The moment I finished this beautiful romantic story, I wanted to turn to the beginning and read it all over again!

The romance in this book was delightful and the characters had me captivated from the moment I met them all. I also loved the small bits of magic that played into the fantasy setting. The main character, Niamh, has the ability to weave emotion into the clothing she makes. How cool is that??

The forbidden romance was swoon-worthy and the writing itself was gorgeous too. I'm of the opinion that this was Saft's best work yet (which says a LOT if you know how much I love her other books) and I'm already recommending it to literally everyone I know. Words aren't enough to convey my love for A Fragile Enchantment.

This was everything I needed and more.

It was such a cozy and whimsical book. I don’t usually read period pieces , but I absolutely devoured it. I’ll definitely be re reading/ getting the physical copy when it’s released!

The found family tropes is one of my all time favorites and this was done beautifully! I fell in love with the characters and how real they felt. Their banter was adorable and funny.

I always appreciate representation in books, and the author did a fabulous job at writing about them.

GrumpyxSunshine
Bridgestone vibes
Cozy fantasy
Enemies to lovers
🖤

I most certainly do judge books by covers and this one lived up to its cover!

The ending was *chefs kiss*

Like so many others, I think, I requested this initially based on the cover, though another lush Regency 'fantasy of manners' didn't really have to work that hard to pique my interest. While Saft's new entry didn't fully live up to the Olivia Atwater books that are so dear to my heart, it's a very worthwhile effort, and I know so many will fall absolutely head-over-heels with this book. The characters are well-developed, as is the political world in which they move, though I'm never going to be the biggest fan of introducing the male love interest as an abrasive jerk. I get the mass appeal these days, though.

I did not like this book as much as I wanted to Niamh is invited to the kingdom of Avaland to make wedding garments because she makes beautiful clothing and has a gift of magic she can sew into her clothing. Unfortunately the background relationships between her country and Avaland were not well developed. I know she is supposed to be a young teen, but I tired of all the people involved acting like very young teens. I expect the people in regency romances to be a little more grown up in their actions. It was a bit unreasonable for a mere seamstress from a province that is held in contempt by proper society to have as much access to the upper crust as she had. I was given this as an arc from NetGalley and am not under pressure for a positive review.

Netgalley/ARC

Allison Saft is quickly becoming one of my favorite fantasy writers. Her special blend of cozy yet gothic romantasy just perfectly hits the spot for me. Did you love The Witch of Blackbird Pond as a kid? Then you will love Allison Saft.

Her new YA novel follows Niamh, a gifted seamstress and Kit, a crotchety prince. It is Bridgerton with magic yes, but it also has that subtle brand of longing and lush writing that is a signature of Saft's novels so far. I adored this love story and I think you will too when it releases on January 2nd.

3.5 stars rounded down

A Fragile Enchantment follows Niamh, a tailor gifted with magic who is hired to make the clothes for a royal wedding. Things go wrong when she falls in love with the prince.

The world is a complete copy of our own with different names + magic, so I am not sure why Saft couldn't have gone the route of Half a Soul and others and just set the story in historical England with added magic. At least it's easy to get into, once you get past the info dumping of the first few chapters.

This book is very much a YA historical romance, with the fantasy elements being mostly set dressing. Actually the historic elements are also quite shallow - the dialogue can be quite modern/American sounding at times and no one pays much attention to propriety. I think your enjoyment of this book will hinge on how much you enjoy typical romance arcs. The book almost seemed like it was following a checklist for scenes to include - if you have read any romance book before you will recognize the story beats. Oh, the FMC just met the most beautiful man she's ever seen? And he's belligerent and rude to her for no reason? Wow, I wonder if they might develop feelings for each other 🤔 On the other hand some of the scenes themselves are fun to read, and the writing style in general is flowing and hooked me in easily.

The characters were quite charming and I liked that the side characters all got a chance to shine, something other romance focused books can have trouble with. I did think they all became close friends with Niamh far too quickly, but this may have been due to a lack of clarity regarding how much time was passing.

The messages and themes of the book, while worthwhile to include, were delivered with a heavy hand and basically everyone has given the MC a therapy session by the end. It is a YA book though so this is sort of to be expected.

The plot was fine but wrapped up a bit too quickly.

This was definitely not a bad book but I think I'm not the main audience for it. I would recommend it to people looking for a lighthearted, sweet YA romance.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was so wonderfully, whimsically delightful. The perfect cozy mashup fantasy and romance with a historical fiction feel. Think Bridgerton with magic.

Niamh's character is fantastic and I found her magic unique and loved every scene where it was displayed or seen by other characters. I found almost every character we encounter to be well-rounded and their intentions made sense. Christopher is a curmudgeon of prince which is chef's kiss. Love a good grumpy/sunshine.

A little regency era-style romance with a dash of magic. A Fragile Enchantment tells the story of Niamh and Kit, a Machlish seamstress whose enchantments have made her creations famous at court, and a prince whose wayward tendencies have alienated him from his brother, the Prince Regent, and his new responsibilities.

The writing did a great job of setting a whimsical fantasy world, weaving descriptive and flowery language with fast-paced dialogue. It made the pacing of the story fit well with the action and painted the world of the characters vividly.

This is a romance at heart, but I wasn’t sold on the chemistry between the two leads. I am always looking for great characters in the books I read, and I found they lacked dimension and consistency for the relationships between them all to be believable.

This is a light, happy read for anyone interested in the magical-regency genre of romance books, but doesn’t dive much deeper than the surface of this story.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this eARC!
Wow. Allison Safts best work by far. The magic system was enchanting. The characters were charming. I absolutely fell in love with Kit and Niamh and their friends. The twist at the end was unexpected yet made sense. This is Romantasy in every sense of the word. Easy five stars.

An enchanting novel. Bridgerton meets fantasy.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!

Rating: 3.75

What a fun and light romantasy! This book was a just a joyful read all around. Many are calling this the book form of Bridgerton, and I think that is a perfect comparison. It has all the banter and romance, with a little magic thrown in. Plus, I always love a grumpy prince!

The interactions between the characters is the strength for this book - relationships were well developed, interesting, and fun to read about. I also loved how slightly heavier topics were touched on, such as alcoholism. It was done in a serious manner that did not detract from the overall light vibes of the story. My favorite part of this book were the descriptions for the clothing that the main character Niamh creates. The enchantments for each fantastical creation made me wish I had the ability to try them on! I loved the delicacy of Niamh's power, and the different ways if affected those around her. Also - the banter between the two main characters! What fun it was to read each of their interactions. Their tension and banter were perfection and was the main reason I flew through this book.

I did find the fantasy/magic aspects of this book on the lighter side. Not much background was provided, which left me feeling like it was slightly underdeveloped. I would have loved to have some more information about the way the different powers worked and more background on the countries and wars that happened before the book's events. They are a source of motivation for several characters but without more context the emotions behind it landed a little flat for me.

I read this book after several heavier stories and it was a fun and dreamy pallet refresher. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a simple but cute whimsy regency read that relies more on romance and character relationships.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own.

Sadly disappointed by this one!

The premise of a tailor and a stuffy prince was riveting--and I absolutely loved Saft's sweeping prose. Kit was so awful at first I was intrigued to see how Saft was going to craft it so we could care for him, and she nailed it--even if a part of me was screaming at Niamh to run away, because that boy has PROBLEMS, even for a fantasy love interest haha.

I think what threw me was how much a tailor was allowed to all the royal events, and to hang casually with the princes?! I also struggled with the slowness of the pace, even against all of the many plot threads--I think there was just way too much packed into this book. I couldn't keep up with how 'impactful' the gossip column was supposed to be, versus the revolution, versus the end motivation behind the gossip column which was... not gossip but revolution?! It was confusing, and gave the book a mixed tone rather than the cozy romantasy I was anticipating.

I think fans of Downtown Abbey or Bridgerton might enjoy it, though? And I'm still super grateful to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the arc! I really did think I'd love it.

2.5 stars rounded up.

Wow! I just finished this book an hour ago. I read it in a day! It's been a while since I've binged a book in a single day, but this novel was just so refreshing and delightful and so easy to get wrapped up in that I just could not put it down. Loved it!

What I loved:

- The romance! It was such a delightful slow burn that was so easy to get wrapped up in!
- As mentioned above - slow burn to the best degree
- Grumpy/sunshine - another marvelous trope
- The character development
- The banter and teasing. A novel with good romantic banter will always tug at my heart!
- The supporting cast - wish we got even a bit more of them and their character development!
- The magic system was fun and unique
- The overall story. It was so easy to get lost in it

What I didn't love:

- There really wasn't much. For the sake of saying something, I wish Niamh's illness would have wrapped a little more positively. I was fine without a cure, but maybe an acknowledgement from her that she'd have to approach life and her profession differently. This piece felt a little too open-ended or not acknowledged at the end for my preference.

Again, I love this novel! It was a 5 star read for me and I can't wait to own a physical copy of this! I would recommend it to all, but especially for those of romantic fantasy, regency era novels, slow burn, forbidden love, and grumpy/sunshine!

Having recently read and enjoyed Allison Saft’s A Far Wilder Magic, I was excited to pick up another book from the author. In my opinion, A Fragile Enchantment is not as strong of a work, but it was a very easy and comforting read (which provided a nice reprieve between some of the more challenging titles on my TBR). The characters stray just enough from popular cliches so as to not feel contrived and, though the story is fairly predictable, the writing keeps it entertaining.

The two leads - Niamh and Kit - are both well developed and characterized. Thankfully, the author has given them unique characteristics that make them feel like believable people, as opposed to walking-talking romance fantasy tropes. The development of their relationship over the course of the book is heartwarming, despite it never really straying from a tried and true formula. Conversely, I did think much of the supporting cast felt rather flat by comparison, and I would have liked if the book explored more of their struggles. Though this may be a matter of personal preference, as I am not usually a romance reader and tend to prefer romance as a subplot-line rather than the central focus of a narrative.

As for the plot, this is a novel of manners very much in the vein of Pride and Prejudice, so much of it is advanced through conversation. The author weaves through these interactions gracefully, and the language used is appropriately formal without being completely alienating to its modern audience. I thought the regency era inspired setting felt fresh compared to many books within the YA fantasy genre. That being said, the world building was rather sparse, as it is fairly obvious that the two nations are essentially England and Ireland with the added veneer of magic. This is not exactly a criticism of the narrative, but there really is very little to distinguish these places from their real life counterparts, which was slightly distracting for me as a reader. Additionally, I thought that much of the political turmoil central to the narrative was too easily resolved - and during a few moments, it just felt like set dressing to advance the romance.

Though I had some criticisms, overall I did enjoy my time with this book. I think it’s great for a reader looking for something comfortable and entertaining with a heartwarming romance at its center, but still want the escapism of the fantasy genre. I will continue to look out for Allison Saft’s new releases in the future.

This was delightful. The perfect mix of light romance, fantasy, magic, and intrigue. Great banter, easy to understand but still cool world, and characters you quickly get attached to. It’s the perfect formula for a fun read that you won’t want to put down.

I truly loved this book. A Fragile Enchantment is a cozy fantasy with magic, romance, an arranged marriage, and found family. I loved the character development in this book and felt really attached to all of them and was so happy with way things ended in this book. I will definitely be re-reading this any time I want a feel good fantasy romance.

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley for review. My opinions are my own.

5/5 stars

This. Book.

I could not put this book down. It was absolute magic (literally and figuratively). I actually contemplated bringing my Kindle to a college hockey game because I just wanted to finish it but then my husband gave me the stink eye 😜 (you guys understood, right?)

Allison Saft, who I had never heard of until I received this ARC, has built a beautiful world in this novel. The premise is that Niamh, a seamstress with a magical gift, is sought from Machland to Avaland to make the wardrobe for the royal wedding. She becomes close with Kit, despite his grumpiness.

The love story is at the heart of this book but there is also politics with the threat of political rebellion and uprising, as well as an undercover journalist who sheds light on gossip and politics.

Read this if you enjoy romantic fantasy, grumpy meets sunshine, and historical romance (despite it being a fantasy, it has a Regency romance feel to it).

I already have Saft’s other two books on hold at my local library.

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft is an enchanting magical regency romance! Saft has once again created a charming story that will sweep you off your feet.

"A magical dressmaker commissioned for a royal wedding finds herself embroiled in scandal when an anonymous gossip columnist draws attention to her undeniable chemistry with the room.
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."

Saft has created a fun, engaging story and a cast of characters that you quickly grow to love. Set in a fantasy world like ours, it is easy to slip into the story and enjoy the lush Regency-era setting full of magic, court intrigue, political marriages, romance, and rebellion. A Fragile Enchantment is the perfect book for fans of Bridgerton or anyone looking for a cozy, magical romance to snuggle up with.

4.5/5

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft will be available on January 2, 2024. Signed/personalized copies can be pre-ordered through Kepler's Books.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

This one was enjoyable yet I could not connect with the characters. It was a fun story and the characters were well developed but nothing grabbed me and held me.

Omg I loved Alison saft's far wilder magic so much! And this book didn't disappoint. I love her writing style and the romances. Alison saft is slowly becoming one of my favourite authors. I cant wait to get a physical copy of this book when it's released.