I enjoyed this so much more than I expected to. It’s filled with emotional points that I didn’t see coming when I requested.

There’s also representation (mental health, chronic illness). The supporting cast is wonderful.

It’s just a well-told tale filled with different themes that come together, creating a beautiful romantasy tale.

A Brigertonesque inspired YA fantasy romance, with family struggles and draws heavily from England (Avaland in the book) colonising Ireland (Machisland in the book) which in turned caused the famine (called the Blight in the book).
I liked both the MCs but kinda wish Niamh was a bit of a stronger personality sometimes. A fun, quick read with enjoyable characters and easy to follow plot. The ending did also feel a tad rushed. 3.75 stars.

I loved this book. Niamh was a really well-written character. Her familial obligations and her belief that she just needs to keep working harder were all too easy to relate to. The side characters were hard not to fall in love with.
I enjoyed Niamh and Kit’s tentative friendship and their slide into real feelings. The ending kept me on the edge of my seat. I stayed up hours later than I should’ve trying to finish it, but the ending was well worth it.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for the chance to read an early copy!

really cute. I’m not the biggest fan of young adult fantasy but this was a quick and fun read. I can’t wait for more from this author.

Five stars is NOT enough for this absolute gem of a book. This cozy, beautiful story is regency fantasy romance at its best, exploring deeply human emotion with the glitter and sparkle of magical tailoring.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5☆

I'd describe this as Bridgerton with magic, and I really enjoyed it.

- Forbidden love (0.5/5 spice)
- Found family
- Regency + magic
- Political scandal
- Grumpy/prickly MMC

Niamh and Kit were so fun and I loved their progression from "enemies" to lovers (though maybe more like "haters to lovers").

Niamh's magic was interesting, and I loved that this was a fairytale for her as a commoner. Kit's magic was unpredictable and he was so cranky, which I enjoyed. It did make the sweet moments more swoony.

The found family with the supporting cast was also great. Totally recommend if you're in the mood for a fantastical period drama.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I’ve been curious about A Fragile Enchantment since I finished reading Allison Saft’s other book, A Far Wilder Magic, last month. I really enjoyed that book so I was very happy to receive an ARC of Saft’s upcoming book and I’m also happy to say that it did not disappoint.

First of all, Saft’s writing style and her settings are one of my favorite parts of this book. The way she describes nature and the beautiful palaces and villas that populate A Fragile Enchantment is truly magical and it made me believe in this fantastical world. As Niamh, our protagonist, navigates the Avaland courts she finds herself entrenched in as the newly-appointed royal tailor for the second prince’s upcoming wedding, we get a good look into the kind of magic that exists and the much less whimsical political tensions.

I really think Saft hits the nail on the head in terms of the magic–I loved reading about the different kinds that exist and seeing different characters express themselves in various ways. Niamh’s magic is especially enchanting and I enjoyed how she spun her feelings into her craft and the kind of artistry it takes to do that. Similarly, Kit’s (the ML) powers reflect his personality and indicate his mood as plants grow around him, protecting him and helping him keep people away. He’s quite literally pricky at times.

The supporting characters were all interesting in their own ways though Niamh and Kit definitely stand out as the ones who receive the most development. While I didn’t root for them or feel that chemistry the same way I did for the couple in A Far Wilder Magic, I can see how they fit together and still enjoyed reading about them. The ways in which they’re torn between their respective duties and attractions to one another definitely makes for some enjoyable angst and, most of all, I loved the book’s message of learning how to balance self-sacrifice with actually loving those around you in the moment.

The aspect of A Fragile Enchantment that I couldn’t fully get on board with are the politics. I understand why they’re in the book but I don’t feel like it pushes it far enough to be considered worthy of taking so much space. The ending and the kind of closure we get is pretty underwhelming for the issues that were brought up in this book.

Overall, Saft’s latest book is going to be a hit with people that are fans of historical fantasy and romance, with an emphasis on slow-burn and a focus on the couple learning to be open and vulnerable with one another. If you enjoyed one of Saft’s other books, it’s definitely worth checking out and it’s also a great introduction into the magic of her writing for those new to her.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This review has been scheduled to be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, and my blog on January 16, 2024.

An beautiful romance with fantastic and relatable characters and Worldbuilding. I fell in love with the book instantly. The romance is so sweet. I love the characters. 5 out of 5.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for allowing me to read a ARC in exchange for an honest review. All the views and opinions in this review are purely my own and not affiliated with any brand.

This was a very enjoyable book. The idea of being able to sew emotions or enchantments into garments is intriguing. I personally really like fashion and do like to hear stories from people who make the clothing. Allison Saft does an amazing job of taking Victorian England traditions and modesty and mixing with with magic!

If you like a good old Victorian England type story with a twist, this is the book for you!

Honestly 4 stars-

even though i loved it i had problems with the characters especially the main character. She felt forced and convoluted.

But overall 4 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Fragile Enchantment, by Allison Saft, is a romantic fantasy that will have you turning pages until there are no more. This is a fun story that can easily be polished off in a lazy afternoon. Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC ebook of this novel to read and review.

Bridgerton season 2 vibes with a touch of magic and a Cinderlla story.

Lovely and enchanting, vibes were great all the way through.

I lost interest in the actual plot and characters about ~40% through and DNF

4.5 ⭐️

This book’s premise and BEAUTIFUL cover automatically had me wanting to read it. I love forbidden romances, a good political side plot, and saw people saying this had Bridgerton vibes so expectations were high before starting. This author was also new to me and that’s always exciting!

Starting with Niamh and Kit, I loved their dynamic and individual complexities. They are flawed, frustrating at times, emotionally-driven, and kind. They are everything I want in fantasyesque characters. I thought the pacing of their vulnerability, specifically Kit’s, was done so well. Aside from them, practically every character in this book was written with thoughtfulness and had such depth. I cared for all of them in a way and loved the main group that ultimately formed and the way they found comfort in each other.

Characters like these write the story themselves. The romance and the way Kit and Niamh fought for each other was beautifully done. I am SO impatient and this was a slower burn, but I didn’t find myself bored or skimming at all. The more political plot maybe had a couple holes, but nothing jarring and I enjoyed this read so much that I didn’t even really care to notice.

I do wish there was more elaboration at the end. Everything I was waiting for happened but it was so quick! I just wanted more time to understand and see it all play out. I really think it would’ve added even more to the already present depth of the characters. Overall, however, I adored this book. Like I said, expectations were high and I can say that I wasn’t disappointed whatsoever. I’ll definitely be looking at both past and future works of this author!

MINI PLAYLIST 🪡🌿⭐️
Enchanted - Taylor Swift
Angels Fly - Louis Tomlinson
Afterglow - Taylor Swift

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! :)

If there was ever a book to read in moments where you seem to be holding on to happiness by a thread, it's this one. A Fragile Enchantment is a true testament to what Allison Saft does best; it's a soft romance with elements of court intrigue, political unrest, and societal commentary--and somehow manages to balance all of this weight with finesse. I picked up this book knowing that it was going to be Bridgerton-esque, but it manages to keep away from becoming a "knockoff," mostly due to Saft's ability to write dynamic and lovable characters.
The queer representation is also fantastic (while I would have loved to see some Aspec- characters!) and I found myself rooting for all of the romantic pairings that were presented, especially Kit and Niamh's. Kit, who happens to be the epitome of "a man written by a woman," and a grumpy bisexual king (prince? duke?), is paired so well with Niamh, and I'm glad we've reached a point in YA where we can have bi/bi m/f couples!

Complete 5 star read -- Allison Saft has never let me down.

I’m kind of heartbroken about this, because I loved Saft’s A Far Wilder Magic so much, but A Fragile Enchantment is simply not working for me. It’s not quite striking the right notes for the kind of soft romantic-fantasy I enjoy, and almost halfway through the book, I still don’t feel at all invested in the characters, never mind the romance.

It’s possible that Saft setting this story in an analogue of Ireland and England, post-Great Famine, is part of what’s making me feel uncomfortable – I’m half-Irish, was born and grew up in Ireland, and it’s not that I think Saft’s depiction is disrespectful or anything; it’s more that this is a hugely dark period of history that doesn’t mix well with the light-hearted charm Saft is going for here. Saft is writing ballroom scenes, and all I can think about are the pictures and exhibits from my history books and school trips to the museum. It’s jarring, and definitely keeping me from really connecting with the story.

If you never went through the Irish school system, then that probably won’t be an issue for you. I don’t think this is a badly-written book as such, but it’s not gripping me, and I really don’t care about how all the relationships and intrigue are going to fall out. (If anything, the idea of a not-English prince potentially marrying a not-Irish woman in the political climate Saft has set up is wince-inducing to me.) So I won’t be at all surprised if most other readers enjoy this a lot, but alas, I’m not one of them – and it’s not a book I’d recommend if I was asked for romantic fantasy recs.

This isn’t going to stop me from pouncing on Saft’s future books, though, especially A Dark and Drowning Tide, out next March, which sounds like it will be much more to my taste!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher St. Martins Press for the eARC!

First off I’m not generally a ya fan but this was about the best I could ask for! Politics, slow burn enemies to lovers “forbidden” romance and awesome magic. The characters were all fun in their own ways and lots of lgbt rep in this book.
There were times the book felt slow and then I felt the end was rushed and kinda glossed over the whole political issue that never really got resolved. Regardless it was a good read and I’ll buy it for my shelf bc look at the cover and it gave me Bridgerton and Pride and Prejudice vibes.

This book is so whimsical. I love the main character and the magic in this book. The romance is so cute and the gay representation is awesome.
My critique is there is too much filler in here. I think this book could have done with about 50 or 75 less pages. This ya was written pretty well but some moments just too young and kind of turned me off. Overall I enjoyed it and would recommend.

first off, thank you so much to netgalley, st. martins press, & allison saft for this arc!

i absolutely fell in love with this story and this world. the magic system was simple & easy to understand for those new to fantasy but still intriguing. the world building was great & i thought the way that politics were intertwined throughout the story was executed so well!

the regency era setting is perfect for fans of bridgerton & pride and prejudice! it fits the story so well and i loved the way it was tied into everything.

now let’s talk about the romance of it all! niamh & kit had electric chemistry and i loved the progression of their romance. their banter and interactions were so entertaining!

the side characters were also so fun & made the story feel so much more well rounded & complete. the romance combined with the political unrest throughout the novel kept me on the edge of my seat.

this book didn’t quite have the 5 star feel for me, but i still loved, which is why it is just shy of a 5. i highly recommend giving it a read owhen it comes out january 30, 2024!

I tried so hard to be into this ARC and I just couldn’t get behind it. This type of book is normally right up my alley but I had to DNF this one. I just couldn’t push through.

This was really lovely! A deeply romantic fantasy romance with bi protagonists, thread and plant magic, a generous dash of politics, forbidden love, and a deeply powerful message. This is the first book by Allison Saft I've read but it definitely won't be the last!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.