Honest Review of The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith
Check out my honest review of the new victorian-inspired romantasy, The Rose Bargain, by Sasha Peyton Smith that is currently all over Booktok and Bookstagram. I wanted to see what al the hype was about, and these are my thoughts.
Here’s a short synopsis of the book:
“London, 1848—For four hundred years, England has been under the control of an immortal fae queen who tricked her way onto the throne. To maintain an illusion of benevolence, Queen Mor grants each of her subjects one opportunity to bargain for their deepest desire.
As Ivy Benton prepares to make her debut, she knows that not even a deal with the queen could fix what has gone wrong: Her family’s social standing is in shambles, her sister is a shadow of her former self, and Ivy’s marriage prospects are nonexistent. So when the queen announces a competition for Prince Bram’s hand, Ivy is the first to sign her name in blood. What a bargain can’t fix, a crown certainly could.
Ivy soon finds herself a surprising front-runner—with the help of an unexpected ally: Prince Bram’s brother, the rakish Prince Emmett, who promises to help Ivy win his brother’s heart…for a price. But as the season sweeps Ivy away, with glittering balls veiling the queen’s increasingly vicious trials, Ivy realizes there’s more at stake than just a wedding. Because all faerie bargains come with a cost, and Ivy may have discovered hers too late.”
Full Book Review Without Spoilers
If you love gothic atmospheres, slow-burn romance, and characters who make terrible choices for all the right reasons, this book will consume you. Smith balances the enticing setting of 1840s London with emotional devastation of a fantasy world, creating a story that’s equal parts enchanting and heartbreaking. This whismical fantasy romance has a love triangle, a magical bargain, cruel fae, and trials.
While this one mostly reads as a true young adult book, I was pleasantly surprised by the writing style. If you’re the kind of reader who loves being fully immersed in a setting, this book delivers. The gothic atmosphere isn’t just window dressing. It’s essential to the emotional weight of the story.
Like most fantasy/ romance fantasy books, the plot twist hits hard in the last 50 pages of the book, and, while its slightly predictable, it’s still a big twist. And it sets up the next book in a way that you’re itching to read it.
While there was a lot I did like about the book (the idea, the plot, the fae), the part that was good not great for me was the actual romance. Parts of it were lacking throughout the book, and then it seemed to pick up unreasonably fast at the end. It just wasn’t my favorite relationship development between any of the main characters.
Characters
One of my favorite parts of the book was the main character, Ivy. She makes this first book one worth reading when she’s stuck in this no-win situation. writes characters who make choices you might not agree with, but you always understand why they’re making them. That moral complexity keeps the story from feeling predictable.
Plot
The book pulls you in at the beginning, and then introduces a deceptively dark plot before you even know what’s happening. The plot itself is what makes this book so enticing, and it offers something unique as far as fantasy novels go. The plot twists are well-placed, the reveals are satisfying even if they’re slightly predictable, and the climax delivers on every promise the book makes.
Writing
The writing style of this book balances action with introspection, giving you breathing room to sit with the emotional beats without losing momentum.And Smith doesn’t use magic as a convenient plot device. It’s a force that shapes character decisions and drives the story forward, and the stakes feel real.
Full Book Review With Spoilers
You’ve been warned that from here on out there will be spoilers. Continue on to the conclusion section to avoid them.
The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith was, for me, one of those books that falls into the “fun but flawed” category. I genuinely enjoyed reading it and found myself easily pulled into the story, even if it didn’t fully stick the landing.
The concept and overall plot were definitely the highlights. The world and central idea felt fresh and intriguing, and it kept me turning the pages. Ivy, as the main character, was also a strong point—I found her perspective engaging and liked following her through the twists of the story.
That said, the ending didn’t quite work for me. It felt rushed, especially compared to the buildup throughout the rest of the book. The biggest issue was the relationship between Ivy and Emmett. For most of the book—especially the first three-quarters—they didn’t feel emotionally close enough to justify the level of sacrifice they ultimately make for each other. Because of that, the final moments felt a bit unearned and less impactful than they could have been.
Overall, while The Rose Bargain wasn’t a standout read for me, it was still an entertaining one. If you’re looking for something engaging with an interesting premise and a compelling main character, it’s worth picking up—just don’t go in expecting a perfectly executed ending.
Pros of the Book
The best part of the book was the idea behind the story and the overall plot. These kept me pretty hooked, and Ivy made the journey even more enjoyable.
Cons of the Book
My biggest complaint about the book was that the romance part of the plot felt lacking. Ivy is supposed to be in love, literally risking her life, for Emmett, but the build up of their romance didn’t feel deep enough for that. Even the romance with Bram felt a little bit lacking, and I didn’t get attached enough to either of them.
Conclusion
Overall, I would recommend this book if you’re looking for a true YA romantasy, especially if you like fantasy books about fae or set in the regency era. I do think the second book has the potential to be even better than the first because we get to truly see the fae half of the world.
Rating-3.75 Out of 5 Stars
This was a fun, whimsical read, and a nice change from the average fae romantasy book. I wouldn’t go back and read it again, but I’m interested enough to read the second book.
Here’s how I rate all my books: My Rating System
Who Would Enjoy Reading?
If you like romantasy with a whimsical romance, high fantasy elements, and a shocking twist at the end, this is a good one for you.
What to Read After The Rose Bargain
If you liked this book as much as I did, either because of the characters or the writing style, check out more of my recommendations below.
Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
Here’s another series with similar gothic vibes and magical fantasy woven into a regency era book. This series has a lot of the same elements, but is also unique in the main plot line. I have a full review of it to read.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
If you love all the fae bargains and secrets in The Rose Bargain, you have to read this one, too. Also about fae royalty, this dark fantasy has a lot of the same vibes.
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
If you like the fairy tale vibes in your romantasy, try this series. There’s also a lot of secrets, bargains, and plot twists in this three book series. I have a full review and summary of the first book you can read.
