As I try to write a review about a month after finishing this book, I find myself unable to recall anything about it. The only things I remember are that 1. the heroine was insufferable at the beginning, and 2. I had fun and enjoyed the read. I do love me some old-tale retelling, and this was no exception. Very wholesome and romantic!

I really enjoyed this book, I had no idea what I was getting into when I started it but thew cover was beautiful and drew me in. I really enjoyed that this was a retelling of a lesser known tale. This book combines historic elements, fantasy and romance. The role that magic is mixed with music was really fun, and the world building really drew me in. This book deals with the realities of growing up and the consequences you must face to the choices we make. Overall a very enjoyable read.

Vanessa Green's "The Bard's Bargain" weaves a captivating tale that seamlessly blends elements of fantasy, romance, and intrigue. Set in a richly imagined medieval world where magic and music hold tangible power, the story follows the journey of Elara, a talented bard seeking to restore her family's honor and save her kingdom from a looming threat.

From the outset, Green paints a vivid picture of a society where bards are not just entertainers but wielders of mystical abilities that can sway hearts and minds. Elara, with her exceptional musical prowess and determination, becomes embroiled in a dangerous game of politics and power. As she navigates courtly intrigue and uncovers long-hidden secrets, Elara must confront difficult choices that challenge her beliefs and allegiances.

The strength of "The Bard's Bargain" lies in Green's skillful world-building and character development. Each character, from the enigmatic prince to the cunning advisor, feels multi-dimensional and integral to the story's progression. Elara herself is a compelling protagonist, driven by her love for music and her desire to protect those she cares about.

The narrative unfolds at a steady pace, balancing moments of tension with quieter, introspective scenes that deepen the reader's understanding of the characters' motivations and struggles. Green's prose is elegant yet accessible, making it easy to immerse oneself in the story's twists and turns.

Moreover, the novel explores themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the power of art in a way that feels both timeless and relevant. As Elara confronts the consequences of her choices, readers are invited to ponder the true cost of ambition and the nature of true heroism.

Overall, "The Bard's Bargain" is a delightful read for fans of fantasy and romantic intrigue alike. Vanessa Green's debut novel showcases her talent for storytelling and leaves readers eagerly anticipating her next literary offering.

The Bard’s Bargain is a retelling of Thrushbeard.
After spurning all her suitors, the queen sends our FMC to live with the lowliest commoner for one year. I loved the way the author used my favorite enemies to lovers and only one bed tropes. It gave our characters plenty of opportunity for entertaining banter and building tension between them. My only complaint is that the pacing was uneven, but other than that it’s worth reading of you enjoy retellings (or romantic fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn’t influence my review. Tbh this was an DNF for me

"The Bard's Bargain" by Vanessa Green is a captivating novel that blends historical charm with intricate character development. Set in a picturesque medieval town, the story follows a talented bard who strikes an unusual deal to save his loved ones. Green's ability to weave rich historical details with engaging, multi-dimensional characters makes this a compelling read. The dynamic between the bard and other characters, filled with tension and deep history, echoes themes you appreciate, such as in Lauren Asher's works. This novel's enchanting setting and complex relationships are sure to resonate with your literary preferences.

Honestly, went in blind and I guess that helps that this wasnt my cup of tea but I can see how it would be for others. This is a retelling of Grimms King Thrushbeard where a prideful spoiled princess is forced to live under the guise of the poor in order to become Queen....and that's just about what sold me on not liking it. I just dont find that kind of plotline entertaining especially in the climate of our world and that is all I am saying on that point.
The literary reasons why it is not my cup is the pacing, the overall character arc and the discrepancy between reading like a YA but is actually New Adult.
So the breakdown:
The pacing was very wishy washy, one moment it is completely dragging and I pulling at myself to carry on, the next I am so beyond confused on how we got to this point. This also leads into the fact that the book reads kind of like a YA Fantasy but less on the fantasy and then throw in some spice which felt like it wasn't necessary to show the connection if the book reads like a YA. It had little adult tones and then bam spice which kind of threw me a bit. The last reason of our main girl...this ties more into the plotline but even by the end of where we are supposed to be seeing growth it feels very "at face value" and does not feel sincere that she learned anything.

I have to admit, I went into this book blind. All I knew was that it was romance and the cover art was stunning.
But you know it's going to be a good book when the first line pulls you in.
Alexandra is being forced to marry their kingdom's enemy. However, the enemy- Tyram, isn't very fond of Alexandra.
When Alexandra's mother, the Queen, takes things into her own hands, she has Tyram disguise himself as a commoner, and forces Alexandra to live with him for a year. The Queen hopes that this will teach her spoiled daughter to become a better person, while also allowing Tyram to decide if he could tolerate Alexandra enough to marry her.
This story has everything from banter, secret identities, one bed, and the best- an enemy to lovers trope. It's a light, easy read that I think many readers will enjoy.
Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. Above is my honest review.

This is a lovely, soft book about the difficulties of growing up, letting go of your preconceived notions, of what you thought your life would look like/where you wanted it to go, and embracing the life you were meant to have. I often enjoy fairytale retellings, and this re-telling of King Thrushbeard honored the original nicely. The romance between Alexandra and Tom was sweet, but the explicit nature of the spicy scenes felt out of place with the tone of the rest of the book. Also, due to how short the actual book was, it felt like the character arcs were a bit rushed - however, reading the epilogue, it seems like it left the door open for a sequel so there may be more space for those character arcs to be fleshed out in book 2.

Fairly straightforward retelling, but the writing and characters fell flat for me. I didnt know it was a retelling at first, but a friend clued me in. Princess learns to be a better person through a trial year of comparable poverty.

I wanted so much to like our main character, but even with her overall growth arc I found her unintetesting for most of the book. The first 5th of the book dragged on and I really just wanted more to happen or some....excitement since the characters didn't endear themselves to me. The writing is fine, but I wasn't drawn in so the book was hard to get through.

Loved! Immediately went and downloaded the ebook on kindle so I can reread! I can’t wait for book 2!

"The Bard's Bargain" by Vanessa Green is an enchanting and gritty retelling of King Thrushbeard that had me hooked from the very first page. Princess Alexandra's journey from spoiled royalty to humble commoner is a masterfully woven tale of growth, hardship, and unexpected romance. Green's portrayal of Alexandra is both raw and relatable, making her transformation genuinely compelling. The dynamic between Alexandra and the charming bard, Tom, is electric, filled with humor, tension, and undeniable chemistry. The explicit scenes and strong language add a modern, edgy twist to this classic tale, making it a captivating read for adult audiences. What truly sets this book apart is its unflinching look at the stark realities of peasant life, which Alexandra must navigate to earn her redemption. The stakes are high, not just for Alexandra's personal growth, but for the fate of two kingdoms on the brink of war. Vanessa Green's storytelling is vivid and immersive, with rich descriptions and complex characters that bring the medieval setting to life. "The Bard's Bargain" is a beautifully crafted story of love, sacrifice, and the true meaning of nobility. Highly recommended for fans of fairy tale retellings with a mature twist!

3.5*
this was quite an enjoyable read; however i feel like there was a certain discrepancy with the tone and the actual content. it read like a sort of fairy tale-esque YA novel, but it is actually new adult, meaning it had sexually explicit scenes that did not match the rest of the story (which was pretty silly as well as kinda whimsical, even though it dealt with more serious topics). i would have even preferred it, if it were young adult, and i do not say that often.

the writing was simple and easy to follow and the world was simple but entirely compelling. the book reminded me of a few young adult novels i have read very many years ago but in a good way, because the story felt familiar and comforting. i wish there was a bit more character development within the story, so i wouldn't have minded at least 50 or 100 more pages. however, i am very interested in picking up the sequel (the epilogue really sets it up nicely) and i would definitely read more from this author! all and all, if you are craving a fantasy romance and you like the bridge kingdom series, i would recommend this for a quick and fun read. big thank you to net-galley and the author for this eARC.

Thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy-adjacent story. It has all the makings of a romantasy without the magic, which I found I didn't mind at all. This was the first book I've read where the reader is in on the con against the FMC while she is oblivious, as opposed to most where the reader finds out she's been tricked along with her. This was a nice refreshing take on the enemies to lovers trope. I found the character development to be really well done- you're meant to hate the FMC at first, but she definitely grows on you. The beginnings of the romance felt slightly rushed, but the rest of the relationship felt like a natural progression.

Note that this is the first in a series, and the story definitely has more to tell. I do think this would have been a really good standalone, but am interested in where the next installment will go.

The Bard's Bargain is a delightful read that seamlessly blends adventure, romance, and personal growth. Vanessa Green has crafted a story that is sure to enchant readers and leave them eagerly awaiting her next work.

This book is apparently a retelling of a fairytale, but as I was not familiar with the story it was new to me. It follows Alexandra on her journey from disgraced princess through her year of forced self reflection via poverty and a pretend marriage with a bard from a rival country—Tom. Tensions rise surprisingly quickly between the two—much quicker than Alexandra actually starts to do any reflecting.

That’s actually one of my criticisms of this book. The MFC and MMC fall together quite quickly. In general, there are pacing issues in this book. Places seem to drag and others seem rushed. I thought this was supposed to be a romantasy book, but there isn’t much fantasy at all. Honestly, my biggest critique is probably just the entire premise of the book? The fact that her mother was punishing her for being the way that SHE raised her to be?

Alexandra really saved this book in the end because once things started moving between the her and Tom, once the emotional arc started to happen, she really started to shine. Her interactions with the villagers and the adventures are the best parts of this book. They weren’t enough to make me truly enjoy it through the pacing issues though. Maybe if there had been some more action? More fantasy elements?

first of all, the cover art is gorgeous! really eye-catching and what i would call "romantic gloom"

as for my review, this book had me enthralled and at no point did i feel bored. the chemistry between both characters was natural and the storyline was paced well with just enough give. 400 pages meant there was a perfect amount of time for our main character alexandra to grow, learn and change. my problems with the book include two things which i feel are pretty major. the first one being the conclusion, it felt rushed and as if something was still missing. the second one is the dialogue which at times seemed unnatural and did make me stop and question for awhile. nonetheless i really did enjoy the bard's bargain and it felt very classic and standard.

thank you netgalley and vanessa green for approving and providing me with an ARC!

eu amo surpresas agradáveis literárias, eu amei esse livro de tantas formas que me arrancou lágrimas de felicidade ao ver esse final maravilhoso

esse livro merece mais destaque doq o coitado recebeu ate agora

maravilhoso, imagina um princesinha paty que a mae quer dar uma licao, ai manda ela pros cafundo da parafuseta pra ficar brincando de casinha com um pobretão. porem o pobretao é ninguém mais ninguém menos que o lider da nação inimiga e a sua mae acredita que um casamento arranjado seria uma boa razão pra o fim da guerra.

ai ai ai ameeei a escrita da autora é super leve, tu vai lendo e quando tu ve puff terminou! aff amei! ja estou saudosa da ali e do tom 🫶🏾

review sincera em troca de uma copia ofertada pelo netgalley

The story was average, it felt a bit too slow for me and I just didn't find myself all that invested. However I did like the historical aspect and the retelling elements. The spice was predictable but some readers who enjoy fairytales and historical romances with a bit of spice would enjoy this.

The Bard's Bargain was an overall enjoyable reading experience. It followed a spoiled princess experiencing life from the perspective of a commoner to gain perspective and humility as she an her enemy, disguised as a bard, live a simple life rather than their political ones. The pacing was nice in terms of character growth being nonlinear and imperfect while getting to where it needed to be at the end of the novel. The story wasn't terribly long meaning that our spoiled princess, Alexandra, had to grow quickly. This being said, she would still fall back into old habits from time to time as one would expect which I appreciated as it made her more human.

The only problem I had while reading this was how quickly the characters managed to go from hating and finding fault in each other to being overcome by their attraction. While they acknowledged that this attraction started off as a physical attraction only, the speed at which it happened felt rushed to me and I wish the story had been longer to allow for a more natural attraction to build between them.

Overall, if you like romantasy, or have interest in a retelling of King Thrushbeard, this was a good read and I would recommend giving it a try.