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The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains

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What to expect

'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 review

Discover 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

Critics Review

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
A fresh, unexpected foray into the lands of Faerie, 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, SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of THE TELLER OF SMALL FORTUNES
Full of that oh-so-human creativity, 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
The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains is a brilliant, tongue-in-cheek weaving of folklore and the hell of modern bureaucracy, combined with a twisty adventure and a dash of romance. An unflinching rendition of fae as they should be written - beautiful, bizarre, cruel, and always terrifying. A book that I was reluctant to close at the end. McCarty is a talent!
Brigitte Knightly, author of THE IRRESISTIBLE URGE TO FALL FOR YOUR ENEMY
With a clever, determined heroine and a cast of devious, uncanny fairies, The Tricky Business of Fairy Bargains is as irresistible as fae fruit - sharp, unforgettable and utterly addictive
Lyra Selene, author of A FEATHER SO BLACK
A charming and warm-hearted tale of family and friendship with a plot as twisty as a fairy bargain. The pages brim with love for the Montana landscape, with descriptions that beckon the reader into their terrain - both in 'reality' and 'Otherside'. I really enjoyed this adventurous fantasy quest!
M. Stevenson, author of BEHOOVED
Come for the fascinating world of corporate-brokered fairy bargains - stay for the adventure, intrigue, and betrayal! With a relatable mortal protagonist way over her head in a fairy realm as compelling as it is dangerous, this book casts an entrancing glamour!
Melissa Caruso, SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of THE LAST HOUR BETWEEN WORLDS
Wistful and witty with exquisite worldbuilding, McCarty's sprawling epic challenges notions of identity, loyalty and the places one calls home. It's a thrilling start
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

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