CCBC booklist are compiled from books we have recommended in various editions of CCBC Choices. Most of these booklists are updated annually. You can also select books from one or more booklists to create a custom list, which can also include additional books from the CCBC-Recommended Book Search.
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The Rose Bargain
CCBC Review:
It’s 1848, and cruel fae queen Mor has ruled London for centuries, allowing each of her subjects to make a single bargain with her. Most young women do so during their debutante season, trading something of value—a body part, a memory, a talent—in exchange for a quality that will boost their marriageability. Ivy (white) hopes to marry rich and restore her family’s reputation, which was ruined after her older sister disappeared. (When her sister returned home, she had no memory of where she’d been.) Then, a surprise: Queen Mor announces a competition for the hand of her fae son, Prince Bram, in marriage. The catch? The losers will never be permitted to marry. With nothing to lose, Ivy is one of six women who throw their hats in the ring. But she is the only one to be approached by human Prince Emmett, who has discovered a loophole in the terms of the enchantment that keeps Mor in power; Ivy’s victory would break the spell. Ivy is determined to win Bram’s heart and free England—making the growing romantic and sexual tension between her and Emmett rather inconvenient. This twisty romantasy, the first in a duology, excels in its depiction of complicated relationships both romantic and platonic; Ivy’s five competitors are each afforded a point-of-view chapter, giving the reader insight into their individual motives and the evolving group dynamic as they go from vicious competitors to fierce allies and friends. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 14 and older
Age Range:
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
British and British Americans
Competitions and Contests
Fantasy
Love and Romance
On CCBC Booklist:
Fantastic Fiction: Great Fantasy Books for Ages 11 to 17
Publishers:
Harper, HarperCollins
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 385
ISBN: 9780063372528
CCBC Location: Fiction, Smith
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