The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains

by Reena McCarty

'Unforgettable and utterly addictive'
Lyra Selene, author of A Feather so Black

Discover a world of enchanted contracts, faerie intrigue and French toast, in this delightful debut packed full of wit, charm, adventure and heart, with a dash of magical bureaucracy and a sprinkling of romance.

When Poppy Hill was a child, she was stolen from her family's Montana homestead and taken 'Otherside' to the land of the fae, where she spent more than a century as a cook in the Wild King's castle. Now back in the human world, she works for a company that brokers faerie bargains, checking for loopholes in their contracts.

But when a bargain that Poppy is negotiating goes disastrously wrong, she must return to the world she grew up in to try to rectify her mistake, facing danger, intrigue and a pesky ex-boyfriend along the way.

' As irresistible as a faerie bargain, this book is riveting, magical and wonderful! I absolutely adored it!' Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

'The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains snatches you away into a world of enchanted contracts, faerie intrigue and French toast that you'll never want to come back from'
Molly O'Neill, author of Greenteeth

'A charming and warm-hearted tale of family and friendship with a plot as twisty as a faerie bargain'
M. Stevenson, author of Behooved

'The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains is a brilliant, tongue-in-cheek weaving of folklore and the hell of modern bureaucracy, combined with a twisty adventure and a dash of romance . . . A book that I was reluctant to close at the end. McCarty is a talent!'
Brigitte Knightley, author of The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy

Genres: Fantasy, Fae, Romance, Cozy Fantasy, Adult, Magic, Fiction

416 pages, Paperback

Expected publication April 7, 2026

Reviews

[Rina | Worldsbetweenpages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit for the arc!

- faerie bargains company
- magical bureaucracy
- forced proximity
- courtly intrigues
- second-chance romance?

What I liked:
- The idea of connecting the faerie world with the real world through a corporate company was brilliant! It felt like such a modern and realistic concept to turn bargaining with faeries into a business. You want to become a successful movie star? Trade your sense of smell or your labor for a few years. The brokers make sure the bargain is safe from loopholes.
- The insights into the faeries’ lives, how they navigate daily tasks and work out bargains among each other. I also found the sneak peeks into how the different lords build their demesnes, from ice-age-like patches to tropical ones, so interesting!

What I didn’t like:
- Personally, I found the romance or the lack thereof a bit disappointing. All the key elements were there: surprising allies, forced proximity, a meddling ex-boyfriend… but sadly, it fizzled out a bit toward the end. I can easily see that there will be another book coming and that this one was only the build-up, though!
- I sometimes felt like the protagonist acted too cool and level-headed in dire situations or maybe I just couldn’t quite emotionally attach to her. I wished for a bit more tension and angst.

Writing style: 4/5
Characters: 4,5/5
Story & Plot: 4/5
Vibes: 4,5/5

Will I buy the physical copy: yes!

[Nils | nilsreviewsit · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

“Crickets chirped in the tall grass, and the wind blew soft against my skin, smelling like sage and soil. After three years in the human world the stars hardly looked real - the Wild Lands did have places where light pollution dimmed the sky, but out here it was wide and sparkling and unobstructed by buildings or trees. As tired and scared and frustrated as I was, even after a day that might ruin my life, I still couldn't help but be grateful for it all.”

When Poppy Hill was a child she was kidnapped by the Fae and taken to their realm, the Otherside. Poppy spent a century as a cook in the palace of the Wild Lands where she found friendship and love. Then as an adult she’s suddenly thrown back into the human world of Reality where she has to adjust to a modern world that progressed in her absence. Carter Lane provides a bridge, a place where the Returned can be observed and slowly reintegrated into the world and where deals can be made between humans and Fae. This is where Poppy has worked for the last few years as a negotiator of Faerie bargains, drawing up contracts and looking for loopholes. Yet when a bargain goes wrong and ends with an important figure being taken to the Otherside, Poppy must fix her mistake, return to the world she once lived in, and go on a rescue mission.

The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains by Reena McCarty embarks you on a fun journey with a whip-smart protagonist and enters you into a world full of devious and tricksy Fae.

Our Poppy intrigued me from the very first chapter because her intentions and her loyalties were very ambiguous. Poppy is presented as a rather conflicted character who never felt like she completely fitted in either the human world of Reality or the Otherside. When she’s in the human realm she misses and longs for the familiarity of the Otherside, but then when she eventually goes back and faces the hardship and multiple dangers of the Fae realm, she misses the modern comforts and safety of her apartment. Throughout the narrative Poppy is always trying to find her place and purpose, and in order to do that, McCarty pushes Poppy to confront her childhood. Growing up in the Fae realm Poppy shared a closeness with her Fae friend, Sloan, it was a friendship that gave her love, warmth and companionship when she was vulnerable in an alien world. Yet with Poppy’s return to the Otherside in her adulthood, she realises that perhaps everything was not quite as it seemed. Their relationship was crafted in an emotional, often painful way, showing the good but also the toxic. It works to help Poppy mature, to show us that she’s intelligent, that she’s capable of facing hard truths and finally accept that no matter how nostalgic she feels, looking at your past through rose tinted glasses isn't the right way to grow. I truly appreciated this even when my heart felt Poppy’s loss.

The romance in this book was not heavy handed at all and was so well played out. Poppy not only comes face to face with her ex boyfriend Elan but she also has to deal with Theron, a Hunter. Here is where McCarty skirts around the borders of a love triangle but doesn’t fully commit. I was glad to discover that Poppy’s feelings are actually explored in more complex ways, once again demonstrating excellent character growth. Poppy doesn’t instantly forgive Elan, who hasn’t been in her life for several years since she left the Otherside. Yes she still loves him, still longs to be with him, but she also learns not to completely trust him and realises the things she’d have to sacrifice in order to be with him. I agreed with Poppy’s newfound cautiousness around Elan, but on the other hand, I loved Elan so much! I really enjoyed whenever his character appeared because his devious manner, his naughty dialogue and his quite comedic nature of course made me drawn to him. Theron, on the other hand, is kinder, more loyal and has more noble traits, which often made even Poppy feel guilty for some of her actions. There isn’t the usual instant love between them but there’s a friendship and definitely some growing feelings. However, McCarty doesn’t allow these men to overshadow Poppy’s personal journey and allows our protagonist to ultimately choose what’s best for her and her healing.

“There are Othersiders so beautiful it hurts to look at them, and there are those with faces that could peel paint. Elan fell somewhere in between. He had a wide forehead and narrow chin, thin lips and eyes set too far back in his head. His smile could be dazzling, but not if you didn't already love him.
But his voice could seduce a saint.”

I would not necessarily class this book in the cosy genre as we spend much time in the Otherside, a place full of trickery and peril, particularly for humans. I really loved McCarty’s worldbuilding here as the Otherside may be full of random magic, devious fae and different fae Courts, all of which I have encountered in many other fae fantasy books, but the realm of the fae would be devoid of creativity were it not for humans causing the fae world to diminish, which I found an exciting addition. I really enjoyed the way this linked the Otherside to the human realm of Reality as it created a dependency and a solid reason why the fae had a long history of kidnapping human children such as Poppy, other than just out of being malicious. Then McCarty adds more layers with the history between the Fae Courts, their wars with the Reality realm and the forming of the Grand Bargain, which would create a more protective and fairer way for humans to spend time in the Otherside as they went willingly in exchange for a special gift or favour. However the effect of this ultimately gave more power to the King of the Wild Lands and we all know how that goes. All these conflicts and political intrigues gently simmer away in the background until it becomes a bigger plot point revolving around Poppy who gets caught in the middle and her journey to finding her way out of the mess was absolutely hooking.

The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains is a gripping, multifaceted tale, full of tricks, traps and shenanigans. Poppy is just an irresistible character to root for every step of the way.

“Some folks might call it giving up, but that never felt quite right. It was more like knowing when to stop kneading and wait for the dough to rise. Maybe later I'd be able to choose a direction. I might make rolls, or loaves, or spread the dough with cinnamon and sugar, or dried fruits or herbs or a dozen other things. Maybe I made a mistake somewhere earlier and the dough wouldn't rise at all. No way to know, nothing to do but wait. It might even look like being brave.”

ARC provided by Nazia at Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review—thank you for the copy! All quotes used are taken from an early ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains is out 7th April 2026

[Mai ༊*·˚]

This is supposed to have Holly Black and Olivia Atwater vibes, so I’m all in🪽



__________________

Thank you to Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[jenny reads a lot]

This sounds adorable! Second chance romance. Faerie bargains and a magical bureaucracy! Yes please

[h i n d]

magical bureaucracy say no more

[Me, My Shelf, & I]

Hmm. I think that the cheeky title and cozy/romantasy cover are slightly out of alignment with the contents of this book, but I'm also not 100% sure where I'd shelf it either. 3/5

This is a story about a woman who was traumatized by being kidnapped and forced to cook in Faerie for 100 years and now is back in the human world, out of time and with everyone she ever knew dead. She never really learned human culture or how to have real friendships, all she knows is how to cook. And while there are some romantic feelings you can read into during the story, there's nothing on page or really explored in the text.

I guess, for me, this was just a very simple story in a >400 pg package when it could've been a novella. And though the majority of the time is spent in the otherlands, I didn't get a real sense of the magic of the place-- the seasons, the flora, the fauna, the clothing, the technology, the transportation, the culture, anything. Mostly I feel like it was described as 1. a lot of bland food (because they need humans to be creative) and 2. having to bargain as a means to get around.

So apart from the bargains and faeries' inability to lie, this could've been a wholly non-Fantasy story and barely have changed. If she had loved cooking and we really get a sense of the flavours and passion for food I would definitely say it was cozy, but she didn't love cooking. She was a child slave who was forced to cook under traumatic conditions for 100 years and it never seems like something she finds joy in, just something she's competent at and quick to critique anything that doesn't meet her threshold.

Overall I think I got to know Poppy quite well, and I don't mind the ending, but not sure the audience I'd recommend this for.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Molly Haniszewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is simply not enough time or space for me to say everything I loved about this book. This had Holly Black-level Fae, T Kingfisher-level plotting, and Naomi Novik-level wit. It was as if Heather Fawcett and Holly Black had a book baby with the perfect blend of contemporary and high fantasy. But that still doesn't cover it! I just don't know how to communicate what a breath of fresh air this book is. I have been so overloaded with repetitive tropes and predictable plots this year. This book threw it all out the window.

We have a main character who was stolen by the Fae as a child, then returned to our world over a century later. Poppy lived in frontier-era Montana and now has to learn how to use a computer and take classes to understand pop culture. Just when she's starting to find her footing in modern times, disaster strikes and she has to dive back into the Otherside to try and fix a Faerie bargain gone wrong.

One of the things I loved most was how romance was handled. Poppy reconnects with her former boyfriend, but she finds she can't simply pick up where they left off. A Hunter takes her prisoner and there's certainly something there, but the situation is complicated. It dances around becoming a love triangle without falling into overused storylines--and that made me so happy.

And the ending. THE ENDING. I really don't want to give anything away, but it's built up so well. So many little bits of excellent foreshadowing, and I was still completely blindsided. I love it and I want more.

[Hayley Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eek! I loved this! Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing me with an ARC.

A sharp, chaotic fae fantasy about bargains, belonging, and what happens when you can’t fully belong to either world.

Poppy is a changeling who grew up in the Fae Realm and is returned to the human world after 100 years. Now living among humans again, she works for a company that negotiates bargains between humans and the fae, using her firsthand knowledge of the Otherside to help avoid dangerous loopholes. But when a bargain goes disastrously wrong, Poppy is forced to return to the Otherside to fix her mistake — and face the world, and people, she left behind.

At first, I struggled slightly to visualise the world, and I would have loved a bit more depth in the worldbuilding so I could fully see what the author envisioned. That said, once I settled into the story, I found myself completely absorbed. I love when fae are truly fae — strange, ethereal, unsettling, and distinctly not human — and this book absolutely delivers on that front.

One of my favourite aspects was the constant sense of uncertainty. I never felt entirely sure who to trust or where the story was heading, which kept me eagerly turning the pages. The pacing dipped a little in the middle, and the ending felt slightly rushed, but I’m really hoping this means there’s more to come because I need answers — and I definitely need more Theron.

If you love cozy fantasy with a sharp edge, tricky fae, magical bureaucracy, and political intrigue, this is well worth picking up. Mischievous, dangerous fae are some of my favourite to read about, and this one hit the spot for me.

[Krissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgally and Orbit Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review

Poppy Hill was a child when she was taken from her home into the land of the fae in the late 1800’s. 3 years ago she was returned to the human world and has been working at a company that is the intermediary and brokers bargain between willing humans and the fae.

Her director comes to her to personally oversee a bargain on her own and off the books and it goes wrong. She decides she needs to go into the faerie world to get the human back safely and discovers she has entered into the middle of a very complex political situation that she gets herself in the middle of.

I honestly could not put this book down, I had such a wonderful time reading this. It had high stakes, political intrigue, the magic system was cool, and the plot was very fast paced. Poppy was such a compelling main character and I enjoyed her journey to set discovery. Some of the secondary characters felt a bit one dimensional and need to have more that a single personality trait but otherwise this was a really great book.

[Kelsea Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing book! First I want to thank Orbit and NetGalley for the gifted eARC

This story was refreshing and unique. I loved taking some of the more “traditional” faerie lore and reimagining it in a world where bargains are overseen as legal agreements. I was hooked from the beginning. I wasn’t sure what to expect when Poppy went to the Otherside - but we got a story full of court intrigue, betrayal, and a journey of self discovery.

The complicated relationships and Poppy going back to the one place she thought she should be, only to realize she may have outgrown it, made for a very compelling story. I was horrified for her as we heard more details of how those she was so close had treated her before she was originally returned. The book is written in a way that you’ll be guessing the whole time who to trust. The conclusion is somewhat open ended - so you’re left to imagine what comes next.

I would highly recommend this book!

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written book filled with characters to love. The story is set in an environment that comes to life through vivid description. I didn’t want the book to end.

[Rynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for this ARC.

Whoever said The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains is a cozy fantasy is not well acquainted with what cozy fantasy entails. Instead, this novel follows the traditional format of a problem with stakes that need to be solved. Like the summary suggests, Poppy used to live in the Faerielands, but when her century tenure reached an abrupt end, it resulted in her entering a new contract wherein she was forced to learn how to survive in the modern world. Interestingly, the reader doesn't spend much time in the modern world, outside of understanding that there were companies established specifically to bargain with faeries that come with insurance payouts in case the legally binding contract has a comma out of place.

Poppy was taken from her parents at a young age-- young enough to have few memories of them, with the majority of her life having been spent in a foreign land. For her, the Otherside is her home and she will do anything to return back to everything she knows and loves. A magical opportunity lands in her lap, albeit more in the way of blackmailing rather than by her choice. See, she's been illegally communicating with her friend Sloan back on the other side, and that was a big no no for the humans who finished their completed service. With this hanging over her head, Poppy was mildly coerced to complete a bargain off the books and with no second or third worker double checking her work. Which lead to her making one little tiny mistake in her bargain, and her client being dragged Otherside for the contracted term. Once Poppy popped back over to the other side in an attempt to correct the mistake, it became abundantly clear that her role was that of a pawn in a much bigger politically play. As a human, Poppy was never super concerned with the politics of the faeries as she had no say in what was to be done.

Like most novels that involve the Fae, Reena McCarty does a great dividing the Fae from the humans with clear cut terms. The Fae in The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains lack creativity, a much needed attribute to keep them alive. Without creativity they can't build, nor cook basic food. Bargains themselves act as a much needed currency within the world, and it was established early on that if bargains with humans were to fall through the faeries themselves would disappear completely. However, the Fae do not have the creativity to see how far their rash decisions extend and what problems they will cause.

In an unlikely circumstance, Poppy managed to establish a friendship with Sloan and a relationship with another Fae during her time Otherside. This was not typical of most humans living in the Otherside, but Poppy knew that these were just spur of the moment and could be reneged at any time. However, her human nature still lead her to put her trust in these two Fae even though their very nature would not permit them to do the same. Instead they used her for their own means. Their very nature created an interesting and unique conflict in what it means to be human and how that drives us.

Unlike Poppy, I immediately distrusted her lover or soon to be ex lover Elan. Despite his inability to lie, he lacked a poker face and remained primarily concerned with what would benefit him rather than his partner. Whenever he could, he would take the time to try and seduce Poppy which threw me entirely off. It felt gross and dehumanizing as it preyed on Poppy's lingering feelings for him regardless of them having been separated for three years. Nevertheless, Poppy is a mature character in that she recognized that it was these feelings that inform her actions, and that she could override them when she takes the time to focus on the problem at hand.

My only minor gripes with this novel is how often Poppy uses don't incorrectly. It doesn't feel like it is meant to be slang as she has no other indication that she has adapted to the modern world. If McCarty wants Poppy to show that she is adjusting to Reality and letting go of her ties, perhaps more care could have been added into the dialect she speaks. This combined with the other few minor grammar mistakes really confused me as I typically don't see this level of mistakes. I hope these are fixed before the book goes to print.

I also am not a huge fan of the large paragraphs that McCarty is drawn to using. Long paragraphs that last for more than a page are not natural and create an unnecessary fatigue to the reader. A new paragraph indicates a change of idea and large paragraphs should be used sparingly. It is really just me nitpicking, but it bothered me as I continued to read. Besides these few things, I felt that this was a solid novel and wouldn't mind reading more from McCarty.

[Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC.

The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains is a good time. It's twisty and unusual in how it approached faerie bargains, time outside of the human lands and how faeries approach the time in their kingdoms. The characters are enjoyable and distinct to this novel (which you don't always get in the faerie books, it must be said), and I really enjoyed the magical bureaucracy aspect of this novel.

That being said, I do wish we got to see our main character, Poppy, excelling in the bureaucratic aspect of the story. Or that it played a larger part in the story. The fact Poppy is a bureaucrat (3 years is not a ton in human years, I'll give her that, and with most of that catching up on centuries of human history and development) doesn't really impact the story all that much. She's just a cog in a machine, and she relies more on her centuries in the faerie realm than she does on her time in the human world when it gets down to the nitty gritty. In fact, the story truly kicks off with her making an error that sets off the rest of the plot. We're told that she is smarter than she lets most people realize, and in her own narration, that she prefers to let people believe that she isn't smart enough to keep up with the faeries. We do get moments where her cleverness is vital to the plot, but considering how much emphasis was put on her being a bureaucrat, I thought the plot would ultimately end up with her drawing up a new bargain, or finding a vital loophole or something of the like. This was not the case.

Well I do wish the bureaucracy was better played up, I will say that one of the most well developed parts of this book--one of the most meaningful and impactful undercurrents--was the relationship Poppy has with Sloane. Sloane represents Poppy's childhood in faerie, and in the beginning of the book, Poppy is having a hard time adjusting to the human world, partially because of how much she misses Sloane...and faerie. Poppy feels alienated by the other humans, who seem to detest their time with the faeries, seeing it only through a negative lens. Poppy, on the other hand, wants nothing more than to return to her time there. The way Reena McCarty navigates Poppy confronting her complicated childhood and learning to understand how truly terrifying and awful her time in faerie was (through the events of the novel, and having to confront Sloane and their history), is truly masterful. I cannot claim to be an authority when it comes to childhood trauma or abusive relationships, but to my knowledge, this is handled very realistically and with a deft and compassionate hand. Poppy is so resilient, and seeing her slowly come to understand herself and her history with Sloane in a new context is brilliant storytelling. I love how Poppy was allowed to cherish the good moments, well still learning to accept that what she went through was truly fucking awful. I think, so many times with similar themes and storylines, there is this weird emphasis not allowing the victim to ever have positive feelings attached to their experiences, as if the human experience is ever only one thing.

That is another thing I really appreciated about this book. The emphasis on humanity. One of my favoutie things in faerie books is the reliance on humans for art--theatre, music, dancing, poetry and writing. Here, Reena McCarty focuses of cooking. Poppy is a really good cook, as she grew up working in a faerie King's kitchen. In this book, only humans have the creativity to turn simple ingrediants into delicious meals. I think this is such a cool and wonderful way to incorporate the importance of human's in the faerie world. One of the chief ways that we connect to each other is through food, and I think we often forget that it isn't just a skill. It's an art. An undervalued one at that. Having Poppy be a skilled chef, and to have that skilled be valued and cherished in faerie felt like apt commentary. (I always enjoy this part of faeries books, because it emphasizes that art is one of the most important aspects of humanity, and how our ability to create makes us who we are!)

I won't say much about the romance. I think it was wrong to put Poppy's ex in the blurb, as if this is going to be some second-chance romance. It's not. I loved the way it was more about their friendship and their importance to each other.

[Just Blue Through Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and to Orbit Books for the ARC of The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains by Reena McCarty.

I finished the book two days ago and have waited to write my review as I thought about how the ending makes me feel. On the one hand, it could be a self-contained one-off story (and an excellent debut!), but the internet tells me that the rights were acquired for 2 books, so I think what I really just want to know is: Is this a duology? Maybe? I hope so? I would love the next part of Poppy's story... I just still have so many questions if we get more that I would love the answer to.

That being noted, I really liked this book. This had modern day Emily Wilde vibes. It was able to be a 21st century urban fantasy, but still hold the feeling of being in the 1800s/1900s fae land because Poppy has only been exposed to the 21st century for 3 years and because technology and synthetic and plastic items just don't have the ability to exist. There was some interesting world building in how the lands of the fae have been contained and limited (I want more!) and in how the fae are powerful but lack creativity, which is a value intrinsically human (something interesting to consider in the time of AI).

I also really liked Poppy. I think a lot of people who have felt outside of something or who have outgrown a place or people will really identify with her. Stolen from her family at age 5 or 6 in the late 1800s and brought to the fae, raised to work in the kitchens for over 100 years, and then unceremoniously and randomly plopped back into the human world and placed into a new form of subservience working to help manage faerie bargains in exchange for learning about her new world and gaining skills to survive in the 21st century -- Poppy knows nothing about anything, but she's trying. And, nicely, so much of the story is about Poppy taking a stand for herself and you just want to root for her even when she's confused about what it is she wants.

Sloan also makes for a really interesting character -- she and Elan are both so fae - looking for tricks, happy to manipulate, always a bit dangerous and untrustworthy and this is all Poppy knew for a century. And the more you see Poppy reunite with them the more you hope she recognizes that she matters too. It's like when you go back out with a friend from high school or college and realize you've grown but they've stayed the same and nothing fits right anymore -- but in this case much more violent and cruel. Again, I think it's something people will identify with just in general and McCarty really captured that really well.

For the story itself: It starts slow. It's not until around 20% where Poppy will end up back in the Wilds, but, knowing how it ends this makes sense at the end. I think the story really started to pick up once Poppy starts her walking in the Wilds (and McCarty definitely nails the descriptions of all that hiking pain). From there, the story really flies and there is so much packed in to the last 8% or so that I had to read it twice. I do kind of wish, if this is a stand alone, that that bit had been drawn out a bit more, but if it's a duology, I'm here for the explanation in the next book.

Also important to note: This isn't a romantasy, and it's not really a romance either though there are romantic inclinations.

Overall, this is a fun adventure of a debut, with interesting world building, and an emotional storyline on what it means to belong to yourself.

[Taylor M · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐
I am a huge sucker for a faerie bargain/living in faerie land book- Emily Wilde's and How to Summon a Fairy Godmother come to mind- especially when the faeries aren't just hot, ancient men who are mildly misunderstood, but don't worry, they've got a heart of gold for you. I want politics and duplicity. I want peculiar-looking beings who can do crazy stuff with magic. All of that and more is delivered with The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains.

While the story is great and I loved it, the characters are truly the most engaging, charismatic group I have read in a while. I rooted and booed them all, supporting their rights and wrongs was easy. I adored Sloan - what a character arc. Her motivations were spot on and understandable, even when she was being a complete menace. Elan was a goofy, adorable guy. I hope that if we do get a book two, we still see more of him. He reminds me of a Dandelion or Carrion Swift. He's there to aid the story but also provide levity when there is a lot of surrounding sadness. Overall, though, our girl Poppy is the best. She's smart, she's reflective, she's maybe a little too boy crazy (that's okay, girl, you do you). She brings the intelligence and cunning combined with the human weaknesses of a Jude Duarte. I'm praying for a book two, because getting to see her tackle it all over again would be tops. I loved it when Poppy had her cooking moments that would inevitably lead to Sloan stealing from her. I also appreciated that none of the faeries are what humans would consider conventionally attractive; however, that "otherness" is never anything more than just an observation. No one is that classic, stunning, exactly human-appearing faerie. They all have their quirks.

I think what I appreciated the most was the fresh take on a tried-and-true classic storyline. There's either a girl who wants to get in or a girl fighting to get out; however, a girl who wants to go back home because faerie is all she's ever known was unique. Then, we watch the story progress into the story of a woman trying to figure out the life she could have if it were a voluntary choice. Additionally, the world setting was interesting. The idea that our world, as it is, could also have a Faerie world associated with it. Trade agreements and the red-tape government work of doing Faerie bargaining. It was so fresh and well thought out. This was the only thing I think we could have seen more of- more of how exactly all these agreements/world-building occurred to get to the current moments we see. Maybe that's a prequel for another time? Just kidding, but please, I need more from this author.

The twists are twisty and perfectly faerie. The characters are a delight and will confound you as to when you should and shouldn't be rooting for them. It's got all the correct things that a book about faeries should have and none of the chaff. Reena McCarty has a great voice, and I think just an exciting take on Faeries and what constitutes their nature. Her addition of what she knows personally into this book -cooking- really shone through. I can't wait to see what's next for McCarty, and hopefully, that's to see what's next with Poppy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Becka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poppy Hill’s life was changed forever when she was stolen from her family’s Montana homestead as a child and dragged Otherside into the realm of the Fae. There, she spent more than a century working as a cook in the Wild King’s castle. It’s a strange kind of childhood to grow up with, and it leaves her with more baggage—and more knowledge—than she ever wanted. Now that she’s back in the human world, she’s trying to build a life for herself by working at a company that negotiates faerie bargains. Thanks to her past, she’s become the person who spots loopholes before the Fae can use them to trap someone.

But everything unravels when one of the bargains she’s overseeing goes terribly wrong. Suddenly, Poppy has no choice but to return to the world she spent so long trying to escape. She’s thrown back into dangerous fae politics, old grudges, unexpected alliances, and, unfortunately, an ex-boyfriend she really didn’t want to deal with again. What should have been a simple fix quickly becomes something far more complicated, and Poppy finds herself getting pulled deeper into the mess than she ever intended.

I was genuinely excited to pick up this book. The idea of magical bureaucracy is such a fun trope, and on paper, this story had so much potential. That aspect of the world—the rules, the contracts, the technicalities of faerie law—is actually the part I enjoyed the most. It felt clever and different. But sadly, that ended up being the only element that really worked for me.

I just couldn’t connect to the characters. I didn’t fall in love with any of them, and I didn’t feel any emotional chemistry between them at all. The book tries to set up multiple relationships and bonds, both romantic and platonic, but none of them felt convincing to me. Even Poppy’s supposed best-friendship with Sloane didn’t come across on the page. And when it came to the men she was drawn to, I honestly had no idea what she saw in either of them.

Around the 75% mark, I found myself skimming because I just wanted to get to the end. And that’s not something I do often. I don’t think the issue was the writing style itself—it was more that I never got invested in the emotional core of the story. Without believable connections between the characters, the plot didn’t have much to hold me.

The ending didn’t change my mind either. It felt underwhelming, and I was left wishing the story had given more time and attention to the relationships it was trying to build. I also think part of my disappointment comes from the fact that this book was listed under the romance category on NetGalley. I went in expecting romantasy, or at least a story where romance plays a meaningful role. But if you’re looking for a book that delivers on that front, this definitely isn’t the one.

There are interesting ideas here—especially the fae bureaucracy and the whole concept of magical contracts—but for me, the execution just didn’t come together.

Tropes:
• Magical Bureaucracy
• Forced Proximity

[Miranda Griffith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Poppy Hill, one of the Returned - those brought back to Reality through the end of a bargain or the magic of the Otherside - is adjusting to her new life in the 21st century. Raised in the Otherside, she is now employed by the Carter Lane agency, where she utilizes her expertise in fae bargains to help close loopholes in contracts. When a contract she is responsible for goes awry, she must return to the Otherside to rectify it. This inadvertently puts her in the middle of political upheaval that she must navigate with her Otherside childhood bestie, Sloan and her former boyfriend Elan.

I really enjoyed how this book brought bargains into a major political point in both Reality and the Otherside. Poppy is hyper-aware of how cunning with words the othersiders are and uses that knowledge through her entire story. I think my favorite part of the book was not over-glorifying human beauty traits in the othersiders. The book does a good job of describing their more otherworldly and terrifying beauty, rather than their human-like qualities. The prose is light, consumable, and a very easy read. I breezed through it it only a couple of afternoons. There is a lot of great foundational world-building for the Otherside, and I could see this being a setting for several sequels.

As much as I did enjoy this read, I really wanted more from it. More exploration. More exposition. More descriptive character interactions. Just more.

There is a lot of importance placed on bargains and their wording, but the book doesn't read like they're the linchpin on which the Otherside survives, and how it creates any sort of socioeconomic disparity throughout the realm. It's really only touched on in more detail much later in the book - with any meaningful depictions of areas that are 'low' on bargains feeling like an afterthought.

While the backstory for Poppy's relationships with both Sloan and Elan are explained - they feel shallow. It is hard to feel any genuine attachment or care for either of them for the first 2/3rds of the book. The interactions between Poppy and Sloan/Elan are both very fleeting and it makes it tough to get invested into the relationships. The emotional damage and betrayal could have been exploited much better if I had been truly invested.

I saw the potential for a romance with the hunter, and it felt like the groundwork was being laid for it. Lots of enemies-to-lovers vibes that just fizzled out to nothing.

While I really enjoyed the world building that leans heavily into bargaining and the plot itself was fun and unique, I really found myself wanting more from the narrative. I remained only lightly invested in the character's relationships, and while I would read a sequel to see where the plot goes - it would be near the middle of my TBR pile rather than the top.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poppy was taken to faerie (distractingly called Otherside in the book) as a child to serve as a cook in the castle of the Wild King. She grew up and was returned to the human world . Although only 20ish years have passed for her, 100 years have passed in the human world, so everyone she knew was dead. Her best friends in Otherside were a cruel and capricious (as they are) female fae, and her lover was a not-quite-as-cruel but still capricious male fae.

The world building was good. The story is set in the United States, with faerie Otherside broken into kingdoms. Poppy comes from and returns to Montana. It was a nice change from all those England and England-like settings. Those who come from Otherside have magic but no creativity. They need humans to cook and think of solutions. They no longer “steal” children, but humans can voluntarily go into Otherside. The most important thing to those from Faerie are bargains. Humans bargain for something from the fae, go into Otherside, and return to the human world. “The big rule, the law of the universe that governed our every day: othersiders love to bargain like trees love sunlight. They need it. A deal, properly offered, was almost impossible to resist.” (Ch. 23 of the ARC)

Poppy is now trying to make herself a life in the human world. She works for an agency that facilitates bargains and helps those who return adapt. Then she is pulled back into Otherside (and a fight for control of one of the kingdoms) by her two “friends.” Poppy has a spine. She does some brave things and survives cruel treatment. But her blind spot, and it’s a big one, are her two “friends” from Otherside.

There is a humming level of cruelty throughout this whole book. Fae are so capricious and thoughtlessly cruel, and they think an apology fixes everything. They cannot lie, and they swear oaths with loopholes they can exploit. I had to take breaks from this book and read another because I found the story oppressive, but I did want to finish it. I would have liked more information about and interaction with the other humans still serving in the castle. I don’t know if there will be a sequel but expect there might because it just sort of thuds to an end.

I think I would have enjoyed The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains more if I had gone in to it realizing that it was not a cozy fantasy but a fantasy about dealing with trauma and betrayal. I was expecting something more like Emily Wild’s Encyclopedia of Faeries but didn’t get it. I’m glad I read it, and I can recommend it to others looking for a fairy story that is not a romantic cozy fantasy. I would read another book by the author.

I read an advance reader copy of The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains from Netgalley.

[Dotti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains is a delightful romp into the Otherlands filled with faeries, bargains, murder and conquest. Our main character, Poppy, spent centuries in the Otherlands, working in the kitchens for the faerie king, before coming back to an unfamiliar world. Unlike many Returnees, Poppy misses the life she built, her friends and family. Three years have passed since her return, and Poppy now works for a legal corporation specializing in faerie bargains. Poppy’s job is to look for exploitable loopholes in contracts. When a contract goes bad, Poppy makes a bargain to go into the realm of the faerie to save the victim, her job and her reputation. Poppy spends time with her best friend Sloan and her maybe-ex boyfriend Elan before getting captured by the Hunter and learning about a scheme that is being concocted to disrupt power in the Otherworlds.

This story felt like a traditional fairy tale in many ways. There were changelings and bargains and deception. Many of your traditional fairy myths were present, from iron and salt as weaknesses to the otherworlders’ inability to lie. The faeries in this story are traditional Fair Folk, distant in their emotions and selfish in their thoughts.

Poppy has clung to her relationships from her centuries in the Otherworld, and her development in the story was interesting and complex. The political situation in the story had major implications for the book, and small details mentioned in the beginning had significant contributions to the final conclusion. The pacing in this story was very solid, with enough movement to be interesting but not so much that you feel rushed. The side characters in this book were well developed and interesting. The romance for this book is complicated to explain without spoilers, but very appropriate in the context of the book. The conclusion to the book was very well done, and the story gave room for a second book while finishing the story arc of the first.

I think this book will probably be marketed as cozy fantasy, and this book feels like the stakes are too high and the stressors are too large for cozy fantasy. We have multiple on-page murders, and our main character is kidnapped, bound, and imprisoned multiple times. This book is very much in line with the Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett, The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door by H. G. Parry, and the upcoming Berkley release Thistlemarch by Moorea Corrigan. All of these books blend whimsical and spooky tones with traditional faerie lore and interesting character development. I think this is an excellent addition to the “modern faerie fantasy” genre and I’m excited for more of McCarty’s work.

A big thank you to the team at Orbit for this advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[S.E. Bristow · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had a really great time with this book, and I was thrilled to receive an ARC from my favorite publisher!

It was everything I love in a fantasy, the world-building was elaborate and the imagery was beautiful. I'm a sucker for an adventure novel, and this book had a significant portion dedicated to Poppy's travels. This was such a creative take on the Fae (& Fae/Human interactions) that I've never seen before, and found myself thoroughly enjoying.

The politics, especially, felt relevant to modern life and I loved the way Reena McCarty both altered human history to fit the plot and included very real historical events (such as the spread of the railroad throughout the US) and how that impacted Otherside. I almost wish we'd gotten to see *more* of the politics, especially in regard to inter-court relations in the Fae world. I hope to see more of this in the sequel! (and potentially get to explore another Court through Poppy's experiences)

It's rare that I have zero qualms with a protagonist in a fantasy novel, but I LOVED Poppy. She was intelligent and empathetic, but she knew exactly when to lock in and when a difficult choice needed to be made. In fact, I loved nearly every character in this book (even the ones I hated). McCarty did an amazing job writing truly morally gray characters—even the main antagonist of the novel wasn't truly evil, they were just acting in their own interest.

There were two things that made me give this novel 4 stars rather than 5. The first is that this book is very much tell-not-show. Especially when it came to character motivations and emotions, they were presented in a very matter-of-fact way that is easy to skim over if you aren't paying close enough attention. So much so, that sometimes I had to scroll back a page or two to understand the emotional context that was being set up for the characters.

The second is much more of a personal preference, but there's no real romance in this book. It was advertised to me as a cozy romantasy, but we don't actually see Poppy have a romantic relationship with any of the characters, beyond her descriptions of a former relationship and a (admittedly weak) attempt to rekindle an old spark in the first half of the book. However, I acknowledge this as a personal error, since going back to read the publisher and author advertising mentions almost nothing about romance. I really hope to see her relationships grow in the sequel, the foundation that McCarty laid is enough to keep me wanting more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the advance copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I can't wait to see where this series leads.

[Pixie's Book Den · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a bit conflicted on how to rate The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains. Overall I enjoyed it well enough and there’s a lot of potential here, but a few issues kept me from ever being as invested as I wanted to be.

One of the biggest draws for me was the depiction of the fey and the concept of interaction with them in a modern corporate setting. I love more traditional, unsettling faerie lore, so the worldbuilding and core concept really appealed to me.

The opening set in the human world was especially strong, and I found the main character Poppy rather compelling, particularly in how she carries herself and processes her trauma from having grown up as a human in Faerie.
Unfortunately, as the story progressed, the pacing became uneven in my opinion. The middle dragged at times and felt repetitive, while the relationships between characters weren’t given enough space to develop and feel meaningful, making it hard to form a real connection to the cast. Then the ending swung hard in the opposite direction feeling rushed, unsatisfying, and ending on what’s essentially a cliffhanger with no real conclusion. It's clear this is meant to be the first book in a series, which is something I wish had been communicated more clearly going in.

I picked this up because I kept seeing it compared to authors like Holly Black, Olivia Atwater, and Heather Fawcett. While the setting has a similar feel on a surface level, it lacks the whimsy and character depth that made those books so immersive and endearing to me.
Here the side characters felt underdeveloped and the story drops you into pre-established relationships that are mostly explained through the main character’s internal narration, which leads to a lot of telling rather than showing. As a result, the side characters seem bland and defined more by quirks than actual personalities or histories. There were also quite a few moments that required a lot of suspension of disbelief on my part, especially in certain interactions.

One thing I’m genuinely confused by is the marketing of this as a romance, as the romantic elements felt minimal and unnecessary. There’s very little going on in that department, aside from some uncomfortable subtextual pining and a juvenile love triangle vibe that felt lacking in chemistry. It all came out of nowhere for me and didn’t add much to the story.

That said, I did enjoy the story and the world enough to be curious about where it goes next, but with some distance, I’m not entirely sure I’d feel compelled to pick up the sequel.

[Jessica (Readingdiaries_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Loved it! First of all, I absolutely loved the premise of the book - a world where faerie bargains are allowed and strictly regulated to avoid bad bargains. A world where a big law firm controls most of the bargains between the faerie and the humans, hiring "returnee" (changeling kidnapped as a child by the fairies and recently returned) to help ensure bargains are safe and legally unbreakable. It's a cool concept and well used. I liked the way both the human world and the faerie world were described, and how the need for bargains (for both parties) was clearly explained. Faeries need humans for their creativity (they cannot cook, build anything, or make clothes) and, basically, need them to survive. Humans want things in exchange (fame, power, health) and are willing to risk bargaining with the fairies to get a piece of their magic.

The story starts where one bargain goes wrong - and Poppy, a recent returnee longing to go back to the faerie world, needs to go back to the Otherside to fix the bargain and protect the fragile peace between humans and faeries. I really liked that Poppy was a main character - she first longs to go home, and then discovers home is no longer what she thought it was. I liked that she was resilient and headstrong, and that she was both naive and realistic - she knew the flaws of her friends, and that the faerie world was fundamentally flawed and unfair to humans, still, she longs for her friends and her past, the only life she knew before being forced back to the human world.

I really liked all the characters - from Gloria, her loyal human friends, to Elan, her dubious ex-lover, to Theron and Sloan. All of them had a purpose, and they had their own motivations and loyalties, and I really liked how the plot cleverly entangles all of them with the plot. Sloan, Theron, Elan, and all the faerie had their own motives and loyalties, but they were still likeable. I particularly really liked Elan, a flirting playboy, and Theron, his exact opposite.

The plot was compelling and interesting from beginning to the end, I had no issue with the pacing, and there were no slower bits. The writing was easy to read, and the world building pretty good for such a short book. I also really liked the ending - the author did a really good job at wrapping up the story whilst still leaving some unanswered questions. I would loved for a second book because there would definitely be potential to have another instalment (and I would LOVE to see more of Elan, Theron and Poppy!).

[Selene · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC won as part of a Facebook giveaway. My review was in no way influenced by The Realm, a subdivision of Hachette Publishing*

Amazing. Where to even begin? The beginning was a bit slow, but in a way that lulled you into a false sense of security. As soon as the pace and the story picked up, you are HOOKED.

Reena McCarty uses the legends, the lore, the SETTING of fae and faeries to their utmost advantage. This is no cookie cutter fantasy world populated with elven wannabes claiming to be fae (side eyeing a few famous authors). This is a realm that FELT like Fairyland, populated with incomprehensibly powerful beings that were UNMISTAKABLY Fae. Another clever tactic by McCarty was terming Fairyland as the “Otherside” and faeries as “othersiders”, under the guise of political correctness. This allowed McCarty to use as many different creatures and beings as she wanted, without having to worry about using the correct naming. Holly Black is amazing for correctly naming every species of Fae she uses, but it is understandable that not all authors wish to go this route. And at least McCarty didn’t just be lazy and get things blatantly wrong, like some authors I’ve read.

This story had way more emotional impact and depth than I was expecting. It explores the feelings and deep emotional toll of being ripped from your home as a child, growing up in such a foreign side of reality, before being ripped back into the human world and being told “Congrats! You have returned home. Now be a Proper Human”.

Another thing that added to the emotional depth were the characters. I am still processing these characters!! Elan is officially my ride or die, despite how much it breaks my heart. Poppy is so lost, and just trying her best despite how flawed and powerless she is. And the villain of the story….FINALLY we get a nuanced, complex villain. They are so rare that I can’t even remember the last one I encountered. I genuinely cried during some scenes, as everything felt so complex and more than simple “right and wrong”. McCarty took some CHANCES and made some plot decisions I was legitimately surprised she dared to make. But boy oh boy did it pay off.

I was very surprised it was a series, and nearly threw the book against the wall when I realised. How long will I have to wait??? With THAT ending it’s too cruel to have to wait for the next book!!

I will be singing this books praises to anyone who will listen, and McCarty is definitely an author to watch.

[Bunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Orbit and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review!

-

4,25 stars - a fun journey through the complications of being involved with the fae

This book was a fun adventure through both the business side of making faerie bargains, and a road trip through the faerie world itself with political and emotional complications along the way. The faerie world was both whimsical and brutal, which I really enjoyed, and the fae themselves follow some fun “traditional” rules like no lying, no iron or salt, a lack of personal creativity (which is one I can’t remember having read before and enjoyed!), and difficulty with human emotions.

I loved seeing Poppy, the main character, having to come to terms with where she wanted to live her life and what she wanted to do, as well as deal with the trauma of having grown up in Faerie and the experience of Sloan, her closest friend for most of her life, having essentially no concept of (human) niceness. Her complicated feelings of belonging, worth and self were interesting and emotional to read. I do wish the book had taken it even further by showing us more of how she functions in either society; the corporate human side of things and the more messy politics of the courts.
Elan, Poppy’s ex, was amazing, funny and my absolute favourite character of the story. I loved his presence, especially as a counter to Sloan - he too struggled with human emotion (like knowing when it was a good time to hook up and not) but instead of reacting with confusion or distaste he generally chose to instead be present and agreeable. Still distinctly other and inhuman, but coming across as more caring and careful with the bond he built with Poppy. I loved seeing them interact with each other, and I was cheering for Elan’s sweet chaos throughout the story.
Theron was also interesting as a character, especially as he differed from a lot of the other fae by seeming almost a bit more human, and I would’ve loved to see more of his life and future.

The story was fun, occasionally stressful but with calm moments in between filled with french toast and other delicious sounding food, but with a bit too abrupt of an ending. I would’ve loved to see more of the consequences and sit longer in the emotions after everything the characters went through.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being taken as a child and spending a century growing up in a another world, Poppy struggles with wanting to return to "Otherside" when she is dropped back in the human world. Spending her formative years in the faerie world understandably makes Poppy miss it when she comes back, but when she takes the chance to return for 2 weeks after a bargain gone wrong, she realizes maybe Otherside wasn't as great as she used to think. One of my favorite parts of this book is how Poppy struggles with feeling at home and happy in the land she's in. It was a really interesting revelation for her to finally see the real version of the Otherside that she thought she knew, not with just the place itself, but her favorite people there as well.

Overall, I really enjoyed how this wasn't as intense as a lot of fantasy books I have read or tried to read, but at the same time, I felt it was lacking in some areas. While I enjoyed what we could see of some of her past relationships with faeries, not much was elaborated on or explained in detail. As we go forward in the book we learn more about Sloan and why Poppy felt so connected to her, but most things about her friendships and other relationships were vaguely touched on just enough to introduce the characters into the story, not to really tell us much about who they really are. Poppy's struggle with with learning more about the real Sloan and how she feels about her was also another of my favorite aspects of this story.

My only other real issue with Faerie Bargains is the ending. While Poppy is worried about the future, we are left with a lot of hope and things are given a more positive light than we may have expected after Poppy returned to the human world. Unfortunately, it feels like things end a bit abruptly with a lot of loose ends. I understand we are probably being set up for another book, but it just feels like we could have still had more of a clearer ending. When I thought the book was almost over, things kept happening, but not things that felt like an actual ending, so it was kind of off-putting when all of a sudden, it was over.

4 Stars

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for this eARC.

[Nidhi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains is a fantasy romance following Poppy Hill who spent a century on the Otherside with faeries and now works to broker faerie bargains. She finds herself back on the Otherside unexpectedly when a deal goes wrong and has to deal with faerie politics, her ex-lover and a mysterious hunter. While intriguing in premise, I found myself wanting more from the character relationships, main character’s arc and the romance.

The world building was thoughtful, with a history of how the division between the Otherside and the human world developed and how different regions worldwide dealt with the separation. The politics of fosterlings in the kingdoms in the Otherside and ascension was also intriguing. Though much time is spent on the exposition of Carter Lane however, the sense of place fell flat for me.

While Poppy undergoes growth through her journey and realizes her own self worth, I found it a bit slow to arrive especially given her century of experience with faeries. She is quite knowledgeable on the faeries’ ways with lies and their cunning but still seems to fall easily into old patterns. I did not find the supporting characters of Sloane and Elan very engaging, as most of their personality came from anecdotes and her interactions during the book with them were less involved than I would have liked. The dialogue often slipped into modern terminology that broke the atmosphere.

While described as a romance, the arc of the main relationship fizzles with no clear outcome. It was unclear whether this is a set up for a series or an unsatisfying arc.

Overall, I enjoyed the set-up and world building of this book but did not feel invested in the characters and felt there could be more depth to their relationships, stakes and goals especially given the century of history described between them. If you enjoy an easy to read fantasy which focuses on character development with a hint of romance, you may enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

[Ulrike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poppy is a Returned—stolen by the fae as a child and brought back to Reality decades later. For the past three years, she has been going through a process of reintegration, using her unique expertise to negotiate ironclad contracts between humans and othersiders. But when a bargain goes terribly wrong, Poppy has to follow a client back into Otherside to set things right. There she discovers that her best friend, Sloan, and her former lover, Elan, seem to be entangled in a conspiracy against the king—throwing her loyalties, her heart, and her sense of self into turmoil.
This book was an absolute standout for me. Despite the playful title, it’s not a light or humorous read but a thoughtful, emotionally resonant story about a woman caught between two worlds and struggling to understand where she truly belongs. Poppy’s confusion, grief, and gradual clarity are portrayed so vividly that I felt completely immersed in her point of view.
The Faerie world draws on familiar motifs but gives each of them a fresh and compelling twist. The atmosphere is rich and immersive, the pacing kept me engaged from the very first page, and the characters are wonderfully layered. Poppy’s personal growth—especially her recognition of destructive patterns and her fight to break free from them—hit me in all the right ways. I was never once bored; if anything, I kept wishing the book were longer.
The ending is unexpectedly open, and I genuinely hope it means a sequel is on the way.
Five stars without hesitation. I’m always searching for books that capture the same magic I find in Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde or Holly Black’s Folk of the Air, and The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains absolutely delivered.
To sum it up: This modern faerie novel is utterly captivating and stands out from the usual stereotypes with its distinctive storytelling, memorable characters, and engaging plot. Brilliant!

[Meaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing me with an ARC. This review is my own.

4.75 stars!!

For anyone who loves a good twist on words, The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains would be right up your alley. Poppy, a human recently returned from a century of service in the Otherside's Wild Lands, negotiates written fairie bargains at Carter Lane. Used to the ambiguities of life in the Otherside, Poppy is having trouble adjusting to human life. Unfortunately, when she missteps during a verbal negotiation, she is forced to rectify the situation by sneaking back into the Otherside.

McCarty's story begins slow - describing the now-mundane existence of Poppy, who is used to the fast-paced and dangerous Otherside. However, once Poppy returns to the Otherside to rescue another human, the story explodes. Poppy's friends Elan and Sloan, both embroiled in their own dangerous games, clash with Poppy, who attempts to humanize the two beings. Elan and Sloan never deviate from what they are, and Poppy's attempt to reconcile her thoughts and feelings toward her friends is both sad and understandable. McCarty does well setting up the plot, and the actions by all of the characters are completely in line with their motivations. Nothing comes as a surprise or seems out-of-character. The ending was fast-paced, believable, and interesting. There were quite a few throw-backs in the latter part of the story to actions or words from earlier in the book. The ending itself did seem a bit abrupt, but, as in life, not all circumstances end up tied neatly with a bow.

Aside from the abrupt ending, my only other criticism would be that we didn't get to see more of Poppy's contract work, changing and adjusting the language to tweak the words and interpretations so that the human party isn't completely screwed over by the Otherside. As a contracts nerd, this book scratched an itch and made me want more!

[Natasha Leighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeously detailed, folklore-fuelled Fantasy involving (high stakes) faerie bargains, and capricious fae that had me utterly hooked!

I loved Reena McCarty’s sharply witty and whimsical prose, that doesn’t shy away from the cruel and manipulative (folklore accurate) portrayal of the Fae. It was so refreshing, and added a darker intensity to (human FMC) Poppy’s interactions that I really enjoyed.

Taken as a child by the Fae, and returned a century later, (after making a life for herself in Otherside) Poppy was such a complex and nuanced protagonist to explore.

From navigating modern human society, and the emotional trauma of being ripped away from everything (and everyone) she knows. To the lack of autonomy she faces in both the human and Fae worlds, Poppy really struggles to belong. Yet her compassion and determination, even after returning to Otherside (to save a human from a badly negotiated bargain in-spite of danger) only made me love (and root for) her even more.

Especially after delving into her past and the connections she looks most fondly on. Like toxic Fae bestie Sloan, or ex Elan (whose antics and saucy sense of humour were really amusing.) Though I liked Theron, (a royal hunter Poppy crosses paths with) just a bit more.

He’s not nearly as volatile as others of his kind, and shows some compassion for humans. Which definitely contributed to Poppy realising how toxic the relationships she clings to are, and made her journey of self reflection and healing possible.

The world-building was stunningly vivid too and I loved exploring the court politics, and bureaucratic processes (in bargaining with humans) as it was so intriguing.

Overall, a satisfyingly high stakes, Fae-filled Fantasy (which I desperately need a sequel of) that’s perfect for fans of Holly Black, Anna Fiteni or endearing (morally ambiguous) FMCs. But do check TWs.

Also, thanks to Nazia & Orbit Books UK for the proof.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Faerie bargain went horribly wrong, sending sweet, sweet Poppy Hill on a surprisingly dangerous journey back to the land of Fae.

What the synopsis describes as a delightful, cozy fantasy packed with charm, adventure, and romance had all that and a whole lot more. I was pleasantly surprised by the high-pressure, high-stress situations that poor Poppy had to endure. There was no doubt that this is a cozy fantasy, with many wholehearted moments that go great with a cup of hot tea and a cozy blanket. I was unprepared for Poppy's strategic thinking Poppy had to do in order to survive in a place she once called home and the unexpected game of trust she was forced to play with people she thought she knew and the strangers she met, which kept me on the edge of my seat, because honestly trusting the wrong person in this land can mean life or death.

One of my favourite cozy parts of Poppy was her passion for cooking. When Poppy Hill was a child she was stolen from her family's Montana homestead and taken to the land of the fae, where she spent more than a century as a cook in the Wild King's castle. She was able to use this to her advantage even in a land where they don’t have the taste for exquisite dining; who needs that when you can eat a raw squirrel? But with strategy in mind, her skills in the kitchen got her the answers she needed, and I loved that.

This was a fun story. The idea of working for a company that mediates faerie bargains, searching for contract loopholes and overlooking a crucial one to initiate this interesting journey, was an intriguing concept. Having to rectify her mistake, face danger, and manage past friendships along the way was everything I needed from this story. I’m looking forward to reading more from Reena McCarty!

Thank you NetGalley, and Orbit US for the advanced reader's copy.