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A review by lini002
The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk
challenging
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Beatrice Clayborn desires magic and to become a great sorceress but with a family in financial straits her marriage is necessary, and it is well known that a pregnant woman must wear a binding collar to protect their child from the rampant magic within.
A rival sorceress steals a grimoire from her hands and the lesser spirit she summons to help her demands a kiss from that same rival's brother. As bargaining season continues, she has to make the decision on whether magic or marriage are more important to her.
This is okay. Beatrice is kind of really frustrating and a lot of the feminist discussion felt very on the nose. Also, the romance in this story is practically insta love and has no burn or scenes that can be seen as romantic, so it felt weird for Beatrice to be supposedly falling for him. I enjoyed the worldbuilding the most, since the magic in here involves binding a spirit to your person for bargains and I enjoyed Beatrice's spirit a lot.
Nothing wrong with this book but also nothing special. 3/5 Magical realism a la an alternate 18th century.
A rival sorceress steals a grimoire from her hands and the lesser spirit she summons to help her demands a kiss from that same rival's brother. As bargaining season continues, she has to make the decision on whether magic or marriage are more important to her.
This is okay. Beatrice is kind of really frustrating and a lot of the feminist discussion felt very on the nose. Also, the romance in this story is practically insta love and has no burn or scenes that can be seen as romantic, so it felt weird for Beatrice to be supposedly falling for him. I enjoyed the worldbuilding the most, since the magic in here involves binding a spirit to your person for bargains and I enjoyed Beatrice's spirit a lot.
Nothing wrong with this book but also nothing special. 3/5 Magical realism a la an alternate 18th century.