The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains

by Reena McCarty

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

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

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

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

'There is simply not enough time or space for me to say everything I loved about this book. This had Holly Black-level Fae, T. Kingfisher-level plotting, and Naomi Novik-level wit. It was as if Heather Fawcett and Holly Black had a book baby with the perfect blend of contemporary and high fantasy . . . what a breath of fresh air'
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

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

'The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains is as funny and witty as it is enchanting. Poppy Hill is a first-class heroine - full of sharp edges and quiet resolve - and her journeys through modern bureaucracy and fantastical Fae courts alike are utterly enthralling'
Julie Leong, author of The Teller of Small Fortunes

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

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

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

'Five stars without hesitation. I'm always searching for books that capture the same magic I find in Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde or Holly Black's Folk of the Air, and The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains absolutely delivered. To sum it This modern faerie novel is utterly captivating and stands out from the usual stereotypes with its distinctive storytelling, memorable characters and engaging plot. Brilliant!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

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

448 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 7, 2026

Reviews

[Laura❄️📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher Little Brown Book Group UK for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I ended up enjoying this book a lot more than I thought I would when I started reading, I had it in my head that this book was going to one way but I really enjoyed the direction it took. I felt for Poppy as one of the returned snatched as a young child and taken to otherside she was a fish out of water when she was returned home after approx. 100 years later. I really enjoyed the world building and as a main character I really liked Poppy, her back story was fleshed out really well and I found myself routing for her. The fair folk were planned out really well with all the characters, the courts, their lands and love of bargaining, my favourite was Theron as I felt he was the most likeable one as he didn’t see humans as cattle or pawns. I found both Sloan and Elan to be really duplicitous, I thought they both took advantage of Poppy and used her to their own ends rather than actually caring about her. I’m hoping that there will be a second book as I would definitely read it if there was as I really enjoyed this one.

[Rina | Worldsbetweenpages · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

Will I buy the physical copy: yes!

[jenny reads a lot]

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

[h i n d]

magical bureaucracy say no more

[Molly Haniszewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

[Hayley Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC.

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

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

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

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

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

[Becka · Rating 2 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tropes:
• Magical Bureaucracy
• Forced Proximity

[Miranda Griffith · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Ulrike · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains" was an enjoyable read, although the "cozy" in the tagline is somewhat misleading. There's a bit too much blood and trauma to really fit this book into the cozy fantasy genre- however, as a just plain fantasy/faerie book, it's a success. The story reads like Ms. McCarty genuinely enjoys working within the pre-established conventions and rules of faerie stories- rather than changing the fundamental mechanics, she adds surrounding details and ramifications and backstory, which makes the worldbuilding feel familiar enough to make sense but very organic and unique at the same time. The pacing was excellent; I felt invested the whole time. And the characterization was intriguing- Poppy especially had so many layers factoring into her choices, it was satisfying to see how her perspective shifted and healed over the course of the book. The ending closes out the emotional journey in a satisfying way, but there are enough unresolved threads that a sequel would not be out of place.

Content-
Violence: some descriptions of past torture, some blood/poison/death
Romance: a couple of steamy kisses; non-explicit references to past or desired intimacy. A description of how one character deliberately put another into a borderline SA situation (nothing happened).
Language: two f-'s, one or two other examples
Other: the story centers around Poppy waking up from a trauma-bonded, extremely abusive relationship. Indentured servitude/slavery, kidnapping, and their ramifications are a large part of the fantasy worldbuilding.

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my most anticipated reads I was looking forward to in 2026, and I have a bit of mixed emotions about it. I think that Reena McCarty's The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains came with a good premise and is worthy of its case of becoming a good cozy book, much like Heather Fawcett's Encyclopaedia of Faeries and also cozy fantasy in general. I loved the storyline of Poppy, our main character, who is human and whisked away to the fairy world of political intrigue and magic. Poppy, who is tasked with handling bargains for the Fae, unexpectedly finds herself in a world of politics. A major point of Poppy and her world that she thought she had known. But I felt that the story remained where it was at, I did not necessarily feel any connection to the rest of the characters and even was a bit bored through some moments. That doesn't necessarily mean it was a bad book, just not for me, or maybe it was not the right time to pick this one up. As I feel there is a promising story to be read here with Poppy and the rest of the characters we meet.

So I would encourage anyone to have a read of Reena McCarty's book and see for themselves their own opinion.

A huge thanks to Orbit Books for this copy of Reena McCarty's book The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains, publishing on April 7, 2026.

[Jesse Aragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how sometimes you’ll start a book, and IMMEDIATELY think ‘this is going to be exactly my shit’? that’s how it was for me with this one. I was locked in from page one, and when I finally got my hands on the ARC, it was everything I wanted it to be.

I’m very hard to please with fae books, because in so many of them, the fae are just sexy elves. No!!! Cowards!!!! Give me some weird alien mfs. I’m so happy these faeries got to be weird, flawed, and even a bit silly. (Also American? I don’t think I’ve ever read about faeries in North America before, so that was neat). Elan and Sloan entertained me endlessly, and I finished reading with a strong desire to draw a lot of the cool-looking characters (I may yet, though not well. We’ll see.).

I also loved the vivid atmosphere, the delicious descriptions of food, and the protagonist’s often painful, messy deconstruction of her time spent “otherside.” This is not a book with neat, convenient resolutions to its conflict, or to the many layered relationships it depicts, and I think it’s all the stronger for that.

If I were to criticize anything about this book, it would be that it wasn’t 500 more pages of Poppy going over contracts line by line, picking out all the ways a faerie bargain can screw you over. Those parts were DELIGHTFUL.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reena McCarty’s novel is a delightful blend of whimsy and menace, inviting readers into a world where every promise carries a price. At its heart lies the timeless allure of faerie bargains—those glittering offers that seem irresistible until the fine print reveals its sting.

McCarty’s prose is light on its feet yet layered with atmosphere. The faerie realm shimmers with enchantment, but shadows lurk beneath the beauty, reminding us that magic is never free. Characters are drawn with warmth and complexity, their desires and flaws making the story feel both fantastical and deeply human.

What makes the book so engaging is its balance: the charm of folklore meets the tension of suspense. Readers are swept along by the playful cadence of the narrative, only to be caught off guard by moments of sharp danger. It’s a tale that asks us to consider what we’d risk for love, power, or belonging—and whether the bargain is ever truly worth it.

Casual readers will enjoy the escapism, while those who savor myth and moral ambiguity will find plenty to linger over. A perfect pick for fans of Holly Black or Naomi Novik, this is a story that sparkles with magic while keeping its heart firmly rooted in human truths.

With thanks to Reena McCarthy, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains was a surprisingly fun adventure that completely won me over. The world building has far more depth than I expected for a standalone and it was easy to sink into without feeling overwhelming.

Poppy is a strong, capable FMC you truly root for. She has been dealt an incredibly unfair hand in life but she pulls herself up by the proverbial bootstraps time and time again. Her character arc comes beautifully full circle and she embraces her humanity in a way you would never have expected in the beginning. The story strikes a great balance between an action-filled adventure and sly humor, keeping the pace light and engaging while still delivering meaningful stakes that keep you invested.

This is a solid standalone fantasy that’s an easy, enjoyable read and it's perfect if you want something whimsical, clever, and well-written without committing to a series. I was pleasantly delighted by this book and would recommend it to others searching for a cozy, fun stand-alone fantasy. This is a very solid 4 star read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing this to me as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Storm Lomax · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I DEVOURED this book - if I didn’t have work, I would have finished it in one sitting

Positives
- All the characters were distinctive and had their own voice, and the dialogue felt natural
- The worldbuilding was very cool. My favourite fae stories are ones that really lean into the lore side of bargaining and the rules fae need to follow and this story did that SO well
- Real slow burn romance, which I much prefer to insta-love
- The pacing was great, I was so absorbed in what was happening next
- Both the fantasy and the romance were important but neither overpowered the other
- Fae that aren’t conventionally attractive YES THANK YOU

Negatives
- None, except I have to wait until release to buy a copy for my bookshelf

Love love loved this book, I’m 100% buying a physical copy on release and can’t wait to see what the author does next

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Orbit and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Tricky Business of Fairy Bargains won me over! I loved the main character, Poppy, she’s clever and is sassy. The world-building was rich and imaginative, the kind that slowly unfolds and then pulls you all the way in.

I’ll admit the opening chapters were a little confusing at first, but once the pieces clicked into place, I was hooked. The story grew stronger with every chapter, and by the end I was fully invested and wanting more.

The ending wasn’t very strong which makes me wonder if there will be a book two?

*No spice

I highly recommend this book if you’re into:
- Strong female lead
- Forced proximity
- Second chance romance
- Betrayal

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this would be lighter somehow, and I'm glad that it wasn't. Definitely ended with first book in a series vibes, but didn't read that way going through. What I loved about it was the commitment and the world building -- the commitment is that every part of the bargaining was taken seriously, so it had a grittiness to it, and a feeling of real consequences that worked very well. The world building is fascinating, and I have no idea where this story goes from here, but I appreciate that it was more about friendships than anything else, and healing from trauma. Compelling.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.

[Abbie Riddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun little book with a new take on faerie bargains!! Poppy is an interesting FMC who is a changeling that grew up in the other world and was returned to the human world. She is given a job at a company that negotiates bargains between Faery and Humans. I thought the world building was lacking just a bit but even with this the world is lush and imaginative with lots of fun things happening. I really appreciated how the author kept the reader guessing about what was coming and who could be trusted and who should be avoided. All in all I thought this book was an interesting take on faerie bargains and the human world versus the faerie world.

[J. Blake Myersmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

While proper Fae stories are slightly out of my urban fantasy wheelhouse, I took a chance on this one after I enjoyed the first Emily Wilde book and I'm glad I did! This world of professional brokered Faerie Bargains is a compelling one, and I loved the mysterious nature of our conflicted protagonist very much.

McCarty's Faerie realm feels appropriately alien and its locales are characters of their own in the story. The plot twists and turns, and though I didn't always feel like I was on the same page as the author, it all comes together in a beautiful way that has something important to say about relationships. A little introspection can go a long way to seeing the truth behind the behavior of friends and lovers.

Unfortunately, the romantic elements fall a little flat for me, and the book has a bit of an abrupt ending. McCarty is very clearly setting up a series, but it would have been nice to get a preview of the next book rather than a different author's book at the end of this one.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy!

[Vivien Gintner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially, the premise of the fairy bargains in a corporate setting was what drew me to read this novel. It was an idea I had never read before.
And it was certainly new, and interesting, but I quickly lost my interest.
The idea of fairy realms on American soil was another interesting idea, but my mind is too used to European settings when dealing with the fae, so I always cringed whenever it was mentioned.

I couldn't like any of the characters. Poppy was so weak, and her colossal stupid mistake at the beginning didn't endear her to me.
I wasn't a fan of the romance either.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains, we follow a world where the fae realm, known as the 'Otherside', exists alongside the human world and is very much known to it. Time moves differently between the two realms, and humans interact with the Otherside through trade, contracts, and carefully brokered faerie bargains. It’s a clever setup that leans heavily into political intrigue and magical bureaucracy rather than pure fantasy adventure.

I went into this book for the romance but ironically, stayed for the politics and worldbuilding. I really liked the concept of the Otherside not being hidden from humans, as well as the way time dilation works between the two worlds. The idea that minutes in the human world can equal weeks in the Otherside was especially interesting. I also enjoyed how multiple firms operate to trade goods with the fae and broker bargains, and how deeply ingrained the culture of bargaining is for the Othersiders themselves. These elements were easily the strongest part of the book for me.

Unfortunately, those were also the only elements that truly worked for me. Based on the blurb, I expected a stronger emphasis on the romance, possibly even a second-chance romance, considering 'pesky ex-boyfriend' was included, but the story never quite committed to that direction. By the end, I wasn’t entirely sure what kind of romance the book was aiming for, or if it was meant to be central at all. The ending especially made the romantic arc feel unresolved and unclear.
I’m very much a character-driven reader, so the more emotionally engaging the characters are, the more I end up enjoying the story. This is where the story personally fell short for me. The characters, with the exception of Poppy, all felt somewhat lackluster. I struggled to emotionally connect with most of them. Her relationships, both romantic and platonic, all felt very surface-level. The dynamics were there in theory, but I never fully felt them on the page.

That said, the ending does leave room for more stories set in this world. If there is a sequel or companion novel, I think there’s real potential for deeper character development and more meaningful relationship arcs.

Overall, this was a book with some genuinely interesting ideas around fae politics and magical bureaucracy, but the romance and character work didn’t quite land for me.
3/5 stars. Thank you to Little Brown Book Group | Orbit and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the character of Poppy, who is the narrator.
The world building was good and well developed. I liked the idea that the fairies were bargaining with humans rather than stealing children. The other characters are interesting too.
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC.

[M. Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming and warm-hearted tale of family and friendship with a plot as twisty as a fairy bargain. The pages brim with love for the Montana landscape, with descriptions that beckon the reader into their terrain--both in "reality" and "Otherside." I really enjoyed this adventurous fantasy quest!