The Wicked Bargain is the tale of Mar, a transmasculine and non-binary young pirate who has had their entire crew and family ripped away from them in a single night. A sinister creature known as El Diablo has called in a bargain made with their father for safety and legacy. When Mar somehow survives the night, they find themselves on a ship with a ragtag crew. Most annoying is Bas, who is arrogant and enjoys ordering Mar around. But when Mar is given a choice to bring their father back, they must use all the magia and alliances they possess to try and outwit El Diablo.  

I couldn’t put The Wicked Bargain down! Gabe Cole Novoa has created an intricate world filled with dangerous magic, sky-high stakes, and lovable characters. I always want to read diverse, inclusive pirate stories and am thrilled to be seeing more of them. Mar is such an excellent character and I loved watching how they learned to trust themselves and how their control over their magia grew. Bas and Mar have a searing, slow-burn romance that you won’t be able to look away from. I loved the supporting cast as well, including Tito and Dami. Dami is a chaotic and mysterious gender-fluid demonio, who helps Mar learn to unleash their magia for good. I really appreciated how Novoa wove in so much beautiful Spanish. It was always clear what was being said if a direct translation wasn’t provided. 

The Wicked Bargain is a book I would recommend to anyone, but especially readers who love diverse and LGBTQ+ reads. The Wicked Bargain is an adventurous, clever, and epic story that won’t soon be forgotten after the last page. I would highly recommend it! I can’t wait to see what Gabe Cole Novoa writes next! Readers who seek stories with queer love, pirate adventures, and found family, such as from stories like Our Flag Means Death, will love The Wicked Bargain. 

Thank you to Gabe Cole Novoa, Random House Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.