Review
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC of this book!
I am OBSESSED with this book and I cannot stop thinking about it! There are so many amazing moving parts in The Rose Bargain — so many interesting characters too.
One thing Sasha Peyton Smith does really well is WRITING. Her writing is absolutely phenomenal, and honestly it really pushed the book to new heights. I don’t always do comparisons but as someone who loved Bridgerton and loved The Cruel Prince — this book is a delightful combination of them both. Also, a slightly alternate history which is something I adore.
This book essentially is a warped timeline of what happened if the Fae took over during/after the War of the Roses and ruled? The book takes place during “regency” period, with debutante balls (albeit with a bit of a bloody twist) and fae. Another good comparison might be Olivia Atwater, though this one is firmly older YA.
Ivy has definitely slipped into my heart and I cannot stop thinking about her! She has easily become one of my favorite FMC! She is so strong, and I love her care for her sister and her friends. She’s so, so lovely. I also love the romantic relationship in this book, but if. you know me I love a good banter. (And this book definitely has some amazing banter in it).
Aside from the romantic relationship I really loved the friendships and the bonds that formed between the girls in this book. I feel like a lot of times we get books where all the female main characters are “enemies” and I suppose in this they are too — but it was done in a way that made me SO happy.
The final relationship that I adored and could wax poetic about was Ivy. and Lydia’s. Ivy and Lydia’s sisterhood felt so natural and real. I loved how Smith showed the complexities of how you can love someone but can also at the same time still have problems.
Honestly, this book was SO good and I cannot believe I have to wait for the second book to come out. This book had absolutely no low points for me, the plot, the pacing, everything was on fire from beginning to end.
Okay, I don’t want to say anything else other than I can’t stop thinking about this book.