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The Bard's Bargain
Every day they traveled further and further from everything she had ever known, and each day she felt the weight of this year descending upon her. There were no guards to escort her through the woods, no physicians to summon, no servants standing by. If she screamed for help, would anyone come to her aid?
War has festered in the split kingdoms of Norwen and Lenwen for a generation. When the Princess Alexandra of Lenwen rejects all of the suitors at her debut she angers kings, princes, and her own formidable mother. As punishment for her pride, the queen strips the princess of her title and forces her to live in poverty with the lowliest commoner she can a young bard named Tom. If she can live the life of a commoner for a full year, she will be able to return to the palace and gain the coveted position of regent. Alexandra journeys with the bard to the neighboring kingdom of Norwen, realm of the suitor she spurned, and is faced with the harsh reality of life with a poor bard. For the first time in her life, she must learn to care for someone other than herself, or else face loneliness and starvation. Despite the constant hardship, Alexandra finds herself drawn to the handsome, lighthearted Tom, until she is faced with the choice to return to her old life as a princess and end the war once and for all. A retelling of King Thrushbeard filled with pride, betrayal, and an unexpected love story.
War has festered in the split kingdoms of Norwen and Lenwen for a generation. When the Princess Alexandra of Lenwen rejects all of the suitors at her debut she angers kings, princes, and her own formidable mother. As punishment for her pride, the queen strips the princess of her title and forces her to live in poverty with the lowliest commoner she can a young bard named Tom. If she can live the life of a commoner for a full year, she will be able to return to the palace and gain the coveted position of regent. Alexandra journeys with the bard to the neighboring kingdom of Norwen, realm of the suitor she spurned, and is faced with the harsh reality of life with a poor bard. For the first time in her life, she must learn to care for someone other than herself, or else face loneliness and starvation. Despite the constant hardship, Alexandra finds herself drawn to the handsome, lighthearted Tom, until she is faced with the choice to return to her old life as a princess and end the war once and for all. A retelling of King Thrushbeard filled with pride, betrayal, and an unexpected love story.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 30, 2022
19 people are currently reading
532 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Green
6 books28 followersVanessa Green is a writer of romantic fantasy with a soft spot for gangly heroes and smart heroines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
November 3, 2024
*I received this book as a free eBook ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for approving my request. *
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
She 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
He 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 at 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.
So apparently there is a second book but it follows two different protagonists. I am so sad to not have more from Tyram and Alexandra.
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
She 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
He 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 at 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.
So apparently there is a second book but it follows two different protagonists. I am so sad to not have more from Tyram and Alexandra.
November 3, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Indie/Self for access to this title. All opinions are my own
The first book in a New Adult/Fantasy series, The Bard's Bargain is about a selfish princess( Alexandra) and her royal enemy from a neighbouring kingdom ( Tyram aka Tom) who decides to teach her a thing about being a better person. She's a b****, and he's too good for her- but the sparks soon fly and the romance is spicy.
Now, I have read my share of book reviews where my fellow readers have confessed all sorts of reasons why they hold distaste for a book. I am not perfect. Mine is a bit funny but to remain honest and true in all my reviews, I have a confession.
I almost DNF'd this book in the first chapter because Alexandra's brother, the guy who was now King because their father died.... was named Bryan.
I know, I know, it's a petty reason. To be clear, I have nothing against men named Brian, Bryan, Brient, Byron, Bran, Brien, Brion, Briant etc. It just struck me as absolutely ridiculous to think of any kingdom existing screaming " Hail, King Bryan" and " What a glorious victory on the battlefield by our noble liege lord.. King Bryan."
Thankfully, Bryan decides to go on tour and most of the references to him are off the page. That leaves Alexandra and Tom to get it on. Something that they do often. But there's also a fairly good plot here with a cliffhanger of an epilogue... it's not quite an HEA yet.
thebardsbargain #NetGalley.
Publication Date 30/11/22
Goodreads Review 02/11/24
The first book in a New Adult/Fantasy series, The Bard's Bargain is about a selfish princess( Alexandra) and her royal enemy from a neighbouring kingdom ( Tyram aka Tom) who decides to teach her a thing about being a better person. She's a b****, and he's too good for her- but the sparks soon fly and the romance is spicy.
Now, I have read my share of book reviews where my fellow readers have confessed all sorts of reasons why they hold distaste for a book. I am not perfect. Mine is a bit funny but to remain honest and true in all my reviews, I have a confession.
I almost DNF'd this book in the first chapter because Alexandra's brother, the guy who was now King because their father died.... was named Bryan.
I know, I know, it's a petty reason. To be clear, I have nothing against men named Brian, Bryan, Brient, Byron, Bran, Brien, Brion, Briant etc. It just struck me as absolutely ridiculous to think of any kingdom existing screaming " Hail, King Bryan" and " What a glorious victory on the battlefield by our noble liege lord.. King Bryan."
Thankfully, Bryan decides to go on tour and most of the references to him are off the page. That leaves Alexandra and Tom to get it on. Something that they do often. But there's also a fairly good plot here with a cliffhanger of an epilogue... it's not quite an HEA yet.
thebardsbargain #NetGalley.
Publication Date 30/11/22
Goodreads Review 02/11/24
July 19, 2024
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!
February 18, 2025
Received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for honest opinion, thanks!
I have this awful habit of proceeding to read every book I start, even if I don't enjoyed it, as I believe each piece should be rated and perceived as a whole. Faithful to that, I have finished The Bard's Bargain, despite the numerous times I wanted to DNF it.
Perhaps I am just too tired of romances where the FMC is written as a spare, a narrator that has to undergo a drastic change, while MMC is this perfect from the start figure that clearly is meant to enchant a reader, equally like, if not more, than his love interest. Tyram and Alexandra are the perfect example of this cliché. And it was infuriating. Despite their age, she acted like a spoiled five years old, while being exaggerated with every element of her character. At first I've despised her, later on I've pitted her. She was indeed manipulated by everyone around her, and for some reason the author believes that contact with poverty and drastic loss of everything is the perfect solution to any "spoil brat" characteristic. Besides its cliché, it is also extremely desensitised towards those "poorer" characters. I thought we left the idea of "suffering ennobles" deep in the past.
Meanwhile Tyram (or Tom) is a character I cannot understand. On the one hand, he is this perfect love interest, not only for Alexandra, but also supposedly for the reader. He is the one we are meant to admire, he is good-hearted, understanding, handsome, basically the perfect man. On the other hand, he is also a liar, he made a pact with Alexandra's mother and proceed to put FMC through a lot – theoretically, it all was for her "own good", but I'm sorry, at the point when Alexandra gets lice or meets orphans from burned village something breaks in her. And I don't mean this magical change, I mean she starts acting like someone abused. It's extremely weird and uncomfortable, especially because of this patronising tone of "the poor are poor, but they are happy". Such narration could have stayed, but a different tone would make a drastic difference.
There is also a case of so called romance, and something that stroke me was this discord between the writing style and what was happening. Basically, this book follows the trope of forced proximity and reluctance-to-love, yet between the main characters there is lust from the very beginning. I was surprised when somewhere in the first one hundred pages they were almost sleeping with each other, even though few pages earlier they were bragging about how annoying they find each other. It wouldn't be such a problem if the writing style was different; for now, the book is written as it was for someone somewhere between teenagers and young adult. There are little to none clever intrigues or a proper tone when it comes to more serious topics, yet there are few intimate scenes, which did caught me off guard. Why so early? Why write it that way?
I will admit, I am a foul for pretty covers, and here I fall a victim to one. And the more I think about this book, the less mad I am. It's not good, certainly a mile away from what I've expected, but it's far from bad – just needs a little of polish, to make it feel less debut-ish, and more like a proper story. Especially when its topic is meant to cover such serious agenda.
I have this awful habit of proceeding to read every book I start, even if I don't enjoyed it, as I believe each piece should be rated and perceived as a whole. Faithful to that, I have finished The Bard's Bargain, despite the numerous times I wanted to DNF it.
Perhaps I am just too tired of romances where the FMC is written as a spare, a narrator that has to undergo a drastic change, while MMC is this perfect from the start figure that clearly is meant to enchant a reader, equally like, if not more, than his love interest. Tyram and Alexandra are the perfect example of this cliché. And it was infuriating. Despite their age, she acted like a spoiled five years old, while being exaggerated with every element of her character. At first I've despised her, later on I've pitted her. She was indeed manipulated by everyone around her, and for some reason the author believes that contact with poverty and drastic loss of everything is the perfect solution to any "spoil brat" characteristic. Besides its cliché, it is also extremely desensitised towards those "poorer" characters. I thought we left the idea of "suffering ennobles" deep in the past.
Meanwhile Tyram (or Tom) is a character I cannot understand. On the one hand, he is this perfect love interest, not only for Alexandra, but also supposedly for the reader. He is the one we are meant to admire, he is good-hearted, understanding, handsome, basically the perfect man. On the other hand, he is also a liar, he made a pact with Alexandra's mother and proceed to put FMC through a lot – theoretically, it all was for her "own good", but I'm sorry, at the point when Alexandra gets lice or meets orphans from burned village something breaks in her. And I don't mean this magical change, I mean she starts acting like someone abused. It's extremely weird and uncomfortable, especially because of this patronising tone of "the poor are poor, but they are happy". Such narration could have stayed, but a different tone would make a drastic difference.
There is also a case of so called romance, and something that stroke me was this discord between the writing style and what was happening. Basically, this book follows the trope of forced proximity and reluctance-to-love, yet between the main characters there is lust from the very beginning. I was surprised when somewhere in the first one hundred pages they were almost sleeping with each other, even though few pages earlier they were bragging about how annoying they find each other. It wouldn't be such a problem if the writing style was different; for now, the book is written as it was for someone somewhere between teenagers and young adult. There are little to none clever intrigues or a proper tone when it comes to more serious topics, yet there are few intimate scenes, which did caught me off guard. Why so early? Why write it that way?
I will admit, I am a foul for pretty covers, and here I fall a victim to one. And the more I think about this book, the less mad I am. It's not good, certainly a mile away from what I've expected, but it's far from bad – just needs a little of polish, to make it feel less debut-ish, and more like a proper story. Especially when its topic is meant to cover such serious agenda.
May 24, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher Joan Anderson, and Vanessa Green for providing me with a copy of the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I like Alexandra from the start, even when other characters viewed her as a brat – who would actually be happy marrying a stranger in her situation? Her growth felt organic throughout the entire book, and her chemistry with Tom was great. However, I did feel like some of the side characters started to veer into the territory of being cartoonishly evil.
The spice was well done, and felt deserved by the time Tom and Alexandra actually got there.
My biggest gripe with the book was how fast it came to a conclusion. Everything with her mother, Bryan, and the reconciliation happened so quickly and was predictable (and yes, I am aware it is based off an existing fairytale, but nonetheless!). That said, the book is open to a sequel, which I am interested in picking up – I hope to see more of Angharad in the sequel, but definitely more of Tom and Alexandra too.
I like Alexandra from the start, even when other characters viewed her as a brat – who would actually be happy marrying a stranger in her situation? Her growth felt organic throughout the entire book, and her chemistry with Tom was great. However, I did feel like some of the side characters started to veer into the territory of being cartoonishly evil.
The spice was well done, and felt deserved by the time Tom and Alexandra actually got there.
My biggest gripe with the book was how fast it came to a conclusion. Everything with her mother, Bryan, and the reconciliation happened so quickly and was predictable (and yes, I am aware it is based off an existing fairytale, but nonetheless!). That said, the book is open to a sequel, which I am interested in picking up – I hope to see more of Angharad in the sequel, but definitely more of Tom and Alexandra too.
December 7, 2024
3.25⭐️
This book is a retelling of the classic fairy tale King Thrushbeard, blending whimsy with moments of growth and self-discovery. The story centers on the pampered Princess Alexandra, who, after spurning many suitors, is punished by her mother to spend a year living among commoners with the bard Tom. This setup is the backdrop for the books main themes: privilege, personal growth, and the complexities of human relationships.
At first, I struggled to connect with the narrative, mostly because it was hard to connected with the spoiled FMC, but I’m glad I continued. The story initially felt like a frivolous fairy tale but it began to hold my interest the more I read. Alexandra’s character arc is particularly good, as she evolves from a selfish princess into a more compassionate and self-aware individual. The writing style is simple and accessible.
However, the book isn’t without its inconsistencies. While the whimsical tone drew me in, the inclusion of explicit scenes felt out of place, clashing with the otherwise fairy tale-like atmosphere. It felt needlessly unnecessary and detracted from the story.
I also wished for deeper character development, particularly with the more morally rigid figures, like Alexandra’s mother. A more nuanced exploration of her motivations would have enriched the story. That said, the book shines in its portrayal of Alexandra’s journey. The emotional beats resonated, especially as she confronts her flaws and learns empathy through her interactions with the villagers.
Despite some critiques, The Bard’s Bargain remains a pleasant read, especially for fans of fairy tale retellings. While some elements did not resonate with me, the heart of the story—Alexandra’s journey towards empathy and understanding—makes me glad I read the book.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book is a retelling of the classic fairy tale King Thrushbeard, blending whimsy with moments of growth and self-discovery. The story centers on the pampered Princess Alexandra, who, after spurning many suitors, is punished by her mother to spend a year living among commoners with the bard Tom. This setup is the backdrop for the books main themes: privilege, personal growth, and the complexities of human relationships.
At first, I struggled to connect with the narrative, mostly because it was hard to connected with the spoiled FMC, but I’m glad I continued. The story initially felt like a frivolous fairy tale but it began to hold my interest the more I read. Alexandra’s character arc is particularly good, as she evolves from a selfish princess into a more compassionate and self-aware individual. The writing style is simple and accessible.
However, the book isn’t without its inconsistencies. While the whimsical tone drew me in, the inclusion of explicit scenes felt out of place, clashing with the otherwise fairy tale-like atmosphere. It felt needlessly unnecessary and detracted from the story.
I also wished for deeper character development, particularly with the more morally rigid figures, like Alexandra’s mother. A more nuanced exploration of her motivations would have enriched the story. That said, the book shines in its portrayal of Alexandra’s journey. The emotional beats resonated, especially as she confronts her flaws and learns empathy through her interactions with the villagers.
Despite some critiques, The Bard’s Bargain remains a pleasant read, especially for fans of fairy tale retellings. While some elements did not resonate with me, the heart of the story—Alexandra’s journey towards empathy and understanding—makes me glad I read the book.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 13, 2024
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 and 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.
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.
July 2, 2024
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.
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.
March 15, 2025
i would have KILLED this guy
but alright sure what the hell
but alright sure what the hell
November 18, 2024
a most unlikely redemption by way of a bards bargain
A War-Torn Kingdom. A life of splendor and privilege came to an abrupt end for a princess who fell from grace. The prince of a rival kingdom is due to ascend his throne. One chooses to live among their humble people, the other forced by the bargain of a bard. Will their hearts survive the year?
| fantasy romance | time piece | redemption | hidden identity | quest | slow burn | netgalley | loss of parent | indie author | humbling | prophecy | rival kingdoms | riches to rags | to fate of the kingdom | the bargain | witches | peasants | war | fueding |
We all know and love the classic tale of Cinderella. A meek girl destined to become a queen. From humble beginnings, her heart was soft and kind. Would Cinderella have been so kind if she had grown up in a life of privilege and splendor? Would she know what it was like to be a peasant? Could she govern a kingdom with that same kindness, humility, and understanding?
This story is about a princess who has fallen from grace. Her vanity, self-righteousness, and lack of tact led to her sudden change of station. In the pursuit of upholding her father's legacy, her overwhelming and entitled desire for power set in motion a path meant to redeem her. Can living amongst the people she is meant to protect help her understand her true duty to her kingdom? Tom the bard sure hopes so.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Bard's Bargain by Vanessa Green. I enjoyed the humor, the writing, the language, and the overall development. The story was a fresh take on a somewhat classic tale however instead of rags to riches, we had riches to rags.
I did not know what to expect when I began this story, but it did not disappoint. I will absolutely be reading more from Vanessa.
Happy Reading, Friends xx
#netgalley
A War-Torn Kingdom. A life of splendor and privilege came to an abrupt end for a princess who fell from grace. The prince of a rival kingdom is due to ascend his throne. One chooses to live among their humble people, the other forced by the bargain of a bard. Will their hearts survive the year?
| fantasy romance | time piece | redemption | hidden identity | quest | slow burn | netgalley | loss of parent | indie author | humbling | prophecy | rival kingdoms | riches to rags | to fate of the kingdom | the bargain | witches | peasants | war | fueding |
We all know and love the classic tale of Cinderella. A meek girl destined to become a queen. From humble beginnings, her heart was soft and kind. Would Cinderella have been so kind if she had grown up in a life of privilege and splendor? Would she know what it was like to be a peasant? Could she govern a kingdom with that same kindness, humility, and understanding?
This story is about a princess who has fallen from grace. Her vanity, self-righteousness, and lack of tact led to her sudden change of station. In the pursuit of upholding her father's legacy, her overwhelming and entitled desire for power set in motion a path meant to redeem her. Can living amongst the people she is meant to protect help her understand her true duty to her kingdom? Tom the bard sure hopes so.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Bard's Bargain by Vanessa Green. I enjoyed the humor, the writing, the language, and the overall development. The story was a fresh take on a somewhat classic tale however instead of rags to riches, we had riches to rags.
I did not know what to expect when I began this story, but it did not disappoint. I will absolutely be reading more from Vanessa.
Happy Reading, Friends xx
#netgalley
February 1, 2025
Whenever I pick up a book because I love the cover, I’m always hoping that I’ll love the story. Thankfully, not only does The Bard’s Bargain have gorgeous cover art, but the story was fresh, angsty, and romantic as hell! I almost couldn’t put this book down!! I adored watching Alexandra grow and develop as a character, and Tom is everything to me. Their dynamic and chemistry were definitely my favorite parts and the political intrigue mixed in with the wholesome, found family vibes was a perfect mix. I’m definitely going to pick up more from this author and think many people will truly enjoy The Bard’s Bargain!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for sending me a free copy!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for sending me a free copy!
August 20, 2024
Cute little fairytale read! It's light and not to stressful, but also not anything crazy. Great in between book series book.
May 28, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley for this copy.
To be honest, when I started reading this, I really wasn't feeling connected to it
I nearly gave up two chapters in. I'm glad I decided to continue. It turned into a book that i couldn't put down.
A spoilt princess who thinks she knows everything gets her world turned upside down and is shown the real world. With amazing side characters that you can fail to love, this book grips you. From making you hate the Princess to wanting to give her a massive high five for turning herself around.
If I had to give a negative, the spice in this book wasn't for me. I don't think it was needed and kind of ruined it for me.....
To be honest, when I started reading this, I really wasn't feeling connected to it
I nearly gave up two chapters in. I'm glad I decided to continue. It turned into a book that i couldn't put down.
A spoilt princess who thinks she knows everything gets her world turned upside down and is shown the real world. With amazing side characters that you can fail to love, this book grips you. From making you hate the Princess to wanting to give her a massive high five for turning herself around.
If I had to give a negative, the spice in this book wasn't for me. I don't think it was needed and kind of ruined it for me.....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2025
i'm not familiar with the king thrushbeard fairy tale, so i had no idea this was a retelling before going into this. i'm unsure whether or not any qualms i have with this book stem from the original tale or the reimagined story but here are some things i liked and disliked:
i will literally never get tired of reading books about royalty & court politics because they feel like case studies on the different ways people see leadership as a service versus a platform. as someone who has been in a couple of a leadership positions over the course of my life, i find these stories fascinating. so despite my conflicting feelings about the bard's bargain, ultimately i would recommend it. the friendships, budding romance, adventures and mild political intrigue were so compelling and fresh they had me staying up in the wee hours of the night. in fact, i think this is my new standard for three star books! ultimately i had no true emotional connection with the story to give it a four star and i didn't feel like a different person afterwards to give it a five, but it was enjoyable nonetheless so i will be continuing with book two.
i will literally never get tired of reading books about royalty & court politics because they feel like case studies on the different ways people see leadership as a service versus a platform. as someone who has been in a couple of a leadership positions over the course of my life, i find these stories fascinating. so despite my conflicting feelings about the bard's bargain, ultimately i would recommend it. the friendships, budding romance, adventures and mild political intrigue were so compelling and fresh they had me staying up in the wee hours of the night. in fact, i think this is my new standard for three star books! ultimately i had no true emotional connection with the story to give it a four star and i didn't feel like a different person afterwards to give it a five, but it was enjoyable nonetheless so i will be continuing with book two.
November 7, 2024
**Thank you to NetGalley for the digital copy of this book for an honest review**
⭐️⭐️.5
Rounded up to 3 stars.
This book was a really easy read and had a lot of great qualities about it however it was also lacking some key things that I hope for in my fantasy reads.
Some of the main strengths that I really enjoyed was the obvious character development from out FMC Alexandra. Alexandra starts off being very difficult to like. I empathize a lot with her trauma and her grief but her attitude and her arrogance makes her a very unlikeable person. This is written well because I felt my skin crawl at a lot of her decisions. Throughout the book she is forced into hardship and it changes her for the better. By the end of the book she is a humble and likeable character and I really enjoy character growth like this.
Our MMC Tom/Tyram was also quite likeable throughout the entire book. He was even tempered and understanding. He was much nicer than I would have been given the circumstances and I really appreciated a "softer" man like this one. My main concern with him would be how he is seemingly okay with uninformed sexual consent. I will touch on this in a moment.
The things that this book could have improved in my opinion have to do with the kind of writing mixed with the level of spice. Before there were sexually explicit scenes I would have made the assumption that this was written for younger YA readers. When we got the first spicy scenes it was very clear that this wouldn't be appropriate for younger YA readers so there is a bit of a juxtaposition between the simplicity of the writing and the nature of the love scenes. For me this contrast was a bit too stark and it didn't mesh well for my reading experience. The only other real criticism I have is more so a personal preference as I have seen this trope in other books and that is uniformed consent. I don't love when a character chooses to consent to sexual acts with another character when they don't have valuable and important information. If they wouldn't say yes with all the information it seems a bit icky to me. I have given this feedback with *almost* all uninformed consent I have read in books.
Overall this read was uncomplicated and easy. It is a good book to look to if you want to read for vibes and not think too deeply on world building or complicated politics. A good entry level NA book if you are looking for YA style prose with spice. For me it didn't really hit the mark so that is where my star rating comes in!
⭐️⭐️.5
Rounded up to 3 stars.
This book was a really easy read and had a lot of great qualities about it however it was also lacking some key things that I hope for in my fantasy reads.
Some of the main strengths that I really enjoyed was the obvious character development from out FMC Alexandra. Alexandra starts off being very difficult to like. I empathize a lot with her trauma and her grief but her attitude and her arrogance makes her a very unlikeable person. This is written well because I felt my skin crawl at a lot of her decisions. Throughout the book she is forced into hardship and it changes her for the better. By the end of the book she is a humble and likeable character and I really enjoy character growth like this.
Our MMC Tom/Tyram was also quite likeable throughout the entire book. He was even tempered and understanding. He was much nicer than I would have been given the circumstances and I really appreciated a "softer" man like this one. My main concern with him would be how he is seemingly okay with uninformed sexual consent. I will touch on this in a moment.
The things that this book could have improved in my opinion have to do with the kind of writing mixed with the level of spice. Before there were sexually explicit scenes I would have made the assumption that this was written for younger YA readers. When we got the first spicy scenes it was very clear that this wouldn't be appropriate for younger YA readers so there is a bit of a juxtaposition between the simplicity of the writing and the nature of the love scenes. For me this contrast was a bit too stark and it didn't mesh well for my reading experience. The only other real criticism I have is more so a personal preference as I have seen this trope in other books and that is uniformed consent. I don't love when a character chooses to consent to sexual acts with another character when they don't have valuable and important information. If they wouldn't say yes with all the information it seems a bit icky to me. I have given this feedback with *almost* all uninformed consent I have read in books.
Overall this read was uncomplicated and easy. It is a good book to look to if you want to read for vibes and not think too deeply on world building or complicated politics. A good entry level NA book if you are looking for YA style prose with spice. For me it didn't really hit the mark so that is where my star rating comes in!
May 28, 2024
3.5 stars - An engaging retelling of King Thrushbeard that adds its own flavor to the traditional fairy tale. The proud Alexandra was a compelling center for the story, evolving from a prickly, selfish princess to a generous and compassionate leader. I rooted for her at every step of the journey, even when I (frequently) cringed at her early missteps. It was easy to see how her bad behavior was shaped by her father's indulgence and her mother's over-correcting harshness, and I only wish that the book had taken a moment to acknowledge that she was a product of bad parenting and privilege and not simply a bad person by nature. The holier than thou attitudes of both her mother and Tyram could be pretty grating, and I wish that he, especially, had been a little more fleshed out. As great as it was to watch Alexandra's development, it felt frustratingly one-sided and played into the tired narrative that women are inherently wicked and need to be scolded and shamed by a man in order to do right. These complaints aside, however, I truly enjoyed myself with this book, and I was engrossed in Alexandra's adventures and growing friendships. I would gladly read another book by this author, and for once, I'm excited by the idea of a sequel.
My thanks to the author and Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
My thanks to the author and Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2024
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.
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.
October 2, 2024
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.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
October 4, 2024
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.
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.
August 22, 2024
i received this as an E-ARC from netgalley. it had a strong start and was interesting within the first couple of chapters and fell through almost immediately. it was missing a slight spark. i wish i could say more, but i was not pleased nor enthusiastic about finishing this book. it is 1.5 star rating at highest.
May 16, 2025
I read The Iron Dagger first but still consider my mind BLOWN
October 19, 2024
While I enjoyed this story a lot, thanks to Tom. As Alexandra is a mostly exhausting and spoiled brat- especially at the beginning. (And due to this, to me, even after her character growth she was tolerable for me at best.)
The plot and storyline was very enjoyable nonetheless. It was whimsical and felt like a classic fairytale with a modern twist. Tom contrary to his female counterpart, was wonderful. He was sweet and a character that one could sympathize with. I wish there had been more from his point of view.
While I would definitely read more by Vanessa Green, I won’t be reading the continuation of this story.
As a note: I would rate this a New Adult novel. Not a young adult novel- to me it’s too explicit for that.
The plot and storyline was very enjoyable nonetheless. It was whimsical and felt like a classic fairytale with a modern twist. Tom contrary to his female counterpart, was wonderful. He was sweet and a character that one could sympathize with. I wish there had been more from his point of view.
While I would definitely read more by Vanessa Green, I won’t be reading the continuation of this story.
As a note: I would rate this a New Adult novel. Not a young adult novel- to me it’s too explicit for that.
March 22, 2026
The bard’s bargain is a retelling of the classic Grimm brother’s tale ‘King Thrushbeard’. A retelling is usually a sure fire way to pique my interest, but having read the brothers Grimm tells as a young teenager, I was curious to know how I would digest this story as an adult.
Princess Alexandra is a spoiled and ambitious royal, who is at odds with her mother. In her hubris, she feels that she should become the regent during her brother’s absence. However her mother feels that she can best serve the realm by marrying well. In an attempt to get her way, at a grand ball, Alexandra publicly ridicules many suitors causing scandal. The dowager Queen uses her daughter’s actions as justification to secretly enlist the leader of their country’s enemy to humble her child. She dangles the titular bargain to her daughter; live in poverty with a bard for a full year and if she succeeds in doing so, she will become regent.
For Alexandra, she accepts this deal to get what she wants without due diligence about what she will experience. The rest of the book follows her journey and life in the neighbouring country and her interactions with the common folk.
Alexandra’s character is insufferable and spoiled. It was frustrating to watch her repeatedly regress just as she seems to be maturing. While I acknowledge that her behaviour keeps in line with the original story, it is dragged out too long. Especially when you factor in that there are more interesting plot developments happening in the background.
Tyram/Tom is the titular bard and he is a character that I struggled to really get a handle on. As Tom he is what you want in a romance MMC: patient, compassionate but firm. Yet he (and along with her mother) willingly put the FMC into a bad situation and expose her to things that are more likely to wear a person down and ‘break’ them into what they want them to be. He grapples with guilt for what he’s putting her through and yet continues to do it.
Whilst I have issues with the main characters, I did truly love the interactions with the side characters like Angharad and the children.
Pacing wise the start of the story was engaging as it brought in the elements of wider world building and developing the story past the original tale. However the middle of the story felt dragged out to cover Alexandra’s character development and my interest waned in those moments. Also the final conflict between Alexandra and Tyram felt like it was never truly resolved, just quietly pushed aside and left to fester. The most interesting plot point was happening outside of the romance within the world.
The writing itself was clear and easy to follow and the tone was what you would have expected to see in a historically based romance. You could easily picture what the author was trying to convey, but the world building trumped character development. The spice included was mild. Due to the themes of poverty, war and assault, I would recommend this book to older young adults. Adults are likely to find Alexandra juvenile and unlikable as a main character. It could potentially be used as a bookclub read with a theme of retellings/historical romance.
I rated the book 3/5, the world and the side characters are rich and this is a story that could have stood on its own without the backing of the original King Thrushbeard tale. There is a sequel that follows the hedgewitch Angharad. Due to this change of character lead and the likelihood of not following a predefined fairytale plot, I do plan to continue on with the series.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of the ebook via Netgalley. Please note that the request for an ARC was approved post the book’s release.
Princess Alexandra is a spoiled and ambitious royal, who is at odds with her mother. In her hubris, she feels that she should become the regent during her brother’s absence. However her mother feels that she can best serve the realm by marrying well. In an attempt to get her way, at a grand ball, Alexandra publicly ridicules many suitors causing scandal. The dowager Queen uses her daughter’s actions as justification to secretly enlist the leader of their country’s enemy to humble her child. She dangles the titular bargain to her daughter; live in poverty with a bard for a full year and if she succeeds in doing so, she will become regent.
For Alexandra, she accepts this deal to get what she wants without due diligence about what she will experience. The rest of the book follows her journey and life in the neighbouring country and her interactions with the common folk.
Alexandra’s character is insufferable and spoiled. It was frustrating to watch her repeatedly regress just as she seems to be maturing. While I acknowledge that her behaviour keeps in line with the original story, it is dragged out too long. Especially when you factor in that there are more interesting plot developments happening in the background.
Tyram/Tom is the titular bard and he is a character that I struggled to really get a handle on. As Tom he is what you want in a romance MMC: patient, compassionate but firm. Yet he (and along with her mother) willingly put the FMC into a bad situation and expose her to things that are more likely to wear a person down and ‘break’ them into what they want them to be. He grapples with guilt for what he’s putting her through and yet continues to do it.
Whilst I have issues with the main characters, I did truly love the interactions with the side characters like Angharad and the children.
Pacing wise the start of the story was engaging as it brought in the elements of wider world building and developing the story past the original tale. However the middle of the story felt dragged out to cover Alexandra’s character development and my interest waned in those moments. Also the final conflict between Alexandra and Tyram felt like it was never truly resolved, just quietly pushed aside and left to fester. The most interesting plot point was happening outside of the romance within the world.
The writing itself was clear and easy to follow and the tone was what you would have expected to see in a historically based romance. You could easily picture what the author was trying to convey, but the world building trumped character development. The spice included was mild. Due to the themes of poverty, war and assault, I would recommend this book to older young adults. Adults are likely to find Alexandra juvenile and unlikable as a main character. It could potentially be used as a bookclub read with a theme of retellings/historical romance.
I rated the book 3/5, the world and the side characters are rich and this is a story that could have stood on its own without the backing of the original King Thrushbeard tale. There is a sequel that follows the hedgewitch Angharad. Due to this change of character lead and the likelihood of not following a predefined fairytale plot, I do plan to continue on with the series.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of the ebook via Netgalley. Please note that the request for an ARC was approved post the book’s release.
October 16, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Vanessa Green for a copy of The Baird's Bargain in exchange for an honest review.
In general, I love a retelling of an old story with a new spin. Green independently published this title in 2022, and in general I think she crafted a nice tale. As with everything, I want to give a rave, but there were faults in this story that hold me back from really loving it. Before I get to the faults, I'll discuss the things that I liked. I enjoyed the main character's development over time. She started out self-centered, immodest, and frankly annoying--perhaps even a bit of an unreliable narrator of her own story in the beginning. As time progressed, she seemed to mature. I enjoyed the blooming romance between the leading lady and her love interest, but it never really felt realistic. Most of the dialogue felt stilted [and here begins the negative feedback]. Green deeply struggles with pacing, dialogue, and character development and differentiation. All characters seem to follow modern dialogue patterns and sound roughly the same, though Green uses courtly language sporadically throughout the book. Green differentiated her leading lady from other characters by simply increasing the 'annoying' factor of her dialogue. Because of this, the story never felt real, never sucked me in, and never left me really wanting to read more--I was between DNF-ing and hoping it'll get better for the entire story yet never felt rewarded for my effort at any point. The biggest problem with this story was pacing. The time or content/context jumps between chapters left me feeling like Green's clumsy timeline was yanking me along at a jarring speed. Her transitions lacked finesse. Green also did not do herself any favors by turning this book into a dual POV as this choice increased the hodgepodge feeling of the story and highlighted her under-developed [and perhaps inexperienced] character work. True to the pacing problems throughout the story, the conclusion also felt cut short as though deus ex machina could just solve the problem of the plot. It left me wondering whether Green had gotten sick of writing her own story and just threw in whichever solution would wrap it up the fastest. This frankly made me frustrated as I had been waiting so long to see whether my patience would pay off.
There is a great deal of grace to be given to a new indy author, but I also believe that traditional editing methods aren't the only way to run your work through a filter prior to self-publication. Green would have greatly benefitted from an outside reviewer, even just a friend who likes to read, prior to publication. I say this because this story could have been an incredible success. The idea behind it has all the elements of a popular courtly romance: an ousted princess, the underdog love interest, wax poetics, court drama, and adventure. Taking these steps, of course, is entirely at the author's discretion and commendation must be given to any author simply for the endeavor of writing a book in the first place. Conclusively, while I enjoyed the idea behind this work, Green should have spent more time ironing out the kinks in her character work and pacing to allow the story to jump off the page.
In general, I love a retelling of an old story with a new spin. Green independently published this title in 2022, and in general I think she crafted a nice tale. As with everything, I want to give a rave, but there were faults in this story that hold me back from really loving it. Before I get to the faults, I'll discuss the things that I liked. I enjoyed the main character's development over time. She started out self-centered, immodest, and frankly annoying--perhaps even a bit of an unreliable narrator of her own story in the beginning. As time progressed, she seemed to mature. I enjoyed the blooming romance between the leading lady and her love interest, but it never really felt realistic. Most of the dialogue felt stilted [and here begins the negative feedback]. Green deeply struggles with pacing, dialogue, and character development and differentiation. All characters seem to follow modern dialogue patterns and sound roughly the same, though Green uses courtly language sporadically throughout the book. Green differentiated her leading lady from other characters by simply increasing the 'annoying' factor of her dialogue. Because of this, the story never felt real, never sucked me in, and never left me really wanting to read more--I was between DNF-ing and hoping it'll get better for the entire story yet never felt rewarded for my effort at any point. The biggest problem with this story was pacing. The time or content/context jumps between chapters left me feeling like Green's clumsy timeline was yanking me along at a jarring speed. Her transitions lacked finesse. Green also did not do herself any favors by turning this book into a dual POV as this choice increased the hodgepodge feeling of the story and highlighted her under-developed [and perhaps inexperienced] character work. True to the pacing problems throughout the story, the conclusion also felt cut short as though deus ex machina could just solve the problem of the plot. It left me wondering whether Green had gotten sick of writing her own story and just threw in whichever solution would wrap it up the fastest. This frankly made me frustrated as I had been waiting so long to see whether my patience would pay off.
There is a great deal of grace to be given to a new indy author, but I also believe that traditional editing methods aren't the only way to run your work through a filter prior to self-publication. Green would have greatly benefitted from an outside reviewer, even just a friend who likes to read, prior to publication. I say this because this story could have been an incredible success. The idea behind it has all the elements of a popular courtly romance: an ousted princess, the underdog love interest, wax poetics, court drama, and adventure. Taking these steps, of course, is entirely at the author's discretion and commendation must be given to any author simply for the endeavor of writing a book in the first place. Conclusively, while I enjoyed the idea behind this work, Green should have spent more time ironing out the kinks in her character work and pacing to allow the story to jump off the page.
February 5, 2025
*Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC; the review is my own.*
I almost DNF'd this book a few times, even after the 50% mark. I could not stand Alexandra, for one thing. Ultimately, I'm glad I finished it so I could see how it ended. Would I read it again or continue on with the sequel? Unlikely. Certain things about this book just didn't work for me, but that doesn't mean other readers won't enjoy it more than I did.
Although the overall story was interesting and had promise, I did not particularly like the writing. It started out feeling very much like a middle grade fairy tale retelling. (I had to familiarize myself with King Thrushbeard, as it that was not a story I really knew.) The way it was written was very simple, sometimes a little overdone, but very accessible. But in terms of content, this was not middle grade at all and included several sex scenes and some strong language that have no place in books meant for that age group. I'm not claiming that this book was intended for tweens; in fact, I'm confident it was aimed more at the new adult group. But the disparity between the writing and the content created such a clash that the whole thing just felt awkward.
And I must say that, in terms of story and character, I don't feel like the physical intimacy included truly fit. You have two characters who despise each other. Tom (22) is lying about his identity (Tyram--it's explained early on), frequently feels guilty about it after (somehow) developing feelings for Alexandra (19), and is supposed to be exceptionally honorable. Yet he continues to sleep with her. And Alexandra, knowing that she has no intention of remaining with Tom past the year's end and even sometimes thinking about what she could have had if she had agreed to marry Tyram, does the same. I would have much preferred there to be more yearning and less giving in to physical desires. Perhaps a few kisses. All the rest of it just didn't fit, I'm my opinion, and even felt cringy.
I think the book's last 10-15% was its strongest part. (Though some of that even got really awkward.) I think Alexandra's character growth really showed itself, and some much needed drama broke up the happy little life she and Tom had made for themselves. Usually I don't like it when something gets in the way of the relationship, but in this case, it was necessary in order to get through the lie that they'd been living.
The book is set up for a sequel, but unless the writing has undergone a drastic improvement between this book and the next, I will sit that one out.
How it ends:
Note: Some language, including an f word. Really cringy open-door sex scenes.
I almost DNF'd this book a few times, even after the 50% mark. I could not stand Alexandra, for one thing. Ultimately, I'm glad I finished it so I could see how it ended. Would I read it again or continue on with the sequel? Unlikely. Certain things about this book just didn't work for me, but that doesn't mean other readers won't enjoy it more than I did.
Although the overall story was interesting and had promise, I did not particularly like the writing. It started out feeling very much like a middle grade fairy tale retelling. (I had to familiarize myself with King Thrushbeard, as it that was not a story I really knew.) The way it was written was very simple, sometimes a little overdone, but very accessible. But in terms of content, this was not middle grade at all and included several sex scenes and some strong language that have no place in books meant for that age group. I'm not claiming that this book was intended for tweens; in fact, I'm confident it was aimed more at the new adult group. But the disparity between the writing and the content created such a clash that the whole thing just felt awkward.
And I must say that, in terms of story and character, I don't feel like the physical intimacy included truly fit. You have two characters who despise each other. Tom (22) is lying about his identity (Tyram--it's explained early on), frequently feels guilty about it after (somehow) developing feelings for Alexandra (19), and is supposed to be exceptionally honorable. Yet he continues to sleep with her. And Alexandra, knowing that she has no intention of remaining with Tom past the year's end and even sometimes thinking about what she could have had if she had agreed to marry Tyram, does the same. I would have much preferred there to be more yearning and less giving in to physical desires. Perhaps a few kisses. All the rest of it just didn't fit, I'm my opinion, and even felt cringy.
I think the book's last 10-15% was its strongest part. (Though some of that even got really awkward.) I think Alexandra's character growth really showed itself, and some much needed drama broke up the happy little life she and Tom had made for themselves. Usually I don't like it when something gets in the way of the relationship, but in this case, it was necessary in order to get through the lie that they'd been living.
The book is set up for a sequel, but unless the writing has undergone a drastic improvement between this book and the next, I will sit that one out.
How it ends:
Note: Some language, including an f word. Really cringy open-door sex scenes.
January 6, 2026
“The trick of your life is upon you. The pain of hunger, the bite of cold, the wretchedness of filth,” she rasped. “You will be shorn of your finery, and vermin will nip at your shoes. Beware the numb indifference that overtakes your heart. Rip out the pride before its roots spread deep. Do this or suffer, Self-Seeker.”
The description given of this book, while interesting at first read, isn't really what I would say this book is about. I think it would be....if we didn't have Tom's POV. Also it is worth noting that this is a low fantasy. There isn't really any magic/world building, and it is more Ren Faire vibes.
First of all, the "one year with the bard" punishment that is discussed doesn't start until like 30% of the way into the book. The problem is, because of Tom's POV, you know before any of it even starts that Tom isn't a bard. You also know he is working with Alexandra's mother to manipulate her by offering her a deal that she very clearly doesn't expect to honor. Alexandra is told that at the end of the year, if she makes it through, she will be named regent upon return to her kingdom. For Tom, it is a trial marriage.
The premise behind needing to have the trial marriage/specifically marry Alexandra to Tom doesn't even really make sense to me. It is supposed to be to broker peace between the two kingdoms but with both kings/stewards that started the war dead and neither of the two reigning men wanting to continue the war, why don't they just.....stop it? They are able to stop it for a year for the plot of this to take place, so why not just stop it permanently instead of manipulating someone for a year?
Thank you NetGalley and Vanessa Green for the ARC (which, I know, took me a super long time to read).
The description given of this book, while interesting at first read, isn't really what I would say this book is about. I think it would be....if we didn't have Tom's POV. Also it is worth noting that this is a low fantasy. There isn't really any magic/world building, and it is more Ren Faire vibes.
First of all, the "one year with the bard" punishment that is discussed doesn't start until like 30% of the way into the book. The problem is, because of Tom's POV, you know before any of it even starts that Tom isn't a bard. You also know he is working with Alexandra's mother to manipulate her by offering her a deal that she very clearly doesn't expect to honor. Alexandra is told that at the end of the year, if she makes it through, she will be named regent upon return to her kingdom. For Tom, it is a trial marriage.
The premise behind needing to have the trial marriage/specifically marry Alexandra to Tom doesn't even really make sense to me. It is supposed to be to broker peace between the two kingdoms but with both kings/stewards that started the war dead and neither of the two reigning men wanting to continue the war, why don't they just.....stop it? They are able to stop it for a year for the plot of this to take place, so why not just stop it permanently instead of manipulating someone for a year?
Thank you NetGalley and Vanessa Green for the ARC (which, I know, took me a super long time to read).
March 7, 2025
I would like to first mention that I am in love with this cover!! The artwork is stunning and that is what first caught my attention and drew me in.
I am a sucker for folktale retellings as well, and I hadn’t ever seen one of King Thrushbeard. There were parts of this story that were hard for me to follow as far as the writing and story telling goes, and though I was annoyed pretty frequently by the FMC in the beginning, it was necessary to be able to see her growth throughout the story. Overall, I loved the angst and banter between the FMC and MMC and this was an enjoyable read!
Thank you so much NetGalley for the eARC!!
I am a sucker for folktale retellings as well, and I hadn’t ever seen one of King Thrushbeard. There were parts of this story that were hard for me to follow as far as the writing and story telling goes, and though I was annoyed pretty frequently by the FMC in the beginning, it was necessary to be able to see her growth throughout the story. Overall, I loved the angst and banter between the FMC and MMC and this was an enjoyable read!
Thank you so much NetGalley for the eARC!!
May 23, 2024
Title: The Bard's Bargain by Vanessa Green
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars
Every day they traveled further from everything Princess Alexandra had ever known, and each day the weight of this year-long journey pressed heavier upon her. With no guards, no physicians, and no servants at her beck and call, Alexandra was truly alone. In a world where screaming for help might go unheard, she was forced to fend for herself.
War has ravaged the split kingdoms of Norwen and Lenwen for a generation. When Princess Alexandra of Lenwen rejects all her suitors at her debut, she angers kings, princes, and her own formidable mother. As punishment for her pride, the queen strips Alexandra of her title and forces her to live in poverty with the lowliest commoner she can find—a young bard named Tom. If Alexandra can endure the life of a commoner for a full year, she will be allowed to return to the palace and assume the coveted position of regent.
Alexandra's journey with Tom takes her to the neighboring kingdom of Norwen, home to one of the suitors she spurned. She faces the harsh realities of living as a poor bard's companion, learning for the first time to care for someone other than herself.
Despite the constant hardships, Alexandra finds herself drawn to the handsome and lighthearted Tom. As the year progresses, she must choose between returning to her old life as a princess to end the war once and for all, or embracing her newfound love and life with Tom.
Why I enjoyed It:
👑 Royal Drama: The tension between Alexandra and her mother, coupled with the political stakes of the war, makes for a gripping read.
🎶 Charming Romance: The chemistry between Alexandra and Tom is undeniable and heartwarming, growing steadily as they face challenges together.
🌲 Adventure and Growth: Alexandra's journey from a pampered princess to a resilient commoner is beautifully portrayed, showcasing her character development.
💔 Themes of Pride and Redemption: The story masterfully explores themes of pride, humility, and the power of love to change hearts and lives.
The Bard's Bargain is a magical and emotional journey that kept me hooked from start to finish. Vanessa Green's storytelling is rich and immersive, bringing the world of Lenwen and Norwen to life with vivid detail.
Alexandra's transformation is compelling and relatable. Her initial haughtiness gives way to genuine strength and empathy as she navigates the struggles of common life. Tom, with his lighthearted nature and hidden depths, is the perfect foil to Alexandra's pride, and their evolving relationship is both touching and believable.
The retelling of King Thrushbeard is fresh and engaging, with enough twists to keep even seasoned fairy tale lovers on their toes. The ending, where Alexandra faces the ultimate choice between duty and love, is both satisfying and thought-provoking.
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.
Perfect for fans of fairy tale retellings and heartwarming romances, this story is a delightful reimagining of King Thrushbeard.
Thank you to The Publisher Joan Anderson ,The Author Vanessa Green & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
January 12, 2025
ׂ╰┈➤ ★★★★☆
Wow!! This was perfectly addictive… Cottage-core with hilariously sweet enemies to lovers that are also grumpy (she) x sunshine (him), with a touch of deliciously sensual spice. I NEED more…
・❥・Enemies to Lovers
・❥・Forced Proximity
・❥・Grumpy x Sunshine
・❥・Cottage-Core Setting
・❥・Secret Identities
・❥・He Falls First
・❥・Political Viewpoints
・❥・3/5 🌶️
𝐓𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲, 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲…
「 ✦ Princess Alexandra of Lenwen’s attitude is shrewd and has no consideration for others, her only focus is to become regent. However, with the passing of her father, the King, from a brutal form of war weaponry, her brother has taken the crown and hopes of becoming regent is closer than ever. Until her mother, the current Queen Dowager, finds Alexandra’s attitude appalling, especially since she has rejected every suitor at her debut ball, turning down the idea of marriage.
Little did Alexandra know, that with her lack thereof, sparks an idea within the Queen Dowager in order to bring peace to the kingdoms. The idea formed between the Queen and the current Steward of the neighbouring kingdom of Norwen.
Upon hearing the Queens notion to strip Alexandra of her Princess title, she is forced to live in poverty with a bard named Tom, in hopes to change ✦ 」
“𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭. 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥.”
“𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵,” 𝘛𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘛𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵. “𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘈𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥. 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦, 𝘵𝘰𝘰. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯, 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘥. 𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭.”
^^ agh my heart… Tom is such a sweetheart.
Very fun read and I am in love with this author now. I need to have more of her adventure and romance. It was already given to us the other characters for the next book, and I can’t wait to read it!! A hedge-witch and selfish lord who cares for nothing but power and money?! Sign me up 🤣
Besides the adventure and steamy moments, there were a few things that I did not like which I guess made up for it when it got closer to the ending. Firstly, it was Alexandra’s character. She was such a whiny baby and she cried so much I hated it. But there was so much growth, I’m so glad she didn’t go back to her old ways!!
Secondly, tho I loveddd the spice, there were a few things that were a touch unsanitary 🤣 like bruh they f-ked in the woods near a stream, but there was no info given whether they had washed after doing the deed 😅 I mean I get that it’s set in a specific time, but surely they’d think about washing right!!
Lastly!! There could’ve been a little more pages to explain whether or not they had found Bess and her sibling’s parents. Cause like what happened to them after!! And the people of the town they stayed in!?
But thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this title. Without coming across it, I never would’ve found something to love. I hope to see more from this author too! Although the text was hard to read on the app so I read the rest of the story on Kindle 💜
Wow!! This was perfectly addictive… Cottage-core with hilariously sweet enemies to lovers that are also grumpy (she) x sunshine (him), with a touch of deliciously sensual spice. I NEED more…
・❥・Enemies to Lovers
・❥・Forced Proximity
・❥・Grumpy x Sunshine
・❥・Cottage-Core Setting
・❥・Secret Identities
・❥・He Falls First
・❥・Political Viewpoints
・❥・3/5 🌶️
𝐓𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲, 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲…
「 ✦ Princess Alexandra of Lenwen’s attitude is shrewd and has no consideration for others, her only focus is to become regent. However, with the passing of her father, the King, from a brutal form of war weaponry, her brother has taken the crown and hopes of becoming regent is closer than ever. Until her mother, the current Queen Dowager, finds Alexandra’s attitude appalling, especially since she has rejected every suitor at her debut ball, turning down the idea of marriage.
Little did Alexandra know, that with her lack thereof, sparks an idea within the Queen Dowager in order to bring peace to the kingdoms. The idea formed between the Queen and the current Steward of the neighbouring kingdom of Norwen.
Upon hearing the Queens notion to strip Alexandra of her Princess title, she is forced to live in poverty with a bard named Tom, in hopes to change ✦ 」
“𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭. 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥.”
“𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵,” 𝘛𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘛𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵. “𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘈𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥. 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦, 𝘵𝘰𝘰. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯, 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘥. 𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭.”
^^ agh my heart… Tom is such a sweetheart.
Very fun read and I am in love with this author now. I need to have more of her adventure and romance. It was already given to us the other characters for the next book, and I can’t wait to read it!! A hedge-witch and selfish lord who cares for nothing but power and money?! Sign me up 🤣
Besides the adventure and steamy moments, there were a few things that I did not like which I guess made up for it when it got closer to the ending. Firstly, it was Alexandra’s character. She was such a whiny baby and she cried so much I hated it. But there was so much growth, I’m so glad she didn’t go back to her old ways!!
Secondly, tho I loveddd the spice, there were a few things that were a touch unsanitary 🤣 like bruh they f-ked in the woods near a stream, but there was no info given whether they had washed after doing the deed 😅 I mean I get that it’s set in a specific time, but surely they’d think about washing right!!
Lastly!! There could’ve been a little more pages to explain whether or not they had found Bess and her sibling’s parents. Cause like what happened to them after!! And the people of the town they stayed in!?
But thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this title. Without coming across it, I never would’ve found something to love. I hope to see more from this author too! Although the text was hard to read on the app so I read the rest of the story on Kindle 💜
August 24, 2024
A mesmerising novel of erotic and romantic passion set amidst the trappings of riches to rags (an unusual twist of fate).
This book was wonderful. I wasn't sure about the premise at the start but intrigued by the idea of a bargain being struck and the details surrounding it.
I didn't expect to be so enthralled by the topic but I was completely taken unawares by the quality of the writing and completely immersed in both the major and minor story arc.
The main character is a spoilt, immature princess with a passion for music called Alexandra. She lives in a kingdom that is constantly at war with it's neighbour and there is social consequences to this.
Alexandra doesn't have enough experience or empathy to care about the people around her or what it takes to enable her pampered spoilt existence.
Enter the heir to rival kingdom, Tyram (Tom) who is also passionate about music but much more mature than Alexandra, as he's seen firsthand the cost of war.
Alexandra's mother and Tyram hatch a scheme in which Alexandra will either continue with her frivolous, selfish existence or ultimately become a mature, empathetic, responsible person which might possibly end up changing the course of the senseless war and diverting the path of both kingdoms.
I really enjoyed the relationship that evolved between Alexandra and Tyram, initially based on a shared love of music, but felt conflicted about the deception required to enable the initial stages of their relationship, as Alexandra had to overcome her prejudice towards Tyram and his origin and status in the rival Kingdom, so he lied about himself and his background to facilitate this.
There were moments when I thought the story line was a bit audacious and far fetched, as it relied on intoxication, unfamiliarity and subterfuge to disguise Tyram's appearance but then I suppose it's worked for the Superman comics for over 50 years so it is a traditional theme (ie beard or no beard, unkempt hair in comparison to neatly trimmed etc).
The book has been left open for a sequel and I for one would be eager to revisit these two characters and find out more about what happens.
I would also be interested in finding out what has happened to her brother King Bryan and if there is a future novel planned to detail his experiences whilst on his "Grand Tour" for a year away from the monarchy.
All in all I would recommend this book as it is diverting, interesting and a treat for the senses
This book was wonderful. I wasn't sure about the premise at the start but intrigued by the idea of a bargain being struck and the details surrounding it.
I didn't expect to be so enthralled by the topic but I was completely taken unawares by the quality of the writing and completely immersed in both the major and minor story arc.
The main character is a spoilt, immature princess with a passion for music called Alexandra. She lives in a kingdom that is constantly at war with it's neighbour and there is social consequences to this.
Alexandra doesn't have enough experience or empathy to care about the people around her or what it takes to enable her pampered spoilt existence.
Enter the heir to rival kingdom, Tyram (Tom) who is also passionate about music but much more mature than Alexandra, as he's seen firsthand the cost of war.
Alexandra's mother and Tyram hatch a scheme in which Alexandra will either continue with her frivolous, selfish existence or ultimately become a mature, empathetic, responsible person which might possibly end up changing the course of the senseless war and diverting the path of both kingdoms.
I really enjoyed the relationship that evolved between Alexandra and Tyram, initially based on a shared love of music, but felt conflicted about the deception required to enable the initial stages of their relationship, as Alexandra had to overcome her prejudice towards Tyram and his origin and status in the rival Kingdom, so he lied about himself and his background to facilitate this.
There were moments when I thought the story line was a bit audacious and far fetched, as it relied on intoxication, unfamiliarity and subterfuge to disguise Tyram's appearance but then I suppose it's worked for the Superman comics for over 50 years so it is a traditional theme (ie beard or no beard, unkempt hair in comparison to neatly trimmed etc).
The book has been left open for a sequel and I for one would be eager to revisit these two characters and find out more about what happens.
I would also be interested in finding out what has happened to her brother King Bryan and if there is a future novel planned to detail his experiences whilst on his "Grand Tour" for a year away from the monarchy.
All in all I would recommend this book as it is diverting, interesting and a treat for the senses
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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