No notes, this was a perfect book. This is, in my opinion, Saft’s best book to date and she has come into her own as a writer. The story, world-building, pacing, characters, and romance were perfect. I already knew she could write great characters, but Niamh was one of my favorites of all time. I hope she continues to write strong, successful, brilliant women who are also empathetic, kind, and gentle. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I really liked this! The romance was sweet, and I liked the characters, which doesn't surprise me since they are both character types I tend to like (Kit is so Darcy it hurts), but I have been disappointed before. The side characters were also a delight, although I could have used less Jack (sorry, blegh) and more Rosa, Miriam and Sofia. I would 100% read a spinoff about Sinclair (or any of the others, but he seems most likely).

The world-building was pretty standard Regency copy-and-paste with magic, but honestly in this case, I prefer it that way. While I like seeing magic added into the real world and how that affects actual history, I would much rather sympathize with and root for a fictional prince of not-England than a real person who was actually, historically terrible.

I also appreciated that while this was not a queernorm setting, there was still so much casual queerness (including the main characters!). There was a nice balance between "this is not a great setting to be queer" and "but queer kids don't need to be constantly reminded of that in their stories, and queer people everywhere and everywhen have still had lives and happiness in spite of all of that." And I still firmly believe bisexual m/f is much better than straight m/f :)

This was my first Allison Saft, but it will certainly not be my last.

This is mostly romance with a bit of fantasy. I thought it was good, but not amazing. I’m a sucker for some serious swooning or banter and this one was lacking in that even though it was an enjoyable read.
3.5 stars

Allison Saft does it again! ❤️ Intricately woven with a captivating blend of romance and enchantment, this novel effortlessly shines through its unique magic system, notably highlighted by Niamh's mesmerizing abilities. The narrative's Bridgerton-esque elements add a delightful layer, complemented by the nuanced grumpy-sunshine dynamic.. As an ardent admirer of the author's work, this latest creation lived up to expectations, earning a well-deserved 4.5-star rating. The novel's enchanting tale and rich character dynamics left an indelible impression, ensuring a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience. I am very happy I received an arc, and I went ahead and purchased a few special edition copies as well!

I felt like there was too much telling and not enough showing. I never felt the hate or love between the main characters. I also felt like every main character being LGBTQ, but then only really seeing in them in traditional straight relationships seemed like the author was trying to force a diversity she didn’t really care about.

i will not be reviewing this title in solidarity with the ongoing st. martin's press boycott. if you want to find out more about the boycott, please visit https://r4a.carrd.co/

I’m a huge fan of Bridgerton, so I was excited for the premise and setting of this; unfortunately, the writing was hard to get into for me, so I was very bored throughout.

This was a cute cozy fantasy novel and I couldn’t get enough of it. I’m not huge on the fantasy genre but this would be a great introduction into the genre. There wasn’t a lot of world building and it had a good amount of romance. I really enjoyed this book and definitely look forward to more from this author.

This is the classic enemies to lovers, he falls first, magical historical romance (what a mouthful). I simply adored Niamhe and Kit separate and together. And I really enjoyed their adventure to their romance.

I would recommend this to anyone who would like the above tropes, but anyone who likes a fast paced historical romance that makes your stomach flutter with butterflies.

This was such a cute and comfortable reading experience. Reading this felt like being wrapped up in a cozy blanket with some coffee and a fireplace crackling in the background. Ultimately, though, it was still a 3 star read, as I don't find that it's a book that sticks with me after reading it. There are some books that I read year ago and can still remember small details. This book has completely left my brain, aside from one moment where the Prince embarrasses himself for Niamh. That's it. Doesn't mean it's bad at all. This is more along the lines of what I consider to be pallet cleanse books. They're quick, they're fun, they're cozy. They aren't going to stick with ya. The magic system was pretty cool and interesting, even if it didn't really seem to have many rules to it. Niamh's is sticking emotions and feelings into her clothes and that's a concept that I actually felt was so intriguing. It did seem like everyone else had much cooler abilities though and hers was just given to her as a way to get her close to the prince. The representation in this book is phenomenal. There's someone with chronic illness, as well as queer representation. We all love to see it. Ultimately, I'm glad I read it and had a good time, but I can't remember a damned thing unfortunately. Possibly my fault, I'm going to say it's partially on the book as well.

dnf @ 18%

honestly, this book did not catch my attention at all and i was really looking forward to it. the only thing i remember from the little i read is something about a coat, and if that's all i can remember that should say something. also, the MMC name just gave me ick.

thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book, and I think it’s partly because it reminded me a little of The Cruel Prince in the sense that she’s a lowly girl, he’s a Prince who’s kind of mean to her at first but actually is just complete mush for her. Which like… yesss. Also I loved her magical ability— weaving an essence of herself into her work. Also him being called Kit, because I’m still not over the Letters of Enchantment series okay. But aside from other works I loved, this one does hold it’s own sweet spot for me, and I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a sweet and magical romance with some political intrigue. I would actually love to see this one as a film.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Looking for an enchanting Bridgerton-esque book with magic? Look no further. This story is simply beautiful. Niamh has the magic to sew enchantments into whatever she crafts and is hired to craft ensembles for a princes wedding. Then she meets the rather rude prince and decides to needle him every chance she gets. They, of course, end up falling for each other, and now she's crafting a wedding gown for his betrothed. Can't get much worse than that, can it? Oh, but it does... Serious Bridgerton vibes, and I am here for it!

Oh what a bummer. Bridgerton vibes with a little bit of magic?! I really wanted to love this book. But alas, it was not meant to be.

First, I did like the writing. It felt really lush especially because the main character is a seamstress and her magic deals with emotions. So every time she would describe the clothes and the memories that she would weave on them the writing was really a plus. But that's about it that I liked.

Our main character has a serious case of martyr complex. She is just so nice to everyone and she has to shoulder every single sacrifice. Why oh why can't the world be nice just like her?! Oh please. I was going to say that she has no other characteristics, but she is just so clumsy. Isn't that adorable?! And our brooding prince just has to save her from clumsiness all the time. Isn't this so sweet? Isn't this enough to believe in their love even though every interaction that they have they are snapping at each other until suddenly they love each just so much?! And our love interest, the aforementioned brooding prince. I can't even say anymore about him because the book doesn't give me anymore about him. He has some plant magic though that behaves erratically until it doesn't for no reason. The other characters are just as empty as the main 2 if not more.

The main female character really disappointed me. I was ready for a kind of different protagonist. We always see the badass, the warrior, the competent, take-no-bullshit kind of character. So, I was excited to see one that breaks from this mold and pushes the story forward in a different way. But that's not what we got here. We got an outdated version of what a feminine main character was thought to be. The story happened to her.

And what about the political unrest subplot? What? It had no worldbuilding for us to care about the world and the problems this world has. It's just so flimsy - the issue that Jack has and that he was able to hide that from his entire parliament (even when the book explains that the prince regent is pretty much a figure head) is just unbelievable.

I will try other Allison Saft books because I liked the writing. But this one was not for me.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

As a regency romance enjoyer, this was a joy to read. A Fragile Enchantment follows Niamh, a magical seamstress hired by the royal family of Avaland to craft a wardrobe for the prince's wedding. Hoping to take care of her family financially, she accepts the job despite tensions between Avaland and her home country, Machland. Niamh quickly finds herself entangled in the personal lives of the royal family and their court. But most inconveniently, she develops a deep connection with Prince Kit, the moody and reluctant groom.

The romance that develops between them is a little juvenile at first but ultimately so sweet and warm. What makes it more interesting are the actual consequences to Niamh and Kit being together rather than the conflict simply being a lack of communication that could be solved in one conversation. Another great surprise was that both of the main characters are bisexual, and it’s addressed in a way that deepened my understanding of the characters and the culture. Although the world-building isn't the most developed, it’s immersive enough to keep me invested in the political conflict—which only intensifies the stakes of the romance. The side characters are dynamic (and almost all beautifully queer! :D). I also loved how viscerally and emotionally expressed the magic was.

If you’re interested in a regency romance with cozy, magical charm, you will enjoy this one. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Cute and very lovey dovey. It was less of an enchanted love story than I was expected, and it read much more like historical fiction novel than fantasy. There's magic, absolutely, but not so much written to overtake the story and narrative. I enjoyed it and do recommend it for a quick and cute love story.

This was an interesting novel but overall I think the plot was weak and it was just too YA for me. I liked the setting though and thought it was interesting!

A Fragile Enchantment followes Niamh Ó Conchobhair, a seamstress with a magical ability to stitch emotions into the clothes she makes. Niamh’s reputation gets her the opportunity to travel to the neighboring kingdom of Avaland to create the wedding clothes of Prince Kit Carmine. Being Machlish, Niamh knows that going to work in Avaland will provide its own challenges due to old prejudices.

Kit is rude and abrasive towards Niamh when they first meet. Niamh needs this job and the money it will bring. She wants to bring her mom and grandmother to Avaland so they can have a better life. However, the same magic that lets her make magical garments is also killing her the more she uses it. Niamh has to pull out all the stops to be able to keep the prince happy and keep her job, even if it means shortening her lifespan in the process.

The more Niamh and Kit work together, they both start to develop feelings towards each other. The only problem is that Kit is engaged to be married to ensure a political alliance with the kingdom of Castilia. When the Tattler, a gossip column, threatens to reveal their secret unless Niamh finds out what the royal family is keeping secret ot puts Niamh in a compromising position. The Tattler seems to be pro Machlish, so Niamh is torn between supporting her homeland and supporting Kit and his family.

This was a fun, magical read. I enjoyed the character of Niamh. Despite all the obstacles stacked against her, she kept her head held high and never gave up. A Fragile Enchantment has a lush and romantic vibe to it.

Thank you Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft delivers on a fun, romance-forward fantasy. Our main characters, Niamh and Kit, really deliver on the romance. I find most books that feature a grumpy/unlikable love interest do not always make the love interest a character you want to root for, let alone a character you want the other main character to end up with. However, Saft nails this by skillfully walking the line between making Kit prickly while still having a soft-side brought out by Niamh.

As much as the romance delivered, I do not feel as though the actual plot and world-building were quite as well executed. While by the end of the book steps were taken to work out some of the problems that constituted the plot, no true resolution occurred in my opinion. By the end of the book, I was left wondering what was going on in the background and how those elements were seemingly resolved. As for the world-building, many fantasy books are clearly based on Europe and European history, I could not get over how obvious it felt that the main character was supposed to be based on this world's version of Ireland and her love interest was clearly this world's version of a Prince of England who was engaged with this world's version of Spain. This is not necessarily a negative, but it was very noticeable and did take me out at times.

Regardless, the characters were so enjoyable and the romance had me kicking my feet so I cannot give this less than 4 stars. If you really like romantasy, I definitely recommend.

Many thanks to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the e-ARC! Unfortunately I really struggled to get into A Fragile Enchantment—I had high hopes because I loved her debut and sophomore novels but I thought this was forgettable and the characters weren’t very captivating. I am, though, still looking forward to/planning to read her future works.