Book Review: The Rose Bargain (The Rose Bargain #1) by Sasha Peyton Smith

Rating: ★★★★☆
Genre: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Sasha Peyton Smith
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: February 4th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Cruel Prince meets The Selection in this captivating duology opener brimming with heart-pounding romance, vicious competition, and beautiful, cruel fae, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch Haven, Sasha Peyton Smith.

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 center of this contest is a dark plot that could destroy everything Ivy knows.

Sweepingly romantic and deceptively enchanting, this alternate history romantasy will enthrall readers of Holly Black, Stephanie Garber, and Adalyn Grace.

YO, WHAT.

This book had one moment where I absolutely shouted WHAT in my car and I love that for me. Bring me a book that has a shock factor and I am your girl. I adored this book a lot. The audiobook was great and this reminded me of why I enjoy fantasy romance so much. I will say it definitely leans into the new adult category over young adult if you were curious.

I loved the setting. I can’t get enough of historical fantasy and liked the twist that this one had. The bargains and fae and competition all aligned with the coup in progress and I enjoyed the betrayals and twists throughout. I don’t mind a love triangle involving brothers and this one had the right plot edge that I knew something else was going on and was excited to figure out what that happened to be. I do think one of the brothers was a little flat for 90% of the book but now I think that has opened up a lot more for book two.

An absolute gem in my mind. Fantastic book, can’t wait for more.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: one open door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: loss of life, torture, loss of loved ones

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Book Review: The Knights of Crystallia (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #3) by Brandon Sanderson

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: MG Fantasy
Length: 320 pages
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Starscape
Release Date: July 5th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this third Alcatraz adventure, Alcatraz Smedry has made it to the Free Kingdoms at last. Unfortunately, so have the evil Librarians–including his mother! Now Alcatraz has to find a traitor among the Knights of Crystallia, make up with his estranged father, and save one of the last bastions of the Free Kingdoms from the Evil Librarians.

STILL LOVING.

Three books in and I am hooked on this series. I love how fun they are. I am laughing throughout, I am loving the themes and the friendships and the general demeanor of this story. Sanderson’s ability to write across different age groups is incredible and I love that versatility in his writing.

I adore Alcatraz and his family, I liked this continuation and seeing how the larger plot is still moving forward. These are short and fast paced which makes them feel like they are flying by. Can’t wait for more!

Overall audience notes:

  • MG Fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Ann Liang
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: February 6th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Snarky and romantic, I Hope This Doesn’t Find You is Never Have I Ever meets To All the Boys if Lara Jean wrote hate emails instead of love letters.

Sadie Wen is perfect on paper: school captain, valedictorian, and a “pleasure to have in class.” It’s not easy, but she has a trick to keep her model-student smile plastered on her face at all times: she channels all her frustrations into her email drafts. She’d never send them of course — she’d rather die than hurt anyone’s feelings — but it’s a relief to let loose on her power-hungry English teacher or a freeloading classmate taking credit for Sadie’s work.

All her most vehemently worded emails are directed at her infuriating cocaptain, Julius Gong, whose arrogance and competitive streak have irked Sadie since they were kids. “You’re attention starved and self-obsessed and unbearably vain . . . I really hope your comb breaks and you run out of whatever expensive hair products you’ve been using to make your hair appear deceptively soft…”

Sadie doesn’t have to hold back in her emails, because nobody will ever read them… that is, until they’re accidentally sent out.

Overnight, Sadie’s carefully crafted, conflict-free life is turned upside down. It’s her worst nightmare — now everyone at school knows what she really thinks of them, and they’re not afraid to tell her what they really think of her either. But amidst the chaos, there’s one person growing to appreciate the “real” Sadie — Julius, the only boy she’s sworn to hate…

THIS IS ACADEMIC RIVALS.

You know when a trope is mentioned and when you read it, you feel like that trope was not actually there? NOT the case for this book. This was an intense and passion filled academic rivals and I loved that. Sadie and Julius were at each other constantly but you could also clearly see the chemistry between them.

I liked seeing Sadie grow over the book. Bless her heart, being so consumed by people pleasing and trying to make things right was eating her up. And I liked watching her understand that you just can’t please everyone, and that those who love you will stick with you.

This was pretty solid for YA in regards to content. I didn’t love the underage drinking house party, but language and romantic content wise it would be okay for teens. Which is always a plus for young adult books.

I have enjoyed this author’s previous books and will definitely continue to pick them up.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: parental abandonment, cyberbullying

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Book Review: The Games Gods Play (The Crucible #1) by Abigail Owen

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 634 pages
Author: Abigail Owen
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower
Release Date: September 3rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Percy Jackson for adults meets The Hunger Games with a slow burn romance between a contestant and Hades himself.

Every hundred years, the gods toy with us mere mortals.
And we let them.

The gods of myth are alive and well.
Once every century, they select a new ruler in a cutthroat competition, pushing mortal players to the limit. But this year, Hades is done sitting on the sidelines. And he’s picking a champion no one expects—in this modern mythic romantasy, she’ll fight for her life…
for the god of Death.

VIBE CHECK.

You know when you’re just here for the vibes? That’s this book. I loved it. I loved the mythology aspects and the competition was nice and brutal. For an 18 hour audiobook I had no time flying through this one. It is engaging and full of good twists and you know what, I’m here for the romance too.

I liked the pacing and all of the side characters. I think some aspects of the action scenes could have had a bigger punch, but I thought all of the different games were interesting and led to good character development for Lyra. She still has a ways to go, but y’all know I love a good arc over the course of an entire series. And I’m wildly obsessed with Hades.

I’ll absolutely pick up the next one. I need to know what happens next.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: high
  • Romance: 2 open door; innuendo
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: loss of life, murder, blood and gore

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