Niamh has the ability to stitch emotions into the clothes that she makes, and while she loves her job, using her magic is slowly killing her. Her enchantments catch the eye of the prince regent of Avaland - the country that starved her native Machland - and he hires her to make the wardrobe for his black sheep brother's wedding. 

This book was sweet. This is the simple, cute, YA  regency romantasy that it advertises itself to be. I had a good time and there was a lot of different things that I liked, but I think that more could have been expanded upon. My favorite thing was how there was a consistent central focus on the Irish (Machlish) fight for freedom. Niamh is always having to deal with the fact that she is Machlish, and that othering doesn't go away. I liked those conversations. I liked the friendship group and how the characters interacted with one another. I thought the magic system was good, and I would have liked to see even more of the repercussions/uses of the magic. The regency setting was good and lightly permeated the whole book; I could've used even more of it. Both of the plot twists I saw coming from the first 50 pages or so. I also thought that the "spice" could have been pared back just a bit given that this is YA. It was just on the border of what I would have considered okay in YA.

Overall, this book is exactly what it says on the tin, and you can't fault it for that. I would have liked more of an expansion on the world, but I thought the characters were fun together.

Absolutely gorgeous. Allison Saft once again wraps the reader in a stunning world of subtle fantasy so realistic that it’s now difficult to imagine a life without magic. The characters are tragic and wonderful, and at times my heart literally ached for them.

I received a copy of this book from Wednesday Books.

⭐️ A Fragile Enchantment ⭐️

Oh my heart what a book! I absolutely adored this adventure.

Niamh is a magical dressmaker commissioned for the royal wedding, only to find herself sewn into a web of scandal when the local gossip column writes of her undeniable chemistry with the groom. Kit is a surely prince, at odds with his family and his role, but reluctantly doing his duty to marry in a political alliance, despite his pull towards Niamh. Kit and Niamh work together to uncover the identity of the anonymous gossip columnist who has a bone to pick with the aristocracy.

Check this one out if you are looking for:
⭐️ YA fantasy romance
⭐️ Star-crossed lovers
⭐️ Forced proximity
⭐️ Enemies to lovers

I highly recommend for fans of YA romantasy. Thank you to Wednesday books and Netgalley for this ARC! A Fragile Enchantment is on shelves January 2, 2024! My opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for this eARC

This book was so beautiful. I loved the intricate writing that had me easily picturing the settings and characters. I found that I have a hard time with some books that are in Regency England(ish) settings. The language can be difficult and confusing, but this was NOT the case here.

The author did a fantastic job of making sure that the writing and dialogues were refined and appropriate for the setting, but still extremely digestible for the modern-day reader.

I loved how emotional all of the characters were in their own ways. Each carried different burdens and showed it in different ways.

The relationships felt real and modern, despite the era of this storyline. I had a ton of fun reading everyone’s banter

I just absolutely loved this and can’t wait for more folks to get the chance to be swept away by the magic of this book!!

4.5 out of 5 stars but rounding up!

This is just a cozy, fun, romantic fantasy with great romantic tension and banter (Niamh and Kit expressing their love for each other in their own unique ways was so funny and endearing and adorable).

The friendships in this story were top-tier, with Niamh forming meaningful and deep relationships with Rosa and Miriam. They all helped each other grow and understand themselves better. And Rosa and Miriam were always down for Niamh’s insane schemes, which is the mark of true friendship.

Niamh, Sinclair and Kit’s dynamic was impeccable too, with all of them being so different in how they show their love to each other, but it not meaning they love each other any less.

Niamh and Kit choosing their happiness and learning to accept love from others and just allow themselves to exist without having to prove their worth to the entire world. Their growth individually made me so proud.

Highly recommend!

I read my first Allison Saft book just last month when I read Down Comes the Night, and I LOVED it. I couldn’t wait to get to A Fragile Enchantment as soon as I turned the last page.

I sprinted through this novel and loved it just as much as Down Comes the Night. I just adore Saft’s heroines, and the way she builds the relationships between characters. The world building is as charming as the characters that fill it, and I already missed Niamh and Kit as soon as the story finished.

This one felt very much like Bridgerton, and was such a joy to read. Allison Saft is an Auto-Buy author for me from now on. I absolutely can’t wait to dig into A Far Wilder Magic as soon as I can! Loved Loved Loved this, and will be vigilantly watching for her next works!

First and foremost, I’d like to thank the team at Wednesday Books for sending me an e-ARC of A Fragile Enchantment! It’s my pleasure to read anything Allison Saft publishes.

A Fragile Enchantment is a stunning, magical, regal story that includes romance, politics, and stunning imagery to weave together a story and characters that I absolutely fell in love with.

This story follows Niamh, an 18-year-old girl who sews magic into clothing and leaves her small town to work for the royal family—and she falls in love with a prince, of course.

If you’re a fan of cozy, warm fantasy romance, this is the book for you. There were a couple of loose ends (which is why this book received 4 stars instead of 5) but it’s easy enough to overlook when the book is so beautifully written.

Saft has landed herself as an auto-buy author for me from here on out.

In this YA fantasy romance we follow Niamh, a seamstress whose magical powers allow her to infuse her pieces with deep emotions and feelings. The one who wears one of these pieces is transformed into that said emotion.

Dreaming of a better future, Niamh travels to Avaland for a wedding attire. Here she meets prince Kit, who is not the nicest person.

I know that Kit and Niamh have this deep connection, bite I just didn’t feel it. The story did keep me entertained to the end. Plus how many times can one person fall or trip.

I enjoyed the enemies to lovers/sunshine x grumpy storyline. The writing was so beautiful and whimsical.

This was such a delightful read.
I really loved the magic in this story- from plants and weather to our lovely MMC and her ability to stitch magic into the clothes she creates.

Historical fantasy is quickly becoming one of my favorite genres to read. The mixing of bidgerton like society and magic is super fun.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Allison Saft's A Fragile Enchantment far exceeded my expectations, especially after reading A Far Wilder Magic. This YA fantasy, which seamlessly blends the charisma of Bridgerton with the enchantment of Spin the Dawn, presents a classic tale of a prince and the common girl he falls in love with, but with a magical twist. The magic system in this book is intricately crafted and seamlessly integrated into the fabric of the narrative.

What truly sets A Fragile Enchantment apart is its cast of characters, each contributing their own unique flavor to the story. The chemistry between Kit and Naimh is palpable, and Saft skillfully navigates the complexities of their burgeoning relationship. Fans of romantic fantasy will find themselves swept away by the charm and allure of the characters, and the story unfolds against the backdrop political turmoil and civil unrest.

A Fragile Enchantment not only pays homage to classic tales but reimagines them in a way that feels wholly original.

Thank you to Net Galley & the publisher for this ARC!

I first fell in love with Allison Saft when I read A Far Wilder Magic. I was hoping for the same beautiful prose and longing in this title but found it didn’t quite meet the mark for me. A Fragile Enchantment felt much more YA, which objectively speaking is not a bad thing.. the characters felt younger and the use of elimination points in Niamh’s dialogue was jarring for me.

Working in YS/YA in a library I would not hesitate to recommend this to teens looking for fantasy romance book recommendations.

I felt some of the characters were lacking personality, especially the love interest. This had potential, but fell flat for me.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a beautiful and cozy story where I found myself rooting for all the characters involved. There wasn’t really a good or bad person here, just people who should have talked and worked things out. Niamh was a very relatable with all her tripping and falling and I loved her and Kit together so much. All of the relationships here were so wholesome. Kit was my fave grumpy boy. When you got to know him you saw his true self and I appreciated his character development.

Also I loved how Rosa was just a goth queen. She wanted all black everything and I feel her on that. This was a lot more queer than I anticipated and I loved it even more. We get plenty of bisexuality as well as gay characters. There is tons of representation. Sinclair was my favorite character honestly. He seemed loyal and dumb at times, but he was funny and seemed to have a good spirit and was a real friend. I can’t fault him for that.

The story was rich with magic and fun to read. I recommend this to folks who love a good romance.

Such a delight, this was my first read from Allison Saft and I loved it. I cant wait to read more from her. I really enjoyed the magic and romance in this book. The tension and banter were great. I loved the characters and how the world was built.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest review of the book. If you enjoy romance and fantasy give this a read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy! 💚

4.5 ⭐

Read this if you love:
💙 Bridgerton with a charming magic system
💙 grumpy sunshine
💙 forbidden romance
💙 queer love
💙 chronic illness rep
💙 hilarious banter
💙 court politics

This was my first read by Allison Saft, and I am obsessed with her delightful and hysterically funny writing. Can't wait to check out more of her titles! 🧵

I have been asked to review an advanced copy of this book. However, I will be withholding my review until the boycott against St. Martin's Press is resolved.

I love reviewing books. I love supporting books. I WANT to review this book. But I will not give free labor to a publisher that is dismissive of concerns about racism and privacy.

(Giving two stars to meet placeholder requirements. That does not necessarily reflect the review of the book I would give.)

@readersforaccountability
https://r4a.carrd.co/

A Fragile Enchantment is such an incredibly delightful and charming book.

I’m beginning to think that Allison Saft is one of my new favorite authors because her writing had me kicking my feet in excitement and crying along with the characters.

Kit and Niamh are such a great pairing. Their banter is top tier and it feels they understand each other almost more than themselves.

I genuinely loved this book! There was so much detail in the characterizations and actions. Everything was so intricately woven together and came together in surprising and satisfying ways. ❤️

3.5

A deeply confused romance story with vaguely centrist politics that isn’t sure who we’re supposed to root for or against. Unfortunately difficult to keep up with how many characters our protagonist feels bad for (all of them). A very cute couple at the center that absolutely pulled it together for me if you ignore everything about the actual plot. And if you also ignore that Niamh is incredibly dumb. Otherwise a fun book! Just try not to think about the central themes of oppression too much.

Sparkling with inclusivity and full of wonder - A Fragile Enchantment is a true delight!

Saft's newest release drew me in from the very first chapter. The writing style is whimsical enough to create an atmospheric setting, but forthright enough to keep the plot moving. The pacing was perfect and I never felt that the plot was dragging. I also adored the magic system that was created in these pages, but I craved more details or more scenes with these powers, specifically Niamh's as it was not a power that was visual in nature.
I adored the band of characters that developed in this book. Saft's incorporation of languages and cultural enrichment gave this story an edge that it needed to impact the reader. I also loved the gender and sexuality inclusivity for each main character.

The relationship between Kit and Niamh is one that grew slowly and was understated. This made it a bit difficult to believe in, especially as it is not dual POV and the reader is not able to hear any of Kit's thoughts or feelings. It did not feel believable that Kit grew feelings for Niamh that quickly, and if he did was it a product of her powers or true emotions? In turn, this left me with more questions at the end of the book.

Overall, I enjoyed this read and wished to stay in this magical world just a little longer!

I really enjoyed this book. It was romantic and magical, with a sunshine x grumpy character dynamic. It's a very easy read, with likeable characters and an enjoyable plot that keeps you interested. My only complaint would be certain portions of the romance were a bit cringy or embarrassing, where the writing feels uncomfortable or silly, but that's to be expected in a romance novel especially with those aimed at a slightly younger audience.
For a young adult book, it did get a little spicy at moments, but then the chapter would end before it got explicit.
I listened to the audiobook version and I cannot recommend it enough. Fran Burgoyne did an incredible job with voicing the audiobook, with incredible character accents and emotions. I cannot recommend the audiobook version of this book enough.
I would also like to thank netgalley for giving me access to this book and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.