What is the fae bargain trope?

The fae can't lie, but they can mislead; their bargains are exact and their prices strange — a name, a memory, seven years of service. Fae-bargain romances turn that danger into tension: the deal ties the lovers together whether they like it or not.

Common variations

  • Bargain for a life
  • Bound by a debt
  • Trading a name
  • Tithe to the fae court

What to watch out for

  • Fae who behave like humans with pointed ears

Classic examples