The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill

by Rowenna Miller

"A warm-hearted yet fierce fairy tale."?H. G. Parry

There is no magic on Prospect Hill-or anywhere else, for that matter. But just on the other side of the veil is the world of the Fae. Generations ago, the first farmers on Prospect Hill learned to bargain small trades to make their lives a little easier-a bit of glass to find something lost, a cup of milk for better layers in the chicken coop.

Much of that old wisdom was lost as the riverboats gave way to the rail lines and the farmers took work at mills and factories. Alaine Fairborn's family, however, was always superstitious, and she still hums the rhymes to find a lost shoe and to ensure dry weather on her sister's wedding day.

When Delphine confides her new husband is not the man she thought he was, Alaine will stop at nothing to help her sister escape him. Small bargains buy them time, but a major one is needed. Yet, the price for true freedom may be more than they're willing to pay.

Praise for The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill:

"Brimming with folk magic and delightfully sinister hidden worlds. Truly enchanting."?Leslye Penelope

"A beautifully written tale of feminine power, sisterly devotion, and magic as old as the hills themselves."?Louisa Morgan

For more from Rowenna Miller, check out:

The Unraveled Kingdom
Torn
Fray
Rule

• ISBN10: 031637847X
• ISBN13: 9780316378475
• Publish Date: 13 April 2023
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Redhook
• Format: Paperback (UK Trade)
• Pages: 416
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill is a well written fantasy fable by Rowenna Miller. Due out 28th March from Hachette on their Redhook imprint, it's 416 pages and will be 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a well told fairy tale with traditional fae and a pair of sisters whose family have always lived on the edge of magic and have only used small innocuous charms to find lost items or ensure the hens keep laying. With much bigger conflicts to resolve, Alaine seeks to make a serious bargain with the fair folk to rescue her sister from an abusive marriage and save her family farm. 

The first half of the book is slow and quite distressing, full of spousal abuse and hopelessness. I found it difficult to read in places. The prose is compelling and very well wrought and the second half of the book moves at an accelerating pace. The denouement and resolution are satisfying and beautifully written.

Four stars. Enchanting and sometimes difficult.

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