Reading this book is like trudging through a boring episode of evil bridgeton for 300 pages and then getting a fast pass to Alton Towers for the last 80 pages

The Rose Bargain is like The Cruel Prince crashed The Selection—and brought all the drama, deadly deals, and swoony fae boys with it. In this sparkly-yet-shadowy take on fae court politics, every girl in high society gets one magical bargain from the fae queen. Most trade harmless things—like a memory for musical talent—but Ivy Benton’s bargain turns into something much bigger: a cutthroat competition for the hand of the fae prince, and a shot at saving her family from ruin.

It’s got everything you’d want: glam dresses, cruel magic, secret plots, and a romance that’s sweet… if a little undercooked. The central competition could’ve used more oomph—more danger, more games, more backstabbing—but the world is vivid, the vibes are strong, and the setup for book two is promising. If you’re into courtly chaos, fae politics, and girls with sharp minds (and sharper gowns), this is an enchanting escape worth diving into.

Bridgerton with Fae? An absolutely winning combination!
I blasted through the Rose Bargain - falling in love with Emmett, rooting for Ivy, and speculating on Lydia's bargain. I loved how, whilst some reveals were well seeded throughout, the author still had me gasping in surprise by the end.

I loved The Rose Bargain! I definitely think that if you’re a fan of The Selection and Bridgerton then you’ll love this! I’ve also heard you’ll love it if you love The Cruel Prince but I haven’t read that yet!

This was an amazing YA fantasy romance with many aspects that I loved such as the trials, marriage competition, love triangle and fae! It’s also set in a reimagined version of regency era London, which I actually really liked! It was a fun and fast paced book which I found really easy to get through so quickly! My only thing was that the romance was a slow burn where it was very slow initially and then suddenly there seemed to be feelings from the two characters, so I kind of wish it was paced a little better in that regard.

However, overall, I absolutely enjoyed this book and I literally can’t wait until the next book comes out because of that plot twist!!

Omg I loved this book This book was phenomenal I think this book will be in my top 10 of the year it was magical whimsical with so many twists I could not stop reading and I need book 2 now

An easy 6-star read – absolutely phenomenal!

I was genuinely in awe of how well-executed this book was. Sasha Peyton Smith completely captivated me with her masterful blend of magic, fae, and historical intrigue.

📚 Read if you love:
Belladonna, Bridgerton, Powerless (but make it Victorian with fae), or Trial of the Sun Queen.

I devoured this book in 24 hours – no exaggeration. The worldbuilding was rich, the magic system (especially the bargain-based magic) was clever and fun, and the fae elements were seamlessly woven into the historical setting.

TRB had:

🌹 Deadly marriage games & high-stakes trials
🌹 Fae–human dynamics
🌹 A lush historical backdrop
🌹 Friends-to-lovers romance
🌹 A heartwarming found family
🌹 High-stakes magical bargains
🌹 Sharp, witty banter between the MCs
🌹 One main POV with occasional supporting perspectives

I really appreciated that the spice was secondary – present but never overpowering. The pacing was spot on, and the plot kept me hooked from start to finish.

And the ending? So clever. I didn’t see all the twists coming, and it left me desperate for the sequel.

This book is criminally underrated – more people need to read it ASAP!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

I absolutely adored this book, with it's feisty main character Ivy who will stop at nothing to get her bargain, only to be thrust into a competition for the hand of the fae prince. Unlike many other YA books who have competitions and high stakes, this felt entirely unique and kept me gripped to the page. There's backstabbing, fae mischief, deception, regency dancing, and a romance that kept me captivated. I truly love this book and would make my own rose bargain for the sequel today.

I will admit I had The Selection flashbacks at the start, and well I don’t have the fondest memories of that one. However, I was pleasantly surprised and am rounding this up to 4Stars because of the ending.

I was not invested in the love triangle but that didn’t stop me enjoying the story. I like the girls, they weren’t just ornaments for our protagonist but part of the story and I’m hoping that book 2 continues like this.

It was exactly what I expected to be, yet suprising at the same time, too.

It's one of those books that are very hard to review without giving spoilers away. So, I will make it short and simple.

First thing, I SAW IT COMING! The big plot twists, I saw it coming a mile away and still enjoyed it nonetheless. The thing is, even tho this "big bang" was predictable to me - all the other details were not, and that kept me in suspense.

Second, I loved the chapters from the perspectives of other girls! It added depth to the story and gave this pleasant heaviness to the story that I thought this book might have lacked other way.

Third, the love triangle... didn't triangle for me. Hence, the lost star.

Fourth, the queen is something! I want to know more about her, more about her bargains too.

Fifth, and last thing, I can't wait for the next book 🖤

I loved this book. I liked the mix of fantasy and historical romance (reminded be of bridgerton meets the selection). I liked the world building and the mix of fae and humanity. I won't lie the twist at the end got me and now I am waiting patiently for book two. I was invested in the romance from start to finish and it was a wonderful reading experience

Bridgerton meets The Cruel Prince with a magical twist

I absolutely devoured The Rose Bargain over a weekend—it’s a fast, fun, and surprisingly twisty YA fantasy. The Bridgerton-style setup drew me in, but it was the magical trials, fierce friendships, and shocking ending that kept me hooked. The world is whimsical yet tense, and the fae elements were exactly the kind of mischievous I love.

While the romance could’ve used a bit more build-up, the story's pacing and plot twists more than made up for it. The last 10% had me holding my breath, and now I need book two. A solid, entertaining read for fans of The Cruel Prince and Belladonna.

I went into this with no expectations, as I don’t normally read historical fantasy books, but I am so glad I read this one!! It was really good, and I cannot wait for book two. Defied expectations I didn’t even have.

Really enjoyed this historical romantic fantasy; a mix of cruel prince and the selection!

I'd like to thank the publisher Electric Monkey and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The world-building in this book was 5 stars, the Characters were 4 stars, the Plot was 3 stars and the MMC was a jerk.
Set in an alternate history where a Fae Queen rescued the British Empire during the War of the Roses and then went on to rule England over the next few centuries. To keep power she offers a bargain to each person- she will gift them something they want in return for something of theirs. For example a woman might ask for shiny hair but has to give up her sense of smell, a man might request a knighthood but have to lose all of his toes. In typical cruel fae terms her bargains rarely are a fair exchange as Ivy's sister Lydia found out.
Ivy is desperate to get her sister's bargain revoked but the only way to do that might be to win the hand of the Fae Prince in marriage. Ivy has to go up against 5 other girls in order to win, that's if she can survive the Queen's cruel games and the human Prince who's presence shakes Ivy up.

I loved the girl's bargains and what they were willing to trade for becoming the perfect debutante. I loved the idea of trading with the Queen for societal success and how that affected the girls.
I thought the Queen's cruelty was cleverly done and not overplayed and made for an air of risk and danger.
However the insta-love/lust aspect almost derailed the plot and pacing with it's awkwardness. Several times i wanted to slap Ivy at the back of her head and ask what she was thinking- i genuinely was expecting some sort of love potion or bargain with the Queen to explain Ivy's fascination with the Prince.
But just as I was thinking about DNFing because the romance aspect was getting me down, the plot picked up and I was drawn back in.
The final few chapters managed to hold my interest and almost persuade me to read the next in the series.

So it is worth it, just be prepared to slog through some of the middle and roll your eyes at the FMC's love 'issues'.

I loved the sorority in this book - it was so unexpected! The extra POVs added a ton of character to the debutantes and the twist at the end has me begging for the next book!

I LOVED this book so much! This was such a fun read, and had the regency era but also some modern vibes. I really liked the characters though some could definitely have done with a bit more dimension, though the focus was on Ivy, Emmett and Bram.

The Queen Moryen can grant a bargain, a talent in exchange for a memory, a skill for a pinky, you name it, she can grant it. These bargains dueing the season are called Rose Bargains. Years ago, Ivy’s sister Lydia made a bargain , went missing and put their family into shame. Now it’s Ivy’s time to debut and to save her family. This is also the year Queen Mor announced her son, Prince Bram will take a bride, but if you decide to go for his hand, and lose, you mist never wed. Ivy decides to compete.


There was so much I loved about this book, I loved Ivy’s determinatiom, I loved her chemistry with Emmett, I loved how far she was willing to go for her family, and I felt the heartbreak for her, especially towards the end! I loved meeting the other girls and how close they became, and the fact we got to see a chapter here and there in their point of view, it really gave a found family feel to the book. Speaking of tropes There! Was! Only! One! Bed!!! Loved this addition!

This book left on a rather big cliffhanger, and I need the next book asap because I NEED to know what happens next, and as much as I want to write about it here, I can’t spoil it for you!

The Rose Bargains was a 5 star read for me, and I really wnjoyed Sasha’s writing, and will definitely be going to read her backlist, especially as I got to see her do a talk during YALC about The Rose Bargains and her other books and the inspiration behind them, and I am very intrigued!

Ahhhhhhh! I need the next book now!

I absolutely fell in love with the characters in this story. There was a beautiful weaving of alternative history and fantasy that made it deeply entertaining. I laughed and cried and gasped in shock!
It isn't without flaws I suppose. If I had to critique something then sometimes the informal tone of conversation did not fit the time period but I was completely swept away by the romance and the plot.
Imagine Bridgerton and ACOTAR had a baby. This book is that baby.

Sasha Peyton Smith's The Rose Bargain is a captivating blend of historical fantasy and romance that will enchant readers from the first page. Set in an alternate 1840s England ruled by a faerie queen, this novel offers a fresh twist on familiar tropes, creating a world that is both magical and perilous.

The story follows Ivy Benton, a young woman navigating a high-stakes competition for the hand of Prince Bram, the fae queen's son. Smith's writing is atmospheric and engaging, bringing to life a world where bargains with the fae come at a steep price. The author expertly weaves together elements of court intrigue, sisterly bonds, and dangerous magic.

What sets this book apart is its exploration of friendship and loyalty amidst fierce competition. The diverse cast of characters, including Emmy Ito and Marion Thorne, adds depth and nuance to the story. Smith doesn't shy away from darker themes, giving the narrative a compelling edge that keeps readers guessing.

While the romantic elements are present, they don't overshadow the rich plot and character development. The book's pacing is swift, making it a page-turner that's hard to put down.

The Rose Bargain is a must-read for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Selection, offering a unique blend of historical setting and fae mythology. With its cliffhanger ending, readers will be eagerly anticipating the sequel to this enchanting duology opener.

Sasha Peyton Smith once again brings us a fantastic story.
I absolutely loved The Rose Bargain. The story had me gripped from the first page and kept me on the edge of my seat until the last page.
I loved all the characters and could not believe the twist. The saying don't trust anyone springs to mind.
I was routing for Emmott and Ivy even though I shouldn't be.
I also listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a fantastic job at bringing this story to life.

In conclusion I just want to say I loved it, it's amazing and can I have book 2 please.

This book is beautifully written, with lush prose and an intriguing premise, but it just wasn’t for me. Sasha Peyton Smith crafts an atmospheric and immersive story, and I can see why so many readers will love it. However, I’ve finally accepted that books set in the Victorian era just aren’t my thing. If you enjoy historical fantasy with gothic vibes and strong heroines, this one is worth checking out!