The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk: Book Review

The Midnight Bargain is a fantastic stand-alone fantasy from Canadian author C.L Polk. Since its release in October 2020 by Erewhon, The Midnight Bargain has been nominated for three awards: CBC Canada Reads 2021, Nebula Award for Best Novel 2020, and Locus Award Nominee for Best Fantasy Novel 2020. And personally, it is one that I feel a lot more people should read.

Reading this book you will find yourself in a Regency era story, but with a magical twist. It is full of magic, wealth, and romance!

Synopsis

Beatrice Clayborn is in the city of Bendleton, Chasland, for Bargaining Season, an event she does not want to participate in. She is a sorceress and only wants to keep her powers, something she would lose if she were to marry.

In a bookshop, Beatrice comes across the book she needs to help her escape marriage yet help her family. The only problem is that she loses the book to another sorceress. Beatrice calls on a spirit to help her get the book back. The spirit makes a bargain to help her retrieve the book. But there is a cost, Beatrice must kiss the sorceress’s handsome brother, Ianthe.

The more time Beatrice spends with the siblings, the more she worries about her desire to keep her magic. Is it possible to marry the handsome Ianthe and keep her magic?

Positives

The world building is easy to follow, especially if you have any experience reading Regency era books. The magic system used is thoroughly explained, and easy to understand.

This book is fast past, and is something you could easily read in a weekend.

Negatives

The characters are all beautifully written and believable. My only frustration is their personalities. But that is the way they were written. You are supposed to despise some, like Danton Maissonette. And cheer for some, like Ianthe Lavan. There are some that I’m not sure how I feel about them, including Beatrice and Ysbeta. They are both so against the societal norm that neither seems to listen to the other, yet they are supposed to be working together and be friends.

Another issue I have is with the society norms the woman are expected to live with. But of course it is wasn’t for those, there wouldn’t be a plot to the story. So, I guess that means it’s one that I have to accept.

My Opinions

While this wasn’t my first fantasy book, I think it was my first to read like a Regency-era book. For those unsure of what the Regency era looks like, a popular example is the Bridgerton series on Netflix. And honestly, I could see The Midnight Bargain be adapted to a movie.

While this book is set in a fictional place and time, there are some totally modern issues discussed. In this world all women are forced to wear a warding collar, which blocks their magically abilities, in the name of protecting their unborn children. In one scene in the book, Ysbeta sees a painting of a bride after having her collar put on in her wedding and is horrified to see the truth in front of her. The bride is scared and horrified, yet everyone is focused on the groom and his smiling face. Ianthe sees the same painting, but doesn’t understand the sacrifices women must make when they are married. It takes Beatrice laying it out for him, basically mansplaining to him, for Ianthe to see that women sacrifice everything while men sacrifice very little.

I’m not sure if Polk meant for this to book to have a political voice, but in honesty it does. In the world they created, the few control the loves of many. I am not just talking about the women in their lives, but of the people all around them. The few stealing the voices of the many, in fear of losing power. Sound familiar?

That said, this book is a great escape as well. And it is one that I feel many people will enjoy reading.

Looking for some more books to read? Check out my other book reviews and my monthly reading wrap-ups.