The Hob's Bargain

Contrary to what I've heard and what the back cover says at the top of this book, I didn't find this story all that much beauty and the beast. Yes, the love interest is "different" looking while Aren is a pretty female but other than that it lacked the other elements to make me consider this a beauty and the beast story.

But that didn't lower my enjoyment of this book at all. In fact, I rather adored this book. The world Briggs built is amazing and left me wanting to know more about it. She also had some fantastic characters in this book. Aren is the kind of female lead character I love in stories. She's strong and not afraid to stand up for herself or take things into her own hands. While the Hob with his tail and life loving attitude show more was adorable. I only wish we could have got a little bit more information on Kith, another main character aside from the Hob and Aren, who was just flat out delicious.

My only complaint about this book is that it was too short. Some of the areas I felt should have been expanded on a little more like the main bad guy (aside from the raiders). All we really got about him was that he was evil and bad but no other information. show less

I was in the mood for Patricia Briggs, so I decided to re-read this one.

It was nice to revisit Fallbrook. The world felt very believable. From how they focused on what was best for the village, to the contact they had with the rest of the world, to their fears and their prejudices. I liked how the villagers gradually became aware that not just magic, but other supernatural beings were stirring again. I loved how everything had a price, both when it comes to magic, and dealing with the supernatural.

It was intresting to follow Aren, and the rest of the villagers as they fought to save their village from the raiders and the wildlings. But, they also struggled with their prejudices and their reaction to magic and wildlings. I admired Aren show more for her courage. Both when it comes to daring to speak about her visions, despite knowing what the cost would be. But also when it comes to putting all the clues together, and strike a bargain with the Hob. In fact, it felt as if it wasn't until then the story really, started. But it was fascinating to follow Caefawn and Aren as he taught her how to harness her gifts. At the same time, he courted her. I liked the fact that the romance between Caefawn and Aren was sweet. It fit the story.

In the end, it all come down a confrontation with the villain, and Aren stepped up. My heart almost broke at the sacrifice she made.

This book, it wasn't bad, none of Patricia Briggs books are. But... I had troubles connecting with the characters. However, I think the main reason for that was because I had read this story, many, many times :).

( On a side note: I prefer the old cover. Sure, the new cover is nice, but where is the hob?) show less

This is another in a long line of read-so-long-ago-a-reread-feels-like-the-first-time books. I didn't remember a thing about it, except that I loved it then - and I loved it now.

The story centers around Aren, a woman who has lived in a remote farming village all her 29 years, and who had just about resigned herself to being a spinster when her father engineered a match for her. One reason the resignation wasn't as bad as it might have been, and why marriage isn't as simple as it might have been, is that she has a secret: she has a gift. She can see things that will happen (though usually not clearly enough to be very useful), and find lost things. Magic isn't just discouraged in these lands, it's hunted out; necromancers long ago found show more a way to suppress all natural magic and monopolize power for themselves, through bloodshed. Boys are given a choice of serving the necromancers (which could mean becoming a necromancer - but probably means dying) or ... dying. Girls with gifts have no choice - they are simply killed. Her brother many years ago chose to die under his own power rather than in any way fall under their power; a childhood friend wasn't, in many ways, so lucky.

And then, suddenly, one day everything changes. The necromancers' hold on magic is broken - and so is Aren's life when raiders maraud through her village. And they're not the worst of the dangers her people face, as with the loosing of magic, the wildings are returning - all the creatures of magic who have survived the long drought, most of whom are not fond of humans. Except perhaps as lunch.

In short, the village is besieged, and isolated, and needs help - and Aren gambles on a legend and goes up onto the hill called The Hob, seeking the newly awakened Hob and the Hob's Bargain. Hobs are benevolent - but that doesn't necessarily mean that what he wants in exchange for helping them defend themselves will be easy to pay.

I loved this book. It has what is now (though not then) "paranormal romance" stamped all over it, from a not-great cover (which does, however, feature Duck) to the blurb on the back - and that's not fair. It could have been (Patricia Briggs was just cutting her teeth on this one) - but there were none of the trappings such things are saddled with now. For one thing, it gets about a PG rating, and that's for violence.

Characterization is always key for me; if I can't at least like someone the book is toast. Here I love all the main characters - not because they're all nice and sweet and good, but because they're real, they interact, they have histories and depth and their own lives. Aren is wonderful - prickly, smart, determined, strong - and still not a Mary Sue, with all of that. When Aren's friend Kith is "offscreen" I can believe he is off being the star of his own story; he doesn't just begin and end when he's featured in a scene. Caefawn is my hero - what a marvel of a race, and a marvel of a character. And I believe that's the best use of a tail I've ever seen. Even Aren's horse, Duck, is three-dimensional - Patricia Briggs is one of the writers who, as Judith Tarr puts it, Gets It Right when it comes to horses. And the evil necromancer is everything an evil necromancer should be.

It isn't, perhaps, a challenging read - and in fact I picked it up after Shadowfever with the intent of getting away from harrowing world-altering fantasy. There have been an awful lot of books in my currently-reading lists lately that involve entire villages razed and children lying dead in the streets. In point of fact, Hob's Bargain doesn't evade such things; there are some grim moments, as the world is altered here too, and such cataclysms are never gentle. But it was swift and beautifully written, and - in case I didn't mention it - I loved it. show less

Ya know, Briggs just knows how to tell a good story. The Hob's Bargain (as far as I can tell) is standalone fantasy novel that succeeds in that it's a lot more original than a lot of fantasy out there, manages a plot that is not predictable, and entertains. The title character is one of my favorite in recent reads. The only thing I was disappointed in was that I felt the book doesn't feel finished. ( SPOILER: The bargain referred to in the title never comes to its conclusion!) Lately I've read a series of stinkers, so this was a refreshing change of pace!

Love this book. This was my intro to Briggs - I read it in a bookstore, came back several months later and found another Briggs and noticed Hob's Bargain there - and realized I still remembered the story perfectly. So I bought it (and Dragon Bones, the new Briggs that had just come out). These stories are the ones that Briggs can really run with - her current urban fantasy just doesn't catch me. Hob's Bargain has magic coming back after being suppressed and used only by evil mages for several generations - so people who hate and fear magic now have it, and the wild magic is also showing up again and they don't have the faintest idea how to handle it. Aren is great and I love the Hob. And Kith, and even Wendel, and Ice, and Duck...there show more are a lot of wonderful characters (yes, the horse is a character! The horses, actually - Torch and the Lady as well). Lots of changing viewpoints, lots of new understanding of oneself and others, changing motivations, and the Hob trying to make some fun in the midst of it all (and succeeding unexpectedly often!). A great book. show less

This book just really didn't do anything for me. It had a very passive sort of feel to it, like things were happening all around Aren and to Aren, but that she had little control over any of it and little care for any of it. There was no urgency to anything that happened.
I wish there were more scenes from Caefawn perspective. I would have been interested in learning more about his binds with the Mountain and his mysterious past but all of that was just glossed over.
All in all there was a lot of potential for this book, but I found myself as bored as the main character seems to be with everything that went on.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. I didn’t put it down until I was done. It’s nothing like Alpha and Omega or Mercy Thompson. This is a light, quick, clean, and read. It’s not what I’ve come to expect from Patricia Briggs but I was not disappointed. There’s a really sweet romance and a healthy dose of good against evil.

Aren has magical abilities, mainly she has the “sight”, which she hides to stay alive. Her brother was not so lucky. After a day of marriage she loses her husband and entire family to raiders (who play a major part in the story). Aren comes through to save her village by agreeing to the “bargain”. We are shown her strength throughout the book; she never hesitates to face her show more fears. Aren tries to hide her need for love and acceptance from everyone including herself. Who would have thought she’d have found her love, acceptance, and destiny in the Hob.

The Hob has missed many years, sleeping in the mountain until the magic was released. I really liked the Hob. At first he comes across as juvenile, but you soon learn that is not true. He is mischievous and loves having fun. The Hob goes along with bargain, reluctantly at first, following directions. He starts to enjoy Aren’s company and grows to appreciate and love her. I can’t say much more about him without giving too many spoilers ;)

This is a world that was well developed with details. The magic and all aspects of the “other” were developed with rules and intricacies were interesting and thought out. The secondary characters come alive with personalities and their own little quirks. I’d love to know what happens to the berserker. I hope someday to have more to Aren and the Hob’s story and more from this world. show less