It took a while to get going but once it did you're pretty hooked. While I was slightly disappointed with the lack of fantasy elements I really loved the romance between Niamh and Kit.

I think the highest point for me was the chronic illness rep. Not many books actually talk about chronic illness and when they do she typically gets cured. It really makes you feel seen.

In some parts the side characters are more interesting than our main casual but the queer rep makes you very quick to forgive that. The characters all around are everything you didn't know you were missing.

This book is an absolute utter delight of an experience. It was such a cozy romance with just enough light fantasy elements to give it a touch of whimsy. While there was conflict and stakes they were not so devastating as to take away from the sweetness of the rest of the story. Read this book if you just want to curl up and feel warm and happy. It is such a refreshing light read and proves that not all fantasy has to be tumultuous and dark to be interesting.

As always characters are always a huge draw for me and I could not gush enough about them. Niamh is an excellent example of a character who does not have to be physically strong or tough to be a strong female lead (though admittedly her quirky clumsiness did get to be a bit much but I didn’t find it too distracting) and instead found her strength in kindness and caring.
In another story the love interest Kit could easily have been a toxic, brooding, alpha male and while he has a very prickly exterior he also has incredible depth and capability of softness (also shout out for being a short king! I love that for him). Not to mention the cast of side characters that each bring their own depths to the story. I particularly adored our Goth Princess Rosa. I was also delighted to find the cast was so casually queer especially in regards to both Niamh and Kit being bi themselves.

As for the world building I personally loved how it was handled. There wasn’t a lot of emphasis on it so the story was able to focus more on the characters but it was obvious that it was a reflection of our own worlds history with the addition of magic and very regency inspired. I love a good historical fantasy romance so this was absolutely perfect. I’m also absolutely obsessed with the magic present within the story and the way their abilities compliment it. Niamh being able to infuse emotions into garments she creates is just such a fun bit of magic and there is also just something about Kit controlling plants which would usually be considered a more feminine magic that I find so appealing especially when he uses that magic to assist Niamh or the plants react to his emotions without him meaning to. It’s just *chefs kisses*

This story was just such an absolute delight and I can’t recommend it enough.

Beautiful story about a tailor who was commissioned to make the wedding attire for the prince and his soon to be wife. But she quickly realized that not everything was as it seemed. I loved getting to know Nimah and Kit and their story.

4.25+ stars

It was originally the gorgeous cover and fun title that attracted me to this book, so enjoying the story as much as I did was really just an added bonus. The plot itself was reasonably compelling, but what I really appreciated was the inclusion of several fairly well-rounded queer characters. That was a pleasant surprise as it’s still a bit rare (in my reading experiences, anyway) to have queer characters in fiction with a more historical setting, even when coupled with fantasy elements. I quite enjoyed this book (and am still completely captivated by the cover art!).

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC copy to review.
This is a beautiful story full of charm and folklore. Loved the idea of emotions being sewn into clothes. Absolutely loved this book..

"No good came from loving fragile things."

A Fragile Enchantment felt like a letter of admiration to Ireland. The inspiration that was taken from the magic & the tales of our lore blended so well with the heartache & sting of the historical turmoil we have gone through. It was sweet & bitter.

It held a whimsical charm to it, and Niamh remained at the heart of it all with her hope and trust. Even when it was scorned or hurt, she stayed true to her wonderful morals & truth. I enjoyed so many of the characters, what they brought to the story, and how they held their own - holding a story of their own within this novel. No characters were left to serve one person but their own.

The love was sweet and regal, much like the era it portrays, and it makes me think of young but true love.
Alison Saft, this is my favourite of your works so far!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this E-ARC. These are my own opinions.
This was my first Allison Saft book and will not be my last. This was a lovely historical fantasy. The story drew you into it and made you fall in love with the characters. Even if they seemed hard to love. I loved how she wove in historical events. The only thing I wish the book had was a glossary for all of the Irish/Machland language. I majority of the time could guess what they were saying but it may be helpful to have a guide. This is a solid 3 Stars for me.

Having very much enjoyed [author:Allison Saft]’s [book:A Far Wilder Magic], I jumped at the chance to get my hands on her latest. If you’re looking for atmospheric, magic-driven YA/new adult romantasy, with a dash of politics and family drama thrown in, [book:A Fragile Enchantment] will not disappoint.

When Niamh, a tailor with a skill for enchanting her embroidery with emotions, receives an invitation to make the wedding clothes for the prince of the neighboring Avaland (a magical standin for Regency England) she jumps at the chance to finally give her family comfort and stability after war with Avaland left her home country Machland (standing in for Ireland) devastated 35 years ago. The prodigal young prince Christopher – Kit – is prickly, devastatingly handsome – and wants nothing to do with her. So she’ll just have to prove her worth to punch her ticket to a better life.

At its heart, A Fragile Enchantment is about finding your people, your confidence to be yourself, to believe you are worthy of love, and have the right to live life on your own terms. Along the way, Niamh and Kit must contend with their duty to family and country, a Lady Whistledown-like gossiper amongst the nobility who threatens to reveal damaging secrets if Niamh won’t work to advance the cause of the Machlish lower class, and the dangers their own magics pose if they push themselves too far.

I love the way Saft writes, her clever spins on magic systems, and her ability to write young characters in ways that feel both true to their youth and timeless.

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

A Fragile Enchantment was the second book by Allison Saft that I read, and if it is the last of 2023, I'll be more than happy. It was such a captivating and beautiful story that I couldn't stop until I'd reached the end.

This book will just sweep you off of your feet, it was beautiful and enchanting. This was my first book by this author and it was enjoyable. The storyline was great and the writing was on point. The characters were good, sometimes a little frustrating, but overall they were fun to read about and enjoy the story with. Will post more when the book is published!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

A Fragile Enchantment is an incredibly cozy fantasy book that will leave you wanting more with every chapter. I read this book in 2 sittings and that's only because I had other obligations to attend to that I couldn't put off.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC copy to review.

If you like enemies to lovers in royal settings with a dash of fantasy get ready to enjoy A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft.
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Niamh is a kind seamstress whose magical ability is that she can weave emotions into her designs. Kit is a grumpy prince. Niamh’s job is to dress him for events culminating in his upcoming wedding. They clash. They help each other. They discover as much about themselves, as they do each other and what they each sacrifice. Their relationship is a slow burn.
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The side characters were equally interesting. There’s a friendly scoundrel, Sinclair. Kit’s older brother. The bride and Princess Rosa. Whether you perceive some of these characters as obstacles or enemies, you are still drawn into their stories.
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There was some lovely imagery in the story and the cover is gorgeous. I highly recommend it.
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Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for an advanced copy for an honest review.

This books didn’t feel like it was anything new or extravagant in its telling. But the story itself was written in such a lyrical way that it felt like I was reading a well loved favorite from the get go. And for that I loved it immensely.

Naimh’s ability to weave emotions into the garments she makes has landed her a coveted position as the wedding dress maker for the upcoming nuptials of Prince Christopher and his bride to be Princess Rosa. But in a court where magical blood is coveted above all others, a mysterious ghost writer is putting a kink in everyone’s plans. The prince’s brother is hiding a dark secret and the prince himself is the grouchiest person Naimh has ever met. But the more they get to know each other the more their walls start to crumble. But Naimh has a secret of her own. Because each time she uses her magic, she’s one step closer to death.

This book could definitely be considered a grumpy sunshine pairing. I loved how clumsy Naimh was and how it was integrated into the story beautifully. Princess Rosa was giving me Wednesday vibes the entire time and I loved her. There are so many wonderful characters in this and I love love loved it. I think you will too!

a fragile enchantment quotes
..."although she was secretly convinced her reticule did indeed contain a portal to a stranger realm, filled only with broken pencils and stray pocket change"

Thank you to Wednesday books for an advanced copy of this book!

I've pretty much loved all of Saft's works, and this one is just as excellent as the others. While Down Comes the Night remains my favorite, this one is probably my second. It is absolutely a five star read. One of the things I loved about this book is that it paid homage to Bridgerton as well as real life history, but it also included magic and queer characters. One thing I think that Saft did very well was the world building -- she used what we know of in reality to build her own world atop it. That made for less confusing world building in a standalone, and you could more easily slip into the story without being confused.

It was so well done and I loved the characters in this book. It left me with warm fuzzy feelings all over.

Niamh has quickly become one of my favorite characters of all time, she's spunky, she's adorable and I just love her. I love her to bits. Her development as a character was delightful and her friendships with the people around her were wonderful. I adored her friendship with Sinclair, and I also loved Sinclair's relationship with Kit as well. We also have Rosa and Mirriam, both also characters I adored.

Honestly, there were very few characters that I did not like in this book. Maybe Jack. That's about it.

This is definitely a grumpy x sunshine romance and UGH. Honestly cute doesn't even cut it. I loved how sweet and tender this book was at times, but also how strong it was at others, and it is so hard to explain why I loved it so much other than it left me feeling happy and fulfilled.

While much of it is cute and adorable, there are parts that touch on darker themes such as war colonialization, and decimation of countries, but Saft manages to balance both those things very well. I didn't find it heavy handed or lacking nuance, I felt that it was woven into the story in an appropriate manner.

Her writing is also just a delight. It leaves me breathless, I love it so much. I could keep going on about how much I adored this book, but really, you just need to read it for yourself. I can see this becoming an absolute comfort read for me.

"Your life is yours. It is never too late to change."

The first 60% of this book was really tough for me to get thru. The plot felt repetitive + the "twists" were pretty precitable. I liked the characters, but I wanted so badly to be invested in the plot, but I just wasn't. For me it came together in the end + the last 30% was my favorite part!

I was SO excited to get this eARC. I really enjoyed the other books I’ve read from Allison Saft and the premise of this one sounded absolutely fascinating.

The first half of this book had me completely hooked. The way Niamh’s magic worked was amazing, the tension between her and Kit was so well done, and I was so curious as to how all secrets and political intrigue would play out. It was disappointing that the second half ended up being a bit of a let down. Some of the character’s motivations didn’t make sense, when the truth of the secrets came out they were slightly mundane, and the conflict felt either unresolved or wrapped up too neatly.

Overall, I thought this was a lovely story that had so much potential and I was disappointed that I didn’t love the ending. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Kit and Niamh are my favorite fictional couple of 2023.

I was hesitant going into this, because I had a kind of love/hate relationship with Allison Saft's other novel, A Far Wilder Magic. But the pretty cover is what did me in, and the rest is history, because I really loved this book.

Kit Carmine, as the love interest, was just so swoony. I don't know when the last time I used that word was (or if I've EVER used that word) but it's true. I love how fleshed out his character was: warring between his past and presents self, between his duty to his family and his love for Niamh. If Allison Saft ever decides to write more of these two, I'd really love for her to make it following Kit's point of view.

Then there's Niamh. As a main character, and the struggles she goes through to provide for others, to comfort and love them when she's the one needing comfort and love... that really hit home. If I have one complaint, it's that I wish it hadn't taken her so long to realize that (AKA, kinda got repetitive there towards the end.)

The ending itself was... very quickly paced, compared to the rest of the book, and sort of threw me off a bit because of it. But Allison Saft's writing here was so beautiful, it didn't even bother me.

3.5 stars, rounded up - This was a really fun, magical book. I enjoyed all the characters and the romance between Niamh and Kit. It probably would be helpful to tell the reader the pronunciation of a few names, especially Niamh. I’m familiar with it from other things, but someone who’s never heard the name would probably never guess it. I felt like the first 30% of the story was especially good. It really got me excited for the story and the romance unfolding between the two main characters, but the next 20-30% dropped off a little. The tension and intensity doesn’t build quite as well as I was hoping. I was still pretty invested in the story, but maybe not as much as I could have been. The fox wasn’t quite as strong and compelling for a bit. I wished I could have had more of the two main characters falling in love. I still feel like most people will love the vibes- especially if they like the book cover.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me access to this eArc for my honest opinion!

This was so so so good!!!! I loved the world building and the atmosphere! I got major Bridgerton with magic vibes, and I absolutely loved the characters!!!! This story was so sweet, and so well written. Nothing felt overdone, while also not feeling too complex. I wanted a fantasy read while still wanting a romance, and this did exactly what I needed it to do!!!

I love young adult fantasy romance, including this novel. The story is unique and entertaining with an original magic system. The characters are complex and easy to root for.

Lovely read and will be recommending this to my audience.