Review of ‘The Rose Bargain’ (The Rose Bargain #1) by Sasha Peyton Smith. Discover the glittering danger of faerie bargains, royal intrigue, and sapphic yearning in 1848 London in Sasha Peyton Smith’s The Rose Bargain. With a fast-paced plot and diverse cast, this historical fantasy promises magic, romance, and rebellion, but does it deliver?
‘The Rose Bargain’ by Sasha Peyton Smith is a fast-paced fae fantasy with charm, diversity, and untapped potential
Synopsis
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.
Review
London, 1848. For four centuries, England has been ruled by an immortal fae queen, a cunning monarch who grants each citizen one chance to bargain for their heart’s desire. Ivy Benton, once destined for a life of luxury, now faces social ruin and family secrets that no faerie deal can fix. So when Queen Mor hosts a competition to win the hand of Prince Bram, Ivy signs up without hesitation. A crown might solve everything. With the unexpected help of the roguish Prince Emmett, Ivy begins her climb to the top, but in a world where every deal comes at a cost, she may not realize the price of her ambition until it’s far too late.
Let me start with this: I loved the premise. A faerie queen controlling England, a royal competition to win a crown, and a girl clawing her way back to power? Sign me up. The setting of 1848 London was so vivid and fun. It gave the whole book this magical, moody Victorian feel that I honestly wish we’d explored even more. The world-building had such potential, and I really enjoyed the concept of faerie bargains and their consequences, even if the execution didn’t quite blow me away.
Another thing that really stood out to me, something I didn’t realize I was missing until I saw it done well, was the presence of Ivy’s parents. Both of them are alive and very much part of her life. I can’t even tell you how refreshing that felt. So often in YA or fantasy, we get protagonists with at least one deceased parent and a whole heap of trauma tied to that loss. But here, Ivy’s parents aren’t just background filler or plot devices. They have opinions, influence, and flaws, and their relationship with Ivy actually adds some interesting dynamics to the story. It was a quiet but impactful detail that made the world feel a little more grounded, and honestly, I’d love to see more of that in fantasy.
The pacing is where The Rose Bargain truly shines. It’s quick, easy to devour, and not weighed down by heavy fantasy exposition. That made it a breezy read, perfect for when you want something magical but not too dense. If you like fantasy with light political intrigue and a bit of royal drama, this will scratch that itch.
Now, let’s talk characters. This is where things got a bit underwhelming for me. I never quite connected with Ivy the way I hoped I would, and that made it harder to fully invest in her journey. Her motivations were clear, but she didn’t leave a lasting impression. On the other hand, Marion completely stole the show for me. Her quiet strength, loyalty, and her growing relationship with Faith Fairchild were some of my favorite parts of the entire book. Their sapphic romance felt authentic and tender, and I appreciated how it was integrated without feeling like a side note.
And the representation in this book? Loved. Emmy Ito is Japanese, Marion Thorne’s family is from Ghana, and there’s LGBTQIA+ rep in both Marion and Faith. Marion is lesbian and Faith is bisexual. The cast of girls felt diverse and real, and it added a lovely depth to the story that made the world feel more inclusive.
As for the plot itself… I won’t lie, the ending didn’t surprise me. It followed a pretty predictable trajectory, and while it wasn’t necessarily bad, it lacked the kind of twisty payoff I was hoping for. I kept waiting for that one gasp-worthy moment that would flip everything on its head, but it never quite came. The ending does make the sequel seem pretty interesting. This book has been compared to The Cruel Prince but I was missing the Fae element in the book. It will be present in the next one I think.
Still, I don’t regret reading it. It was a quick, entertaining escape with some fun moments. I just wish the execution had matched the brilliance of the concept.
Final thoughts
If you’re in the mood for a historical fantasy with high-stakes faerie bargains, courtly drama, and a fast-paced plot, The Rose Bargain might be worth your time. It didn’t quite hit five-star status for me, but I’d still recommend it for fans of magical competitions and morally gray queens with secrets to hide.
Rating
6/10
Details
- Trigger warnings: Violence, manipulation, and emotional distress tied to faerie bargains and political power plays.
- Themes: Power, ambition, class inequality, identity, and the cost of desire. Also explores friendship, sapphic love, and what it means to fight for change within a corrupt system.
- Representation: LGBTQIA+ representation with a sapphic romance between Marion (lesbian) and Faith (bisexual). Racial diversity among the cast: Marion Thorne’s family is Ghanaian and Emmy Ito is Japanese.
- Genre: Romantasy (young adult)
- Pages: 389
- Publication date: February 4, 2025
- Publisher: HarperCollins
- About the author:
Sasha Peyton Smith is the New York Times best selling author of The Witch Haven and The Witch Hunt. She’s passionate about well-curated road trip playlists, soup recipes, and stories about complicated girls. Originally from Utah, she now lives in Washington D.C. with her partner and collection of porcelain hands.
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