Blog Tour: The Redwood Bargain by Markelle Grabo

To free her cousin from an indentured contract, Katrien agrees to fulfill their lord’s bargain with the fabled “Redwood Man.” Three maids before her have posed as his stepdaughter, Lady Zaviera, and met this lord of the forest as promised. But Katrien means to be the first to fool him—and live.

Impersonating a Lady is no easy feat, especially one as beautiful and aloof as Zaviera. With six weeks before she’s sent off, Katrien is put through endless lessons, even as The Redwood Man’s suffocating vines overtake the manor and threaten its staff.

Zaviera takes a special interest in her training, and their shared interests grow into shared affections. But The Redwood Man awaits his prize. Caught between duty and desire, her future and her past, Katrien must navigate a tricky bargain—or risk failing those she holds dearest.

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A clever, grown-up Grimms’ tale with duty, desire, and a forest that bites back.

Pre-Reading Thoughts

The blurb promises bargains, mysterious lords, and fabled forests, so I’m expecting intrigue, careful plotting, and a protagonist who’s clever enough to outwit supernatural expectations. I’m hoping for a darkly whimsical tone with a sense of slow-build tension.

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Post-Reading

As I thought…
The tone is spot-on - Grimm-like, a little sinister, and utterly compelling. The characters feel real, even the ones whose behaviour can be frustrating, because their motives are clear. Katrien is clever and empathetic, and her training period is more engaging than I expected, full of clever lessons and quiet tension.

It surprised me by…
…how much I enjoyed the careful pacing. Even though I misread the blurb and wanted faster forest action, the story’s focus on preparation and the relationships built during that time works beautifully. The romantic tension with Zaviera is delicate and earned, and the looming presence of the Redwood Man keeps the stakes high without rushing the narrative.

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Music Pairing

🎵 Featured Song: “Breathe Me” – Sia
🎶 Vibe Album: Dark Fairy Tales: Strings & Shadows (imaginative mix!)
🎧 Artist Recommendation: Florence + The Machine (for the ethereal, tense energy)

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Vibe Check

Colour Palette: Deep forest greens, muted browns, and soft candlelight gold
Soundtrack: Darkly whimsical, suspenseful, a touch romantic
Season: Late autumn – crisp, shadowy, and mysterious
Mood: Clever, tense, quietly romantic
Scent: Damp earth and old parchment

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Tarot Pull

The High Priestess – Katrien embodies intuition, careful planning, and inner strength. Like the High Priestess, she navigates the unknown with wisdom, slowly uncovering secrets, balancing duty with desire, and trusting her instincts to guide her through the Redwood bargain.

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For Fans Of

• Book: The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert (for the fairy-tale-with-edge vibe)
• TV/Film: Pan’s Labyrinth (for grown-up fairy-tale tension and clever protagonists)

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The Redwood Bargain publishes on 26th April. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.

Book Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222798701

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DQZKNTK2

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-redwood-bargain-markelle-grabo/1147241970

IndieBound: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-redwood-bargain-markelle-grabo/2c969d531b9c31ac

About the Author:

Markelle Grabo started writing in 5th grade once she realized her squeamish nature wouldn’t lend itself well to a career in Marine Biology. After growing up in Wisconsin, she earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Loyola University Chicago and her master’s degree in creative writing for children and young adults from Hamline University, where she wrote the first draft of her debut YA novel, Call Forth a Fox.

When not writing, Markelle enjoys hiking, food adventures, and going to the movies. Whatever she’s doing, she’s usually listening to an audiobook or a podcast at the same time. She lives in the Greater Chicago Area with her husband and their two very fluffy cats, Matcha and Kava.

Markelle is the author of Call Forth a Fox and The Redwood Bargain (April 2026). She is represented by Tricia Lawrence of Aevitas Creative Management.

Author Links:

Website: https://markellegrabo.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/markellegrabo

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4796470.Markelle_Grabo



Tour Schedule: