Kit is such a complex character, and his love interest, Niamh, is equally intriguing. Niamh is on a mission, and she's unwavering in her determination.

Now, I have to take off one star for a few reasons, and they all seem kind of tangled up together. Niamh takes this job to save her family, but we also discover that her magic is slowly killing her. There's this deep-seated hatred between Kit's clan and hers, rooted in a war from years ago. Plus, there's a lot going on with Jack's rule over the kingdom, causing all sorts of unrest. I mean, if all of this is mentioned in the blurb, it's got to be essential to the plot, right?

Well, some of these threads get tied up really quickly or are never mentioned again, and when I finished the book, I was left with all these questions like, "Wait, what happened to this and that?" or "Is this issue still unresolved?" It left me feeling a bit unsatisfied, and I was tempted to give it three stars. But I settled on four. Maybe fanfiction can fill in those gaps and expand on these aspects. Or who knows, maybe there's a sequel in the works? 😉

Thank you to NetGalley for an E-ARC of this book.

This was quite an enchanting story full of magic, forbidden romance, political intrigue, and scandal. Sometimes it made my heart race, and sometimes it made me feel all cozy inside. I think it’s a good standalone novel.

The MFC, Niamh (I had to google how to pronounce her name), is a magical dressmaker who is a kind, hard-working, and compassionate person. She is easy to root for and overall a very likable character. She’s like a ray of sunshine, but she is also not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. The MMC, Kit, is the grumpy one. In his defense, he is being forced into a royal marriage for political reasons. He often comes off as cold and prickly. Kit goes through character growth, but he still isn’t my favorite character. He grew on me a little bit toward the end, though. Niamh and Kit are complete opposites and can’t help but be attracted to each other. I did enjoy the banter.

The plot is definitely intriguing. However, the execution of it fell a little short with me. The good thing about the book is that it’s pretty fast-paced since it’s a standalone. There are some interesting scenes, but I don’t feel like everything flowed together, as they were jumpy at times. Something I think that helped, though, is the interesting dialogue.

I think the world the book is set in is really interesting. The unique magic system allows Niamh, whose magic is in her blood, to stitch her emotions into the fabric of the clothes she makes. Some other characters have magic in their blood as well. I do wish the world-building was a little stronger. The book is in a Regency setting, but I did not feel that vibe while reading this book. However, I did feel the royalty aspect of it.

Overall, this book was enjoyable for me. I do have a few minor issues with it, but I would consider reading it again in the future. I do recommend this book to fans of fantasy and romance.

A Fragile Enchantment was a touching tale about learning to trust and to put your own happiness first. While the magical elements were unique, the characters felt more "show" than "tell."

This was a charming read! The relationship arc was set at exactly the right pace, prose was lovely, and the fairytale vibes were there throughout. It hooked me almost immediately!

___
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an e-arc of this title. This review contains my honest thoughts.

4.5 stars

Niamh comes from a poor family of tailors. She has the ability to imbue her work with emotions, and her ability is the strongest in her family, which means that she is the major breadwinner and has the stress that comes along with it. Her mother and grandmother are getting older, and she feels an intense pressure to take care of them and improve their lives.

Niamh is chosen to be the tailor for an upcoming royal wedding. She's excited, dreaming about the opportunities this will bring, but her grandmother considers this a betrayal as the royal family is the very same that subjugated Niamh's people. This book is described as a Regency England-inspired, and that was fairly clear in the plot in terms of the different countries. Niamh's people are mostly servants in Avaland and generally looked down upon.

Niamh has always thought of Avaland as glamorous, but when she gets off the ship, she is met with the reality of the working poor and sees firsthand the juxtaposition against the excesses of the elite. She's meant to tailor the prince's wardrobe for several social functions leading up to, and including, his wedding. She is determined to do this and display the best of her abilities, but she's a bit dismayed when she realizes that the prince is kind of a petulant asshole. She also has to deal with a lot of prejudice and general shit treatment because of her heritage.

People are comparing this to Bridgerton, which I can see because they are of a similar time period and both contain a gossip columnist with a secret identity, and the way they write is very similar.

I found this to be a quite enjoyable read. The only thing I didn't like was that Niamh seemed to make really stupid choices in terms of the magic she imbued the clothing with. However, she is 18 and shown to be quite fiery and impulsive, so I could forgive that. Still, I generally dislike main characters who do stupid things. For someone so concerned about her reputation and doing a stellar job in order to bring her family up out of poverty, she's pretty reckless and foolish with her magic.

The romance was a bit of a slow burn enemies to lovers type situation. I felt it was handled well. The pacing was good. There are intimate scenes but they're not graphic at all. The magic was interesting, and I wish it was explored in more detail.

It's a whimsical, magical, fantasy romance with a bit of a Bridgerton flare. Do recommend if you're into that kind of thing.

I love the idea of a YA fantasy romance set in the regency era. I think the concept of this story is great but overall I struggled to get into this book. I thought the magic system and character development to be a bit too simplistic for my liking. I usually enjoy YA books but this might be geared towards a younger audience than I was originally expecting. 

I love the enemies to lovers trope but found the first 30% of the book to be lacking in romantic tension. Kit was a hard character to like in the beginning for me. 

Although it missed the mark for me, I think this would be a great book for a young teen audience. I appreciate the authors ideas and concept of this story and have heard great things about her other books that I may check out soon. 

Thank you for Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Fragile Enchantment is a unique twist on a fairytale romance. With magic, mystery, royalty, and revolution, the characters have their fill of conflict. Although some aspects of the plot fell flat--specifically the overly simplistic resolution of the conflict for the Machland people--the story itself was a quick, escapism-type read. Overall, I liked it. Thanks Netgally for the ARC.

'A Fragile Enchantment' by Allison Saft is a fantasy novel combined with a bridgerton-esque plot and setting. Niamh is seamstress with a gift of sewing things containing enchantments that allow the wear-er to feel whatever emotion is desired. She is commissioned to come to a neighboring country to sew the ceremonial
and dress clothes for an upcoming royal wedding. Niamh becomes fast friends with the engaged prince, and many others in the lead up to the wedding and is contacted by the author of a scandel column similar to lady whistledown of bridgerton.

The storyline of the book is very familiar, probably because there are so many similarities to aforementioned tv show season 2. I wish there were some more distinct differences, or maybe the gossip author could have been more malicious and that we would have been able to see more of the columns. We got about 2 columns, and instead of being a menacing villain, the author was requesting help, and when that wasn't given completely backed off. And the rumors that were being spread that we saw were hardly damaging. I just think there was so much more potential but it fell a little short. And the whole pacing of the book felt off, very slow in areas and then incredibly fast in others. I do wish that some of the side characters we were introduced to had more development.

I also would have liked if the resolution of the story was more clear. I felt like there were a lot of loose ends, and I would have appreciated a clear path forward in regards to the solutions, everything just tied up so easily and the unanswered questions were left hanging. I also think that Niamh was meant to have more of a chronic disease aspect, but it was mentioned just a few times and then completely forgotten by the end of the story. I do hope that if there is a sequel that the disease is more focused on.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martins press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book is a YA-historical romance with a splash of fantasy and magic, and a heaping dose of coziness. Niamh is the last of her family to be able to imbue enchantments into her needlework. When she gets the chance to create the prince’s outfits for his upcoming wedding, she can’t begin to imagine how she might start to feel for the prince while trying to ensure her family’s future is secure, fend off a gossip columnist, and navigate the court.

I loved the cozy atmosphere between the characters. Niamh and Kit’s relationship was quite wholesome and I liked that they seemed to compliment each others strengths and weaknesses so well. This book has forbidden romance, grumpy x sunshine, found family, and 2 bisexual disasters. My favorite character besides Niamh was Sinclair; his wit and sarcasm was always such a fun inclusion and helped me to understand Kit’s hot and cold behavior in the beginning. Perhaps my favorite aspect of the book was that the stakes were important but I didn’t have the sense of foreboding that a lot of high-stakes fantasy novels have. This was a cozy story and even though the characters had struggles to overcome, every person was fleshed out and rather understanding. I feel like this will be a quick comfort read for many historical romance readers, and may even be an excellent introduction for older YA readers who are starting to read adult historical romance.

My favorite quote: “Who needs blood family, anyway, when you have such good friends?” If that doesn’t sum up why the found family trope is such a good one, I don’t know what would.

Overall, Allison Saft knocked it out of the park again. I think my favorite book by Saft is still A Far Wilder Magic, but this is a sweeter and gentler read for those who wish to be comforted. Honestly, I think we all need this at times, so if so, this is the book for you!

A Fragile Enchantment comes out January 23, 2024 and you don’t want to miss it! I’ve already pre-ordered my copy and can’t wait to place it next to AFWM and DCTN!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Wednesday Books for the advanced readers copy. This did not affect my review in any way. All quotes came from an early version of this book.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was an absolutely wonderful delight. It’s brimming with longing, romance and a delightful magic system that’s easy to understand. Saft’s writing is wonderfully whimsical and I had a hard time forcing myself to put this book down.

I think if you love Bridgerton - you will love this book. I also think if you’ve read and loved Half A Soul this will be a wonderful book to read after that. Highly recommend picking this magical regency up if you want something romantic and light.

4.5 stars!

Wow!!! Bridgerton vibes alll day!!! Enemies to lovers! Forbidden love! So warm and delicate. It made me laugh and cry! I couldn’t get enough!!!

A magical enemies to lovers, with politics and swoon worthy moments. I enjoined this new fantasy romance for the most part. Kit and Nimah and my heart the minute Kit was an ass when they first met. Isnt that how that always goes?

Kit is supposed to get married to help his kingdom. Nimah is supposed to be helping create the wedding clothing, she’s not supposed to help the wayward prince overcome his demons.

This was a light steamed pretty easy to understand story. The world building isn’t that confusing and the love story is at its heart.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft is a true Bridgerton-meets-fantasy gem. The intricate world-building, endearing characters, and masterful storytelling created an enchanting experience that captivated me from the very first page. Saft's lyrical prose and profound exploration of themes like love and sacrifice make this book an absolute must-read for all fantasy enthusiasts seeking a captivating and immersive tale. Niamh and Kit had me longing for their happily ever after, and more than a few laughs and tears were shed while reading. A Fragile Enchantment is a spellbinding journey that lingered in my heart long after the final chapter. Definitely my favorite read for 2024 so far!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much St Martin's Press / Wednesday Books for the ARC!

This was utterly delightful!!! It was whimsical and cozy! Essentially a magical take on Bridgerton. Need I say more?

The romance and found family elements were SUBLIME. I was smiling and giddy all the way through.

4.25⭐️

Did I pick this book up because of that cover? Yes, yes I did. That cover is absolutely gorgeous so thank you to NetGalley for having this available to everyone for 48 hours so I could read and find out if the book matched its glorious cover. Overall, the book does and I really liked it.

Possible spoilers below.

I love any semblance of found family and I loved Niamh, Kit, Sinclair, Rosa, and Miriam. These are my children now. I really enjoyed Niamh's voice and watching the story unfold through her eyes. I loved that there wasn't a "villain" except for the king who was just a shadow figure at the edges of the story. It felt much truer to life where what you're fighting is not people being evil but people trying to protect and love others in their own destructive way. The end isn't everyone in a perfect place but everyone on a path to understanding.

I didn't like the gossip column. It ended up not making much sense and I don't think it was utilized to its full potential. We waited until 60% in to get the plot point on the blurb. That's too long in my opinion. It was also literally just there to cause tension between Kit and Niamh and Sinclair. No other point. So really kind of pointless. Also, I don't know how I feel about Kit and Niamh's relationship progression. It is very Darcy-Elizabeth and entertaining and sweet. But you go from mildly antagonistic to boom! love. Also, Niamh and her back and forth of if she liked him and if she should do these things. She'd do them and then suddenly feel guilty, but she didn't learn. It was a bit frustrating. I felt the plot toward the end unraveled a bit and she acted less like herself in her choices. I get the lesson is about allowing yourself to be selfish but in reality, sacrifice is necessary sometimes. But overall, it was definitely a sweet fun story with a wonderful cast of characters and I’m so glad I was able to read it.

Bridgerton vibe romantacy!!! Which is my holy grail so I knew I would just love it and I was not disappointed!! It also is forbidden love, enemies to lovers, & grumpy sunshine!!! So I clearly had the best time reading this book! 🫶🏼

Disclaimer: I appreciate NetGallery giving me an ARC in return for a honest evaluation.

A Fragile Enchantment is a romantic fantasy that reminds me of the Netflix's Bridgeton series in several ways. We have an unknown columnist and forbidden romance that includes a wedding. It is primarily about Niamh and Kit's relationship, with a dash of politics and magic thrown in for good measure.

I was really hoping to enjoy this book because I had previously read "A Far Wilder Magic" by the same author and had enjoyed it immensely and devoured it. However, there were a lot of things going on in this novel that I wished were explored more thoroughly. The political intrigue and magical system held my attention the entire time, and I was more interested in these topics than the romance. These elements, nevertheless, are more of a background motivation for these two lovers to get together.

What Niamh perceives in Kit eludes me. He strikes me as a very inept romantic partner who is also very rude. Niamh has a lot to lose, yet I got the impression that she was offering more in making the relationship work. Although it is said that Niamh is selfless, I don't believe this is true based on what I've read. Yes, she has made sacrifices by working for her family and doing this job solely to support them despite the danger, but she is suddenly quickly sidetracked by this man and gradually loses sight of her goals throughout the novel. They didn't even pay her on time.

I also didn't like how the Machlish's suffering was handled. The entire novel made me feel incredibly sorry for the working class, and all I wanted was for them to have justice.

I originally requested to read this book because of the cover and description. I dare say it, the book did live up to my expectations as a fantasy romance about a seamstress and a prince.

The book follows Niamh who is commissioned by the prince regent to design a wardrobe his brother's wedding. Niamh has the incredible ability to infuse her magic into her creations, expressing emotions and memories into the pieces themselves. She travels to the kingdom where she meets Kit, the groom, who automatically seems to dislike her and her talents. But as she gets to know him, it seems as if his emotions about her and the world are different then what he wants everyone to believe. Of course with any kingdom there political turmoil that gets mixed with the story as well.

The book was a great read with some Bridgerton vibes. There's an anonymous gossip columnist named Lovelace that publishes political and romantic scandal, mostly focusing on the royal family. That was a fun added bonus to the development of the story.

Overall, its a fun story to read especially if you like the Bridgerton books mixed with a little magic.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t typically read historical romance but this fun Bridgerton-esque world filled with magic and romance was a delight. The magic in the story is more subtle, it doesn’t require complex world building, but it is the heart of the story for sure, and it’s fairly unique for a fantasy. This book delivers a grumpy sunshine romance between a magical seamstress and a grumpy prince. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Kit, but it was still fun to read the romance between him and Niamh, even if it progressed a little too quickly for me. When I started this book I was intrigued and couldn’t put it down, the beginning definitely captured my interest. There were points along the way where I felt some strong emotions from the story and even ended up tearing up. In the end, not all of the plot resolved in ways I wanted it to and parts at the end felt more rushed. I feel like there was some untapped potential, but I’m still glad to have read the book.

Let me just start by saying that I absolutely LOVED this book! It was everything I had ever wanted in a historical fantasy romance: whimsical writing, period setting, a dreamy fairytale atmosphere, and a gorgeous romance.

I especially loved the characters of Niamh and Kit. Niamh is a kind and compassionate young woman with a love for magic, while Kit is a stubborn but charming Highlander with a hidden past. Their banter was hilarious and their chemistry was undeniable. I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning.

The plot was also well-paced and engaging. There was a good balance of romance, adventure, and magic, and I was never bored. I especially enjoyed the way the author incorporated chronic illness, LGBTQ+, and mental health representation into the story. It was refreshing to read a book with characters who felt so real and relatable.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fantasy romances. It's a cozy and brilliant read that will leave you feeling satisfied and happy.

Here are some of the things I loved most about the book:

The writing was absolutely breathtaking and whimsical. I felt like I was in a dreamy fairytale, and I never wanted it to end.
The characters were complex and relatable. I especially loved the relationship between Niamh and Kit.
The plot was well-paced and engaging. There was a good balance of romance, adventure, and magic.
The author incorporated chronic illness, LGBTQ+, and mental health representation into the story in a way that felt both realistic and respectful.
I can't wait to see what Allison Saft has up her sleeve next!