This book is romantic and beautiful and filled to the brim with magic. I loved getting to see the characters develop and grow and come to care for one another. I had a blast with this story every step of the way even as it was breaking my heart.

First a thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC!
I will give this book 4 stars. I enjoyed Niamh, Kit and the other characters a lot. The regency setting, political tension, worldbuilding was all done very well. It touches all the current popular boxes: chronic illness rep, mental health, queer main/side characters, enemies to lovers, Bridgertonesque, oppressed peoples rising up etc.
I enjoyed the themes in this book even though a few made me uncomfortable. I am an immigrant and for the first part of the book I found it a bit difficult because the oppressed underclass of people brought up some feelings in me (not related to book). So I kept picking up and putting this book down.
In conclusion it is worth a read and there are several special editions of this book out (Owlcrate, Fairyloot) that are just gorgeous.

Fragile Enchantment introduces Niamh, a seamstress who has magic in her blood, which allows her to stitch emotions and memories into the clothes she designs. When she receives an invitation to serve as the tailor for the royal wedding in Avaland, she sees it as an opportunity to guarantee a better life for her working class Machlish family. She arrives in Avaland to find Machlish workers striking, the groom Prince Christopher (Kit) alienating everyone around him, and Lovelace, a gossip columnist, wreaking havoc at court. Niamh pierces Kit's thorny defenses with patience and persistence, as she creates a calming wardrobe for the upcoming nuptials. Neither he nor his fiancé, the Castillian Infanta Rosa, want to marry, but are being coerced by forces beyond their control. Complicating matters are the political upheaval created by the rebellious workers, the tenuous marriage agreement between the kings of Avaland and Castille, Lovelace's column exposing the growing intimacy between Niamh and Kit, and Niamh's deteriorating health which is being depleted by her use of magic. The narrative satisfyingly works its way toward a resolution of all the complications in this sweeping Regency romance.

This is a slower, regency style fantasy, and I didn’t know that was a genre I needed more of until I read this book! This was the perfect blend of magical and historical, bringing in the events of the real world and adding just a touch of a beautifully delicate magic system.

The romance was captivating and I never wanted this book to end. Saft has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I will continue to pick up everything she writes.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books, and Allison Saft for an advanced copy of A Fragile Enchantment in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3 ⭐️

I really wanted to like this book. I’ve heard great things about Allison Saft’s writing and people were really excited about this book.

This book felt like it should have been gone over a couple more times to flesh out storylines and characters. The pacing was slow and some scenes just seemed chaotic.

Niamh, the MFC, came off very bland. It might be because her backstory wasn’t explained so we really knew nothing about her. Kit, the MMC, was a run-of-the-mill misunderstood grump.

The romance was okay. There were some cute scenes between the main characters, but there just wasn’t enough to make me really believe in their romance.

I feel like we saw more of Sinclair than we did of Kit which took away from Kit’s character development.

The magic aspects were confusing. Niamh enchants emotions into what she makes, but she can also add invisibility? I couldn’t quite understand the extent of Kit’s power. I would have liked to see a bit more explanation of the magic system in this world.

Nearly every character is on the LGBT+ spectrum. I’ve never read anything by Saft before so I don’t know if this is common in her writing. What didn’t make sense about this is that they made it clear that society didn’t approve of same-sex relationships, yet nearly everyone seems to have been in one. How can something so common in this world not also be accepted in the world? One would also think that some of the advertising for this book should have mentioned the LGBT+ representation at some point, but in everything I saw there was absolutely no mention of it whatsoever.

If you are looking for a light read without too much depth, you will likely enjoy this book. I personally think it’s a book of wasted potential.

**Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.**

Thank you for the opportunity to review this title. This was a sweet regency-esque fantasy that fits perfectly on the shelf with Half a Soul and Ten Thousand Stitches. I really enjoyed the youthfulness of the main character and her arc to come into herself. Parts of this story were predictable, but in a cozy way. I enjoyed the embroidery magic and how feelings could be sewn into the garments. The storyline of doing what’s right when it goes against society was well done. This is a great YA fantasy.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillain Audio for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

This was such a gorgeously cozy world filled with characters that couldn't do anything other than touch your heart, and I loved every second of it! I think my favorite part is just how cozy the world and the magic are, while there is still high stakes and lots of political intrigue to be on the edge of your seat over.

My one issue was that the switch from enemies to lovers felt fairly abrupt to me, but I did enjoy Kit as a character and thought that he was such a sweet love interest. His intentions and motivations made the book so much more interesting at every turn. I really loved the way he ended up fitting with Niamh and her spirit.

This was an incredibly cozy book that was perfect for a rainy day and warm feelings. If you're looking for a fantasy book to brighten your day, look no further!

I enjoyed the audiobook of this charming love story filled with magic and romance and the narrator, Fran Burgoyne, does a beautiful job of bringing this fantasy to life. Niamh and Kit are delightful together and I loved following along in their world as they gradually fell in love despite their stations in life. There are many humorous moments and many swoon-worthy as well, and I fell in love with this book as I lived them all through the enchantment of this author's words.

I’m conflicted on this book. There were times where I would get caught up in the story and even enjoy it off a bit, but just as many times where I just couldn’t stay tuned in, couldn’t stay invested in the characters or the plot. I wonder if this book wasn’t a bit too ambitious for what there was to offer.

Not only a sweet love story, but also a story about messy family, prejudice, and an outdated class system.

Niamh O Conchobhair is a dressmaker with a magical ability to stitch emotions and memories into fabric. Unfortunately, this same magic is going to eventually kill her. Niamh has decided that she is going to use the rest of her time working to give her family a better life. She is offered the opportunity to go to Avaland to design the wardrobe for the royal wedding of the prince, Kit Carmine.

Niamh and Kit have a rocky beginning but the more they work together, the closer they become. Unfortunately, not everyone is blind to their chemistry. The local gossip columnist starts mentioning their relationship and the only way to make the columnist stop might also ruin the relationship between Niamh and Kit.

I really liked the magic system but I would have liked more of a backstory or more of an explanation of the magic system. Random characters would start doing something magical but then it was just kind of glanced over. The characters weren’t really given a lot of personality…. I found the writing a bit bland, drawn out and confusing at times.

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Bridgerton meets the fae in this heartwarming regency romance! I thoroughly enjoyed how cozy and sweet this book was, as well as how easy it was to read. A Fragile Enchantment is one of those books that you can get lost in for hours. While the plot itself was not exact revolutionary, Saft's writing elevates the book and leaves readers engrossed.

A Fragile Enchantment is a slow burn that keeps you wanting more and more as you go through the book.

I wanted more from the characters, but was very happy with how we get more progression from just the main characters. I think my favorite character was the princess, she comes off as a hard ass but has a soft gooey center.

I loved the fact that we have a sense of mortality and time running out even at a young age, the fact that she's draining herself for her family spoke to me.

So I thought A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft was coming out today, but it turns out it came out on January 2nd… whoops! Well you’re getting my review of it today anyway so enjoy!

This novel was basically Bridgerton but with a bit of magic and political intrigue thrown into it! I thought Niamh was a great character and all of the supporting characters were just as likable in their own ways.

It took me a good number of chapters to really get into the book, but I thought the romance was cute and the court dynamics just added an extra layer of depth to this YA novel and it helped me get more invested in the story as it went on.

I ended up enjoying this book and I think fans of Bridgerton will enjoy it!

*I received an ARC from Wednesday Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is an absolute gem. It’s a bewitching blend of magic, romance, and intrigue that will leave readers spellbound. A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft weaves a spellbinding tale of magic, love, and scandal in a Regency England-inspired fantasy world. Set against the backdrop of a royal wedding, this romantic fantasy of manners invites readers to step into a world where emotions are stitched into fabric, secrets lurk behind elegant ballrooms, and love defies societal norms.

Meet Niamh Ó Conchobhair. She’s a gifted dressmaker with a magical ability to weave emotions and memories into her creations, faces a cruel fate. Her bloodline carries a curse: the same magic that fuels her artistry will ultimately consume her life force. Determined to secure a better future for her family, Niamh seizes the opportunity to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighbouring kingdom.

Meet Kit Carmine. He resides in the neighbouring kingdom and is a reluctant participant in a political alliance. He’s also the groom. As Niamh and Kit grow closer, will their chemistry become undeniable?

Saft's prose transports readers to a world where love dances with danger, and where the heart's desires clash with duty. The enchanting characters come alive against a backdrop of candlelit balls and hidden intrigues. Niamh grapples with her own mortality and challenges the status quo.

A Fragile Enchantment captures the essence of romance, mystery, and the magic that binds us all. Saft's writing sparkles with authenticity, and her characters linger in our hearts long after the final page. Whether you're a seasoned fantasy reader or a newcomer to the genre, this novel promises an unforgettable journey through love, scandal, and the threads of destiny.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Such an absolutely magical and wonderful fantasy. I thought the me magic and lore of this book was SO fantastic. I loved the romance and friendships between the characters. Absolutely LOVED Saft's A Fragile Enchantment and will absolutely be picking up any and all releases. A new auto buy author, for sure.

Enjoyed this book. not terribly but it was alright. I enjoyed the world in which it was set and the magic system but was not attached any of the characters.

Absolutely loved this one! Kit and Niamh are the perfect grumpy x sunshine pairing. Both are also bisexual, and I especially adored the way they connected over this. The side characters were so great as well.

This story brought the historical vibe I adore, and although it was fictional, it said a lot about the treatment of the Irish during the regency era. The social implications felt very real to me as well.

Ultimately, this was equal parts angst and sweetness alongside a compelling plot, and im a huge fan!

Huge thanks to Wednesday Books, St. Martin's Press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm juts going to post the summary as per Goodreads. It pretty much says it all.

Summary:
In this romantic fantasy of manners from New York Times bestselling author Allison Saft, a magical dressmaker commissioned for a royal wedding finds herself embroiled in scandal when a gossip columnist draws attention to her undeniable chemistry with the groom.

This book was fine, I liked the premise, the plot was easy to follow and I like the Irish influences that were prominent throughout the book. The characters were a sunshine and grumpy trope with the prince brooding the majority of the book. The FMC was easily likable and I rooted for her throughout the book. The romance was okay but was not my favorite. It seemed forced and I had a hard time rooting for them. Overall not a bad book. It didn't reinvent the wheel or anything but still had good writing despite the romance.

Overall three stars. This is a good book that was an easy read but, in my opinion, is a one and done read.

Stopped at 65%. I wanted to enjoy this SO deeply but the pace was slow and the romance did not really deliver. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

I ended up DNFing this book, unfortunately. I thought the writing was stellar, but I just didn't find myself engaging with the characters and plot.
I find it challenging to read new adult/young adult books, so that may have been the reason.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.