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yorweth 's review for:
The Rose Bargain
by Sasha Peyton Smith
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
☆ Fun Factor 5/5 (I was riveted and would have neglected all my chores for this book)
☆ Writing Style 5/5
☆ Characters 5/5
☆ Plot 5/5
☆ Setting 5/5
☆ Feels 3/5
☆ Spiciness 2/5 (a very mild sex scene towards the end)
☆ Gore 3/5
If this were a movie it'd be rated: R for mild sexual situations, violence, body horror, disturbing imagery, dismemberment, vomiting, murder, blood
☆FOR FANS OF: Dark fairy tales; Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Ultimate verdict: ☆☆☆☆☆/5 (so far my book of 2025)
☆☆☆Best Character Award goes to:☆☆☆ The entire cast is fantastic
Review: Give me the sequel!!!! Please?
What I was expecting when I picked this up: cringe romantasy slop about a broody fairy prince and a not like other girls protagonist
What I actually got: these fairies are evil and weird and probably would watch British Bake Off if they had TVs.
This is so far and beyond what Tiktok peddles as Romantasy, it's the distance from here to the stars. The Rose Bargain is exceptional. It has an actual plot, full of twists and turns that kept me guessing up til the very sudden ending. If you liked Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, you'll probably enjoy this as much as I did. It's historical fiction with evil, inhuman fairies set in England. What's not to like?
The "spicy" takes a backseat here for actual character development and plot, which is so refreshing in this genre. We spend more time with the young women than we do with Bram or his brother Emmett. It's a story about sisterhood, both by blood and bonds of love and it really does it well. The only thing I didn't like about it is that it's not 500 pages longer.
I want book 2 as soon as you can Sasha Peyton Smith, this was just. Mwah. Perfect.
☆ Writing Style 5/5
☆ Characters 5/5
☆ Plot 5/5
☆ Setting 5/5
☆ Feels 3/5
☆ Spiciness 2/5 (a very mild sex scene towards the end)
☆ Gore 3/5
If this were a movie it'd be rated: R for mild sexual situations, violence, body horror, disturbing imagery, dismemberment, vomiting, murder, blood
☆FOR FANS OF: Dark fairy tales; Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Ultimate verdict: ☆☆☆☆☆/5 (so far my book of 2025)
☆☆☆Best Character Award goes to:☆☆☆ The entire cast is fantastic
Review: Give me the sequel!!!! Please?
What I was expecting when I picked this up: cringe romantasy slop about a broody fairy prince and a not like other girls protagonist
What I actually got: these fairies are evil and weird and probably would watch British Bake Off if they had TVs.
This is so far and beyond what Tiktok peddles as Romantasy, it's the distance from here to the stars. The Rose Bargain is exceptional. It has an actual plot, full of twists and turns that kept me guessing up til the very sudden ending. If you liked Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, you'll probably enjoy this as much as I did. It's historical fiction with evil, inhuman fairies set in England. What's not to like?
The "spicy" takes a backseat here for actual character development and plot, which is so refreshing in this genre. We spend more time with the young women than we do with Bram or his brother Emmett. It's a story about sisterhood, both by blood and bonds of love and it really does it well. The only thing I didn't like about it is that it's not 500 pages longer.
I want book 2 as soon as you can Sasha Peyton Smith, this was just. Mwah. Perfect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism