Saft has written an excellent fantasy romance for fans of Bridgerton that also incorporates quite a bit of Irish/English history and tensions. While readers unaware of this background history might not pick up on some of the implications or references, those readers who have knowledge will appreciate Saft's worldbuilding even more. The knowledge isn't required, though some readers might have appreciated more info in a note. On that same point, some readers may struggle with some of the more traditionally spelled Gaelic names in the book. Overall, the romance was fun and relatively believable, the plot was interesting, and Saft expertly handled the inclusion of parental abuse and addiction struggles. It would have been nice to get just a bit more world-building re: the main character's magic and how magic functions in the society as a whole, but it doesn't take away from the story at all.

This book was such a great combo of political intrigue, romance, and fantasy. Niamh is hired to sew the wedding clothes for Kit, the younger Prince of Avaland, and his fiancé Rosa, the Princess of Castilla.

Niamh is able to sew magical enchantments into her garments and hopes that the notoriety such a position will give her will allow her to help her family escape poverty. She is part of the Maclish people, who desire equal treatment and reparations from Avaland. There is a plot thread throughout the book about the relationship between the two groups that I thought was really well constructed.

I really liked that Allison took inspiration from real places (Niamh - Ireland, Kit - England, and Rosa - Spain) and periods from recent history (the blight, King George’s madness, etc). This lent a feeling of familiarity to the setting while remaining fantastical due to the magic.

I thought the romance was really sweet and perfect for a YA story. It had star-crossed vibes and forced proximity, which was a perfect combination for my reading mood.

Thank you to @wednesdaybooks for the #gifted eARC.

First of all, I LOVE the cover of this book. It fits the story perfectly and it was what drew me to it in the first place. With that said, this story has magic, romance and great characters and I loved every minute of it.

Niamh Ó Conchobhair has a gift - the magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into fabric and this is what will eventually kill her. Determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family, Niamh jumps at the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland.

But Avaland turns out to be far from what she imagined. While the nobles attend balls and parties, the working class is preparing to fight back and because of her background and the work she is doing, Niamh is now in the middle of it all.

When Niamh is first introduced to the royal family (including the groom, Kit), she doesn't truly know what to expect. The groom is being forced to wed for the sake of Avaland and he isn't happy about it. But when Niamh and Kit start to grow closer, their friendship slowly turns into something more. Unfortunately, a gossip columnist starts posting about their chemistry which creates issues for more than just them. When things start to unravel, Kit and Niamh have to decide what is most important to them and what that means for their futures.

I loved how Saft built the relationship between these two characters and the secondary characters were just a well done. If you're looking for a fantasy that has a Regency England feel to it, you should consider picking this up. It not only has an interesting story but the world Saft has built and the politics of the nobility made it even more interesting (in my opinion). There is also a solid romance that includes class differences and a bit of an enemies-to-lovers feel.

I'll definitely pick up more books by Saft in the future and if you like your fantasy with a bit of the historical fiction feel to it, go get this one now.

I was so excited to start this because the premise sounded really different and intriguing. Sadly, it was a bit of a mess, and very difficult to read for many reasons. Surface level character development, pacing, inconsistencies, unlikable hero, minimal fantasy worldbuilding, and the weak historical setting were just a few of the things that came together to make this lackluster romantasy. I am so bummed that I didn't love it, but I'm honestly patting myself on the back for trudging through and making it to the last page.

Niamh Ó Conchobhair is the female protagonist. She's eighteen years old and has just been offered the position of clothing maker for the upcoming royal wedding of the youngest prince. Prince Christopher, Duke of Clearwater (Kit) is marrying Rosa because his older brother has decreed that it's for the good of the kingdom. The alliance will prove to strengthen them financially and improve Kit's battered reputation. Kit is seen as a bit of a joke because of his alcoholism and the fact that he's been living away from Avaland in an attempt to recover from his addiction. He's reluctantly going along with the wedding, but he's not happy and everyone knows it.

From the first introduction, Kit is surly, mean-spirited, and just generally unpleasant to be around. Niamh is asked to stitch something for him and the prince regent in order to show the capabilities of her magic. He sneers at her work and makes her feel unwelcome before stomping off. This immediately causes her to (understandably) hate him from the get-go. During all of their interactions, his behavior takes a similar vein, though she starts to sympathize with him as she sees hints of compassion in him. Personally, I did not see enough in him to excuse his bratty behavior, nor did I see him as a multi-layered person who is misunderstood. His reputation is well-earned, and I didn't even feel sorry for him being forced into a loveless marriage.

Niamh came off as a bit of a people pleaser and a martyr. She lives to help support her family (even though they're ungrateful), has no personal life to speak of, and weakens herself by working her fingers to the bone knowing that it's accelerating the mysterious disease she is "dying" from. When she is overly stressed or anxious she ages and/or weakens which is shown in the physical manifestation of her hair gradually turning white. In the synopsis, it says that the magic she uses in her clothing is "the same magic that will eventually kill her." However, in the book, it says that "Some illnesses pass through generations. We tend to see them appear more often in families with divine blood—not necessarily because they’re connected [...]"

Absolutely nobody else in the book with magic powers is suffering the same health issues as her. Nobody else has hair turning white. None of this was explained with any type of detail, and no one seems to be overly concerned when she baldly states to various people that she is "dying." When she blurted it out to Kit, they were becoming involved at that point and he acted surprised but that was the extent of it. How do you not react with horror to a statement like that for someone you are supposedly falling for? I kept thinking that this would be addressed somehow towards the end in order to ensure a smooth HEA, but unfortunately no. She could literally die one year after they get together...one day even. But they calmly accept that like it's no biggie. In fact, all of the seemingly insurmountable hurdles these two have are hopped over quickly and unrealistically. Kit's engagement is even solved from many different angles in very few pages. Everything all tied up in a neat bow, but not in a remotely realistic manner.

The magic system is described very vaguely as well as the historical setting. All we are told about the magic is that every person with an ceird (magic) claimed they could trace their ancestry back to one of the Fair Ones. The Fair Ones are described in one paragraph. None of it really makes sense. Are there a set amount of powers based on the six Fair Ones named, or are there too many to count? Despite the source of the magic, some of the Machlish people who are peasants who live in poverty have magic, like Niamh. It seems that anyone in any class can have them, but having them doesn't earn respect unless you are upper class. There is no structure to any of it, and it's all briefly, sporadically, and in an inconsistent way. If I'm reading a fantasy with magic involved I expect world building and in-depth explanations in order for the setting to come to life. The historical detail was sufficient either, despite the fact that this world was supposed to have been modeled after Regency England. Their clothing may have been appropriate, but I didn't have the benefit of a description besides a bit of lace here, or a mention of a garter under her dress there. The speech and social customs were more modern than antiquated, so everything was a bit artificial for my taste.

There is the addition of various conflicts like the gossip columnist Lovelace, and Lady Helen Carlile who pop up at various points in the book but again, lack any focus or detail. The romance pretty much sprouts out of nowhere after she spends more than half the book despising him, and I couldn't find excitement for it once it did.

To me, this feels like a story you would expect from a debut author. I don't think I'll be trying another book from Allison Saft because her writing is just not for me. Many others have read her work and appreciate it, so maybe you will have a different experience.

I was a fan of Saft's after A Far Wilder Magic and I was so pleased that she was able to capture the beautiful book magic again in A Fragile Enchantment. Everything about this book was designed to make me love it and it absolutely lived up to my high expectations.

I was immediately in love with Niamh and invested in her from page one and it only got more exciting as she met new friends and of course, the surly prince Kit whom she has been commissioned to dress for his upcoming wedding. Niamh is quick to be caught up in the intrigue of her new home from the anonymous gossip columnist who wants her to spy on the royals to the beguiling visiting princess, Niamh has her hands full.

The chemistry between Niamh and Kit jumps off the page and I'm absolutely here for their lovely, budding romance as they get to know each other. There is also a lovely found family element who helps Niamh gain the confidence to seek out and speak up for what she loves and wants regardless of whether it is for others.

The magic in this book was lovely and light. Niamh is divine touched and can pour her emotions and feelings into the garments she creates. It really enhances the world-building in a lovely way while the main thrust of the book can be the political machinations of the kingdom and the characters as they grow and evolve.

The end was a little, teeny tiny bit unsatisfactory to me in that I wanted MORE. But ultimately it ended in a good place and I know this is a standalone but I could see many more stories in this world.

Saft hits it out of the park again in this tender, lovely romantic fantasy I know I will revisit. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with an early E-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good read! It didn’t take too long before I was fully invested in the characters and the story. I liked the pace of the story and the palace gossip. It was intriguing although the pacing at the end was a little off. I would definitely recommend others check this book out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

A Fragile Enchantment
A magical seamstress is hired to outfit a royal wedding. But between civil unrest, a ruthless gossip column, and a fraught arranged marriage, the obvious attraction between the seamstress and the prince might be the pin that pops the perfect façade of the royal family.

Read if you like: Bridgerton, Pride & Prejudice, cool magical abilities, unpacking trauma, thwarting civil unrest, LGBTQ rep, secrets and more, a prickly and compelling MMC, a hopeful and resourceful FMC.

Niamh has magic that imbues her sewn creations with enchantments. Her gorgeous work and delicate craft has granted her acclaim across the kingdoms. Her magic comes at a cost, if she works too hard she could drain herself, but her family’s legacy and wellbeing is at stake. So, when the opportunity comes to sew for the kingdom who once cruelly held their lands, she can't say no. While in the impressive capital she soon realizes that the social unrest is threatening the crown and the wedding is all for political gain. The groom, prince Kit, is seemingly unlovable with his prickly manners. Niamh can’t seem to keep her comments to herself around royalty and an unlikely friendship emerges, and quickly burns hot. Now the greatest danger of all is that Niamh and Kit’s budding relationship could be discovered by a salacious gossip columnist. Not one for court games, Niamh must decide how to proceed when one wrong move could crumble a kingdom.

A Fragile Enchantment is a delightful surprise! At first, I thought it would be a light and fun regency romance with a bit of magic to make things interesting. Then we start unpacking some things: a workers’ strike, immigrant prejudice, LGBTQ prejudice, deep family trauma, alcoholism recovery, maintain boundaries and self-worth, unpredictable magic, political maneuvering, a gossip column with unknown loyalties… the main plot is the romance, folks! AND there’s magic! I am amazed with how the author got all of these things to work together so well. For a brief moment I was worried it would just be heaps of problems with no end in sight, but all my worries were immediately dashed.

We effortlessly weave between all the problems wracking this world as Niamh has an uncanny ability to talk to people and put them at ease. Her kind nature and rare magic works more than her intended enchantments and leads to a story I won’t soon forget. There are a lot of fun moments reminiscent of the ‘Ton or Pemberley and the chemistry and angst is perfectly lovely, with just a bit of spice. I really loved the characters and the setting helps everything feel fresh and poignant.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Allison Saft for a copy of this book for review.

In this world inspired by Regency England, some people have the ability to do different types of magic. Those with the strongest powers are mostly nobility; some commoners have lesser abilities. Avaland is a dominant kingdom that has used its might to take advantage of other countries. This is particularly true of Machland, an Irish-inspired country whose inhabitants are considered far beneath the Avlish.

Niamh is Machlish, a commoner with excellent design and tailoring skills who also wields magic through her sewing. Since one of her dresses led to a fellow Machlish woman catching the eye of a duke, Niamh has gained some following. And now, she has been invited to Avaland to design all the clothing for a royal wedding.

It’s all very exciting, but the pressure is on: Niamh feels she needs to support her mother and grandmother. She has to do well and get enough attention to open her own shop and live comfortably with her family in Avaland.

But when she’s introduced to the prince who is to be married to the princess of Castilia, she’s dismayed at just how surly and unpleasant he is. Kit shows no appreciation for her designs and is going to make the process difficult.

Kit, for his part, has no desire whatsoever to marry, but his older brother, the prince regent, is insisting. The marriage can shore up their monarchy’s power.

While their first meetings are prickly, Niamh and Kit slowly begin to talk and get to know each other. Then an attraction between the two is obvious. But there is no room for a prince and a commoner from a particularly snubbed country to be together, for one thing. And, even more, they begin to unearth some real difficulties the prince regent has been covering up. Canceling an important alliance could bring all those weaknesses to the surface and tear apart Avaland.

I couldn’t help but be drawn in to this romance; the feelings and chemistry between Kit and Niamh are undeniable. And you just want to root for both of them to have happy lives, individually and together. With all that’s going on politically, it’s difficult to figure out how they might end up with a happily-ever-after. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see if it would happen and how!

The only drawback for me was that A Fragile Enchantment seemed in many ways like a “clean” Regency-style romance, but it ended up having some spiciness and some strong language, which surprised me. I’m sure that’s not a problem for some readers, but others may likewise be a little shocked by some of the content that sticks out from the rest of the Regency-era feeling.

I've enjoyed all of Allison Saft's. books, and though her debut Down Comes the Night is still my favorite, this was an enjoyable read by itself.
Read if you love:

Bridgerton but with magic
Grumpy/Sunshine
Court politics
Found family
Forbidden love/scandal
Queer rep/relationships

I absolutely adore Allison Saft’s writing. This is the regency era romance of my dreams, with a delightful magical world that I want to live in.

Book Name: A Fragile Enchantment
Author: Allison Saft

ARC
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for

Stars: 4.75
Spice: 0 (True YA)

Standalone
Cliffhanger:
Fast Paced
FMC POV
High Fantasy with some Historical Elements

- Thoughts.
- Sweet YA
- I loved the Historical Drama Vibes (Bridgerton-esque)
- Class Systems and Fair Wage/Labor Class politics explored
- Tension and Banter
- Authentically Believable World Building
- Chronic Illness Rep
- Good Girl FMC

This was my first Allison Saft book and I was thrilled by the author's crafting of a fantasy world that felt both real and yet beautifully escapist. I loved the tension and banter between characters the representation of a good girl FMC breaking from her norms. I'm looking forward to checking out a Far Wilder Magic and Down Comes the Night! Note this is YA so there is no real spice but the vibes are immaculate and the characters are enjoyable for both younger and older audiences.

This was a really cute little story. I was thrown for a loop a bit in the middle, since it established itself very clearly as a "Pride-&-Prejudice-Vibe-Enemies-to-Lovers" sort of story, but then both our leads indicated they had homosexual tendencies. So then I was like, if they're gay how are they falling in love with each other?!?!? I was very concerned the takeaway would become "gay until you find the RIGHT person," but fortunately they're both happily bi. That doesn't really have anything to do with the story, but I spent a lot of time worrying about it, and it all worked out well. The romance and plot are both decent, if a bit cliche, and the Bridgerton-style twist of the gossip columnist was another fun familiar element. I like the magic in the world, and the unique abilities so many people have, and the way the historical elements of the world play a role in the story, enough to be interesting and engaging but not so much as to feel like a history lesson. I like that there wasn't a "bad guy," the closest thing that could have been an antagonist in my mind was a character we never even met, but the social, economic, cultural, and political issues the story hints at but glosses over are still real and valid to the characters. Most of the explicit problems to overcome in the story were family drama and poor communication. All in all, I'm pretty happy with it.

Language: High
Violence: Mild
Drugs: Mild
Sex: Mild

This is a great story! I loved the fast passed reading. Definitely requesting my library to purchase!

Set in a Regency England-inspired fantasy world, A Fragile Enchantment is a page-turning romance that should appeal to fans of Bridgerton.

Niamh and Kit are compelling characters on their own, but what really makes them shine is their magic — Niamh’s ability to weave emotion into her work and Kit’s hold on botany. And their magic feels like very real parts of them, not something that’s just tacked on.

Author Allison Saft has a very comfortable writing style that really captures the essence of the Regency period that’s romantic but not romanticized.

At 384 pages, A Fragile Enchantment is a self-contained novel that is a great escape.

Sensitivity note: A Fragile Enchantment features themes of chronic illness, alcoholism, classism and LGBTQ issues. It features a lot of romantic tension and a scene that may be too intense for some readers.

If you're looking for a cozy, regency romance with a touch of magic, look no further. This slow-burn novel has witty banter, tormented characters, and a bit of a Bridgerton vibe. I absolutely loved it.

Naimh is a seamstress hired by the prince regent to design his brother's clothing for the season, culminating in his wedding. Her magic allows her to embroider emotions into the clothing, which is beautiful and something I've never read before.

I immediately loved Kit, all dark and broody. Watching him and Naimh come to an understanding and their connection grow bound by their mutual desire to help their family while pointing out the ways in which they each sacrifice too much of themselves for others was everything I didn't know I wanted.

This book made it to the top of my favorite books read in 2023, and I really hope Saft writes more stories like this in the future because I'm all in!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A magical dressmaker is commissioned to dress the prince for his royal wedding finds herself doing the unthinkable, falling for the very thorny groom and being embroiled in political scandal like no other. Niamh has magic in her blood, she can stitch emotions and memories into fabric... but it comes at a cost if she overworks herself, it's killing her slowly. She is determined to use her gifts to provide for her family, so when she is offered the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom she seizes it... despite said kingdom currently having a war about the mistreatment of people like her. When Niamh meets the groom, Kit, she finds that he is rude, prickly, and being forced to the altar by his brother. Kit and Niamh may not have had a good first meeting but they can't seem to stay away from one another. Their romance is forbidden, not only are they from two different classes but he's a groom promised in a political marriage and she's a commoner seamstress. Yet the more time she spends with him the more she is realizing there is much more going on in Avaland... and that the royal family has secrets that could destroy everything. Niamh has always given more of herself for others, always trying to make everyone else happy while Kit has kept himself walled up, afraid to show his true emotions and let anyone in... yet together they might be perfect for each other, if only they could find a way to get Kit out of his marriage without bloodshed. This was a really fun regency fantasy romance with a touch of mystery, angst, yearning, and a unique love story. I loved Niamh and Kit, they are both so invested in protecting others and being self sacrificing, they care so much and I loved their chemistry together. I adored getting to fall for their romance story and I enjoyed the unique Regency England-inspired world that was created and the bit of magic that was added! If you enjoy fantasy romance with a touch of historical give this a go, I promise it'll be a great time for you!

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Booksnfor sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

3.5⭐️
A pretty cozy romantic fantasy read!

You get magical elements, and romance with tension and banter, (my favourite combo!).
I loved the dynamic range of supporting characters that worked so well alongside the main characters. The characters grew on me as I kept reading, and there were many moments during the story that had me either cackling or giggling and kicking my feet.

This was my very first novel by Allison Saft and trust, you can find me reading more from her!

E-ARC received from St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and Allison Saft via Netgalley

Can we start out with how *gorgeous* that cover is?? I’ll admit I requested it half based on the cover art 😆

Thanks to @Netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC copy!

This was such a magical, cozy love story. I don’t know if it’s a standalone or not, but it reads like one. The setting has been compared to a Regency-inspired fantasy world, and I agree. Imagine the angst and strong characters from Pride and Prejudice mixed with ancient magic, royalty, political intrigue, and found family. While it didn’t quite hit five stars for me, it was an enchanting read from start to finish.

THE REPRESENTATION
All the main and primary supporting characters featured in this book are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Niamh, the main character, has a chronic illness and I suspect several characters experience mental health struggles.

THE CHARACTERS
Overall I loved the characters in this book. Both their strengths and weaknesses felt real and relatable, and I loved the way their experiences and flaws shaped the way they interacted with each other. I will say that near the end of the book I became confused about some character decisions/actions (it could just be me though lol) but overall character development well done! I love the found family aspect that developed throughout the book too.

THE PARTS I LOVED AND DIDN’T LOVE
I loved Saft’s prose and her ability to paint a picture without overusing words. She made Avaland seem like such a magical place and I want to know more about the magic system! That aspect was touched on very little in the book. I also loved the romance between the FMC and MMC. The banter, the tension, the helping each other be their best selves and learn to let themselves be loved? Chefs kiss.

Some things I didn’t love: the spice factor in the story (I know this a personal preference). Some of you would consider it a very low amount of spice, but I wish it was more fade-to-black/closed-door than it was, so keep that in mind if that’s important to you. (Spice rating below) I also had a hard time with how some of the characters’ logic/actions played out near the end. I was confused 😅 But it didn’t ruin the story for me.

THE THEMES
There were a lot of themes of social injustice/oppression throughout the book, which I suspect the author meant to tie in to current events/issues. I found these themes to be a little less seamless throughout the story, but I think they were still well-done.

Other themes are closely tied to the main characters personal belief systems and flaws, so if you love a good character arc, I think you’ll enjoy this book.

⚠️ Loss of a parent, minor injuries/blood, alcohol/smoking
🌶️ One fade-to-black scene with vague descriptions, one open-door scene with more explicit descriptions, but still mild. Several passionate kisses with thoughts of wanting more, not explicit

Grumpy x sunshine with banter, mystery and tension = EASY 5 stars. From the moment I started this book I was intrigued by the main character and the world she occupies. All the characters were intriguing without being too complicated and added nicely to the flow of the story. This was a binge read for me and I enjoyed it immensely. I look forward to checking out other novels by Allison Saft, this one was an absolute delight to kick off 2024 with!

Regency romance meets fantasy? SOLD. A Fragile Enchantment was a lovely tale of whimsical romance that had the perfect dynamics of forbidden love with a grumpy x sunshine dynamic with Niamh and Kit. I devoured it, cannot wait to read more from Saft!