A Market of Dreams and Destiny

by Trip Galey

Enter the bazaar of the bizarre where fate and fortunes are for sale in this high-stakes magical adventure across a London not quite like our own, perfect for fans of Neverwhere and The Night Circus.

Below Covent Garden lies the Untermarkt, where anything and everything has a price: a lover’s first blush, a month of honesty, a wisp of fortune. As a child, Deri was sold to one of the Market’s most powerful merchants. Now, after years of watchful servitude, Deri finally spots a chance to buy not only his freedom but also his place amongst the Market’s elite when he stumbles into the path of a runaway princess desperate to sell her royal destiny.

But news of the missing princess and her wayward destiny spreads. Royal enforcers and Master Merchants alike are after it. Outmanoeuvring them all would all be hard enough had Deri not just also met the love of his life, a young man called Owain, whose employers are using the Market for their own nefarious schemes.

Deri soon finds that the price of selling the royal destiny, making a name for himself, and saving the man he loves is dear. The cost of it all might just change the destiny of London forever.

• ISBN10: 1803363681
• ISBN13: 9781803363684
• Publish Date: 12 September 2023
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Titan Books Ltd
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 432
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781803363684

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

A Market of Dreams and Destiny is a standalone fantasy by Trip Galey. Released 12th Sept. 2023 by Titan Books, it's 432 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.

Well written, often frenetic, and immersive, the author manages the "Other London" setting and world building exceptionally well. Although it's not derivative, there are definite vibes of The Night Circus and UnLunDun or Neverwhere along the way, and fans of the genre will find lots to enjoy. (It's not as trippy or creepy as Miéville for readers who might be concerned).

The setting and world building are the main elements here, and it's immersive and feels complete, not taped together. The characters are moderately well rendered and believable as well, but it's the world and the market which are center stage. The setup breakaway from "our" Earth is that Henry VIII turns to druidic magic instead of Protestantism. The British Empire still exists, but slavery/indentured servitude never got abolished. For sensitive readers, slavery and servitude are central.

There's also a central romantic element (m/m but which, happily, doesn't threaten to overpower everything else which is going on (and it's a fair effort to keep the disparate threads and secondary characters straight, but the author does a good job of drawing readers along)).

Three and a half stars. Good vs. evil, exploitation, sly fae magical market setting, queer friendly representation, self-determination, and alt-world building.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.