This book is perfect if you like forbidden romance with a magical twist.
Niamh is a magical seamstress who is commissioned by the Prince Regent to make attire for the royal wedding. She attracts the attention of a notorious gossip columnist because of her chemistry with the groom, Kit. The columnist threatens to expose her, unless she can learn some secrets about the royal family. As Niamh learns more, she discovers the secrets go deeper than she thought.
I would absolutely recommend this book to other people and will be getting a copy for myself when it is released. I loved everything about this book. The characters had good dialogue and were not annoying. The plot was really good and I loved the fantasy aspect and how the author incorporated it into the story. There wasn't anything about this book I didn't like. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Gorgeously written, magically tender, this story now has a permanent spot in my heart. Allison Saft is an automatic buy author for me. Allison could write my eviction notice and I would frame it on my bedroom wall. A FRAGILE ENCHANTMENT is the historical fantasy of my dreams. There is nothing I love more when two characters butt heads but everyone around them exchange looks between them because they know, they KNOW there is something going on there and yet the two are so busy bickering they don’t KNOW so yes, this, THIS IS PERFECTION IN ALL OF THE WAYS. Niamh is my sweet child and I saw myself in her in so many different ways that I had to pause a few times while reading just to reevaluate my life. The lessons she learned are ones I need to apply myself, ASAP lol. I will also never get over Allison’s description of light, like how? HOW ARE YOU SO GOOD AT PAINTING SUCH A GORGEOUS VIVID PICTURE AND MAKING DUST MOTES SOUND BEAUTIFUL?? The talent is unreal. Anyway. I love this book with my whole heart and cannot wait to have my own copy in my hands and on my bookshelf because please have you seen the cover??? I was smiling and giddy when I finished this story <3

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for allowing me to read an early copy!

A Fragile Enchantment follows Machlish seamstress Niamh, who can weave feelings and memory into fabric. She is hired by the Crown Prince Jack for his brother, Kit’s, upcoming wedding to the Infanta Rosa—an arranged match between Avaland and Castilia. The first meeting between Niamh and Kit is disastrous and his disdain for her is immediate—which, of course, leads her to retaliate in creating a sinister coat that may just, well… hate him. The two continue to snipe at each other but eventually fall into an unlikely mutual attraction that just may jeopardize everything.

I found myself really enjoying the story in the second half and loved the edition of a secret gossip columnist akin to Bridgerton. The world building felt neglected and I wish that part of the story was more fleshed out as it was definitely important. However, I still feel this was a solid read and I did love the relationship between Niamh and Kit. The supporting cast was also quite good!

Thank you Wednesday books for the opportunity to read early.

A Fragile Enchantment is a regency style historical romantic fantasy - a fascinating genre that was unexpected and delightful! Niamh, a magical dressmaker with a strong sense of duty to her family, is commissioned for the royal wedding. Part of the Macklish people, she is seen as less-than by the kingdom of Avaland. Kit, the groom, is clearly not looking forward to his politically arranged marriage, and makes Niamh's job extremely difficult. As she seeks to break through his rough exterior, they develop a friendship....and maybe more? But when an anonymous gossip columnist starts writing about their chemistry, Niamh is faced with a dilemma - following her heart or playing it safe.

What I liked: I enjoyed the world that the author built, it had a regency inspired feel, with a touch of magic. The politics, conflicts between classes, and LGBTQ themes all added to the complex love story. The supporting characters were developed and added a wonderful layer to the story. The pacing of the story was spot on - it never felt too slow or too rushed.

What I didn't like: This was a slow burn and I would have liked to see just a touch more romance. I felt like all that tension built but we didn't get enough out of it.

This is the second historical romance that I have read this year that I've very much enjoyed - I think I should probably give a chance to more of them!

If you like fantasy, historical romance, or regency themes - I think this is one you'd enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the chance to read this book!

4.5 stars

Christmas came early this year when I received the ARC for this magical Bridgerton spinoff in book form. I can't believe I let this sit on my shelf for as long as it did because it was such a delightful little treat.

Our story follows a talented tailor and Niamh O'Connor (I am pronouncing it as "nymph" and I will not take any judgement) who is on commission to create all of the clothes for the prince (Christopher, but he goes by Kit) and his bride (princess from neighboring kingdom) at the royal wedding. Niamh is no ordinary tailor though, and she can weave emotions and memories into the clothes she sews because she has divine blood. The problem is, she is from a country called Machland which was previously a colony of the prince's kingdom, Avaland. The book follows the forbidden romance between Kit and Niamh as well as the political unrest and discrimination because of the whole Machlish/Avlish situation. Oh, and it's also important to note that the royals have divine blood too and Kit, in particular, can control plants with his hands like a Marvel superhero.

The writing was absolutely phenomenal and I now feel the sudden urge to run the library and pick up every book Allison Saft has ever written. It was whimsical and inspiring and absolutely perfect for the regency-esque setting.

The world-building was extremely unique and original (I won't go into much detail because it could get a little confusing) and it was just complex enough to sustain the story. This was especially something that I loved in this book because romantasy usually cuts corners in this department (*cough* my 6th grade bookshelf) which was not the case at all. I loved all of the mythology and lore attached the magic systems and all of that.

And the ROMANCE. I can't believe I'm about to say this, but the romance was actually good. Now, maybe Kit had the upper hand here because of that absolutely wonderful name (you all know how I feel about the name Kit) but that doesn't matter. Did someone say duels, interrupted weddings, and tragic rainstorm scenes (a true Mr. Darcy moment)? Yes.

Even the platonic relationships were just so good. Throughout the book, we're introduced to more and more characters which added to the complexity of the story. Niamh befriends Kit's bestie Sinclair at the beginning and later Rosa (the princess that's supposed to marry Kit) and Mariane (I think that that's her name?) and the five of them become an iconic duo-trio- group. Rosa is tons of fun because she has lightning powers like Mare from Red Queen accept she's actually likable and has a normal blood color. Oh, and I also can't forget Kit's annoying brother Jack who has daddy issues and anger issues and lots of issues. There's a bunch of stuff that happens with him and politicky things but that's boring so let's move on.

I also forgot to mention that a huge plot point revolves around Lady Whistledown- I mean Lovelace. Lovelace is the anonymous scandal-sheet author who's an anti-monarchist (kind of?) and a Machlish sympathizer. They're lots of fun and we have a nice blackmail situation that stirs the pot a bit for our two mcs.

My really only complaints with A Fragile Enchantment were that it was pretty predictable and felt kind of instalovey at times (I'm unapologetically petty about this, sorry). I wish that more of the romance took place a little later in the book instead of having the climax of their relationship happen around the 50-60% mark.

Overall, this was such a delightful book and I can't wait to read more from Allison Saft. If you liked Divine Rivals, this is a must read. 4.5 stars.

**Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for granted me this ARC in exchange for my honest review

This book was disappointing to me because it seemed to be very different than all the blurbs I read about it. It just wasn't my style.

Cozy readers rejoice! In her upcoming novel, A Fragile Enchantment, Allison Saft brings us a Regency-inspired romance that combines the dramatic flair of Bridgerton with a heaping dose of magic, a dash of intrigue, and a touch of spice.

Niamh Ó Connor is a seamstress with the ability to stitch memories and emotions into the garments she creates. But her magic comes with a cost – with every passing day, she is slowly succumbing to a mysterious illness that has plagued her family, and she knows eventually her time will run out. So when she is invited to design the wedding wardrobe for the prince of Avaland, a neighboring kingdom, she sees a way to keep her family afloat long after she is gone.

But when Niamh arrives in Avaland, she finds herself swept up in a world far more complicated than she had anticipated. Because despite the elegant garden parties and the appearance of luxury, Avaland is a kingdom on the brink of collapse. Tensions are high between the working and upper classes; the Prince Regent’s grip on the throne is tenuous at best; and the anonymous gossip columnist, Lovelace, is bent on revealing the corruption within the royal family.

So how does an unassuming seamstress get involved in the political intrigue of the court? By befriending the cantankerous, irritatingly handsome prince, Kit Carmine, and maybe, accidentally, falling in love with him…no matter that his marriage is around the corner, and his bride has commissioned Niamh to make her wedding dress as well. And when Lovelace gets wind of this blossoming, forbidden romance, Niamh finds herself backed into a corner – either support the cause of her own oppressed people and betray the man she loves, or turn her back on who she really is.

This is my first time reading one of Saft’s novels, and I absolutely adored every second of it.

Was it a little simple in some aspects? Yes. The primary conflict of the plot (i.e. civil unrest between the Machlish and the Avlish peoples) is obviously based on the treatment of Irish immigrants by the English. It’s a historical event that everyone is (or should be, anyway) familiar with, but rather than coming across as unoriginal, it really works for this novel. Because at the end of the day, A Fragile Enchantment is a romance, not a historical drama or political thriller. The familiar setting allows us to keep our attention on the characters, and not be distracted by what’s happening in the background.

While the world building might not be the most unique, Saft more than makes up for it with an intriguing magic system and a delightful cast of characters.
Beautiful, compassionate, and hardworking Niamh is a classically likable heroine; her naivety seems to put her at a disadvantage when surrounded by the vipers of the court, but she makes it clear that she does not need to prove anything to anyone. She knows her worth and isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in, even if that means crossing paths with Kit’s brother, the Prince Regent. And though her illness threatens to keep her down, she is not weak, nor will she allow it to control her life.

Niam’s magical gift is one of my favorites. Thread magic is such a neat concept, and while it isn’t new by any means (see Sophie in The Unraveled Kingdom or Sandry in The Circle of Magic), to me it can never be overdone. I love taking an ability that is historically seen as “women’s work” and making it powerful. And Niam is powerful. She might not be able to conjure fire, or strike someone down with a wave of her hand, but her talent allows her to cut at the heart of a person. In my opinion, being able to influence feelings and thoughts with a dress would make a person far more dangerous than they might appear.

It’s through her magic that Niamh first makes an impression on the glowering groom-to-be. And what Regency romance would be complete without a brooding love interest? Kit Carmine is the perfect package: handsome, angsty, and determined to hate everyone and everything, despite being a cinnamon roll on the inside. The enemies to lovers trope is strong in this one, my friends, and I am here for it.

But just as Niamh must contend with her illness, Kit has demons of his own, and Saft’s portrayal of Kit’s struggles with mental health is both sensitive and raw. And this is what makes Saft’s world so believable: she seamlessly weaves representation of a variety of modern issues and marginalized communities into a tale that would otherwise be a bland retelling of the heterosexual love story we’ve all heard before.

So, to wrap this up, if you’re in the mood for a romance that’s all the way sweet and just a little bit spicy, then A Fragile Enchantment should be added to the top of your TBR. It’s a fun, easy read, and one to look forward to as the temperatures begin to cool and we dream of cozy nights filled with hot cocoa and fuzzy blankets.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my early release e-copy!

A Fragile Enchantment releases on January 30, 2024.

This book wound romance and magic and politics together in such a creative way, and I really did enjoy it. I feel like there could have been more backstory that would have made the magic system make more sense. That part of the story, while adding interest and drama, mostly left me with questions.

This book was labeled as YA, but does contain an open door scene, as well as language. I would not pass this book off to my teen for those reasons.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and net galley for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2.5/3
This story definitely has Bridgerton vibes. I loved the cover of the book. I was looking forward to reading this due to the synopsis. The idea in the story was entriguing. However, this story just was not for me. I would still read another story from this author and give it another go!

"A Fragile Enchantment" by Allison Saft is a mesmerizing tale that weaves together elements of fantasy and romance in a spellbinding way. The story transports readers to a world filled with enchantment and mystery, where magic and emotions intertwine.

Saft's descriptive prose creates a vivid and immersive atmosphere, allowing readers to become fully immersed in the enchanting setting. The characters in the novel are intricately crafted, each harboring their own secrets and vulnerabilities. The author's exploration of their emotions and desires adds depth to the narrative, making their journey both relatable and captivating.

At the heart of the story is a beautifully portrayed romance that unfolds with a delicate blend of longing and vulnerability. The slow-burning connection between the main characters is filled with moments of tenderness and passion. Saft's ability to capture the nuances of their emotions adds a layer of authenticity that pulls at the heartstrings.

The world-building in "A Fragile Enchantment" is enchanting and richly detailed, immersing readers in a realm where magic is as much a character as the individuals themselves. The story seamlessly weaves together themes of love, sacrifice, and the power of choice, creating a narrative that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.

Allison Saft's writing style is lyrical and evocative, creating a sense of wonder and beauty that enhances the reading experience. The pacing of the novel allows for a gradual unfolding of the plot, building suspense and anticipation as the story progresses.

In conclusion, "A Fragile Enchantment" is a captivating novel that envelops readers in a world of magic, romance, and intrigue. With its ethereal beauty and emotionally charged narrative, this book is a must-read for those who appreciate stories that transport them to a realm where the lines between reality and enchantment blur.

2.75 but I'm rounding up to 3 for the sake of the rating.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and net galley for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review,

At a glance this seems like the perfect book. A regency romance, of Bridgerton energy, set in a fantasy world, with an enemies to lovers plot line. However, this book was a miss.

A Fragile Enchantment never dives deep enough into the world, characters, or magic system for anything to really matter. Every plot line is explored as minimally as possible and lacks substance.

A key example of this is the rift between the two groups of people who occupy this world. Most of the plot should have been focused on this, but was instead either focused on the main characters whoas, or her ability to make clothes. While the romance plot can be seen as a positive part about this book, the flow of the main relationship was clunky and didn't make much sense. Within ~100 pages the main characters went from barely talking to in love with each other.

Also, for a character that is defined by her culture and the place she was born and raised, we NEVER meet any of the people who she knew before she came to this new kingdom. A lot of this book centers around the main character continuing her families legacy, even to her own detriment yet you NEVER meet her family. It's actually wild.

While the book is written well, it does not dive deep enough to have a lasting impact on the reader.

Ahhhh please, I had so much fun reading this and sending my breakdowns and theories to Allison 😭 this is a Bridgerton ish regency romantasy, set in a world where people have unique magic skills, and specifically focussing on a magical, but financially poor dressmaker who gets hired to design the dresses of a (very unwilling) royal wedding. The found family, the prickly enemies to lovers, the swoony scenes, the queer rep, everything was so good in this book 😭

TWs - extreme poverty and mistreatment resulting from years of colonialism, dead/sick parents, abusive parents (past), alcoholic abuse (past), homophobia (mostly past/off-page), panic attacks/anxiety, chronic illness and resulting fatigue (on page)

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me a sneak peak at the new novel by Alison Saft, A Fragile Enchantement. While I can see how the style would appeal to some people, it just didn’t deliver for me. I found the characters very weak and didn’t feel almost any romantic tension. The political situation seemed like a copy and paste job from England/Ireland history, just with different (similar sounding) names.

One thing to note that I found very bizarre was that the main characters at different times identified as gay but then got together. So it was rather confusing and seemed kind of like the author threw that in to nod at the lgbtq+ community without actually investing herself.

This book...frustrated me, and I'm not sure how much of it was the book or my preconceived notions that I brought to the book. I started it on a day when I was really grumpy (not great), put it down half way through, and finished it a week later. Take this review with a grain of salt.

A Fragile Enchantment is billed as a fantasy regency a la Bridgerton where a seamstress that can enchant clothing is hired to make the wedding ensemble for the prince. Niamh is Machlish (fantasy Irish) and Kit is Avlish (fantasy English). Because the author took real world parallels and a broad historical time frame (Regency/England's colonial period) to create her fantasy world, I expected certain historical accuracies that were not present. A character wears socks where they would have worn stockings. Characters say "wow" and "yeah." The Prince Regent, Kit's brother, is referred to throughout the whole book as Jack and all the other characters call him Jack. He is personally doing staff payroll. His wife, Princess Sofia, is snubbed by Society Nobles. Niamh is hired help but just casually hangs out with the prince and his buddy and the prince's fiance. This could entirely just be me having read a lot of historical romances and expecting something more along the lines of what was the class rules of the period instead of what is clearly fantasy.

But also what I wanted from the book--cool sewing magic, a fairytale meet cute, more about Niamh's family and mystery illness--just wasn't present. I wish I could have seen a version of this book where Kit was not the prince of fantasy England, but just a noble. I wonder if it would have worked better if we had his POV as well. This book does have a lot to say about the tensions between the English and the Irish during this period, There are a lot of big emotions on the part of Niamh. It just wasn't what I wanted from the book, and I really couldn't say how much of my dissatisfaction was me and how much was the book. Take this review with a grain of salt because I know a lot of people really will like it.

Niamh Ó Conchobhair has the rare magical ability to stitch emotions and memories into clothing. To her amazement, word has gotten out about her abilities, and she is summoned to the neighboring kingdom of Avaland to sew the wardrobe for the upcoming royal wedding of the prince.

The groom-to-be, Christopher (Kit) Carmine, is clearly unhappy about the political match made for him by his brother Jack, the Regent. He is surly and abrasive and takes it out on Niamh. But they also have an immediate attraction (opposed by each of them of course), and become friends (with a simmering chemistry) as Niamh’s wardrobe work continues.

Niamh discovers to her surprise that there is a great deal of unrest in Avaland, especially about the status of the people from her own country, who are looked down upon and poorly used in Avaland. An anonymous columnist with the pseudonym Lovelace (Ala Lady Whistledown in Bridgerton) is fanning the flames amid details of gossip about the elites.

Rosa, the intended bride, arrives and also is fitted by Niamh, who becomes privy to Rosa’s secrets as well.

And there are a few more stories of love and heartbreak, involving Kit’s brother Jack and his arranged-marriage wife, and Kit’s best friend Sinclair, shunned for being gay. Moreover, Niamh is not the only one who has a bit of magic, and it gets employed in ways both destructive and enchanting.

In the end, all the intrigue, romance, and magic resolve in satisfying and not entirely expected ways, while also addressing important issues of identify, fairness, and justice.

An entertaining read.

This book is beautifully written that I might just cry!! It is such a gorgeous and beautiful romantic fantasy and that too written by one of my favourite author!! I both adore and love it

This book is a fantasy Bridgerton, complete with a Lady Whistledown type of gossip column, but entwined with magic this time. If you also love stories about dressmakers working for high society, then you'll doubly love this one. This is also a slow burn enemies to lovers filled with political intrigue.

This book comes at royalty and high society from a modern perspective with a focus on the struggles of the working class and the problems they face when the crown doesn't listen or care about them. Niamh is also a commoner struggling to navigate her new job dressing a prince while navigating court. This causes interesting tension and friction as she gets closer to Kit and struggles with the way the crown has treated her own people as unrest simmers.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book! If you are fans of Bridgerton and magic, you should check it out! I think it would be a perfect book to read this fall!

This book was very tedious to read - everything from the plot to the characters felt forced and clunky. No depth to anything. I really wanted to like this based on the premise by it just wasn’t for me.

Bridgerton but with magic! I enjoyed this book! The romance and the banter was good! I laughed and swooned! Definitely lookout for this in 2024!