The midnight bargain

by Polk, C. L.

Format: Print Book 2020
Availability: Available at 14 Libraries 14 of 16 copies
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Summary
From the bestselling, 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?
Published Reviews
Booklist Review: "Beatrice Clayborn is her family's last hope. Her father has ruined the family finances on a bad investment, so Beatrice must find herself a wealthy husband. That's why Beatrice is attending the Bargaining Season, where young ladies hope to meet--and hook--a young (and loaded) gentleman. But Beatrice doesn't want to get married; she wants to be a Mage and use her sorcery to bolster her family's fortune. Women are prevented from using magic once they marry because of the warding collar they don, which saps them of their rightful power in an effort to protect any unborn children. To prevent this fate, Beatrice makes a bargain with a lucky spirit, which leads her down a path that forces her to choose between fulfilling her family's wishes or fulfilling her heart's desire. Polk's latest (after Stormsong, 2020) delightfully addresses the theme of a woman's right to choose inside a fantasy novel. The potency of the theme and the strength of the characters outweigh any weaknesses in the worldbuilding, making this a satisfying read."
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Publisher's Weekly Review: "World Fantasy Award winner Polk (Witchmark) delivers sharp social commentary in this excellent Regency-flavored fantasy. Sorceress Beatrice Clayborn must marry well or her family will plunge into poverty. But marriage means submitting to a collar that blocks women from access to magic, so Beatrice plans to prove herself as a Mage before anyone can propose, hoping her magical skills will enable her to earn money of her own, making marriage unnecessary. When the Lavan siblings, the equally marriage-averse Ysbeta and her handsome brother, Ianthe, steal Beatrice's spell book, Beatrice summons Nadi, a luck spirit, to help her get the grimoire back. In exchange, Nadi demands the chance to live vicariously through Beatrice, hoping to experience cake, dancing, and kissing. With Nadi's help, Beatrice befriends the Lavans and is soon leading a double life: practicing secret magic with Ysbeta, while falling in love with Ianthe over a series of heated debates about structural injustice. To survive the social tightrope, Beatrice summons Nadi more and more frequently, and it becomes her most trustworthy friend, even as its presence in her life puts all her plans at risk. Polk expertly balances propulsive pacing, a rich multicultural world, and a vivid and subversive cast of characters. Readers will be swept away by this powerful and passionate fantasy. Agent: Caitlin McDonald, Donald Maass Literary. (Oct.)"
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Additional Information
Subjects Magic -- Fiction.
Mate selection -- Fiction.
Self-realization -- Fiction.
Sexism -- Fiction.
Sex role -- Fiction.
Regency -- England.
England -- Fiction.
Fantasy fiction.
Romance fiction.
Publisher New York :Erewhon Books,2020
Edition First US edition.
Language English
Description 375 pages ; 22 cm
ISBN 9781645660071
1645660079
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