Member Reviews
This book starts out strong. There's a unique magic system with three different types of magic, two sisters who are just trying to survive, and gambling.
I loved the relationship between Camille and Sophia, but Sophia was annoying and stupid sometimes. I know she was younger, but it was frustrating seeing some of the choices she made.
Unfortunately what started as an interesting story quickly became boring for me. There were too many historical events crammed into the book which detracted from Camille's story.
I have complicated feelings about this book. I relished quite a bit of it, yes. But other parts shrouded my enjoyment. Since I like to start with positives, let me start with what sparkled the most about it:
The story did not always take me to the places I thought it would, so it was like being stuck in a maze at a garden of Versailles. And I love the thrill of being lost in mazes, so...
There's something romantic about the lavish parts of its historical Parisian setting. I mean, I suppose I do LOVE late 1700's gilded gowns and powered wigs. Plus the authentic feel with use of the French language. I truly felt transported in time. (Even with there being the added touch of magic, it still held the essence of what I imagine late eighteenth century Paris felt like).
Camille and Sophie's sisterly relationship was great. So it hit me in the feels when their sibling bond was tested.
The main romance was often pretty adorable. Ya'll, I'm an unapologetic old fashioned gal who really appreciates a romance that doesn't show anything further than kissing. Though there were crass things splattered into the book, Lazare and Camille's romance was pretty darn chaste. *throws powdered wig in the air with joy*
Despite my likes, though, I'm afraid I wasn't completely enchanted by this tale.
Life at court was cringe-worthy. It was a place where morality could be thrown out the window, and no one really cared.
The fact that the riots (brief part of this tale) didn't seem to overly bother any of the characters? There was little sympathetic emotion at the mention of people being killed and heads being detached. *french crickets chirp*
The magic system was gruesome. While the effects were deceptively charming, the process was choking. Those who were magicians used sad emotions and blood to conjure their magic... True, the story does eventually show how this is wrong, but it made me uncomfortable. And I suppose this was one of the big reasons the glam and glitter never swept me away....
"Enchantée" by Gita Trelease is sure to be a hit with readers who enjoy a moody yet lively historical. But tie all of the above emotions together, and it results in my personal rating of this book being a rating of three and a half. I enjoyed much of it, but it also made me unsettled on multiple occasions.
*Thanks to to the publisher through Netgalley for a free complimentary e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.
DNF at 41%. I decided pretty quickly today that I likely won't come back to this one. There is genuinely nothing wrong with it, but I can't get into the story for the life of me. The magic seems really intriguing, to be honest; there's just no emotional investment for me right now. I'm very mildly curious to know what happens next or if things get better for the characters... but there's nothing compelling me to move forward and find out. The audio for this is quite good too - I like the narrator. I'm just never in the mood to pick this up, via audio or egalley.
Enchantée is everything I love about YA as a genre. It’s young people discovering things about themselves and chasing adventures and solving world-shattering problems and falling in love, but this time we’re smack dab in the tense moments before the French Revolution.
The story follows Camille, an orphaned French girl trying to provide for her sick younger sister and drunkard older brother after their parents pass away from smallpox. The kicker is, Camille can work La Magie, a form of magic that can transform ordinary things into extraordinary things. However, surviving on turning nails and metal scraps into money is not enough, and after her brother gambles away their savings, Camille takes drastic measures, transforming herself into a Baroness and cheating the Elite out of their money at Versailles.
The writing in this book is spectacular. I was pulled in right from the start, and felt like I was running around Paris right beside Camille and her friends. The author knows how to string words together in her own form of magic, crafting a world that was expertly executed and detailed to pair alongside history. Paris felt real and vivid, I could smell the ashes and fire of the burning city, feel the garden breeze at Versailles, and when the action was at its highest point, I found myself flipping through the pages too fast, wanting to see what happened next.
I found the plot to be perfectly paced. Albeit, maybe a little bit too much exposition; I would’ve liked to have Camille get to Versailles sooner, though I feel we would lose the establishment of the story’s romance if it had gone that way. The contrast of her regular life with her life at Versailles, and the gradual and scary merging of the two, felt like a tidal wave making its way towards the shore, building up the anticipation and growing until they crashed together in a whirlwind climax. You felt the terror and confusion along with Camille, wondering when and how all these lines started to blur together and how to detangle them again. It was one of those books that left me breathless by the end, where I just had to sit with it for a while and stare at the ceiling to process it all.
I also found myself attached to all of the characters (Except Alain, he got what he deserved, just saying). I loved Lazare, I found his hope and bright personality to be the uplifting force in this book, and I thought the author did a great job of balancing him and his conflicts as a bi-racial member of the Aristocratic French. His romance with Camille was just the right pace of slow burn for me, and I adored every second of it (And his gaggle of balloon flying comrades made me smile). Camille’s sister, Sophie, also had an arc that I loved, and I loved her being a crucial piece to the climax as a whole. Even the friends Camille makes at Versailles, Chandon and Auriele, had me hooked with their personalities.
The villain in this book is the kind that makes you squirm, and there were some moments where I was worried the author might take it a step too far into something problematic with the way he treats Camille. It never quite got there, but I do understand why a lot of reviews I’ve read cite this as a potential issue for some readers. He’s a gross man with too much power that he is never satisfied with. And those are often the kinds of villains who are scariest of all.
The only thing I’d say is after having sat with this for a few days, I feel that Camille herself was not as fleshed out as she could have been. Our protagonist felt a lot like a vessel that propelled the story forward more so than her own person. I felt for her and was invested in her story, but, I felt there wasn’t more to per personality than her despising her magic, fiercely loving her sister, and wanting to be a printer. But, thankfully we’ll be getting a sequel, so I’m hoping we’ll learn a lot more of her in the next installment.
Overall, Enchatée is fantastical, magical, intense, and unique. It’s Historical Fiction Fantasy at its finest and will definitely keep its place as one of the best books I’ve read this year.
Sophisticated, whimsical, and wonderfully lyrical.
Enchantée was a fresh change of pace for me. It’s been so long since I’ve let myself sink into a dreamy fantasy—I’m so glad I chose to with this book!
The writing in this novel was like a delicate and luscious poem. I always connect with beautifully descriptive prose and this book most definitely anchored itself in that.
The setting for this was splendid. A palace filled with magic, art, and fashion paired with the romanticism of Paris, France.
Whisk yourself off to a quaint little coffee shop with this book in hand and get swept away into the dazzling streets of Paris.
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing a free, digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Here’s the thing: this book has a great premise and I thought it was well-executed. I loved the mystery and intrigue, but I cannot say enough how much the pacing seriously made the book worse. I complained about it from the very beginning, and sadly, it carried through until the last 10 or so chapters of the book. In these last ten chapters, so much happened! The pacing was good, scene after scene of good action that carries the plot, but why oh why couldn’t it be that way the whole book? 😔 These last chapters were the reason I bumped my rating from 2 to 2.5 stars. But despite that I did like the major plot points, loved how the main character slid seamlessly (almost too easily?) into each world she had built for herself. I don’t quite see how a sequel will come from this book as I thought ending was good. Alas, we’ll see.
I definitely enjoyed all the characters (except the villain, obviously). I loved the sisterly relationship between Camille and Sophie, though I did think Camille wasn’t really fair to her younger sister a lot of times. Despite the hardships they have faced in life, they really come to their own and you know, now that I think about it, I wouldn’t mind too much if the next book had chapters from Sophie’s POV. I loved Camille’s friends when she went to Versailles. I loved Lazare and his internal struggle of wanting to be French for his father’s sake but also not wanting to wholly give up his Indian heritage, too. It’s a struggle I know too well, and while it sucked to read how others thought of Lazare as a biracial character, I know there’s a spark of truth to the the accusations and contempt toward Lazare. Of course I really despised Camille’s brother, Alain. I want to punch him in the face every time he’s on screen, and I’m glad Camille reacted to him the way she did. He deserved nothing more!
Trelease is great a writer. Next to loving Regency and Victorian England, France before the French Revolution is one of my favorite time periods. I just have this thing about aristocrats even though most of them sucked during this time period. I envisioned things perfectly and it was all thanks to Trelease and her ability to bring you to Paris and Paris to you!
Sadly, this won’t be a book I’ll buy to add to my own collection. If it the sequel releases, I might pick it up, but it’s just hard to imagine when the pacing of this one was incredibly slow and left me struggling to even finish the book.
Paris and fantasy seem to be a popular combination lately and I've got to say, I'm here for it. In Enchantée, Camilla Durbonne has the weight of the world on her shoulders as she tries to keep her sickly sister and unstable brother from complete and utter poverty after the death of their parents. To do so, she's been using a simple magic known as la magie ordinaire to transform metal into money to get what they need. But the transformation is only temporary and as she reaches desperate measures, she resorts to a darker magic which allows her to physically transform herself into someone who can waltz into the court of Marie Antoinette to try her luck at gambling. And even as that plan works, it's not without a cost and it's clear that she can only keep up this charade for so long, especially when she meets a balloonist who makes her yearn for more. I think the best part of the book was the setting (Paris 1700s = yes!) and how the magical system worked. The fact that there's a cost to it raised the stakes and it showed how Camilla was willing to do whatever is took to protect her family. It's a quality I admired in her, especially when I wished I could reach into the book and give her siblings a hard shake. I do think that's where the story lacked though – in the relationships which are supposed to be a major driver for Camilla. The siblings felt a bit too one dimensional and didn't evoke any emotions from me. Likewise, the love story felt too instant and predictable. But I did constantly root for Camilla and I think the combination of liking the heroine, the setting and the magic still made the book enjoyable.
Do I recommend?: If you enjoy fantasy and Paris, I think it's worth giving it a shot. I did have fun reading the book but it wasn't one of the more memorable fantasy novels I've read so far this year.
I thought this book was written beautifully with fantastic character development. I honestly ended up liking it much more than I thought I would. There's also a fantastical element to it that I didn't know about before going into this but it was done so well. The romance wasn't cringe-worthy and you really feel as if you're being transported into this world. I highly recommend picking this up when it comes out.
This book was not what I was thinking it would be. Also, I know I'm supposed to be able to read the advanced copy and ignore what the typo and errors in the look of it are. Unfortunately, the proof that I was sent had just too many issues with it.
I am interested enough in the story to possibly still purchase it, but it was just too distracting to sink into the story with its current flaws.
As always, thank you for the opportunity to review and all thoughts were my own.
I didn’t think this book was bad, and at times I found it rather charming, but it is also rather forgettable. The tone also sometimes seemed much younger than YA sometimes, and that could be a bit jarring.
The premise sounded interesting because it sounds like a fantasy set during the French Revolution. However, this novelwas hard to get through. There were some scenes that made it uncomfortable for me to read. Also, the magic involved in Revolutionary France was co fusing. Still, I recommend this for anyone interested in fantasy and the French Revolution.
I couldn't get into this one, I tried more than once. I know many who liked this story so I'm definitely in the minority. This is a case of "It's not you, it's me."
This was a great book! I loved the dynamics between the characters, the build of learning about the magic and seeing what Camille would do to help her family and for herself. Plus the added historical characters and occurrences just makes the story all the much more compelling to read! I look forward to what Gita brings next!
Actual Rating: 2.5 stars
I really wanted to love this one! A revolutionary Paris with magic sounds fantastic. In the end, for me this was just okay, but I want to highlight some of the things I thought were done well, and some of the places that could have used improvement.
- I really liked the magic system! It was well thought out and felt fresh. I was left with a few questions near the end of the book, but in general I thought the idea of sorrow and pain fueling magic was an interesting one. HOWEVER this should probably come with a big trigger warning for self-harm (physically and emotionally) since it is integral to the magic system. I've seen this done before and don't have an issue with it per se, but I do think it walks a bit more of a line when the book is targeted at a teen audience.
- I also think this book paints a very powerful picture of addiction (to gambling and to magic), demonstrating the very real consequences of it without feeling preachy.
- The romance was a little lackluster. It felt like it developed more quickly than was warranted given the character interactions. Also there is no attention given to the damage that deception can do to a relationship.
- The villain felt kind of mustache-twirling and lacked complexity, although he was truly creepy at points. Then at the end we get some backstory that is supposed to humanize him, but I thought it was too little too late and the conclusion of his character arc was very unsatisfying given his role throughout the book.
- The pacing wasn't ideal. Parts of the book were very interesting and deftly painted a picture of the (all too real) disparity between the French court under Marie Antoinette and the starving citizens. At other times we got overly wordy passages describing Paris, portions where not much was happening, and a couple of scenes that felt disingenuous where the heroine waxes eloquent about hope. So some parts of the book were very good, other parts were fairly dull.
- The main character makes a LOT of very stupid decisions. Some of them seem reasonable for her as a character, but others didn't feel internally consistent. And her sister was SO dumb I could not handle it. Spoilers, so I won't elaborate.
So overall, this book had some definite potential, but was dragged down in other places. This is a debut novel, so I may try something from this author later in her career, but this just fell a bit flat for me. I received an advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Originally posted on Forever Young Adult on 2019 February 13
BOOK REPORT for Enchantée by Gita Trelease
Cover Story: Big Face:Marie Antoinette Edition
BFF Charm: Yay
Swoonworthy Scale: 8
Talky Talk: Dark Magic
Bonus Factors: Paris, The French Revolution, Hot Air Balloons
Relationship Status: Je T'aime, Oh, Oui Je T'aime!
Cover Story: Big Face:Marie Antoinette Edition
There is a lot to love about this cover: the way the colors make the stripes on the French flag, the way the title treatment covers Camille’s face and plays on the theme of secret identities. While I’m historically anti-Big Face, I like that the face on this cover is clearly playing up the styles of the era, and doesn’t look like a CW actress that was slapped on a book cover. I can’t believe I’m typing this, but I think I love this Big Face book cover!
The Deal:
With her parents dead and her younger sister recovering from smallpox, and an older brother who shows up only to drunkenly steal what little money his sisters have to buy booze and pay his gambling debts, life hasn’t been great for Camille. Her family is hungry, and she’s using the little bit of la magie her mother taught her to turn bits of scrap metal into coins to buy basic necessities. But even her magic is starting to fail her, and when her brother steals her life savings, Camille must tap into a newer, darker magic deep within her to transform herself into the Baroness de la Fontaine. As the Baroness, Camille begins sneaking into the Palace of Versailles and using her magic to turn cards—just long enough to win the money she needs to pay the rent. But Versailles is a magical place, full of intoxicating people, and suddenly one month’s rent isn’t enough to make Camille stop spending her evenings there, and the lines between real and magic begin to blur.
In her real life, Camille befriends a group of aeronauts, including the mysterious and handsome Lazare, who opens her eyes to a new and different world, and she begins to feel hope for the future in ways she never had before. As she begins to lose control of her magic and expose her secrets, Camille must decide between her real life and the one she’s worked so hard to create for herself.
BFF Charm: Yay
Camille is the real deal, y’all! She’s fiercely protective of her younger sister Sophie, and willing to do whatever it takes to keep her safe, even if it means disguising herself and sneaking into the freaking Palace of Versailles! But as tough as Camille needed to be, she also allowed herself moments of vulnerability and normalcy. I was pleasantly surprised that Camille talked about how hard it was to stop gambling once she began going to Trianon every night to play cards—gambling addiction is a real and terrible thing, and not something I expected Trelease to touch on here. There was so much depth and complexity to Camille’s character, and she was a joy to read.
Swoonworthy Scale: 8
Oh man, talk about a ~hot~ air balloonist! Lazare was just my type: sexy, smart, and lanky. And from the moment he comes, literally, crashing into Camille’s life, I was totally smitten. But Lazare has a dark secret, and the way Trelease builds tension in their courtship will keep you on the edge of your seat till the end.
Talky Talk: Dark Magic
Trelease seamlessly blends historical fiction with fantasy, to create an alternative Paris that’s even more magical than the real thing. The writing is dark and mysterious without ever feeling overwrought, and the hint of revolution combined with a slow-burn romance had me turning pages well into the wee hours of the night.
Bonus Factor: Paris
Is there anything more swoony than a book set in Paris? If you’ve been to Paris, and especially to the Palace of Versailles, you’ll love reading about all the places you’ve seen. If you haven’t been to Paris, you’ll be planning a trip before you even finish the book!
Bonus Factor: The French Revolution
One of my favorite historical subjects, the French Revolution lends a delightful sense of unease to Enchantee, and the book even features the occasional cameo by Marie Antoinette. It’s riveting to watch the drama at Versailles unfold as the mobs get angrier.
Bonus Factor: Hot Air Balloons
Okay, honestly? I would never in a million years ride around in a hot air balloon, and I think people who do are total maniacs. But I went to a hot air balloon festival once and have been in love with them ever since—at least, from a safe and respectful distance. They’re so whimsical and magical, but also majestic and striking. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to see one, or ride in one, 230 years ago.
Relationship Status: Je T'aime, Oh, Oui Je T'aime!
Book, I’m ready to learn French, jump on a plane, and meet you on the Seine for a romantic evening of champagne et macarons. We can eat baguettes and wear berets and doing other stereotypically French things in this montage, because then people will know that we are in love! Book, are you the Amelie soundtrack? Because you struck all the right notes for me.
This book was awesome! I loved the magic and the writing it was so beautiful. The imagery it evoked made the story that much better. Camille was a well fleshed out character her story line is seriously fascinating. Seeing the ins and outs of the court during the Revolution was so cool. I loved the love story. I just honestly over all really enjoyed this book.
As a reviewer who reads so much YA fantasy, I find that it's rare to come across a plot that is as unique and fresh as Enchantée. The setting alone is a rarity, but when you add in the aristocratic players such as Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, coupled with la magie and Camille's responsibility to her family, it's easy to see that Gita Trelease has crafted a genuinely original and creative story here.
Camille is unique in her own rights, too; she's got a level head on her shoulders because she's been forced to grow up so fast, but she wears her responsibilities sensibly and with a quiet acceptance. Rather than railing against her circumstances or trying to find an escape, she's committed every ounce of her being to protecting her younger sister and keeping them safe and sheltered. She's an easy protagonist to like, and she feels authentic; despite her commitment to her sister, she still allows herself to dwell occasionally on how hard her life is or how much she wishes certain things would change.
I was also immediately impressed by the quality of writing in this story. Gita Trelease is a total natural and she paints beautiful scenery. Her storytelling is lush and imaginative, with rich details. Unfortunately, it was almost too richly detailed at times, and that's where my struggles with this book began.
Despite all of the positives I mentioned above, the problem I had with Enchantée is that this book is simply too long. It had potential to be a quick-moving, well-paced plot full of action and intrigue and the occasional suspenseful thrill, but instead, so much time was spent focusing on the opulence around Camille that, while it paints a pretty picture, it's hard to stay very invested in the goings-on.
While Enchantée wasn't a perfect score for me, I honestly believe it's a 'me, not you' situation, because this book has massive potential to be so many people's favorite release of the year, and I mean that with every fiber of my being. I actually fully intend to reread this at a later date (when I'm not struggling with the final vestiges of a reading slump), because I think, had I been able to move past the slow pacing, this would've been an easy winning title for me. I highly recommend anyone who enjoys historical fantasy to check this story out, because I believe it's going to be a massively successful release, and I can't wait to watch Gita Trelease blow us all away.
Enchantee by Gita Trelease
BLURB~
Paris is a labyrinth of twisted streets filled with beggars and thieves, revolutionaries and magicians. Camille Durbonne is one of them. She wishes she weren’t...
When smallpox kills her parents, Camille must find a way to provide for her younger sister while managing her volatile brother. Relying on magic, Camille painstakingly transforms scraps of metal into money to buy food and medicine they need. But when the coins won’t hold their shape and her brother disappears with the family’s savings, Camille pursues a richer, more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
Using dark magic forbidden by her mother, Camille transforms herself into a baroness and is swept up into life at the Palace of Versailles, where aristocrats both fear and hunger for magic. As she struggles to reconcile her resentment of the rich with the allure of glamour and excess, Camille meets a handsome young inventor, and begins to believe that love and liberty may both be possible.
But magic has its costs, and soon Camille loses control of her secrets. And when revolution erupts, Camille must choose—love or loyalty, democracy or aristocracy, reality of magic—before Paris burns.”
REVIEW~
This historical fiction book is escapism at it’s best! Set in the French Revolution during the early 1790s, this author has managed to capture in writing, what French court must have been like. In college, I‘ve studied the French Revolution with a fair amount of depth and Trelease has succeeded, IMHO, to bring realism to her creativity and has obviously done her research. Historical facts, people (Marie Antoinette, King Louis, and other nobles), and occurrences are interwoven with her story of fantasy and magic. For me, it was such an original piece, and the book was written so very well that I was immersed in it. I didn’t want to stop reading to participate in that intrusive thing they call “real life.” I will admit, that I did have to look up the meaning of some words, but it was not detracting. I wanted to stay within the rich and atmospheric world Gita has given to us through this book. Was this a debut??? Surely, not!
The author’s expertise with “the pen” is noted throughout the book. So descriptive and striking, the paranormal was brought in so very adeptly, that it almost seemed a true normality and not at all whimsical. The superb word-building and dedication to the period was absolutely entrancing. Yes, this story has magic, forbidden and ostracized by society, but it also has heart, struggle, intrigue, and sedition. The MC, Camille is a pariah by simply her existing.
Speaking of Camille, and the other characters- Sophie, Alain, Lazare, and (OH MY GOSH) our villain, Viconte Seguin! They are adroitly penned and wonderfully captivating. I have to say that the inner struggle Camille goes through is felt profoundly by the reader, and though she makes some poor decisions, you find that you actually empathize with her. She and Lazare are both such a complicated and endearing characters. One of my favorite characters, however, was Viconte Seguin. (hmmmm, what does that say about me?) He was a perfect antagonist in this novel and his presence was brilliantly placed. He was such a, dare I say, gratifying villain?
The pacing of the book was sheer genius on Trelease’s part. The building tension of the characters and the revolution- it was all timed so well. This story captures you and you are victim to the author’s imagination throughout the entirety of the tale. (Or is it true?) I digress. I am in love with this book; I can’t deny it. I will gobble up everything this author writes just as if it were the cake Marie said to let the peasants eat.
Delightful and engrossing, Enchantee is a clever and immensely enjoyable story. I would very highly recommend this book to any historical fiction/fantasy fan. 5/5 stars from this reader.
I was given this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This review, or portions thereof, will be posted (when able) on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, Kobo, IG, FB, Pinterest, Litsy, and my own blog.
Unfortunately, I am unable to provide links to all sites as I am using my phone.
On various sites I am:
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Barnes & Noble~ Karyl-Ahn-white_7
Litsy~ Karylahn or Karyl White
Enchantée is a very enchanting adventure through 1789 France. I lost myself within the streets of Paris and the halls of Versailles. Beautifully written with characters you root for, my heart loved every minute of Camille's adventure. And don't get me started on Lazare!
The magic system is so unique in this book. With levels of magic all driven by the users sorrow, it was a well-developed breath of fresh air.
This debut from Gita Trelease is a must read for lovers of historical fiction/fantasy.
With a glittering backdrop of Paris and Versailles and infused with plenty of real historical figures, Enchantée was an enchanting and magical fantasy. With the threat of revolution tainting the air, all that glitters is certainly not gold, and that’s never been more apparent to Camille and her family. The divide between aristocracy and the common folk is as wide as ever and many people, like Camille and her family, are living in extreme poverty while the aristocrats wine and dine and waste to their hearts’ content. Camille is forced to rely on the one thing that she’s good at, the thing that’s dangerous, the thing that many of the French are wholly against — magic. The problem with using magic though is the threat of madness, and avoiding the madness is a struggle in and of itself because even the smallest amounts of magic come along with a mighty addictive quality. Camille is willing to take that chance if it can save not only herself, but also her sickly sister and her drunk, useless brother.
Enchantée was such an intriguing story that was littered with plenty of real historical figures and events, although in Trelease’s world, many of those people and events are heavily infused with magic. Which brings us to the French Revolution — Trelease based her revolution on much of what history tells us, but again, it’s infused with magic. Many folks want magic outlawed, while some want magic to be as accepted as anything else. Hands down, my favorite part of this entire book was when Camille used her magic to gamble at the Palace of Versailles, and it was definitely interesting to see how many of the aristos, ones who were vehemently against magic, also using little bits of it themselves.
There is a fair bit of romance in this book between Camille and a balloon enthusiast, although I wasn’t quite sold on their relationship and I can’t pinpoint why. Perhaps it’s because the relationship becomes so wrapped up in deception that I couldn’t really feel for either one at that point. Camille is living quite the double life, and that comes into play quite heavily as she and Lazare try to navigate their budding relationship, but the problem doesn’t stop there as Lazare also has plenty of secrets. And really, that sounds so exciting and juicy and tense, but I felt none of that. It was more of a niggling annoyance that they couldn’t just be honest with one another.
While I enjoyed much of the story, there were a few things that kept me from enjoying it as much as I expected to. The magic system wasn’t entirely clear, or at least clear enough for me to discern how it works. I also didn’t understand the balloons, or more specifically, why they were introduced and yet not given a bigger spotlight. That’s where things kind of got tricky for me because there are so many different threads happening with the magic, the romance, the balloons, the bad guy and the drunk brother, but none of them really came together for me at the end and instead felt like several disjointed stories that never really connected.
Bottom line — Enchantée was an interesting and magical read, and I did enjoy it for the most part. Trelease did a phenomenal job marrying history with magic, and I’m definitely looking forward to what she brings to readers in the future.
*eARC received via NetGalley.