This is a romantasy-light meets Bridgerton set in an inchoate world where some people have magic, though the rules for it are vague, and an Irish troubles like crisis has been taking place nearby. I wasn't sold on the the world building or the relationship, so this just wasn't for me, but it might be a good options for someone wanting a magic infused regency like romance without all the intensity you usually get in the genre.

A Fragile Enchantment was my first foray into Allison Saft’s novels and I came in with high expectations, perhaps a little too high. Set in a fantastical version of Regency era England with allusions to events that actually occurred in Ireland, this romantic story both fulfilled and disappointed at the same time.

Niamh is a dressmaker who can imbue magic into her garments. The exact workings of this magic isn’t fully explained but that’s okay. The memories and emotions she’s feeling, especially if they’re strong enough, can be transferred into the clothing while she is making it. For example, feeling invisible or in the background can lead to a garment that sometimes makes you actually invisible while wearing it. That’s cool but it’s one of few magic present in this world. It seems magical bloodlines run in the nobility circles more as they like to keep it “pure” in their bloodline to pass on like a legacy. The other forms of magic that aren’t explained much either seem to take the form of natural element control, whether the forces coming from the sky (ie. Lightning and rain) or growth from the ground (ie. Flowers and vines).

The extent of the world building kind of ends here. We get an explanation there are a few different kingdoms and political marriages to foster allies. Some of the relationships between kingdoms are rocky but it never brings into the story any actual political strife that occurs. The main political tension arises from social class inequality which I enjoyed as Niamh’s own countrymen were seen as secondary people in a way in Avaland. I just wish there was a little more focus here along with the mysterious gossip columnist (a la Bridgerton vibes) that was pushing for reform.

At the heart of this story is the romance between Niamh and Kit. I love a good forbidden romance. I will admit there were cute banter scenes and some tension in places, but sometimes it felt the transition to love was a little quick before I felt truly invested in them. Maybe I had too high of an expectation, but when it’s the main focus of the story, it’s kind of hard not to expect something. However, I will contend that this may just be an issue for me, in this particular time of reading, and their chemistry may in fact be sufficient for other readers to absolutely adore them.

My last little gripe I wanted to learn more about is Niamh’s white streak of hair. It is said to represent her fragility as the streak grows with the use of her magic, and it will one day be the cause of her death. It’s a big plot point that drives her to always put others first and seek her own happiness last because she doesn’t know how much time she may have. I don’t know if this was resolved in the story as it ups the stakes but doesn’t fully explain it. I mean, everyone is technically dying all the time. Why does her magic alone cause such a demise? It felt like a little loose thread I’m just pulling at right now but I am curious as it ties deeply into Niamh’s arc.

Overall, it was a fun story to read but I definitely came into it with some expectations that weren’t fully met. If I had known this was mostly a romance but just set in a fictional version of the Regency era, I might’ve come into it a little differently. There may be some loose threads but the story stands alone well enough to make romance readers relatively happy.

Overall Recommendation:

A Fragile Enchantment had a beautiful premise with all the vibes of Regency era England and a forbidden romance with a prince. I wanted to love it but my expectations weren’t quite met. This is far more a romance than a fantasy with less worldbuilding and substantial plot than I would’ve thought. However, the characters were cute and the read was still somewhat enjoyable.

If you're a fan of Bridgerton, period costumes/fashion design, and a touch of fantasy, 'A Fragile Enchantment' has this market cornered.

Niamh is a seamstress with the ability to imbue feelings and emotions into her embroidery and designs. She attracts the attention of a crown prince who hires her to create the wedding attire for his brother's wedding, and she ends up becoming somewhat of a political pawn.

I can see how some people would love this story. However, I found it to be just okay. Niamh is a somewhat frustrating character, constantly overstepping and getting into trouble. Additionally, she lacks good judgment, which is not endearing. She ends up falling for a character who honestly didn't do much to warrant her attention. Her love interest smells of tobacco and earth, and frankly, I'm not on board with that.

That being said, it was a quick and entertaining read. I rate it 3.5/5.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for sending this eARC for review consideration.

This read is a fantasy with a historical romance feel. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between the two main characters and also of their squad of people around them. I also liked the magic aspects of the story ( magical clothing, magical nature elements) as well as the Bridgerton-type Whistledown scandal column plotline.

This is a sweet story about a grounded, warm hearted girl and a prickly hedgehog of a prince, but also, so much more. Alison Saft has a way of writing cozy worlds with complex characters facing personal challenges and broader sociopolitical issues. I loved reading about the beautiful dresses Niamh would make and the interactions between her and the rest of the cast, but I did feel like the story was a little slow at times. I'd say this is a great afternoon read for those who want something cute but also a bit meaningful.

I've been meaning to read Allison Saft, so I was excited to get to this book. And don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with this book at all, it just didn't work for me as much as I was expecting. It's definitely a me issue, and I will absolutely still give her other books a try. If you like any combination of young adult fantasy, historical/Bridgerton-esque romance and Pride and Prejudice vibes, I think this book will be for you.

“This had been a fairy tale after all. Only, it ended where it should have begun: with a maiden, locked in a tower, tending her spinning wheel alone.” This was absolutely my favorite line from the book.
I feel like this one was on the better side of just ok for me. It wasn’t bad, although I can’t help but feel just a little disappointed because I was thinking I would like it more.
On the one hand, the romance was enchanting and a nice spin on “hate to love” (they’re not exactly enemies or rivals):
‘“Is this a dream?”
“I don’t know,” he said huskily, his eyes aglow. “Let me kiss you until dawn, and I suppose we’ll find out.”’
*swoon*
I did enjoy most of the characters, and while it didn’t always seem to add a lot to the story, the magic was interesting.
I also really loved the setting. The book takes place in what seems to be an alternate Europe with different names for the countries. I enjoyed the politics at play, especially between Avaland (England) and Machland (Ireland).
On the other hand, I felt like it was a little slow in spots. My other issue is that although the conflict was interesting and tense at time, the resolutions could be flat and predictable. So while you would have great build up, you would be left thinking at times, “Oh… is that all?” I also had the feeling multiple times that something had been cut, or I had missed something because things didn’t quite match up.
Overall, I am happy I read it. I really did enjoy Saft’s writing, and I would for sure pick up one of her books again. She did have some beautiful quotes at times, and I would like to try another of her books.

3/5 ⭐️ If you ever wished Bridgerton had fantasy elements, this is for you!

<b>What to Expect</b>
✨ Magical powers
✨ Mostly closed door romance
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Grumpy/Sunshine
✨ Forbidden romance
✨ YA

<b>What I Liked</b>
It felt very much like a Bridgerton romance story, if they were in a fantasy world with political issues and magical powers. I like the forbidden romance elements as well as the tabloid-like columnist that reminded me a lot of Bridgerton.

The story itself is very compelling. The FMC is a skilled tailor, selected to make garments for the royal wedding. She is embraced as not just a servant, but more like a temporary member of the royal court. Her power is unique and one that I haven't read about in any fantasy book. It was a joy to read how she poured herself into her creations, magically weaving emotions into her clothing. I thought her power would be one that she would wield to help the story along or solve a conflict in some way, but it didn't seem like it really did. It was more about how she was feeling and her personal growth/development throughout the story.

<b>What I Didn't Like</b>
The political conflict seemed complicated from the start, but I think it's because I had a hard time with the history, names, and general run down of what's been going in the first few chapters. As complicated as the characters make it out to seem, and as unsolvable as they profess it to be, the resolution was incredibly easy... too easy. The ending felt very YA to me - all of the antagonists apologize for their shortcomings and are forgiven, there are no serious consequences to the characters actions, and everyone gets a perfectly resolved happy end. It just felt like what the characters struggled with all throughout the book was being exaggerated if it resolved so quickly and easily.

<b>Overall, this was an easy-breezy fantasy romance tale with a unique set of powers that I really did enjoy. If you're a fan of Bridgerton and fantasy, you'll like this.</b>

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This review is posted to Goodreads, Amazon, and B&N.

Thank you to @netgalley and @Stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @macmillian.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

This book took me a while to get into, so thank goodness I had the audiobook too. It’s a cute story of forbidden love with magical whimsy. It’s very Bridgerton like, with a secret society gossip pages and people falling in love from different classes. There is family drama, a controlling heir, and arrange marriages.

I enjoyed the book by the end, but it really took a lot to get the story going.

3.5 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #macmillianaudio #ltbreaderteam #smpinfluencers

What a fun read! I really enjoyed the Bridgerton-esque setting with the addition of magic and a touch of fantasy. I thought that Niamh and Kit were absolutely adorable, and their chemistry and banter from their first scene together was to die for.

I also loved Saft's ability to weave in more tense and important themes while still keeping the overall feeling of the book very whimsical and lighthearted.

I would definitely recommend this book if you love:
-enemies to lovers / marriage of convenience
-political intrigue
-strong independent FMC who stands up for what she believes in
-brooding prince with a secret heart of gold

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

This book is a soft 4 star rating for me. While it had so many elements I typically love…..
- a rich, whimsical setting
- a central conflict that can carry the story even without the romance
- forbidden love with tons of longing
- well fleshed out side characters
- an easy to route for FMC
- a broody, misunderstood MMC
…..was something clunky about the story that didn’t fully work for me. If I were to pin it on one thing, I would say it’s the romance in the first half. It felt like we only had hostile exchanges between our two love interests then halfway through one of the side characters was like “everyone can tell you two have feelings for each other” and as the reader, I was like “who is everyone?!?”

I will say once our main characters get together & started exploring their connection, I do think the banter & chemistry between them really picks up & by the end I was full blown invested in their happy ending as much as I was invested in the central conflict/plot.

All in all, this was a fun read & I’m definitely interested in picking up more from this author!

I’ve been trying to avoid anything lower than a 3-star rating (unless something is problematic) because I understand that as a reader, my opinion is just that – my personal thoughts and feelings. There have been several books that I have given a boost because the book simply wasn’t for me; there wasn’t anything objectively wrong with it. After loving DOWN COMES THE NIGHT, I have been disappointed by Saft’s last two novels. I felt as though A FRAGILE ENCHANTMENT tried to do it all without strong execution, resulting in a book that wasn’t memorable for me.

Even though A FRAGILE ENCHANTMENT fell under the YA fantasy genre, the magic felt like it was there for convenience of plot rather than its own entity, perhaps due to its lack of consistent definition. For example, we are told true magic has faded, yet one of the characters can command storms and lightening and Kit’s earth powers prove to be incredibly destructive. These characters were not called out as anomalies. A FRAGILE ENCHANTMENT didn’t have a strong plot, feeling more character driven. Because of this, I expected more depth and growth to the characters, or even a compelling enemies-to-lovers romance. I never truly understood the characters’ motives, including the reason that Kit and Niamh fell for one another. Additionally, there was a political element that was never fleshed out. Like her previous novel, Saft utilized real places and events (religion in A FAR WILDER MAGIC) but changed the names. This may be a personal issue, but if you’re going to utilize an actual place, event, religion, etc., why change the names? The synopsis states that it is a “Regency England-inspired fantasy world”, but in my opinion, it’s simply England and Ireland with new names.

All said, I would still absolutely recommend DOWN COMES THE NIGHT, but I probably will not be picking up any of Saft's future novels. A huge thank you to Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ARC/ALC in exchange for an honest review. I found the audiobook to be enjoyable and would listen to another book with the same narrator (Fran Burgoyne).

This book is total Bridgerton vibes, Lady Whistledown knockoff included! I thought i would be obsessed but I found this book to be so slow. Not a lot of plot development going on until 30% and I just couldn't proceed.

𝗔 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 was my first five-star read of 2024! If you take Bridgerton and add a dash of fantasy & magic you get this book. This was a beautiful, whimsical read that at its core was an exploration of two people on a journey to realize that they are worthy of love and happiness. I related so much to Niamh and her internal battles, and loved her banter and slow burn romance with Kit. The supporting characters are also lovable and have their own struggles they work through.

Other themes include politics and the impact of classism on society, family dynamics and what a person is willing to sacrifice for the ones they love, and the beauty and pain of friendships.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️

𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀

“𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘪𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵? 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩?”

“𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘥, 𝘕𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘩. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦. 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘪𝘴. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.”

“𝘐’𝘮 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘴.” “𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵. 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘥.” 𝘏𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩. “𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳?” “𝘠𝘦𝘴! 𝘞𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 . . . 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭.”

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book! All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Allison Saft and Netgalley for this ARC. I absolutely loved Allison Saft's debut novel, A Wilder Magic, so I was very excited for her first adult fantasy novel - A Fragile Enchantment. This novel balanced a lot of plot - political upheaval, strained family dynamics, colonialism, secret identity, xenophobia, homophobia, and a unique magic system slowly getting weaker with each generation. Both Niamh and Kit were interesting leads - though I felt no spark between them. I was more interested in her previous lover Erin and the Prince Regent's marriage than the leads' romance.

While this was a great first entry into adult fantasy, I thought Saft's YA books were stronger and more complex. I do hope Saft's next novel will be less telling and more showing. Also, I hope the vast storylines Saft plays with are given time to breathe and have a satisfying conclusion.

Some of my favorite quotes:
"Everything about him, from the slash of his eyebrows, to the harsh angles of his cheekbones, screamed order.

"But as the centuries dragged on, the Avlish grew greedier. They exported nearly everything that grew back to the motherland, leaving nothing for the people who tended the land. They squeezed and squeezed until there was nothing left to give. The last straw was the Blight. The Avlish called it a terrible accident. The Machlish called it genocide."

"She and the death god, Donn, had a tenuous understanding. He would not steal upon her like a thief in the night. Instead, he would drain her slowly, like a farmer bleeding his cattle for pudding."

Allison Saft. A Fragile Enchantment (Kindle Locations 843-845). Kindle Edition. "

Allison Saft. A Fragile Enchantment (Kindle Locations 300-302). Kindle Edition.
Allison Saft. (Kindle Locations 137-138). Kindle Edition.

A very lovely YA that just didn’t totally work for me.

Listen, I love Allison Saft. I think she’s one of those authors that’s able to capture whimsical fantasy writing really, really well. So I’m a little bummed that I didn’t end up enjoying this as much as I had hoped or expected to. But reading this actually reminded of the fact that I am an adult reading a novel meant specifically for young adult readers, so I really have to read and evaluate it with that in mind. Although I don’t think this totally worked for me, I do think this will be a great novel in the YA genre and for YA readers. I think it meets them exactly where they’re at and has a love story that is perfect for that age group. For me, I do think the love story felt a little awkward at times. But I do think the characters were acting their age, so I really kept trying to remind myself of that as the story progressed.

So, again, overall I do think the story is lovely and, for lack of a better word, enchanting. I just don’t think it hit me as much as I thought it would, but I do think it’s a perfect YA read!!

Thanks to Wednesday Books for the eARC.
This was such a lovely romatasy with lots of tension, mystery, and magic. I fell right away for Niamh and her gifts. I found the magical elements of the people of this book easy to follow. There isn't a lot of world building here, which is my kind of fantasy, so it was easy for me to get sucked into this story of working for nobility, finding new friends, and figuring out what life is offering. This book was swoony and stressful and engaging. I had a great time reading it, and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Niamh is offered to the opportunity of a lifetime to create the wedding wardrobe for the royal family. Besides being a talented designer Niamh’s has a special magic that lets her enchant clothes with feelings and memories. But when Niamh arrives at the castle she walks into a dysfunctional royal family and the brash and brooding groom Kit. But there seems to be something about Niamh’s challenging nature that slowly peels back Kit’s layers. Their attraction grows as the wedding approaches and political unease strengthens. Will Kit and Niamh get a happily ever after or follow orders and be unhappy?

I really enjoyed this magical royal romance! From the setting of Avaland, the discussions of grief and familial obligations and strong characters this was a wonderful story!

Unfortunately this just wasn’t for me! I DNF the book at about 20%. The pace was slow, and I felt no attachment to the characters or story itself

This cover is absolutely beautiful and was part of the reason that I needed to read this book! The other part was the dressmaker becoming part of a royal scandal, sign me up! I also love anytime a book has magic in it! Niamh and Kit's banter and interactions from the start had me hooked! The descriptions and imagery in this story made it feel as if the book was playing out on a screen in my mind, I was completely immersed. I enjoyed how each character's story line and found myself rooting for them all. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!