4.75/5

Allison Safts A Fragile Enchantment was as whimsical and romantic as its stunning cover promises. Having previously read Safts two other YA fantasy novels I went in with high expectations for an immersive setting and a swoon-worthy romance and oh did it deliver.

The story drew me in from the first sentence and kept me thoroughly enthralled all the way through till the end. Saft does a brilliant job of tying in the promised Bridgerton inspired setting with an intriguing yet simple magic system that I think fits the YA fantasy genre perfectly. The magic system was woven in nicely with no info dumps or plot holes which left lots of room for the actual plot (and romance!!) to shine through. As much as I loved A Far Wilder Magic and Down Comes the Night, I think A Fragile Enchantment is the most balanced in its content.

Niamh and Kits romance may be my favourite that Saft has written yet! The immediate juxtaposition between Niamh’s wish to please and Kit’s determination to do the opposite sets them up for a perfect grumpy/sunshine slow burn. Although their romance didn’t really pick up until the halfway point, each of their interactions in the beginning of the book still had me hanging on to every word.

The truly outstanding part of it all was the characters. From strong-willed yet selfless Niamh to Kits internal struggle between love and honour; each and every character Saft has written is complex and dynamic. The side characters were beautifully flushed out and it is impossible not to fall in love with cunning Sinclair and the wonderful but stoic princess Rosa.

My only wish was that we got a little bit more inclusion of the plot line regarding Niamhs family. We learn about it at the very beginning as it's her motivation for taking the job and it wraps up at the very end, but it felt like for most of the book that piece of the plot kind of disappeared.

All in all, if you love cozy fantasy, a little bit of mystery and a slow-burn, tension-filled romance then A Fragile Enchantment is the book for you.

Thank you to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for the ARC!

Overall, this was a slightly less-than-averagely enjoyable read for me. I realllllllly wanted to like it more, but I just found it slightly stale overall.

Some things that worked for me:
1. The interesting magic system
2. The initial world-building
3. The first act of the plot, characters, and writing

Some things that didn't work for me:
1. Once the initial story, world, and character building was over, the writing and narration felt clumsy
2. Somewhere in the middle, I became bored and not even the romance mattered to me.
3. There are several glaringly unresolved points

So, over all, a 2.5.

First off thank you so much to Netgalley and Wednesday books for allowing me to read an ARC of this masterpiece. This book is so beautifully written and the descriptive imagery was amazing. While reading this book I was watching it all play out in my head. The combination of enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine, and forbidden love was an absolute whirlwind. I loved this book and I will be looking into reading more by Allison Saft.

I could not put this book down! I knew this was a must read for me because of my love for “A Far Wilder Magic” and I was not disappointed! Allison Saft is truly amazing. “A Fragile Enchantment” was well written and I enjoyed every second of it. I really enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the political aspects. The magic, specifically Niamh’s, was so interesting to read about. Kit and Niamh are both extremely complex characters and each add so much to the story. If you like enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, and magic “A Fragile Enchantment” is for you!

In this historical fantasy romance we follow Niamh Ó Conchobhair as her popularity as a dressmaker grows thanks to the magic in her blood that lets her stitch any emotion and memory into the fabric. It is this same magic that will eventually kill her and so in order to make the best out how many years she has left she jumps at the chance to design the wardrobe for the royal family wedding in the kingdom of Avaland. However, once she arrives at Avaland she realizes it is far from the fairytail she imagined as unrest brews among the working class. She finds her job as royal dressmaker made even more hard by the groom himself, Kit Carmine who is prickly, abrasive and being dragged to the alter as a political pawn. Even through all this an unlikely friendship develops between her and Kit. Which starts to complicate things when an anonymous gossip column threatens to expose them unless she can help uncover the royal families secrets, but exposing them could mean risking her future.

Honestly this book deserves all the stars and more because it was just so amazingly written. I absolutely fell in love with the world and Niamhs character from the very first page and just found myself even more entranced by the world as the story went on. I was also able to fall in love with the other characters and their relationships with each other, especially Niamh and Kits relationship as well as Rosas and Miriam’s. Whether the relationships were romantic or platonic they were all just very well written that they were able to quickly capture my heart.

I truly believe that Allison Saft was able to bring to life Niamhs magic through her writing because I Laughed, cried, swooned and felt many more emotions throughout the course of the story. The storytelling is just so strong and amazing that it makes the reader feel every single thing the characters are feeling.

Another aspect of the book that I truly enjoyed was the representation of chronic and mental illnesses. I felt that these were so well written to where they didn’t take away from the characters but just added more to them. I also appreciate the fact that these issues weren’t diminished or forgotten as the story went on but just used to prove that a person can overcome these challenges ar at least learn to persevere with them.

At the end I was left absolutely content with how everything was resolved but I also wished that I could see more of the characters and their world as it was just all so amazing!

This is my first Allison Saft book and I absolutely fell in love with the magical and beautifully enchanting world she created. I wholeheartedly recommend this novel to anyone looking for their next 5 star read as it is most definitely worth the read!

A Fragile Enchantment follows Niamh, A Machlish dressmarker with magic to weave emotions, as she leaves her family seeking better opportunities in the neighboring country of Avaland. The same country who used and abused her people and their magic, then ostracized them. Whew.

Niamh was specifically requested by Jack, the Prince Regent of Avaland, to make the wedding regalia for the upcoming arranged marriage of his brother–Kit, who is sulky, prickly, and displeased by the world in general.

There are other aspects to this whole situation, like the fact that Kit’s intended also does not want to marry him, the secondary plot of the Machlish (politely?) demanding better treatment from Jack, and gossip rag writer aiding the Machlish.

The interactions between Kit and Niamh at the beginning were honestly pretty entertaining. I always enjoy a prickly character and Kit did not disappoint. That said, as the book went on, the back and forth on whether they wanted/should be together started to feel repetitive and frustrating, and the barriers between them felt contrived. Niamh and Kit’s conflicts and motivations also at times felt so similar that it was like reading the same arc twice.

In general, I think A Fragile Enchantment had a lot of promise but felt confusingly flat for me–which I am SAD about, because I really enjoyed A Far Wilder Magic and the cover for this book is STUNNING.

Sigh.

Ultimately, I think my main issue with A Fragile Enchantment is that it sets up with the promise of a rich world and then becomes afraid of interacting with it. The backdrop for the whole story is the Machland-Avaland conflict, which is brought up repeatedly–Niamh immediately tells us her family disapproves of her moving to Avaland because of their feelings toward the Avlish. Then, on day 1 in the palace, Niamh finds out her friend who used to work there because of the poor Machlish working conditions. We are told Niamh is treated badly, looked down upon. She sees the Machlish fighting for better treatment, meets them.

And yet.

And yet–she basically doesn’t even care until it personally affects her. Same with the majority of the cast. Even when she is made to care for plot reasons, the other Machlish remain a backdrop, easily willing to fall away when the plot needs them to. I was so upset. No one really reckons with their actions in this book, everyone is forgiven, even negligent monarchs who are directly mean to Niamh–which, honestly, maybe would be fine, I know this is supposed to be a soft, fun book. Maybe we don’t want high stakes, maybe we want forgiveness and happiness. However, at least for me, it was difficult to be there with the main characters when all of this was going on and they didn’t even care.

I don’t want to forgive neglectful leaders.
I don’t want the disenfranchised to be complacent.

And, again, I read A Far Wilder Magic, so I know Saft can do so much better while keeping the soft romance. That makes me so much sadder somehow.

I’m sure many will love the aesthetic of A Fragile Enchantment and I hope it finds its readers. Sadly, this was not for me.

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

A Fragile Enchantment is about Niamh, a magical tailor who is hired to make a prince and his bride’s wedding attire but finds herself in a forbidden attraction with the prince. If you watched Bridgerton and wished there was a season focused on the dressmaker, you will love this book!

Saft’s prose is breathtaking as usual, and I found the regency inspired setting very enjoyable to read. I do want to note that the primary plotline of the book is the romance, rather than the romance being a subplot. That being said, there are plenty of plot elements that will keep you guessing, including the author of an anonymous gossip column, which was one of my favorite parts of the book.

The real star of this book is the romance between Niamh and Kit. From the moment they first appear together on the page you can feel the tension between them, and it only increases with every encounter they have. Kit is cranky and standoffish on the surface but a truly complicated and full character as more about him is revealed. Niamh’s character is a joy to read, and I absolutely loved a scene towards the end where her growth really shines.

I particularly appreciated how Saft handled mental health and addiction. She discussed both with grace and depth, and characters shone more for accepting their past and embracing themselves fully.

This was a fun read, perfect for fans of Pride and Prejudice and Bridgerton! Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday/St. Martin’s Press for the earc. All opinions are my own.

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

Going into this story I had mixed feelings. Having read "A Far Wilder Magic", I was uncertain what to expect with this story. In my experience, Saft has amazing story ideas, but I've been surprised by the direction she takes the narrative. "A Fragile Enchantment" is no exception.

Overall, "A Fragile Enchantment" is a quick, cute, feel good story.

Sometimes court/political dramas can really bog down a story; however, that did not happen in this case. The political intrigue is more like a pot on the back burner where suddenly you realize half of the water has boiled away. The emphasis is truly on the interpersonal relationships with a bizarre cast of characters. Each character individually is incredibly fascinating and has such an epic backstory, but I will say that the development of the characters is surface level for most of the story. The exception is really on Kit. He is probably the most detailed and focused character in the story. Again, surprising choice given Niamh is telling a first person narrative.

If the reader is looking for a fun cast of characters, in a new world, with surface level drama and some tongue lashing romance -- this is the book for them. It was a sweet story to immerse yourself in and forget about the outside world. From the first page, the story unwinds with ease and pleasure.

A Fragile Enchantment included all the whimsical humor and tension you’d expect to find in a series like Bridgerton, while introducing a magic system both interesting and complex which can be rare in the fantasy genre. Saft’s writing was wonderfully engaging while managing to hold the atmospheric tone necessary for any regency inspired work. The chemistry between the two main love interests was delightful, as was the character building for nearly every side character with substantial page time. I will say the execution of conflict did at times feel lacking, this world is so clearly inspired by the centuries of history and oppression between Great Britain and Ireland and the reflections of this could have been been taken more seriously/ handled with more tact.

A Fragile Enchantment is a lovely, magical, fantasy book set with Irish inspiration. For those who loved Bridgerton and Spin the Dawn, this book is perfect for you!!

The elements in which Niamh uses her magic into her clothing designs are so whimsical and beautiful. I love her ability to use her magic for good, especially as tensions between the two countries continues to rise. Niamh is also an amazingly soft character, who isn’t afraid to feel her feelings and share with others.
She’s outspoken with Kit, who I think brings out her tenacious side.

As far as plot and pacing, it was a slow start and very exciting as we watch Niamh journey to Avaland to pursue a once in a life time job. The setting was lush and vivid and I felt like I was right there next to Niamh. I was surprised with some of the plot points but in a very good way. I didn’t expect certain outcomes and was pleased with the ending of the book.

This was such a fun and sweet romance! I loved it because it offered me a break from those truly grueling and dark fantasy stories that I always read and yet this still had a lot of magic to it. I really had fun with the banter, the magic system, and even the political parts.

I highly recommend this read!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my eARC!!

A Fragile Enchantment - A Sparkling Regency Romance

First and foremost, a big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of "A Fragile Enchantment."
If you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers tropes, grumpy characters melting under the sunshine, and a Bridgerton-inspired regency setting, this book is tailor-made for you. Allison Saft has woven a magical tale, brimming with enchanting prose and a darling romance, perfectly suited to the elegant world of the Regency era.

Meet Niamh Ó Conchobhair, a magical dressmaker whose talents have earned her the honor of designing a wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland. Driven by a desire to help her loved ones, Niamh embarks on this journey despite the knowledge that her own life is slipping away due to the same magic that fuels her creations. However, the Avaland court is not the romantic oasis she imagined, and even the groom, Prince Kit Carmine, seems disinterested in the upcoming wedding.

As fate would have it, Niamh and Kit find themselves drawn together despite their initial animosity. Niamh's tender and caring nature contrasts with Kit's gruff demeanor, but it's precisely this clash that brings out a feisty side in her. Their heated exchanges and undeniable chemistry make them a captivating pair to follow, especially as they catch the attention of those around them.

Niamh's character is sensitively portrayed, and her unwavering devotion to her family, who endured immense hardship, makes her an endearing protagonist. She faces her own struggles with a grateful and indebted smile, proving herself to be an uplifting and compelling character to root for.

Kit, has been battling against his own interests, unintentionally causing collateral damage to those around him. Despite his efforts to keep Niamh at a distance, his actions betray the affection he holds for her, making for an enjoyable tug-of-war between emotions.

While Niamh and Kit take center stage, the other aspects of the story are just as captivating. The plot is engrossing, blending seamlessly with the charming characters, and the pacing hits all the right notes. Saft's writing style perfectly captures the essence of the Regency era, transporting readers to a world filled with lingering touches, tender glances, and delightful banter.

"A Fragile Enchantment" left me sighing wistfully, eagerly awaiting its release date so I can dive into its magical world once again. Allison Saft's intricate tale of romance and charm is a must-read for fans of Regency-inspired stories, and it will surely sweep you off your feet with its sparkling magic and delightful characters.

Kit is a wayward prince with earthly powers but the really useful kind, like the ability to grow poison or wrap you in a vine. He couldn’t be further from his brother personality-wise and that’s caused a lot of tension. He’s returned from his exile to be wed. Niamh comes from a cursed working-class family. Her family depends on her earnings as a famous seamstress to make ends meet. Tasked with dressing Kit for his wedding, she travels to the castle to meet the infamous prince. Sparks fly at their very first meeting but not everyone is who they seem.

Allison Saft is an absolute master at atmospheric romantic vibes. A Fragile Enchantment is no exception. Here Saft delivers us a perfect grumpy-sunshine and opposites attract romance. Kit and Niamh’s romance offers a level of depth and exploration of family that perhaps her other books haven’t. Set in a world where politics are the name of the game and ruling requires a delicate balance in which both Kit and Niamh find themselves pulled into.

I could have used a little more interaction from some secondary characters. For instance, Niamh’s former neighbour and lover worked as a maid at the castle but then when Niamh arrives, she is no longer there. She gets mentioned a fair bit in terms of memories and then there’s a letter towards the end. It seemed like it didn’t really add anything to the story of her character development. I thought the plot was building to something nefarious with the friend, otherwise why else mention her?

It also seemed a little uncharacteristic of Niamh that she was so devoted to her family, that she packed up and moved off to give them a better life and yet barely mentions them except in a memory. Then something life altering happens at the very end of the book and her family isn’t even present for it? That seemed like it went against her very character.

Yet, I still thought this book was a great low-stakes fantasy that was both easy and enjoyable to read.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book was simply magical. This novel stitched together so many familiar concepts like the gossip article from Bridgerton, the sewing/poor love interest like Cinderella and the magic of really any good fairytale. I really enjoyed the characters and more importantly their backgrounds I felt like we really got to know all of the main cast and could see potential sequels later on focusing on Rosa and Sinclair. My only negatives would be that if felt slow and a bit dragged on at some points.

“You’re like a weed.” 🤣 It’s not a very long or telling quote but it made me giggle and really that’s what’s important in a romance novel.

I got into this book not really knowing what it was about, and I have to say that it was probably one of the best books I’ve read in 2023. It had the perfect amount of magic, witty banter, and a FMC that you just could not help but fall in love with. I’m rendered speechless when trying to come up with this review as the book still remains so vividly in my mind.
I sometimes struggle with the immaturity and essence of time in YA Fantasy books, which is no fault but my own, however, in this book I genuinely had no complaints. I cannot wait to add this book to our library as I am confident that kids will be eating it up just as much as I did!

I absolutely adored this book! Everything was very well thought out and I think it’s perfect for anyone who wants a great hate-to-love slowburn with political intrigue and complex, but lovable characters!

Niamh and Kit’s relationship was so cute and I ate up the banter between them. Their relationship was a perfect balance of annoying each other and pining for each other and I couldn’t get enough.

I really have nothing bad to say about this book and I’m so glad I got the chance to read it! This is my first time reading one of Allison Saft’s books but I will now be going through her entire backlog and I look forward to any of her future releases! 4.5 Stars

I really adored A Far Wilder Magic, and was so excited when an ARC of this one showed up in my inbox. I love Allison Saft’s writing and I could not wait to dive into it.

This felt like Bridgerton meets Divine Rivals—and I think fans of those books will really enjoy this one. Unfortunately, I didn’t really love this one. It was fine, but it didn’t stand out to me as anything special. The characters were forgettable, the world building was messy, and the plot was slow, boring, and horribly predictable. Even the romance lacked the necessary chemistry or charm to keep me invested. I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first half, but overall I just don’t think this book was for me. And that’s okay. Not every book is written for every person.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC. All views reflected are my own.

3.4

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*Received an eARC from netgalley for an honest review. Thank you!

This book was a fun and easy read. I enjoyed it mostly for how effortlessly the writing took hold of my curiosity with the luscious descriptions of the setting and the fun banter. There were definitely some suspenseful moments here and there that kept me wanting to know more.

As much as I wanted to like more of the book, it ended up being basic. There were times where the book had a good sense of direction, only to fall short of my expectation or get lost in knowing what it wanted. The ending, for instance, was something I anticipated the most given how much the book wants us to believe that the odds of the situation ending tumultuously are overwhelmingly high. But of course, this is a book about happily ever afters, so I wanted to love the ending. However, it felt rushed and wasn't very gratifying.

My other main complaint was the magic system and worldbuilding. I liked the concept of the protagonist's magic being a part of a craft she loves that also lends her the ability to weave her emotions and memories into clothing. But the magic system becomes an after thought and it feels as if its included for sake of convenience. I was hoping we would get a more indepth dissection of how their magic works or the history of how they came to get these powers but there wasnt much substance there for me to feel engaged in the fantasy elements. And it's incorporation into the main character's life as a tailor could honeslty have been stripped away and it would read essentially the same way.

Overall, if you're looking for a simple story on the lives of royalty, the forbidden love trope, found families etc Id recommend this book. This book was still a captivating read and I look forward to reading the author's other books!

4 ⭐️

I was grateful to have had the opportunity to read this arc from NetGalley. When I read the synopsis of the story I knew that I wanted to read more. The idea of a woman who can stitch emotions and memories into the clothing that she makes was very unique. The book started immediately and there was no confusion regarding what was going on. At about 20% it started to get a tad bit slow for me (it may have also been due to some other things in my life) and it became hard to pick up the book. But once i made it 45%, the plot hit the ground running. The plot and suspense were coming together; I was putting clues together left and right. I started flying through the book wanting to know what happened next.

I truly loved Niamh so much. She was so strong willed and selfless, even knowing that her selflessness was hurting her. Her and Kit were truly incredible together. They both wanted the same thing; to be loved and taken care of, even if they didn’t voice it. Honestly it was clear that every character in this story wanted that. Niamh, Rose and Sofia were truly some of the female characters I have ever read about and I would love to learn more about Rose and Sofia’s stories in future books.

I really found this book to be very well constructed and written. Every word carried the story in its own way. There was never a hole in the plot where I didn’t know what was going on. Allison Saft truly has an amazing way with words and knows how to tell a story that will take the reader into the world she is creating. I am very excited for this book to come out in January so the world can read this incredible story!

I loved A Far Wilder Magic by Saft but it doesn’t hold a light to her upcoming title.
Woah, A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft was a stunning and magical story.
The characters and her world-building were amazing. So well done.
I was instantly hooked to their world and these characters lives.
Saft’s writing was utterly amazing.
This novel was truly magical and I could not put it down.
Another fantastic story by a brilliant author!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Wednesday Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!