Romantic fantasy fans will devour this tale of a dressmaker gifted with magic and chosen to design the wedding wardrobe for the royal family of Avaland. But things go awry when she and the groom, unhappily forced to wed, become close. Enchanting!

"... because it's not meaningful to kill yourself little by little to make people happy."

I quite literally just finished the audio for this beauty and she has done it again. I'm in love. Utter freaking love. Hands down, this author just knows how to meld atmosphere, swoon and emotion into a novel.

A Fragile Enchantment is a standalone regency romantasy that not only makes forbidden romance feel like the fairy tale we grew up with but it also hits home in a modernly relatable way.

Niamh is a magical dressmaker and has been commissioned for the royal wedding wardrobe. Yet what she doesnt expect is the abrasive groom-to-be, Kit, and the attraction that grows between them. With his upcoming marriage based solely on political maneuvering, we follow the course of events that push the boundaries of forbidden love between commoner and royal.

The setting surrounds the reader with political intrigue, a lightly sprinkled magic system and a plot that pulls you in by the heart strings. If you are an audio listener like myself, you'll enjoy the lyrical and talented voice of Fran Burgoyne bringing the emotional longing and character personas to life. Unique voices and cadence appropriate to each character and scene. It was a wonderful way to end the last half of this novel.

I know I've said this already but I loved this story. If you've ever put the happiness of others before yourself, kept your inner desires hidden, quieted your voice for family, felt out of place in your world or just happen to clutz over thin air; you'll find Niamh and her story to be more than just a romantasy like I did. ❤️

An angsty YA period piece where opposites attract (a rich and royal guy falls for a small town poor seamstress moves from her city in search of a well paying job to support her family)!

I absolutely loved every single second of this book from their first meeting to the final page❤️🥰

4.5⭐️

Special thanks to NetGalley @wednesdaybooks and @stmartinspress for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!

#afragileenchantment #allisonsaft #wednesdaybooks #stmartinspress

Another poetically lovely, charming book from Allison Saft--this one lighter but no less compelling than A Far Wilder Magic. I particularly enjoyed the side characters and the sense of found family Saft creates; I wanted to read more about the Infanta Rosa and would happily burn through a whole book about her. As for the romance, the forbidden, enemies-to-lovers tropes are strong here (gotta love that bi rep, too).

Thanks to Wednesday Books for the copy of this ARC!

A FRAGILE ENCHANTMENT is a slow-paced, cozy-adjacent fantasy that I think is perfect for lovers of The Cruel Prince and Bridgerton. It's also set up very well with easy-to-understand magic in a historical world that is great for beginner fantasy readers. I really enjoyed the grumpy/sunshine trope, forbidden romance, and use of magic within embroidery and plants. This was a little too slow-paced for me, as it dragged in the second half, but overall, I liked it!

I have just finished the entire Bridgerton series and loved it. I admit the setting made me jump for jay a little, a “Season ” with magic. Parts of the story were slow and parts of it went too fast. I really loved every character in this book. I admit I stayed up past my bedtime reading because I just wanted to know what was going to happen. It was full of political, intrigue, love, and magic. It was the way to start off my 2024 year.

* I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

Fragile Enchantment is a compelling romantic fantasy that has a Bridgerton feel to it with a mystery gossip writer.
Niamh is hired to be the seamstress for a royal wedding. With her talent and magical enchantments in her stitches, she is hoping to be able to provide a better life for her family
Kit, the groom and prince, is not making it easy for her and has a bad attitude. After spending more time with him, Niamh learns behind those thorns is a good man. A man who is soon to be married to someone he doesn’t love. Nor does the soon to be bride love him. With good friends, will they find a way to all be happy and stand up for what’s right?
Filled with drama, forbidden romance, politics and magic, this book is enchanting and beautifully written.

A Fragile Enchantment is a fluffy but harried romance fantasy that wasn’t to my taste. I am shocked to say this, especially after enjoying Allison Saft’s A Far Wilder Magic last year, but this story constantly found ways to prick me with needles as it tried to force me into an ill-fitting, semi-magical suit.

A woman wearing a dress imbued with the memories of early spring catches the eye of a prominent duke, and now everyone wants a creation from Niamh the Machlish dressmaker. Her abilities are so coveted that the Prince Regent requests her services and asks her to make wedding garments for his brother and future bride. Niamh boards a ship and arrives at a deserted palace enduring strikes from the Machlish staff and a stressed Prince Regent barely holding himself and the kingdom together. What’s worse, her client and the groom-to-be, Prince Christopher, is a prickly and rude young man not interested in his kingdom, his wedding, or the dressmaker and her enchantments.

This story is a flighty thing, and it can’t decide where it wants to invest its attention. Is the story about a magical dressmaker who influences the prince through her enchanted creations? Or is it about liberating the Machlish population suffering prejudice in the kingdom? But don’t forget there is major family drama happening between two traumatized royal brothers. The dressmaker is struggling with a strange, generational illness. Oh, and she also begins to develop feelings for the prince as she prepares him for his wedding. Normally these elements could all contribute to a well-rounded story, but the problem here is that each one tries to be the star of the show. With the story trying to focus on ALL the things, it skims the surface and fails to develop into a balanced or meaningful plot. I just realized that I don’t remember if there was a conclusion to the illness storyline, and now I’m even more annoyed. What is happening in this story and why? I honestly couldn’t tell you.

The story was lacking, but then I also struggled with the dialogue because it was awkward, stilted, and juvenile. I gave it a pass at first when I had the book’s early momentum on my side, but it started to grate on me by the end. It was further limited by the one-dimensional characters who couldn’t expand into anything other than the strict confines of their trope-like box. Niamh is typecasted as clumsy and scatterbrained, and oh, won’t it be funny if the dour prince constantly tells her that she’s incapable of anything because she is such a clutz? I hoped the characters would at least keep things interesting, but there wasn’t a lot of heart in the conversations or connections between people because everyone felt robotic and restricted by the role they were playing.

However, my biggest disappointment with this story has to be the lack of magic, especially when it’s Niamh’s magical ability that embroils her in the royal drama. I wanted to see what clever enchantments Niamh imbued into the prince’s clothing, whether it was to support his upcoming wedding or thwart it. It turns out this particular part of the story was a dud. Although Niamh is tasked with creating several clothing items for the prince, once the first clothing article is made with a subdued enchantment, this seemingly large part of the story is abandoned. Ultimately, Niamh just needed an excuse to be at the palace, and once she was there, her entire purpose as a magical dressmaker became secondary.

Read A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft if you’re looking for a romance that is light on the fantasy and heavy on the fluff. I wanted to entertain the unique and interesting elements of this story, but they were stunted by the demands of the plot. Ultimately it didn’t do anything different to stand out from the slew of romantasy books on the shelves, so I will keep searching for something a little more magical.

Rating: A Fragile Enchantment – 4.5/10

Based on this book's description I thought I would love it - I love Bridgerton-esque books and stories. But after 5% into this one, I am bored and falling asleep. I'm not sure if there's an issue with this book and characters, or there's just a personal reason why I can't connect to these characters, but I don't feel invested at all. On top of this, one of my trusted book reviewer friends just gave this 2 stars, so I am unmotivated to continue. Thanks anyway for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! I especially loved the supporting cast and how their stories are interwoven into the main plot. I just wish Saft explained the magic system and the Fair Ones a little more, but overall it was a great read and one that I have already bought for my library!

What a stunning story! I was blown away by how Saft weaves in political issues into such a beautiful Bridgerton-esque storyline. I was gripped from beginning to end.

I was provided both a digital and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This was a cute romantic fantasy set in a regency type of setting. Niamh is a talented tailor and dressmaker, who is able to enchant the items she makes with emotions and memories. She is one of the last of her line with her abilities, and her abilities have caught the eye of the aristocracy. She is surprised and thrilled when the Prince Regent calls on her to make the wedding wardrobe for his younger brother Kit and his bride to be. Determined to make a name for herself and support her family, Niamh is going to do her very best to make the young prince and his new wife look spectacular, unfortunately when she arrives the estate and city are not at all what she expected. She is thrown into a city full of unrest, all while trying to fit the prince for wedding garments he is not thrilled about. As she spends more time with Kit, she slowly peels back the layers of his unhappiness and a tentative friendship begins to blossom and eventually turn into something more. As their relationship develops, so does their desire to fix what is broken in their country and help the Prince Regent see the light.

This was cute, but Kit and Niamh were a little too "woe as me" at times. Both of them willing to sacrifice themselves at every turn "because it is their duty" and was a bit overdone throughout the book, especially since they were both fairly hypocritical about it. I feel like the author had a real opportunity to talk about social issues here but only just touched the surface of the very real historic issues and the very real current issues with class, privilege, and race/heritage. The social issues were glossed over for the sake of the other plot elements of which I felt there were too many.

In Allison Saft's "A Fragile Enchantment," a captivating blend of young adult romance and fantasy unfolds. The narrative introduces Niamh, a skilled tailor entrusted with crafting wedding attire for Kit, a young prince. Amidst the seams and stitches, an intriguing subplot reveals underlying tension between the Prince Regent and Kit, while broader conflicts simmer among the diverse provinces.

The magical elements woven into the storyline add a delightful dimension, complemented by a rich tapestry of diverse side characters. However, my enjoyment was tinged with a desire for more thorough world and character development. Despite reaching the end, the intricacies of Avaland's magic system remain elusive, and Kit's perspective leaves me yearning for deeper insights.

I extend my gratitude to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to delve into this enchanting tale.

I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this beautiful novel. I love a good fantasy novel and this one was so magical and satisfying. Wonderful world-building, solid character development and a dreamy romance. It reminded me of Divine Rivals, just a bit. Very well-done!

4/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Niamh has a chronic illness tied to her magic— which allows her to stitch feelings into her seamstress work.

To help her family, she agrees to work on the garments for the neighboring kingdom’s wedding, growing closer to the bride and groom.

The trouble is, Kit, the groom, really sees her. And the marriage she’s helping to prepare for is an arrangement, not one of love.

Bring in royal intrigue, interfering gossip columnists, Kit’s older brother (who gave me Harristan from Defy the Night vibes), and a grumpy Prince who doesn’t like many people other than sunshine-ey Niamh, and we have a Regency-like fantasy that’ll have anyone swooning.

This book has strong character development, great representation, and excellent world building. There were scenes so beautifully written that I could swear I saw them!

I loved the love story, the friendships and found family vibes— if this is your genre, definitely give it a try! And hey, be on the look out for SEs of this.

I mean, who doesn’t love forbidden love?

This story truly showed this author’s range — she’s becoming an auto-buy for me. I highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first book I've read by Allison Saft and it will not be my last! The world created in this novel was gripping and I loved every minute of it! The mystery and the royal family aspects were the main storyline with romance as a background piece. Since it is a YA novel it is closed door, non-steamy fantasy which worked well with this storyline. The main storyline was strong and the steam was not required!

Definitely recommend this one to all Fantasy lovers!

This is not the kind of book that I typically read but I did enjoy reading it. The element of fantasy and magic was quite interesting. Thanks #NetGalley

Overall I really enjoyed this book!! Loved the bridgerton vibes and it made my heart so so happy. Unfortunately, in solidarity with the SMP boycott, I will not be giving any additional feedback on this book at this time.

This was a FANTASTIC opposites attract, forbidden historical fiction/fantasy romance that sees a magically gifted tailor, Niamh commissioned to help make a recently engaged Prince's wedding wardrobe. Right from the start Kit and Niamh get off to the wrong foot.

Kit is disgruntled about being forced into a political marriage of convenience but is determined to go through with it in order to help make up for his past mistakes and make his brother happy. However, the sparks fly between these two who couldn't have been from more opposite worlds and in no way make sense.

Full of action, adventure and the swooniest romance. I fell in love with these characters right from the start and absolutely devoured this story. Allison Saft was a new to me author and I can't wait to gobble up anything else she writes next!! Good on audio and highly recommended! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

A Fragile Enchantment is the first book I read by this author and it most certainly won't be the last. From the very first page until the very last I completely fell in love with her writing.
The world building was simple but immersive, and the secondary characters all felt very layered and complex, you doubted them all and had full faith in them all at different points of the story. The author weaves the mystery aspect in very well.
The political situation in the Kingdoms was a very important part of the story. and I liked to see the complicated perspectives and how that developed.
My most favorite part of this book was the chemistry and tension between the main characters... it was intense and crazy electrifying. Their story was so angsty and romantic and I absolutely loved it.
I really loved how both characters thrived together, each had definite flaws that they had to work on and they pushed each other to be better and to grow. They developed a beautiful friendship more than anything else, they became a team, and the love broke the surface as we read.
At times, the entire situation was very frustrating, but I think the ending managed to be satisfying in both romance and political sublot.