This one wasn’t for me. I found the premise interesting but ultimately it fell short for me. I would be willing to give this author a second shot though.

Overall, it was a good read. The characters were well developed. The plot had a nice flow, but the ending wasn't my favorite. The tropes were a nice combination and the concept was good.

This book pulls you into a world where the line between love and enchantment feels so fine, it’s like wandering through a mist. The characters are painted with such vulnerability and depth that they linger with you long after the last page. It’s a story that celebrates the beauty in fragility—both in magic and in love—which resonated deeply and left me rethinking how love can be its own kind of spell. It was just pure magic and lovely to read.

So, A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft had all the ingredients I usually love—lush fantasy world, a touch of romance, and a magical healer protagonist. But somehow, I found myself reading more out of obligation than curiosity. The characters felt a bit flat to me, and while I wanted to root for the lead, I couldn’t quite get attached. The tension between them was there, but it never really tugged at me. If you’re the type who loves immersing in rich worlds and doesn’t mind a slower pace, it could still be your cup of tea—but for me, it was hard to fully connect.

Thank you to Netgalley and st. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of a Fragile Enchantment. I wanted ti love this one so bad, as that cover is so so so stunning! But this just really missed the mark for me. I was pretty bored through the first half and couldnt push myself through to the end. Really wish it had grabbed my attention more!

I really enjoyed this one. The pacing felt a bit off, definitely slow at times, but it made up for it with the characters. I really would love more stories in this world

Eh, this was alright. It played into a lot of elements I enjoy about a regency-inspired romance and an “enemies” to lovers romance, but it also was almost painfully predictable. There were points where it felt almost like a paint-by-numbers version of a book the way it, beat for beat, was reading like every book of this nature I’ve read before.

This book also had a way of reading younger than it felt it was intended for. While this is a YA book, the swearing and mentions of sex felt like this book was intended to be upper-YA, but the actual voice, repetition, and over-explaining made it feel much younger. Even with 18-year-old protagonists, this book just read more juvenile than I usually enjoy in a way that didn’t feel intentional.

I probably would have given this a 3.5 star up until the ending, since it seemed like things were resolved too easily in a way that negated the stakes that had been danced around for the entire book. It felt like an enormous cop out that the “crisis” at the end wasn’t actually resolved in any way, and more so it was just implied that now that everyone is working together, things would eventually get resolved due to the 🌈💖✨magical power of friendship and family✨💖🌈.

This book had more things I found entertaining than other 3 star books I’ve read, but if this is exemplary of Allison Saft’s writing style, I’m not sure I’ll be rushing to try another one of her books.

Unfortunately, this book could not grab my attention and I ended up DNF’ing it about 50% through. I felt that I couldn’t relate to the characters and the story fell flat for me.

I've been a big fan of Allison Saft's writing since her first book, so I was excited to see a new Bridgerton-esque romantasy. And for me the romance is another big success. If you like regency inspired stories, enemies to lovers, or nature-inspired magic, you'll probably like this. Niamh is a kind, hopeful, romantic who sees the best in others (while missing it in herself). Kit is a prickly, grumpy man with a sour disposition that hides the fact that he's a little bit of a cinnamon-roll underneath it all. The magnetic push-pull of their romance is fun to read and they definitely have swoon-worthy moments. There is also a major political storyline throughout. It's a little predictable and not as interesting to me in that aspect, but it also didn't take away from enjoying the story, and really served to create interesting family drama. I think the story did a good job of portraying the very complicated nature of family, especially when people have to balance duty with taking care of their relationships. As usual, I finished the story excited to read more books by Allison Saft!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-book copy!

A Fragile Enchantment is about a magical dressmaker named Niamh who gets commissioned for a royal wedding and finds herself in the middle of a scandal with the groom, Kit. I had a good time reading this book. A lot of the elements in it reminded me a lot of Bridgeton except this is set in a fantastical world. The characters in this story are a bit messy but I think it worked for the story since we mostly spend the book figuring out who is starting the rumors about Niamh and Kit. One thing I think that did suffer is the political plot line of this story, I don't think it factored into the plot well and got a bit clunky at times. However, I think if you like your romance books set in a fantasy world this will work for you.

dnf at 30%. i loved the lushness of the writing, as well as the worldbuilding, but for some reason i was not connecting with the characters. i found the magic system very intriguing, but the set up for the romance just felt a bit off to me. i would still recommend this to enjoyers historical fantasies, but it just wasn't for me.

I couldn’t really get into this book. The reviews are so good though so I’d love to give it another try! I just wasn’t in the mood for it at the time.

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft is a beautifully crafted novel that weaves magic, romance, and intrigue into a captivating story. Saft’s writing is lyrical and immersive, painting a vivid picture of the enchanting yet perilous world the characters inhabit. The romance is tender and bittersweet, filled with moments that tug at your heartstrings. It’s a story that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page, leaving you enchanted by its magic and moved by its heartfelt themes.

This was a fun, sweet romance. I loved that the book didn't shy away from the harder parts of the world. And the characters were all brilliant together!

I’ve been a fan of Allison Saft’s books since her debut, DOWN COMES THE NIGHT. She is so good at delivering intricate story worlds and complicated characters navigating some kind of mysterious circumstances. In A FRAGILE ENCHANTMENT, a tailor who can imbue the clothes she makes with magic and a younger prince fight their growing attraction to one another as an entire kingdom seems ready to crumble around them.

It’s got a bit of a grumpy vs. sunshine vibe, which I really enjoyed. The story also explores chronic illness and addiction pretty openly. Neither of those is often explored in fantasy novels, so that was nice to see.


The romantic arc absolutely hooked me. I read this book in two sessions because I really could not stop thinking about it and needed to know how it would end. I loved the directions the story took, especially the ones I hadn’t anticipated. There were a couple of times that things took me by surprise. That was fun.

All in all, I had a fabulous time reading this book, and I’m as big an Allison Saft fan as ever. I’m already excited about whatever story she has coming up next. I think fans of Kiera Cass would like this book a lot.

This review will post live on October 16, 2024

I ended up finding this title recently on Kindle Unlimited and read through it- absolutely adored the book! It was so cozy and made me feel good, even throughout the tension and the high stakes, it brought me a sense of calm and security. The found family was simply amazing. Cannot wait to dig into other books by Saft now!

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: A Fragile Enchantment

Author: Allison Saft

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 2/5

Diversity: Gay side character, Bisexual MC, Chronic Illness rep MC, Sapphic side characters

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, romance, romantasy, historical fiction

Publication Date: January 2, 2024

Genre: YA Fantasy Romance

Age Relevance: 14+ (war, death, language, alcohol consumption, alcoholism, homophobia, classism, romance, drugs, child abuse, anxiety attack, panic attack, poverty)

Explanation of Above: There are mentions of war and death. There is some strong language used. There are scenes of alcohol consumption and mentions of alcoholism. Homophobia is shown and mentioned, especially the parental disownment of a gay secondary character. Classism is shown as well as poverty. Romance is shown throughout the book. There are very vague mentions of drugs. There are mentions of child abuse. There are “on-screen” anxiety and panic attacks.

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Pages: 373

Synopsis: 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 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. Transporting readers to a Regency England-inspired fantasy world, A Fragile Enchantment is a sweeping romance threaded with intrigue, unforgettable characters, and a love story for the ages.

Review: This was a decent read. I liked the story of it and all of the Bridgerton-like feels of it. The romance was cute and I felt like if the book was worked a bit longer the story would have been really strong. The worldbuilding was good and it only felt like it could get better.

However, I didn’t like this one. I struggled so hard through it and I hope maybe it’s just because I had an e-arc. The structure was a mess and the worldbuilding was lacking. The ending was confusing and unsatisfying. I feel like the author focused more on the romance, which was definitely the stronger point of the book, and completely just sacrificed the story for it. The book could have been so good, but it just left me really disappointed.

Verdict: I wanted more, but didn’t get it. But maybe it’ll leave you satisfied.

2.5 stars.
Niamh Ó Conchobhair is a gifted dressmaker from Machland. She can imbue her creations with memories and emotions as she stitches and embroiders, but this ability comes with a price: physical weakness after using her power, and a shortened lifespan.

Niamh has been commissioned by the prince regent of Avaland to create apparel for the royal wedding of Avaland’s younger prince, Christopher. Her grandmother is against Niamh taking on the work, but there is no option to refuse: Machland is under the thumb of Avaland, and her family is desperate for money.

Niamh travels to Avaland, her head full of dreams and hopes, but these are swiftly checked by reality when she meets Prince Christopher, or Kit, as he prefers to be known. He is angry that his brother, and the Regent, Jack, is forcing him to wed the daughter, Infanta Rosa, of the King of Castilia.

Niamh and Kit butt heads repeatedly, with Kit angry much of the time, so he moves from mean to kind to mean, repeatedly, in their dealings. It’s clear, though, that both are terribly attracted to one another.

Though Niamh is aware of the treatment of her fellow Machlish at home, she is awakened to the bigotry they face in Avaland, and that they are now agitating for better treatment and pay (they’re allowed to be servants and the like in Avaland). Though sympathetic, Niamh is too concerned about her family to get involved in the fight, no matter the blackmail of a local reporter who begins writing of the too obvious attraction between her and Kit. This discomfits Niamh, but infuriates Jack, who is desperate to forge the marriage between Kit and Rosa, for reasons opaque to Kit.

Rosa herself is indifferent to Kit and the marriage, seeing only the attraction of the intrigues and the maneuverings between nations.

Does Niamh end up with Kit? It’s a foregone conclusion as soon as they meet, no matter the numerous obstacles between them and their countries, and their arguments. Was it interesting watching it happen? Not particularly, and the pacing only reinforced this, as the text took a painfully long time to lay out the political and personal situations of the three countries and characters involved. This is unfortunate, as in this Regency England-inspired story with Avaland, Machland and Castilia functioning as stand-ins for England, Ireland and Spain, there should have been plenty of twisty politics and fascinating characters to enliven this enemies-to-lovers story.

Instead, I found myself struggling to pick this book up each time I laid it down, and just wished the few interesting side characters (Rosa, Miriam) had had more page time. It's a pity, as I've enjoyed previous offerings by this author, and hope future works by Allison Saft continue to intrigue and entertain me.

Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

This book was far longer than it needed to be. I ended up listening to the audio, which was helpful because I would never have finished it. The premise was interesting, as was the magic, but I was bored for the majority of the time.

I LOVED THIS BOOK, I was lucky enough to read part of this story early but I got so busy IRL and it sadly expired on me but I got a physical copy and finished it a while back early 2024.

This book was beautiful. THE TENSION. THE BANTER. It was *chefs kiss*.

The book was very captivating and kept me entertained I finished the book in about a day or two. I can’t wait to see what Allison writes next and I’m excited. :)