Book Review: The Midnight Bargain by C. L. Polk

Have you read a protagonist from a book that you think would get on perfectly with a character from a different book?

That’s exactly how I felt about the main character of my recent read, The Midnight Bargain by C. L. Polk, which is a YA Regency fantasy romance.

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About

This feminist tale follows Beatrice, an 18-year-old sorceress who wants nothing more than to progress her unusually high magical ability to become a Magus. The problem is, only men are allowed to receive formal education in magic and anyway, if she gets married, she will be fitted with a cruel contraption that takes away her powers in order to prevent spirits entering any future offspring during pregnancy.

But Beatrice is under pressure to get married to save her family’s reputation, fortune, and prospects.

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World and Themes

I hadn’t heard about this book online at all (surprisingly) so I went in with no expectations (often the best way, in my opinion). I had a brilliant time with this. The world building was clear and elegant, and underneath the beauty that comes with regency flavour, the author sharply highlights the ways in which women’s senses are taken from them and their bodies put under immense stress in the name of protecting unborn children – without asking women what they want, providing any options, or doing any research. The behaviour of most of the men had me rolling my eyes throughout, and occasionally lit me up with fury at how selfish and cruel they were willing to be to maintain their own comfort. And for the ones who did listen and want to learn, the lack of awareness of women’s needs was disheartening, but authentic. In some comments, I read about this book after I finished it, some felt that the messages were a little heavy handed. I felt that they were appropriate, considering this title falls under the Young Adult category.

“If I can only use my magic when you deem it safe, does that magic belong to me, or you?”

Romance and Friendship

This is a fantasy romance, and in that sense there was plenty to love here – if you don’t mind insta love. There was plenty of yearning and angst, and while I did genuinely want to bang Beatrice and Ianthe’s heads together sometimes, there were convincing enough reasons keeping them apart. Unfortunately, one of those were simply Beatrice herself. She was one of those self-involved characters who, given a bad choice and a worse choice, will invariably pick the worst for the most selfish and short-sighted of reasons, which she managed to get away with only because she’s attractive and because Ysbeta needed her enough not to cuss her out before genuine friendship grew. Her brother was just nice and infatuated enough to find everything amazing rather than off-putting.

I might not have found the insta-love the most convincing despite it being cute, but I loved the friendships between Beatrice and Ysbeta, and Ysbeta and Nadi. I wasn’t a massive fan of Beatrice’s, but it was nice to see that such a selfish character with a relatively rare skill wasn’t made out to be the ‘not like other girls’ type. Friendships felt authentic, reciprocal and strong.

My favourite aspect was the magic though, and the importance of books in the magic system. Finding magical grimoires and decoding the text in perfectly regular-seeming, but oddly written books held the key to summoning spirits – the same spirits that no one wanted to find their way into a baby, as there were catastrophic consequences. The magic system was well thought-out and its discussion led to several heartfelt scenes – particularly one involving Beatrice and her mother.

Characters

For me, Nadi and Ysbeta were favourite characters, especially Nadi, who made it clear why Beatrice found magic so hard to give up. And stakes were suitably high and things got very tense, so I was astonished at how we the author managed to resolve everything at the end. There were a couple of characters who I felt shouldn’t have been so easily forgiven and should have had to deal with consequences, but overall this was an enjoyable comfort-food sort of a tale, so I wasn’t too put off by the feel-good ending.

Oh and who did I think Beatrice would get on with from another book? Sciona from Blood Over Bright Haven. Two ladies in love with magic and skilled in working with the language of magic to get at it – a perfect match (as friends or adversaries, I couldn’t say).

A perfect read if you want a dose of something sweet and hopeful.

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Format: Audiobook

Listening Time: 11 hours and 49 minutes

Category: Fantasy Romance

Published: 13 October 2020

About: From the beloved World Fantasy Award-winning author of Witchmark comes a sweeping, romantic new fantasy set in a world reminiscent of Regency England, where women’s magic is taken from them when they marry. A sorceress must balance her desire to become the first great female magician against her duty to her family.

Beatrice Clayborn is a sorceress who practices magic in secret, terrified of the day she will be locked into a marital collar that will cut off her powers to protect her unborn children. She dreams of becoming a full-fledged Magus and pursuing magic as her calling as men do, but her family has staked everything to equip her for Bargaining Season, when young men and women of means descend upon the city to negotiate the best marriages. The Clayborns are in severe debt, and only she can save them, by securing an advantageous match before their creditors come calling.

In a stroke of luck, Beatrice finds a grimoire that contains the key to becoming a Magus, but before she can purchase it, a rival sorceress swindles the book right out of her hands. Beatrice summons a spirit to help her get it back, but her new ally exacts a price: Beatrice’s first kiss…with her adversary’s brother, the handsome, compassionate, and fabulously wealthy Ianthe Lavan.

The more Beatrice is entangled with the Lavan siblings, the harder her decision becomes: If she casts the spell to become a Magus, she will devastate her family and lose the only man to ever see her for who she is; but if she marries – even for love – she will sacrifice her magic, her identity, and her dreams. But how can she choose just one, knowing she will forever regret the path not taken?

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