The Midnight Bargain is a magic-fueled fantasy romance exploring what it means for a woman to conform to societal norms. Beatrice and her family have traveled far to a capital city in search of a husband. Her father has left the finances in a tight spot, which puts intense pressure on her to marry. But Beatrice would much rather become a sorceress and forget this whole marriage thing. But that’s against this society’s rules where women are given a painful binding collar on their wedding night. It’s meant to snuff out their magic to allow them to have children. They must keep it on until their old (barren) age when they can practice magic with (some) freedom. Beatrice has been flirting with magic despite the warnings. She goes into the attic with offerings for midnight bargains with powerful spirits. Said spirits temporarily ride her soul in exchange for granting her magical power. She wants to find grimoires to harness magic and become an advisor to her father. She thinks she can support her family much better this way instead of the traditional marriage path. But of course, in the ball season, she finds a real suitor in Ianthe Lavan. Beatrice befriends his sister Ysbeta who also seeks a magical way out of expectations. The Lavans are super rich and yet patriarchal demands still restrict her. The men attend magical schools, get mentors, and learn to commune with spirits. They hold the binding collar over their wives. Even though Ianthe swears he’ll let Beatrice use magic freely if they wed, it’s not enough. Beatrice is torn between her desire for magic and love through their courtship. In the backdrop, Polk shares feminist commentary when revealing the political interworkings of these powerful magic families.
I’ve had my eye on this novel ever since I read Witchmark. I finally dove in when it was picked for Lawless Book Club last year. The world-building and understanding of the magic system were daunting at first. I stayed for the character study of Beatrice and Ysbeta. They are two sides of the same coin that brought commentary on marrying for love, not obligation, in a world ruled by magic. Some men are enlightened, but when push comes to shove they still don’t want to share magic with women. Beatrice’s father was one of those who cared less about his daughter’s life and happiness. We meet some true villains, but his actions cut the deepest to me. The romance is woven into Beatrice’s story but takes a backseat to her personal growth. The ending was very satisfying and this is a standalone. However, I would love a sequel focused on Ysbeta.
Consider this if you’ve loved watching Bridgerton and are open to romance melodrama with a healthy dose of magic.