Book: The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains by Reena Mccarty
Reviewed by Weird | weird.reads.books
Rating: 4/5
I devoured this book in a day. I thought this may have been a cozy fantasy, but it’s definitely more fantasy with dark whimsy. I’m a person who truly enjoys stories where fae are more sinister, so this sang to my soul.
Our protagonist, Poppy, is a wonderfully complex lead whose true loyalties remain a mystery for much of the story. Snatched by the Fae in the 1800s, she eventually returns to the modern world, a place known as Reality.
What makes Poppy unique is her perspective is that she doesn’t view her century in the Otherside as a period of torture. Having spent over a hundred years as a cook, she found love and community there. I particularly enjoyed her bitterness toward Reality as she struggled to acclimate to modern life.
McCarty has built an immersive world that I am desperate to explore further. The contrast between the two realms is striking, and seeing them through Poppy’s conflicted eyes adds a layer of tension. As she navigates her return to the Otherside, she begins to miss modern conveniences, yet she is simultaneously forced to face some ugly truths about the realm she once called home. Her journey is one of genuine self-discovery and a deep exploration of what friendship truly means.
There is a romantic element here that flirts with both a love triangle and a second chance trope. While the romance takes a backseat to the primary plot, it dangles just enough in front of the reader to keep you wanting more. I’ll admit I was slightly disappointed with one direction the love story took, but I’m holding out hope for how it might evolve in future installments.
This is a wonderful debut for McCarty. While the ending is satisfying, McCarty leaves enough threads dangling to make me crave a sequel. If you’re looking for a charming read with a sharp, twisted edge, I highly recommend picking this up.
Thank you so much to Orbit Publishing for the ARC! All opinions are my own.