In recent years, many fantasy novels have appeared featuring fairies. These books are all pretty popular. In early 2025, The Rose Bargain, Sasha Peyton Smith’s debut novel, joined the ranks of titles featuring these mythical creatures. Not long after its English publication, the Dutch translation appeared, which I read in the end. This book is recommended for fans of The Cruel Prince by Holly Black and The Selection by Kiera Cass. This is the first book in a series; the number of books is not yet known.

About the book

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith
Series: The Rose Bargain #1
Published by HarperTeen on February 4, 2025
Pages: 400
ISBN: 9780008765118
Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Young adult
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Every citizen of England is granted one bargain from their immortal fae queen. High society girls are expected to bargain for qualities that will win them suitors: a rare talent for piano in exchange for one’s happiest childhood memory. A perfect smile for one’s ability to taste.

But Ivy Benton’s debut season arrives with a shocking twist: a competition to secure the heart of the Queen’s fae son, Prince Bram. A prize that could save Ivy’s family from ruin… and free her sister from the bargain that destroyed her.

Yet every glittering fae deal has a rotting heart, and at the centre of this contest is a dark plot that could destroy everything.

Sweepingly romantic and deceptively enchanting, this alternate history romantasy will enthrall readers of Lauren Roberts, Stephanie Garber, and Sarah J Maas. 

My review

Expectations

Upon publication, this book generated considerable international hype. People read it frequently and were enthusiastic. It was therefore remarkable that this hype seemed to fizzle out quickly. To be honest, I had already forgotten about it until I saw the Dutch edition again. Because of the enthusiasm, my expectations were high. The books it is compared to are still enormously popular, although in retrospect, I am somewhat less enthusiastic about them. This is certainly true for The Selection. I find this kind of marketing dangerous, because perhaps my expectations were a little too high after all.

Synopsis

London, 1848. Ball season is about to begin, the event the London elite has been eagerly anticipating. All citizens have the opportunity to bargain with the immortal fairy queen, and for their daughters, this is seen as the perfect opportunity to negotiate an exceptional talent that will make it easier for them to attract suitors. The talent of being an excellent piano player, for example, in exchange for their happiest childhood memory. These favors are also known as the rose bargains. Ivy Benton is allowed to make her debut this year, but right now the rules of the game are changing drastically. Crown Prince Bram is choosing a bride this season, and debutantes are vying for his hand. A victory could save her family from ruin and free her sister from the consequences of her rose bargain. Will Ivy succeed in winning Bram’s heart?

Characters

Main character Ivy is a fairly ordinary girl with little substance. This also makes it difficult to connect with her. It quickly becomes clear that she and her older sister are close. Furthermore, the bond between her and her parents seems good, albeit somewhat distant. Throughout the story, you learn little more about this than what’s apparent in the first chapters. This makes Ivy a rather superficial protagonist. For a book focused on feelings and contains a competitive element, this is a missed opportunity, as it doesn’t enhance the plot. Despite all the other candidates also getting their own chapters, they don’t stick in my mind either. They’re there, but they add little. Ivy’s bond with them is highlighted, but I felt nothing. None of the characters really stuck.

Writing and plot

The fact that the characters don’t do much for me automatically translates to the plot. It unfolds quite predictably, something you might expect from a book set in 1848. It’s ball season, the time when girls competed for a husband. This is very reminiscent of Bridgerton, while the competition does indeed fit with The Selection. The setting itself, on the other hand, fits with The Cruel Prince. It’s London, but at the same time, it’s not. The city—and England as a whole—is cut off from the outside world. France is merely a foreign word to the citizens of this England, not a country they’ve ever seen. This is interesting, and I have a feeling this will be explored more in the sequels. The hope is that this will happen with some implausibilities in the story, because how can a respectable elite girl like Ivy suddenly know how to use a weapon? Furthermore, the rose bargains don’t really add anything, which is a shame, considering this element now merely exists without much of a purpose.

Because of the aforementioned predictability, the book fails to intrigue. Yet, you keep reading, and this is entirely due to the author’s writing style. It’s accessible and shows great potential. Towards the end, the predictability of this plot is jettisoned. A lot happens simultaneously here, creating much-needed suspense. Until then, the novel had been ordinary and dull. This ending redeems itself and makes you curious for the sequel.

Final thoughts

Sasha Peyton Smith’s The Rose Bargain isn’t a bad debut. This author’s potential is evident. The writing style is fluid, but it can’t disguise the superficial characters and the rather predictable plot. The setting is intriguing, and there’s a sense that this is merely a buildup to the sequel. As the ending approaches, the tension increases, something that was desperately needed. Here, the book finally succeeds in being intriguing and generating curiosity for the sequel. Are you looking for a fantasy novel that combines a variety of popular books and are you a fan of Bridgerton, The Selection, or The Cruel Prince? Then this book is for you.