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.
Reviewed by annieb123 on
Reading updates
- 26 March, 2023: Started reading
- 26 March, 2023: Finished reading
- 26 March, 2023: Reviewed