A little regency era-style romance with a dash of magic. A Fragile Enchantment tells the story of Niamh and Kit, a Machlish seamstress whose enchantments have made her creations famous at court, and a prince whose wayward tendencies have alienated him from his brother, the Prince Regent, and his new responsibilities.

The writing did a great job of setting a whimsical fantasy world, weaving descriptive and flowery language with fast-paced dialogue. It made the pacing of the story fit well with the action and painted the world of the characters vividly.

This is a romance at heart, but I wasn’t sold on the chemistry between the two leads. I am always looking for great characters in the books I read, and I found they lacked dimension and consistency for the relationships between them all to be believable.

This is a light, happy read for anyone interested in the magical-regency genre of romance books, but doesn’t dive much deeper than the surface of this story.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this eARC!
Wow. Allison Safts best work by far. The magic system was enchanting. The characters were charming. I absolutely fell in love with Kit and Niamh and their friends. The twist at the end was unexpected yet made sense. This is Romantasy in every sense of the word. Easy five stars.

An enchanting novel. Bridgerton meets fantasy.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!

Rating: 3.75

What a fun and light romantasy! This book was a just a joyful read all around. Many are calling this the book form of Bridgerton, and I think that is a perfect comparison. It has all the banter and romance, with a little magic thrown in. Plus, I always love a grumpy prince!

The interactions between the characters is the strength for this book - relationships were well developed, interesting, and fun to read about. I also loved how slightly heavier topics were touched on, such as alcoholism. It was done in a serious manner that did not detract from the overall light vibes of the story. My favorite part of this book were the descriptions for the clothing that the main character Niamh creates. The enchantments for each fantastical creation made me wish I had the ability to try them on! I loved the delicacy of Niamh's power, and the different ways if affected those around her. Also - the banter between the two main characters! What fun it was to read each of their interactions. Their tension and banter were perfection and was the main reason I flew through this book.

I did find the fantasy/magic aspects of this book on the lighter side. Not much background was provided, which left me feeling like it was slightly underdeveloped. I would have loved to have some more information about the way the different powers worked and more background on the countries and wars that happened before the book's events. They are a source of motivation for several characters but without more context the emotions behind it landed a little flat for me.

I read this book after several heavier stories and it was a fun and dreamy pallet refresher. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a simple but cute whimsy regency read that relies more on romance and character relationships.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own.

Sadly disappointed by this one!

The premise of a tailor and a stuffy prince was riveting--and I absolutely loved Saft's sweeping prose. Kit was so awful at first I was intrigued to see how Saft was going to craft it so we could care for him, and she nailed it--even if a part of me was screaming at Niamh to run away, because that boy has PROBLEMS, even for a fantasy love interest haha.

I think what threw me was how much a tailor was allowed to all the royal events, and to hang casually with the princes?! I also struggled with the slowness of the pace, even against all of the many plot threads--I think there was just way too much packed into this book. I couldn't keep up with how 'impactful' the gossip column was supposed to be, versus the revolution, versus the end motivation behind the gossip column which was... not gossip but revolution?! It was confusing, and gave the book a mixed tone rather than the cozy romantasy I was anticipating.

I think fans of Downtown Abbey or Bridgerton might enjoy it, though? And I'm still super grateful to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the arc! I really did think I'd love it.

2.5 stars rounded up.

Wow! I just finished this book an hour ago. I read it in a day! It's been a while since I've binged a book in a single day, but this novel was just so refreshing and delightful and so easy to get wrapped up in that I just could not put it down. Loved it!

What I loved:

- The romance! It was such a delightful slow burn that was so easy to get wrapped up in!
- As mentioned above - slow burn to the best degree
- Grumpy/sunshine - another marvelous trope
- The character development
- The banter and teasing. A novel with good romantic banter will always tug at my heart!
- The supporting cast - wish we got even a bit more of them and their character development!
- The magic system was fun and unique
- The overall story. It was so easy to get lost in it

What I didn't love:

- There really wasn't much. For the sake of saying something, I wish Niamh's illness would have wrapped a little more positively. I was fine without a cure, but maybe an acknowledgement from her that she'd have to approach life and her profession differently. This piece felt a little too open-ended or not acknowledged at the end for my preference.

Again, I love this novel! It was a 5 star read for me and I can't wait to own a physical copy of this! I would recommend it to all, but especially for those of romantic fantasy, regency era novels, slow burn, forbidden love, and grumpy/sunshine!

Having recently read and enjoyed Allison Saft’s A Far Wilder Magic, I was excited to pick up another book from the author. In my opinion, A Fragile Enchantment is not as strong of a work, but it was a very easy and comforting read (which provided a nice reprieve between some of the more challenging titles on my TBR). The characters stray just enough from popular cliches so as to not feel contrived and, though the story is fairly predictable, the writing keeps it entertaining.

The two leads - Niamh and Kit - are both well developed and characterized. Thankfully, the author has given them unique characteristics that make them feel like believable people, as opposed to walking-talking romance fantasy tropes. The development of their relationship over the course of the book is heartwarming, despite it never really straying from a tried and true formula. Conversely, I did think much of the supporting cast felt rather flat by comparison, and I would have liked if the book explored more of their struggles. Though this may be a matter of personal preference, as I am not usually a romance reader and tend to prefer romance as a subplot-line rather than the central focus of a narrative.

As for the plot, this is a novel of manners very much in the vein of Pride and Prejudice, so much of it is advanced through conversation. The author weaves through these interactions gracefully, and the language used is appropriately formal without being completely alienating to its modern audience. I thought the regency era inspired setting felt fresh compared to many books within the YA fantasy genre. That being said, the world building was rather sparse, as it is fairly obvious that the two nations are essentially England and Ireland with the added veneer of magic. This is not exactly a criticism of the narrative, but there really is very little to distinguish these places from their real life counterparts, which was slightly distracting for me as a reader. Additionally, I thought that much of the political turmoil central to the narrative was too easily resolved - and during a few moments, it just felt like set dressing to advance the romance.

Though I had some criticisms, overall I did enjoy my time with this book. I think it’s great for a reader looking for something comfortable and entertaining with a heartwarming romance at its center, but still want the escapism of the fantasy genre. I will continue to look out for Allison Saft’s new releases in the future.

This was delightful. The perfect mix of light romance, fantasy, magic, and intrigue. Great banter, easy to understand but still cool world, and characters you quickly get attached to. It’s the perfect formula for a fun read that you won’t want to put down.

I truly loved this book. A Fragile Enchantment is a cozy fantasy with magic, romance, an arranged marriage, and found family. I loved the character development in this book and felt really attached to all of them and was so happy with way things ended in this book. I will definitely be re-reading this any time I want a feel good fantasy romance.

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley for review. My opinions are my own.

5/5 stars

This. Book.

I could not put this book down. It was absolute magic (literally and figuratively). I actually contemplated bringing my Kindle to a college hockey game because I just wanted to finish it but then my husband gave me the stink eye 😜 (you guys understood, right?)

Allison Saft, who I had never heard of until I received this ARC, has built a beautiful world in this novel. The premise is that Niamh, a seamstress with a magical gift, is sought from Machland to Avaland to make the wardrobe for the royal wedding. She becomes close with Kit, despite his grumpiness.

The love story is at the heart of this book but there is also politics with the threat of political rebellion and uprising, as well as an undercover journalist who sheds light on gossip and politics.

Read this if you enjoy romantic fantasy, grumpy meets sunshine, and historical romance (despite it being a fantasy, it has a Regency romance feel to it).

I already have Saft’s other two books on hold at my local library.

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft is an enchanting magical regency romance! Saft has once again created a charming story that will sweep you off your feet.

"A magical dressmaker commissioned for a royal wedding finds herself embroiled in scandal when an anonymous gossip columnist draws attention to her undeniable chemistry with the room.
Transporting readers to a Regency England-inspired fantasy world, A Fragile Enchantment is a sweeping romance threaded with intrigue, unforgettable characters, and a love story for the ages."

Saft has created a fun, engaging story and a cast of characters that you quickly grow to love. Set in a fantasy world like ours, it is easy to slip into the story and enjoy the lush Regency-era setting full of magic, court intrigue, political marriages, romance, and rebellion. A Fragile Enchantment is the perfect book for fans of Bridgerton or anyone looking for a cozy, magical romance to snuggle up with.

4.5/5

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft will be available on January 2, 2024. Signed/personalized copies can be pre-ordered through Kepler's Books.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

This one was enjoyable yet I could not connect with the characters. It was a fun story and the characters were well developed but nothing grabbed me and held me.

Omg I loved Alison saft's far wilder magic so much! And this book didn't disappoint. I love her writing style and the romances. Alison saft is slowly becoming one of my favourite authors. I cant wait to get a physical copy of this book when it's released.

★★★★★ - 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft
༘Spoiler free ༘
⭐️4.94/5
🌶️ the perfect level of spice
Young Adult, Romantasy, Genre
Multi POV
➳ 🕯️regency era
➳ 🤺 enemies to lovers
➳ ❤️‍🔥 slow burn
➳ 🌞 sunshine x grumpy 🌧️
➳ 🪄 magic
➳ 👑 court intrigue
➳ 📰 anonymously penned scandal sheets
➳ 💘 forbidden love

✨“Our fates are not sealed. It is never too late to live the way you wish, and you are not doomed to anything. I understand what it’s like to not want to disappoint people. But you deserve to be happy, too. Life is too short, and it is yours.”✨
Say hello to your new favourite romantasy author, Allison Saft. This regency romantasy is filled with scandal, court intrigue, social unrest, forbidden love, and whimsical magic. This is a must-read young adult romantic fantasy, releasing 02 January 2024, that deserves to be on everyone’s TBR.

📚📚📚

❧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*❦*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧❧

I found this book to be a perfect balance of romance and fantasy. The worldbuilding flowed naturally, and beautifully captured the regency era vibes. Avaland is based on England, and Machland is seemingly Ireland. There’s plenty of lore included by Saft in this story, and I am actually very intrigued by some of the myths that were mentioned. I would love to read more about the Gods that sailed to Machland, and I think the different Avlish and Macklish myths would make great standalone books.

"A Fragile Enchantment" showcases a meticulous exploration of a fantasy world woven into a historical setting, infusing elements of enchantment and magic within a regency-era narrative.

I truly loved the intricate use of magical tailoring, portraying emotions, and memories within the garments created by the FMC. The incorporation of social issues and complexities, such as LGBTQ+ representation, classism, and chronic illness, added depth to the storyline and made it feel more inclusive. It offered a fresh take on the regency period, integrating LGBTQ+ relationships, intricate character dynamics, and a vibrant&magical element that enriches the romantic storyline. It's a fusion of historical charm and fantastical elements that create a unique reading experience in the genre.

The romance was god-tier, without writing explicit scenes, Allison Saft manages to imbue her story with so much longing and tension. I found myself on the edge of my seat, cheering the characters on and gasping at these scenes. I found Niamh to be incredibly relatable, and i found her character arc so satisfying. She had a way of getting people to open up and it was easy to love the other characters seeing them through her perspective.

The characters' personal growth in "A Fragile Enchantment" felt really authentic and satisfying. Niamh's journey from self-doubt to embracing her self-worth was relatable, and Kit's transformation from guarded and closed-off to revealing his softer side added depth to the story. It all felt genuine and made the book quite fulfilling.

The central theme of "A Fragile Enchantment" revolves around self-discovery, sacrifice, and the pursuit of love against societal norms. It's effectively portrayed through the characters' personal struggles, their desires clashing with the constraints of their society, and the journey towards self-acceptance and genuine connections/authenticity.

While most storylines are neatly wrapped up, a few minor threads could possibly be explored further, but they don't hinder the overall satisfaction of the ending.

Allison Saft’s writing style in "A Fragile Enchantment" is whimsical and elegant, characterized by lyrical prose that beautifully captures emotions and scenery. Allison Saft's writing weaves a dreamy atmosphere, drawing readers into the story with vivid descriptions and emotionally resonant language.

My primary emotion upon finishing "A Fragile Enchantment" was a blend of contentment and bittersweet longing. The book's ending left me feeling fulfilled yet yearning for more, a testament to the emotional impact and connection I felt with the characters and their journey.

l would wholeheartedly recommend "A Fragile Enchantment" to others, especially to those who appreciate beautifully crafted historical fantasy romance. The book features vivid characters, a captivating blend of magic and historical setting, and a deeply immersive storyline that leaves a lasting impact. Allison Saft's enchanting prose and the well-developed, emotionally resonant characters make this a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

💖
LIKES:
⋆ **Enchanting Prose:** The author's writing style is poetic and beautifully descriptive.
⋆ **Rich Characterization:** Characters are vivid, complex, and relatable, with compelling backstories.
⋆ **Magical Elements:** The incorporation of magic, especially Niamh's ability to infuse emotions into clothing, is unique and captivating.
⋆ **Romantic Tension:** The gradual development of the romance, particularly the grumpy x sunshine dynamic, was engaging and heartfelt
⋆ **World-building:** The Regency-era setting with touches of Irish folklore provides an immersive and engaging backdrop.

**Fantasy Scoring**
Worldbuilding ➷ ✅ 5/5
Foreshadowing ➷ ✅ 4.75/5
Plot ➷ ✅ 5/5
Relationships ➷ ✅ 5/5

Thank you to the Allison Saft, St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest opinion on the ARC of this book.

OH MY GOD. I loved A Far Wilder Magic and this book was fantastic too. The story is so deeply sad, but the ending was worth it. The characters were my FAVORITE part!!! Their personalities were so funny and I loved seeing them spend time with each other. Allison Safts writing was so beautiful and I sat there the whole time like 😧💔😢 Anyways… such a good commentary on the world and everything and love and I will definitely read again!

This is a book about how Bridgerton had a magical baby with fantasy.

This is a book that if you enjoyed the Bridgerton series, whether in Netflix or book format, and want fantasy elements mixed in it.

This is an enchanting Historical Fiction Fantasy Romance read. I have been currently reading the Bridgerton series and it was really great to get a magical version of the story. This is considered a standalone and has a really cute happy ending.

I really love the characters in this. Niamh, even though considered low in social standing, certainly made a name for herself not only in her work but also in kindness.

Kit was certainly a butthole in the beginning. His attitude was frustrating from the beginning but as the story progresses, you get to know him and why he acts the way he does. Loved the development of his character. Sort of gave me some Mr. Darcy vibes there.

The slow-burn romance in this was really painful. In a good way! The chemistry between the characters was amazing and I couldn’t get enough of it. So that is why I was super glad for the super sappy happy ending at the end there.

As always, I am a sucker for royal politics in a plot. I really enjoyed this one because of the fact this story was based on a royal marriage engagement that was forced on Kit for political reasons. It kept getting more interesting as the story developed and it was fun to read.

The only thing that I didn’t like too much is that I wish there was a little more magic in the story. That is more of a personal preference since I am a fantasy junkie. Also, it did get a little slow in some sections of the book. Wasn’t terrible but it did drag a little bit.

I was mesmerised by the sheer emotion driving this story forward, and quite literally hooked on every single delicious morsel of angst in it. Saft’ writing has had my heart aching from the very first page. Loved this.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft was an enchanting, Regency-inspired, cozy fantasy read. It was whimsical and endearing with just enough conflict to raise the stakes and the excitement without losing its comforting ambience.

The author did a fantastic job of delving deep into our characters’ flaws and providing a plot that leads them to personal growth. I also loved how our main character had so much optimism and courage even when dealt the severe blows of her life.

Overall, I gave this book a four-star rating because it was a sweet and healing read, the characters all had their own, flushed out storylines and motivations, and the writing was well done. I would recommend this book to anyone who just needs those feel-good vibes in their next read.

This is a really sweet fantasy romance filled with longing, love, found family and self discovery. I thought the writing was good and the fantasy world building perfect for the length of this story. The characters were what made the story really lovely, though. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was a delightful read. It was Bridgerton meets fantasy. It was everything I had hoped for. Niamh and Kit were perfect.

This story explores what it means to not be living your life for yourself, and what comes with that.

"Because it's not meaningful to kill yourself little by little to make people happy!"

Absolutely killed me. I will be reading more of Saft's work in the future.