after rating saft's debut a 5-star, i went into this thinking i'd love it, but i think i'm just in over my head with this genre. i liked the idea & enjoyed the uniqueness in niamh's magic, and also in kit & jacks. but i don't personally enjoy regency romance & found some of the recurring themes/tropes to be a little annoying ('he can't love me, i'm just a lowly common girl whoa is me,' 'i'm so silly and ridiculous, i don't deserve anything,' etc). the lack of consonants and continuted talk of manners and 'how one should behave' was just unnatural to me as someone who finds so much empowerment in the exact opposite; people, women especially, acting boldly and authentically. there was no real emotional pull, just surface-level mentions of things that told the reader they should feel rather than why.

i liked rosa & sofia as characters, but that's really it, and as side characters they were rather unexplored. with what little we got, they were jaded and interesting, and had an endearing quality in the internal conflict they felt handling their troubles. i feel like each character was meant to have that sort of depth, & why it was successful in rosa & sofia but not kit, jack, niamh, or sinclair was because the lack of/shallow exploration can be overlooked for them as side characters, unlike the two mcs & the “antagonist” + “confidante”. additionally, i believe this book was marketed as the gossip column blackmailing niamh into unearthing the royal family’s secrets but that just didn’t really happen at all. lovelace left her alone for the most part aside from petty, vague social class digs that only she recognized because it was anonymous. there was no anticipation in the scene

i sort of liked kit in the beginning, when there was still a lot of potential and mystery in him as a character, but i found the romance to be underwhelming. i kept waiting for the book to start. i was never really immersed. i did like the greenhouse scene though. (i did like the greenhouse scene though; it more effectively touched on the whimsy, personality, & longing of these two opposing characters, their values, & how they could begin to intertwine).

i wanted to see myself in niamh as someone who feels everything so deeply, but she didn't resonate with me. i don't find the abnegation and imposed selflessness of niamh endearing, & we never really saw how she cared about her family, her work, her culture, etc. i didn't care for sinclair or jack, who felt more like bland aids in the mcs’ journeys than characters themselves. i also wasn't invested in the worldbuilding in avlish or machlish history, and <spoiler>after kit realized he liked niamh, he lost his charm and was less a character than a love interest, as unfair as that may be to say considering that's literally what he is lol. just that he lost all other aspects in his infatuation with niamh, who at times just came across as ordinary (yet treated the opposite) and self-deprecating. </spoiler> as for niamh’s health, while being a cool, casual reflection of people with disabilities’ conflicting feelings with life & their bodies, it was pretty glossed-over. it never really came up or was acknowledged outside of niamh’s own thoughts, and even then it was scarce. i did really appreciate the idea & subtle bi rep though.

i think usually there are other pulls that resonate with me regardless of shortcomings (plot makes up for characters, writing makes up for plot, etc), but i didn’t find any here. for returning readers of this genre, this book might be absolutely enrapturing, but it just wasn't my thing. i really appreciate the ARC though <3

also, i came across what i believe to be typos on pages 40, 52, 197, 233, & 246. there may have been a couple others as well, but i dismissed them under the notion i may just not understand the grammar of certain sentences lol.

two quotes that stuck out to me:
<spoiler>"Perhaps she didn't know the bite of cruelty herself, but she recognized the shape of the scars it left behind." (45)</spoiler>
<spoiler>"You have a way of drawing things out of people, of bringing what they wish to keep hidden into the light. . . . I believe that is your true gift, not your sewing." (164)</spoiler>

Allison Saft crafts a Regency England-inspired fantasy world, reminiscent of Bridgerton, with her new book, “A Fragile Enchantment.” With a love story as devastatingly romantic as Kate and Anthony’s, readers will be enchanted with protagonist Niamh and her spell-binding creations in this YA fantasy romance.

Niamh, a popular seamstress/dressmaker who imbues enchantments in all of her wares, is hired by the Prince Regent and commissioned to complete wedding wear for his younger brother, the groom, Prince Kit Carmine, and his betrothed, Infanta Rosa. Niamh quickly finds herself getting acquainted with court politics, as tensions are brought to a head between Machlish staff and the Prince Regent, who is desperately hiding something from his brother and the rest of the court. Niamh is propositioned by Lovelace, an anonymous gossip rag writer (again, reminiscent of Lady Whistledown) to help uncover the intentions of the Prince Regent and groom. Amidst the broiling pressures of an impending conflict between Machlish workers and the Crown, Niamh finds herself drawn to Prince Kit, despite her efforts to stay away.

Saft crafts a bewitching novel that delivers on tropes romance readers crave: enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, and forbidden love. Saft’s lyrical writing adds an additional layer of whimsy to this tale, that it’s difficult not to get swept away in this story of longing and intrigue. (Niamh’s final creation - the groom’s wedding cloak - and all of her intentions that were weaved into it had me misty-eyed!) The author also expertly intertwines themes of mental health, addiction, systemic oppression, and familial trauma, while never losing focus of the love story between Niamh and her prince.

“A Fragile Enchantment” is a must-read for Bridgerton fans and romance readers alike who are looking for a heart-felt, magical tale about love overruling duty.

[Thank you to NetGalley & Wednesday Books for the e-ARC of “A Fragile Enchantment” by Allison Saft, in exchange for my honest review.]

Simply put, Allison Saft's third novel is yet another wonderful read.

While Niamh and Kit remain at forefront, their trials unfold against the backdrops of a unique magic system and intricate world building. Furthermore, strong secondary characters and multi-faceted relationships between characters helped to ground the novel even more. With twists and turns that both delight and keep the reader guessing, A FRAGILE ENCHANTMENT blends the tropes and genre conventions of Regency romance and YA fantasy to craft a truly enjoyable, heartfelt story. Five stars.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.

What a fun easy read! I loved the couple and their whimsical magic. My favourite character was Sinclair though, He stole every scene he was in and deserves a spin off a la Bridgerton!

A sweet, Austen-esque romance with some fun magical hints and best of all, chronic pain representation! While I wasn’t as attached to these characters as I was to the last Allison Saft book I read, I can see a lot of people enjoying this, particularly fans of Bridgerton.

I think this had such an interesting premise but I don't think it was executed as good as it should've been. The details and world building were whimsical but Niamh and the other characters felt a bit stiff and the magic system felt wooden. Most things didn't feel fleshed out and it made it hard to enjoy. A very low 3 star.

allison saft!!!

this book was one of my most anticipated reads, and rightfully so! this is truly my dream historical romance. the story is so intimate and lovely, and like always, allison saft and created a world with magic that is warm and delicate!!

Absolutely delightful! The politics, the romance, and the fantasy are intricately woven to create a charming story about loving not only others, but yourself as well. The prose was elegant, but read quickly and easily. I finished this in a single night---I couldn't put it down.

Allison Saft knows exactly how to do young adult longing. It's honestly maddening how well she does it.

Niamh is a dressmaker with magical abilities, and Kit is the prince who is about to get married to someone he doesn't know. Niamh is hired to make both the bride's gown and Kit's suit, and although Kit is grumpy, they fall in love and it is adorable.

Now, A Far Wilder Magic was one of my FAVORITE reads of last year, so could not wait to get my hands on this as I fully expected this to be a 5 star read for me. Unfortunately, where it fell down was that the world building is just too close to actual historical events with the serial numbers filed off, and those real world events are too traumatic to be the backdrop of a YA fantasy romance.

Niamh is clearly meant to be Irish, Kit is English, his bride-to-be is Spanish (she even speak actual Spanish in the novel), and the princess's lady in waiting is a Sephardic Jew. Kit's older brother is a regent in place of a mad king (i.e. the actual Regency period), and Niamh's home has just gotten over "the Blight", which yes, is the Potato Famine. I just don't see an Irish commoner being gung ho about marrying an English prince immediately post potato famine. Maybe I'm overthinking it, but the parallels were *too* obvious to ignore and it totally pulled me out of the world.

That being said, I loved the romance. I also loved the disability rep in Niamh, and the respectful treatment of alcoholism in the book. I think if you can set aside the very obvious historicalness of this and just focus on the magic and the romance, I think you'll love it too.

Thank you for the ARC, Wednesday Books and NetGalley!

The cover on this book is stunning and is what drew me to it immediately. The story is pretty standard, with YA writing and a basic plot. There's nothing surprising in the book, and I found myself skimming it often.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. 🩷
A Fragile Enchantment is a Bridgerton-esqe historical fiction love story with added elements of magic. The main character is so easy to love and it makes her forbidden love story so endearing. It had a tasteful amount of romance, witty banter, friendship that left a feel-good aura through the pages. The challenges the characters faced made this more than just a predictable love story. This really ticked all the boxes for me and I loved the magical elements to add another layer of intrigue to an already cool plot. I kept waiting for a line or section that would make it seem cringey or break my immersion but that never happened! If you love enemies-lovers, grumpy sunshine, and political intrigue tropes, this is for you!

This sweet YA romance almost brings me to a Bridgerton style world. It’s fun and light hearted with a A simple touch of magic.
The only downside for me was the scandal that brings the pair together.

Other than that the book is a great read!

A charming YA fantasy romance standalone in a Regency setting with a touch of whimsical magic and politics.

The world of this book is a thinly veiled Europe. The English, the Irish, the Spanish, etc. It’s YA, so I understand readers might not be overly familiar with the history, but I think it would be better to have either been set in an alternate version of our world, or just make the world completely different/new.

Niamh is a little conventional for a YA fantasy heroine. She’s so petite! And feisty! She says what’s on her mind! But she’s lowborn (gasp). Same goes for Kit, too. He’s mean, but only because he really cares! He’s a prince, but he’s disenchanted about the establishment! However, it is noted that he is short, so that makes him stand out from the collection of very tall YA heroes.

I’m going to call out some content in this book: the smoking. Kit smokes. A lot. He’s a recovering alcoholic, and I understand smoking often comes with the territory, but there’s only one comment about it being a vice. Given this is YA, I think Kit’s incessant smoking could be a little less glamorized.

What I did appreciate was how Niamh’s chronic illness is treated. There is no magical cure; it is just is what it is, and I like how we got to see Niamh’s internal struggle and how Kit reacts to her condition. I think Niamh may have lupus or something similar? It was slightly triggering for me, but I felt seen and took solace in how the book handles it. I hate when fantasy books present a miraculous solution to an illness… we don’t get that in real life.

Side note: there’s a lot of LGBTQIA+ rep here. The main characters are bi, and the side characters are gay.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

This was such a cute read! All of the characters were developed so tenderly; I could feel the emotion in the writing. Niamh especially stole my heart; she was immensely likable and relatable. The magic system as a whole felt a little underdeveloped, but I absolutely loved Niamh’s magic! It was very unique and truly beautiful.

The romance was very sweet. I thought the grumpy/sunshine trope was done very well, with Kit still being likable despite his foreboding personality. However, there was a lack of communication between Niamh and Kit near the end of the book that annoyed me and made me lose some of my investment in their relationship. Also, I would have liked to see more interactions between the two of them, as their relationship didn’t feel as compelling as I wanted it to. It wasn’t quite insta-love, but I would have liked a little slower pacing of the romantic developments.

The plot: It was okay. I’m not the biggest fan of books where the love interest is engaged to someone else and “scandal” plays a huge part in the plot, but I thought it was still done well. There wasn’t much of a plot in general (which I didn’t really mind, I was here for the romance) until the end of the book, which felt quite rushed and confusing. There was one reveal that surprised me, and then a bunch of things happened that seemed unnecessary. I feel like things could have been resolved better if the characters had just communicated more with each other.

Finally, the writing: it was amazing! I love Allison Saft’s writing so much! It is very atmospheric and flowery without turning into purple prose.

Even though I didn’t love everything in A Fragile Enchantment, I still enjoyed it immensely! It probably would have been closer to a 5 star read for me if I didn’t have A Far Wilder Magic (one of my favorite books of all time written by the same author) to compare it to.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books (& Netgalley) for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Allison Saft delivers a truly magical fantasy historical romance. The magic system throughout was very intriguing. The ability to imbue clothing with enchantments seems so marvelous. The story unfolded rather nicely however I felt like the ending was a bit rushed...and certain events seemed unrealistic for how the characters would have acted up until that point. Additionally I have other thoughts about the MC but I won't go into detail as to not spoil the story.

This story shines in its consideration of mental health issues, familial trauma, and systemic oppression. It's gently and purposefully intertwined into the storyline - despite its main focus being the love story. The "Bridgerton" dynamics also made me chuckle. I feel like that could have been developed a little more considering how influential the "Tattler" is on society.

All in all it was a sweet quaint fantasy historical romance. A definite cozy read for the winter season (as it's out in January).

First- Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this prior to release.

I. Loved. This. Book.
Such a cozy, feel good story. I was loving the classic fairytale feel.

Niamh, a dressmaker, is a charming and relatable character who just so happens to fall (both literally and figuratively) for a handsome young prince with a thorny disposition; think Cinderella, but with a twist.
Oh, and Sinclair? 10/10 side character. His wittiness pulled me in right from the start, and who doesn’t love a good instigator?

The storyline was likeable, to the point, and lacked any unnecessary fluff. Would absolutely recommend reading!

Here's the thing: I really wanted to love this book. I was so excited to read it because the ideas Allison Saft weaved together are stunning. Forbidden romance? Magic that can be woven into the fabric of clothing? Royalty and the political intrigue that comes from being in a royal position? Yes, please, I'll have all of that.

Unfortunately, I felt like the execution could have been much better, which is the primary reason for my rating of 2 stars. Throughout the first quarter of the book, the author did make an effort to drop little bits of information, but the world-building attempts mostly felt surface level and shallow. Specifically, there was nothing that emotionally connected me to the descriptions of the Avlish or Machlish people. The Avlish and Machlish are divided and there's strain between them, but there's less about WHAT makes them so divided. Instead, I felt as.a reader I was simply being told, "They don't like each other" but without giving additional context or nuance. I also wished there was a little more sprinkled in about what makes the Avlish and Machlish culture unique to its respective party.

The characters certainly could have also been more nuanced. While reading many of the scenes, the characters involved seemed like caricatures. Sadly, the writing of the main protagonist, Niam, also seemed to suffer from surface level syndrome. For example, she takes the job at the palace to provide for her family, but then there's not really anything written in the book to really emotionally connect you to her purpose. After all, we basically know nothing about her family's traditions, their magic, their memories, etc. How did she become who she is today? What is her family like? Why was this such a big internal motive for her? I felt similarly with the other main character, Kit. We know some facts about him: he’s a recovering alcoholic, he has a strained relationship with his brother. But all of this is explained to the reader in a way that doesn’t make me feel anything. Rather, it's like processing a strict of facts.

Because of this, it’s really hard - in turn - to have a high emotional stake in the plot as a reader.

Lastly, there seemed to be a lot of loose ends to the plot. Political unrest or other scandals are mentioned, and then never come back up again. Overall, there were a lot of plot lines that seemed like false starts - as if there was uncertainty about which of these multiple serious conflicts would actually end up being the main conflict with some kind of satisfying resolution.

With all of that being said, Allison Saft has a way for writing romance scenes that really make my stomach drop with longing. That is the silver lining of this read for me. And again, the idea of this story was beautiful. I just wish it had lived up to those magical, high expectations!

thank you netgalley for the arc !

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 5/5 stars ✩࿐

read if you like:
♡ enemies to lovers
♡ grumpy x sunshine
♡ bridgerton, regency inspired setting
♡ forbidden love
♡ an anonymous scandal sheet à la lady whistledown & gossip girl

⁀➷ swathed in sparkling magic, stitched with lulling prose and a darling romance unspooling through its filaments, allison saft has outdone herself with the very fabric of a fragile enchantment, so nimbly tailored to a regency inspired setting. for any bridgerton lovers who have a thirst for something in that vein, look no further and slake yourselves here.

⁀➷ in a stroke of good fortune and thanks to the fruit of her labour as a magical dressmaker, niamh ó conchobhair has been summoned to the neighbouring kingdom avaland’s court to assemble a wardrobe for a royal wedding. needing no encouragement whatsoever, niamh summarily sets off to better the lives of her loved ones - for soon she will no longer be in a position to do so. the same magic coursing through her veins with which she creates these impossible articles of clothing is also eating away at her life-force. now, as she arrives on the shores of avaland, it’s become more than clear to her that for all her imaginings, it is not the romantic oasis she had in mind. rather, civil unrest is bursting at the seams of every street as the cosseted aristocracy while away their time in idle balls and the like. she’s even disenchanted with the man of the hour himself, the groom and second prince kit carmine, who regards her as disdainfully as he does the impending wedding. as the two of them chafe against one another only to then draw together against all odds - they’re quickly mired in suspicions looks thanks to an anonymous scandal sheet which has turned to blackmailing them as well.

⁀➷ sensitive, inexhaustibly sweet niamh feels beholden to her family who suffered through a genocide and then rose up in rebellion to secure a future for posterity. in the face of such wholesale trauma, she feels that her own strife is a mere trifle, thus enduring everything with a grateful, indebted smile on her face. and yet, in spite of niamh’s even-temperedness, the truculent kit brings out a blazing fire in her, as the two of them exchange words as heated as a house-fire. little wonder then, that beneath it all the two of them do get on like a house on fire. as a fierce romantic, niamh’s gaze affords us a cozy prospect of the story to look out upon. her mind was such an uplifting place to take up residence in.

⁀➷ his character piercingly distilled into a second-hand description by sinclair quite early on, kit has been helming a campaign against himself and his own best interests for so long that those around him are casualties in the fog of war. despite his best efforts to lead niamh into believing he cares not a whit for her, his actions, bristling with affection for her, betray him relentlessly - to my great enjoyment. another detail in kit’s composition of note was his shorter stature and spare frame; i’m all for diversity and range in characters so this was a welcome addition!!! he’s like a chocolate cookie posturing as a raisin cookie.

⁀➷ even though i’ve gone on and discussed kit and niamh ad nauseam - it’s not in any way a reflection of my being unenthused with any other facet of the story. on the contrary, it’s all so wonderful i’d probably drone on at such great length it would be suspect and someone might then fall under the misapprehension that i’ve been paid for this. no, the plot itself is equally as captivating as the characters inlaid within it, the pacing accommodates everything perfectly and the writing is finely tuned to the era.

➸ conclusion :
awash with lingering hands, tender looks and charming banter laced with dandelion-seed soft affection, a fragile enchantment leaves me sighing wistfully until its release date when i’ll doubtless be reading it again

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for the arc for this book. This book is a Bridgerton-style Regency romance with fantasy! It was such a fun light-hearted read. This is not the book if you are looking for a complicated plot or sophisticated prose. But, if you just want to de-stress and enjoy some romance that will make you smile this book is great! (also, enemies to lovers trope!)

this was a really good! I liked the characters, and they were super well-developed. the plot was super cool and fun to read, and the writing was also smooth and easy to understand
highly recommend