hard in the best way.

The romance is slow burn and full of tension. Her love interest is fighting for his people and pushes her (gently, persistently) to face the truth of who she is. Their relationship builds gradually but meaningfully—it’s not just romantic, it’s part of her journey back to herself.

The political tension ramps up toward the end, setting the stage for a rebellion that I’m dying to see unfold. By the last page, I was fully invested. Bring on book two—I’m ready for war.

Excellent fantasy novel about colonialism and society. That sounds heavy and like it might not be enjoyable, but let me tell you, R.A. Basu crafts a beautiful story, the plot is incredible, the world building is fantastic, and the characters *chefs kiss*, I can't wait to read more from this author, 4.5 stars!

What drew me to To Bargain with Mortals was the interesting setting - this fantastical take on India offers an unique setting seldom explored in new adult literature. While the political commentary is quite on the nose, it certainly isn't intended to be subtle and sets up a reallt interesting premise for the second volume.
I enjoyed this story of empowerment and power struggles with a hint of fantasy and look forward to the second one!

3.75 stars

"There are more of us than them, and they know it. Every tyrant needs his subjects, but no people need a tyrant.”

To Bargain With Mortals is the first book in The Reckoning Storm duology by debut author R.A. Basu, it follows the story of Poppy Sutherland, the adopted daughter of the viceroy, and Hasan, a criminal leader known as the Jackal.

Overall, I really liked the story. I enjoy other world fantasies or alternate universe fantasies in which we have a situation heavily inspired by actual historical events (no surprise there since I'm a huge R.F. Kuang fan), when I heard this was inspired in colonized India, I knew I had to pick it up.

I don't know if it's because my own country was colonized as well, but I really enjoy reading stories about colonialism, resistance and how people fight to keep their culture, while also critiquing the flaws in their previous system, and this book delivered that.

We had many discussions about privilege and intersectionalism, which are always welcome. Poppy is a character that needed to have that reality check.

"But just because you didn’t have it easy doesn’t mean that you didn’t have it easier than the vast majority.”

“So you can tell me how lucky I had it in a Welkish-run organization that dehumanized me, but I can’t tell you the same? What makes us different, Poppy? What makes your struggles more important than mine?”

“You know what I think? I think you’re so used to being the most marginalized person in the room, you don’t know how to recognize that other people have it far worse than you. Maybe you were an outcast— but being an outcast in a Welkish school for fine ladies is still a hell of a lot more privileged than being an orphan in a shoddy human-trafficking sham.”

Now, what's this story actually about? What does Poppy have to do with Hasan? When do they meet?

As explained before, Poppy Sutherland is the adopted daughter of the viceroy of Viryana, the problem is that Poppy is Virian, not Welkish, so she's stuck in the middle, not belonging to the Welkish aristocracy but not belonging to her fellow Virians either.

However, Poppy is determined to make a place for herself in the world, so she decides to marry the best prospect so the society has to accept her. And everything is turning alright... until Poppy discovers her fiancé planned to betray her all along and just wanted to marry her to become the next viceroy.

Yeah, no, thank you. Poppy decides to run away in her own engagement party but when she realizes she doesn't have anywhere else to go, it's too late, she's kidnapped by the Jackal.

And this is the character that conflicts me the most and one of the main reasons of why I rated this book 3.75 stars and not higher. He feels too unrealistic to be a criminal, more specifically the criminal that has control in the whole city, the country even.

Hasan is not a morally gray character, he's almost completely white, his faults are so minimal to his overall character that every reflection he made about the damage he jad caused felt forced, we didn't have much ambiguity. He did have morals and followed them, even when he had to recover money he had lent.

He felt more like a hero trapped in a criminal family, which doesn't make sense since he's the most feared criminal lord. Also, he and Zeyar had tons of communication issues. With that I mean they barely communicated with each other. It felt really unrealistic that they could hold a whole city together with that lack of communication.

Regardless, I really enjoyed the book and I cannot wait for it to be released and for the sequel to be written, I hope I get approved for an arc on NetGalley when the time eventually comes because I really want to know what happens next. And I'm also really interested in what's going on between Zeyar and Harithi, there was one particular scene that had me kicking my feet and giggling.

Zeyar reached for her slowly, giving her enough time to move back if she wished. She didn’t. He laughed, placing one hand at the small of her back, pulling her toward him. The tip of her dagger pierced his skin, crimson staining his shirt, but he barely felt the sting as he leaned down and kissed her.

I'm sorry, but this had me screaming like a total fangirl, I really hope R.A. Basu gives us more content about them in the next book.

“If you take anything away from his story, let it be this: Neither gods nor blood decide who rules. The people do. Understood?”

Some of my favorite quotes that I didn't know where to place in the review:

"Our culture and traditions are not rude. Our way of life is no less valid or civil just because it hasn’t gotten the imperial stamp of approval.”

“The cost of revolution is always blood.” He spread his arms. “Did you really think you wouldn’t have to give anything up to win? Or were you expecting me and my family to make all the sacrifices?”

"She’s so damned sheltered. The only injustices she’s seen are the ones committed against her.”


There was enough food to go around, but the distribution had been intentionally clogged in one place.

“They’re already slaughtering us!” Hasan seized her by the shoulders, forcing her to meet his eyes again. “Don’t you see, Harithi? They starve us, brutalize us, force us to labor in their prison camps. If they tag us like livestock, it’s only a matter of time before they round us up and put us in a pen like cattle. We are all going to die. Will you die on your feet, with a gun in your hands? Or behind an electric fence, shackles around your ankles?”

"When you bargain with mortals, the terms can change at any time. Today, you have the faith of the people. But tomorrow? You may have nothing at all."

5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: fantasy, anti-colonialism, magic, dual POV

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 4/6 and my review blog as of 5/1, and will be posted to Instagram 5/3.

This book actually reminded me a lot of And the Sky Bled , though this one focuses less on the environmental side of things than that one did. Also, revenge overall is less of a factor in this one. That being said, if you liked AtSB, you'll probably like this book as well.

We start the book with Poppy as a child and get a glimpse of what her life is like as the adopted Viryani daughter of the Welkish Viceroy. While Poppy is clearly privileged, it's also obvious from the start, even as a child, that she's been isolated from her culture and is craving that contact. Naturally, as colonialism tends to go, that contact is actively discouraged and denied, and eventually she's sent off to college in Welkland. Again, while Poppy is clearly privileged, even among the Welkish, she also faces the difficulties of being a brown Viryani in white Welkish high society, and thus is subject to abuses, both physical and social.

With this background, we're primed to be sympathetic to Poppy, and she is a sympathetic character. She clearly cares about people and has clearly been through a lot, I liked her character. That being said, she's also blind to a lot of the misfortune prevalent in Viryana as a result of Welkish colonial rule. While she recognizes some of it, she still has a lot of learning (and unlearning) to do. One of the other Viryani characters calls her out, saying that Poppy is so used to being the most oppressed person in any room that when she's not, she doesn't even recognize it, and I think that's a very apt way of putting it. Something I appreciated was that she is willing to learn and she is willing to apologize when she gets things wrong. Over the course of the book Poppy is abused, gaslit, and kidnapped, so she could very easily refuse to listen to what the people around her are saying, but once she's given evidence and time to process, she does tend to come around.

I also liked seeing Poppy's relationship with her parents. Poppy is Viryani while her parents are both Welkish, and they've tried to raise her to be Welkish. Any digression from that, even in enjoying Viryanian stories, is considered a transgression to be met with reprimand (Poppy going to a Welkish college is actually a punishment). At the same time, Poppy's parents do love her, which becomes especially clear later on in the book. Likewise, Poppy is perfectly aware of her differences from her parents and all the ways both them and others make her suffer for those differences. Despite that, she also loves her parents and is deeply affected by the idea of anything happening to them. I liked seeing how Poppy and her father's relationship in particular evolved over the course of the book, and I liked where they were at the end, it set up an interesting path forward. I'm also curious to see where Poppy and her mother's relationship is going. They were more at odds over the course of the book, but by the end seemed firmly on the same side, so it'll be interesting to see more of that.

Hasan is also an interesting character. He and his two brothers inherited a large and fairly successful gang after the passing of their father and have continued to run it well. Family plays an important role here, and we see pretty much from the get-go that though the Devar brothers may quarrel, they would go to the ends of the earth for each other. Aside from wanting/needing to get his brother back, Hasan is coming from a place of disadvantage, having had to survive the Welkish regime and deal with the issues that arise from it in ways that Poppy hasn't. His worldview has been shaped by those experiences and the experiences of those around him, and while he's often right, there are also times where he makes assumptions that Poppy corrects him on. Like her, he's stubborn. But like her, he's willing to learn.

I particularly liked seeing Hasan and Zeyar's relationship. The middle brother is the mediator, but Hasan has a black and white viewpoint while Zeyar operates more in the gray, which naturally causes tension between the two. I liked seeing their moments of unity when it came to getting their brother back. One thing I found particularly interesting was when Hasan did something that aligned with what Zeyar might typically think/do but Zeyar disliked it, and vice versa. It was an interesting way to challenge their existing viewpoints.

The side characters all felt fleshed out and real as well. Zeyar, as mentioned, gets a good amount of time on page, and he even has a view POV chapters himself. I actually liked him a good bit, though later on he makes some decisions and has some perspective shifts that made me like him less. It'll be interesting to see where he goes from here. Harithi and Samina are two other gang members that get a good amount of page time. I liked Harithi's no nonsense attitude and her willingness to call out everyone. I look forward to getting to see more of her in book 2. Samina was an interesting one as well, though she's on-page less than Harithi. Samina actually started out as a childhood friend of Poppy's, and we get to see the two of them interact from the beginning of the book. Their lives diverged, however, though they clearly end up back in the same place. I enjoyed getting to see both their perspectives on things, past and present, and I definitely get both sides of their relationship.

This book deals primarily with themes of racism, colorism, and colonialism. We see a lot of this from Poppy's POV and the way she's treated despite being the Viceroy's daughter (and even the way her parents treat her). That being said, Poppy also has moments of perpetuating these things throughout the book and it's one of the areas she experiences growth in. Alongside these topics, we also get casteism as a theme. In this world, there are Viryanis who have elemental powers, called daivyakt, and those who do not have any powers, called vasudhakt, with the daivyakt being the higher of the two castes. Most of the book is focused on the first three topics, but we see aspects of casteism throughout the book, with it really coming out toward the end of the book, with people even directly pointing out to Hasan, Poppy, and co. the issues with caste and with assuming the Welkish made it all 'equal under oppression.' It was an interesting conversation and I'm curious to see where it'll go in the next book.

To Bargain with Mortals is an Indian-inspired fantasy that’s not afraid to say what it wants. Weaving a wonderful story of politics, coming into your own powers and standing for what you believe in, it also highlights the consequences of colonialism in a way that more people ought to see.

Poppy Sutherland is the adopted daughter of the Viceroy of Viryana. She has grown up brown-skinned amongst the white elite, and as the story progresses, she is forced to change her perspective on the world in order to get what she wants - and deserves.

Meanwhile Hasan, the notorious gang leader known as the Jackal, ends up in deep water when one of his brother’s is captured. In a desperate move he ends up crossing paths with Poppy, which ends up having consequences for all of Viryana.

I enjoyed this book tremendously, and it was even my favorite read in April! Poppy as a main character is a breath of fresh air. She knows what she wants, and she knows how to lie. And even if she is naïve, she is also extremely clever, and I couldn’t help but root for her.

The writing is easy to get in to, even if action scenes does get a little too abrupt or confusing from time to time. The cast of characters were great, and I either hated or loved certain characters with a passion.

Overall, a great book with some great societal commentary woven into the world. 4.25 stars rounded to 4.

First, thank you to Bindery Books and NetGalley for the e-arc. I will make the review vague as to not reveal any spoilers.

Overall I loved the book. It's right up my alley with an easy to understand magic system and political drama.

For the most part, I liked the characters. It was easy to sympathize with each main characters struggles. I enjoyed the theme of family and loyalty, both through Poppy and the Devar brothers.

The story is interesting and kept me wanting to keep reading.

The world building was a little tough for me at times. I felt like I started to have a grasp of it and then something would be revealed and I would have to reorient myself, even when I was about 75% through the story.

I had some issues with pacing of the character development of the FMC. I felt like her change happened too quickly. I hope in the next book we can see her really get in touch with her roots and really discover who she is.

My only regret is now I will have to wait so long to see how the story ends.

This book is so good in so many ways
Thinking back on it I would have loved more depth with the world building, that would've absolutely made this a five star read for me. But overall the plot, magic, characters, world, were all so well executed

This book addresses racism, prejudice, discrimination, sexism and colonialism perfectly. The writing style is unique and well done.
The pacing of the book was steady, I enjoyed how our multiple POVs were explored and noticeably flawed characters with room to learn and grow. I loved poppys development throughout the story and I enjoyed seeing her find who she is meant to be.
The romance was definitely more subplot which I did enjoy as a lot of fantasy these days are very romance heavy.
This was a good political fantasy that overall addressed serious and potentially tricky subjects in a way that was done well.
I look forward to book 2

Receiving this as an arc and going in blind, I have to say I really enjoyed this book. All of the characters were so lovable, and grew throughout the story. Poppy’s inner struggle with her upbringing and how she really had to come to accept facts about her biases was so well written. The Jackel was perfection. I throughly enjoyed reading about him and his brothers (and their mom is hilarious). For being a fantasy, I found the world simple to understand and yet easy to be drawn into. I love that they are required to give something up in order to use their gifts, and Poppy’s struggle with that. The ending had me stressing, and while I heard there is a second book coming out this ended was more soft pause, rather a big cliffhanger. You’ll have some answers but a lot more still to come. My teeny tiny complaint is I would have loved more of Hasen and Poppy’s relationship to grow together in this book. This is not a romance IMO, BUT as a person who only reads romances, I still really really loved this. And I can’t wait to see if/how their relationship ends up.

I’m back and forth between 3.5 and 4 stars so I’ll round up. To keep it simple…

What I liked:
-the focus on world building; no immediate romance; themes of colonialism and racism, preservation of culture, self-governance and representation, sexism, and class boundaries. Lots to tackle but woven together well.
-POVs were primarily on 2 main characters but did stray to some minor supporting characters as needed.
-exposition was done pretty naturally
-easy read without being dumbed down or simple
-unique world set in an industrialized time

What I didn’t love:
-felt like more of a setup for the next book at times
-the premise of what Poppy wanted felt pretty far fetched for the type of society this world was built into

Actual rating 4.5, but rounded up!

This book was an engaging read. Once I got into it a few chapters, it was hard to put down and I was always excited to pick it back up again. The magic system is very cool and unique, I love its cultural ties. I also liked the ethical dilemmas that our characters struggled with. Poppy and her natural-born culture vs the culture she was raised in and her working to come to terms with that. Hasan and what he and his family have done to achieve the power they have. The dilemma regarding the daivyakt and how they treat(ed) the vasudhakt and how that helped opened the door for the the Welkish to colonize under the guise of equality. Just so well done. I also appreciated Poppy's growth to someone who can take control of her own future.

The drawbacks for me were
1. Poppy did take longer than I would have liked to wake up to her naiveté but then when it did happen it somehow happened too quickly in the moment? Hard to explain. Overall it wasn't poorly done, but maybe could have been smoother?
2. I did initially have a hard time establishing in my brain what kind of time period we were in, though I know this is a fantasy so it can do whatever it wants. Initially I was thinking more Regency era, but then there were cars and factories which moved it to the 1900s which was initially whiplashy but I did settle in.

Overall, this was great! I am very much looking forward to the next book to see how their story finishes. It simultaneously wrapped up well but gave me enough to chew on that I am ready to start the next book like right now, which is my fav ending to a book in a series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery for the e-ARC!!

To Bargain with Mortals by R.A. Basu is a great story about identity, loyalty, and reclaiming power. Poppy Sutherland, caught between the world she was raised in and the one she was born into, has to decide who she truly wants to be. Her shaky alliance with Hasan, who is a gang leader fighting for his people’s survival, sets the narrative about resistance and self-discovery. The setting, inspired by colonial India, I think does well in grounding the magic and politics in a world that was easy to follow.

Basu explores the cost of assimilation and the quiet violence of prejudice, showing how deeply systems of power shape personal choices. This is a great pick for readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy with political intrigue, slow-burn romance, and a strong commentary on colonialism.

Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC

To Bargain With Mortals follows Poppy Sutherland and Hasan Devar. In the country of Viryana, Poppy is caught between two cultures, and isolated by both. Trying to fit in to be seen as worthy of the next Viceroy while learning to understand who she is and who her ancestors were, Poppy finds herself kidnapped by Hasan Devar, a notorious gang leader also known as the Jackal.
Hasan kidnaps Poppy as a bargaining chip to get his brother back from the police officers that imprisoned him, only to realize that Poppy is one of them, and knows absolutely nothing about her magic and powers.
On the brink of revolution and learning about herself and what she is capable of, both Poppy and Hasan have to do serious politicking and use their strengths both together and separate, to get what they want.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery for this arc.

To Bargain with Mortals by R.A Basu is an extraordinary read. It delves deep into the roots of power and one's place in society.
Poppy Sutherland has no power over her life. No control, no freedom to speak her mind. Shipped off to a finishing school, she returns to secure her place in society. Hasan, in an attempt to retrieve his captured brother, kidnaps the heiress. The banter between them is top-notch!! Would love to see more of it.
This is a tale of coming of age and finding who they are against all obstacles.
Loved her character arc and how she changed herself and her views of the world as she learnt more about her heritage.
Deeply set in political it is an inspiring story altogether.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this digital review copy.

To Bargain With Mortals combined the world of fantasy and impactful themes to tell a compelling story while addressing real social issues that can be easily blocked out in a fantasy setting.
I really enjoyed the world building, which is very loosely based on the colonial India, the lore that was created for this story, and found the politics interesting.
I thought highlighting the issues of racism, sexism, and classism, for example, was integrated well into the fantasy plot. It's important to keep telling these stories and not shy away from heavy topics, as they're so relevant in today's climate.

I found the characters really likeable, and loved how nobody was really without flaws. Even the FMC, Poppy - while wanting to work for the greater good, she still had some unconscious bias as a product of her upbringing, and perhaps didn't have the best motivations for her goals even though her heart was in the right place.

While I do enjoy romance as a part of fantasy books, it was refreshing for it to not be a plot point in this story. I think I see this becoming a theme further in the story, and the slow burn romance I am imagining would be quite enjoyable!

One thing I would have liked is more magic being used, and the religions explored deeper, and I hope this is expanded on in as the story is being told. I think the dynamic between Poppy and Hasan could be fun, with the opposing elements of their magic.

Overall I found this enjoyable and easy to read, and I am looking forward to seeing how the story continues!

Thank you to NetGalley and Skies Press for allowing me to read and review this ARC!

To Bargain with Mortals is a powerful, bold fantasy debut that's well worth your time. I'll definitely be picking up the sequel! Highly recommended for readers who love intricate world-building, rich cultural lore, political nuance, deeply human characters, and stories about reclaiming identity and history.

The world building including the politic struggles and the faith and culture feels like a fantastic version of colonised India in the first half/ middle of the 20th century. The characters undergo great development and change to be even more nuanced in the end.

The romance here is subtle, quiet, and beautifully done.
It simmers in the background, never overshadowing the plot but still hitting all the emotional beats. If you love a slow burn (like... painfully slow) where a lingering touch or using someone's given name feels more intimate than a kiss, you'll adore it! I hope the second book explores this aspect a little more (yes, l'm a sucker for romance, though this book doesn't necessarily need it).

4.5 ⭐️

This is a fantastic story of betrayal, cultural heritage and new found friends!
The main characters are Poppy, an adopted heiress to the local leader of the colonising nation stripped of her original heritage struggling with racism and sexisms on her voyage to become member of the local high society, and Hasan, young co-leader of the local native crime syndicate struggling with his personal moral compass and the connected family problems. They meet under surprising circumstances and even more surprising become allies and possibly friends manoeuvring the local politics.
The world building including the politic struggles and the faith and culture feels like a fantastic version of colonised India in the first half/middle of the 20th century. The characters undergo great development and change to be even more nuanced in the end. There is some romantic tension between Poppy and her male companion, but there is no romantic plot which is quite refreshing. This also makes this book a good fit for younger readers since there is no sexual content or gore, only some fighting scenes without too much detail or brutality (I would probably recommend for 12+ year olds).
I also like the described connection between magic and faith which makes a very believable and easy to grasp system with great implications for the political conflicts. Since Poppy has a birth culture and a culture she grew up with the reader gets a good impression of both sides and not a definitive Good vs. Bad which underlines the great character development again.
All in all a fantastic YA/historical fantasy debut and I can't wait to read the second book of the duology to hear about what happens next to Poppy and Hasan!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.

This is such a unique story, weaving magic and religion into a fictional setting based on colonized India. The exploration of privilege and power was done so well. I really appreciate how it’s brought up that the colonizers helped to further divide the Virians between magic users and non magic users.

I loved all of the POVs and each character felt so realistically flawed but willing to learn and grow.

My only issue is the end felt rushed. Many of the plot points felt easily resolved. I also was looking for more interaction and meaningful conservation between Poppy and Hasan at the end. I love slow burn but I expected them to have a stronger friendship by the end. I hope we get to see their relationship build up in book 2.

Thank you so much for the ARC. I’m very excited for book 2.

Debut novel you say?

3.5 ✨✨

Well this political fantasy was a blast to read! Poppy our main FMC has been adopted by a duke and his wife because they want to show that they can take a Viryana citizen and essential teach them “their ways” aka take her away from her home and make themselves feel better about colonizing and committing genocide. This obviously brings a very complex and oftentimes complicated feelings to Poppy’s world as she starts to unravel all of the harm that has been done to her community.

I had a really great time for the first half of the book! I was locked into Poppy, the gang(Hasan 🤭) and I was ready for that second half. I do think when I got to the second half it almost felt too fast paced, the characters would go through an event and it seemed to be figured out too easily and too quickly.

I think for a debut novel this was good overall and I’m looking forward to the second book!

Thank you to NetGalley & Bindery Books for this ARC!

R.A. Basu’s To Bargain with Mortals is a powerful and thought-provoking debut that delves deep into the complexities of power, privilege, and colonization—all wrapped in a richly imagined world full of magic, politics, and heart.

The story follows two main characters: Poppy, a young woman navigating the privileges of her upbringing and the slow, painful awakening to her heritage and responsibilities; and Hasan, who is trying to preserve his culture, protect his family, and survive in a world where just existing as himself, a brown man with divine powers, can be a death sentence.

I’ll admit, Poppy frustrated me at times, especially in the beginning, but that felt intentional. She starts off blind to her own privilege, but she genuinely wants to do better, to reconnect with her roots, and figure out who she could’ve been. Her emotional journey and inner conflicts felt real and meaningful by the end.
That said, Hasan’s storyline was the one I found myself most drawn to. His stakes were so high, and his growth was incredibly satisfying to watch (though he still has some growing to do at the end of this novel). His bond with his brothers was one of my favorite parts of the book—so sweet and messy and real. I come from a big family myself, and their arguments and love for each other felt so familiar and raw. The characters in general are a true strength of this novel. From Hasan’s brothers and his gang to Poppy’s social circle and complex relationship with her father, everyone feels vivid and distinct.

The romance here is subtle, quiet, and beautifully done. It simmers in the background, never overshadowing the plot but still hitting all the emotional beats. If you love a slow burn (like... painfully slow) where a lingering touch or using someone’s given name feels more intimate than a kiss, you’ll adore it! I hope the second book explores this aspect a little more (yes, I'm a sucker for romance, though this book doesn't necessarily need it).

The world-building is seriously impressive. The magic system is unique and tied beautifully into the culture, lore and religion, with real consequences and limitations to using it. The political aspects are compelling too. This book doesn’t shy away from difficult topics like colonization, classism, colorism and police violence. The way these themes were woven into the characters’ lives—especially through Poppy’s perspective as someone raised by white colonizers—was handled with such care. Watching her reconnect with her people and her faith was genuinely heartwarming!

Now, the beginning is a little slow. There’s a lot of dialogue and quite a few time skips in the first quarter, which made the pacing feel a bit off. Some scenes are heavy on exposition, and I personally wished for a bit more emotional depth and descriptions in the writing style, especially early on, just to set the tone. A few plot points and twists were also pretty predictable, and the ending felt a bit rushed and convenient.

Still, To Bargain with Mortals is a powerful, bold fantasy debut that’s well worth your time. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel! Highly recommended for readers who love intricate world-building, rich cultural lore, political nuance, deeply human characters, and stories about reclaiming identity and history.

Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGalley for providing me with an AeRC for review purposes! All opinions are my own.

Let me first say that I cannot wait to read the next book in the series! There was nothing I did not love about the story. I found the characters incredibly interesting and well developed. The story itself was beautifully written. The underlying theme or themes of the book are of that which we see all too often in real life. It is a story depicting institutional and societal racism, cultural genocide, manipulation tactics and gaslighting used by those in power to keep people in line, etc. The main character, Poppy Sutherland knows these all too well. As the adoptive daughter the most prominent Welkish family in Viryana, Poppy is not only forced to work twice as hard to be viewed as someone to be respected, but her life is a constant uphill battle of trying to find a place in society that sees her as nothing more than her gender and ethnicity. I don’t want to give much else away so all I will say is buy the book when it comes out. You won’t be disappointed.

Loosely inspired by colonial India, To Bargain with Mortals takes place in the country of Viryana, which has been colonized by Welkland. The FMC, Poppy Sutherland, is a Virian girl who was adopted by the Welkish viceroy as a child. She has some privilege as the viceroy's daughter, but is also subject to the prejudices that the Welkish hold against the Virian people. She's too Virian for the Welkish to accept, and too Welkish for the Varian. The MMC, Hasan (aka the Jackal), is supposed to be a ruthless gang leader, but his hesitant and idealistic nature really didn't sell his intended portrayal. Both characters work to unlearn their own prejudices and challenge their oppressors. They do not have a romantic relationship, but I get the feeling it'll head in that direction in the sequel.

The premise was great, the magic system was intriguing, and the novel explored important topics, but the pacing was off and the character development often felt inauthentic. The setting can be tough to gauge; it feels almost medieval until some modern technology like a car or phone interrupts the vibe. I really enjoyed the first half of the book, but I had to force myself through the middle when Hasan is teaching Poppy about their culture - it draaagged and the characters' personalities just kinda disappeared. The end moved too quickly and the conclusion felt too easy. This book does *not* leave you on a cliffhanger, which I appreciate, but still leaves you wondering what will come.

All that said, this is a debut novel and has a lot of potential! I wonder if some of my more negative opinions here will change once the second half of the duology is released and I can see how the story comes together as a whole.

As has happened to so many indigenous children, Poppy was divorced from her people, her culture, her religion in order that she could be white washed and turned into a proper, model minority with excellent manners and proper beliefs. That isn’t to say her adopted parents were terrible people; they wanted a child and loved Poppy as though she were their own. Their own Wlkesh child. What they did was wrong, but they chose not to know better.

This has left Poppy to be … well, indecisive. She temporizes, prevaricates, dithers and tries to be a good Wilkesh woman. The way she interacts with people, both Virian and Wilkesh has a decidedly Wilkesh flavour, with entitlement and a naive bewilderment about why people would choose to live the way they do, why don’t more powerful people just … feed the starving ones? It’s all good thoughts, no effort; a desire to do good without either knowing how or being willing to knuckle down and do the work.

Hasan is a criminal who preys upon the poor and struggling while still thinking he stands for them just because they share a skin color. And he never really deals with that; he’s a hero of the downtrodden, sure, but he’s also the one that’s been helping to trod on them. He’s a better option for Poppy than the murderous asshole who wants to frame her for murder, but so is the baker down the street or the wealthy merchant who deals in clothing.

Hasan doesn’t work for me as a hero. Love interest, sure, I guess. He’s nice enough, once he decides to care, but he’s also thoughtless and willing to use Poppy to his own ends. (And considering how lost Poppy is, maybe it’s just as well there’s someone to tell her what to do.) Again, she means well, but she’s ineffective.

The ending is rushed with the last fifteen percent filled with all manner of politics and world changing decisions made off page and clumsily, and as that’s the last memory I’ll have of this book, it’s a shame. It dropped it a full star, for me. As it is, there’s a lot to like here. The world building, the magic system, but there’s no real resolution to anything and so many people are like Poppy, full of good vibes but no real answers, and I’m not inspired enough to pick up the second book in the series.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

A compelling and interesting novel. From start to finish, there was always something happening that kept me compulsively turning pages.

While there were tons of great ideas throughout, I did feel like any conflicts that arose were resolved a bit too quickly and simply, which made it hard to fully connect. We seemed to breeze through plot points like we were checking items off a list.

For instance, I would have loved to spend more time with Poppy as she explored the Virian culture and how that growth strengthened her resolve and her partnership with Hasan. I understood that that’s what happened, but I didn’t fully feel it.

That said, I particularly enjoyed the last quarter or so and am absolutely already eager for the sequel!

Thanks to Bindery for providing an arc through NetGalley for me to review!

Thank you to Bindery Books and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

To Bargain With Mortals is a richly written story of social rebellion and cultural (and literal) genocide. It is fast-paced and impossible to put down. It is one of my few 5-star reads for the year thus far and I’m so grateful I got a chance to read it.

It’s rare to find a book that deals with the subject of class/caste and widespread cultural erasure and oppression with such nuance and sensitivity. There are so many layers to it, including within the oppressed culture itself. It’s also rare to get such a poignant look at the ethnic and cultural no-man’s-land that mixed and adopted POC have to occupy, never truly belonging anywhere.

The characters are courageous and tragically flawed, and your heart will break and soar in equal measure going on their journey with them as they navigate what it means to break a system while attempting to keep it from collapsing on the most vulnerable people within it.

A brilliant start to a new duology, I simply cannot wait to see this one hit the shelves. This would be an excellent choice for book clubs and library groups, as well as simply enriching your own bookshelf. Do not miss.

I really enjoyed this one and I think this will be a favorite for the 2025 fantasy category. This has Six of Crows energy but with its own plot and mishaps. The pacing felt a little off at times, but I found myself rooting for the characters and their success. I'll definitely the second installment.

Thank you to Bindery Books, NetGalley and Skies Press for this e-are in exchange for an honest review!

This book covered a lot of heavy topics and I loved how R.A. Basu showed us multiple sides of these issues and how nothing is black or white. Though the issues this story highlighted and the message was profound, the plot fell flat. It was just another story of a girl coming into power for me.

I loved the immersive world building and the magic concept was unique, I’m really excited for book 2!

This book is very political heavy, so it did take me longer to finish this since I had to find myself in the right mindset to read something so politic heavy.

Rebellion simmers in every line of To Bargain with Mortals—a bold, thought-provoking fantasy that speaks to both the past and the present. Set in the colonized nation of Viryana, R.A. Basu’s debut blends divine magic, revolution, and political complexity in a story rich with tension and cultural nuance.

Poppy Sutherland is an immediately compelling protagonist. Raised as the brown-skinned adopted daughter of the white Viceroy, she has spent her life walking the tightrope between two worlds—never fully accepted by the ruling elite, yet distant from the struggles of her own people. What makes Poppy’s arc so powerful is how deeply it wrestles with identity and internalized bias. As the story unfolds, she slowly transforms from a reluctant bystander into a woman with the potential to ignite systemic change.

Her journey collides with that of Hasan Devar—infamous gang leader, magic wielder, and revolutionary icon. Their alliance is uneasy but magnetic: Poppy’s political cunning and Hasan’s raw power create sparks on the page, even when their dynamic borders on transactional. Their relationship, and its potential, is a core strength of the novel.

Basu’s prose is lyrical and incisive, layering every scene with cultural texture and emotional stakes. Themes of colonialism, inherited history, and the cost of resistance are handled with both subtlety and fire. I especially appreciated how the novel critiques power not only as a force wielded externally, but as something internal to be reckoned with.

To Bargain with Mortals left a strong impression. It’s a beautifully imagined, emotionally charged fantasy debut with sharp teeth and a revolutionary heart. Readers who love historical fantasy with political bite, complex identity themes, and reluctant heroes will find much to admire here—and plenty to ponder.

I absolutely adored this book. Although the main character, Poppy, drove me crazy at times, you could tell that she was more than willing to see things from other perspectives. Growing up with a royal family, full of white people, she never got to know where she came from. Adopted at the age of 2, all she ever knew was the culture of her 'parents'. Then there is Hasan, who grew up in the slums and became a part of his family's gang. Both he and Poppy believe they are doing what is right. Now they have to work together to lead the island into a new and better world. I cannot wait for book 2. 4.5 stars!

I absolutely loved this book!!! It was such an amazing well developed novel from a debut author from the world-building to the discussions of race, colonialism, factionalism and gender. The unique aspects within the plot made the story so twisty, turny and interesting gripping me throughout despite its length. I absolutely loved the presentation of the characters who were left flawed and the character development that subsequently followed - and the magic of the book not being a main plot but being interwoven throughout and being far from overpowered (as can usually be the case). I'm so relieved to know this will eventually be a trilogy and I'm left waiting for so much more and to truly see the development (and the inevitable probably violent challenges) the kingdom will face. The politics of the book were so interesting and the exploration of culture was brilliant I cant wait to see where the other books go and absolutely adored the writing style and clear effort that went into such a well written novel!!

I already cannot wait for the second book! This was a 4.5 out of 5 stars for me!

I loved this book, and I’m not typically a historical fantasy reader. This first book was not as complex on the work building which made it easier to read and follow, and I think it (hopefully) sets up the second book to be a little bit more complex on that end.

I love the concept of the magic system and the gods, I wish there was a little bit more to it, but again, hopefully more to come in the second book.

The setting threw me off a little bit, I don’t know what the time frame is supposed to be, but it is historical, but with cars and technology? It didn’t make the most sense, but I vibe with it overall.

I love when people underestimate a character, and that’s Poppy. I very much enjoyed following along with her while she was relearning her culture that tried to be “white” washed away from her.

The Jackal, or Hasan, the criminal, has similar views as Poppy when it comes to fighting the regime, but he is I would say, a little bit more naive and doesn’t understand the complexity of it. But Poppy puts him in his place and its great!

I can’t wait for this book to be published so I can read the final works and then I’ll be not so patiently waiting for book 2! I will be rereading the ARC prior to the final published version just to see how far it’s come from this and I am ready!

Thank you Netgalley, Bindery, and Skiespress for the eARC of this absolutely wonderful book!

I received an early copy of this and I’m so thankful, it was amazing! Poppy and Hasan are wonderful main characters who you route for even when they make you cringe or shake your head with some of their decisions. This story deals with so many difficult larger topics (racism, adoption trauma, classism, sexism, etc) in a great way, both knowledgeable and still intriguing. I also loved the way the book ended. This was a fabulous debut - thank you for the opportunity to read it so soon!

Wow this story was absolutely captivating! The world building made it so I was easily able to immerse myself in the world. I loved the political intrigue and gang wars. There were so many big that were touched on that added to the story such as mental health and bias’. I loved Poppy’s journey and can’t wait to see where she goes in book 2.

This was so much fun to read, and I loved the Indian references. I really hope to see more of this author!!

Me waiting this long to read To Bargain with Mortals when I've had it on TBR and readily available is a tragedy because it was phenomenal!

I read this in two days, responsibilities be damned. I loved the premise (magical chosen one, yes please.) I enjoyed the magic system and that it utilized deities to power up the users.

The action was gripping and the prose was well done. Dialogue I felt was a strong plus on this as well. Some of the themes were a bit heavy handed (someone else mentioned "white=bad!" And I can say that that felt true) but this did not deter me personally. One thing that felt off was the presence of vehicles in the world. What time period are we in? I ended up shrugging this off but the rest of the world building seemed to put the cars in a really weird juxtaposition that didn't feel quite right.

Poppy's journey was interesting, however some of the beats of her journey were a bit....expected? Definitely a set of actions that Ive read before. The side characters really helped with making this feel well rounded and made up for her shortcomings. I really loved Hasan and his brothers! I thought the relationships within the gang were well built and believable. That is something I felt a bit conflicted about: I cared far more for these side characters than our FMC which is probably not the goal.

I loved that the hinted at romance between our two leads was just that: hinted at. Hopefully it will bloom into something really exciting next installment along with a new antagonist. I'll definitely be completing the series!

Thanks to bindery, Skiepress, and netgalley for the Arc!

This was such an addictive read, I was immediately immersed and had the hardest time putting it down. The prose is excellent and the story flows very naturally. I love the complexities involved with this very real world issue of colonialism and its impact on all people. I love when characters have specific biases and prejudices based on the world they live in, and it was so interesting to read Poppy's perspective as a strong lead with deep personal issues to work through. It's easy to see how much work was put in to make all of the characters more than just a typical archetype, and they have a lot of deeply human layers.

I do think some aspects of the story felt a little too simple and easy to predict, but I don't think that's a major deterrent from my enjoyment of the story. The creativity of the world building and characters made for a story I was desperate to consume, and I'm so excited to see where the story goes in the sequel.

This story kept me engaged. It was so well written, i found myself not getting lost with all the events unfolding but getting lost in the world of it. It was entertaining and i love a strong female character. Overall, an amazingly done story.

Despite the formatting issues, I could not put this book down.
The world building is rich, the culture is both compelling and explained in a very easy to digest way, and the character work is immaculate. I appreciate not ending on a huge cliffhanger, but still setting up the second book beautifully.

I loved this book! It's a strong fantasy debut with immersive world-building, a great magic concept and a whole heap of interesting characters! One of the things I particularly liked is that it's a fantasy take on the British colonisation of India and it's nuanced. Not all the Welkish (British) people are bad and not all the Virian (Indian) people are good which is often a tricky balance to get right and one that tends to fall one way or the other. There's issues yet to be resolved in Virian culture between the magic users and non-magic users, rather reflective of the Indian caste system still prevalent today.

The characters are also excellent! Poppy as the main character was refreshing, she's strong and fierce but at the same time filled with her own prejudices despite being Virian by birth. Hasan is reckless and dangerous yet has multiple soft spots. Also, big shout out to Zeyar! He's a great side character, the opposite of Hasan despite being brothers, and I'm honestly intrigued to see where the second novel will go.

The only thing I think that stops this being a five star review for me is that sometimes it's a little bit predictable when it comes to the plot. But, nonetheless, it's an enjoyable and engaging read!

The main characters' journeys are both relatable and richly layered. The book takes the classic “uptown girl meets bad boy from the hood” trope and deepens it with thoughtful explorations of class, race, and magical ability.

I appreciated that the story didn’t reduce the divisive element to just white vs. brown. Instead, it highlighted how division and cruelty existed among the marginalized even before white colonizers arrived—especially around magical ability. That internal conflict weakened the people and made them vulnerable to outside exploitation and oppression.

The magic system was a refreshing surprise. Rooted in sacrifice to gods, it made power feel sacred, rare, and costly. You can’t just magic your way out of everything, which raised the emotional and ethical stakes in a meaningful way.

The book is well-written, with strong pacing and complex, believable relationships. I especially liked how it shows that people can hold harmful beliefs and still be loved. Being wrong doesn’t make someone irredeemable—but refusing to grow when presented with new truth does. The story illustrates that nuance beautifully.

4 Stars - Highly Recommended!

What a dazzling read this book is. I am so glad that I took a chance on To Bargain With Mortals despite the fact that I haven’t read anything about the author and the premise seems like the usual fantasy trope of girl-of-destiny. But as I have mentioned in my previous reviews, I can put up with familiar fantasy tropes as long as executed well and To Bargain With Mortals has just done that. It’s not perfect but every page was perfect for me.

Inspired by colonial India, R.A. Basu’s To Bargain With Mortals follows the story of Poppy Sutherland, an orphaned Viryani who was adopted by a childless Duke and a Viceroy at that; and a Viryani criminal, Hasan a.ka. The Jackal, who despite being a criminal and being unrepentant about killing people still has morals to save the innocents. I know it’s crazy but he is just what he is. Heh. Know that these characters are already adults which made the story more novel in the sense that both protagonists seemed innocent about a lot of ways of the world. Poppy, having raised by the nobility, was sheltered and has this great tendency to act like the world owes her a lot for taking a lot from her. And Hasan for only seeing things the violent way. It’s almost always a black and white for him. If he wants to get something, he always faces it head on, with violence, without even thinking about the repercussions of his actions. Sounds irritating but Hasan is such an adorable guy despite the flaws. I may not relate with his logic but I can understand where he is coming from. He is jus a product of oppression who wants to do good but and make a better world for his fellow Viryans and at the same time, protect and provide for his family. Only that he still needs a lot of growing up to realize that fists are not the only way to do things.

I cannot say the same thing for Poppy though. She’s prolly the only reason why I did not give To Bargain With Mortals a perfect 5 star review because she really grated on my nerves. She’s a self-centered brat and is basically someone who had gotten everything that she wanted because she threw a tantrum or had coerced people to do her bidding. I did not feel that she worked hard enough to deserve her achievements at the end. She did not experience sufficient suffering for me to give her a pat in the back and tell her, “You did well, Young Padawan.” I did not see her displaying acts of remarkable brilliance or intelligence or cunning that made me “Oh, wow.” Yes, I know how miserable her life is and that she really has the right to feel hurt but it does not give her the right to invalidate the hurt of others when comparatively speaking, she had it better compared with the other Viryanis who did not even got a chance for any thing better. Le sigh.

Anyway, enough with Poppy lest I spoil the whole book for you with all my rant. Setting my dislike for Poppy, I am happy to tell you that I like all the characters in the book even the villains and the not-so villains. They’re well developed and has their certain depth that it’s difficult to not relate with them at some point. The way R.A. Basu made them was definitely not just your bad-bad kind of villain or good-good kind of protagonists. They have their admirable traits despite having both acceptable and non-acceptable flaws.

On top of the remarkable character development, I also enjoyed the author’s manner of writing. It’s poignant without being flowery. It really set the tone of the book which is inspired by colonial India. And yes, the way the author the built the story around the gods and goddesses of India made it so much more vibrant. I am only familiar with India’s history and mythology on the surface level but this book made me delve deeper into the intricacies of the Indians’ plight regarding their colonization. I also love the magic system created by the Author because there’s a balance. You cannot just use something so powerful without paying for it.

But most important of all, what I truly admired about To Bargain With Mortals was its heavy focus on family. It was just so heartbreaking to witness how the events of the book led to some heartwrenching scenes. Clarence Sutherland was a despicable man through and through but I could not find fault on how he tried, in his own perspective and views of the world, to be a good father to Poppy. How he tried his very best to protect Poppy is his own misguided ways. And then there’s The Jackal’s family whose filial bonds are so strong that they’d rather see the world in chaos than surrender one of their own. Truly, family is complicated but as this book has conveyed, it’s worth fighting for.

Summing it all up, To Bargain With Mortals had been a perfect companion these past days where the mundaneness of life has tried to swallow me whole. It’s surely a series that I’m looking forward to. Another gem in the Bindery books line up that I would not hesitate shoving down anyone’s throat. I pray to the gods of Virian that Poppy would at least grow up in the second and last installment of the series because she’s the only underachiever among the lineup of amazing characters in the book.

It was interesting enough to keep me going into the book because of the commentary it makes about colonialism. The impact that has to someone whose a BIPOC that assimilates to white culture. But like make it fantastical, interesting and full of intrigue. I actually really liked it!!!

And my man, Hasan... he's so cute to me but he'll probably hate being described that!! I adoreeeee the relationship he has with his brothers, it's really sweet and strong. It's refreshing.

Another thing though, the quiet moments where we're learning more about the characters, the plot, and the society they live in felt boring SOMETIMES. Because with the idea being colonialism, I felt like I knew how things were going to go so it felt quiet predictable.

Would still recommend this book if the ideas it explores intrigues you. It's a great read!!

Wow!! Took me a day after finishing to even start this review! The author did an incredible job with this story. I love a strong FMC and this one is top tier! There is a lot going on, but the author was able to write it in a way that I didn’t get lost or overwhelmed. I will be patiently counting down the days till book two is released.

I stumbled across this book on TikTok because I follow Emma Skies, who acquired this book through Bindery. The cover is GORGEOUS, and as an international adoptee I was wary of but intrigued by the premise.

I needn’t have worried. I don't even fully know where to begin, but I thought this book -- once I got over the first 26% or so -- was brilliant. I only really got pulled in once our main characters' goals came together, but after that it simply flew by.

I loved all of the characters in this. The main characters, Poppy and Hasan, have a kind of naivety to their worldviews, and they both come to understandings, by the end of the book, that left me feeling relieved. There's a lot that happens towards the end of the book, and I think all of it is earned... and therefore extremely satisfying to see. The side characters are numerous, and I enjoyed what all of them brought to the narrative. Our main characters are often challenged for their words/decisions, and I loved how characters are not easily let off the hook for their choices.

Poppy, especially, was such a wonderful character. Without giving too much away, I think her growth over the course of the book was such a joy to witness. Underlying all of her actions is this desperate longing to belong somewhere, and that’s a feeling that resonated with me so deeply, as an asian adoptee raised by white people. I just loved her.

I have so many thoughts about this book, and not all of them are super coherent at the moment, but I am looking forward to this book's release and cannot wait for the sequel.

Thank you to Bindery & NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Bindery Books, Skies Press, and NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I overall rated this a 4 star out of 5.

The character’s depth felt rigid. While we learn their inner thoughts and workings via the shifting POVs and through their words and actions, I feel like I was told more than shown. The relationship between Poppy and Hasan felt like it solidified too fast while the story itself felt too slow.

There was a lot that felt like fluff that could have been removed and would have made the book a bit faster paced and less full of info dumping. It could be 50-75 pages shorter and still pack a powerful punch with the themes presented. It felt like maybe book one’s main goal was to give a deeper understanding of the lore, political structure, and magical system, and then possibly more intricacies to the magic system and character depth will be introduced in the next book? I definitely hope the magic system comes more into play in the next book.

Having said that, I did enjoy the story as a whole. I think the themes are strong pillars throughout the book and incredibly necessary for people to read. The politics are eerily similar to our current climate, and I felt those similarities are so important to be shared.

I enjoyed watching Poppy learn and fall in love with her culture after so many years being forced into a box that didn’t fit her. The fights against systemic racism and sexism are also relevant and powerfully written and presented. This was the strongest part of the book and rightfully should be.

The author’s voice is so strong. She writes with a beautiful cadence that’s easy to follow. I highlighted so many one liners that were so powerful and made me incredibly emotional. Overall this is an incredible freshman novel.

I enjoyed this a lot and love the themes.

To Bargain with Mortal is a magnificent read, point blank, nothing else to say. But since I love to yap, here's a little bit of my opinions: I thought the writing style was gorgeous, I thought the characters jumped straight out the page and I loved how human they all felt like while reading, and I thought the magic system was to die for.

Fantasy is one of my favorite genres in the whole world, and this one was the exact type of fantasy I was looking for. I was never bored, never tired and never disappointed throughout all the twists-and-turns this book took, and I'm inmensely thankful for the opportunity to have read it early.

I loved this book a lot! The magic system was wonderfully done and it was a great story! Would highly recommend.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚Rating*ੈ✩‧₊˚
3.5/5 Stars
(Rounded Up)

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗Tropes˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗
🌊 Broken Society
🔥 Dual POV
🌊 Underestimated Fmc
🔥 Unique Magic System

𓂃🖊Notes and Highlights-

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･“You don’t have to have the same experience as someone to feel for them, only the desire to understand.”°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

💭 Thoughts-
I thought this was a very interesting book that was fun to read, with a lot of political intrigue in the plot and lots of power struggle and stuff like that. I liked the magic system that was in the book and thought it was pretty unique too. I did struggle with really connecting with the main character Poppy though. Not only that, but I thought she was a bit annoying at times and a little pick me just with the whole I’m not like the girls like I get it you aren't like all the other high society girls but like still get over yourself girlie. 🙄. I will say I did enjoy seeing the growth she went through throughout the book and just how she come to realize the actual state of her society and everything. All in all a good book, butt not the best by any means.

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This was amazing. 10/10 no notes. I loved it so much and I need the second book injected into my veins ASAP.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for this ARC.

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but that wasn't it. Politics, intrigue, gangs and magic with a young woman stuck in the middle trying to make her mark. Can't wait to read the sequel

To Bargain with Mortals is a sharp, evocative, and beautifully layered fantasy that grabbed me from the very first page and refused to let go.

Set in the colonized nation of Viryana, this story offers so much more than the enemies-to-allies dynamic between a disgraced heiress and a feared gang leader. It's a story about power, identity, and the fractures left by empire. Poppy and Hasan are two magnetic leads, equally flawed and driven, both caught in a system that wants them silent. And yet, together, they spark change.

What I loved most was how this book blends intimate character growth with big political stakes. The worldbuilding is rich and immersive, but never gets in the way of the emotional core. Poppy’s internal conflict—caught between the world that raised her and the one she longs to fight for—feels achingly real. Hasan, with his fury, grief, and reluctant hope, is equally unforgettable.

The writing is clear, powerful, and full of purpose. The tension (emotional, political, romantic) is perfectly paced, and the magic system tied to divine inheritance is both elegant and thematically meaningful. Every element—colonial critique, rebellion, romance—feels essential.

This book made me feel angry, inspired, and breathless in the best way. It’s about what we owe to ourselves and each other. About how survival, in the face of oppression, is both resistance and reclamation.

A must-read for fans of political fantasy, slow-burn romance, and stories that challenge the systems they’re set in.

I have been absolutely, on every level, blown away by this story. I don't think I've ever been so invested in a character as I have been with our wonderful Poppy and the character arc she embarks on. Its very much a character driven story and to have a MCs like Poppy and Hasan at the helm made the chapters fly by. The writing was absolutely amazing and the pace has never been so perfect. Through every page I was completely immersed in this world and its dynamics. The vibes are here, the vibes are great. I would have like a little more of its magic system displayed but I'm happy with what was shown and can't wait to read what's to come!
Thank you Netgalley and Bindery for the chance to read this awesome debut!

Thank you to Bindery and Netgalley for giving me the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.75 stars rounded up. I devoured this book. After I got past the 10% mark I was invested. I do wish the first 10% hooked me quicker than it did but once it had me, it had me.

I loved the character growth our main character goes through and I can't wait to see how much she changes in the sequel. These were lovable and complicated characters and I really enjoyed their depth.

The magic system in this book was also interesting and I can't wait to see how it plays out in the second book. I have a feeling this series will be one of my favorites once it progresses even more!

This is a great debut fantasy novel. I mean it has everything if you think about it; an interesting magical system, political warfare, a strong but underestimated female lead and a hot headed but kind male lead. It is well written, fast paced, and a page turner. There is also growth and development in the characters which makes them more appealing and real. The racism and subjugation have also been depicted aptly by the writer.

I really like the fact that there is no black and white in the story, even the supposedly good people Virians have discrimination amongst them. Which gives the plot depth and makes it feel even better when they all come together.

I can’t wait to read the sequel and am eagerly waiting for the romance.

Thank you NetGalley and BinderyBooks for the title.

4.5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I found each of the main and secondary characters to be very dynamic. I loved the elemental magic system and the world of politics created. I’m excited to see where the next book leads.

Thank you Bindery and Netgalley for providing the e-arc for this!

I knew with Emma Skies picking this up and repping it so hard it had to be good! I loved this. It was powerful, thought provoking, and obviously a great reflection of colonization and the way it affects the people who are colonized. I really liked the in depth view of Poppy understanding her own privilege and bias and self hatred in order to understand both herself and her culture and people better. I felt Hasan to be kind of annoying with his very black and white view of the world, but he really started to come around for me in the end. Honestly I could've lived without Hasan and Zeyar's drama. It felt like they just circled the same arguments over and over and it never went anywhere. I felt the middle part of the book dragged, but this could obviously be attributed to Poppy relearning her culture. I would have liked to see more of the magic being used. Definitely leaned more into the political intrigue (not complaining!) that I felt the actual magic part was left behind. Hopefully we see more in book 2! There is work to be done and nothing is going to stop Poppy Sutherland from accomplishing it.

#ToBargainwithMortals #NetGalley
I thoroughly enjoyed the politics of this world along with the deep character development. I am definitely interested to see where the 2nd book takes us.

To Bargain With Mortals was everything I wanted in a book. I loved the world Basu created and the themes this novel explored. It does not shy away from heavy topics which I find so important, especially in today’s political climate.

I absolutely loved the complex characters and the exploration of how one’s upbringing shapes their worldview. Poppy, while Virian, was raised within the highest ranking Welkish home on the island. She had the Virian beaten out of her, shaping her to be a “true Welkish” lady. I loved watching her try and seize power for herself, despite the color of her skin and the fact she is a woman. I also really enjoyed the dynamic between Hasan and his brothers and the people within their gang.

I think what I liked most of all about the characters are they are all deeply flawed and have to work through their own biases. Their choices made sense within the context of the story in relation to their upbringings. Speaking of upbringings, I thought it was so impressive how Basu incorporated racism and discrimination into the story. It wasn’t just white vs color, but also explored how societies tend to favor the select few within the same populations of people.

I’m so excited to see where Basu takes this in the next installment. I’ll definitely be rereading once this hits shelves in October!

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves political fantasy and complex, flawed characters!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Review: An interesting take on subtle magic and the inter-play between cultures divided by caste. What surprised me was that the era had a sudden reveal with cars, powered rickshaws and industrialism. Huh? Initially this novel felt quite medievel with boats for long journeys, royalty, slums and aristocratic propriety. In your head its Oliver Twist with orphans, starvation and shjt, then out of nowhere a phone rings.

The very liberal baseline expression that is the foundation of this novel just tires you out. White is bad is iterated constantly. This race baiting is really just an excuse to exercise a foundational identity in a public setting. I find it tedious in the extreme as it builds nothing but blame and justification for the characters.

This novel really never goes anywhere interesting. It is mostly a journey about overcoming self-recrimination and building esteem, finding inner magic and saving your ancestral Island from whitey. There is a burgeoning love story between THE JACKAL (LOL) and Poppy, but you gotta wait until the next installment to find out.

I received this ARC for an honest rev

To start thank you Netgalley for and arc of this. I wanted to begin this review by saying that I enjoyed this book a lot. I can see the potential of this book and where it could go in its sequel. Moving on to my positives that I had for this book, Poppy's arch was captivating and thought out. Every moment I was rooting for victory and I felt her anxieties. The care and detail that went into Poppy's story was so intricate and detailed that made me want to keep reading.
 
My main criticisms where that the story heavily relied on telling instead of showing. Specifically, when it came to Hasan's POV regarding back story. The reader was given a lot of exposition when it could have been revealed later as the story progressed. For example, the description of members and their pasts were given away as they came to the first meeting after Paranjay was kidnapped. This could have been revealed just as Samina's past was (i.e. the necklace). I feel this could have helped with some of pacing which dragged near the end.
 
The final act and final vote for who would be the viceroy was exciting and created such great tension. I truly did not know how it could have played out. However, the resulting chapters of purely politics caused that energy to stagnate. Having the main villain leave in the final act contributed to this. However, I appreciated the realism of the politics and how in reality that there are really no happy endings.
 
In conclusion, I feel that some moments telling vs. showing caused the plot to drag. But besides this, “To Bargain with Mortals” was a solid Debut. I am excited for the future sequel and whatever lies in the future for R. A. Basu.

Review: To Bargain With Mortals

To Bargain With Mortals is a historical fantasy deeply rooted in themes of racism, colonization, and identity. The story follows Poppy Sutherland, who returns home after seven years away, sent off by her adoptive family for a past transgression. Determined to secure her place in Welkish society, she struggles with belonging to neither world.

Opposing her are the Devar brothers, particularly Hassan, the youngest. As Virian natives colonized by Welkland, they wield magic and power to serve their own ambitions.

This novel is beautifully character-driven, with each protagonist undergoing meaningful growth. Poppy’s journey is especially compelling as she grapples with self-perception and belonging. The world-building and magic system are rich, and the pacing never falters. While the book leaves some loose ends for future installments, it avoids a frustrating cliffhanger, making it a satisfying read. I’m eager to return to this world and see what the author does next!

Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGalley for early access to this book.

To Bargain with Mortals by R.A. Basu is such a good story. This author is a genious! I loved everything about this story. The characters are fantastic, the story is immaculate!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review. This was the first book I've read by R. A. Basu, and it definitely won't be the last. The story was intriguing, the world building complex and the characters kept you on the edge of your seat wondering what they were going to do next.
While there was a lot to remember, the complex story made sense as it played out and every character had an important role. The magic system and political system were intricately linked, which is a concept I love, and the fact that each character had to make sacrifices for their end goals made it all the more heart wrenching. I loved this story and will definitely be recommending it.

Wow, this book was amazing. It had everything I love in a great Fantasy; an easy to understand magic system, an underestimated FMC, a violent, hot-headed MMC and a strong political system. This story left nothing on the table and I had such a great time with this book.

All of the characters in the story are so flawed and imperfect, especially Poppy and Hasan. Even through I found myself rolling my eyes or sighing out loud at some of the decisions these characters made I still found that it made sense for the story and I understood their motivations. The character growth for Poppy especially was so great, There were moments throughout this story were I found myself unsure of if I wanted Poppy to succeed, which made it all the more powerful when I was fully rooting for her in the end. And Hasan's relationship with his brothers is so complex and emotional, some of the scenes between Hasan and Zayar were so tense I found myself gripping my ebook a little too aggressively. The author did such an incredible job of living in this gray area with all of their characters, nothing was black or white and even the oppressed Viryans experienced discrimination amongst each other. No side was without fault.

The magic system was awesome, and I LOVED the idea of having to sacrifice something in order to procure power. It's such a simple concept but it was turned into such a powerful moment for Poppy in the story. And the political system was so well fleshed out, I loved all of the intricacies between the first families, second families, and the Viryans. It was so complex but so well thought out, and I never once felt like I couldn't keep track of who was what or where. It was all explained so well.

If you love fast-paced fantasies with strong character growth, powerful magic and a complex but easy to understand political system I would highly recommend picking up this book, I can't wait to purchase a physical copy when this is published!

To Bargain With Mortals is a historical fantasy, heavily steeped in themes of racism, colonization, and the characters’ own internal biases.

It is about Poppy Sutherland, who is just returning from seven years away from her home. She was sent away to gain an “education” by her adoptive family because of a transgression she committed, and we learn later as readers. Her goal is to secure her place within Welkish society.

It is also about the Devar brothers, mainly Hassan, the youngest of the group. They are part of the Virian natives who have been colonized by Welkland. They use their magic and privilege as heads of a gang, to mainly further their own pursuits.

I really loved the world and magic system. More than anything though this was character driven, and each character had an arc of growth and change that makes sense for where they started and where they end up. Poppy‘s growth is especially beautiful to see because she has to come to terms with how she sees herself as never really being part of either world due to her upbringing.

The flow of this worked really well, I was never bored and there was always enough going on to keep me interested in what was going to happen next. I also enjoyed that there is not a cliffhanger at the end of this. If not for some loose ends, this could almost be a standalone. And those are always the best books to read when you know it is part of an unfinished series. I am excited to see more from this world and from this author.

Thank you to Bindery Books and Netgalley for the review copy!

4.5 stars

When I saw this come up on Bindery's Instagram, I knew I had to request a copy based on the synopsis alone. This is the kind of book I've been looking for and I absolutely flew through it.

To Bargain With Mortals is the story of Poppy Sutherland, a Virian orphan who is adopted by the Viceroy of Viryana and his wife (who just so happen to be Welkish nobility and related to the royal family). After an incident forces Poppy to go to boarding school in Welkland, she returns to Viryana, a nation now on the brink of revolution and having to reckon with rediscovered powers and everything she thought she knew. Running along side this storyline is another, featuring a gang leader who has his own agenda to rescue his brother and use Poppy as leverage.

To Bargain With Mortals does deal explicitly with themes of colonialism and racism, and the way Poppy has to unlearn years of Welkish education when she returns to Viryana. She stubbornly clings to those ideals at the beginning of the book, but one of the things I appreciated with Poppy was her willingness to learn from those around her. She carries those lessons with her and to try and forge a better fate for Viryana, one that isn't supressed and at the mercy of colonial forces.

This is the first book in a duology and given how this one ends, I'm very curious to see where it goes next. To Bargain With Mortals is out on 28th October this year with Bindery Books and Emma Skies.

R.A. Basu's debut, To Bargain With Mortals, the first book in The Reckoning Storm duology, offers a captivating journey into a world heavily inspired by colonized India. As a fan of R.F. Kuang, I was immediately drawn to the premise, and Basu delivers a rich narrative steeped in themes of colonialism, resistance, and cultural identity.

The story follows Poppy Sutherland, the adopted Virian daughter of a Welkish viceroy, leaving her caught between two worlds. Her determination to forge her own path leads her to an arranged marriage, only for her to uncover a betrayal and find herself kidnapped by the infamous criminal leader, Hasan, also known as the Jackal.

One of the book's greatest strengths lies in its insightful discussions on privilege and intersectionality. Poppy undergoes a crucial reality check, forced to confront her own sheltered upbringing and the vast disparities in struggles. Quotes like, "But just because you didn’t have it easy doesn’t mean that you didn’t have it easier than the vast majority," and, "You’re so used to being the most marginalized person in the room, you don’t know how to recognize that other people have it far worse than you," highlight the raw and necessary conversations woven into the narrative. It’s refreshing to see a fantasy novel tackle such important social commentary head-on.

However, where the book faltered slightly for me was with the character of Hasan. For a feared criminal lord, he often feels too morally "white," lacking the ambiguity I'd expect from such a figure. His faults seem minimal, and his reflections on the damage he's caused often felt forced, making him come across more like a hero in a criminal's shoes. Additionally, the lack of communication between Hasan and Zeyar, considering their roles in controlling an entire city, strained credulity.

Despite these minor quibbles, I thoroughly enjoyed To Bargain With Mortals. The world-building is immersive, and the exploration of resistance against an oppressive regime resonated deeply. Plus, there's a particular scene involving Zeyar and Harithi that had me absolutely squealing! "He laughed, placing one hand at the small of her back, pulling her toward him. The tip of her dagger pierced his skin, crimson staining his shirt, but he barely felt the sting as he leaned down and kissed her." I'm desperate for more of their story in the sequel!

Overall, To Bargain With Mortals is a promising debut that tackles complex themes with nuance and an engaging plot. I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment and can't wait to see what R.A. Basu has in store for us.

“To Bargain with Mortals” by Elizabeth Bear is a captivating blend of fantasy and philosophical inquiry that delves into the complexities of life, death, and the choices that define us. Set against a backdrop of richly imagined worlds, the narrative introduces readers to characters whose fates intertwine through intricate bargains and moral dilemmas. Bear’s prose is lyrical and immersive, vividly painting the landscapes and emotions of her characters.

The central premise revolves around the protagonist's struggle with her own mortality and the desires that bind her to her choices. As she navigates her relationships with both mortals and immortals, readers are drawn into a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be human. Bear skillfully balances moments of tension with quieter reflections on love, sacrifice, and the weight of existence.

One of the standout elements of the novel is Bear’s ability to create nuanced characters that resonate on multiple levels; their internal conflicts feel genuine and relatable. The pacing of the story is carefully crafted, allowing for a gradual build-up that keeps readers engaged. Overall, “To Bargain with Mortals” is a beautifully written narrative that not only entertains but also invites deep contemplation on the fragile nature of life. It’s a must-read for fans of speculative fiction who appreciate philosophical depth.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

To Bargain with Mortals is sharp, sweeping, and soaked in atmosphere. R.A. Basu delivers a beautifully layered fantasy where every decision drips with consequence, and power is never handed over—it’s taken, bartered, or stolen.

The writing is both lyrical and biting, the characters messy in the best way, and the emotional stakes hit hard. It’s a story about survival, identity, and what you’re willing to sacrifice to feel whole—or free.

The world feels lived in, the danger feels real, and the pull between duty and desire is unforgettable. Haunting, elegant, and utterly immersive.

To Bargain with Mortals is a dark, enchanting fantasy that seamlessly blends myth, morality, and mortal desire. R.A. Basu crafts a world where gods and humans negotiate fate, and every choice carries weight. The protagonist’s journey is both intimate and epic, with high emotional stakes and complex character development. Basu’s prose is lyrical yet sharp, and the worldbuilding is immersive without overwhelming the reader. While some plot threads could have benefited from deeper exploration, the novel’s originality and philosophical undercurrents make it a compelling read. A thoughtful, atmospheric debut for fans of mythic fantasy with moral ambiguity.

I found this to be a very intelligent and satisfying read. Such a well written political fantasy with some creature comforts of an underdog turn fierce FMC. It was gripping and emotional, I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. I found it to be quite original with the balance of a few good tropes. Overall a great read! Thank you for the opportunity to review!

Amazing female empowerment, This is one of my top reads of the year. It Begins with a sheltered young girl who enjoys her luxurious life while naïve to the suffering around her. To becoming an adult who realizes how truly hard life is for those around her and learning from her past. Perfect! I can’t wait to continue this story.

This was an engaging read: sharp, bold, and not particularly interested in subtlety. And honestly? That works. In a world on fire, sometimes you need a story that doesn’t whisper about colonialism and oppression but shouts. Sure, it’s a bit on the nose, but the nose deserves it. What makes this book hit harder is how deftly the author balances message with craft. The characters aren’t just vehicles for ideology; they’re raw, unpredictable, and at times delightfully unlikable. The world building is equally punchy, layered, lived in, and uncomfortable in all the right ways. It’s a universe that mirrors ours just enough to sting, with enough invention to keep you turning pages faster than your existential dread can catch up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC.

To Bargain with Mortals by R.A Basu is a historical fantasy that is focused on Poppy Sutherland, an isolated brown woman in the world of white royalty, and Hasan Devar, a gang leader called the Jackal, and the way their paths merge to create a revolution for the colonised nation of Viryana.

The world-building elements of this novel are what make it so great, heavy themes of colonisation and politics really immerses the reader in the book. The South-Asian inspiration reflected in the Viryana nation is reflected in the way the Gods and the culture is represented in the novel, and I see it as another strong point of the novel. Though I would have liked more focus on the Gods in the novel.

The relationships between characters are very complex and intriguing. The relationship between Poppy and Samina really showed Poppy's privilege in this world due to her position, but one she had not been able to see before in a society she felt like an outcast, their dynamic is interesting and is significant for Poppy's development. Hasan and his relationship with his brother Zeyar is one that really reflected the views of the colonised nation, with the contrast between Hasan's black and white perspective, and Zeyar's more morally grey view. I think that their dynamic is the one I enjoyed the most, along with Poppy's relationship with her parents, due to her struggle with people she loves being the oppressors of her people.

I think the pacing was the weakest part of the novel; some parts seemed too slow, and by the end, I felt certain events happened too fast, and I would have liked a timeline that felt more realistic.

Overall, I see To Bargain with Mortals as a strong and well-developed fantasy novel with in-depth worldbuilding and deeply flawed characters, and I am eager to read the sequel to see how Poppy and Hasan deal with future problems in toppling current power structures.

Rating: 5 / 5 ⭐
From page one I was hooked and I’m hard to get. To Bargain with Mortals is more than promising. The political intrigue, the elemental magic, the character work–all fantastic. R.A. Basu will be a big name in fantasy, mark my words.

Poppy is the adopted daughter of the Viceroy. Her father sends her nanny away as a child for telling her about the old gods and the magical powers they bestowed on the people. In the present day, magic is banned, but The Jackal and his people have it.
The story was compelling and engaging from day one. Based on the colonization of India and the inner politics of the caste system, I felt Basu’s take was fresh and not overly complex for readers to grasp. I felt like I was watching a great film with drama, twists and turns and build-up for the sequel.

I loved both Poppy and Hasan, but I enjoyed the side characters as well. Zeyar….I’m looking at you!I love love loved Basu’s writing style. This will be great for fans of Fonda Lee and possibly even Jane Austen. Basu has studied her classical romance well.

This book covers colonialism, colorism, and family. The pacing was very good. I did not find it to be slowing down at any point, but overall I would say this is a medium to fast paced book. The world building was expertly crafted. Everything was revealed beautifully and I was never confused.
I think this book is my new personality. I loved it so so much and to see characters wearing salwar kameez and drinking chai and being so cool it warmed my desi heart. I would recommend this book to character and plot driven fantasy readers who enjoy authors like Fonda Lee, Robin Hobb, and Sabaa Tahir.

“You don’t have to have the same experience as someone to feel for them, only the desire to understand.”

I cannot think of a more timely book than To Bargain with Mortals. Though fictional, its themes resonate strongly with our world today. As readers follow the journeys of Poppy and Hasan, they are likely to see echoes of their own experiences in the characters’ struggles. Basu skillfully weaves Indian folklore into a narrative that confronts political realities, engaging with issues such as colonialism, classism, racism, and police brutality. She portrays characters reckoning with their privilege and striving to make amends in meaningful ways, while also highlighting the sustained effort required to challenge and dismantle a corrupt government.

My main critiques are the limited world-building at the start and the overall disjointed feel of the plot. I was confused about the setting’s time period—originally thinking the story might take place in the late 1800s/early 1900s, but then the author introduced modern elements like luxury cars and handguns.

Overall, I enjoyed To Bargain with Mortals, and I look forward to checking out the sequel when it is released in the future!

- Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! -

Books have always been one of the easier ways to understand the perspective of someone whose life you did not live. By reading their story, you learn more about them, their motivations, as well as why they feel the way they do.

To Bargain With Mortals exemplifies that idea to the highest degree.

The author shares with us the raw, honest sides of both the colonizer and the colonized in her story.

The book begins as we meet Poppy. She is a native of the island of Viryana, where this tale takes place. Welkand has colonized the island through a series of devious moves. Her adopted father is the Viceroy and runs the island as the representative of the King of Welkand.

As the story unfolds, we walk with Poppy as she tries to become the daughter she is expected to be in all ways, even though most people in her father’s circle see her as subhuman.

We then meet Hasan, the MMC, also a native of Viryana, and his brothers, and their gang. They are vicious, but not heartless, and have found a way to make a way on the island run and owned by outsiders. They have secrets, and as we learn later on, some dark customs passed on to them from their own forefathers.

The MMC and FMC collide in an unlikely event, and harsh truths push them both to reevaluate what they believe. There was no serious love vibe, but the building towards it in this book was subtle, yet enticing. I read eagerly as they learned from each other and reshaped the way the other thought. This part of the book was, I think, the most fun for me.

There is magic, there are caste systems, and heartbreaking realities within these pages. Most of all though, there is an appealing story that will change the way you see the world.

The found family is epic, and the actual writing is melodic with some poignant highlight-able phrases that stick with you long after you have finished reading.

I expect this one to hit those who can empathize in the feels, and at the very least open minds and hearts to the ways we all treat one another, as we blindly follow expectations of elders and their traditions.

This is why books are written.

Before you read, check out the TW. And be aware that this book will change you, hopefully for the better, as it did me.

Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGalley for this arc in return for my honest review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7768719537
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/6f096c6f-6414-4d01-9583-bf9d52d148d8
https://www.instagram.com/p/DOjUq5zEXMd/?igsh=MTdpbGJob2wxbGlmbA==

I just finished To Bargain with Mortals and honestly, I found it really refreshing. The world feels inspired by colonial India, which immediately sets it apart from your usual fantasy settings. There’s this cool mix of magic, politics, and cultural tension, and it all feels pretty immersive without being too heavy.

Poppy, the main character, is super relatable in her struggles. She doesn’t really fit in anywhere, and you feel that tension as she tries to figure out where she belongs. I liked that she’s flawed—she’s stubborn, sometimes makes mistakes, but you’re always rooting for her to find her place. Hasan (the Jackal) adds a nice edge too. He’s not just a “tough guy,” he actually has some layers, and you get to see more than just the surface.

The book deals with some big themes like class, power, and family expectations. Sometimes it spells things out a little too much, but honestly, I didn’t mind. It made the story feel real, and you can tell the author cares about these issues.

The pace is pretty solid. It never felt like it dragged or rushed. There’s a good balance between action, character moments, and world-building, so you get to know the cast but also stay interested in what’s happening next.

One thing I really liked is the focus on messy family dynamics. Nothing feels simple or perfect, and that makes the characters’ choices and emotions stand out. You can tell everyone is carrying some kind of baggage, but it’s handled in a way that feels honest.

If you’re looking for a fantasy that’s a bit different, with meaningful themes and characters who feel real, I think you’ll enjoy this one. It isn’t a super flashy book, but it sticks with you, and I’m definitely curious to see where the story goes next.

To Bargain with Mortals is a book that deals with a lot of important and still relevant themes: political struggles, structural racism, identity and belonging.

The worldbuilding is inspired by the British Raj in India, and the story truly highlights how politics is more complicated than it seems, especially as the plot progresses. At the beginning, our vision of the world is clear-cut: the Welks invaded Vyriana and they erased the identity of their citizens as much as possible to impose an iron fist that only benefits them. So, we cheer for a revolution that would re-establish the old Vyrian ways. However, as we progress in the story, we realize that, while the Welks are clearly oppressors, the old system didn't benefit every Vyrian citizen and it was still divisive and discriminatory - those who possessed magic discriminated against those who didn't.

I think that the historical and political lens makes the story intriguing even when, at the beginning, I didn't connect with the main characters. In the first half, Poppy came across as entitled and detached from the real world and its struggles - because she was! It was hard to connect with her because these characteristcs made her unlikeable and annoying. However, as she learned about Vyrians' identity and struggles, she changed and became more empathetic. Also, it was beautiful to finally watch her lean into the identity that was stolen from her, and it was painful to watch her struggle as she realized that she did not belong to either the Welk or the Vyrian society - but, in a way, to both. By the end of the book, I was truly cheering for her and holding my breath.

Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for Hasan. I believe he didn't grow as much as Poppy and is a bit bland. However, I have hope that things will change in the second instalment.

Overall: though the first part of the book is a bit slow, it is necessary to set the scene and it definitely picks up in the second half, both in plot and in character development. The topics discussed are important and well-developed, though the message is a bit too heavy-handed for me. I think that the author could have trusted the readers to understand that racism, discrimination and misogyny are egregious without constantly reminding us that they are (as this is targeted towards adult and not teens).

Looking forward to the second book!

I loved how this book managed to be both intense and heartfelt. The pacing kept me turning pages, but it was the quieter, emotional moments that stayed with me. A perfect blend of suspense and depth. I can’t stop thinking about it!!

To Bargain with Mortals is a thoughtful and ambitious fantasy debut that shines brightest once the story finds its footing. I’ll admit the beginning felt a little slow and hard to settle into, but once Poppy is swept into Hasan’s world, the pace picks up and the book really grabbed me.

Poppy and Hasan are dynamic characters—an outcast heiress learning to claim her voice, and a notorious gang leader burdened with power and purpose. Their tension-filled alliance was easily my favorite part, layered with political intrigue, questions of loyalty, and just the right amount of chemistry.

R.A. Basu weaves in themes of colonization, cultural identity, and resistance in a way that feels both timely and deeply human. By the time I turned the last page, I was invested not just in the characters, but in the larger revolution brewing around them.

It may start slowly, but this story rewards your patience with intensity, heart, and a setup that makes me very curious for the sequel.

Small note: seeing the word “hoity-toity” pop up in the middle of a fantasy novel made me giggle. I genuinely wasn’t expecting that.

4.5⭐️
“Gods, blood and kings do not decide who rules. The people do..”

To Bargain with Mortals touched me deeply.

This fantasy adresses very important themes such as colonization, the dispossession of identity, and the search for roots that are lost when one is alienated from their origins.

Poppy, Hasan and the rest of Virians are a great representation of the different consequences resulting from division, segregation and colonialism.
I want to mention that Harithi was a perfectly constructed character and my favorite.

A solid debut and I genuinely can’t wait for the sequel.

Thanks to Bindery Books, Skies Press, R.A Basu and NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This took me so long to start writing my review. And I think it's because there's such beautiful intricacy from one side of the story to another.

Poppy, an orphan Virian, began her life being adopted by a white family in a position of power. She spends decades learning to act less native, less Virian, and more like these privileged families. As a result, she's ostracized from both communities for being too much of one area and always not enough of the other.

This novel is her quest to find her place in a society, in her culture, in her family, and also understand herself as a holder of power. Clear parallels are here between the colonial power struggles and annexation of India by England. The references to Indian culture and lore are beautifully woven into the story and environment. I cannot wait to read more of these characters!

This book was okay. I was really hooked in the beginning. Then I felt a bit as if I was being told the characters experiences and feelings instead of really diving into the story. I like all of the messages embedded into the book and appreciated that they weren’t completely overdone. I did not really feel any attachment to any characters and felt the relationships a bit forced. But overall it was a fine story.

I really enjoyed this book! I think Emma described it perfectly and I was not disappointed. I think Poppy and Hasan are very compelling characters and I can't wait to see what they get up to in the next book in the series.

For me this is a 3. 5. I loved the setting and the mythology but I struggled with the first half as it was a slow start and it felt repetitive with the characters actions. It also felt like there should have been more politics for what it was but most of that was just quick summaries or asides.

The " gang" members were some of my favorite parts of the book, they had greet backstories and motivations which made the story compelling. The exploration of Poppy's privilege and oppression was also really well done and continues to provoke thought even though I finished this a while ago.

Altogether. I look forward to the next book and seeing how everything comes together.

This is an interesting debut novel. The core of the story is about trying to find one’s place in the world and ideally a position that provides one with financial and societal security. Of course, how each of the characters discovers their place leads to some interesting outcomes and in the process of finding this position, they discover more about themselves and who they want to be. Told through dual POVs, Basu creates a world filled with political intrigue, historical depth, and historical consequences. To Bargain with Mortals is an engrossing story that I’m sure will have an engrossing end in book 2. (Note: While marketed as adult, I read this as a New Adult book.)

If you are looking for a book with really realistic and interesting world-building, specifically a world with unique politics, then look no further. This is a world that brims with complexity and depth, and the characters' dynamics are affected by their past, socioeconomic states, power differences, and society.

I found this book to be such an interesting and unique read, and it had so many standout features! The change and growth of the main character was one thing I really enjoyed, because you watched her start out as a character you could not fully like and turn into a more educated, empathetic, and strong character. Her relationship with the Jackal also had so many interesting courses of topic and politics, and made for such an intriguing pair to follow.

I found the pacing to be fast, the world to be well-developed, and the politics mimicked real occurrences in history that are not as talked about, and the characters eventually turned into someone you could root for.

Poppy Sutherland had summoned that storm, washing half the city with her wrath.

We love a female rage moment in this household. We love that book in general.

So, I loved pretty much everything about this book but I'll give you the highlights that made it 5 ⭐️
• The magic is not so much the driving force as the dividing factor. The Welkish, the colonizers, consider it heresy but even among the Viryans it creates issues of classism and racism that the author doesn't shy away from. It was refreshing to read about a world where the characters actually tried to use their brains rather than their magic.
• Poppy. I loved Poppy as a main character so much. She was in an impossible situation being a Varyan raised as a Welkish and even though she had it rough she was humbled on every turn about how worst other people had it and she took it like a champ. She saved herself from her predicament and honestly we stan.
• How realistic all the characters felt. Other than the big bad who had no redeeming qualities, everyone else felt like real people with their goods and bads trying to do what they believed best (expect Hasan, he is my baby boy and I don't care if he burned people alive).

All in all, you should definitely keep an eye for this book. I'm looking forward for the sequel and the first one isn't even out yet.

I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books, and Skies Press for the opportunity.

When I initially saw Emma talk about this book on her book page, I didn’t realize that it was from her imprint, Skies Press. I had the sound off, saw the cover, added it to my tbr, and went on my merry way. Imagine my excitement when I searched Bindery on NetGalley and saw it was available to request! I am so glad that I get to be a part of sharing this debut novel with the world.

I was able to immediately draw the parallels to the world in TO BARGAIN WITH MORTALS and to our real world counterparts of India and England. That is a main theme throughout the entire story and it really is able to shine light on the atrocity that is colonization. I also noticed things that I have heard South Asian creators talk about online about being told they were “too brown” or that their cultural habits were “rude” or “savage.” I really appreciated all of the real world things that were placed in this fictitious world.

I can see how some people may say that Poppy was repetitive and whiny and didn’t see how she had benefited from her upbringing, even though she too had many struggles-but I believe that is the whole point of the story and how we get to where we get at the end of the book. You see great growth in her as a person, which is the main theme of the beginning, proving to her family and society that she has changed and is a “proper” Welkish woman now. Not only do we see growth in Poppy, but also in Hasan. As they form their tentative alliance, and eventual friendship, you see his own prejudices of their own people begin to falter and see where maybe he had also been wrong on some fronts. Also, I hate Richard and I hope his pillow is always warm.

Annnnd because I am who I am as a person, I did read the last page before the epilogue before I was even halfway through. Finding out what that last page had to say, filled me with questions and how R.A. Basu was going to bring it to life. Now, I’m left with questions about what book two will say.

Did I expect to find one of my favourite books of the year just randomly nosying through Netgalley? No. Did it work out? Absolutely.

Honestly I’d give this six stars if I could.

For a debut this was stunning. Layered and every little facet was given absolute care.

This has the airs of a genderbent Babel (which is among the highest compliments I can give) if we saw far less of Oxford University and way more of Oxford itself. I know that comparison is probably too easily made for two books about colonisation, but what I found Babel lacked in some ways I found TBWM really leaned into. We see a much broader magic system as well as a world at large and every aspect of it, from the very lows to the very highs.

In particular there’s some aspect of moral greyness particularly in her father (who’s a bastard don’t get me wrong but I adored how 3D Basu makes him) and the misogyny of the greater cast that isn’t done for shock value but there’s a lot of genuine thought and intrigue into every value and motivation we see. Nothing feels written for the sake of writing it, and this will definitely be a book I’ll come back to to see all the hints and references that I didn’t see the first time around!

I especially adored the introspection we see from Poppy as she comes to understand that she comes from a strange place of privilege in a way and slowly how she builds from self-centred goals to wanting to do better for her country. It was such a beautiful path to track across this book and I’m already chomping at the bit for book two.

Basu had an incredible talent for knowing when to let the story pause and let the reader breathe. In particular when describing the plays of the Viryani, and the stories nanny would tell young Poppy. That along with the other formats found in the book like the letters translated so beautifully into world building that I genuinely, genuinely loved.

My one only real critique is that the dialogue is extremely heavy handed. They all talk quite pompous which I could see as being wearing on some readers. But it never really irked me too bad.

I adored Poppy from first page to last. There’s a gentle kind of intelligence and thoughtfulness that Basu sews into every line of dialogue and thought that made her so extremely likeable, easy to follow and with clear if brutal motivations.

I honestly think a disservice is done to Hasan. He’s dubbed in a lot of the marketing as what can easily read as the 2D love interest common in romantasy. That’s a discredit to what Basu crafted in Hasan. Yes a bloodthirsty antihero in the work he does and what he’s willing to do for his family. But in TBWM we see the slow development of a relationship between him and Poppy that’s so much more than the “touch her you die” kind of trope common to the genre. There’s an intelligence and gentleness in him too which we genuinely don’t feel like we see often in this kind of story. And then the (not really twist just his involvement in it) that suits the arc so well and just… hurry up and give me book two already.

I reckon I’m a lifelong fan.

Thank you Netgalley and R. A. Basu for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
once an outcast, now being accepted is what poppy had went through.
From learning, unlearning and re-learning.
It had been a very hard journey.

the book talks about politics, colonisation and how inequality and teachings that are Forbidden been shunned by those who deem superior. And how your brown skin colour makes you feel like you're not worthy.

I'd rather say that the storyline was good. The characters had their own flaws. Poppy had to go through hardships and had to learn a lot considering her powers. And how Hasan who was the jackel, had his own hardships until he met poppy.
Their chemistry was like a business relationship 😅

But if there is a book 2 then I'd wait for it. But was a interesting book to read.

4.5⭐

Thank you to R. A. Basu, Emma Skies, Skies Press and Bindery Books for the ARC.

𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐬 is the first instalment in the Reckoning Storm duology, a stunning reflection on politics and purpose, blood and allegiance and what we do with histories we inherit, in a world loosely inspired by India during the colonial rule of British Raj, following an outcast heiress and a notorious gang leader, in a country in a brink of revolution or destruction.

I was so intrigued to this story ever since I heard about it. I was hooked from the first pages and absolutely loved reading it! There were so many perspectives and views of the happenings shown throughout the narrative which made it so much easier to understand both sides of the story.

This is a sharp, evocative and brilliantly explored fantasy of a colonized nation where everything is not what it seems.

To Bargain With Mortals is a set in the colonized nation of Viryana, which was once a flourishing Kingdom with culture, magic and identity. This tale isn't just an enemies to allies dynamic exploration where they become lovers, it's a tale of power, injustice, identity, erasure of culture, and existence. This book is a strong political statement — with a powerful message.

Viryana was conquered and colonised by the Welkish people, who seem to be loosely inspired by the British Raj and the Virians as the Indians during the colonial rule of the British Raj. Basu explores the journey, from how the Welkish slowly invaded Viryana internally and eventually stripped the people of their country and turned into a colony of the Welkland Empire. The Welkish entered in the guise of helping to bring change in the Virirans caste system but it turned out to be a plot to strip down their right, tear down their culture and religion, destroy their lands and make them into the 'lowest' type of people to exist in their own lands.

Hasan and Poppy are two equally flawed protagonists, who are both driven to silence in a system that doesn't consider their voices. They both want change to their worlds, albeit with different goals but they want to spark the change. They are compelling protagonists who are complex yet flawed, which makes their mindset and actions relatable most times.

Basu didn't write this tale with any bias. The author does not favour the Welkish or the Viriyans with any plot armour. The flaws in the Viriyan's caste system which created a divide between the non-gifted Vasudhakt, who were considered inferior and the Daivyakt, the magically-gifted people of the gods who were considered superior. This system unintentionally was a trigger to what led to the colonization of Viryana. After becoming a colony, the Welkish treated Viriyans equally alike with disdain and treated them like lowest class of people.

𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 is the brown-skinned orphan who was adopted by the Viceroy of Viryana. She's rejected by the white high society and the people from her native island. Poppy is a presentation of how the Welkish tried to colonised the natives of the nation. She wasn't allowed to learn about her native culture and was punished for it while at the same time, wasn't trusted and treated the same way as the other high society members because of the colour of her skin. She was just a woman wanted to secure a place in society when neither sides wanted her. She started off as an entitled and privileged character and her character development towards the end which made her see that she didn't want to be comfortable, she wanted everyone to feel safe. She wanted to bring that change in the capitalistic government she lived in and become the change that the Virians and Welkish needed.

𝐇𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐫 is the ruthless criminal known as the Jackal, who has been a long time target because of his family's gift in divine magic — the same magic that the colonizers tried to wipe out. He is an extremely complex and morally grey character, who would do anything to achieve his goals. He is very protective of his family, culture, religion and people and wants his nation to change because he lived in a world that judged him by the colour of his skin which meant that his voice wouldn't matter. He would do anything to bring the change, even if it meant that he had to kill people and burn the colonizers to the ground.

Is this a love story? It isn't, at least not yet. In the heart of this novel is a girl who wants to be accepted and have security of her life, a lonely girl who is conflicted about her identity throughout the book, in a tale of power, vengeance, change, colonialism and culture.

For fans of political fantasy which deals with a colonised nation in a brink of revolution or destruction, a tale brimmed with politics, identity and vengeance.

How to describe this book? This book was quite the story. It is not a new stor, it is about something that has been happening in our world for thousands of years. What happens when two very different cultures clash against eachother and one takes over another? What happens when your are try ing to be part of two different worls and en up being part of none? This is a book about colonialism.
R.A. Basu did such a good job in creating all the politics around this matter. And our main character Poppy has to dive into her own forgotten culture to understand her place in the world, and she has a lot to learn, especially being in a society where everything is against her.
I have to say I had a little bit of trouble with some parts of the book, especially with our main male character and his vision of the world. Violence is not always the way to fix things. But I can appeciate the growth that both our main characters go through throught the story and I am looking forward to read about the challenges that are waiting for them

3.25 rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for this advanced E-copy in exchange for an honest review.

A very good first installment in a series and I look forward to see if the author can continue to deliver and work through the story.

Characters: I preferred our male MMC far more than the FMC but it may be because his story line is reminiscent of Six of Crows. While it was refreshing to have our characters be in their twenties the decisions made and actions felt like I was reading a YA at many points.

Story/themes: nothing extraordinary or groundbreaking here for fans of fantasy but the pacing was pretty good so it kept everything moving. A lot of political intrigue which isn’t always my favorite but Basu sprinkled in just enough of magic to keep me entertained.

a truly stunning debut that deeply wrestles with the histories and rebellion against colonialism and its effects, learning to trust yourself and reconnecting with the stories that created you, and reclaiming the narrative. had chills multiple times reading this. all of the characters in this book were so interesting and dynamic and i’m really looking forward to how things ramp up in book 2!

3.5
A riveting debut novel by R:A Basu. The magic system was interesting and intriguing. It was very political which was for me a little too much at times. It's marked as an adult novel but I kind of think it reads as a YA. It was a fantasy that tackled racism and colonialism, sexism and class boundaries. Overall a really good book and I'll definitely keep a lookout for the next one.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this eARC.

𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐛𝐲 𝐑. 𝐀. 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐮
~ 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝒅𝒖𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒚 #𝟏
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ | 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

𝗔 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲, 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁 — 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

As someone whose family lived in colonial rule and whose lives changed a lot from it, this book resonated deeply with me — from the intentions and political image the author wanted to portray in this book.

I was quite literally hooked to the plot from the very first page. The narrative was easily flowing and I genuinely enjoyed reading this book. Seeing multiple perspectives throughout the book changed my view of the narrative because we saw so many different sides of the story.

I loved how Basu didn't have any bias written for the Virians or the Welkish. The way that that the author showed the flaw in the system, where the Welkish believed the Virians were inferior and lower to them and the Virirans had an internal bias — a caste system that divided the magically gifted Daivyakt and non-gifted Vasushakt between themselves.

The political commentary was a powerful lemessage. Reading about the racist behaviour of the Welkish — the inequalities brought in by their people to the Virians. The Virirans seem to be loosely inspired by Indiana during the colonial rule and Welkish as the British Raj. The way that Basu showed how colonialism entered the country, how the Welkish slowly gave counsel to the King — which to the Virirans divided among themselves and the Monarchy and the civilians further divided. Colonialism was ploy that stripped down the rights, identity, culture and religion of the Virirans.

This wasn't a romance book — not yet atleast. This was a political fantasy novel, whose magic system is built from the base of prayer and sacrifice. This book deals with heavy themes and ideas, delving deep into politics and colonialism.

Poppy Sutherland was a Virian orphan adopted by the Viceroy, a woman who wanted to fix her place in society and slowly went through so much development and saw that she didn't want to be only comfortable, she wanted to bring change. She wanted to be that change.

Hasan Devar was a complex character. A gang leader with moral that defined his character and the future of this book. He is very protective of his family, his religion, his people and his culture. He wants the change to come and he's willing to help bring that change.

Overall, if the want to read a book loosely inspired by British Raj's colonial rule of India with heavy political intrigue and commentary, this is the prefect read!

I loved the themes of the book. I originally couldn’t finish the book but gave it another try and did enjoy it.

The characters, story building and chemistry between the MCs was well done.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

This book did not go how I expected in the best ways possible. I enjoyed watching the main character find herself and her values, and now I need to onow what happens next!

To Bargain with Mortals is a fantasy set in the colonized nation of Viryana, following the lives of Poppy Sutherland, an heiress who is indigenous and adopted by colonizer parents, and the Jackal, a local crime lord. Their paths are pushed into each other by outside forces and in the confluence of events they must test their loyalties and discover who they are meant to be.

When reading TBWM, I ran into many new names for countries, people, and cultures, but they are easily recognizable and analogous to experiences in our own world. The author does a wonderful job letting colonization be in the backdrop (ever present), but keeps the story on our main characters. They are all smart, driven, and their actions makes sense (even the bad guys). I found myself really invested in the story and I appreciated the pacing as well!

While I enjoyed myself during this read, I think the author has set the series up for a bigger world and I am looking forward to that as well. This book is light on the fantasy, so you don't need to spend a ton of time learning names or how things work, which is a plus if you want to jump right in.

Overall I really enjoyed To Bargain With Mortals. The social commentary was great and hit on a lot of heavy topics with nuance. I will say I had a hard time connecting with Poppy, but did love her growth in the book. I loved Hasan and the Devar family drama. Sometimes I wished the book would do a little more showing than telling.

I was granted early access to this title as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions are my own.

WOW! This is exactly the type of story that I love recommending to people that aren't "fantasy readers." The subtle incorporation of magic, while also maintaining themes of deep cultural significance, is a perfect balance in storytelling. And the juxtaposition of that spiritual resonance with themes of imperialism, classism, and racism pulls the reader in and makes us want to learn more about Poppy and who she is. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoyed the Greenbone Saga, The Fifth Season, and even Bridgerton! To Bargain with Mortals is spectacular, and I can't wait for book 2!

To Bargain with Mortals is a gripping fantasy-political novel set in the colonized nation of Viryana, centering on the fierce and brilliant Poppy Sutherland. Torn between her adopted nobility and her native roots, Poppy’s internal journey is as powerful as the rebellion she sparks. When her despicable fiancé threatens her future, she escapes and joins forces with Hasan Devar, the cunning and magical Jackal. Their dynamic sizzles against a backdrop of divine magic, colonial resistance, and high-stakes intrigue. Basu’s prose is sharp and lyrical, and the world-building is lush and layered. A must-read for fans of historical fantasy with teeth.

A stunning debut novel for the political and coloniser fantasy genres. "To Bargain with Mortals" is ambitious, it is (deservedly) angry, and it acknowledges the deep complexity of the themes it tackles. It doesn't always land perfectly, but it is highly impressive for any political fantasy about colonisation, let alone a debut.

Poppy Sutherland is a native orphan adopted by the Welkland (English) Viceroy (Governor) of colonised Viryana (India). Shunned by Welkish nobility and banned from Virian culture, she belongs nowhere despite harsh societal and parental force to conform and "better herself". As her father's health fades, marriage looks to be the only way Poppy can secure her future - but her choice of fiance throws her into a political storm of police brutality, native uprising, caste and class-tier oppression, and the dark conspiracies of nobility hungry for more power.

The novel's themes are strong, currently-relevant, and very charged. There are several times the novel wavers in their use - on one hand the novel frequently has characters realise how very complicated the situations, politics and themes are, and muse that someone else is overly simplifying them, but on the other hand, the character who most over-simplifies them (Hasan) is frequently positioned as being "more correct" than the characters who recognise the complexities. It muddles the message, which is the main reason I can't give this mostly-stunning debut a full five stars.

The prose is easy to read and very tight - the only places I skimmed were some "newspaper articles" that opened a few chapters, which tended to have far more waffle than the novel's prose.

In any political novel there are going to be many different viewpoints and especially in a political uprising we're going to have characters who do unlikeable or unsympathetic things. Mostly I think the author handled this well. There is one character who became slightly too cartoonish a villain right at the end, after being realistically terrifying for 80% of the novel. I think Poppy was not always handled as well as she could have been: after meeting the Jackal, the novel is quick to villainize Poppy as being so privileged that her struggles don't count. While she undoubtedly has privilege that other Virians don't, it over-simplifies what the novel itself claims are very complex issues. All that being said, I enjoyed most of the characters and apart from the fumble when Poppy first meets other Virians, I think she is presented as a complex yet sympathetic character.

Will I be picking up the sequel? Absolutely.

Rating: 4.5 stars, rounding down as always.

Engaging plot, with well-developed characters. Slight pacing issues, but still a great read overall. Looking forward to what the author has next!

To Bargain with Mortals is a quiet, emotional fantasy that sneaks up on you. It excellently blends Bengali mythology, grief, identity, and a touch of horror in a way that feels deeply personal and refreshingly different from typical YA fantasy.

The story follows Tara, a Bengali American teen grieving the loss of her grandfather while navigating cultural expectations and the complexities of being caught between two worlds. When she strikes an accidental deal with Yama, the Hindu god of death, her life takes a surreal turn—but the heart of the book remains grounded in real, human emotion.

What stands out is how Basu uses mythology, not just as world-building, but as a mirror for Tara’s inner struggles. The folklore is woven in naturally, without over-explaining, which makes the magic feel more immersive and lived-in. Yama is a calm, eerie presence, and his interactions with Tara are laced with quiet tension.

Tara herself is a fully realised character: angry, loving, guilt-ridden, and messy in a way that’s deeply relatable. Her grief isn’t romanticised, and her struggle to reconcile her American life with her Bengali heritage is handled with care and honesty.

The pacing is slower and more introspective, but it works well for the style of the book. Basu gives space for emotion to land, and her writing has a lyrical quality that adds depth without being too heavy. It’s the kind of book that lingers after the final page.

To Bargain with Mortals by R.A. Basu is an entertaining, action-packed fantasy novel that you'll be flipping the pages over from cover to cover. The main character, Poppy, is an easy character to feel for. Her emotional depth and growth make her story real and compelling. The speed is just right, and the book never slows down.

One of the best aspects of the novel is that it's in various perspectives. That makes the story more profound and the sense of the world and people in the book greater. It's always pleasant to see things from others' eyes, and it makes it more profound than what is going on.

The finale ties everything up, providing the sense of closure but leaving just enough loose ends to make a sequel possible. Whether or not the book is sequelled, however, it is finished and is an uncomplicated stand-alone read.

To Bargain with Mortals is, in all things, a good solid read with excellent character study and never-faltering plot.

To Bargain with Mortals is such a fun and twisty read, with just the right mix of magic, danger, and snarky characters. I loved the vibe—dark, a little mysterious, but still totally readable and fast-paced. If you’re into deals with dangerous beings and morally messy choices, this one’s for you.


Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

To Bargain with Mortals by R. A. Basu
4.3 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Poppy is the adopted daughter of the viceroy of Viranya. But she is Virian- brown skinned, dark haired and "uncivilized". She has to make her way to secure her place in the Welkish society. But what will help her achieve this? A husband? Taking control? Or becoming the vicereine herself?
Poppy is quite a likable character and i loved her transformation as she tries to get back to her roots yet makes a place in the high society. But sometimes she lacked taking a firm ground, not the always badass fantasy princess
The male lead, the Jackal or Hasan is more interesting though. He is a gang leader but his soft and empathetic side make him a well written character.
The supporting characters are amazing too with their diverse personalities. I loved it all

As for the plot it deals with a lot of racism, castism, colonization and it is done quite well. The pacing was fast which made it easy to fly through. Although near the end it felt a bit rushed but the setting for the next book seems interesting! As a debut novel the author did amazing and really looking forward to the next one
✨🏛️🌿🔥👩🏽‍🦱🐺

This book was a fun adventure of a fantasy. The world building was well done and I loved the plot. The characters and their development was fantastic, and I loved Poppy the most. Watching her go from scared underdog to a B.A. through the story, finding who she is, was great. There is so much I need to know though, so I'm absolutely looking forward to the next book! I very much recommend this to all fantasy lovers.

I was in a heavy reading slump prior to reading this and it kinda cured me, one chapter in and I remembered why I love reading so much.
I really live all the characters in this book they feel like real people.
The magic system is nothing special but I enjoyed it.
I really love how this book tackles colonialism and racism.
This book is not really romance focused (which was a big plus for me personally)
Overall I had a blast reading this

"How long are you going to let who you are hold you back?"

To Bargain with Mortals is a brilliant, politically driven fantasy with a magic system deeply rooted in the culture and gods of the colonial India-inspired nation of Viryana. The book deals with themes of colonization, racism, and casteism and I think the author handled them beautifully. The characters were incredibly complex and well developed and i found myself invested in each new perspective especially the FMC Poppy, who is born Virian and adopted by the most politically powerful Welkish family in Viryana and raised with their traditions and biases and is struggling to find her place stuck between to two cultures, not fully accepted by either.
R. A. Basu has absolutely cemented herself as an auto-buy author for me through her characters and writing style and I literally can't wait for book two and this one isn't even out yet!

This book was really well written but was not for me as a reader. I just couldn't connect with the writer/characters/plot.