How can I possibly describe how much this book means to me without pouring my heart out?

I loved Alexandra from the first moment, perhaps because she reminds me of myself and my own personal character development. The story begins with her as a young woman left alone and expected to shoulder great responsibilities. In her grief, she becomes cold, selfish, haughty, power-hungry, and prideful. These aspects of her personality are her sword and her shield against a world indifferent to her. No one cares about Alexandra the girl. They care only for what she represents: her crown. Is it any wonder she turns out the way she does? The only cure for it is a patient, guiding hand and a separation from her previous life.

So no, I suppose Alexandra isn't an easy character to like for a good portion of the novel. In fact, there are some in the book who simply don't have the patience to teach her what, to them, is common sense. Luckily she has Tom, who introduces her to a world in which everyone helps and looks out for each other, not because they have some ulterior motive, but because they genuinely care for each other. In time, Alexandra is humbled, the ice around her heart melted. It's a slow and satisfying progression. And absolutely realistic. From my own experience, I know it can take years to abandon the abundance of pride that has shielded you from many hurts and to stop holding other people at arm's length. On top of that, Alexandra has a tendency toward melodrama and a quick temper. But she isn't malicious. She doesn't revel in her early behavior. Most importantly, she tries to learn and better herself. I adore her so much! She's my latest comfort character and I absolutely cannot wait to have the physical copy of this book in my hands!

This story takes place in a medieval-inspired fantasy world. It's as brutal as it is idyllic. There are moments of shocking harshness, balanced by an equal number of cozy scenes. There seem to be some inconsistencies in the worldbuilding, but nothing that stands out overmuch or distracts from the story.

Tyram/Tom is a lovely character and the relationship felt authentic with how it developed. I only wish that Tyram's own character growth was given more emphasis. I mean, forcing a person to suffer poverty, cold, hunger, and humiliation just to mold them into a person you can stomach marrying is a really shitty thing to do. I feel like he could've benefitted from a proper realization of just how thoroughly his actions hurt Alexandra. This is one of those cases where the ends do not necessarily justify the means, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong; he's a fun and charming character and a perfect fit for Alexandra, and I really enjoyed reading from his POV. However, he's made out to be a paragon for morality when in reality, he's not exactly without his own blind spots. He got off a little too easily for that.

But wow, this is enemies-to-lovers done right! Even during their heated arguments, their chemistry is tangible. You'll be mentally chanting "kiss, kiss, kiss" the whole time they're fighting! It's easy to empathize with both of them, to feel what they feel alongside them, which prevents their many conflicts from tipping into ridiculousness.

"She wanted him to yell and scream so she could yell back. She liked noise; her flair for the dramatic was a strength that she liked to exercise, a way to feel in control. Willfully, he decided the best course was to not indulge her. He would not feed her fire."

"She opened her mouth to his kisses and they began to embrace with a fever that verged on violence."

"He lowered himself to his knees before her. Alexandra had an odd moment of clarity: here was the most powerful man in Norwen, her kingdom's greatest enemy, on his knees before her."

I'm a teeny bit disappointed in the pacing of the story toward the end. After a strolling pace throughout much of the book, it wrapped up a little too quickly, too neatly. I want to know more! My only hope is that the sequel will answer my remaining questions even though it will follow different protagonists.

The reviews are all over the place so far, so I think it'd be helpful to clarify a few things for anyone who might get confused by them. There are explicit scenes (very well done explicit scenes btw) so this is definitely Adult, not YA. The cover may also be a little misleading, gorgeous though it is. Alexandra, despite being a princess, is not soft, and this story is not dark. As I was reading, the story played out in my head bright and with vivid color, but I admit that perhaps that comes down to personal interpretation. Also, I would not categorize this as historical fiction or historical fantasy. There are kingdoms and a feudal system, but the world and events are entirely fantastical. This is a retelling of the fairytale, King Thrushbeard.

Tropes:
- hidden identity
- disguised royals
- fake marriage
- betrayal, my beloved
- slowburn
- forced proximity
- riches to rags
- only one bed
- he falls first
- political scheming

First off, how stunning is the cover?
This book is a retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, something I have never read before.
This story was something I don’t typically read but I quite enjoyed it.
It is a story about love and compassion and how we, perceive and and act towards it.
I did not give it more stars just because I dislike politics in books. However, the smut scences were nice, and the overall story is worth reading.

Thank you, Netgalley, for providing me with an eARC copy of this book.

I loved how engrossing the writing style was and the romance between the two main characters. It was very atmospheric.

An absolute delight. I appreciate that Alexandra felt so realistic. I'm often worried in stories like this that the change feels unnatural, but Vanessa Green did a great job showing Alexandra's growth. I also really appreciated the slow burn of their feelings, while keeping the spice hot. Their fighting reflected their emotions and it was so fun to read. I am excited to dig more into this world. There are a couple other characters that I want the follow up on. Hopefully later books in the series will have that!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the character growth in this one! Alexandra was tough to like at first, but honestly, you can't blame her for acting like a privileged princess. Tom was likable as the main guy, but I kind of wish we saw him struggle a bit more, especially since he’s young too. Their relationship build-up was great, and while I expected more fantasy elements, it was just a made-up world without much magic. The romance definitely had some steamy moments, but it didn’t hit me emotionally as much as other romances have. Also, some parts of the book dragged a bit, and I felt it could have been shorter, but Alexandra’s journey kept me hooked. I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers and hidden identities. Although I would have preferred more laughable moments, overall, it’s a solid, well-paced read that romance fans will enjoy!

After finishing the epilogue I’m waiting on book 2! I rather enjoyed the characters and world building although I felt they could be more fleshed out. I thought the pacing was good and enjoyed the way more serious topics were tackled. Was a bit spicy for a YA but fine as NA.

First of all, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc! I appreciate the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review!

Now, this book had a lot of good things going, and a lot that I didn’t like. I had no clue that it contained smutty scenes before reading this- which is entirely my fault for going in blind. As someone who isn’t fond of those scenes, these particular parts of the book wrinkled my nose.

Princess Alexandra is a spoiled brat, and she remains this way for about 60% of the book. The author pulled this off well, considering we’re supposed to be annoyed by the thoughts swirling in her head. Her character development is quite good, going from someone who wouldn’t look twice at a poor person, to living among and supporting them.

The politics in this world were very well written, and I feel like I will be reading the second book. After all, if a war is brewing, I have to know who wins, right?

I tried picking up this book numerous times but somehow I can't get into it. The premise is quite promising, and so are the reviews, so I think I'm the problem. Hopefully, I can return to this book some other time.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read The Bard's Bargain! I heavily enjoyed this read and it was a great time the whole time! The romance grew in a slow burn but did not feel drawn out for the sake of creating plot. I am a romantasy girl until the day I die so this was a perfect, cozy read while we get into the fall season!

*The Bard's Bargain* by Vanessa Green is a delightful retelling of the classic fairy tale "King Thrushbeard," blending adventure, romance, and character growth. The novel centers around Princess Alexandra, a spoiled and self-centered royal who is punished for her arrogance when her mother forces her into poverty. She must live as a commoner with a humble bard named Tom. Throughout the story, Alexandra learns to adapt to her new circumstances, developing empathy and maturity as she navigates the hardships of life outside the palace.

If you're a fan of fairy tale retellings with strong character growth and a touch of romance, *The Bard's Bargain* offers a charming and enjoyable read.

I am not familiar with the tale that this book is based on. With that being said, I really enjoyed this book! I think that the pacing was great, and the story flowed really well. Green built a beautiful world and well-rounded, dynamic main characters- I felt invested in the growth of the main character. I would have hoped for more growth from the male main character. There was depth to the side characters, and I felt they were important to the journey. I am also interested in their own stories.

One major strength to this book was the dialogue, I am often turned off by conversations between main characters in romance books, but I feel like there were difficult, wholesome, meaningful conversations in this book. Additionally, I feel like the characters did not say anything uncomfortable or “cringey” during the more intimate scenes- that is always a huge bonus.

I can see that there will be a series built around this book’s world, and I am really looking forward to reading more!

3.5 rounded down to 3

Alexandra has lived a comfortable life as a princess. Thinking she can always get her way, she rejects all of her suitors at her debut ball. Desperate for a solution to both her headstrong daughter and the war threatening her country, Alexandra's mother orders her to live as a commoner for a year with a humble bard. Only, unbeknownst to the princess, the bard is the Steward of the neighboring kingdom.

Read if you like:
-Arranged/Forced Marriage
-Royals in Disguise
-Slow Burn

I enjoyed this book a lot, but I also kept thinking of ways it could have been better. Not a bad book, just one that didn't leave me feral. If you like quieter fantasy books without epic quests and devastating battles, this is the book for you.

Everything I want in a retelling, elements of the original, lots of creative changes, and lots of spice.

This story is very character focused with some great character development, particularly for the main character Alexandra.
The pacing of the romance was somewhat slowburn but really well done and I loved that it was dual POV.
I enjoyed this overall but it was very slow.

“The Bard’s Bargain,” by Vanessa Green

I absolutely adored this book! in order for the princess to become what she wants and not be married off she has to pretend to be married to a lowly bard, she does not know that the lowly bard is actually the king of a neighboring kingdom. This was a coming-of-age and cozy story of a princess learning to have understanding and sympathy for others who have been born with less. The character growth with Alexandra was well done and the building of the relationship between her and Tom was fun. I will definitely be reading more books by Vanessa Green in the future, the pacing and characters were so good. 5 out of 5 stars.

-Hidden Identity
-Forced Proximity
-Spoiled Princess

Thank you for the free copy, Netgalley.

This book was a fast-paced, enjoyable read that I devoured in one sitting. The love story felt natural and well-developed, and the characters were both well-rounded and relatable. While their struggles were compelling, I think more emphasis on those challenges would have added depth.

The title initially drew me in—who doesn't love a good bard? Tom, in particular, was witty and charming, quickly becoming a favorite. Alexandra, though insufferable at first, experiences significant character growth. By the end, you can’t help but empathize with her as she evolves throughout the story.

If you're looking for a fun, engaging read with strong character development, themes of war, community resilience, poverty, and a delightful mix of enemies-to-lovers, marriage of convenience, only 1 bed and betrayal, I highly recommend this book!

First and foremost, this book was - in a way- out of my comfort zone, so I don’t know if this review will do it justice or will make you want to never see this book ever again.

We shall see.

Alexandra is the crown princess of Lenwen, she is full of herself, mean, her reactions are over the top (but hilarious), she is a drama queen, passionate of the harp and is grieving.

Her grief turned her into an obnoxious person with absolutely no regard for the people around her.

At the beginning, she is made to be a character that you are supposed to dislike. But I felt for her. I really really did.

And then something magical happened : character development.

I love a good character growth and it was very well done.

Tyram is the steward of Norwen, he’s a cad and deceitful. I am not going to say more than that to avoid any kind of spoiler.

But just know, I loved him even though he sometimes annoyed me.

Both of their kingdoms are at war with each other and the price for peace is simple. Marriage.

For the romance…
Even though they are from kingdoms that are enemies. This is not an enemy to lover kind of book. Be warned.
If I had to choose a trope for it, it would be slow burn. Every thing that happened romantically between them happened to the perfect time. Not too soon, not too late in the progression of the story. It was, in my opinion, one of the best slowburn I have ever read.

You can see the care that is beginning to grow between them from both of their perspectives (dual pov’s) and I really appreciated that.

This book is historical fiction, and because it’s been soooo long since I’ve read one of those, I don’t really know how accurate it was in regard to the time period but I feel like the author did a pretty decent job.

The pace was extremely slow and it felt like a good portion of the book was a long introduction to it.

Thank god the writing style was very nice and makes it up for the pace.
The characters, the plot twists (it was full of surprises), the descriptions, the inner monologues,… sublime.

The end was a bit rushed for me, and it did not quite respected the personality of Alexandra. This is the only negative thing I have to say. I wouldn’t have minded if the book was a few pages long.

I really hope that we are getting a second one, I need more.

3.5/5 stars

- Dual POV
- King Thrushbeard retelling
- Hidden identity
- Only one bed
- He falls first
- Slow burn

I have to admit that it took me a little bit to get into this story. I don't know if it was the story itself, or that the eARC copy I received was formatted in a way I wasn't used to. My AuDGD brain struggled with text that isn't formatted in the standard way, so I am going to commit to reading this story again in paperback format because I do think it is well worth a re-read.

As a childhood fan of Grimm's Fairytales, I am familiar with source material, King Thrushbeard (sometimes referred to as The Haughty Princess). I love retellings and felt that The Bard's Bargain did an excellent job of balancing the source material with a new story.

The pacing did not feel fast for me, however the story itself held the kind of comfortable vibe one would expect out of a fairytale. The dual POVS was an asset to the story, which isn't always the case. But here, it was done very well. There were times in which the writing felt a little out of step and more on the side of YA, and given that this is an adult story that contains spice I was hoping it wouldn't feel that way. However, I must note that this might be more of a personal preference for style and not at all a reflection of writer skill.

Alexandra is bratty, which I expected, but what I did not expect was how her growth and chemistry with Tom coalesced into a romance that was truly very warm and fuzzy.

All in all, I will be reading the next book in this series, The Iron Dagger, and purchasing a copy of The Bard's Bargain for my personal library (that gorgeous cover is going to look lovely on my shelves). A huge thank you to Vanessa Green and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this story and share my thoughts with all of you.

I have to start with the fact that I loveeee the cover and the title. Really great job there.

But a few words in the author uses the phrase ‘a sense of unrealness’ and while unreal might be a word unreallness is not. Perhaps the word surreal would work better here but I digress.

And honestly, I didn’t feel like it got any better and I dnf’d around 30% in. The tenses were all over the place, the dialogue was weirdly phrased and the narrative repetitive.

I think the ideas are all there, so I would maybe take this one back to the drawing board and rework it. Maybe get a new editor.

Wow just wow. I’m not sure what genre this is as it’s listed as sci-fi fantasy romance on NetGalley but on StoryGraph it says historical romance. All I know is I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this read. It was adventurous, poignant, thought provoking and everything you would hope for in a book about a selfish girl becoming a woman. The romance was beautiful I wish the ending were a little more eventful but I have no critiques. It was a beautiful story and I loved every minute of it. The epilogue had me at the edge of my seat! Definitely continuing the series!