The Midnight Bargain Published by Erewhon Books on October 13, 2020 Source: Audible
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Historical, Fiction / Fantasy / Romantic, Fiction / Women
Pages: 384
Format: Audiobook
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From the beloved World Fantasy Award-winning author of Witchmark comes a sweeping, romantic new fantasy set in a world reminiscent of Regency England, where women’s magic is taken from them when they marry. A sorceress must balance her desire to become the first great female magician against her duty to her family.
Beatrice Clayborn is a sorceress who practices magic in secret, terrified of the day she will be locked into a marital collar that will cut off her powers to protect her unborn children. She dreams of becoming a full-fledged Magus and pursuing magic as her calling as men do, but her family has staked everything to equip her for Bargaining Season, when young men and women of means descend upon the city to negotiate the best marriages. The Clayborns are in severe debt, and only she can save them, by securing an advantageous match before their creditors come calling.
In a stroke of luck, Beatrice finds a grimoire that contains the key to becoming a Magus, but before she can purchase it, a rival sorceress swindles the book right out of her hands. Beatrice summons a spirit to help her get it back, but her new ally exacts a price: Beatrice’s first kiss . . . with her adversary’s brother, the handsome, compassionate, and fabulously wealthy Ianthe Lavan.
The more Beatrice is entangled with the Lavan siblings, the harder her decision becomes: If she casts the spell to become a Magus, she will devastate her family and lose the only man to ever see her for who she is; but if she marries—even for love—she will sacrifice her magic, her identity, and her dreams. But how can she choose just one, knowing she will forever regret the path not taken?
Review:
The Midnight Bargain is set in a world where women are not allowed the freedom of sorcery; there are secret grimoires that Beatrice squirrels away to teach herself. She plans with a great spirit to keep her from being married during the upcoming bargaining season. If she is married, she will spend her life in a collar so that her magic can not harm her unborn children. She is determined to prove to this world that there is another way and that women and men can make the sacrifice necessary to have children and magic. The audiobook is a great way to listen to this book as the narrator does a great job of using her voice to make each character distinct. I especially love how she showcases the great spirit that Beatrice makes a deal with; This is not a story with a lot of meat to it. You see what you get, but I felt it was a remarkable intermediate star rating story.
Audiobook Sample:
About C.L. Polk
C. L. Polk wrote her first story in grade school and still hasn’t learned any better. After spending years in strange occupations and wandering western Canada, she settled in southern Alberta and is here to stay. She has a fondness for knitting, bicycles, and single estate coffee. C. L. has had short stories published in Baen’s UNIVERSE and Gothic.net, and contributed to the web serial Shadow Unit.
