A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft has all the makings of a great YA fantasy romance. Forbidden love, magic powers, royalty, just a bit of spice, and political drama and crises that can only be solved by a young commoner-our FMC.

But this book didn't check the boxes for me. For one, Niamh is a magical tailor who came to Avaland to tailor Prince Kit's and his fiancée's wedding attire. But we rarely see her tailoring for all the work Niamh is expected to do in the 10 weeks leading up to the wedding. Her magic powers are fascinating, and I wanted to see more of them. She spends more time sticking her nose where it doesn't belong and socializing than actually working. How can I believe the effects of her magic and hard work sewing when I hardly see them occurring on the page?

This book also sports a third-act breakup, which I'm never fond of. Beyond that, I find the speed with which these two fall in love a little startling. There are only 10 weeks in which they meet and get to know each other, and presumably, Niamh is sewing an awful lot of that time. I find it hard to believe that they fell in love to the extent they did. It feels rushed and unbelievable.

I think what bothers me most is how performative the queer representation in this book is. I understand that this is a fantastical world where words like gay or bisexual may not exist, but the constant use of "you're like me" is confusing. I can't tell if the characters are gay or bisexual or something else. And certain characters speak those words as if to say that they are gay or lesbian, but then they act completely differently. It's not that I feel they must put a label on it, but rather that they seem to put a label on it (without such specific words) and contradict their own words. It made me feel that the characters had dalliances just for the sake of saying, "hey, I have queer rep in my book". Perhaps that isn't what was intended, but it's how I read it and it left me confused. I'm always happy to see more queer rep in books, and this book seemed to have quite a bit, but it didn't quite sit right with me when characters acted differently than they implied. Besides, I'm sure a fantastical word that uses modern curses can use the word bisexual to identify a character that kissed a girl, and is now in love with a man. It confused me to go from thinking a character was gay because they implied they were, to assuming they must be bi or something.

My favorite part of this book was seeing the magical powers the characters have. I loved the creativity and the beauty of them. But the romance, the political drama, and the ending left me wanting more.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinions!

Review withheld until Wednesday Books/St. Martin’s Press responds to the reasonable demands of the boycott. Even though as a bookseller, I still will suggest to customers, as an influencer, I feel it important that the boycott works.

𝘼 𝙁𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙀𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙮 𝘼𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙖𝙛𝙩

“𝘐𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴—𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘹𝘺.“

I ate this book up! Seriously this was such an intriguing story, from the unique types of magic to the history between the different kingdoms. The audiobook was so well done, I hands down recommend listening to it! It will draw you right into the story and have you rooting for Niamh and Kit! The narration was top of the line, seriously. It’s worth investing in the audiobook to use while following along with the physical copy!

The Story:
In a ruined kingdom called Machland, Niamh has a special generational magic that allows her to stitch enchantments into the clothing she makes. She can help you feel a certain way or invoke memories in you. Using her gift takes a toll on her body that will ultimately kill her one day. Nevertheless, she works tirelessly trying to help others with her gift in order to build a better life for her family. When she receives a summons by the Prince Regent of the Avaland kingdom that caused the blight in her homeland, she accepts. She is asked to create clothes for the regents younger brother, Prince Christopher “Kit” Carmine, who is to wed a princess from a neighboring kingdom. Niamh’s first encounter with Kit leaves much to be desired and the two continue to clash throughout the Season. Behind the scenes, political unrest boils as the Machlish demand retribution for their suffering. Can one Machlish seamstress turn the head of a prince and help her people?

I can’t tell y’all enough how much I enjoyed this book. The story deals heavily in the past transgressions against the Machlish kingdom and its people that are still suffering the residual effects. The political unrest and the suffering of prosecuted people simply because they were different from others, can very much transmit into the real world.

The characters in this book were well developed and lovable! Kit was a complex character. Throughout the story you got glimpses of the man beneath the thorns he was shrouded in. Niamh was also a strong character that evolved so much throughout the course of the book. If you are a fan of forbidden love, this is definitely a book you NEED to read!

Tropes:
🪡 Historical Fiction
💔 Forbidden Love
🫶🏼 Enemies to Lovers
👑 Prince x Commoner
✨ Magic
💞 LGBT Representation

A Fragile Enchantment releases on January 2nd! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my eARC and audiobook so that I can share this honest review!

"𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮?" "𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸," 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘺, 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘸. "𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘥𝘢𝘸𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘦'𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵."

This book made me think of old fairytales. We have the seamstress with magic, who gets commissioned to make the clothes for the royal wedding, and we have the grumpy prince. There was a lot of twists and turns, drama, political intrigue and love, of course. The narrator did a great job bringing all the characters to life. In all it was a very enjoyable story.

Quick Summary: A fantastical NA regency experience

My Review: A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft is a "Regency England-inspired fantasy" novel. It is marketed toward teens and YA.

About the Book: In a tiered class system, a magical dressmaker finds herself caught up in a struggle between the haves and have nots. All is not as it would seem, as more is at play. Relationships, political machinations, scandal, brokenness, and heavy burdens weigh the leads down. Love lifts them up.

My Final Say: This was a highly interesting story. There was so much more to it than I expected. It had diverse characters who shared a sameness, in a sense. It also had an ugly-beautiful quality to it, in terms of the oppression of some (although it could be said of all), the dysfunctional society of people, the need for justice, the embracing of the forbidden, and the individual moments of growth and actualization. There were dangling threads, however, in the scheme of things, it did not lessen what ultimately transpired between Niamh and Kit.

Other: Because of the nature of much of the content in this book, I would suggest it be marketed as a NA versus a YA/teen read. It would be more appropriate.

Special Remarks: I had the pleasure of being able to read a digital copy of this work, as well as being able to listen to an audiobook of it. While I enjoyed both experiences, I preferred the audio. The e-ARC dragged a bit in some spots, which made my interest wane at times. The audiobook kept the character play fresher, which caused me to be more engaged with the process.

Rating: 3.75/5
Recommend: Yes
Recommended Audience: NA
Status/Level: 💬

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publishers (St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners), and to NetGalley. Thank you so very much for providing access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own. I am grateful for the opportunity I was given.

At first glance, I thought "A Fragile Enchantment" was Bridgerton but for teens. Because it is marketed as YA, I assumed there would be none of the spicy, open door sex scenes like in Bridgerton. This was NOT the case. So please be warned if you are recommending this to a teen, that this should really be marketed as NA.

I do stand by the fact that this is very much like Bridgerton. It's a regency era romance, but with a bit of magic sprinkled in. Here are my honest thoughts on this novel:

I am shocked by the overwhelmingly positive review for this book, and by the fact that this is in not one, but 2 exclusive book boxes for January (Fairyloot YA and Owlcrate YA). I did not enjoy this book at all!

One of my biggest problems with the book is the token LGBTQ characters. If you don't know what this means, it's basically when LGBTQ characters are thrown in the book for diversity. Both the main girl, Niahm, and guy Kit admit to liking members of the same sex. Niahm admits to Sinclair once he reveals he is gay, that she is one in the same, and goes into a flashback of her previous female lover. Kit also vaguely mentions people were starting rumors about him and Sinclair, though nother ever happened between them. Now, I completely understand if they had turned out to be bi, however, Niahm makes it pretty clear when she says "there were only 4 girls in Makland that like other girls" that it had been hard for her to find lovers in her hometown because she is a lesbian. She would not have needed to say this if she was bi. However, this is never addressed and even brushed over. The main guy and girl fall head over heals for each other, negating all the statements that they had about being LGBTQ. The author should have just stuck with Sinclair being gay, as all the other anecdotes were a waste of time reading since they didn't amount to anything, and made this already long book even longer.

Here is what I was HOPING for when I head each of the characters say they were gay: Niahm accidentally falls in love with the princess and steals her away from Kit, who has fallen in love with his forever best friend Sinclair. Now THAT would have been a GREAT way to include the LGBTQ community without just throwing them in the novel for diversity, and I would have been much more interesting in reading! (Please, someone write this book instead!)

Another this that was just dismal was the lack of chemistry between the characters. I mean, Kit is just completely awful the whole book! He is always grumpy, and I can't even imagine Niahm falling for such behavior. Even after she falls for him, he's still awful. Every single conversation between them seemed to drag on for WAY TOO LONG! I felt like the same conversation happened over and over again. The author definitely needed to cut some of these scenes.

I also was appalled by everyone just being like "oh yeah Niahm, just become the princes mistress, no problem". Sinclair casually mentions it, and there's no internal conflict. Niahm is just like "yeah ok maybe". WHAT?! Rosa says the same thing, that she basically has no problem with Niahm being her future husbands mistress, and Kit says "We'll talk about it after the wedding" as if Niahm is just expected to agree to being his mistress. Holy cow! What a weak woman.

I hate every single character in this book. Rosa just doesn't care about anything and is super grumpy all the time, Niahm and Kit are selfish, constantly making out with each other despite the fact that Kit's supposed to be married, Jack is really nasty to all characters, etc.

Then we come to the fact that the tabloid writer Lovelace really only seems to come up for plot convenience. We only read the first article regarding other noble scandals, and then we only hear about any other Lovelace columns when they involve Kit and Niahm. I'm sure there has to be other news, but The tabloids are never an issue to the main characters until it involves them.

The overall revolt of the Macklish also didn't make any sense. We find out more than halfway through the book why Jacks staff is leaving (royal coffers are empty!) but that doesn't explain the rest of the Macklish servants protesting. They didn't all work in the palace. Also when they go to wolf hall, it is said that the rest of the staff quit, however when they return to the palace it is never mentioned again. When I read that the rest of the staff quit, that makes me think that even the staff at the royal palace has quit. How is Jack feeding everyone and having the beds made, etc. I'm sure he's not doing it himself, which means he still has staff.

Regarding the narrator: I received an arc of the audiobook, so I listening to this. The narrator pronounces the main characters name Neeve instead of Niahm, and I don't understand why it's pronounced different than written. Is this to do with how the name Niahm would be pronounced in Ireland since the Macklish are supposedly based off of the Irish? I didn't know, and perhaps the novel explains how to pronounce her name and I just missed it because I didn't read the physical book. Besides that, I actually really enjoyed the narrator. She did a fantastic job of switching accents, as the main narraction was a British accent (due to Aveland being based off England) and she seamlessly switched to the Irish accent every time she needed to speak as Niahm. She also had a pretty good spanish accent for the characters of Rosa and Marisol. I felt like the book was slow, but I don't think it was the narrator's fault. I think it was more due to unnecessary scenes and how it was written.

Also the sex scene...so cringy! It is not sexy to write about taking your garters off and it just showed how inexperienced the main girl was....I felt super uncomfortable!

The book just didn't make much sense, had awful, unlikable characters, and dragged on for way too long. I am very happy I got a review copy and didn't end up paying a ton for an exclusive edition in one of the book boxes.
For me this was a 2.5/5, however I will round up to 3. A lot of people are liking this, so I think if the plotline interests you, please give it a chance. This will be good for OLDER TEENS (sex scene) and people who enjoy regency era romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The narrator did a fabulous job with the different voices and accents. Their voice drew me in and kept me listening.

This was a great story! I loved the world building. I could fully envision the regency era as I read. I felt pulled in as if I was right there with the characters. The fantasy, history and romance was perfectly woven together to create a wonderful book.

If you're a fan of romantasy and historical romance, this is for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the chance to listen to this audiobook ahead of release in exchange for my honest opinion.

★★★★★ - 𝓐𝓾𝓭𝓲𝓸𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft
༘Spoiler free ༘
🎙️⭐️5/5 *audiobook rating
📖⭐️ 4.94/5 *book rating
🌟 4.97/5 *combined rating
🌶️ the perfect level of spice
Young Adult, Romantasy, Genre
🎙️ ****Fran Burgoyne 5⭐️****
➳ 🕯️regency era
➳ 🤺 enemies to lovers
➳ ❤️‍🔥 slow burn
➳ 🌞 sunshine x grumpy 🌧️
➳ 🪄 magic
➳ 👑 court intrigue
➳ 📰 anonymously penned scandal sheets
➳ 💘 forbidden love

✨“Our fates are not sealed. It is never too late to live the way you wish, and you are not doomed to anything. I understand what it’s like to not want to disappoint people. But you deserve to be happy, too. Life is too short, and it is yours.”✨
Say hello to your new favourite romantasy author, Allison Saft. This regency romantasy is filled with scandal, court intrigue, social unrest, forbidden love, and whimsical magic. This is a must-read young adult romantic fantasy, releasing 02 January 2024, that deserves to be on everyone’s TBR.

🎧Narration Review🎧

I had originally envisioned an irish accent for the Niamh, but Fran Burgoyne absolutely stole my heart. The narrator brought Niamh’s character to life and imbued her voice with emotion in a way that made me feel as if this was my own inner monologue. Few narrators succeed at bringing a book to life in this way, but the team at Macmillan Audio found a way to elevate A Fragile Enchantment into a vivid listening experience. I loved reading this novel, but this audiobook was the cherry on top.

🍒🪡🎀

Fran Burgoyne is a new must-listen narrator to me. Thank you for allowing us to experience Allison Saft’s lush prose with your soothing narration.

❧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:❦:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧❧

I found this book to be a perfect balance of romance and fantasy. The worldbuilding flowed naturally, and beautifully captured the regency era vibes. Avaland is based on England, and Machland is seemingly Ireland. There’s plenty of lore included by Saft in this story, and I am actually very intrigued by some of the myths that were mentioned. I would love to read more about the Gods that sailed to Machland, and I think the different Avlish and Macklish myths would make great standalone books.

"A Fragile Enchantment" showcases a meticulous exploration of a fantasy world woven into a historical setting, infusing elements of enchantment and magic within a regency-era narrative.

I truly loved the intricate use of magical tailoring, portraying emotions, and memories within the garments created by the FMC. The incorporation of social issues and complexities, such as LGBTQ+ representation, classism, and chronic illness, added depth to the storyline and made it feel more inclusive. It offered a fresh take on the regency period, integrating LGBTQ+ relationships, intricate character dynamics, and a vibrant&magical element that enriches the romantic storyline. It's a fusion of historical charm and fantastical elements that create a unique reading experience in the genre.

The romance was god-tier, without writing explicit scenes, Allison Saft manages to imbue her story with so much longing and tension. I found myself on the edge of my seat, cheering the characters on and gasping at these scenes. I found Niamh to be incredibly relatable, and i found her character arc so satisfying. She had a way of getting people to open up and it was easy to love the other characters seeing them through her perspective.

The characters' personal growth in "A Fragile Enchantment" felt really authentic and satisfying. Niamh's journey from self-doubt to embracing her self-worth was relatable, and Kit's transformation from guarded and closed-off to revealing his softer side added depth to the story. It all felt genuine and made the book quite fulfilling.

The central theme of "A Fragile Enchantment" revolves around self-discovery, sacrifice, and the pursuit of love against societal norms. It's effectively portrayed through the characters' personal struggles, their desires clashing with the constraints of their society, and the journey towards self-acceptance and genuine connections/authenticity.

While most storylines are neatly wrapped up, a few minor threads could possibly be explored further, but they don't hinder the overall satisfaction of the ending.

Allison Saft’s writing style in "A Fragile Enchantment" is whimsical and elegant, characterized by lyrical prose that beautifully captures emotions and scenery. Allison Saft's writing weaves a dreamy atmosphere, drawing readers into the story with vivid descriptions and emotionally resonant language.

My primary emotion upon finishing "A Fragile Enchantment" was a blend of contentment and bittersweet longing. The book's ending left me feeling fulfilled yet yearning for more, a testament to the emotional impact and connection I felt with the characters and their journey.

l would wholeheartedly recommend "A Fragile Enchantment" to others, especially to those who appreciate beautifully crafted historical fantasy romance. The book features vivid characters, a captivating blend of magic and historical setting, and a deeply immersive storyline that leaves a lasting impact. Allison Saft's enchanting prose and the well-developed, emotionally resonant characters make this a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

💖
LIKES:
⋆ **Enchanting Prose:** The author's writing style is poetic and beautifully descriptive.
⋆ **Rich Characterization:** Characters are vivid, complex, and relatable, with compelling backstories.
⋆ **Magical Elements:** The incorporation of magic, especially Niamh's ability to infuse emotions into clothing, is unique and captivating.
⋆ **Romantic Tension:** The gradual development of the romance, particularly the grumpy x sunshine dynamic, was engaging and heartfelt
⋆ **World-building:** The Regency-era setting with touches of Irish folklore provides an immersive and engaging backdrop.

**Fantasy Scoring**
Worldbuilding ➷ ✅ 5/5
Foreshadowing ➷ ✅ 4.75/5
Plot ➷ ✅ 5/5
Relationships ➷ ✅ 5/5

Thank you to the Allison Saft, MacMillan Audio, ****Macmillan Young Listeners**** and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest opinion on the ARC of this audiobook.

This audiobook was just as delightful as the eARC version I received. I truly enjoyed the narrator and her portrayal of the characters. What I enjoyed the most out of this story was that it is in no way instalove (which I despise). There was a bit of long-winded exposition at the beginning, but that is generally so with fantasy books. The characters were interesting, the magic system was unique, and I cannot wait to read more from Allison Saft! I would certainly recommend picking this book up when it is published.
4.25 stars.

Thank you to Allison Saft, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was so meh. Retitle to: Everyone Wants What They Can't (Or Think They Can't) Have. That was the main theme. Neeve (that's how the narrator pronounced it) wanted a better life for pretty much everyone, then wanted Kit. Kit wanted freedom, then Neeve. Sinclair wanted acceptance and equality. The king wanted a healthy peaceful kingdom and brother. Sophia wanted happiness in her marriage. Rosa wanted freedom and Miriam. Miriam wanted Rosa.

For some it came across as longing, for some as entitlement, for some as just plain being whiny. For all it got old.

Characters need to want things. It motivates them, drives their actions, produces conflict, gives them an arc one way or the other. I get it. But that doesn't mean they have to be so . . . (i)needy(/i) about it.

And because it was a romance, all that pretty much happened was characters finding reasons to hang out and whine about what they wanted, aka character development. I wish more had attitudes like Rosa--not liking her circumstances but maturely taking them in stride. Everyone had unhealthy coping mechanisms: Neeve forewent sleep and food and worked herself ill; Kit drank and brooded and snarled; Sinclair flaunted his self-hatred and became a saboteur; Jack kept secrets and overburdened himself with stress; Sophia suffered in meek, miserable silence; Miriam in dutiful silence. That was most of the book, until they were all forced to confront their unhealthy coping mechanisms at the end, when it was either change or, you know, war and devastation. Of course they all decided that war and devastation didn't sound like much fun, and like dominoes they each made changes and got what they wanted, more or less.

To some that premise could sound reasonable, and if approached different it might have been. But the execution here wasn't to my taste. It wasn't so bad that I wanted to DNF, but disagreeable enough that listening became a chore.

Neeve was guileless and selfless enough to be likeable, but there wasn't much else to her character. Kit was a shit from moment one; Saft tried to paint him as the stereotypical broody and rude on the outside, soft and vulnerable on the inside, but to me he was simply a child throwing tantrums. Jack reeked of ulterior motives and put me off. Sinclair was both the gay best friend and the royal bastard who oozed charm, personality, and inadequacy.

The magic was . . . I could say miscast, because all the abilities were unsuitable for the plot's needs--by which I mean they were underutilized or more powerful than the situation called for--but the magic was really just unnecessary. Off the top of my head I can't think of any reason the magic was vital to the plot. Neeve could have been hired because she was simply very skilled. Kit could have known how to pick locks. Jack--I actually don't remember what Jack could do. Or Sophia. The other king could just have been a better fighter than Kit, summoning a thunderstorm is pretty extra. Rosa could summon fire, for heaven's sake, and used it, what, once? Twice? for piddly reasons.

The use of Neeve's magic baffled me. To my understanding, she could sew memories and emotions into items of clothing, and those memories and emotions would transfer to the wearer. Seems straightforward, right? Not really. Saft didn't set very clear rules for the power. First of all, Neeve had a hard time controlling her thoughts and emotions while she was working, so she often had no idea what effect the items would actually have. Aside from that, her magic sometimes affected only the wearer. Sometimes it affected everyone in the vicinity. Also, Saft took more of a . . . therapeutic approach to Neeve's magic, but all I could wonder was why Neeve wasn't weaponized. If you think about it, she was more or less telepathic. Want someone to love you? Give them a handkerchief laced with adoration, obsession, and lust. Want someone to kill themselves? Plant a pair of hopeless and self-loathing socks in their drawer. Instead Saft had Neeve wear dresses that inspired tranquility or nostalgia. Which could have their uses, but . . . boring.

And Kit could make plants grow. Out of thin air, apparently. He used them to pick locks, to hide things, to isolate himself . . . that's pretty much it. Oh, and to catch Neeve, who developed a clumsy habit that was supposed to be endearing but was just annoying. Why wasn't he protecting the estate with thorny vines? Maintaining a thriving orchard to help feed the hungry? I know he puttered in the greenhouse, but I got the sense it was more, again, therapeutic than useful. In his fight against the king he could have hog-tied him with vines--suffocated him, for that matter--or filled the air with allergens and made the king have an asthma attack. Made a tree sprout where the king was standing to knock him sideways.

Well, anyway, I've exhausted my point. Underutilized, unimaginative, unnecessary, take your pick.

Overall, while this book contained some interesting ideas and the protagonist was likeable, I didn't much enjoy it.

The audiobook narrator does an excellent job with this one. She seamlessly switches back and forth between at least three different accents at times. And her tone lends itself perfectly the the ethereal, soft nature of this story.

I don't think that I have read a YA story that was this interesting and dynamic while at the same time being so soft and delicate yet filled the BRIM with yearning in quite a long time. This story is a gem. It's going to appeal to your romance readers. It's going to appeal to your regency/HistFic readers. It's got some Bridgerton-esque elements. It has light elements of magic that are so uniquely woven into this world.

I knew that I was looking forward to this one (I mean I preordered it like six months ago) but I didn't think that I was going to fall as deeply in love with it as I did.

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft is about a magical dressmaker who is hired to outfit the royal wedding.
Niamh has the power to put emotions into the dresses she creates which is why she is hired to create the outfits for the upcoming royal wedding. However, as soon as she meets the Prince who she is supposed to be making the clothes for, she immediately dislikes him. He is rude, arrogant, and insults her mercilessly. She is sure that she will be sent home any minute, but she needs this work to support her family back home. Soon Niamh is tangled in the politics of the court and dueling factions of the royals.
I loved the world building in the book. Allison Saft did a great job making the places described feel real. The narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life.

A warm and cozy romantasy with all the gossip, political intrigue, and romance of Bridgerton, but a more fantastical atmosphere. Although I found myself wanting more fantasy and explanation around the magic in this world, I really enjoyed it, particularly in audiobook format.

A Fragile Enchantment is like if Bridgerton and a magical fairy tale had a cute little book baby. Niamh is a magical seamstress commissioned by the royal family of Avaland to design a wedding wardrobe. The groom, Kit, is the grump to her sunshine, but as Niamh spends more time with him, she discovers the layers that lay beneath his prickly (but very attractive) surface.

The beginning of this story enchanted me, as the magical elements were introduced, but as the plot progressed and more political and fantastical elements were introduced, I found myself losing interest. Niamh is an endearing and well-formed main character, and the audiobook narrator's emotive performance made her perspective that much more compelling. I think you will enjoy this book if you like:
- grumpy/sunshine
- forbidden romance
- themes of sacrifice and family
- exploration of class systems in a fictional society
- political manipulations
- a lovely fantasy world filled with magic

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for gifting me with an ALC to review! All opinions are my own.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for gifting me an eARC of my anticipated read of 2024, in exchange for an honest review.

Allison Saft is hands down one of my many new favorite authors.

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft is a YA fantasy novel, set in a kingdom where a prince is set off to marry, and commissions a magical tailor to make him an outfit. But everything goes awry when a gossip column starts to write about how they're madly in love. Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into fabric is the same magic that will eventually kill her. Determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family, Niamh jumps at the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland. But Avaland is far from the fairytale that she imagined. While young nobles attend candlelit balls and elegant garden parties, unrest brews amid the working class. The groom himself, Kit Carmine, is prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a political pawn. But when Niamh and Kit grow closer, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more—until an anonymous gossip columnist starts buzzing about their chemistry, promising to leave them alone only if Niamh helps to uncover the royal family’s secrets. The rot at the heart of Avaland runs deep, but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible.

I loved Saft's Down Comes the Night (as it remains to be one of my favorite books of all time) and her A Far Wilder Magic. I loved this one to bits, because even though it removed most of the angst Saft typically includes. It instead gave the reader fluff and absolute adorableness. I was a little confused on the overall world building, but I was all for the romance between Niamh and Kit. And that ending just made me swoon. Don't be surprised if you catch me re-reading this one when it's fully published.

Niamh Ó Conchobhair is commissioned by the royal family of Avaland to tailor the wardrobe for a royal wedding. Niamh has a magical ability to sew memories and emotions into her designs, thus causing the wearer to have a magical experience. But Avaland is far from the fairytale that she imagined. While young nobles attend candlelit balls and elegant garden parties, unrest brews amid the working class. The groom himself, Kit Carmine, is prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a political pawn. But when Niamh and Kit grow closer, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more—until an anonymous columnist starts buzzing about their chemistry, promising to leave them alone only if Niamh helps to uncover the royal family’s secrets. The rot at the heart of Avaland runs deep, but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

Narrated by Fran Burgoyne

Genre: YA Fantasy Romance (closed door)
Regency inspired fantasy

Niamh Ó Conchobhair has a gift. She’s a dressmaker who can weave emotions into her clothing, creating magical masterpieces that transcend the ordinary. When the Prince Regent invites her from her native Machland to the royal palace in Avaland to serve as tailor for a wedding wardrobe to his younger brother Prince Christopher Carmine, she jumps at the chance to make not only a name for herself but to send money back to her family. Kit Carmine isn’t what she expected - he’s surly and crass, and absolutely wants nothing to do with a wedding or his bride or even his tailor - but Niamh wants to see beneath his thorns (figurative and magical) to his true character underneath.

This was an absolutely charming and utterly sweet book with fairy tale vibes. It’s a standalone book that borrows from Regency England for a baseline worldbuilding. The political landscape is familiar, with Ireland (Machland), England (Avaland), and Spain (Castilia), and the exploitation of the lower classes and in particular the Machlish servants who have been carrying the oppression and poverty caused by a Blight brought on by Kit’s father, the Mad King. Saft is able to give us a light-touch magic system - those with magic have distinct powers - that feels wholly relevant to character development and plot.

A Fragile Enchantment is YA only in the sense that the characters are on the younger side and in the perfect simplicity of the prose. The inner monologues feel age appropriate but not immature, and the overall plot kept me - distinctly not a YA reader - engaged. Allison Saft’s writing style is gentle and moving. She also brings charming and delightful LGBTQ+ representation: both main characters are bi, and there are other queer characters throughout, both touched by scandal and transcending it.

I switched back and forth between the audiobook and ebook versions of the book. I absolutely loved Fran Burgoyne’s narration and highly recommend listening to her lilting Irish accent for Niamh, which somehow brought even more magic to this fairy tale.

The fact that I stayed up until after 1am, running on 3 hrs of sleep to finish this, should speak for itself.

It was a slow start, and I definitely prefer the audio format, but once I got the Bridgerton vibe, I was hooked!

Hey. You. Come here. Come closer.

You know how Anthony and Kate in Bridgerton did that thing where they have a prickly beginning but fall in love any way despite their best efforts not to, and everyone but them knows, and then one of them is actively going forward with an unwanted wedding to another person because of 'duty' and what will make the other person happy but they're actually both just idiots?

Yes, that. But with magic. And it's PERFECTION.

Allison Saft has my whole heart and wallet at this point.