Daiquiris & Daggers

Faery Bargains #2.5

by Melissa Marr

Half-dead witch Geneviève Crowe makes her living beheading the dead--but since she bonded to Eli Stonecroft, a faery prince in self-imposed exile in New Orleans, her magic has vanished.

A fun spa weekend away with friends in a city free of monsters, what could be better? Gen’s necromancy had been on the fritz, so a recharge sounds perfect–until she arrives in San Diego to discover that either the spa is too steps beyond weird or there’s magic afoot.

Novella also published in Hex on the Beach.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fae, Vampires, Magic, Romance, Paranormal

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2021

About the author

Melissa Marr writes fiction for adults, teens, and children. Her books have been translated into 28 languages and been bestsellers in the US (NY Times, LA Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal) as well as overseas. Wicked Lovely, her debut novel, was an instant New York Times bestseller and evolved into an internationally bestselling multi-book series with a myriad of accolades.

In 2024 she released a queer fantasy (Remedial Magic via Bramble), a picturebook about a wee one and his two moms (Family is Family via Penguin), and a DC Comics graphic novel about teen Harley & Ivy (The Strange Adventures of Harleen & Harley).

An Illumicrate edition of 6 Wicked Lovely books will release in 2025.

If she's not writing, you can find her in a kayak or on a trail with her wife.

Reviews

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful story, I loved their girls only event, and it was just a great read! Can't wait to see where the series goes from here!

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great short story and a wild girl’s weekend! Eli gets Geneviève a royal passport so she can now travel anywhere since she will no longer be tested. So, a girl’s weekend is planned and they head to a spa that Allie purchase when the news of the weekend popped up. The spa is lovely but things turn a bit weird quickly and they need to escape. They escape to fae and seems the King is very smitten with Allie. Looking forward to seeing how that plays out!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half-dead witch Geneviève Crowe makes her living beheading the dead--and trying to make sense of her magical crash after accidentally ending up bonded to Eli Stonecroft, a faery prince in self-imposed exile in New Orleans.
A fun spa weekend away with friends in a city free of monsters, what could be better for fixing her problems?
Gen's necromancy had been on the fritz, so a recharge sounds perfect–until she arrives in San Diego to discover that either the spa is two steps beyond weird or there's magic afoot.

Heather's Notes
I had read this story previously in an anthology, but I still enjoyed it. I like Genevieve and look forward to reading more about her and Eli. I love that he calls her Bonbon (among other things).

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genevieve, Allie, Sera, and Christy are on their way to San Diego for a carefree girls’ weekend in Draugr-free San Diego. What could possibly go wrong? Genevieve’s necromancy magic is on the fritz and she ditches her fae security detail so chances are high trouble will find them. The trouble that ensues isn’t all bad – Genevieve gets to spend some quality time with her uncle-in-law faery King Marcus. As always in the Faery Bargains series action mixes with light moments to ensure a wild ride. I highly recommend this series.

[Katie Kaste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girl’s Weekend Horror Show

Genevieve and her friends are going off to a spa for the weekend. She can’t wait to relax and hopefully get her magic back. When they get to the spa something isn’t right. This was a fun novella for the Fairy Bargains series. Genevieve as a character is just enough of a softy to keep interesting. I love this world and can’t wait to read more.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gen and Eli were so perfect as a couple, I loved the way he called her Bonbon. A planned girls trip goes crazy and it is just a lot of fun with all the characters. I haven't read the Fairy Bargains books, but I know I will be reading them soon.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like this one gave a lot of background that would have helped in the first novel. All of the novellas seem to have important or semi-important events happen so don’t skip them!

[Debby Tiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review listed under Hex on the Beach

[Ronel Janse van Vuuren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worst spa ever. Though the girls did get their boozy beach weekend in the end. And what would an adventure be if Geneviève didn’t get to bloody her blade? A fun read.