Electric Monkey triumphs in five-way bidding war for Sasha Peyton Smith romantasy  

Farshore’s adult imprint Electric Monkey won a five-way auction for "’Bridgerton’ with a fae twist", The Rose Bargain, by New York Times bestselling author Sasha Peyton Smith.  

Sarah Levison, editorial director, signed the deal for UK and Commonwealth rights and a second book with Hillary Jacobson, literary agent at the Creative Artists Agency US and Sarah Mitchell, translation agent the Creative Artists Agency UK. American rights were snapped up by HarperTeen, which will publish simultaneously with the UK on 13th February 2025.  

The Rose Bargain will launch with a global marketing and PR campaign “to win the hearts of the growing legion of romantasy fans, with retailer activations, heart-winning digital advertising, and ’Bridgerton’-worthy events,” Electric Monkey said. 

It is set in an alternative Victorian England, ruled by the immortal Queen Moryen. Every person gets one magical bargain with the queen and debutante Ivy Benton is determined to use hers to restore her family’s fading fortunes. But she soon sets her sights on the crown, unravelling a plot that could destroy not only England but all the worlds that lie beyond.  

“Pitched as ’Bridgerton’ with a fae twist, The Rose Bargain is a delicious blend of romance, intrigue and betrayal,” Electric Monkey said. “Smith explores first loves and secret rebellions, crafting a fantastical, escapist world exposing the hypocritical expectations facing young women. Smith has built a legion of fans as the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch Haven, which debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list and was a Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick.”  

Levison said: “We are beyond delighted to bring Sasha to the Electric Monkey list. In The Rose Bargain, Sasha immerses us in a world of high society, scandal and social climbing mixed with a dark, magical undercurrent that makes our fantasy-loving hearts skip a beat.  

“It’s romantasy with teeth, fae but make it feminist. At Electric Monkey we love a powerful female protagonist and Ivy’s story had us gripped from the very first page. She’s determined to tear apart the patriarchal world of London (circa 1848) with her bare hands – flying the flag for the sisterhood and making her a timeless heroine that all readers will take to their hearts in 2024.” 

Smith said: “This is a book about love, so it seems fitting that I’ve found myself in a bit of a love affair with all of the brilliant people who work at Electric Monkey. From the jump, it was clear that Sarah and her team understood this book and the world I was trying to create.” 

Smith was previously published by Simon & Schuster UK.