A Fragile Enchantment was one of my anticipated releases in 2024. To be frank, the initial concept showed great premise, but just before reaching the midway point the narrative seemed to lose its way and lacked a clear direction. I felt like every character had problems and the author wanted to showed everything but they felt so superficial. The story got dragged on a little too much that I lost interest, even the romance plot failed to pique my interest. I feel so much potential on this book and there will always be room for improvement, I wish that the author gives more depths to characters and some details.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

i don't have any beef with 1st person POV but it would be nice if the MC's trains of thoughts didn't all written down bc it makes the paragraph really long & unnecessary and makes me tend to skim it.

I heard so many amazing things about this book and I was not disappointed. It was a great mix of fantasy and romance with political intrigue and mystery. The magic system was amazing and the tropes were impeccably placed throughout while not being overdone. This book delivers everything that the blurb promises and more. I may even have cried while reading it because some lines were so beautiful. It is definitely a YA romantasy to add to your list.

Thank you Wednesday books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can describe this book in one word, albeit a painful one: forgettable. I debated how to rate it, because, while there is nothing bad about the story, there's nothing particularly great either. This is really the epitome of a 3-star book for me, from that perspective.

The world building was decent, but it lacked a bit of...something. I wanted more information, a little bit of backstory on the magic in the world. Instead, it seemed like it was mainly a historical novel with a dash of fantasy thrown in as an afterthought. Lots of potential but didn't meet expectations.

The romance lacked oomph. The spark between the two MCs left me wanting more. I didn't really understand why they were interested in each other. The chemistry wasn't something that was developed over time, so the reader doesn't become invested. Honestly, I would have been fine if they remained friends by the end of the book. Wouldn't have bothered me one bit. And that's not a good sign for a romance novel.

Maybe it's the writing style, maybe it's just me. I finished the book, but it took me longer than usual and, in the end, I couldn't work up much interest in writing a review. Hence why this one is written several weeks after reading it.

Don’t deny me only for the sake of denying yourself - A Fragile Enchantment

This book left me speechless, it is easily in my top five favorite YA books of all time.. This was my first book by Alison Saft and I will definitely be reading more!! Thank you to netgalley and the publishing company for giving me the chance to read it by giving me an e-arc of this incredible book!

Niamh is a seamstress called on by the neighboring Kingdom to design the outfits for the upcoming royal wedding. Jumping at the chance to give her grandmother and mother a better life she accepts the offer immediately.

Politics. Enemies to lovers. Forbidden Romance.

This book gave me the best of fantasy and the best of historical romance. The setting of this book was absolutely fanatic. The Fantasy Regency setting was something I did not know I needed but oh my gosh I hope more books are published with similar settings.
The writing was beautiful and extremely descriptive and painted each scene with incredible accuracy. With every turn of the page, it was like I was watching a movie.
Kit is seriously my favorite character. He was hilarious and dry, and his spiteful nature was just incredible.

The romance was beautifully done. It showed the vulnerability and realization of knowing the person you’re falling for is someone you can’t have.
Gosh forbidden romance just tickles my pickle every time and Alison just did it so well in this book I am still in awe.

I haven’t read YA in a long time and this book was a perfect step back into the genre that got me into reading in the first place.
I so deeply recommend this book if you’re wanting an amazing romantasy read. This book is full of humor, heartfelt moments, amazing characters, and most importantly: showing that it is okay to be selfish every once in a while.

In Alison Saft’s A Fragile Enchantment, Niamh O Conchobhair leaves her home/family behind to serve as the seamstress for a royal wedding meant to provide strategic alliance for the kingdom of Avaland. Niamh’s success will likely mean her family’s financial security but it comes at a cost—the more she uses her magic (which allows her to imbue feelings/memories into the clothes she creates), the weaker she becomes thanks to a hereditary wasting disease with no apparent cure. Niamh is an outsider in the court—someone who relates more to the working class citizens that seem primed for a revolution than the cruel nobles with whom she is forced to interact. The one exception being the groom himself—as a friendship blooms between them and then becomes something more, an anonymous gossip columnist could ruin everything she’s worked for. They will leave Niamh and Kit out of the press only if Niamh agrees to spy on the royal family for them.

I really enjoyed this cozy YA fantasy romance. It really had a Bridgerton meets fairy tale vibe that I personally found delightful. One of the things I thought was interesting was the dichotomy of duty to others vs. personal happiness. It really was a theme of the book and something practically all of the characters are dealing with. There was a quote I saw several years ago that resonated with me during a difficult time—"you don’t have to set yourself on fire to keep other people warm.” To me, that was the real lesson from the story and it was good to see so many of our main characters embracing this by the end. I also thought the chronic illness representation was unique, although it was certainly bittersweet (and maybe more realistic in some ways as a result?). Niamh’s illness doesn’t magically get resolved but by the end we see that rather than keeping herself apart from others, she embraces relationships in order to live her life to the fullest. Overall, a great read and a perfact standalone!

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the e-ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really liked this as a love story. Niamh is a commoner who makes beautiful garments for people. She has an illness that will cause her to not live a long life. Kit is the spare to the throne, a former bad boy with a past. There is political unrest in the kingdom & a mystery.
It had a Bridgerton feel with gossip column but that story line just felt it wasn’t necessary, as well as the magical elements were not needed. Both just kind of padded the story. Which was a great Cinderella story. But having any type of Divine blood just watered down in my opinion.
Also the dying early and hair change was abandoned for happy ending?

Niamh is a seamstress who has the ability to weave threads emotions, feelings, etc. into her dresses. Unfortunately, this magical ability will eventually rob years off her life. She lives in a very poor nation that was destroyed by the neighboring nation. Now, many people go there to find work. Everyone imagines it to be glamorous, and every person is rich. She is offered work to create a wardrobe for the upcoming royal wedding of the prince and his bride. She jumps at the chance because she will earn enough money to allow her mother and grandmother to get out from poverty. However, upon her arrival, she is struck with the reality of this "glamorous" nation. It is filled with people living in extreme poverty but also the wealth of the royal family.
Kit, the younger prince is being forced into an arranged marriage with the princess of yet another nation.
Kit is a jerk, to be honest. He is bitter, throws fits, and sets out to hurt people around him. Of course it's because he's been hurt in the past because that justifies everything. I swear I could see him stomping his foot when he is told to do something.
They are very attracted to one another. She knows he's hurting, so she doesn't seem to mind when he is constantly belittling her.
His older brother, the prince regent is outwardly rude, and obviously hiding something. It's quite obvious since there is a thread of class warfare in the book.
Here is where my conflict lies. All the workers from her nation have left their jobs because of lack of pay and their treatment as second class citizens. The only workers left are the native ones, and they are overworked because of it. In the beginning, you can see how it directly affects the royal family and their lifestyle because their formal dinners are not edible, nothing is done to help the guests enjoy themselves, and the remaining staff is extremely rude. However, later, dinners and celebrations do not seem to have any issues at all.
The story is a romance, but has the class differences as one of the main issues. However, the protesters only appear two or three times, and only two conversations, both asking to speak to the prince regent. Apparently, that's not as important as we're led to believe.
My other problem is with Niamh herself. For a strong woman, she is pretty clueless as Kit tells her, and she practically scared of her own shadow. I'll put that part down to her magic that is robbing her of years. That's where it gets foggy. She comments that other people who possess her type of magic can live anywhere from 20 years old to over 60 years old. In that time period, living past the age of 60 was not a bad thing at all. We're also not really told how much it's affecting her. Yes, Niamh is getting sicker, but is she dying? Can she get better if she stops weaving magic thread into her creations?
Can someone please go into more depth about the magic itself? Each nation seems to have their own kind. lt had the vibes of the Hunger Games districts without the violence.
Now, about the epilogue. Gah and grrrr...not a fan, but won't spoil it.
I love Sinclair. I know, I know. He's still lovable even after we find out secrets about his family and its aftermath later in the story. No spoilers.
That all being said, the writing is beautiful. The author brings you into the world, and you aren't just reading it, you're also there experiencing it. I take care of an elderly lady who used to teach literature, and read some excerpts to her, and she loved how it was written, and how rich the descriptions were. The author's writing is simply beautiful.
This is filled with angst, issues that can be resolved with simple conversations, hidden agendas, and the HEA. So, those boxes are checked. There is a little lgbtq reference but not the focus of the story.
I would consider this an almost clean novel, heat wise. It was closed door, as in we know something happened, but not described. It's sort of described once, but in a broad, vague sense. I agree that it can be read by a younger, teen audience.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Five stars!

I love Allison Safts writing and I just feel like this shows her growth as a storyteller.

Saft does such wonderful work creating loveable characters with depth for the entire world, as well as well rounded romances that pull you into the story! The characters were able to grow, while staying true to themselves.

She also has always done an excellent job of creating an alternate universe that resembles our own (with a touch of magic). Prejudices, oppression, and the unjust treatment of groups of people have been a theme that I’ve noticed in her other work. As well as lgbtq representation!

This was a lovely romantic regency drama, with a hint of fantasy.

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft is the second book i've reas by this author and, sadly, this one wasn't for me.
What i felt didn't work for me mostly was the pace. It's excruciatingly slow with nothing happening for pages on end. A Far Wilder Magic felt mysterious, magical, even scary at times which only made me wanna read it more. this book just felt like a filler i guess.
The main character, Niamh, fell flat for me and Kit was just a meanie. All the characters felt like they were satire, too much at all times.
The magic system isn't explained properly and sometimes that works in a book but here it just made the story feel incomplete. I DNFed this book at around 50% - it just wasn't for me.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me, and I have to move it to my DNF shelf. I thought the premise to be really interesting: working magic into clothes, and that was what I enjoyed best. I thought that the way Saft writes magic was really intriguing and beautiful.

However, I couldn't help but find the writing to be a bit scattered, and it didn't pull me in. At times reading felt like an effort, moving too slowly. To me, a romance book needs to be like a bowl of soup, it is easy to go down and comforting . Unfortunately, this book was not.

I also couldn't find myself caring about the two main characters-- I found Niamh to be childish and undeveloped, and found Kit to be downright unlikable. I also didn't really feel the "regency" in regency romance--such as in other regency fantasy romances I have read like The Midnight Bargain or Half a Soul. It just felt like any regular fantasy magical world.

This was my first go at ARC, and really wanted to give it my best effort, but it just wasn't doing it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this earc

Sadly I didn’t love this book. Where did it go wrong? I think it was trying to do too many things at once. For example, the political plot line. It fell flat. The whole plot was set on two brothers not talking to each other. One conversation and the wedding could have been avoided completely and they could have asked their neighbors for help just like they did by the end of the book.

Next thing, Niamh having this sickness from her magic but not really explained or resolved. She’s still making magical dresses by the end of the story.

This story definitely needed more world building and magic system building and just pretty much plot building.

I feel like this book could have been so much better. But was just missing too many little pieces

A big Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this fantastic arc!
A Fragile Engagement is a cozy fantasy with great character development, and a lovely magic system.
I absolutely love the world building, and the way that the cultures of the world are portrayed. I really liked the protagonist, and the way that the story moved. I hope to see more of this world in sequels!!

At first I was super intrigued and into the magic system of this book and was looking forward to see more of that. But at 54% of the way the magic hasn’t really been explained beyond enchanted dresses. I find the plot was kind of slow and I just didn’t care about any of the characters and wasn’t reaching for this.

It could definitely be a case of right book wrong time and maybe I’ll end up finishing it in the future.

In this stand alone regency fantasy romance we follow a single pov of Niamh and she’s a dress maker with a gift to enchant the outfits she makes. She gets invited to the royal wedding, of her people’s nemesis, to make outfits for the season for the prince who is getting married. Little does she know that his attitude is going to ruin any chance she has at a comfortable work environment in their palace. Slowly they get to know each other and is the prince actually caring in his own way? At least with her he is, his bride to be on the other hand is only for political gain. I really enjoyed the magic in this world, it was unique with some people having power with divine blood while others didn’t. I also really enjoyed all the political aspects of the royal court and you get to see a good amount of it in this book. I thought this was a rather cute romance as well. I would recommend this if you looking for :
✨ regency time period
✨fantasy world with magic
✨ enemies to lovers
✨grumpy / sunshine
✨ commoner x royalty 🖤
✨court politics
✨croquet matches

Genre: YA Fantasy Romance (closed door)
Regency inspired fantasy

Niamh Ó Conchobhair has a gift. She’s a dressmaker who can weave emotions into her clothing, creating magical masterpieces that transcend the ordinary. When the Prince Regent invites her from her native Machland to the royal palace in Avaland to serve as tailor for a wedding wardrobe to his younger brother Prince Christopher Carmine, she jumps at the chance to make not only a name for herself but to send money back to her family. Kit Carmine isn’t what she expected - he’s surly and crass, and absolutely wants nothing to do with a wedding or his bride or even his tailor - but Niamh wants to see beneath his thorns (figurative and magical) to his true character underneath.

This was an absolutely charming and utterly sweet book with fairy tale vibes. It’s a standalone book that borrows from Regency England for a baseline worldbuilding. The political landscape is familiar, with Ireland (Machland), England (Avaland), and Spain (Castilia), and the exploitation of the lower classes and in particular the Machlish servants who have been carrying the oppression and poverty caused by a Blight brought on by Kit’s father, the Mad King. Saft is able to give us a light-touch magic system - those with magic have distinct powers - that feels wholly relevant to character development and plot.

A Fragile Enchantment is YA only in the sense that the characters are on the younger side and in the perfect simplicity of the prose. The inner monologues feel age appropriate but not immature, and the overall plot kept me - distinctly not a YA reader - engaged. Allison Saft’s writing style is gentle and moving. She also brings charming and delightful LGBTQ+ representation: both main characters are bi, and there are other queer characters throughout, both touched by scandal and transcending it.
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I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Allison Saft is the QUEEN of yearning. No one is doing it better than her. This is the kind of romance that dreams are made of. Very loosely reminds me of pride and prejudice in a few scenes (iykyk)

AFE is marketed as an ensemble cast, and Saft delivers wholeheartedly. I would die for every last one of these characters.

(The following not on Goodreads)
I have one small grammatical note.
In chapter 21, there is the sentence “Begrudgingly, she handed it to him. He traded her the one was wearing.” I think we are missing a “he” there.

After I read A Far Wilder Magic, I knew I would probably love everything else Allison Saft has or ever will write. This book did not disappoint in the slightest! I am now thoroughly obsessed with Kit and Niamh. Their story was dreamy and gorgeously-written, grounded in relatable themes and a full cast of flawed and wonderful characters. I can't wait for this one to hit shelves in January!

4 stars.

If this book had an alternative name it would be: The Obonoxious Prince and the Royal Dressmaker.

A thousand thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
If I wasn't a fan of Allison Saft before this, I came out of it being one. Reading this felt like stepping into my own fairytale. Not the popular ones but the ones that are often forgotten right after you close the book, it's magic safely tucked between the pages and your memories—the fairytales that live vividly in your dreams. This book created a personal kind of safe heaven that we can easily fall into and pretend to twirl around the stars with our prince charming just for one day. 'A Fragile Thread of Enchantment' was a soft fantasy/comfort read—by the fireplace, under the blanket kind of read. Every last thread that held the book together was enchanted.

Read if you like: (even if you don't, give it a try)
Rags to riches story with a magical twist
Bridgerton inspired setting
Royal x commoner
Grumpy rebellious prince x the sunshine sweetheart who always gets in trouble
He hates everyone but her
Forbidden romance
Enemies to friends to lovers
Anonymous scandal sheet and the mystery person behind it

Magic is gone from the world, only a few families are left with divine blood flowing through their veins. Niamh Ó Conchobhair comes from a line of skilled craftsmen; she can stitch enchantments on fabric and turn it into something of dreams. Her gowns helped maidens secure the attention of hundreds of suitors and turned normal girls into noble ladies. Her prestige as a dressmaker earned her an invitation from the prince regent of Avaland to work her magic on the youngest prince's wedding. Despite having a history of ongoing unrest between her people and Avaland, she feels obligated to give her family a better future and a comfortable life. The magic she weaves into fabrics is the same that chips away at her life; she's running out of time and the royal wedding is her biggest opportunity.

Niamh is sweet, responsible and kind to a fault, a bit clumsy at best but she knows how to pick herself up. She is naive and nice like all the fairytale girls are. She forgets and forgives easily and makes others around her feel comfortable. She's a little self-destructive as she goes; she gives and gives until there's nothing left of her to give. She is often mistreated at court for her heritage; however soft-hearted she is, she doesn't let others see her hardships, she'd smile away for them and cry when she's all alone by herself.

I liked Niamh but at times I couldn't help questioning her choices. In fact, I didn't expect her to get so involved in the brother's conflicts and state affairs. The involvement went only so far and thank god, her ideas are the worst.

Kit was opening up to her about his issues, how his father imposed horrible punishments on him, how he watched his mother die, immense public pressure and expectations that come along with his title, driving him to seek comfort in alcohol that resulted in him losing hold over his magic and hurting the people closest to him. All she said was 'Okay, I understand' and proceeded to copy-paste the same words he used to comfort her a minute ago.

She came off way too desperate. She asked him to stay with her one time, he refused. Two times, three times—that's enough rejection to last a lifetime but did she listen? No. She chased him down to the end of his wedding alter, almost costing him his life until he finally gave up and said, 'Okay fine, I'm yours'. The annoying thing was, she kept denying her intentions; she had a default answer on the run: 'Oh, I'm not doing it for me. I'm doing it for them' like girl, are you even hearing yourself?! Seft respect gone where?

I know I said I was okay with her clumsiness but oh my god! It was way too much. When she was asked why she trips over thin air all the time, she said it's not her fault, ghosts push her around? As if she wasn't a pushover enough. What?!

Prince who hates nobility, hates royalty and hates fashion.
If the kingdom of Avaland is the storehouse of gossip and scandal sheets, Kit Carmine is the scandal himself. He is ill-tempered, also self-destructive (and they say perfect match doesn't exist). The more he loves someone, the more he pushes them away. He goes by the principle that if they want to talk about something, he'll give them something to talk about. He has been banished from court for a long time for his irresponsibility and lack of control. Now he is to be wed to a foreign princess as a sign of friendship between both their countries on the persistence of his brother, the prince regent, which he wants no part of.

The friendship between Kit and Niamh won me over in no time; it was interesting since at first, they both silently vowed to criticize each other to death if possible. The holding hands, lingering glances, everything. I'd still say I liked them better as friends. Their friendship overpowered their budding romantic connection. That doesn't mean I didn't wish Kit to bring a little grovelling to the table or at least show equal desperation to pursue Niamh instead of leaving her to do all the chasing. I don't know but his 'too cool for love' act was actually too much.

This book is very magical, very atmospheric and I liked it a lot although the storyline was faulty at times.

The fact that I stayed up until after 1am, running on 3 hrs of sleep to finish this, should speak for itself.

It was a slow start, and I definitely prefer the audio format, but once I got the Bridgerton vibe, I was hooked!