To Bargain with Mortals Summary: A Gripping Political Fantasy

Last Updated: September 29, 2026

0 461

Table of Contents

TL;DR: Quick Snapshot

On the island of Viryana, colonial rule has outlawed magic and erased ancient traditions.

Poppy Sutherland, the adopted Virian daughter of the Welkish viceroy, returns after seven years of exile, determined to secure her future through marriage.

Meanwhile, in the slums of Marnapur, Hasan Devar, a fire-wielding crime boss known as the Jackal, plans to rescue his captured brother.

Their paths collide when Hasan kidnaps Poppy, setting off a chain of political maneuvering, rebellion, and forbidden elemental magic.

R.A. Basu’s To Bargain with Mortals is the first book in The Reckoning Storm duology, blending high society intrigue with underground resistance.

Genre: Political fantasy with anti-colonial themes
Protagonists: Poppy (water-wielder) and Hasan (fire-wielder)
Key conflict: Colonial oppression vs. native rebellion

Book Snapshot

Genre & Subgenre: Epic Fantasy / Political Fantasy / Anti-Colonial Fantasy
Core Narrative Tropes: Reluctant Alliance, Political Engagement Scheme, Hidden Magic, Kidnapping Gone Wrong, Anti-Colonial Rebellion
Tone & Atmosphere: Cinematic, sharp, tense, atmospheric with South Asian cultural motifs
Primary Conflict: Struggle against colonial Welkish oppression and internal power struggles
Pacing Style: Fast-paced political thriller with dual perspectives
ISBN: 978-1964721682
Pages: 424
Book Structure: Prologue, 48 chapters, and an Epilogue

To Bargain with Mortals Summary: The Full Story

SPOILERS AHEAD

As a six-year-old orphan, Poppy is adopted by Clarence Sutherland, the Welkish Viceroy of Viryana.

Her native nanny secretly teaches her about the old gods until the Duke discovers it and enforces assimilation.

Years later, sixteen-year-old Poppy gives a family emerald necklace to a young Virian orphan named Samina, and her father exiles her to a finishing academy in Welkland for seven years.

At twenty-three, Poppy returns to Marnapur.

With her adoptive father ailing, she seeks a husband to avoid destitution. She sets her sights on Captain Richard Montrose II, the ambitious police captain and high society’s most eligible bachelor.

After three weeks of courtship, she accepts his marriage proposal.

In the slums, Hasan Devar runs an underground criminal network with his brothers Zeyar and Paranjay.

When Paranjay is captured by Montrose during an opium-smuggling run, Hasan tries bribery but fails. Learning of Richard’s engagement to Poppy, Hasan decides to kidnap her to ransom for his brother.

During the engagement party, Poppy overhears Richard in his study. He reveals he is marrying her only to claim her father’s office as Viceroy, after which he plans to frame her and exile her. Before she can escape, Hasan abducts her.

Hasan sends a ransom note with Poppy’s ring. Richard agrees to an exchange at the museum. But at the museum, Richard brings a decoy prisoner and orders his officers to fire.

In the shootout, Hasan is shot. Harithi, an earth-wielder, topples a statue, allowing them to escape. Poppy helps drag Hasan to a safe house in Sanivali.

In Sanivali, Poppy confesses Richard’s plot and reveals she is a hidden water-wielder. Hasan agrees to back her bid to become Vicereine and train her in magic.

He introduces her to the underground pantheon and teaches her naumya.

After witnessing the suffering of local farmers, Poppy cuts her thumb at a sacred banyan tree and offers blood to the goddess Rukmini, summoning a water spring.

Zeyar strikes a deal with Richard, returning Poppy in exchange for immunity. Richard betrays Zeyar, withholding Paranjay. Hasan severs ties with Zeyar.

Meanwhile, Viceroy Clarence discovers Richard’s forged documents and amends his will to name Poppy as his successor.

Richard confronts Clarence and shoots him. Poppy finds her dying adoptive father, who asks for forgiveness before passing.

Poppy blackmails Richard’s father, Marquess Montrose, forcing Richard into exile. She forms alliances with second-tier nobles and reaches out to Hasan.

Hasan partners with labor advocate Arun Dhamakha to create the Delegation for Virian Interests, uniting magic and non-magic Virians.

The colonial legislature attempts to pass Bill 201, the Registry Act, to register and incarcerate all daivyakt. Hasan and Harithi infiltrate the House but fail to stop it; the bill passes. On the day of the Viceregal succession vote, conservative lords oppose Poppy.

Hasan and Arun lead thousands of Virian citizens in storming the Central Chamber. The peaceful display forces the lords to confirm Poppy as Vicereine.

Three weeks after her father’s burial, Poppy takes the oath as the first Virian Vicereine. Her first decree pardons Paranjay, reuniting him with Hasan.

Six months later, Poppy, Hasan, and Arun work together in the Viceroy’s office, facing threats from the Welkish Emperor but determined to dismantle colonial oppression.

Characters In This Book

Character	Role
Poppy Sutherland	Adopted daughter of the Welkish Viceroy, secretly a water-wielding daivyakt, becomes Vicereine of Viryana.
Hasan Devar	Fire-wielding crime boss known as the Jackal, leader of a gang, becomes Poppy’s ally and trainer.
Captain Richard Montrose II	Police captain and primary antagonist, plots to usurp the Viceroyship and murders Viceroy Clarence.
Zeyar Devar	Eldest Devar brother, air-wielder, makes a deal with Richard for political immunity.
Paranjay Devar	Devar brother, air-wielding smuggler, captured by Richard, later pardoned by Poppy.
Clarence Sutherland	Welkish Viceroy of Viryana and Poppy’s adoptive father, names Poppy his heir before being killed.
Demetria Sutherland	Dowager Duchess, Poppy’s adoptive mother, supports Poppy after her husband’s murder.
Harithi	Earth-wielding daivyakt, middleman in the Devar gang, fighter and advisor.
Samina	Spy in Hasan’s gang, daughter of Poppy’s childhood nanny, reconciles with Poppy.
Rohini Devar	Mother of the Devar brothers, retired gang fighter and healer.
Arun Dhamakha	Non-magical labor rights advocate, co-founder of the Delegation for Virian Interests.
Catherine Colwick	Poppy’s childhood friend from Welkish society.
Theodore Colwick	Husband of Catherine, represents the Second Families, becomes Poppy’s political ally.
Lord William Montrose III	Marquess, father of Richard, conservative member of the Council of Lords.
Vinay	Veteran Devar gang member and rickshaw driver, killed during precinct crackdown.

What Drives the Story

Theme	How the book presents it
Colonial Exploitation and Cultural Erasure	Welkish rule outlaws Virian religion, demolishes temples, and forces cash-crop exports, causing famine and droughts. The suppression of elemental magic is branded as heresy.
The Nuances and Cost of Rebellion	Hasan advocates grassroots, moral-driven resistance, while Zeyar compromises with colonial powers for political gain. Their conflict highlights different approaches to fighting oppression.
Caste Divisions (Daivyakt vs. Vasudhakt)	Historical tensions between magic-wielding and non-magical Virians are shown to have weakened the nation before colonization. The Delegation for Virian Interests attempts to unite both groups.
Identity and Reclaiming Heritage	Poppy undergoes seven years of forced assimilation in Welkland. She later reconnects with her native language, magic, and gods, embracing her daivyakt identity.
Family Loyalty versus Moral Integrity	Characters like Hasan and Zeyar face choices between family devotion and broader moral responsibilities. Zeyar’s betrayal of Hasan for political gain exemplifies this conflict.

Who Should Read To Bargain with Mortals?

Readers who enjoy political fantasy with intricate world-building, anti-colonial themes, and elemental magic may find this book appealing.

The dual perspectives offer both high society intrigue and gritty underworld action.

Those who appreciate character-driven stories with slow-burn alliances and moral dilemmas will likely engage with Poppy and Hasan’s arcs.

The novel’s fast-paced plot and legislative climax may suit fans of political thrillers set in fantasy worlds.

Books Like To Bargain with Mortals

Jade City by Fonda Lee: Features crime families, clan honor, and bio-magical systems in an urban fantasy setting, with complex sibling dynamics and political warfare.

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel: Shares South Asian-inspired world-building, nuanced female agency, and exploration of political leadership.

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang: Includes anti-colonial resistance, an orphaned female protagonist, hidden divine magic, and complex political fallout.

And the Sky Bled by S. Hati: Features anti-colonial fantasy themes, resource scarcity, and political intrigue driven by brown women fighting oppressive systems.