Peyton Smith, Sasha. Rose Bargain, The. HarperCollins, 02/2025. 385pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-337252-8. GRADES 8–12. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
To save her sister from a mysterious rose bargain with the cruel fairy queen, Ivy Benton joins a competition to wed the fae prince and finds herself entangled in a brutal game to win wealth for her family and potential love. Although Ivy guides the narrative of the story, chapters from different characters’ perspectives offer glimpses of the other girls’ motivations to win the competition. The lush world building within the walls of Kensington Palace and heart pounding action sequences during the Queen’s cruel games elevate the story, although the love triangle sometimes detracts from the overall plot. Main characters cue as white; supporting characters have diverse representation including LGBTQ+ and immigrants. Recommend this book, first in a planned duology, for teen readers not quite ready for the spice of “romantasy” titles for the older set.
Kelly Pollard—Alameda County Library