Callypso Lillis is a siren with a very big problem, one that stretches up her arm and far into her past. For the last seven years she’s been collecting a bracelet of black beads up her wrist, magical IOUs for favors she’s received. Only death or repayment will fulfill the obligations. Only then will the beads disappear.Everyone knows that if you need a favor, you go to the Bargainer to make it … make it happen. He’s a man who can get you anything you want … at a price. And everyone knows that sooner or later he always collects.
But for one of his clients, he’s never asked for repayment. Not until now. When Callie finds the fae king of the night in her room, a grin on his lips and a twinkle in his eye, she knows things are about to change. At first it’s just a chaste kiss—a single bead’s worth—and a promise for more.
For the Bargainer, it’s more than just a matter of rekindling an old romance. Something is happening in the Otherworld. Fae warriors are going missing one by one. Only the women are returned, each in a glass casket, a child clutched to their breast. And then there are the whispers among the slaves, whispers of an evil that’s been awoken.
If the Bargainer has any hope to save his people, he’ll need the help of the siren he spurned long ago. Only, his foe has a taste for exotic creatures, and Callie just happens to be one.
more
One word: Des.
Do yourself a favor and snuggle up with the King of the Night for a few hours.
What a beautiful enchanting tale!!! So! Very well written,if I could this would get 10 stars!!! The storyline was fabulous and the characters were unforgettable!!! In the world of fae, night king Desmond Flynn is the stuff of nightmares and feared by all,but when he makes a bargain with callie a human who has just killed he stepfather who has sexually abused her for years Desmond knows that callie is more then she seems she’s a siren who hasn’t come into her powers yet. As the years pass callie will make bargain after bargain to keep Desmond around,because even though the bargainer is feared by all to callie he means so much more he is her friend and year After year she’s falling in love with him.But one night that all changes,callie wants more and she thinks he does too,but he leaves breaking her heart and leaving alone for the first time in years. After leaving callie seven years ago Desmond is back and it’s time for callie to pay up,but this time Desmond has different plans and he’s not holding back. He wants callie and so starts their dance of passion full of sensuality and lust and a love story that started long ago with a wish spoken between soul mates !
From flame to ashes, dawn to dusk, for the rest of our lives, be mine always, Desmond Flynn,’” Callie’s wish
Rhapsodic is Book 1 of The Bargainer series by Laura Thalassa, an indie author I’ve seen recommended often. I had a few Audible credits floating around, so I grabbed this one.
Rhapsodic is very different from my ordinary read (I tend toward high/epic fantasy). But I loved the supernatural underbelly to our world that Thalassa created as well as the love story between the Bargainer and Callie, told through chapters in both the past and present.
Also, the narration was A+++. I’ll definitely be grabbing the next installment as an audiobook.
A note for my YA followers: this is decidedly not YA because of on-page sex. It’s EXCELLENT if on-page sex and mentions of a character’s abused past aren’t triggers for you.
This book is amazing! I loved it! The characters are so well written and you are sucked into their story. It starts in a modern world before heading into the realm of fae, which is as colourfully written, not to mention as dark and beautiful, as any I have ever read about. I totally recommend this to any lovers of fae worlds and readers who love a fantasy read with a good mystery and romance. Enjoy!
LOVED LOVED LOVED Des.
I loved this entire series. Can’t recommend it enough! <3
Rhapsodic is a promising start to The Bargainer series. Darkly romantic and original, this novel kept me guessing and reading while I worked to put all the pieces together. I especially liked the patience and consideration Desmond showed while waiting for Callie to grow and find herself. I would recommend this book to fans of the Court of Thorns and Roses series and to anyone else who enjoys romantic fantasy and the fae.
This was a wonderful read about the bargainer, that in this book is a very powerful fae and a woman that is also a mermaid.
There’s a dangerous and unknown enemy that is causing the disappearance of a lot of warriors in the Fae kingdoms, this book has suspense, action, romance, it’s very entertaining, I couldn’t put it down.
I can’t say enough good about The Bargainer series! I fell in love with Callie and her bad boy, Des, the King of Night. Great writing. Engaging plot. Kept my interest the whole way through.
This was a really good book. I have never stepped into the Fae world but I am not unhappy that I did. I love the relationship between the characters all though a few times I said “Just let him in!” because she was so cold throughout the book. After she explains their past it unravels to explain why she is the way she is but when his secrets start pouring out I could not put the book down.
I enjoyed this book, the story was so different then other paranormal romances. Des is mysterious and then protective when we first meet him but 10 years later he was sexy, charming, fierce, and loyal. Callie was strong, at times fragile, and innocent but 10 years later she is a strong, independent woman that that still held deep love for Des. I loved them together and the progression of their relationship. At first this story is exciting, getting to read about the different relationships she has with individuals with different abilities and the descriptions of the otherworld. Then the story takes a turn to something more mysterious and suspenseful. I am nervous for what is to come but I can’t wait!!!
Actually closer to 2.5.
Kinda boring. There was too much relationship drama and not enough plot to balance it out.
It took me forever to start this book, but I’m glad I finally did. I was so surprised! I know I could have easily read the synopsis to remember what it was about, but for some reason, I always thought this book was post-apocalyptic. Imagine my surprise when I find out it’s Romantasy, filled with faeries and kingdoms, and ahh!
The Characters:
We have Callie, a siren, who went through a lot in her teenage years. Her character spoke a lot to me because, despite what she’d gone through and how lonely she was, she never let that bring her entirely down. She’d always keep going forward. And for those days she’d let herself feel down, her Bargainer was always there to pick her up.
The Bargainer… Man, I am whipped. I think if the author had just focused on the present with the story, I wouldn’t be as whipped as I am. We see so much of this character in the flashbacks, and how he is with Callie completely melted my heart. He’s so loving and caring despite him being known as the King of Chaos.
The Plot:
I was very intrigued by all the happenings that moved the story along, especially the whole ordeal with the women and the children (iykyk). I do admit I felt like the Thief of Souls was just thrown into the story without him having an official grip to the story. Every time I’d read his parts, I’d be detached and not really finding the connections.
Overall, I’m excited to continue this series and the journey and adventures these characters will go through. Rhapsodic was such a wonderful and unexpected surprise!
My Rating: 1/2
Type: Series – Book 1
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Magical World
Primary Characters: Reid Diggory, Louise, Coco, Ansel, Beau
Narration: Limited third party
I picked this up on random. Plot is good; however, the initial semblance of characters to my favorite series “A court of thorn and Roses” made this book a sort of turn off to me. Its not the same, its way different. My opinion may be because I picked it up soon after reading “A court of thorn and roses” and similarities were too high.
This is the first book in “The Bargainer series”. Book alters between earth and the other world along with some scenes of past and present. Plot begins with Callypso “Callie” Lillis, a teenage siren making an impulsive deal with The Bargainer. Fae Lord of Night uses his magic to help her with certain situations. Callie and the Bargainer form an unlikely friendship. As Callie grows into a young lady, going to college and entering her early adulthood, the Bargainer is her closest companion and only friend.
Some events lead to them being separated. Now, after 7 years the Bargainer has returned to collect his debts. In the other world something is wrong. Female fae warriors’ bodies are turning up in casket along with the child in a condition of not dead or alive. Male warriors are missing. To unfold this mystery Bargainer needs Callie’s help.
The high-level plot is solid and I feel like there was so much potential. Storyline for this book was underdeveloped. Nothing really happened almost till last 30%. Book took a different unexpected, rushed & random turn in the ending. I could appreciate their characters, nothing really grabbed me and made me adore them.
Additionally, a lot of the descriptions were weak and some of the dialogues were way cheekier than my preferred taste. And the mystery about the missing women was not given much scrutiny to the plot. Magic system wasn’t explored well. World building is not consistent. Writing style is ok ok.
Overall, enjoyable one time read. I would definitely pick up next book to unfold the mystery of women in casket and those silent children.
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Oh Desmond Flynn, what have you done to future fantasy book boyfriends everywhere? Ruined me to them.
This book was sooo very good! I loved the mysterious pull of the world-building from the get go. There’s intrigue, suspense, murder, blood, romance, and darkness and it was all wrapped up so very well.
Callie has always felt like an outsider and when the unthinkable happens and she has no one else to turn to, she makes a deal with the King of Darkness himself, The Bargainer.
One favor after another make for a bracelet full of repayments she owes to the handsome and ominous fae. But one fateful night she makes a wish and he disappears for seven long years.
Only to resurface demanding full repayment… and the intrigue builds to a slow burn that will have you turning page after page to find out more.
The Bargainer is everything one could want: broody, dark, mysterious, and protective. He’s night itself embodied and damn is he hot AF. He’ll have you straight drooling.
Callie is hilarious, feisty, and completely everything I love in a heroine.
If you’re looking for a book to keep you enchanted, look no further. I’m diving into book two tonight.
I have been hearing about this series on Youtube for a while now, and I finally decided to try it out. I believed I did not like romance books, which is why I have been putting off reading this until now. Well, I may need to adjust my view on romance books, because I thoroughly enjoyed this one! I loved the fantasy elements in this book; fae, sirens, werewolves, and witches. What more could you ask for? Oh, a hot bad guy who is the devil but you made deals with him and after seven years he has come back for payment? Well, this book has that too! From the very first couple of sentences I was hooked and I read this book in one day. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next ones in the series!
“Do you know what I do to enemies that threaten what’s mine?”
Oh dear God.
Desmond. Desmond Flynn. Enough said. I devoured this book in two days. Amazing!
Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa was an interesting read. The story focuses on Callypso a siren who when in a bind when she is younger calls on the help of The Bargainer, a mysterious man who fixes things, but they come at a price, one that although Callypso is willing to pay she doesn’t quite understand what it means. We follow her relationship with the Bargainer as she collects beads on her bracelet waiting for him to collect on them and we see her grow from a young girl into a young woman. It is only when she is older that the mysterious man comes back and he is ready to collect, we just don’t know the reasons why and what hat will mean for Callypso.
This book was unique and different as we see into the past and the present and Callypso helps the Bargainer and Fae King with a problem that he is having in his kingdom. The book jumps backwards, and forwards and we see the relationship build between the two. The book does leave you with a lot of questions (this is a series) and the story at times is creepy (when trying to figure out what is happening in the kingdom) and sexual (the building relationship between Callie and Des) and I don’t want to give too much away as there is a lot of twist and turns, but boy is this book a page-turner!
If you’ve read any of this authors books before, you know that you are going to be pulled into a wild, mysterious ride and this book was no different. Although a little slow in parts, we really get to know both characters and the world in which they live and are trying to survive. A great read about two soul mates who just needed some time to figure things out whilst trying to figure out answers to questions which are going to be haunting.
More of my reviews can be found on my blog: http://thehotmesslibrary.blogspot.com
Everyone knows if you need to make a magical favor you call on the one Fairy that can give it to you, The Bargainer.
Callypso Lillis is a siren with a very big, very deadly problem. Her stepfather who’s known in the supernatural world as a gifted seer ends up dead and Callie knows she’ll be next. She calls on The Bargainer for the biggest favor and once granted she knows she’ll have to pay the price.
Desmond Flynn is the King of the Night but on Earth he is known as ‘The Bargainer’ and when Callypso Lillis calls him to her kitchen to make a life or death bargain he gets a shock of his own.
Callie forges a friendship with Des that runs up her wrist in the form of magical IOU’s on Isle of Man until one night everything changes.
Seven years have passed, and Callie hasn’t seen or heard from ‘The Bargainer’ but everyone knows that when you make a deal with The Bargainer he always collects.
Now a problem in the Otherwold leads Des back to the siren he abandoned on the Isle of Man and this time he’s come to collect on all those IOU’s. The only problem, Callie is a Siren and the mysterious evil stalking the Fae in the otherworld collects rare and unique things of which Callie is one.
Can Des and Callie put their pasts behind them long enough to save the fairies of the Otherworld or will their pasts hasten the destruction?
You’ll meet lots of characters along the way through all three books in this trilogy.
Rhapsodic, A Strange Hymn, Dark Melody will lead you on an adventure of chaos, destruction, creation, joy and pain, grief, and sorrow. Callie and her best friend Tempest will take on the slavery of humans in the Otherworld and seek justice for the fallen warriors in every Otherworld Kingdom.
Desmond Flynn is dark, dangerous, and complex and his best friend Malachi is the Lord of Dreams.
You will meet Fairies that trick you and Fairies that eat you. All the beauty of the Otherworld with all the comforts of Earth.
Fans of ACOTAR will love this book (I think I like it more)
Wow. Just wow. This is my 1st book by this author. I love her twist on sirens and Fae. This book takes a couple chapters to have you hooked but once your are enjoy the ride. The love story of these two tugs at your heart strings. You really feel their connection. You want to smack Callie sometimes because Des love for her is so clear I don’t know how she doesn’t see it. The ending really sets up the next books. I can’t wait to continue on with this series. Now on to book two!
Spicy/steamy /5
Romance 4/5