3.5⭐️

I really enjoyed this fantasy romance! It’s a light fantasy with no stressful elements. It’s definitely a nice palette cleanser! The writing style was really good as well.

It follows Alexandra, a spoiled princess, and Tyram, the steward of Norwen. Without giving spoilers, I would classify their story as an enemies to lovers and a low burn.

There were times when I was bored and pulled from the story. Not based on writing or characters but based on the slow pacing. As I said before, this is a very light fantasy, and there were times when that really showed. Especially when you’re used to fast paced, action packed fantasy.

I want to say thank you to NetGalley and Vanessa Green for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

BOOK: THE BARD'S BARGAIN

AUTHOR: VANESSA GREEN

PUB DATE: NOVEMBER 2024

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REVIEW

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I've not really read a book like this, a book about a princess slumming it as she deserved. It's actually surprising to me that I didn't notice Alexandra's bad, haughty behavior until she left the palace. I feel like her parents were to be blamed for the flaws in her behavior. She was taught and brought up to be a princess to protect the throne, not the people. The only thing she knew about the people were numbers and data on paper. It was really nice watching her get humbled.

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I liked Tom/Tyram from the beginning of the book. He had my heart because he was a pacifist and he was actively trying to put a stop to the wars between their countries. In addition to this, I enjoyed how he effortlessly fit in with the peasants and how he played a bard. I really liked him because he was my kind of royalty plus he was the perfect person to deal with Alexandra and her tantrums.

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While reading the book, I read how Alexandra changed from a war monger to a pacifist. I liked how realistic the author portrayed her situation. It was hard at first for her and she was obnoxious about it, but she changed especially after spending time at Little Snail Village. At the end, I was really glad of progress. I'm sure she would make a good leader.

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Alexandra and Tom's relationship was really nice  but often overshadowed by Tom's deceit. But, I didn't really mind it. But, both of them fell on love with each other with no burden associated with their countries. It was really nice to read.

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At the end of the day, Alexandra went back to her country and made the decision to end the wars plaguing her country. I really liked to see how she changed and rose to the challenges of leadership. Unfortunately, I wanted more of this, but I didn't get it. In addition to this, I was quite disappointed by the epilogue. I wanted to read more about the after of Alexandra and Tom, they got their HEA, but it was not enough for me.

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For the record, my least favorite character was Bryan, Alexandra's brother. He never rose to the challenges throne. And I feel there's still more to the situation at Norwen and lenwen and I would definitely read the next book.  You should too!

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I really enjoyed this one even though it definitely felt like books I've read previously. I thought the characters were interesting as well as the plot.

The Bard's Bargain shows massive character development in both the main characters, but especially in the FMC. It really puts into perspective the lower class vs upper class during the time period it was setting, although it is fictional. The FMC is truly intolerable at the beginning of the book. She is selfish, spoiled, and unafraid of consequences. The MMC only wants peace. How far will he go to get there though? This is a slow burn love story & I enjoyed it very much! Thank you NetGalley & Vanessa Green for the advanced copy.

DNF. I honestly can’t keep going. The FMC is so deeply irritating and insufferable. I understand that there’s supposed to be a huge character growth throughout the story, but right know I don’t feel like I can keep reading about someone without an ounce of empathy and concern for other people. I might give this book a chance another time, but for now it’s just not for me.

⭐️⭐️.5
Rounded up to 3 stars.

This book was a really easy read and had a lot of great qualities about it however it was also lacking some key things that I hope for in my fantasy reads.

Some of the main strengths that I really enjoyed was the obvious character development from out FMC Alexandra. Alexandra starts off being very difficult to like. I empathize a lot with her trauma and her grief but her attitude and her arrogance makes her a very unlikeable person. This is written well because I felt my skin crawl at a lot of her decisions. Throughout the book she is forced into hardship and it changes her for the better. By the end of the book she is a humble and likeable character and I really enjoy character growth like this.

Our MMC Tom/Tyram was also quite likeable throughout the entire book. He was even tempered and understanding. He was much nicer than I would have been given the circumstances and I really appreciated a "softer" man like this one. My main concern with him would be how he is seemingly okay with uninformed sexual consent. I will touch on this in a moment.

The things that this book could have improved in my opinion have to do with the kind of writing mixed with the level of spice. Before there were sexually explicit scenes I would have made the assumption that this was written for younger YA readers. When we got the first spicy scenes it was very clear that this wouldn't be appropriate for younger YA readers so there is a bit of a juxtaposition between the simplicity of the writing and the nature of the love scenes. For me this contrast was a bit too stark and it didn't mesh well for my reading experience. The only other real criticism I have is more so a personal preference as I have seen this trope in other books and that is uniformed consent. I don't love when a character chooses to consent to sexual acts with another character when they don't have valuable and important information. If they wouldn't say yes with all the information it seems a bit icky to me. I have given this feedback with *almost* all uninformed consent I have read in books.

Overall this read was uncomplicated and easy. It is a good book to look to if you want to read for vibes and not think too deeply on world building or complicated politics. A good entry level NA book if you are looking for YA style prose with spice. For me it didn't really hit the mark so that is where my star rating comes in!

Unfortunately, I really did not like this book.

The beginning did have some positives: the princess was flawed but likable, and I especially appreciated that the two main leads were not instantly attracted to each other the first time they met.

However, it quickly devolved and was a drag to get through. The plot is a little nonsensical - not enough effort was put into believable politics/war/government structure (why even have a king/steward if he's just going to pretend to be poor and assign a regent? BOTH countries did this!?), let alone individual character motivations. Dialogue was awkward. There were a lot of boring chapters spent on things like washing dishes and pickling vegetables and then it rushed through a kidnapping in just a few pages.

Some of it was ridiculous enough to be funny, but overall this did not work for me at all.

I really enjoyed The Bard's Bargain, not only because it’s a retelling of my favorite fairytale, but because it’s such a well-done retelling that truly captures that cozy, magical atmosphere. The character development felt natural, especially with the main character, who is intentionally unlikeable at first—it was a pleasure to watch her journey and growth. I only wish Tom had been more in focus as well, as we learn much more about Alexandra than about him.
The two main issues I had were with the pacing, which at times dragged and at other moments felt rushed, particularly toward the end. Additionally, the writing style leaned more YA than NA, which made the spicy scenes feel somewhat out of place. But that doesn't stop me looking foward to the second book.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book was such a delicious read, it feels just like a cozy fairy tale but has everything else you want too!

Incredible descriptive writing, complex characters with realistic flaws, character development, slooooooowwww burn, forced proximity, one bed trope, a little spice sprinkled in, secret identity, found family, court intrigue, abuction etc.

While I found the start of the book a little slow it lays the foundations of the story so well.

Alexandra is a petulant, self centred princess fueled by selfish ambition- unwittingly she sabotages herself and is forced to face the consequences of her actions... who arrive in the form of a handsome, witty and talented bard.
Tom/Tyram quickly lands himself on my list of dreamy book boyfriends. He's humble, benevolent and charming. The two are very much at odds but despite their unlikely pairing, their forced proximity allows a mutual respect and passionate love story to develop.

There are little twists and turns throughout that push them apart and pull them back together. The tension is unreal and I found myself mentally screaming "just kiss already!!!". The supporting characters feel like old friends and following the journey that the Bard's Bargain takes you on is an absolute pleasure.

An easy 4.5 stars for me 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Thankyou @netgalley and @vanessagreenauthor for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own and based entirely on my reading experience.⚘️

I thoroughly enjoyed <i> The Bard's Bargain </i>. It's fairytale-esque, whimsy, and a light and cozy read. The character growth was realistic and much appreciated (the FMC was a bit insufferable in the beginning) and the story itself is so magical. It's a great read for in between longer books.
It did read a bit YA but had some spicy scenes so that bit was bit... *off putting* but overall, a great read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review :))

3⭐
I must say I was a little disappointed with this book.

But let's get to my pros and cons:
PROS:
👍 slow burn -and I mean BURN - it was really great although sometimes it was just too convenient for my taste
👍 Tyram - in the beginning I thought I'd never like him but he definitely grows on you - thank god for dual POVs
👍 found family - if you like this trope this book for sure will be up your alley
👍 FMC development was one of the best in recent books I read - it gave me some Nesta from ACOTAR vibes sometimes

CONS
👎 pacing - it was really jumpy for me, some things were really dragging and then BoOM and then dragging again - it almost made me DNF it
👎 Alexandra - I just didn't like her. I loathed her in the beginning then she had some ups but still I just couldn't make myself to like her
👎 Ending was rushed and chopped and it made the plot flat

Overall it was a fun read but I definitely won't remember anything about it in a few weeks

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

The Bard’s Bargain is a retelling of King Thrushbeard, the Brothers Grimm fairytale, and the author kept the message of the fable close to the book’s heart while weaving a tender, heartfelt romance. The FMC, Alexandra, has been left alone with her grief since the death of her beloved father, and she wears her spoiled princess persona like armour to keep people at arm’s length. All she wants is to be named her brother’s regent and wear the crown, and she truly believes that she’s the best person for the job, despite her mother’s protestations. She rightfully points out that Alexandra is prideful, selfish, and knows nothing about the kingdom’s subjects - and worse, she doesn’t even care to try and empathise with them.

Alexandra is not a likeable character at the beginning of this novel, but she is a sympathetic one. The reader can tell that underneath her snooty exterior, she is desperately lonely and just wants someone to see and accept her for who she is, instead of her title. She lashes out at everyone around her, and as a last ditch attempt to give her daughter some perspective, the Queen makes a bargain with Tyram (a.ka. Tom the Bard), the newly-appointed Steward of their enemy kingdom.

During the following months that Tom and Alexandra spend together, we see her heart soften, and the once haughty, uncaring princess becomes kind, warm, helpful, and even happy. She makes friends with people in the village, who actually do appreciate her for who she is (even when she treats them rather disrespectfully at first) regardless of her being dressed in rags, without the jewels or pomp she’s used to presenting herself with. The romance between the two main characters was definitely a slow burn, with both of them questioning their feelings and trying to push them away - Tom because he’s lying to Alexandra, and Alexandra because living in a hut in poverty doesn’t align with her goals, and, anyway, she’ll be going back to her normal life at the end of the year. Despite their obstacles, there are lots of sweet moments where we see how their feelings progress and how deeply they come to understand, respect, and love each other. The spicy scenes sprinkled throughout were very romantic and realistically written, and I liked that they were fairly spaced out instead of having to skim through one every other page.

My one criticism is that I wish that Tom’s character was more developed. I finished the book feeling like I barely knew him any better than when I first started reading, and the only real details divulged were things that he had in common with Alexandra. Because her character was so well fleshed-out and her development was so apparent, Tom fell to the wayside slightly.

This book is perfect for those who love fantasy romance with complex relationships, couples who bring out the best in each other, and just a dusting of political intrigue. I’ve been thinking about this book since I finished it, and I’m looking forward to picking up the sequel! 4/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Indie/Self for access to this title. All opinions are my own

The first book in a New Adult/Fantasy series, The Bard's Bargain is about a selfish princess( Alexandra) and her royal enemy from a neighbouring kingdom ( Tyram aka Tom) who decides to teach her a thing about being a better person. She's a b****, and he's too good for her- but the sparks soon fly and the romance is spicy.

Now, I have read my share of book reviews where my fellow readers have confessed all sorts of reasons why they hold distaste for a book. I am not perfect. Mine is a bit funny but to remain honest and true in all my reviews, I have a confession.

I almost DNF'd this book in the first chapter because Alexandra's brother, the guy who was now King because their father died.... was named Bryan.


I know, I know, it's a petty reason. To be clear, I have nothing against men named Brian, Bryan, Brient, Byron, Bran, Brien, Brion, Briant etc. It just struck me as absolutely ridiculous to think of any kingdom existing screaming " Hail, King Bryan" and " What a glorious victory on the battlefield by our noble liege lord.. King Bryan."

Thankfully, Bryan decides to go on tour and most of the references to him are off the page. That leaves Alexandra and Tom to get it on. Something that they do often. But there's also a fairly good plot here with a cliffhanger of an epilogue... it's not quite an HEA yet.






thebardsbargain #NetGalley.
Publication Date 30/11/22
Goodreads Review 02/11/24

3.25⭐️

Vanessa Green’s The Bard’s Bargain is a retelling of the classic fairy tale King Thrushbeard, blending whimsy with moments of growth and self-discovery. The story centers on the pampered Princess Alexandra, who, after spurning many suitors, is punished by her mother to spend a year living among commoners with the bard Tom. This setup is the backdrop for the books main themes: privilege, personal growth, and the complexities of human relationships.

At first, I struggled to connect with the narrative, mostly because it was hard to connected with the spoiled FMC, but I’m glad I continued. The story initially felt like a frivolous fairy tale but it began to hold my interest the more I read. Alexandra’s character arc is particularly good, as she evolves from a selfish princess into a more compassionate and self-aware individual. The writing style is simple and accessible.

However, the book isn’t without its inconsistencies. While the whimsical tone draws readers in, the inclusion of explicit scenes feels out of place, clashing with the otherwise fairy tale-like atmosphere. It felt needlessly unnecessary and detracted from the story.

I also wished for deeper character development, particularly with the more morally rigid figures, like Alexandra’s mother. A more nuanced exploration of her motivations would have enriched the story. That said, the book shines in its portrayal of Alexandra’s journey. The emotional beats resonate, especially as she confronts her flaws and learns empathy through her interactions with the villagers.

Despite some critiques, The Bard’s Bargain remains a pleasant read, especially for fans of fairy tale retellings. While some elements did not resonate with me, the heart of the story—Alexandra’s journey towards empathy and understanding—makes me glad I read the book.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

DNF.

I really wanted to like this but it just.... it was hard to get into. The main female was kinda insufferable and it made me not want to read the book. I tried to force it but it just really wasn't happening.

There is a good balance of romance and spice and plot. A very cohesive story and very relatable characters. I liked the concept of this book. Its like a dnd dream came true. A few things here and there kinda lost me but overall good

I have never read anything like this. I doubt I ever will again. This was an incredible story of a woman who assumed she had everything but was suddenly confronted with the fact that anything could be taken away. Comfort, food, even royal status. Follow along as she realizes you can lose everything you hold dear and still have a good life and find love.

★★☆☆☆ 2.5 stars

This was difficult to rate. I liked the beginning, the premise and the writing. But after we get to the heart of the story I found myself really bored. In the middle it followed always the same pattern: Tom and Alexandra would get closer, she would do something that made her pass as a spoiled brat, Tom would get mad, and then she would be forgiven. Rinse and repeat.
When the ending started to get interesting, I wasn't invested anymore, neither in the characters' relationship or the plot.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

While I enjoyed this story a lot, thanks to Tom. As Alexandra is a mostly exhausting and spoiled brat- especially at the beginning. (And due to this, to me, even after her character growth she was tolerable for me at best.)
The plot and storyline was very enjoyable nonetheless. It was whimsical and felt like a classic fairytale with a modern twist. Tom contrary to his female counterpart, was wonderful. He was sweet and a character that one could sympathize with. I wish there had been more from his point of view.

While I would definitely read more by Vanessa Green. I would not revisit Alexandra and Tom’s story, thanks to how I feel about the princesses character.

As a note: I would rate this a New Adult novel. Not a young adult novel- to me it’s too explicit for that.

I would like to state this book was WAY outta my comfort zone, and i fear my rating shows that. this book felt sorta like red queen... but not really its just the closest book i can relate it too. it is one of its own kind, i am however a slow burn lover AND hater. it made this book feel soooo boring and extra long. with that said the writing style was nice and it aids the pace. i think this is a great intro into a series and cannot wait too see where the stories lead next 3.5/5 stars