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The Redwood Bargain
Not yet published
Expected 28 Apr 26To free her cousin from an indentured contract, Katrien agrees to fulfill their lord’s bargain with the fabled “Redwood Man.” Three maids before her have posed as his stepdaughter, Lady Zaviera, and met this lord of the forest as promised. But Katrien means to be the first to fool him—and live.
Impersonating a Lady is no easy feat, especially one as beautiful and aloof as Zaviera. With one month before she’s sent off, Katrien is put through endless lessons, even as the Redwood Man’s suffocating vines overtake the manor and threaten its staff.
Zaviera takes a special interest in her training, and their shared interests grow into shared affections. But the Redwood Man awaits his prize. Caught between duty and desire, her future and her past, Katrien must navigate a tricky bargain—or risk failing those she holds dearest.
Impersonating a Lady is no easy feat, especially one as beautiful and aloof as Zaviera. With one month before she’s sent off, Katrien is put through endless lessons, even as the Redwood Man’s suffocating vines overtake the manor and threaten its staff.
Zaviera takes a special interest in her training, and their shared interests grow into shared affections. But the Redwood Man awaits his prize. Caught between duty and desire, her future and her past, Katrien must navigate a tricky bargain—or risk failing those she holds dearest.
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I loved the dark atmosphere and the story behind this book. It’s a clever retelling of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, filled with many characters who each face different struggles, making them easy to empathize with.
The story is entertaining, but it also explores difficult themes such as grief, forgiveness, guilt, and being overprotective of others to the point of losing yourself. It runs much deeper than a simple fairy tale, feeling more like a journey of healing for each character. Because of that, it carries meaningful lessons and works really well as a YA novel.
There are a few slightly sensual scenes between two of the FMC, but all romantic elements are subtle and tastefully handled. I also have to mention that the writing is beautiful—the author did a wonderful job bringing this story to life.
I gave it 4 ⭐️ because the theme isn’t usually my favorite, but I genuinely enjoyed my time reading it and can fully appreciate the depth and quality of the story.
The story is entertaining, but it also explores difficult themes such as grief, forgiveness, guilt, and being overprotective of others to the point of losing yourself. It runs much deeper than a simple fairy tale, feeling more like a journey of healing for each character. Because of that, it carries meaningful lessons and works really well as a YA novel.
There are a few slightly sensual scenes between two of the FMC, but all romantic elements are subtle and tastefully handled. I also have to mention that the writing is beautiful—the author did a wonderful job bringing this story to life.
I gave it 4 ⭐️ because the theme isn’t usually my favorite, but I genuinely enjoyed my time reading it and can fully appreciate the depth and quality of the story.
March 15, 2026
Thank you Page Street YA and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.
This should have been a DNF in all honesty, but I kept hoping the next plot point would redeem it.
It was just boring. The romance between Katrien and Zaviera was kind of sweet but nowhere near enough of the focus to win me over, and everything else fell completely flat.
First, I was holding out for the Redwood Man to be interesting, then that was boring and I was hoping the rescue mission would save it, but by that point I was so checked out it would have had to be incredible to really hold my attention.
This should have been a DNF in all honesty, but I kept hoping the next plot point would redeem it.
It was just boring. The romance between Katrien and Zaviera was kind of sweet but nowhere near enough of the focus to win me over, and everything else fell completely flat.
First, I was holding out for the Redwood Man to be interesting, then that was boring and I was hoping the rescue mission would save it, but by that point I was so checked out it would have had to be incredible to really hold my attention.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First of all thanks so much to the folks at Netgalley for this ARC!
4.5 Stars
Ahhhh! This was incredible! I went into this knowing very little about the plot and I’m so glad I did because this was such a gem. Although this book includes things that most readers are probably familiar with (sentient woods, manor politics, and folkloric bargains), The Redwood Bargain felt so fresh and unique. Everything about it was well written from a purely technical standpoint which translated into a genuinely insightful and engaging read. I feel like the brilliance of this book lies in how the author allows her characters to make choices while never pretending that those choices are free. This book has a full cast of morally grey characters who make difficult, and often horrible, decisions without ever falling into villainous cartoonishness or tired archetypes. They are actively characterized by those choices. Despite being marketed as YA, this novel felt mature and grounded in how it approached topics like social class, moral compromise, coercion, and constrained agency. My only critique is that I wish the final third was more built out. The story went from being a period drama with mild fantasy elements, to much darker folklore vibes (with some body horror). If you are looking for a book with real stakes, tight pacing, and a layered narrative that tackles the complexity of class, gender, and racial dynamics in a Downton Abbey-esque setting, I highly highly recommend this book!
Setting
This reads like a late 19th or early 20th century period drama with supernatural and fairytale elements. For most of the novel the Redwood man looms in the background, acting as an existential threat while Lord Barras and the politics of his manor take narrative precedence (especially early on). I feel like lots of social hierarchies in YA fantasy books can feel decorative rather than meaningful. This was not the case in this book. The manor operates like a microcosm of power. There is the gendered relationship between Lord Barras and his daughters, the social relationship of the Barras family’s to the staff, and the relationship between the staff who have tenancy and those who are indentured. Even people who fall lower down in the social hierarchy still take advantage of what little power they *do* have to hurt those below them.
Pacing
I usually don’t mention the pacing in books because I think that if it’s good you don’t really notice it but in this book you could feel the flow of the story, if that makes sense. Every chapter felt purposeful in pushing the narrative forward and deepening character relationships. The pace is consistently pleasant without ever feeling like the story is being rushed or stagnating.
Characters
Katrien: Stubborn, loyal, deeply recognizable as the older sister who bears too much, Katrien’s willingness to make decisions for others (even without their knowledge or consent) was both compelling and troubling. Her choices feel emotionally sincere, even when morally questionable and by the end of the novel we see real growth in her.
Helsa: Helsa plays a minor role in the first 2/3rds of this book but we get to see a whole lot more of her by the end. She starts off the book in a bad place physically and emotionally and grows immensely over the course of the novel. A large portion of her story is dealing with her alcoholism. I can’t speak on that experience personally but I thought it was handled respectfully. I also liked how wholesome her friendship (and later romance) with Henrik was.
Avery: The eldest Barras daughter, in another book she could have easily been reduced to a cold, utilitarian mastermind (the type of person to believe that ‘the end justifies the means’). Instead she is framed as a mirror to Katrien, willing to withhold information, lie, and sacrifice others in an attempt to keep her sisters safe. I wish we could have seen more of her, especially in the last 3rd when she all but disappears.
Mariette: While initially framed as cruel or callous (which she is) the author complicates Mariette by showing her deep insecurity and perceived outsider status among the sisters. The book never redeems her but it contextualizes her behavior. Like Avery, I wish we got to seem more of her in the 3rd portion of the book.
Zaviera: When she is introduced she is depicted as the “good” sister but the narrative goes on to interrogate whether her remorse is enough to justify her complicity in the sacrifice of servant girls to the Redwood Man. Is she morally superior to someone like Avery, who recognizes the horror but accepts it as a necessary loss? I liked that her relationship with Katrien didn’t simply overshadow all of the surrounding circumstances. Katrien, as a kitchen maid, was still considered her social inferior– a fact that they are both painfully aware of (Katrien, understandably, more than Zaviera). Overall their relationship felt intimate and slow burn.
I also liked how the antagonists (The Redwood man, Lucca, etc..) aren’t acting villainous just to be spiteful (with the exception of Lord Barras) but have genuine reasons for acting out of self interest. The narrative never justifies their actions but they are also not flattened as characters.
4.5 Stars
Ahhhh! This was incredible! I went into this knowing very little about the plot and I’m so glad I did because this was such a gem. Although this book includes things that most readers are probably familiar with (sentient woods, manor politics, and folkloric bargains), The Redwood Bargain felt so fresh and unique. Everything about it was well written from a purely technical standpoint which translated into a genuinely insightful and engaging read. I feel like the brilliance of this book lies in how the author allows her characters to make choices while never pretending that those choices are free. This book has a full cast of morally grey characters who make difficult, and often horrible, decisions without ever falling into villainous cartoonishness or tired archetypes. They are actively characterized by those choices. Despite being marketed as YA, this novel felt mature and grounded in how it approached topics like social class, moral compromise, coercion, and constrained agency. My only critique is that I wish the final third was more built out. The story went from being a period drama with mild fantasy elements, to much darker folklore vibes (with some body horror). If you are looking for a book with real stakes, tight pacing, and a layered narrative that tackles the complexity of class, gender, and racial dynamics in a Downton Abbey-esque setting, I highly highly recommend this book!
Setting
This reads like a late 19th or early 20th century period drama with supernatural and fairytale elements. For most of the novel the Redwood man looms in the background, acting as an existential threat while Lord Barras and the politics of his manor take narrative precedence (especially early on). I feel like lots of social hierarchies in YA fantasy books can feel decorative rather than meaningful. This was not the case in this book. The manor operates like a microcosm of power. There is the gendered relationship between Lord Barras and his daughters, the social relationship of the Barras family’s to the staff, and the relationship between the staff who have tenancy and those who are indentured. Even people who fall lower down in the social hierarchy still take advantage of what little power they *do* have to hurt those below them.
Pacing
I usually don’t mention the pacing in books because I think that if it’s good you don’t really notice it but in this book you could feel the flow of the story, if that makes sense. Every chapter felt purposeful in pushing the narrative forward and deepening character relationships. The pace is consistently pleasant without ever feeling like the story is being rushed or stagnating.
Characters
Katrien: Stubborn, loyal, deeply recognizable as the older sister who bears too much, Katrien’s willingness to make decisions for others (even without their knowledge or consent) was both compelling and troubling. Her choices feel emotionally sincere, even when morally questionable and by the end of the novel we see real growth in her.
Helsa: Helsa plays a minor role in the first 2/3rds of this book but we get to see a whole lot more of her by the end. She starts off the book in a bad place physically and emotionally and grows immensely over the course of the novel. A large portion of her story is dealing with her alcoholism. I can’t speak on that experience personally but I thought it was handled respectfully. I also liked how wholesome her friendship (and later romance) with Henrik was.
Avery: The eldest Barras daughter, in another book she could have easily been reduced to a cold, utilitarian mastermind (the type of person to believe that ‘the end justifies the means’). Instead she is framed as a mirror to Katrien, willing to withhold information, lie, and sacrifice others in an attempt to keep her sisters safe. I wish we could have seen more of her, especially in the last 3rd when she all but disappears.
Mariette: While initially framed as cruel or callous (which she is) the author complicates Mariette by showing her deep insecurity and perceived outsider status among the sisters. The book never redeems her but it contextualizes her behavior. Like Avery, I wish we got to seem more of her in the 3rd portion of the book.
Zaviera: When she is introduced she is depicted as the “good” sister but the narrative goes on to interrogate whether her remorse is enough to justify her complicity in the sacrifice of servant girls to the Redwood Man. Is she morally superior to someone like Avery, who recognizes the horror but accepts it as a necessary loss? I liked that her relationship with Katrien didn’t simply overshadow all of the surrounding circumstances. Katrien, as a kitchen maid, was still considered her social inferior– a fact that they are both painfully aware of (Katrien, understandably, more than Zaviera). Overall their relationship felt intimate and slow burn.
I also liked how the antagonists (The Redwood man, Lucca, etc..) aren’t acting villainous just to be spiteful (with the exception of Lord Barras) but have genuine reasons for acting out of self interest. The narrative never justifies their actions but they are also not flattened as characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was SO GOOD!! I literally never do this, but I literally genuinely stayed up all night reading it, I just could not stop, I have not been able to do that in 10 years, but I could not put this book down, it wasn’t even a case of ‘oh just one more chapter’ I knew from about the second chapter that I was in this for the long haul.
The story was SO interesting too, the Lord Of The Manor was so interesting to me, I wish we got more back story for him because his life sounds EVENTFUL to say the least. I was also so interested in The Redwood Man, he is obviously such a bad person but towards the end you start to think ‘oh maybe he’s just trapped and trying to get out of a bad situation’ but then BOOM nope he is actually just a massive evil idiot horrible person thing. I literally would not mind if this book was two times longer, I need MORE, I need more background on what causes The Redwood Men (people? things?) was there an original one? how did they / he / she figure everything out? I would also like more on the other two sisters, especially at the end, and the beginning, maybe before their dads third marriage.
I don’t mean I need more in a bad way either, I just mean the book is so good I want more, like maybe a prequel, and / or a sequel.
The romance was also BEAUTIFUL, it didn’t feel like a slowburn, it felt at the right pace, not too fast, not too slow, it was perfect. The whole thing, every scene between the two felt perfect, they truly made me smile each time, I loved how they had little looks and glances when they weren’t able to communicate with speech. I also love how it was kind of forbidden but it didn’t seem like anyone cared about that much.
The side characters were also so good, their stories were so sad and heartbreaking but they were SO GOOD, I loved the second half of the book where we got to see them together for a while, and see them all bond and grow and heal together.
Overall obviously I loved this book, something about Markelles writing is just so magical to me, her stories aren’t necessarily fairytales but they come across so fairytale like and magical and like literal magic? Like there is no princess trapped in a tower needing saving by a prince or anything, but it is that vibe.
Also, looking at the cover once I finished the book? CREEPYYY, the redwood man in the back?? the branches around Katrien?? the necklace??? ooooh it’s so good, I didn’t even notice the redwood man in the background at first.
The story was SO interesting too, the Lord Of The Manor was so interesting to me, I wish we got more back story for him because his life sounds EVENTFUL to say the least. I was also so interested in The Redwood Man, he is obviously such a bad person but towards the end you start to think ‘oh maybe he’s just trapped and trying to get out of a bad situation’ but then BOOM nope he is actually just a massive evil idiot horrible person thing. I literally would not mind if this book was two times longer, I need MORE, I need more background on what causes The Redwood Men (people? things?) was there an original one? how did they / he / she figure everything out? I would also like more on the other two sisters, especially at the end, and the beginning, maybe before their dads third marriage.
I don’t mean I need more in a bad way either, I just mean the book is so good I want more, like maybe a prequel, and / or a sequel.
The romance was also BEAUTIFUL, it didn’t feel like a slowburn, it felt at the right pace, not too fast, not too slow, it was perfect. The whole thing, every scene between the two felt perfect, they truly made me smile each time, I loved how they had little looks and glances when they weren’t able to communicate with speech. I also love how it was kind of forbidden but it didn’t seem like anyone cared about that much.
The side characters were also so good, their stories were so sad and heartbreaking but they were SO GOOD, I loved the second half of the book where we got to see them together for a while, and see them all bond and grow and heal together.
Overall obviously I loved this book, something about Markelles writing is just so magical to me, her stories aren’t necessarily fairytales but they come across so fairytale like and magical and like literal magic? Like there is no princess trapped in a tower needing saving by a prince or anything, but it is that vibe.
Also, looking at the cover once I finished the book? CREEPYYY, the redwood man in the back?? the branches around Katrien?? the necklace??? ooooh it’s so good, I didn’t even notice the redwood man in the background at first.
January 25, 2026
This was one of those books I really wanted to love
The premise is genuinely strong: a kitchen maid forced into impersonating a noble girl to save her cousin, a mysterious forest entity demanding sacrifices, and a manor full of secrets and quiet cruelty. On paper, it’s gothic, eerie and morally complex
exactly my kind of thing
In practice, though, the story never fully clicked for me…
My biggest struggle was with the characters, especially Katrien. I understood her motivations (guilt, loyalty, and love for her cousin) but her choices often felt impulsive in a way that made it hard for me to emotionally connect with her. I wanted to feel her conflict more deeply, not just understand it logically
Her relationship with Helsa is clearly meant to be the emotional core, but even there, I found myself a little distanced. I did enjoy Helsa’s interactions with Henrik, those moments felt softer and more grounded than a lot of the main narrative and I actually wished we’d spent more time in that space
My favorite character by far was Lady Zaviera. She felt thoughtful, restrained and quietly interesting in a way that stood out from everyone else. I really missed having her POV, because I think the story could have been even richer if we’d been able to see the world through her eyes, especially her complicated relationship with her family and her role in the bargain itself
The romance was another mixed point for me. I liked the early moments, the etiquette lessons, the shared glances, the small almost-secret interactions. But emotionally, it never quite landed. I kept wishing it would either deepen into something more impactful or step back and let the main plot breathe
Pacing-wise, the book took a while to pull me in. Once it picked up, I was more invested, but the beginning felt slow in a way that made it hard to stay fully immersed
That said, I can absolutely see the appeal. The atmosphere is beautiful: eerie forests, old manor politics and a villain that feels genuinely unsettling
There’s a lot of promise here, especially for readers who enjoy morally gray choices, slow tension and gothic settings that focus more on mood than action
This just wasn’t a perfect match for me personally, even though I really admired what it was trying to do
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
The premise is genuinely strong: a kitchen maid forced into impersonating a noble girl to save her cousin, a mysterious forest entity demanding sacrifices, and a manor full of secrets and quiet cruelty. On paper, it’s gothic, eerie and morally complex
exactly my kind of thing
In practice, though, the story never fully clicked for me…
My biggest struggle was with the characters, especially Katrien. I understood her motivations (guilt, loyalty, and love for her cousin) but her choices often felt impulsive in a way that made it hard for me to emotionally connect with her. I wanted to feel her conflict more deeply, not just understand it logically
Her relationship with Helsa is clearly meant to be the emotional core, but even there, I found myself a little distanced. I did enjoy Helsa’s interactions with Henrik, those moments felt softer and more grounded than a lot of the main narrative and I actually wished we’d spent more time in that space
My favorite character by far was Lady Zaviera. She felt thoughtful, restrained and quietly interesting in a way that stood out from everyone else. I really missed having her POV, because I think the story could have been even richer if we’d been able to see the world through her eyes, especially her complicated relationship with her family and her role in the bargain itself
The romance was another mixed point for me. I liked the early moments, the etiquette lessons, the shared glances, the small almost-secret interactions. But emotionally, it never quite landed. I kept wishing it would either deepen into something more impactful or step back and let the main plot breathe
Pacing-wise, the book took a while to pull me in. Once it picked up, I was more invested, but the beginning felt slow in a way that made it hard to stay fully immersed
That said, I can absolutely see the appeal. The atmosphere is beautiful: eerie forests, old manor politics and a villain that feels genuinely unsettling
There’s a lot of promise here, especially for readers who enjoy morally gray choices, slow tension and gothic settings that focus more on mood than action
This just wasn’t a perfect match for me personally, even though I really admired what it was trying to do
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Author
Advanced Readers Copy Review.
> has a couple mild spoilers <
A bargain worth “rooting” for
The Redwood Bargain’s main character Katrien is burdened with guilt of what she made her cousin do and believes may be unforgivable. But will the choice she has made, make up for her wrongs and repair her relationship with her best friend/cousin.
Katrien, an orphan and now an indentured kitchen maid in the house of Lord Barras of East Kernshire is faced with the challenge of convincing the magical evil tree beast the “Redwood Man” who has made a bargain with the Lord; his life for one of his daughters… that she is her.
Making her choice to take the Lord’s stepdaughter, Lady Zaviera’s place in the hands of the Redwood Man was initially an easy choice because she herself made a counter bargain, that would set her cousin Helsa, who was also indentured, free and hopefully win her love and trust back. However, she did not anticipate her feelings for Lady Zaviera coming to the surface like boiling water. This made the choice to try and convince a murdering tree beast she was someone else, much harder. Like Katrien, her cousin Helsa also has inner demons to conquer. Her unhealthy reliance on alcohol is a challenge that causes more ways to stumble than just over one’s feet. Will Katrien be able to convince the Redwood Man that she is a daughter of the Lord’s, or will he see through her and murder her as he has the previously failed bargained away housemaids? Will her feelings for Lady Zaviera get her through the hardest days ahead?
This was probably the fastest I’ve read a book front to back and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is strong, very well written with strong characters. Every step Katrien, Helsa or the sisters took in the manor was so easy to visualize – I saw each room, the grounds and the dreadful forest come alive. Of course, all my binging of Downton Abbey helped with that. The relationship and interactions among the cast of characters were done so well I felt I got to know each one as a friend …except the beast and you can throw Lord Barras out as well.
I highly recommend this!
> has a couple mild spoilers <
A bargain worth “rooting” for
The Redwood Bargain’s main character Katrien is burdened with guilt of what she made her cousin do and believes may be unforgivable. But will the choice she has made, make up for her wrongs and repair her relationship with her best friend/cousin.
Katrien, an orphan and now an indentured kitchen maid in the house of Lord Barras of East Kernshire is faced with the challenge of convincing the magical evil tree beast the “Redwood Man” who has made a bargain with the Lord; his life for one of his daughters… that she is her.
Making her choice to take the Lord’s stepdaughter, Lady Zaviera’s place in the hands of the Redwood Man was initially an easy choice because she herself made a counter bargain, that would set her cousin Helsa, who was also indentured, free and hopefully win her love and trust back. However, she did not anticipate her feelings for Lady Zaviera coming to the surface like boiling water. This made the choice to try and convince a murdering tree beast she was someone else, much harder. Like Katrien, her cousin Helsa also has inner demons to conquer. Her unhealthy reliance on alcohol is a challenge that causes more ways to stumble than just over one’s feet. Will Katrien be able to convince the Redwood Man that she is a daughter of the Lord’s, or will he see through her and murder her as he has the previously failed bargained away housemaids? Will her feelings for Lady Zaviera get her through the hardest days ahead?
This was probably the fastest I’ve read a book front to back and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is strong, very well written with strong characters. Every step Katrien, Helsa or the sisters took in the manor was so easy to visualize – I saw each room, the grounds and the dreadful forest come alive. Of course, all my binging of Downton Abbey helped with that. The relationship and interactions among the cast of characters were done so well I felt I got to know each one as a friend …except the beast and you can throw Lord Barras out as well.
I highly recommend this!
February 21, 2026
The Redwood Man plagues the manor this story takes place in. The grounds are covered in vines that grow and harm the people inhabiting the large estate, leaving no easy path out. Desperate for such a path, the lord makes a bargain in exchange for his youngest daughter being possessed by The Redwood Man for seven years. Though he made this bargain, his two eldest daughters work their hardest to send maids out instead to fulfill the role of their sister, each being killed upon the Man discovering they are not who he asked for. Katrien is to be the last of these girls send in the place of the young lady, their last hope.
This story is not grandiose but still rather complex. It is a tale of tragedy and trying to right one's wrongs, which makes for very deep characters and motivations. The story is largely told from the perspective of Katrien, but occasionally her cousin Helsa takes the forefront. One thing that really stood out to me was sisterly bonds. The three daughters of the Lord are half-siblings but care deeply for one another and Katrien and Helsa treat each other more like sisters than cousins. This was really beautiful to see as they make concessions for each other and look out for the best interests of one another. I would have loved for The Redwood Man to appear sooner in the book as he had the greatest amount of mystery surrounding him which really ramped up the story after he became a tangible character. This is also a fairytale retelling of The Dwarf, the Fox, and the Princess but as it's not a story I'm familiar with, I can't say how well it accomplishes this.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺 • 𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺 • 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘬𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦 • 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺 • 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 • 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵 • 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 • 𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘷
This story is not grandiose but still rather complex. It is a tale of tragedy and trying to right one's wrongs, which makes for very deep characters and motivations. The story is largely told from the perspective of Katrien, but occasionally her cousin Helsa takes the forefront. One thing that really stood out to me was sisterly bonds. The three daughters of the Lord are half-siblings but care deeply for one another and Katrien and Helsa treat each other more like sisters than cousins. This was really beautiful to see as they make concessions for each other and look out for the best interests of one another. I would have loved for The Redwood Man to appear sooner in the book as he had the greatest amount of mystery surrounding him which really ramped up the story after he became a tangible character. This is also a fairytale retelling of The Dwarf, the Fox, and the Princess but as it's not a story I'm familiar with, I can't say how well it accomplishes this.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺 • 𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺 • 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘬𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦 • 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺 • 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 • 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵 • 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 • 𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘷
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“We make so many mistakes. (...) But one thing I have learned is that we cannot forget when we are good.”
The thing that hit me first in this novel is the gothic atmosphere, especially thanks to that mysterious Redwood Man who demands a sacrifice. It starts from the beginning and never fails, using a lot of different situations for that. The second was the structure, as the first part is a lot romance oriented (with so much yearning, and so well written!!), when the second half of the book dives into horror. I liked both, and was super surprised by the change that occurs around the 50% mark. It took me a while to get accustomed to it, but it made perfect sense in the end as the book relies a lot on the characters. They’re all so well written, complementary, all in various shades of grey. The characters that would be considered as “side” are very important, and treated as such.
Their interactions and challenges allow the author to explore the theme of guilt, that is a central part in the novel, just as much as the ability to let go and the necessity of sacrifice. The end, especially, regarding these themes is so so perfect !!
I loved the writing style, the aesthetics and the mystery that kept me engaged all around, just as much as the representations (special mention to the alcohol addiction and the Bi MC).
Thank you to Page Street YA for the access to the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
4.5/5
The thing that hit me first in this novel is the gothic atmosphere, especially thanks to that mysterious Redwood Man who demands a sacrifice. It starts from the beginning and never fails, using a lot of different situations for that. The second was the structure, as the first part is a lot romance oriented (with so much yearning, and so well written!!), when the second half of the book dives into horror. I liked both, and was super surprised by the change that occurs around the 50% mark. It took me a while to get accustomed to it, but it made perfect sense in the end as the book relies a lot on the characters. They’re all so well written, complementary, all in various shades of grey. The characters that would be considered as “side” are very important, and treated as such.
Their interactions and challenges allow the author to explore the theme of guilt, that is a central part in the novel, just as much as the ability to let go and the necessity of sacrifice. The end, especially, regarding these themes is so so perfect !!
I loved the writing style, the aesthetics and the mystery that kept me engaged all around, just as much as the representations (special mention to the alcohol addiction and the Bi MC).
Thank you to Page Street YA for the access to the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
4.5/5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 ⭐
The Redwood Bargain is a gothic fantasy following Katrien, a kitchen maid who’s offered a dangerous deal: impersonate Lady Zaviera; the youngest daughter of the lord she serves—in exchange for her cousin’s freedom. But as the past victims of the bargain suggest, fooling the Redwood man comes at a steep cost…
This was my first book by this author, and as an ARC reader I was so excited going in. The premise promised something darker and more unusual than my usual reads, and while I appreciated that ambition, the story didn’t fully click for me.
I personally struggled to connect with the characters, especially Katrien. Her choices often felt impulsive, and while her intentions were rooted in guilt and love, they didn’t always land emotionally for me. Her relationship with her cousin Helsa is complicated and clearly important, but even when the story shifted focus, I still found it hard to fully connect, though I did enjoy Helsa’s brief interactions with Henrik.
Lady Zaviera was easily my favorite character. Sadly, we never get her POV, which limited how deeply I could understand her, but she stood out as thoughtful and quietly compelling. I loved that she wasn’t written as the typical spoiled noble, and I would have happily read more about her relationships, especially with her mother.
The romance was another mixed point for me. I knew it wouldn’t be central, but I found myself wishing it had been either more developed or not included at all. While I enjoyed the early interactions; etiquette lessons, shared moments, small escapes.... the emotional connection didn’t fully land for me.
Pacing-wise, the story took a while to pull me in, though once it picked up, I was definitely more invested.
Overall, The Redwood Bargain has a beautiful, eerie tone, an interesting villain, and a lot of promise. While it wasn’t a perfect fit for me personally, I can absolutely see it working for readers who enjoy gothic atmospheres, morally gray choices, and slow-burning tension
The Redwood Bargain is a gothic fantasy following Katrien, a kitchen maid who’s offered a dangerous deal: impersonate Lady Zaviera; the youngest daughter of the lord she serves—in exchange for her cousin’s freedom. But as the past victims of the bargain suggest, fooling the Redwood man comes at a steep cost…
This was my first book by this author, and as an ARC reader I was so excited going in. The premise promised something darker and more unusual than my usual reads, and while I appreciated that ambition, the story didn’t fully click for me.
I personally struggled to connect with the characters, especially Katrien. Her choices often felt impulsive, and while her intentions were rooted in guilt and love, they didn’t always land emotionally for me. Her relationship with her cousin Helsa is complicated and clearly important, but even when the story shifted focus, I still found it hard to fully connect, though I did enjoy Helsa’s brief interactions with Henrik.
Lady Zaviera was easily my favorite character. Sadly, we never get her POV, which limited how deeply I could understand her, but she stood out as thoughtful and quietly compelling. I loved that she wasn’t written as the typical spoiled noble, and I would have happily read more about her relationships, especially with her mother.
The romance was another mixed point for me. I knew it wouldn’t be central, but I found myself wishing it had been either more developed or not included at all. While I enjoyed the early interactions; etiquette lessons, shared moments, small escapes.... the emotional connection didn’t fully land for me.
Pacing-wise, the story took a while to pull me in, though once it picked up, I was definitely more invested.
Overall, The Redwood Bargain has a beautiful, eerie tone, an interesting villain, and a lot of promise. While it wasn’t a perfect fit for me personally, I can absolutely see it working for readers who enjoy gothic atmospheres, morally gray choices, and slow-burning tension
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A delightfully gothic, sapphic fantasy standalone that hit all the right notes! I'd describe The Redwood Bargain as Hazelthorn meets The Spirit Bares Its Teeth meets the Bronte sisters, but with more eerie vibes and less body horror.
I consumed this is a single day, and loved every minute! It was a while since I requested this ARC so I had forgotten the blurb, but not that I had thought it sounded right up my alley. I loved that it covered some really heavy topics like alcoholism, shame, domestic abuse and layered familial relationships with tact and gentleness.
Katrien was such a compelling main character, and watching her come more into her own, only to later be rooted down, was both beautiful and heartbreaking. I liked that we also got a dual POV in the second half!
It was also nice to read a 'historical' sapphic romance that was complex, but not completely toxic. I was rooting for both of them (no pun intended).
Thank you so much to Page Street YA and Netgalley for the eARC in return for my unbiased review! 4.5 stars rounded up.
I consumed this is a single day, and loved every minute! It was a while since I requested this ARC so I had forgotten the blurb, but not that I had thought it sounded right up my alley. I loved that it covered some really heavy topics like alcoholism, shame, domestic abuse and layered familial relationships with tact and gentleness.
Katrien was such a compelling main character, and watching her come more into her own, only to later be rooted down, was both beautiful and heartbreaking. I liked that we also got a dual POV in the second half!
It was also nice to read a 'historical' sapphic romance that was complex, but not completely toxic. I was rooting for both of them (no pun intended).
Thank you so much to Page Street YA and Netgalley for the eARC in return for my unbiased review! 4.5 stars rounded up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DNF at 52% :/
really intrigued by the blurb, but at half way through I really wasn’t engaged with it as I’d hoped. The pacing was super slow for the story I had been expecting. I honestly couldn’t connect with the main character, or any of the others if I am honest. I was really struggling to pick it up and constantly found myself checking how long I had left to read, then was disappointed because there was half left still. I wanted to continue for only two reasons, the first being that the Redwood Man was yet to have been seen and I wanted to experience him. The second being that it’s sapphic. But ultimately, those things were not enough to keep me fully interested.
I also feel like it’s easy to predict what is going to happen and the most likely outcome falls flat for me.
I don’t want to end up in a book slump, so I have decided to DNF. However, if I later see the ending or find myself still thinking about it, I may go back to finish it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
really intrigued by the blurb, but at half way through I really wasn’t engaged with it as I’d hoped. The pacing was super slow for the story I had been expecting. I honestly couldn’t connect with the main character, or any of the others if I am honest. I was really struggling to pick it up and constantly found myself checking how long I had left to read, then was disappointed because there was half left still. I wanted to continue for only two reasons, the first being that the Redwood Man was yet to have been seen and I wanted to experience him. The second being that it’s sapphic. But ultimately, those things were not enough to keep me fully interested.
I also feel like it’s easy to predict what is going to happen and the most likely outcome falls flat for me.
I don’t want to end up in a book slump, so I have decided to DNF. However, if I later see the ending or find myself still thinking about it, I may go back to finish it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating: 4.5
I was initially drawn to this book by its cover, which reminded me of one of my all-time favorites, Where the Dark Stands Still. I especially appreciated the bi representation, as it’s still not something you see often, even with the rise of LGBTQ+ books. The world-building was well done, with rich imagery that made the setting feel vivid and immersive. I could easily picture the vines crawling up the walls as I read. The main characters felt believable, and I appreciated that they were allowed to be flawed. The ending wasn’t what I expected; while it was sweet, I couldn’t help but wish there had been more. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy gothic fairytales with a LGBTQ+ romance.
*This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher on NetGalley, however, the review is all my own opinion.
I was initially drawn to this book by its cover, which reminded me of one of my all-time favorites, Where the Dark Stands Still. I especially appreciated the bi representation, as it’s still not something you see often, even with the rise of LGBTQ+ books. The world-building was well done, with rich imagery that made the setting feel vivid and immersive. I could easily picture the vines crawling up the walls as I read. The main characters felt believable, and I appreciated that they were allowed to be flawed. The ending wasn’t what I expected; while it was sweet, I couldn’t help but wish there had been more. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy gothic fairytales with a LGBTQ+ romance.
*This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher on NetGalley, however, the review is all my own opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Unfortunately I did have to DNF this one. Whilst I'm sure there are many people who will love this book, it just wasn't for me.
I felt that the gothic atmosphere was really strong at the start, and that it just dwindled down as I read on. I got stuck at around 35% and was struggling to pick it up—the characters I did not care for, they seemed quite one dimensional, the dialogue was awkward at times, and it felt like it was starting to drag. I started reading as I was intrigued about this bargain with the Redwood Man, but it felt like we were finding out nothing about it.
Super unfortunate that I had to DNF, but it had good promise and I am sure others will enjoy it more than I did.
I felt that the gothic atmosphere was really strong at the start, and that it just dwindled down as I read on. I got stuck at around 35% and was struggling to pick it up—the characters I did not care for, they seemed quite one dimensional, the dialogue was awkward at times, and it felt like it was starting to drag. I started reading as I was intrigued about this bargain with the Redwood Man, but it felt like we were finding out nothing about it.
Super unfortunate that I had to DNF, but it had good promise and I am sure others will enjoy it more than I did.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Redwood Bargain is a sapphic fairy tale that follows a Katrien as she tries to break a curse laid upon a manor. Written like a classic Grimm’s story, the atmosphere had to be my favorite part. With sentient vines overtaken the manor where Katrien works, the book is equally haunting as it is beautiful with realistic characters who love, learn, and grow.
Helsa’s character development in particular was beautiful to read, showing her resilience, but also not tying her up with a neat little bow. I always have a soft spot for endings where things aren’t perfect, but they’re getting there.
Highly recommend for all the dark fairy tale lovers out there!
CW: alcoholism, death, abandonment
Helsa’s character development in particular was beautiful to read, showing her resilience, but also not tying her up with a neat little bow. I always have a soft spot for endings where things aren’t perfect, but they’re getting there.
Highly recommend for all the dark fairy tale lovers out there!
CW: alcoholism, death, abandonment
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was looking forward to this one because I love forest settings and gothic tales. My favorite character was Zaviera by far. I thought the Redwood Man and their bargain was interesting, but unfortunately I wasn’t really drawn into this story like I thought I would be. I think the bones of the story were fantastic and I’ll definitely read more from this author, but I didn’t find the pacing quick enough to keep me interested in this story. I think this will have its audience though!!
March 1, 2026
EXQUISITE. The perfect blend of gothic and fairytale fantasy. There’s so much gorgeous Sapphic pining and dark, twisted forest goodness. I love that we get both Katrien and Helsa’s perspectives—Katrien is so riddled with guilt and is determined to fix things for her loved ones, while Helsa is so bitter and broken but finds her own way of battling to make things right. I adored Call Forth a Fox, and this book just confirms that I will read everything Markelle Grabo writes 🤎
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mysterious and chilling, I really love the dark atmosphere!
Reading this book felt like reading a very dark fairytale. I really like the writing style and how each characters carry their voices throughout the book. My fav character was probably Henrik he is just so good haha but I adore Katrien's tenacity!
Reading this book felt like reading a very dark fairytale. I really like the writing style and how each characters carry their voices throughout the book. My fav character was probably Henrik he is just so good haha but I adore Katrien's tenacity!
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