The Rose Bargain

Starred review from November 11, 2024
Teenage Ivy wasn’t supposed to be the family breadwinner; that was her older sister Lydia’s job. But Lydia hasn’t been the same since the night she briefly vanished, an unexplained incident Ivy is certain was caused by the mysterious bargain Lydia made with faerie Queen Moryen, something all girls must do when they come of age in Ivy’s alternate Victorian London home. Shadowed by her sister’s tarnished reputation, it’s up to Ivy to find a wealthy husband and save her family from ruin. When Queen Moryen announces that the prince is seeking a bride, Ivy enters the competition to win his hand, but she isn’t the only debutante desperate for the match. Now Ivy must use her wits and form unlikely alliances if she hopes to survive this dangerous game. A simmering romantic plot is sharpened by searing comparisons of girlhood and war—a Maypole dance is a blood sport and readying for a ball is preparing for battle. 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. Major characters cue as white. Ages 13–up. Agent: Hillary Jacobson, CAA.

Starred review from December 15, 2024
Ivy expected a quiet unmarried life, but now her family's fate rests on her ability to find a husband. Living under the reign of Queen Moryen, an immortal faerie from the Otherworld, 18-year-old Ivy Benton, the second daughter of the Marquess of Townshend, is tasked with repairing her family's reputation following the disastrous scandal of her sister Lydia's disappearance. It's the start of the 1848 season in London, and the new debutantes are being presented to the queen. They'll make Rose Bargains, trading something they value--a memory, a body part--in exchange for an attribute that will make them "beautiful, fragile, sweet--perfect English roses" who will capture a suitor's heart. But this season is different: Queen Mor announces that her son, charming Prince Bram, will choose a wife. Any girl may attempt to win Bram over, but those he rejects may never marry another. Ivy, who has "porcelain skin" and "blond curls," decides to compete for the prince's hand--but the mysterious Prince Emmett, the human son of Queen Mor's husband, surprises her by proposing an unexpected plan that would forever upend London's system of power. Sections from the perspectives of other girls competing for Bram's hand provide alternate views of the competition and contribute diverse feminist viewpoints. This fast-paced romantasy with a sudden 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.(Fantasy. 14-adult)

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Starred review from February 1, 2025
Grades 8-12 *Starred Review* Enter a tale offering the perfect blend of romance and fantasy, set in a vivid and reimagined 1840s England. A tyrannical and immortal fae queen has ruled for 400 years with unbending control and manipulation. By offering others a chance to achieve coveted wishes with risky bargains, she keeps her kingdom somewhat hopeful. But at what cost will all of these be granted? Ivy Benton is preparing for her debut in front of the feared queen. Ivy's family's reputation was ruined when her sister endured a tragic failure with her own dangerous bargain, so Ivy is eagerly set to enter the queen's competition for the handsome and mysterious Prince Bram's hand, hoping to renew her family's position in society. But the competition possesses a dark underbelly of lies tied to the magical bargains--lies that could destroy everything she cares for. Smith's intense storytelling and exceptional character work lead to Ivy's role as a fierce protagonist with wit and determination that shine. Next to her, Prince Bram is a compelling mix of charm and mystery, with engaging banter and oodles of romantic tension. Their relationship and the progression of it, as well as Ivy's love for her sister and family, lead. Smith is bringing back into the scene works filled with entertaining drama between royals and their power plays.

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