This is a great audiobook for someone who loved Pride and Prejudice or who just love a regency slow burn. I thought the narration was very strong and helped the story to flow and be more immersive.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #MacMillian for granting me access to an advanced reader copy of the audiobook.

The cover of this book is beautiful and intricate and the story is exactly the same. The fantasy world is unique and really interesting to learn about. The struggles of the characters and the world they live in feels real. The plot is exciting and keeps you wanting to read more. The cast of characters feel diverse and representative. The audiobook is wonderfully narrated so please give it a listen I’m sure it will be worth your time.

This audiobook was amazing. I love how they found a narrator with an accent. It made the story telling more well rounded and made it easier to follow. The story it self I gave 5 stars. I can’t wait to pick this book up in stores!

Listening to the audiobook has made me fall in love with this story all over again. The narrator did amazing bringing this lovely story to life. I enjoyed reading the ebook but this was the cherry on ice cream, I loved it.

Sorry but honestly discussions on being “colonized” within this book made me a bit uncomfortable. It felt like it attempted too much and really could have been a lighter book (which is what I expected). Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. I tried to find the positive but there were too many components that just didn’t work for me.

This is a perfect low-stakes love story of a magical dress-maker hired at court to tailor for a Prince and his arranged marriage.

Elements you might like:
- Court intrigue / politics
- a gossip tabloid
- uncommon magic
- queer representation
- forbidden romance
- hidden identity
- found family

Narration:
There was a single narrator throughout the story who used different voices / accents for each character so it was easy to differentiate who was speaking. The narration gives a sense of “fairytale” vibes that fits very well with the book being YA and the main characters personality. At times I felt the narration was a little too young/niave, but this may be the authors intention as a YA book and it still left mystery and plot twists to be a surprise.

Pacing / Flow:
The story was paced mostly well. The first 25% we learned a lot about the world and were quickly swept into Niamh’s story. It was hard to gauge where the plot was going about 40% in, and the middle dragged on a bit. I had to pause listening around that point, but after continuing it later with refreshed ears the rest of the story picked up and stayed interesting until the end.

Overall thoughts:
I enjoyed this story a lot as a cozy read. The characters are all lovable and I would enjoy reading spin offs of the side characters. The romance was everything I hoped for and more. There are some very, very, sweet relationships (and friendships) in this. The overall plot was pretty predictable, but there were side plot twists and events that surprised me and kept the story enjoyable. The world building, magic, politics, and history in this were well explained as a background for the plot, but it remained as a backdrop, and I do wish we got a little more into fixing the political issues. Maybe that will be explored in sequels if this is continued.

3.5 stars for the story, 4.5 stars for the narration / audio book. I would recommend the audiobook for those that like low stress plots / less complex worlds but still want lovable characters and a sweet romance.

A very fun and adorable romance, it does give off Bridgerton vibes in the best way, but what I found I loved the most was the magic that the main characters have and how understated but important they were to the story. Very fun very good.

This was a delightful tale of a penniless nobody with the ability to make gorgeous, breathtaking magical garments who falls in love with a prince and changes the fate of a kingdom. It was romantic and fun and heartbreaking and heartwarming in turns.

I loved Niamh's endearingly clumsy charm and the way she befriended everyone she met. All of the characters were compelling and made me love them. I especially enjoyed the trio of Niamh and Kit and Sinclair. I would have loved even more scenes of the three of them getting into mischief. I also loved Rosa and Miriam and Sophie and wish they had had more screen time with Niamh.

I also loved that Niamh has a chronic illness that causes her to sometimes be bedridden for days at a time and has no cure and that she expects will one day kill her. I really identified with her because of this. Chronic illness rep is rare to find in books (though becoming a little more common) and I always love it when I find it.

If I were to choose one word for this book it would be romantic. Kit and Niamh's developing relationship is incredibly romantic. I like the way it all resolved (although there are certainly a lot of questions left at the end about how the kingdom is going to recover and pay its debts). It ends with hope though, which is always my favorite.

The audiobook was performed wonderfully. It was easy to listen to and each character had a unique and recognizable but still easily understandable voice. I was swept away in the story and I think the audiobook aided that (not least in keeping me from getting distracted in questioning how to pronounce Niamh's name).

*Thanks to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Macmillan Audio for providing an early copy and early audio copy of this book.

I enjoyed the audiobook of this charming love story filled with magic and romance and the narrator, Fran Burgoyne, does a beautiful job of bringing this fantasy to life. Niamh and Kit are delightful together and I loved following along in their world as they gradually fell in love despite their stations in life. There are many humorous moments and many swoon-worthy as well, and I fell in love with this book as I lived them all through the enchantment of this author's words.

This was an absolutely enchanting read. A Fragile Enchantment skillfully blends fantastic writing, a mesmerizing setting, and a truly heartwarming romance between Niamh and Kit. The rich and romantic world-building serves as the perfect canvas for an extravagantly dramatic and engaging story, making it a must-read for historical romance enthusiasts who appreciate a touch of magic. Allison Saft masterfully threw in so many tropes, including Royal x commoner, grumpy x sunshine, forbidden romance, found family, and "hates everyone but her," without it feeling forced or gimmicky. This book was so delightfully dramatic featuring duels, interrupted weddings, tragic rainstorm scenes (Mr. Darcy who?), and intricate political maneuvering, holding my attention from start to finish.

However, I would have preferred if more of the romance unfolded later in the book, as the climax occurred around the 50-60% mark. This early peak led to a somewhat uncertain pacing towards the end, where it felt like the author struggled to determine the appropriate conclusion. While several moments could have served as better stopping points, the story continued beyond them. Readers who dislike predictability should be cautious, as the "reveal" of the columnist is discernible in the first few chapters of their introduction. While this may not diminish the overall enjoyment, it lacks the element of surprise. Despite these shortcomings, A Fragile Enchantment remains an endearing and magical journey well worth the time for genre enthusiasts.

3.5 Stars

I received an advanced copy of this audiobook from NetGalley. Thanks, as always, to Macmillan Audio.

I think this is the type of story people mean when they say "cozy fantasy." It's low stakes, it's charming, it's well written.

Is your favorite part of Bridgerton the Lady Whistledown gossip and the YEARRRRNING between the characters? Then you'll love this.

Do you love the Irish and think the English treated them poorly? Then excellent news, this is for you!!

This could have been a five star read but there is a moment of <spoiler>cheating. Even if it is a political coupling and neither character cares for the other, they are, in fact, engaged. And Niamh and Rosa are friends. Like, girl, you're really going to hook up with one of your very few friends' fiancé? I don't care if they like each other or not, it's not a great look. If we're looking at this through the current day lens, Kit is Prince Charles, Rosa is Princess Diana, and Niamh is....Camilla Parker Bowles. I know Camilla gets the man in the end and the crown, but no one wants to be a Camilla. So do with that what you will.</spoiler>

I do think Allison Saft wrote this in a way that excuses it or justifies it and it will not upset most people, but I do think there will be some people that do have a problem with this storyline. The rest of the plot and the book is so cute that I wish this aspect of the plot had been nixed. It would have required an entire rewrite of the book, but I do worry that people will miss out on this otherwise enjoyable cozy story because of that plot point.

I liked every single one of the characters. The writing was lovely. The narration was so good (well done Fran Burgoyne, I will be looking up other books you've done).

I know some TikTok girlys are definitely going to eat this one up✨

FMC has the ability to sew emotions and memories into the pieces she creates✨

Lots of blackmail and lots of going behind each other’s back throughout the entire story✨

Rags to riches with a little bit of grumpy sunshine✨

Lovelace is the journalist who is writing the columns about the prince and his Tailor in a more scandalous light throughout the book and I think I added a really great detail✨

Every Kit has that attitude 😂✨

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC audiobook!! Allison Saft is a master of standalone fantasy. Her worldbuilding is effortless and captivating. The world of Avaland is so romantic. The chemistry between the characters had me grinning and squealing at times which is always a recipe for a new favorite. I typically do not like regency style books however, I devoured this book and did not want it to end. I was so immersed in the story and characters I hardly recognized the components of regency books I usually cringe at. Niamh's journey to escape people pleasing is so relatable and authentic. I found myself rooting for her to grow just as much as Kit and Sinclair did. Narration fort his book was fantastic! I would absolutely recommend this for all romantic fantasy readers. My only wish was for the last chapter to expand on how council solved some of the secondary and tertiary problems that arose in the kingdom but was nevertheless satisfied with the ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for an advanced copy!

Niamh Ó Conchobhair has a beautiful gift of magic that lets her stitch her emotions into the fabrics of gorgeous garments she makes. However, this same magic is slowly killing her. As a person who has always put others above her own well-being, Niamh is determined to give her family a better life before the magic takes her. She jumps at the invitation to design the attire for the royal wedding for the kingdom of Avaland.

Once in the land of Avaland, Niamh realizes that the grass is not always greener. Though the nobles of Avaland live a grand life, there is unrest brewing with the underclass. The groom, Prince Christopher "Kit" Carmine doesn't even want to go forward with this wedding since he's being used as a political pawn to aid his brother. His prickliness doesn't scare Niamh away as they begin to develop a friendship. However, their chemistry becomes undeniable and even the gossip columnist Lovelace begins to report on it. To save herself and a love she never thought possible, Niamh needs to expose the rot that's been plaguing the kingdom.

The historical fiction feel of this novel was so so fun. As a newcomer to Avaland, seeing the kingdom through Niamh's POV was helpful to help the reader understand and picture this world. This novel also had Bridgerton/Gossip Girl vibes with Lovelace's gossip articles. I love the development of Kit as a character who not only changed his own life and perspectives, but also pushed Niamh to challenge her own plan. The band of five unlikely friends was such a wonderful found family aspect to this story.

I was so grateful to get the audio arc of this book from Macmillian Audio. Fran Burgoyne did a fantastic job of differentiating the voices of the characters throughout. I like how even when Niamh spoke she changed her voice to how she would speak. It truly felt like I was sitting there with these characters. I highly suggest listening to this story!

A Fragile Enchantment is a very lovely regency-like era romance with a hint of magic woven in. If you like stories like the Bridgerton tales this will be right up your alley with forbidden romance and beautiful imagery in both scenery and clothing. The writing style is very reminiscent of Garber's in the way they paint pictures and I mean that as a compliment as both Saft and Garber have a unique way of making the beauty in their books stand out.

This book has a lot of your usual romance tropes in it and can be easily predictable at times but it doesnt take away from the enjoyment of the story at all. It was soft, romantic, magical and pretty all in one and very nice to read! I enjoyed the characters and will look forward to Saft's next story!

4.5 stars
This was such a cute fantasy romance! I read the ebook and listened to the audio. I definitely recommend the experience either/both way(s)! There wasn’t a lot of world building in the story, which made it very accessible to just pick up and enjoy the story without worrying about having to keep track of something complicated or overrun with too many characters. The chemistry between the main characters was spot on. The storyline was top notch from start to finish. I hope there are more stories in this universe!!
*Thanks to MacMillan and NetGalley for the advance copy

This was such a delightful book to read! Allison Saft has quickly become one of my personal favourite authors, and I'm pleased that I found her! A Fragile Enchantment is a whimsical fantasy chock-full of angsty romance that will lure you in and never let you go! Friendships, relationships, and representation were all beautifully crafted in this book!
I'm constantly searching for standalone romantic fantasy reads, and Allison Saft is my top choice! I'll be sure to buy every book she publishes in the future!

Let's start off with what I really enjoyed - the romance and the magic. For me, the romance storyline was strong, swoony, and full of all my favorite moments. There's plenty of yearning, romantic tension, and will-they-won't-they. In their romance, you can see them opening up and getting to know each other. This grumpy prince who has to realize that not everyone is out to hurt him, that he can open himself up and bloom. And then you have our magical seamstress who is fiercely protective and also just trying to provide for her family. Fran Burgoyne does a phenomenal job at infusing their interactions with pining and emotions from the very beginning. We can hear how conflicted they are.

But I think where I struggled in A Fragile Enchantment was the world. At various points of the books, Saft is trying to introduce these political elements, but I had a hard time feeling the stakes. For Niamh there's this dichotomy between her identity and that of the nobility, but it only gets brought up when we are supposed to feel it and not in a lot of subtle ways. It feels very much a device for the plot in some instances.

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft is about Niamh (pronounced Neev) who is hired by the Royal family of Avaland to create the wedding ensemble for the bride and groom of the upcoming royal wedding. Niamh has a rare and dying type of fabric magic in which her thoughts, feelings, and memories are ingrained into the clothes she makes, giving the wearer whatever impression she embedded into the fabric to the viewing audience. When Niamh meets the groom, Prince Kit, she finds an undeniable attraction to him, and it does not go unnoticed by the local gossip column. Threatening the stability of the kingdom and future nuptials, Niamh needs to keep her head down and complete her work as a means to provide for her family, but lingering secrets and Kit's presence are making that all but impossible in this YA fantasy, set against the backdrop of a kingdom on the brink of collapse.

This novel had the makings to be something special, I was really looking forward to reading about an enchanted tailor and learning more about her magic, but so much was missing from this novel. The novel is set in a world where there is a hierarchical class system. Niamh comes from the lower class, mainly made of servants and service workers, which is beginning to rise against the upper class in demand for better pay and also demanding retribution from the "blight", an event somehow caused by the Royal family that caused widespread famine and death among the lower class. This is not explained in detail, unfortunately. Niamh's family is suffering from a genetic condition which makes them unable to work and dependent on her for pay. There are also other nations mentioned but not expounded upon. This world had the makings of something great but the Blight was never described in detail in terms of how it was caused or the great effect it had on the community. We know that the Royal family's magic had something to do with it (Nature/plant/earth magic) but we are not told how. We also see the royal family use this magic quite a few times throughout the book without ill effects to the surrounding area so this history makes little sense to the reader. With more background, the history of trauma in this land could have been much more vibrant to the reader.

Getting into the magic system, it seems to run in bloodlines. Niamh is the last of her family to carry her magic so she has a great desire to have children and carry on her magic. Kit's family has some type of plant magic in which they can summon plant life to grow and be controlled by them, seemingly from nowhere. Rosa, the princess engaged to Kit has storm/lightning/weather magic in her family. We see her summon storms and it's implied she can call rain. None of this is explained well. Why does it seem mostly only royal families have magic? Was Niamh's family intended to be royal as well but hadn't due to circumstances? What are the ill effects caused by using magic? Why is it there are certain diseases only those with magic have? I have so many questions and part of this is integral to fantasy world-building.

Now for the romance aspect, I have no idea what Niamh sees in Kit. He is a grouch who does not respect anyone, not even Niamh and barely shows her any kindness. Like the most minimal amount of kindness a human should show a person, and for that, Niamh suddenly thinks he is a good person deserving of her love. He consistently shows very little regard to caring about other people and doesn't care if he shows his affections to Niamh in a public place that could get them both in trouble! There is no chemistry here and don't even get me started on the ending. I also would not recommend this to any teens below the age of 16 as there is a somewhat graphic sex scene on par with what was in A Court of Thorns and Roses! I am not a prude either, I regularly read spicy romance, but this is too graphic for teen readers, in my opinion, and should be classified as New Adult because of this scene, though the writing style is more YA.

The plot is also confusing and nonsensical. So many times in this novel Niamh is pushed into the public spotlight to be seen with Kit, but very little reasoning is given for it. She is not a traditional servant that would be seen in public, like a lady's maid, she is a tailor. So why is she going on diplomatic trips and dancing in balls??? All of this is to make her and Kit spend more time together but if the reasons they are being pushed together do not make sense, then I cannot suspend my disbelief long enough to become invested in the relationship.

I'm sure there is more I could say about what potential this novel had that it didn't live up to but I will end it here. This novel needed a better editor, one who could hone in on the fantasy elements of the history of the world, the magic system, and then build up the plot and romance in a way that made more sense.

Obsessed with this magical world and the special embroidery magic of our main character. Not only is the magic so unique and special but the feelings this book evoked between the love interests had my longing to be there with them. I loved everything about this book.