The Rose Bargain

by Sasha Peyton Smith · 2025

In a Victorian-inspired 1848 London, England has been ruled for four hundred years by an immortal fae queen who seized the throne through a dark bargain. To maintain a facade of benevolence, the queen allows her subjects one opportunity to trade pieces of themselves for their deepest desires. Ivy Benton, whose family is facing social and financial ruin, enters a high-stakes competition for the hand of Prince Bram. As she navigates a court filled with dangerous secrets and vicious trials, she is aided by the prince's brother, Prince Emmett, who offers to help her win the competition for a price. Ivy's primary motivation is to uncover the truth behind her sister Lydia's mysterious disappearance and the dark, faerie-touched past that haunts her family. As the season progresses, Ivy realizes that all bargains with the fae come with a heavy cost, and she may have entered into a game where love is both a weapon and a potential trap.