This is a truly fun, chilling, engrossing book with one big flaw – it kept pulling me out of a great narrative with unnecessary multiple PoVs. The Rose Bargain is The Bachelor touched with fae magic, and though it’s slightly uneven it’s still a fun ride.

The novel concerns itself with an alternate British history that spawns off of the War of the Roses. Instead of losing, Edward IV bends his knee to Queen Moryen of the Others and makes a pact with her. He defeats Henry VI and seems to win the Battle of Bosworth Field – but dies quickly soon thereafter. Moryen assumes the throne, and the tax she places on the human populace isn’t pretty.

Immortal Moryen specializes in bargains – every human in England is allowed to barter from a favor for her once in their lives after they turn eighteen. But the price is deep and sometimes personal – a fine smile might cost you your sense of taste, for instance. By 1848, it has simply become the way of things.

Lady Lydia and Lady Ivy Benton’s well-heeled family are set to run out of money: their home will soon be on the market if their daughters don’t find eligible husbands. This will be Ivy’s first season, and when her sister suddenly disappears after striking her bargain with the queen, things become even more dire. Ivy literally runs into the roguish Prince Emmet, Moryen’s stepson, when his carriage nearly trammels her. It’s a tiny highlight in her downtrodden life, as Lydia is returned to the family three months later, claiming to the world she ran off to elope but lost her husband. When no record of the marriage surfaces at Gretna Green, thus ruining her reputation and Ivy’s hope of marrying well. Lydia cannot recall what she bargained for and what she traded. All Lydia can do is eat fresh fruit, huddle in bed and tell her sister the bargain wasn’t worth it.

The Pact Parade – which opens the season – begins, bringing with it Ivy’s hope for marriage. But the crowd is shocked to learn that Prince Bram, Morwyn’s only biological son, will be a prize for the season. Given the choice between striking her bargain or setting her hand for Bram, Ivy chooses the former. She and the five other prospective brides set about trying to succeed at a set of trials to prove her worth to the seemingly sweet-natured Bram. Ivy does well, but is soon confronted by Emmett – who plans to overthrow his stepmother, with Ivy’s help.

This is a fun, fast-moving story that works well in establishing its universe and rules. It’s engrossing, creative, and enjoyable. I really liked Ivy, and I really liked Emmett and Bram. Even evil Queen Mor, with her ways and her determination, makes a fascinating figure. Ivy’s two romances bring out different sides of her, and each story is well told. And the final scene is truly horrific and surprising: I definitely wouldn’t call this a happily ever after tale.

I only had a couple of small caveats: the way several plot points landed in a graceless manner, and I found myself mildly distracted by PoV chapters from the rest of The Six. But those are small details: The Rose Bargain is excellent, and begs for a sequel.