The Rose Bargain - by Sasha Peyton Smith (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

*An instant New York Times bestseller!

Vying for the hand of one brother.

Falling in love with the other.

A new Victorian-inspired romantasy, perfect for fans of Bridgerton, The Selection, and The Cruel Prince.

"If you're looking for the next YA sensation, here it is." --Adalyn Grace, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Belladonna

London, 1848--For four hundred years, England has been under the control of an immortal fae queen who tricked her way onto the throne. To maintain an illusion of benevolence, Queen Mor grants each of her subjects one opportunity to bargain for their deepest desire.

As Ivy Benton prepares to make her debut, she knows that not even a deal with the queen could fix what has gone wrong: Her family's social standing is in shambles, her sister is a shadow of her former self, and Ivy's marriage prospects are nonexistent. So when the queen announces a competition for Prince Bram's hand, Ivy is the first to sign her name in blood. What a bargain can't fix, a crown certainly could.

Ivy soon finds herself a surprising front-runner--with the help of an unexpected ally: Prince Bram's brother, the rakish Prince Emmett, who promises to help Ivy win his brother's heart...for a price. But as the season sweeps Ivy away, with glittering balls veiling the queen's increasingly vicious trials, Ivy realizes there's more at stake than just a wedding. Because all faerie bargains come with a cost, and Ivy may have discovered hers too late.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch Haven comes a tale that will leave readers eager to bargain for a sequel.

Review Quotes

"Both lush and dangerous, like flower petals tipped with poison. With twists, secrets, and stolen kisses, I was riveted through every page--The Rose Bargain is a masterful and enchanting entry into the canon of romantic fantasy." -- Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning

"A deliciously dark and romantic fantasy. Full of clever surprises, twisted secrets, and bad decisions. Like the dangerous fairy bargains inside of its pages, The Rose Bargain delivers on its promises in heart-pounding and unexpected ways. I absolutely devoured this book!" -- Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Once Upon A Broken Heart

"If Bridgerton and The Cruel Prince had a love child, it'd be this book. The Rose Bargain is a fantastically fun and addictive start of a new series that is sure to send readers into a frenzy. With sharp prose and an irresistible plot, I devoured this book like it was candy. If you're looking for the next YA sensation, here it is." -- Adalyn Grace, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Belladonna series

"Magic-infused alternate history at its finest. The Rose Bargain is the most beguiling drama unfolding beneath the sheen of a gorgeous, glittering world--and entirely unputdownable until the fiery end." -- Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

"Sasha Peyton Smith expertly weaves the rich details and deceptive beauty of a fairytale into regency England, with lush world-building, breathless romance, and a playful yet twisty plot. Reading The Rose Bargain feels like biting into the perfect piece of fairy fruit--dark and deliciously sweet. An instant classic." -- Shelby Mahurin, New York Times bestselling author of The Scarlet Veil and Serpent & Dove series

"Bloody and beguiling, with magic both enchanting and perilous, this story kept my heart in my throat and the pages turning at breakneck speed. With twists and turns, a forbidden romance, and a complex sisterly bond, this captivating tale swept me off my feet." -- Isabel Ibañez, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"One of my favorite romantasy's of the year! With enchanting characters, dark and deceptive fae games, and a smoldering romance that delivers on all your fantasy romance cravings, The Rose Bargain is sure to be the next big thing. Without a doubt, my bargain with the fae queen would be for the sequel immediately." -- Kerri Maniscalco, #1 NYT Bestselling author of the Kingdom of the Wicked series

"The Rose Bargain is an absolute confection for fans of historical fantasy--and anyone who delights in the competitive drama of "The Bachelor." It will enthrall you with its cruel beauty and lush violence; I loved every minute of it." -- Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Fragile Enchantment

"Sasha Peyton Smith has penned a novel that is gorgeously rendered and utterly enchanting from start to finish. The Rose Bargain is a story teeming with perilously high stakes, truly vicious bargains, and romance that left my heart thundering in my chest more than once. Readers who love classic fantasy done right will be charmed by Ivy's relentlessly fierce heart and Smith's whimsical prose." -- Ayana Gray, New York Times bestselling author

"Prepare to meet your next obsession. The Rose Bargain is compulsively readable and deliciously fun, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The ending will leave readers breathless, wanting to make bargains of their own for the next installment. I thoroughly enjoyed it." -- Rachel Griffin, New York Times bestselling author of Bring Me Your Midnight

"This fast-paced romantasy with an abrupt cliffhanger ending has a depth that sets the stage for a wild series to come.... Familial duty unfolds into an exploration of desires and self-sacrifice in this promising series opener." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A simmering romantic plot is sharpened by searing comparisons of girlhood and war... Smith (The Witch Hunt) delves beyond familiar palace intrigue and mystical romance to explore themes of classism, complex family dynamics, gender disparity, and the unbreakable bond of sisterhood in this compelling fantasy." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Kiera Cass's The Selection meets Holly Black's The Cruel Prince in the Regency era. A deliciously heart-wrenching romantasy." -- School Library Journal (starred review)

"The perfect blend of romance and fantasy, set in a vivid and reimagined 1840s England... Smith's intense storytelling and exceptional character work lead to Ivy's role as a fierce protagonist with wit and determination that shine." -- Booklist (starred review)

Praise for Sasha Peyton Smith: "Smith opens a trick door between bruising history and glittering fantasy, to a place that will leave you drunk on secrets and dreaming of magic (and murder). The Witch Haven is spectacular, singular, and spellbinding." -- Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue

"A beautiful story filled with sisterhood, mystery, and interesting magic. This book will keep you turning the page with immersive prose and clever, memorable characters. I will be dreaming about this story for a long time." -- Adrienne Young, New York Times bestselling author of Sky in the Deep

"A positively spellbinding debut. Smith has crafted a delectably immersive mystery packed with magic, enchantment, and an absolute powerhouse cast of women." -- Adalyn Grace, New York Times bestselling author of All the Stars and Teeth

"One of the best new books of 2021." -- Popsugar

"...A fast-paced adventure that mixes one part murder investigation with two parts historical drama and a dash of romance, then puts it all in a magical boarding school full of young witches...the end result [gives] us a story that is like almost nothing else in YA fantasy right now." -- Culturess