Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. A Fragile Enchantment was absolutely ADORABLE. It was predictable, but a comfortable, cozy read because of that. I love the grumpy x sunshine vibes, as well as the regency/Bridgerton feels, It was really quite an enjoyable read, and I will be posting my final review closer to release date on IG/TikTok as well as GoodReads.

As a huge fan of Down Comes the Night and absolute fangirl of A Far Wilder Magic, I was really looking forward to Allison Saft’s latest, A Fragile Enchantment. Ultimately, though enjoyable, it was a bit of a letdown, definitely not living up to her previous work. I enjoyed my time with it — the characters were perfectly lovely, the writing was sparkling, the stakes were nice and high, but it felt more like an early draft than a fully realized work. There were many things both in terms of character and plot that could have used a bit of tightening up. That being said, it was still a good time, a book I ripped through quickly, and has in no way put me off reading whatever Saft puts out next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This really was a lovely story, a little predictable, and a little lacking in backstory for me, but I did really like it. The only other thing is that the timeline was very confusing to me. At one point, Niamh mentions that it's been a few days but references a fight as if it happened the night before. Several times I had to flip back a few pages to see when something happened and then try to figure out if it matched. Overall though, the story was nice if you like: enemies to lovers, whimsical romance or slow burn romances then you are in for a treat. There is some slight steam in the form of kissing and some handsiness in the second half of the book.

This was a very good book! Some of it was a little predictable but I am a sucker for a shy, grumpy love interest! I would've loved some more insight into Niamh's chronic illness but I also appreciate that it didn't dominate the storyline. I really enjoyed the character development. I also really love that everyone was a little queer, it made the different relationships more interesting and added to the mystery of who would end up with who. This was a great, quick romantasy read!

A Regency era, Bridgerton-meets-romantasy book that is heavy on found family trope? yes please!

A Fragile Enchantment is a book set against the backdrop of a war torn land that is deeply entrenched in political strife. It deals with some serious conversations about relevant societal topics such as class dynamics, queer identity, various illnesses, and politics, which makes the world feel more complex, richer, and well rounded that you can't help but feel attached to the world, and sympathize with the struggles faced by the cast of this book.

These plot points played an important role in the book, but so did the romance. The romance between Niamh and Kit was so well done. Their relationship was a mix of enemies-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine, with a heavy dose of forbidden romance as he's the prince of a country, and she's a magical dressmaker there to stitch clothes for his wedding, a wedding that must definitely take place to ensure the peace in Avaland. Their chemistry was electric, and I love how they bantered, and teased each other, that was until it turned into something more, and then it was just swoon worthy how they came together. Their soft moments were the highlight of the book for me.

All in all, this was such a fun read! Saft wrote this novel so beautifully that it felt like I was watching a movie instead with it's vivid worldbuilding, and magical descriptions. I would definitely be checking out more of her books.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read a copy of the book voluntarily so I could review it. All thoughts and opinions provided in this review are my own.

Allison Saft has quickly become one of my go-to authors for fantasy romance. Not only are her characters likeable and relatable, but she writes some of the best pining I have ever read. Trust me, I love it when the love interests finally get together, but in this book, the lead up was almost more exciting. Niamh and Kit were so lost on each other from the moment that they met that reading this book made me feel like giggling and kicking my feet up in the air. A Fragile Enchantment managed to both deal with real world problems in a serious manner and stay light and hilarious. I'd recommend A Fragile Enchantment to anyone looking for a happily ever after. It truly is a riot.

This book was so magical! The characters were lovely and the plot was so fun. I highly recommend if you want a magical fantasy read.

This book was a cute little story filled with princes, scandals, and of course ✨romance✨.
First of all, I loved the regency era time period, which just added to the magical and enchanting element of the story. The story delved into the complicated politics of running a country, and what happens through neglect, and when oppressors ignore the consequences of their actions.
The representation of LGBTQ+ characters, and addiction, though not the main points of the story, were handled with sensitivity, and was so pleasant to see.
Finally, the romance was so endearing, the female and male lead were always put in such ridiculous situations, which would end up in gossip columns of the papers, it was quite hilarious. The sweet but headstrong girl, ended up with a secretly soft but broody on the outside prince.

Saft’s latest magical story achieves maximum cozy vibes with its abundance of charm, and is guaranteed to warm your heart with its themes of found family, hope, and tender love. Much like her previous work, the overall pacing is slower with the romance being a slow burn, but I quite enjoy this leisurely pace. Niamh and Kit were equally matched in their wit and magic, and I loved how their conversations carried emotional depth, respect, and vulnerability. Though initial assumptions were made, they apologized and sought to get to know the other’s soul.

Beyond the romance and friendship, Saft weaves a thread of commentary on political and social issues that, in many ways, are incredibly relevant. Niamh and Kit confront the prejudice, political & societal systems of oppression, and exclusionary policies that have for decades plagued their kingdom. And with the help of friends, they actively work to dismantle these harmful tradition while establishing a system to provide reparations to those harmed by the monarchy. I also appreciated how Saft included discussions on chronic illness and pain, as well as mental health and generational trauma.

The added element of the gossip column and its secretive author was quite fun and gives Lady Whistledown vibes. Highly recommend for anyone who loves curing up with a book, cup of tea and a cozy blanket on a rainy day. I thoroughly enjoyed being enchanted by Saft’s delightfully whimsical magic, endearing characters and her beautiful story of second chances, forgiveness, friendship, and love!

This book was just okay for me. The world the author built was interesting but it paced too slowly for me. I felt that it was close to 50% done before any true story started. I also feel that the MC’s were one dimensional. I really didn’t like either of them or their relationship. Cool magic though.

I received an ARC of this book

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books, for sharing an ARC of A FRAGILE ENCHANTMENT with me.

Niamh, a gifted magical seamstress, dreams of a better life for her family. She is willing to do anything to help them—even it means traveling to Avaland, an enemy land, and toiling endlessly to craft clothes infused with emotion channeling a magic that will eventually kill her. Kit is the grumpiest (but noble) spare prince being dragged to the altar for political gain. Niamh’s tailoring sessions with Kit beget an unlikely friendship, that just may inconveniently blossom into romance. Amidst a backdrop of seething unrest from the Avaland’s working class, courtly intrigue, and a Bridgerton-esque gossip columnist who knows far too much, Niamh and Kit must navigate choices that tug them between duty and the desires of their hearts.

Saft’s atmospheric prose is so dreamy, and it’s easy to get swept away into the colorful world that she creates. Niamh, Kit and the supporting characters are dimensional, and likable. Readers of Roshni Chokshi and Rachel Griffin would love A Fragile Enchantment!

It was an enjoyable read overall. It was a cozy story with an interesting magic in it. I love that every character is fleshed out and flawed. I appreciate that it didn't have a black and white cartoonish villain like royalty stories usually do. However, I am not a fan of the last 25% of the book. It felt rushed.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC

Thanks to Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review! 3.5 stars for enjoyable characters & a lovely romance plot.

This was a charming story. I could tell the author took inspiration from Bridgerton while adding a fantasy spin to it. The world felt a little underdeveloped and the beginning was a bit slow. Additionally the ending conflict was… oddly done & overall underwhelming. This book’s characters draws you in more than the plot. Kit and Niamh have a great back and forth and although their romance was a bit insta-love like I thoroughly enjoyed their scenes together. Overall a lot of plot lines felt underdeveloped - Jack/Sophia, Sophia in general, Kit/Sinclair (they seem to just… forgive each other at the end????) and Rosa/Miriam. Also it was pretty obvious who Lovelace was in my opinion.

Overall if you like Bridgerton, fairytale vibes, and prefer character studies as opposed to a rich plot you’ll find this enjoyable!

Lovely things:
- enemies to lovers romance
- lgbtq+ rep (bisexual, gay, lesbian)
- lots of dance parties
- lots of longing & stolen glances

Well this was an adorable read, even if some what predictable.
A seamstress gets the opportunity to make garments for a royal family. She’s asked because of her ability to sew memories and feelings into the clothes.
Nothing goes as planned, as one might expect- unrequited feelings, unexpected love, family riffs, and a bridgerton type gossip writer.
A cute and quick read that I highly enjoyed.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion

A Fragile Engagement follows Niamh Ó Conchobhair, a magical dressmaker commissioned to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding who gets entangled in a scandal when a gossip columnist brings to light her chemistry with the groom.

Perhaps chalk it up to me not being an avid reader of Romantasy, but this book just wasn’t my cup of tea. I want to start by saying it was a good book from a holistic standpoint but I just found it lacking in certain areas. Maybe this is a staple of the genre but I kept on waiting for the author to develop the plot, the world, or the magic system but the focus was entirely on the romance. Everything else felt kind of surface-level. I don’t mind a book where the romance takes front and center but at least for me I would like a plot or world-building that matches the intensity.

That being said, I did enjoy the characters. I really appreciated the fact that the author put in time to develop each character. This was a book where I found that the secondary characters had as much backstory and thought put into them as the main characters. The romance in the book was cute as well. The romance is the typical misunderstood bad boy who hates everything except for his love interest and who secretly has a heart of gold trope ( that was a mouthful). At first, I was worried that the book would fall too much into this trope but it actually managed to bring its unique spin on the trope, which was refreshing. Overall if you enjoy an enemies to lovers fun cozy fall Romantasy book with a bit of spice you might like A Fragile Engagement.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an arc in exchange for an honest review </b>

A Fragile Enchantment is a lighthearted cozy fantasy about a magical dressmaker who is commissioned to tailor for the royal wedding of the prince who is arranged to marry a princess of a neighbouring kingdom. This was my first Allison Saft novel.

If you are looking for something fun and not serious, this might be right up your alley. I very much enjoyed the magical aspect of the tailoring where Niamh, our main character, can enchant garment with specific emotions and memories. However, don’t expect a book that’s heavy on the fantastical elements because it’s not a large part of the story.

While I liked all the characters individually and I thought the author did a good job fleshing out the main and side characters, I don’t necessarily love the idea of the 2 main characters together. Why do they like each other? I have no idea. Kit as our moody and reluctant prince with dry humour made him a funny character to read about, but I’m not sure how he endeared himself to Niamh so quickly when the extent of their initial interactions was him being rude to her and he is also a prince of the kingdom that has mistreated her people? This doesn’t make for great first impressions, but we brush past this quite quickly.

And as for Kit, maybe i’m too much of a cynic, but why does a prince have a crush on his tailor he wanted nothing to do with? fairytale maths, I guess. Perhaps if they had more of a slow burn, I would’ve liked the romance more, and for a book where the romance is supposed to be a large focus, this limited my enjoyment of the book.

That being said, this is definitely not a bad book and I think many people will enjoy it.

Unfortunately, I was bored during this book. The magic in it is interesting and I really liked the MCs magic - sewing it into clothing. But the world has no imagination. It’s basically regency England + some diversity + a little magic. It didn’t keep me interested.

I never got swept up in it and it was hard to keep going.

"A Fragile Enchantment" is just that: enchanting. I'm a sucker for Allison Saft - I've enjoyed everything she's written - and this book is no exception. Following a young seamstress named Niamh who is given the opportunity of a lifetime to design for the royal wedding, "A Fragile Enchantment" is a romance that focuses on classism, chronic illness, and poverty. This book is just as much about Niamh's quest for radical self-acceptance as it is about her dishy chemistry with the prince that is to be married - and I loved all the side characters so much!

What a delight of a book! This was my first read from Allison Saft and I thoroughly enjoyed every page! I loved seeing Niamh's strength and resilience throughout the book, and I loved the growth seen in Kit as his character unfolded on the page. The historical Regency-est feel was a first for me but I find myself wanting more! I really enjoyed this read and can't wait to get my hands on more from Allison in the future.

I enjoyed this book but it didn't wow me. The beginning was interesting and did hook me in, but I wished the world building had a bit more detail. Basically, its historical England with magic users, which is fine. But I personally like a little more detail when magic is involved. Some magical history was mentioned but it felt like an afterthought to justify the magic use.

Niamh felt very young to me for her age, but in general I liked her character. She did do some silly things. I liked Kit as well, but didn't connect with him well since we only see him through Niamh's POV. The political plots got a tad boring as the book went on. I liked the secondary characters and the bit of plot twist with the secret identity of Lovelace. I did think it strange that when Niamh was to go riding with Sinclair, that Kit acted as chaperone instead of a woman. I understand this was to give more interactions between the main characters but it didn't make sense. A single woman would not go out with a man and have another man for a chaperone. So small things like that felt out of place to me. The plot did pick up more towards the end, and I liked the way things were resolved.

Although this fell short for me, I'm sure others will love it. And that cover is gorgeous!