*thank you to Netgalley and Flatiron Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review*


First things first: I love historical fiction. Enchantée did not fail to deliver everything I come to expect from a good hisfic: mystery, intrigue, education, and a new look at a well-know event (or time period).
Camille is living in France, in the times just before the French Revolution, trying to take care of her siblings. She uses magic, forbidden by her mother, to transform things into money to buy food and medicine and such for the family.
Eventually, her brother runs away and Camille must figure something else out...enter the Baroness de la Fountaine...Camille’s alias.
This story tugs on hot heart strings, teaches you about the times, all while seeeping you away into a world of fantasy.

After the death of her parents to smallpox, Camille Durbonne struggles to get by with her younger sister Sofie. One thing Camille can do is use magic to change metal into coins, but that isn't enough. After her older brother steals her money, she uses dark magic to use glamour to disguise herself as a rich Baroness and gamble with other aristocrats at Versailles. But Camille gets seduced by the glamour of the rich and finds that there is a cost to using the magic. When her secret is revealed, Camille must chose whether to continue using her magic or fight for what she truly believes.

What worked: Fascinating glimpse into 1789 Paris right before the French Revolution. There's magic at the court, but using it comes with a cost. I loved the intrigue of 1789 Paris in the glittering courts of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Also the idea that not only the aristocrats, but Versailles used magic adds to the story.

Camille was a product of her time. Only she had magic to help her rise from the intense poverty that was around her. This didn't stop her from being abused by her older brother. She fights back in the only way she can, by using her ability to use magic. I liked how this ability doesn't come easy to her. The dark element of magic at first repulses her, but she learns to rely on it. She's swept up with the glamour of the court. Her younger sister isn't in the background, but also gets caught up in Camille's lies and attempts to better themselves.

There's also romance in the court and outside. Camille finds herself falling in love with Lazare, who has his own secrets. What's hard for Camille is she's not sure if Lazare will really like her if he knows she's been disguising herself at the court. Her struggles and conflict are shown not only at home, but at Versailles. She finds that she's not the only one using magic and fears being exposed. The king has outlawed magic and the penalty is death.

The addition of the balloons is intriguing too. At this time, balloons were all the rage in Paris. I really liked how the author was able to use this historical fact, along with magic.

Engaging tale of a young girl who uses magic to transform herself into an aristocrat, at first to take back from them, but later falls under the charm of Versailles. Only later does she find that maybe magic isn't enough, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.

Enchantée is as magical on the inside as the cover. This is a story about family, about ambition, addiction, and magic. It's about the family we love, but also hate. The push and pull of obligation, the ways they stretch us out further than we thought. But it's also about struggle, addiction to the thrill, and figuring out where you belong. If you love historical fiction, magic, and complicated family, Enchantée is for you.
Family & Addiction

The theme that emerged out of the darkness to absolutely enchant me was family. At the very beginning we witness the ways that family can hollow us out. We love them, but they also have this bewitching hold over us. When do we tell someone it's enough? How much loyalty are they owed as their fates hover a knife's breadth away from destruction? Camille carries a burden that endears herself to us. It's a burden of family, the cages we walk into ourselves.

I enjoyed reading this book - wandering the tension-filled streets of Paris, sitting in the gambling rooms of Versailles, taking flight in one of the first hot air balloons.
The writing was very good and I felt <I> Six of Crows </I> vibes from it, though I can’t exactly pinpoint why.
The main character, Camille, felt authentic, and I was frustrated for her as she tried to better her circumstances in a 1789 France that is on the brink of revolution. Camille’s use of simple magic steadily increases until she’s entrenched in deception.
I liked the setting of the novel and the cast of characters and their friendships. I found the story to be memorable and unique and I foresee it being a hit.

This book soars above the rest, literally. From hot air balloons to forbidden magic, it is a heart-stopping exciting ride through Paris at the beginning of the French Revolution.

What I loved ❤️💙❤️:
1. Camille is a very sympathetic character who is coping with the death of her parents and trying to support her siblings. Her sorrow helps her work magic that allows her to transform herself into a baroness and go to Versailles to earn money for her family.
2. Lazare is a hot air balloonist.. and like Camille, he is possibly something else. He is everything you could want in a hero, but also deliciously flawed.
3. The glittering and magical setting of Versailles that is starting to show the rot of aristocratic decadence. Contrasted by the poverty of Paris and the desperation of the poor.
4. A villain who is wealthy and full of dark magic.
5. The true historical events that serve as a backdrop to the story, like the Tennis Court Oath and the storming of the Bastille.

This book is truly an enchanting read you will want to fly away in.

★★★.5 Stars!

This was a cute, slow-burn romance, magical read. I enjoyed the story line and am only giving it 3.5 stars because it did quite a bit to develop. I really liked Camille and her desire to provide a better life for her and her sister WITHOUT her jerk of a brother's help, I just wish she would have taken a few more risks.

The beautiful french picture that Gita Trelease painted was so vivid that I felt as if I were there and I loved it!

This was a sweet and enjoyable book. It was a little slow in parts, but it held my attention far more than anything else has lately. Characters are pretty likable, and the relationship between the two sisters is full of love and support. I do wish there was a bit more history of the magic, and the plot was a little predictable... It was fun to read something set in Versailles, and get a glimpse into the world of Marie Antoinette.

This arc was provided to me for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

“The court fears and worships magic. Be careful.”

4 Stars

Ripped from our history books, Enchantée tells the story of the start of the French Revolution but with magic. This book starts with Camille, a girl who must use magic to turn useless metal into money to provide for her younger sister, Sophie as her brother, Alain does nothing to help. With their parents dead and Alain robbing every coin they have, Camille must now use her magic to pursue more riches putting her and Sophie in even more danger. Throw in some politics, a few friendships, and a little romance and you got yourself one enchanting tale.

Camille was a difficult character to like but I found Sophie even more hard to take in. Sophie was awful for most of the book, so young and naive but also had this annoying ability to think she knew best. But Lazare, a French and Indian descendant, was by far the star of the show. His whimsical love for balloons was delightful to witness. And his emotional confession of how his diversity is treated within the courts only made me want to pull him from the book and hug him.

Enchantée had such a fun plot while also keeping me on my toes. Knowing how history plays out and what was to come. It terrified me each time Camille went to court and worked her magic, I was always terrified something was going to occur and screw it up. I also enjoyed the magic system and how brilliant the cost of magic was sorrow and blood. Seeing the toll it took on Camille and how she kept going because she wanted a better life for herself but more importantly for her sister was by far one of the greatest things about this book. The sister bond that Camille and Sophie had, even if one character annoyed me more, it was still sweet to see them love each other that much.

Overall this book wasn’t bad. It has moments that were a bit dull but I enjoyed it for the most part. Enchantée was well worth the read and if any of you enjoy historical fiction with a little bit of a twist, I think you will really like this. I see now that there will be a companion to this book which is super exciting. Can’t wait to see what else this author has to offer.

Enchantee is a remarkable story that is filled with magic among the rich French aristocracy. Think of a Les Miserables world filled with magic and high society. There has always something about the French royalty to immediately brings to mind glamour, romance and and the author was able to mix in intrigue and mystery which I loved. I was pleasantly surprised with this one.

Thanks to author NetGalley and Flatiron Books for sharing this debut young adult historical fantasy with me. All opinions are my own. Out 2/5/19!

17-year-old Camille Durbonne is barely scraping by in pre-revolutionary Paris while nursing her younger sister, Sophie, back to health from smallpox which killed her parents. She’s been using petty magic, la magie ordinaire, to turn scrap metal into coins for just long enough to trick unsuspecting shopkeepers, but this trick won’t last much longer as they are growing wise to her game. When her alcoholic, abusive older brother steals her life savings and there’s no way to pay the rent for their crumbling, rat-infested home, Camille has no choice but to turn to bigger magic- glamoire.

Everyday magic is fueled by sorrow and tears, which Camille has plenty of as she grieves for her parents and her lost life of simple pleasures. Glamoire, however, is fueled by sorrow and human blood. Using the darker magic that was forbidden by her mother and wearing an enchanted blood-thirsty dress, she disguises herself as Baroness de la Fontaine and heads to Versailles, where she infiltrates Marie Antoinette’s glimmering court and wins card games by cheating. Her goal is to win just enough money to pay rent for somewhere safe and start a new life. But the lure of scrumptious food and beautiful things is so tempting. Camille is surprised to find herself befriending young privileged nobles, despite being born with rebellion in her blood.

When Camille returns to Paris, she meets a fascinating and handsome young man, a budding hot-air balloonist. Also, angry peasants are fed up and there is talk of a revolution. She begins to imagine the possibility of a new simple life, and maybe even love, on the horizon. But, unfortunately, magic has a price. While the French revolution rises to a full boil, spilling into the streets, her secrets are revealed. Camille finds herself in the most unimaginable of circumstances, and her fight for survival takes a deadly turn.

This debut historical fantasy reads like fresh cream, rich and filling. With three-dimensional characters that walk right off the page and into your heart and a lavishly described setting that transports you to pre-revolutionary France, this striking examination of power, privilege, racism, and bias truly enchants.

I found the magic to be fascinating, especially that it draws on sorrow for fuel. It reminded me that sorrow and grief are powerful forces that can harm us, but that can also precipitate change for the better- a revolution for our souls.

A unique plot full of heart, a slow-burning romance, and plenty of twists and turns. The history, deeply woven into this decadent and captivating story, has been deeply researched, making this dazzling debut sparkle with even more dimension. And the last 50 pages- WOW! WOW! WOW!

Fans of Garber’s Caravel will find this book a pure delight. For 12+

3.25/5 stars

I was expecting much for from this, if Im being completely honest. I felt this whole book was just alright. Not great as what many have hyped it up to be. As far as historical fantasies go, it was an interesting take with the magicians needing sorrow to use magic.

Camille uses magic to transform scraps into coins, which she can use to pay for items to care and feed for her siblings, Sophian and Alain. Camille is the only of the orphaned siblings who had any success in magic, and her older brother Alain drinks himself away and gambles whatever coins he can get. One night, Alain becomes so out of himself that he threatens Camille to expose them to the streets and prostitution in order to repay his debts, leading to Camille planning to somehow produce enough money to get her and Sophie to safety. She resorts to a higher magic, one that requires her own blood and much more sorrow, in order to glamour herself and sneak into Versailles to use her magic to gamble and win the money she needs for their future. Thus, the story gets rolling.

The premise is great! I placed my bets. High stakes. Instead of winning big, Unfortunately, I lost and won back about 3/4 of what I arrived with. I was 40% in and I was still unsure on how I felt! That's definitely NOT a good sign for me. 20%? Sure. But 40%? That sets off some alarms. I felt like I wasn't truly interested until 70% in when the climax started to really build and there was a sense of urgency. Even then, the ending and final fight was so lackluster and just left me feeling empty. I felt the ending to the fight was so sudden and just boring. The official ending of the book was good when you think of events that happened between Camille and Lazare, but even then the ending was just not completely fitting. I might've given this 3.75 stars if the ending sequence was written better?

Don't even get me started on the characters. Alain? Detestable. Lazare? Cute but one-dimensional. Sophie? So forgetable. All the side characters from the palace? Also forgettable. The only characters I truly liked were Charon (was that his name?) and Camille. Camille was the only one who felt fleshed out, which was sad since we were supposed to also love Sophie as she's the reason Camille uses magic.

The romance. Oh my god. I felt Camille and Lazare to be more as good friends, but definitely not lovers. Their moments together were cute, and sometimes I really felt there was a connection. This was unfortunately more towards the 70% mark as well. Even with the sweet moments, there were too many times where I just felt blah when reading their moments together or even Camille's thoughts on him. I wasn't convinced that they were truly in love. The fact that love plays a heavy role in the 2nd half of this book makes it even more disappointing.

Overall, Enchantée was an alright book, but definitely has some major issues regarding the characters. There was much to be desired, and I frankly felt like DNFing this multiple times. While the plot is interesting and seeing Camille struggle to do what she needs to do for her family's well-being no matter what was all well and done, it leaves much to be desired. The magic is explained well, but still leaves the reader questioning all the mysteries left unanswered. If you're set on this and have no doubt you'll enjoy it, then hats off to you. I, personally, would recommend to borrow from a local library instead of purchasing.

Enchantee is a very interesting blend of historical fiction, magic, romance, and thriller. It does begin a bit slowly, but the plot picks up fairly quickly and really grabs your attention. The characters were complex and unique, though I do wish some of the secondary characters had been more developed. The magic was also so interesting but it wasn't as involved as I wish it had been. I think the book as a whole had a good foundation but I found myself wanting more: more magic, more dialogue, more romance, more mystery.

Enchantée started off slow but it just kept building and then I was hooked. Beautiful detailed descriptions of Paris before the revolution. I got wrapped up in the magic, love and the darkness and I was sad when it ended. This book was not what I expected and I was surprised I liked it so much.

Paris, magic, and history! What's not to love? Well for me it was the pace. Enchantee had a great story and it was obvious that Trelease did her research, but I felt that the beginning was slow and that it could have been about a 1/4 of the book shorter. I was a fan of the characters and the setting was well described but it needed a little more editing. It would have been a solid 4.5 stars for me but unfortunately I have to go with a 3.

“Remember—magic is a cheater’s game, and everyone who sees it wants to play.”

Enchantée is a book that is set in historical Paris, during 1789, but this is a version of Paris unlike any other. Yes, the French Revolution is beginning, and the people are starving and rioting, while Marie Antoinette and other aristocrats ignore their pleas. But some people in this alternative history are able to wield magic to help make their lives a little easier.

In this world, there are three different types of magic:
➽ Magie Ordinaire - changing things
➽ Glamoire - changing oneself
➽ Magie Bibelot - making objects sentient

This book stars Camille, a young girl able to wield magic, but is very scared to get caught because the stakes are so high. Yet, she still turns magic into scrap metal so that they have a little money to live off of. But her younger sister Sophie is not in the best of health, and both of their parents have just died to smallpox. The only person who is supposed to be looking out for them is their older brother, Alain, who is drinking and gambling away what little money they do have.

But when Camille helps out a couple hot air balloon makers, then she finds a magical dress that is hidden away in a secret trunk, and she ends up taking her and her sisters future into her own hands and will stop at nothing to ensure their health and safety. From there, she throws herself into a world of aristocracy, filled with nobles who do not even realize the food they are wasting while people in the streets are starving.

I wanted to love this so much, friends. But sadly, it just fell so very short for me. I felt like the author was trying to cram so many important things that happened in France in that time into this book, while also trying to write her own story, and both elements just made this entire story feel disjointed and left a lot to be desired. And honestly? Even my synopsis of this book sounds a lot better than the book actually is.

I was so bored throughout. I just kept waiting for something more exciting to happen, but it never did. The twists and turns were so predictable and so lackluster. And them ignoring the gross behavior that Alain displayed made me so angry. And their constant views on sex workers made my eyes almost roll out of my head completely. Oh, and the villain was straight up from a comic, twirling his mustache, I swear!

I will say that one of the main side characters, Lazare, is biracial (Indian and French) and he does have a really good discussion about how he feels like the French never let him forget that he isn’t white. I really appreciated that. I also appreciated that Camille was willing to do whatever it took to care for Sophie. You all know I’m always here for good sibling relationships. But besides these two elements? I really didn’t enjoy this one.

I’m so sorry, friends! I do feel like I’ve been really not enjoying a lot of the historical stories I’ve read in 2018, so maybe you will enjoy this a lot more than I did. A lot of my friends have actually given this one really high praise, too. But I’m wishing you all happy reading, always.

Corrupted D-ARC file made it difficult to read - might as well plan to preorder a physical copy of the book for the cover alone.

As soon as I heard of this book, I knew I had to read it. Historical fantasy is a trend that’s exploding in YA right now, and I’m so excited to see all the new twists and creative perspectives that authors are coming out with.

Enchantee takes a unique look at the start of the French Revolution. The plot focuses on Camille, and her friends and family that she tries so desperately to protect. I really liked this book—it did a great job of balancing the sweet, fluffy moments with darker themes and twists. I also loved how the magic was such a deep symbol in the book—I got chills the moment I realized that the story isn’t really about magic at all; instead, the magic itself is an allegory for all the things that so easily take over our lives and shift our focus.

The one thing that did bug me is that the book has a very small focus. While it does touch on the very start of the revolution, it doesn’t really show the bigger picture. I would’ve liked more context on how the historical situation was affecting the character’s personal lives, and to have some of the main conflict more grounded in the time period. The story ended up feeling rather disconnected, and almost incomplete because of this.

Overall, this was fun, mostly clean read that I definitely recommend. 4 stars!

A note on content: I wasn't a fan of the decision to normalize a homosexual relationship in the book. I consider this to be part of the negative content, and it contributes to the reduction of a star in the rating.

Trigger warning for self-harm and physical assault survivors.

Content warnings:
Sexual: mentions of prostitution, kisses, romantic thoughts, hints at threats of rape, and fear of sexual assault.
Language: infrequent strong language (more dated terms—no f-bombs, etc).
Violence: semi-graphic assaults and attacks (including between family), self-harm for magic, dueling, fatal injuries.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review!
For more reviews and bookish fun, see Gabriellenblog.wordpress.com.

Before I start my review, I really want to say that this story was beautiful. While it didn't win me over, I have to say that it was well written. The author did her research on how life was like in this time period and it shows.

I really don't know what I was expecting while reading this one. I expect the glam of Paris and to be thrown into magic and that's what I got. We have magic, romance, and friendship. Like I said before I really did enjoy the writing. Trelease really captured the setting and made it vivid.

I won't say that I liked Camille, but I respected her. She did what she had to do for her family. She endured so much to make a better life for her and her sister. The magic that she used while in Versailles wasn't simple magic. To use it was to give it a piece of yourself.

Seeing what she would go through to survive and for her family was amazing to read about. We also got to see her indifference. The more she used magic, the more she had to think about what was important to her. What was she willing to go through. Was she willing to lose herself completely? Was she willing to become a completely different person because of how she felt while using it magic?

My favorite person in this book had to be Lazare. He was struggling to find his place in the aristocratic court. He was of French and Indian descent and I was glad to see that here. I liked that we had questions of race and diversity here! Even though Lazare was an aristocrat, that didn't make him immune from the whispers and racism.

With that praise, I still couldn't give it more than three stars. I feel like this book could have been shorter. The beginning did take a bit to get into and it seemed to drag in some spots. Quite a few times I found myself really having to make sure I didn't skim over some parts.

Overall, While it did fall flat for me in some areas, I did like the atmosphere and following Camille on her journey.

A unique historical fiction that takes place during the lead up to the French Revolution. A common girl has to find a way to use her one key strength, her magic, to provide for herself and her sister after the death of their parents. Mixed in with this are the struggles between the aristocracy and third estate. I enjoyed the book once I got into it. A bot dry for me in parts, but overall an enjoyable story.

A magical and, honouring the name, enchanting tale, Enchantée was a fun time to read. It's the story of a poor young lady in pre-revolution France, Paris specifically, named Camille Durbonne. Camille and her siblings are impoverished after the traffic death of their parents, and in an attempt to pay rent, get her sisters medication and put food on the table, she turns to magic; specifically, a magic that stems from pain and sorrow, that eats away at the magician. Using her magic to slip into the court, she gets sucked into a world of excess and gambling, and has to figure out how far is too far before she gets caught, or the magic takes too high of a tole. All the while, her heart is taken for a ride with a sweet hot-air ballooning aristocrat, who poses the risk of figuring out her disguise and risking everything she has worked for.
I really enjoyed Enchantée. I have been in a bit of a reading slump recently, but this book was just the pick-me-up I needed. It was in a new setting from the one I am used to and it had multiple fascinating premises. I was not expecting much from this novel, since I don't love political court dramas, but I found myself happily engrossed in it. I really liked Camille and her sister, and constantly found myself deeply empathizing with them and muttering my encouragements to them aloud as I read. They, like every single character in this book, were incredibly well rounded and developed. The plot was constantly developing in some manner or another and it felt like there were no wasted moments in this book, which is fantastic. When I put down the book I found I was very satisfied with it, and was proud to have an ARC of it in my collection, which is awesome. All in all, I really recommend Enchantée and give it the rating of FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS!!!