A Dangerous Bargain - by Erin Cotter (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A young artist who has bargained away most of his life for divine inspiration pairs up with fellow apprentice Leonardo da Vinci to infiltrate the Medici family and find out the truth about his missing brother in this Renaissance-set young adult mystery perfect for fans of F.T. Lukens.

It's the height of the Italian Renaissance. In the golden city of Florence, art is equal to holiness--and angels walk among us, bestowing their talents...for a price.

Seventeen-year-old artist Virgil is in trouble. To support his family, he's bargained most of his life away to an angel--only to discover that his missing brother is in danger, and nothing but magic can rescue him. Now, with just a few months left to live, Virgil is desperate enough to try the one thing he swore he would never, ever do--team up with the infuriating, annoyingly talented, and most notorious playboy in all of Florence, the charming Leonardo da Vinci.

As the two journey through Florence's gilded streets, luxurious cathedrals, and glorious Medici palaces, they unearth dark truths beneath the city's facade.

Those in power will do anything to keep their deadly secrets safe, but with his feelings for Leonardo giving him new life, Virgil is determined to expose their lies before he runs out of time.

Even if it might cost him his soul.

Review Quotes

Art requires talent, but in the blessed city-state of Renaissance-era Florence all the best artists amplify their talents through bargains with angels housed in their masters' workshops, swapping memories and sometimes years of their lives for minute skills that will give them an edge. Virgil, the remaining breadwinner of a semi-disgraced merchant family, has not been sparing with his bargains since the disappearance of his older brother Niccolo. But when his master's workshop angel is slain, Virgil loses all the benefits from his bargains and has to start from scratch with a new angel. His attention is suddenly torn from his art, though, when he finds out that Niccolo might still be alive. Other secrets about Florence then rush to the surface, leaving Virgil and fellow apprentice Leonardo da Vinci in far deeper than they ever expected to be. Despite the sheer amount of magic and conspiracy in Virgil's Florence, there is a heavy reliance on true-to-history details, creating atmosphere that removes the necessity for extensive exposition. Consequently, the writing style is loose and approachable, and the pacing is quick. The focus is on action rather than moral complexity, with a side of light romance between Virgil and Leonardo, and the Medici family falls firmly in the love-to-hate-them variety of villainy. All characters are ethnically Mediterranean; Leonardo and Virgil are both cued as neurodivergent. VERDICT A solid historical selection for libraries with action-loving teens who don't mind a little kissing along the way.--School Library Journal "7/1/26"

This ambitious tale from Cotter (A Traitorous Heart), set in an alternate Renaissance Florence in which mortal artists bargain with angels, unevenly blends mystery and history to create a queer romance infused with supernatural imagery. Since his older brother's mysterious disappearance, 17-year-old apprentice painter Niccolo "Virgil" Pitti has struggled to provide for his family and settle his late father's debts with the powerful Medici bank. Desperate to expedite his art and his income, Virgil bargains with his workshop's resident angel, gaining magical gifts--such as the ability to "sense when a painting was going wrong"--in exchange for his memories or years of his life. When the angel, previously thought to be immortal, is shockingly murdered, Virgil's magic dies too--and the workshop's replacement angel, Lupa, refuses to bargain with him. Recruiting help from his rival, annoyingly talented playboy Leonardo da Vinci, Virgil endeavors to learn the reasons behind Lupa's refusal, but uncovering the truth might cost Virgil his soul. Despite occasionally too-convenient plotting, the white-cued protagonists' romantic banter charms as Leonardo encourages Virgil to believe in himself and his skills instead of relying on magic. Fans of enemies-to-lovers tropes will find much to swoon at in this sincerely narrated journey. Ages 14-up. Agent: Kari Sutherland, KT Literary. (Sept.)--Publishers Weekly "5/22/2026"

A Dangerous Bargain is a masterpiece, all gilded deals and dark truths hidden beneath holy brushstrokes. At its heart is an achingly tender romance between two rival artists whose witty banter and fierce chemistry will leave readers enthralled. In this richly imagined world where artists sell their souls for a drop of divine talent, Erin Cotter reminds us of the inherent humanity of art--and the power in letting beauty shine through flaws.--Pascale Lacelle, New York Times bestselling author of Curious Tides

Erin Cotter has given us a modern fairytale that will take your breath away. A family drama intersects with a metaphysical hunt, in which twisting bargains go bad (and then good) in the flicker of a painter's brush. You think you know what's coming from every Florentine alley of this book, and I promise you it is never what you expect.--Isa Arsén, author of The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf

Rendered with Cotter's signature emotive flair and careful research, A Dangerous Bargain unfolds into an exquisite--and deadly--race against time. A splendid historical mystery.--Cass Biehn, author of Vesuvius

About the Author

Erin Cotter writes young adult fiction. Originally from Buffalo, New York, she currently calls Austin home. When not writing, she spends time with her partner and pets, eating tacos, and searching for Golden-cheeked Warblers in the Texas Hill Country.