Author: Reena McCartyFantasy romancePublished on 7 April 2026 by Little, Brown Book Group (Orbit) in the United Kingdom.Paperback | 416 pages195 x 128 x 32 | 352g 'As irresistible as a faerie bargain, this book is riveting, magical and wonderful! I absolutely adored it!' Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop'I adored this one . . . its like cosy fantasy meets snarky fae dimplomacy, and I'm here for it' Reader reviewDiscover a world of enchanted contracts, faerie intrigue and French toast, in this delightful debut packed full of wit, charm, adventure and heart, with a dash of magical bureaucracy and a sprinkling of romance.When Poppy Hill was a child, she was stolen from her family's Montana homestead and taken 'Otherside' to the land of the Fae, where she spent more than a century as a cook in the Wild King's castle. Now back in the human world, she works for a company that brokers faerie bargains, checking for loopholes in their contracts.But when a bargain that Poppy is negotiating goes disastrously wrong, she must return to the world she grew up in to try to rectify her mistake, facing danger, intrigue and a pesky ex-boyfriend along the way.'There is simply not enough time or space for me to say everything I loved about this book. This had Holly Black-level Fae, T. Kingfisher-level plotting, and Naomi Novik-level wit. It was as if Heather Fawcett and Holly Black had a book baby with the perfect blend of contemporary and high fantasy . . . what a breath of fresh air'????? Reader review'Unforgettable and utterly addictive'Lyra Selene, author of A Feather so Black'The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains is as funny and witty as it is enchanting. Poppy Hill is a first-class heroine - full of sharp edges and quiet resolve - and her journeys through modern bureaucracy and fantastical Fae courts alike are utterly enthralling'Julie Leong, author of The Teller of Small Fortunes'A charming and warm-hearted tale of family and friendship with a plot as twisty as a faerie bargain'M. Stevenson, author of Behooved'The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains snatches you away into a world of enchanted contracts, faerie intrigue and French toast that you'll never want to come back from'Molly O'Neill, author of Greenteeth'A brilliant, tongue-in-cheek weaving of folklore and the hell of modern bureaucracy, combined with a twisty adventure and a dash of romance . . . A book that I was reluctant to close at the end. McCarty is a talent!'Brigitte Knightley, author of The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy'Five stars without hesitation. I'm always searching for books that capture the same magic I find in Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde or Holly Black's Folk of the Air, and The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains absolutely delivered. To sum it up: This modern faerie novel is utterly captivating and stands out from the usual stereotypes with its distinctive storytelling, memorable characters and engaging plot. Brilliant!????? Reader review
