The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill

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Thank you to Netgalley and Redhook for providing an ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, I am so disappointed by this book. You all know how much I love Fae stories, and unfortunately, this one just did not work for me. Though, it really wasn't the Fae part of this book that bothered me. It was literally the main two characters — Delphine and Alaine. But we'll get to them in just a second. I have some more complaints I want aired first.

First of all, the first...half? of this book? is a total slog. It is so slow — you are basically dragged along for no reason. I think some major editing could have maybe saved most of this book, but it's too late now. Almost nothing really happens until about 50% of the way in, and then the story finally kicks off. Ugh. I wanted to like this book so much. I love stories about the fae — bargains, trickery, and general magic all included. All of that is present here, but it's told in such a roundabout, slow way that I almost found myself DNFing this book more than once. I hate to say that. I really do — there was so much potential here that is disappointing that it just wasn't used.

Delphine and Alaine are sisters that grew up together on the orchard that their grandfather bargained for from the fae. They grow up knowing about the fae, about the set-in-stone bargains they can use to tweak the luck of the world to get things they want or need. Alaine wants to be seen as capable of running the orchard on her own. Delphine wants to marry into society and be seen as important that way. This much I followed, this was fine.

But then they — mostly Alaine — start sticking their noses into things they shouldn't. Alaine starts bargaining for bigger and bigger things, starts trying to really change things, rather than tweak, and well, soon enough she bargains for something she shouldn't. The entire book I found myself basically screaming at Leslie and Julie. No, that's a lie, we were all screaming at each other! None of us liked what we were reading, and all of us knew this was going to end badly. Delphine at least had a good reason for her bargains. She marries a rich, powerful man only to discover that he's horrible and abusive. (The abuse we see on page is — she gets slapped, pushed into a wall, and her arm held very tightly.) She wants out of her marriage, so she tries to bargain. Makes sense.

But guys. Guys. I didn't like either of these characters. They both are extremely selfish. They're both unlikable. They both make stupid decision after stupid decision. And we're left to follow as the consequences of these decisions make themselves known. Fortunately, this book does end in a way that I at least tolerated. I don't want to spoil anything, but ugh. This entire book was underwhelming. I'm rating this three stars simply, because the time spent in Fae was interesting.

Thank you to my friends, Leslie and Julie, who buddy read this with me! I really enjoyed having you both to scream at. It made this experience much, much more fun.