The Bargain

by Jess Mahler

It was supposed to be a straightforward sacrifice. After their mother was killed by Lord Oeloff, Mattin swore to do anything to protect his sister. When the fae lord came for her, Mattin traded his life and freedom to Oeloff’s enemy for the promise of his sister’s safety. He thought he was prepared for anything. Anything except what he actually found… It was supposed to be a political gambit. Struggling against Oeloff’s latest ploy, Jahlene found an unforeseen opening in the arrival of the bitter Mattin. Bringing the stranger into her household was a risk. Trusting him was a bigger one. To protect her family, Jahlene bargained with him. She never guessed how it would end... Sometimes, what starts as a bargain, becomes something more. The Bargain is a #fantasy thriller exploring themes of family, betrayal, trauma, and sacrifice. It is an "own voices" book for polyamory, kink, and PTSD.

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 18, 2018

About the author

Jess' weird fish-out-of-water life has left her with enduring love/affair with common tropes. The relationship counselor recommended she break it off, but she just keeps coming back to play with them (and fuck them up) some more.

In between her tropic indulgences, she writes queer fantasy with aromantic, neurodivergent, and generally 'weird' characters, takes care of her family, argues halakha, and tries to do a bit of educational activism on the side.

Her website 'A Gryphon's Aerie' updates semi regularly, and she's active on Mastadon, Tumblr and a few other spots around the web.