I really loved this book! It has a great ensemble cast of well-developed characters full of flaws and challenges that made me love them and root for their happiness. The fantasy world is vivid and the magic woven throughout seamless and fascinating. I really appreciate the queer representation as well. I can already tell that these characters and this story will stay with me. A heart-warming and enchanting book! I will definitely recommend this to readers of fantasy and romance.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I love the magical atmosphere of this book, but I think that’s the only thing I really loved. I enjoyed Sinclair and thought he was a really fun character, but Naimh and Kit bored me. Because of that, the romance was hard to buy. It took me a few weeks to read this because I never got attached to any of the characters and it was very easy to put down. There was no urgency for me to finish the story or find out what would happen next.
I’d be interested in reading something else from Allison Saft because I’ve heard her other books are amazing.

The cover? Stunning. Absolutely beautiful. The blurb? Intriguing. Regency romance with a splash of magic? Sign me up! Unfortunately, this one didn't do it for me.

While I liked the overall plot and world building, and the writing was very good, the romance just wasn't there. I felt zero chemistry between the two leads.

A beautiful and cozy romance full of equally beautiful writing and characters. The historical elements of this book were well crafted, too, showing the amount of research Saft puts into her work. An overall stunning book, and I'll be looking forward to more Allison Saft releases in the future.

In A Fragile Enchantment, Niamh uses her magic to weave emotions into the clothes she makes. When she is invited to the capitol to make clothes for the prince's upcoming marriage, she looks forward to making enough money to take care of her family. But the political situation in the palace is more complicated that imaginable and Niamh place there may be in jeopardy.

This was a strange blend of magical fantasy and historical romance. Although the story was rich and flowing, I don't know how I feel about Niamh and Kit's relationship development. Other readers may disagree, but I am uncomfortable with the shift from queer to heteronormative as the story reached the conclusion.

What a lovely book! Sweet and swoony. Grumpy/sunshine trope, some delightful magic, and very captivating side characters.

4.25 - 4.5 stars

This was a cozy (to me) sort of romantasy book. I enjoyed the characters and the romance and the magic system. But everything was a bit blurred at the edges. The high stakes mostly didn't feel that dire, the magic system wasn't fully fleshed out, etc. Everything seemed a bit muted. I think this was a function of the author's writing style because you can see a few places where she tried to interject bits of social commentary, but thankfully, it didn't overwhelm the story.

Will definitely read more by this author.

Allison Saft never disappoints! This book was just as good as Down Goes the Night. I loved the characters, the setting, the romance. All of it!

The only thing more fragile than the enchantment was the king's ego.

Niamh is a seamstress with the ability to weave enchantments into her creations, but her gift is also a curse. When she is commissioned to make the clothes for the royal wedding, she must overcome gossip columnists, royal secrets, and her own mortality, all with the help of a prince who harbors his own secrets.

Pros: I really liked the magic system in this book. It was very unique and I would have liked to see it explored even more. I also liked the duality of Lovelace the gossip columnist and enjoyed that big reveal.

Cons: I didn't feel much of a connection to most of the characters and would've liked them to be more fleshed out. While there were big plot points, I would've liked to feel more engaged.

Overall, this was an intriguing concept with a unique magic system that left me wanting more. I would recommend this book for fans of Bridgerton and fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

🧵🧵🧵🧷
3.5/5 enchanted threads (rounded up)

AUUUUGH I’m so upset I didn’t like this very much, because I LOVE Saft’s other books 💔 I think my biggest problem was the main characters. I didn’t really like them, and I didn’t buy their romance. And I HATE that I feel that way 😭😭😭 BUT, this one, like Saft’s other books, is incredibly atmospheric and magical. She does a great job at creating unique, whimsical worlds, and I liked the fairytale aspect of this one. I won’t reread it, but I am incredibly grateful to NetGalley for the ARC 🫶 And trust I will be reading Saft’s next book, because hopefully I’ll like it more than this one lol

I have avoided writing my review of A Fragile Enchantment for a while, not because I didn’t love this book, but because I love it so much that I wasn’t ready to part with it yet. Of course it will always be there for me, ready to sweep me away whenever I need an escape, but I’ll never get to experience this beautiful book for the first time ever again. I recently discovered Saft’s books while searching for standalone YA fantasy - I was looking for books but I found treasure. A Fragile Enchantment is a stunning story of love of all kinds, against all odds. It inspires words like longing, wistful, hopeful, & dreamy. I smiled, I laughed, & I definitely cried more than once. In my mind, this story is a period piece produced by Focus Features, right alongside Pride & Prejudice (2005) & Emma (2020).

A Fragile Enchantment is a story of found family & good trouble. It’s a story that reminds the reader of all the ways that we are human & complicated & well beyond a simple binary of good & bad. To put it simply, this book is like a love letter to all our faults that makes us beautifully human.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books & NetGalley for sending me an advanced digital copy of this book for review. (No…seriously…THANK YOU.) All thoughts & opinions expressed are my own.

This was a really cute enemies to lovers story. I thought that the setting and characters were unique and compelling, and I enjoyed/understood the magic system well. Overall, this isn't anything out of this world crazy but it is a fun, pretty lighthearted story that was really enjoyable to read!

This was my first time reading an Allison Saft book, and I have come out the other side a complete fan!

The blurb alone caught my interest. This is a lovely romantic fantasy set in a society with regency vibes. It has fun cozy worldbuilding for the magic system and political factions, and I never felt overwhelmed with all the lore and information you gradually pick up as a reader.

The first half of the book is a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers, with SO MUCH pining. The second half spirals into hurt/comfort, mystery and political intrigue, with a satisfying love-conquers-all kinda ending. The plot twists were somewhat predictable, but that fell in line with the cozy vibes of the book.

I was extremely surprised and so happy to see how queer several characters were! Both main characters are bi, with many more queer side characters. There is also mentions of past-alcoholism for a character, and how that's affected them in the current day, which I thought was tastefully done.

I highly recommend this book!

What a cute and cozy romance fantasy read! It was a full of all my favourite tropes - enemies to lovers, grumpy vs. sunshine, forbidden romance, royal politics, found family, and magic.

What I loved about this book:
- Niamh was such a sweetheart character and Kit was perfectly grumpy and sarcastic.
- The chapter following the "rain storm" was just perfection and had my heart swooning.
- It was refreshing to read a character like Niamh who had a big heart and the best intentions, but who lacked finesse in her scheme executions lol. It added some humour and fun to the storyline. She felt so real in how she approached things instead of turning into some devious mastermind the second she joins the court like character's in other books.
- Interesting and unique magic abilities for the main characters of the story.
- Sinclair was such a fun character! When he was first introduced I was worried about a love triangle, but he was the perfect comedic addition to the story.

What I didn't love about this book:
- The world building took a bit of a backseat in this book to focus on the plot and character exploration. I found myself a bit lost with the conflicts between kingdoms and some of the royal drama due to this.
- I was happy with the book conclusion, but wish there had been an epilogue or something to tie up all the loose ends. Especially related to Niamh's illness. I feel like this wasn't fully explained or wrapped up.
- I definitely prefer dual POV in romance books, especially the enemies to lovers since it really gives the reader the perspective of when the hate turns to love. In this book, I felt like the romance was a bit one sided at times since we didn't get to delve into Kit's inner thoughts and only got to really set Niamh do the fighting for them. And a POV from Kit this would've been a trip I'm sure with all his quirks and sass.
- The third act break-up was weak in my opinion and this is just a pet peeve of mine.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

<i>a fragile enchantment</i> is my third allison saft book in four days, which alone says a lot since i'm not necessarily in a reading slump, but i feel like i was going towards one. i like that saft's characters are almost always just idiots who are trying to do the right thing. in this one's case, it's trying to do the right thing policy wise, but there's also trying to do the right thing relationship wise and i just wanted to read about people finally do the selfish thing to be happy for once.

I am grateful to netgalley for letting me review this book - but unfortunately, it was not for me.
Any comparison to Bridgerton is supremely misguided, there is none of the charm, wit, and passion in A Fragile Enchantment that there is in the beloved series. To begin with the writing is very, very young YA, with short, simple sentences, and there is no subtlety or complexity to anyone's thoughts or actions. I liked the idea of the magic system but I would say that is just about the only thing I enjoyed. The setting is an AU of Britain and Ireland, with the same resentment that has existed historically between the two lands, and I wished that the author had made more of an effort with world building - either make it Britain and Ireland with magic, or do more than just change a few names but leave everything familiar.
The main characters are both incredibly dull - Niamh is so uninteresting that I would have been fine if she went back to her little village life and was never heard from again. Kit was boring and rude, and the relationship between them comes out of nowhere.
The problem might be that there is too many bits and pieces going on and none of them get developed enough - let's see, there is some LGBTQ+ thrown in, problems between the Avlish (British) and the Machlish (Irish), Lady Whistled- I mean, Lovelace and the Tattler, the blackmail plot, magic that affects the health of the heroine, class tensions, and a large, Bridgerton-esque cast that makes for too much covered in too shallow a manner.
This is an excellent first draft of a story - even if geared toward a very young YA audience, it should have gone through several rounds of editing in order to be a better story.

This was a cute enemies to lovers! Unique and quirky. I really enjoyed this book but I didn’t love it as much as I hoped I would. I definitely recommend this if you’re looking for something with a fun magic system that’s a bit more light hearted!

"A Fragile Enchantment" by Allison Saft is a captivating romantic fantasy of manners that transports readers to a beautifully crafted world filled with magic, intrigue, and love. Set against the backdrop of a Regency England-inspired setting, this novel weaves together elements of enchantment, political intrigue, and forbidden romance to create a story that is both immersive and enchanting.

The protagonist, Niamh Ó Conchobhair, is a talented dressmaker who possesses the rare ability to weave emotions and memories into fabric. Her magical gift, however, comes with a heavy price—her own life. Determined to secure a better future for her family, Niamh seizes the opportunity to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland. What follows is a tale of unexpected friendship and burgeoning romance with Kit Carmine, the groom of the royal wedding.

Saft's writing is exquisite, capturing the essence of a bygone era while infusing it with magical elements that create a unique and enchanting atmosphere. The chemistry between Niamh and Kit is palpable, and their evolving relationship is portrayed with depth and sensitivity. The novel beautifully explores themes of societal class divide, political maneuvering, and the sacrifices individuals make for their loved ones.

As Niamh and Kit navigate the complexities of their feelings and the secrets that surround the royal family, readers are treated to a story filled with twists, turns, and moments of emotional resonance. The mysterious gossip columnist adds an element of suspense and intrigue, keeping the reader engaged until the very end.

"A Fragile Enchantment" is not only a romance, but also a tale of empowerment and resilience. Niamh's determination to create a better life for her family, even in the face of her own mortality, is inspiring and adds a layer of depth to her character. The world-building is rich and immersive, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the world of Avaland.

Overall, "A Fragile Enchantment" is a beautifully written and enthralling novel that combines elements of fantasy, romance, and political intrigue. Allison Saft's storytelling prowess shines through in this captivating tale, making it a delightful read for fans of historical fantasy and romantic fiction alike.

Thank you netgalley for an ARC of this book!

I really tried to get into this book because the synopsis made it seem right up my alley. Unfortunately it was really slow paced for me and I did not connect with the characters at all.
I think this book definitely could be for some people, but it wasn’t for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This is a really charming book! I loved the writing and the magic system, enjoyed the characters and the romance was really cute (and the side couple, that i wish i had more of them!). There was not much i really disliked about it (mostly just some actions of some characters at the end) but i feel like there was still something missing for me to truly feel attached to the story. Maybe i just didnt read it at the right moment.

Overall, it was a fun read that i would recommend to anyone who likes a cozy romantic fantasy. And i will definitely pick other books from the author! Really looking foward her next release.