Thank you to Net Galley for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Rating: 4 Stars

I had no idea how much I'd love this story when I first saw it, but the cover and the synopsis completely drew me in and now...I'm a huge fan! From start to finish, I enjoyed every word and every page turn. Allison Saft wrote a beautiful story that I just want to read for the first time all over again.

This was lovely and I really enjoyed it. The vibes of this were very similar to A Far Wilder Magic and I think this author excels that niche. Magical and romantic with a soft and cozy vibe.

3⭐️

I feel in the middle with this book, I did enjoy parts of it, but most of it felt lackluster. It was pages and pages of world building that I didn’t remember 10 seconds after reading, and none of it came up after again unless it was needed to fill empty paragraphs. The magic system was a fun idea, to put the magic into a craft. I hadn’t read any other books with that idea, but I do wish it was more descriptive.

It wasn’t until 36% into the book I finally cracked a smile.

It wasn’t until 55% into the book that I giggled and kicked my feet.

It wasn’t until 64% into the book, the FMC had the genius idea to finally try and find out who was writing these gossip columns about them. (A big plot point talked about since the first chapter.) They solved it in pages while I pondered the entire book who it was. (I was wrong.)

The ending was a rushed mess. This huge, bad altercation that had been building up this entire story, ended with a simple “Stop.” and “No.” Nothing felt answered or solved.

While I believe the ending had a huge impact on my rating, and it was not my favorite book. It doesn’t mean it can not be yours. I still recommend everyone who enjoys regency/magical books to give it a chance.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins Press & Allison Saft for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review. ❤️

Half a Soul ft. Bridgerton. This was a fun, low-stakes, mostly PG romantasy that was a nice break from stronger genre books. It was easy to read with lovable characters—great book to pick up if you just want to feel good for a bit.

🩵🧵 A Fragile Enchantment ARC Review 🧵🩵

Thank you so much to Allison Saft and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read and review this book!

A Fragile Enchantment is a fantasy romance. Seamstress Niamh has the opportunity of a lifetime - to create the clothes for the upcoming Royal wedding. But when she meets the Prince, she realizes she might have signed up for more than she bargained for

This was a fun fantasy read. Niamh was a fun character and I enjoyed her growth throughout the book. Kit was a wonderful character and I really liked his rakish attitude. It had all the society vibes of a historical romance - with balls during the season, society gossip and politically advantageous marriages - which was a fun twist. This book was a bit insta-love for my personal tastes, but otherwise was an enjoyable read!

Overall this was a four star read for me. I enjoyed the characters and the story! While this book had a romantic subplot, it was a slow burn and had no on page smut - so overall one flame for spice

If you’re a fan of fantasy romance with forbidden romance, unique magic systems and fun world building, then absolutely pick this one up!!

Please Note: review will be posted on Amazon upon publication

This was such a heartwarming story. I loved how whimsical and cozy this was. The magic system is unique but easy to follow and as always Allison Saft’s writing is so beautiful.

What to expect:
Standalone YA fantasy
Found family
Chronic illness rep
Grumpy x sunshine
Regency romance
Forbidden romance

The angst, the bickering, the forbidden romance between a prince and Machlish- utterly in love with this story. I couldn't put it down. Niamh was such a lovely character, genuine. As she sewed enchanted dresses and coats, I was obsessed with the idea of feelings, memories getting stitched on a piece of cloth, it was magical. This story has enchanted me and now I will have to read it again.

"I feel like I’ve lived a thousand years in the time I’ve known you. I feel like I’m awake for the very first time."

This was an incredibly enjoyable read. The characters are likable, the relationships are dynamic, and the length was perfect.

I loved that this was a standalone, there is something to be said for an ending that is fulfilling.

I highly recommend this book if you want a non-spicy escape from reality, you won't regret it! It was easy to follow, light fantasy.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I loved the setting. It felt whimsical and the romance was cute. This was a perfect cozy read with stunning prose. Highly recommend.

🤍 Thank you @wednesdaybooks for and @allisonhsaft the earc of A Fragile Enchantment! 🤍

A magical seamstress is tasked with the job of creating a bridal wardrobe for the prince and his fiancé.

It’s resentment at first sight as duty and freedom clash for Prince Kit and Niamh must navigate a glittering court where she feels like an outsider.

Read for the:
🪡 fairytale vibes
🪡 broody prince
🪡 magical clothes
🪡 friendship and secrets

My issues: I missed the atmospheric writing of Saft's previous book in this one. I also felt like it took A LOT of from Cinderella and felt a little too cliche. I would also classify this more NA than YA.

Steam: fade to black (mild detail)
TW: some violence

This was an enjoyable YA fantasy romance following a seamstress who is set to clothe the bride and groom of a country she has no allegiance to. As she spends more time with the prince (aka the groom), she develops feelings for him, complicating matters considerably. While their relationship is blooming, there is also political unrest (though it feels pretty low-stakes) that Niamh finds herself involved with. One of the key points in the summary of this book is a plot line about an anonymous columnist, but it really didn't play a large part in the book. The first 50% followed Niamh getting adjusted, and the action didn't really pick up until 60-70% of the book. This was a slow-burn in more ways than one, and while it fit for certain elements, other parts dragged. This was an enjoyable story, and I'd recommend it for cozy standalone fantasy fans, but just keep in mind it is slower-moving.

Saft is truly the expert on atmospheric romance that transcends genres and audiences. I adored A Fragile Enchantment so much - Kit and Niamh are incredibly well-written with AMAZING pining and yearning. Not only that, the supporting characters were incredible, I want more about them. This was adorable and low-stakes fantasy. Highly recommend.

2.5 stars. A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft is set in a magical world where Niamh is called to make wedding clothes for the prince's wedding. Niamh has a gift that allows her to stitch her clothing with feelings and emotions that transfer to the person wearing them. Once she gets to the palace, she meets the grumpy prince and realizes that she has her work cut out for her in a place where dark secrets lurk just behind the surface.

This premise of a magical dressmaker was interesting, and I was intrigued with Niamh and Kit's relationship at first. But as the story continued, it began to drag for me and I struggled to maintain interest. While I liked Niamh and Kit, everything else that was happening in the plot just didn't grab my attention. And there seemed to be a lot different plot points in play. A lot going on, but at the same time there were chunks of the book where nothing significant seemed to happen? I think the pacing was off for me and it was hard for me to stay engaged.

I do seem to be in the minority with my review, as many others loved this one!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. This book was a great read. It contained all of the makings of a great book. Great main characters, a little bit or mystery, a little magic, and a little romance. If you enjoy books that combine fantasy and romance you will enjoy this book.

4.75 stars!!

Never have I ever related so much to the FMC. Niamh is me in so many ways, which made this book very emotional for me. I was ATTACHED to the characters and to the story. The last 20% left me on the edge of my seat and biting my nails...I was stressed!! Allison Saft did such an incredible job with this book and with these characters. It was beautifully written and touches your soul in a way you wouldn't expect. There's plenty of laughter and good times too, don't worry! The romance is full of magic, hope and wonder. I LOVED IT. YOU SHOULD READ IT.

I really enjoyed this book! Perfect for fantasy lovers who also enjoy Jane Austen! This book took me a bit to fully become invested in, but once I was in I was IN! I’d recommend this! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!

Absolutely 5 stars. A grumpy prince x sunshine commoner love story, with a solid amount of world building and external conflict. The characters have excellent chemistry, intimate moments were charming, and both mcs create meaningful friendships outside their romance. This was a stayed-up-til-midnight-to-finish book that I will definitely end up buying a copy of.

This one definitely wasn’t for me. I had high hopes going into this - a stand alone fantasy from a reliably good author? Sign me up! But the end product wasn’t what I envisioned at all. There’s just way too much going on in this book for me. Between feuding brothers, a hot mess of a country, love triangles that aren’t triangles, and plot lines that get picked up but never actually resolved, this book was a mess. I honestly had to skip a few chapters because I just couldn’t take the drudgery anymore and just wanted the pain of reading this to be over. Maybe I missed some things during that skip (like the aforementioned never resolved plot lines), but I doubt it.

Saft had some great ideas, but really, there’s too much going on to give any of them the justice they deserve. Add on to that the fact that the protagonist only seems to have one character “trait” of being clumsy, and this is a book I wish I passed on.

This was a WONDERFUL book. Set to release on January 2nd, 2024 this book is a fantastic fantasy-romance that you will want on your shelf.

Niamh is a magical seamstress that is commissioned to leave her countryside home and make the Prince’s wedding wardrobe. Her magic allows her to stitch emotion and memory into her gowns, but it comes at the price of slowly bringing her closer to death. The palace is a wonder she never allowed herself to dream of, constantly working to support her family. In the bliss of it all, things go south when a gossip column begins writing about her undeniable chemistry with the groom. The groom (Kit Carmine) is a brooding character with as little control over his magic as he has his life, while he serves as a political pawn for his Prince Regent brother. Conflicts within the court and royal family secrets begin to unravel, as Niamh and Kit’s relationship becomes more and more complicated with every passing day at Court.

The characters in this book were so well executed and intricate. Despite the number of characters, I never became confused or overwhelmed while reading. I LOVED the dark and fantastical setting Saft created throughout the story. The magical aspect of it felt so unique and I would KILL for one of Niamh’s dresses. It was a WONDERFUL read that I cannot recommend enough. I will definitely be reading Allison Saft’s other novels and will be anxiously awaiting my chance to get a physical copy of this amazing book.

I was really excited about the whimsical, magical, regency version of England in this story description. I love a classic story about a young woman leaving her small town for a bigger, more complex adventure and growing in selfhood and independence. One of the threads in this storyline that I liked best was Niamh's attitude shift about the mysterious illness she's carried with her for her whole life, and the way she unlearns to constantly take on suffering silently in order to make others happy. It's always rewarding to see a female character begin to prioritize herself, her dreams, her needs and her future more.