I did not connect with the characters of this story - I found them, and the story, to be predictable.

file under: we really need trad publishers to start using new adult as an age range.

i need to start with the one thing that will endlessly bother me about modern day traditional publishing. and it’s nothing to fault the actual story in saft’s case as these characters are well… adults (albeit still very young ones). but it’s the fact that we still do not recognize new adult as a true age range for stories following characters between 18-24. there has been an ongoing discourse about the concept of young adult versus new adult. in contemporary stories, we can distinguish it as stories set in high school versus in college (university). in fantasy it gets a bit more complicated.

but in the case of a fragile enchantment, i fully believe it should have been published as a new adult title and here’s why. the open door sex scene. i know we have run the debate about the fact that yes. teens can and do have sex. however, when we are marketing something as YA, that can bring readership as young as 13 or 14. disagree with me if you’d like, but i personally do not believe that a book that is marketed to as young as that age should have any graphic sex scenes. and the fact that this book does have a scene where it does go into explicit detail, i just don’t think that’s appropriate to be labelled as YA anymore. this has become more and more a problem as authors recognize adults, like me, are reading and enjoying YA titles, so they skew the contents up a bit more.

long story short, this is why we need to have new adult as a widely recognized age range. for stories like this one to fall neater into.

anyways, with that rant over. let’s get into the actual contents of this book. i so absolutely adored this book. this story, no matter how sappy, how predictable it was, was just an absolute gem and it’s all thanks to niamh and kit. their dynamic was beyond enticing. their banter, their tenderness. all of it was what kept me coming back into this world. into sootham. while i know others might say it’s instalove, i would disagree. the attraction. sure, that was absolutely there from the beginning. but i just loved seeing their relationship unfold, as they spoke and snuck around. gods, did it have me giggling and kicking my feet like i was also a lovesick puppy.

and while yes, the romance was at the forefront of the story — alongside niamh’s tailoring of course — the other layers of discussion woven in. the discussion of queer identities in this world, how both niamh and kit were bi (or pan), we know they don’t really have the labels so i won’t assign one specifically. how kit said “you’re like me”. that’s where i was sold. in the end we had a beautiful, little queer found family situation and i truly loved each and every one of them.

and let’s not forget the fact that niamh gave us an honest depiction of a chronic illness, one that did not let her stop her but did impact her quite often in the story. i truly, truly appreciate having this disability rep on page because i had no idea that there was any. i really appreciate how saft incorporated all of these elements into the story without them taking away or becoming a focus point away from the main political plot line.

truly, a beautiful romance wrapped in even more beautiful prose.

I had originally withheld my review due to the SMP marketing boycott but as Readers For Accountability have announced their boycott has ended due to the response and action steps taken by SMP, I will now submit my review!

This was such a cozy read! I loved the dynamic between the two main characters and the camaraderie and friendship made my heart so happy! Allison saft never misses!

I do reader's advisory and book talks for YA books. I will always purchase and recommend Allison Saft. This was gorgeous and I will definitely be recommending.

Saft’s third novel is the perfect combination of an Austen novel, a Ghibli movie, and Bridgerton.

Each character is unique and compelling, their journeys raw and emotional but ultimately heartwarming. The magic and political systems are both interesting without being overly complex. While not overly twisty or suspenseful (by design), a particular late-stage reveal is one readers aren’t likely to see coming but is foreshadowed so adeptly that readers will kick themselves for not having realized once it’s in front of them.

And the atmosphere. Nobody sets a scene you want to live in quite like Allison Saft. This whimsical, enchanting, regency-flavoured spring is the stuff dreams are made of, and it sets the perfect scene for a romance as rife with longing as Niamh’s and Kit’s.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an advanced e-galley about a year ago in exchange for my very late honest review!

A Fragile Enchantment is, without a doubt, atmospheric, as many regency-inspired romances are. The romance is deliciously slow-burn and swoony, and Saft follows through with the romance with impeccable pacing. Saft truly succeeds for what it is, a book that seems intended to be more enjoyable and swoony than anything else. While often shallow, the regency-style romance and political intrigue have depth where it is essential. It propels usually inconsistent characters along an enjoyable storyline, with enough political drama and magical action to entertain the reader. The magic is soft, often feeling underdeveloped, but not to the degree to which it affects the story. It serves its purpose, to add whimsy and that touch of magic that can make a love story genuinely magical. And while the story wouldn’t change much without the magic, it adds depth where it would otherwise be lacking, which works to its benefit.

A special thanks to Wednesday Books for providing me with an eARC.

This was very good. While the romance was a bit too fast for me, I liked most everything else, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I liked the romance more on reread.

I found this book all over the place and just so-so. I liked the LGBTQ representation- though I don’t think it was given the time it needed. There were just too many storylines happening through the entirety of the book that not a single one got the attention it needed. There were even portions of the story that were essentially forgotten and not addressed any further. It is a fluffy read though and if you’re able to look past its flaws it’s a light read!

I am withholding my official review until St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books meets the reasonable demands from the boycott (as of October 21st, 2023) to hold their employee accountable for anti-Muslim hate and discrimination against Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab readers and reviewers.

4.5/5 stars

This book was absolutely delightful, and definitely made me realize I'm going to be a fan of Allison Saft's writing. This was a fun twist on the "peasant called to royalty because of special gift" trope, and managed to not be predictable besides the two main characters falling in love, but that's what we're here for. I loved the main character, and her gift was unlike anything I've ever read in another story before. I loved all of the side characters, and Saft does an excellent job of building the relationships between characters and giving us a reason to love them in a very short amount of time.

A Fragile Enchantment is a rival to lovers regency young adult romance. Niamh is a seamstress with the ability to sew enchantments into her dresses. Her talent is noticed and she's ends up being invited to make the wedding clothes for Prince Kit. There is a gossip columnist that takes interest in the interaction between the main characters, Niamh and Kit. The columnist threatens to expose Niamh and Kit unless Niamh helps them discovers the royal family's secrets.

I felt like this book had a magical feel. I love fantasies books with a regency setting. It touches on some sensitive topics such as chronic illness, alcoholism, classism and LGBTQ issues. This book is a standalone and it gave Bridgerton feels but with magic. I thought this book was a fun read. I could have used a little bit more world building.

*3.75 stars*

This was a very sweet YA romance, with a nice touch of magic. The characters were very relatable and the tension and banter of the romance was perfect. The politics weren’t complicated but were very much based in reality which I think is nice in a young adult novel. Although the magic system was a little vague for me, I really enjoyed seeing all of the characters wield their magic and see how it fit each character.

I think this wanted to say more about colonialism but it fell a little flat on that aspect. We don’t really get to see much of the lives of other Machlish, nor do we really get a satisfying conclusion in their fight for recognition. I liked that there was some chronic illness/disability rep in Niamh but it did feel a little bit like an afterthought at times.

If you’re looking for a fun YA fantasy romance with really lovable characters and interesting magic I think this will hit the spot.

This cover was awful but this was romantic and fairytale esk. I love every moment of it.

The seamstress angle was very unique and this will be a hit with YA lovers.

This book is charming, with an intriguing magic system, great queer representation and classic romance tropes. Niamh and Kit’s chemistry is definitely a highlight of this book. Ultimately, the writing and plot start to unravel, and by the third act up to the end, plot points are glossed over or forgotten entirely. It’s an interesting world and I’d be curious to see other stories within it in the future!

Niamh Ó Conchobhair left her humble home to create the wardrobe for the royal family's upcoming wedding in neighboring Avaland. The groom, Kit, is grumpy and doesn't want to be forced into a marriage. Niamh knows that the magic that underlies her incredible talent as a seamstress is dangerous, and will likely be the death of her. She and Kit inevitably spend quite a bit of time together as she works on his wedding wear and it soon becomes clear that the tension between them isn't all anger, but something much more. This is a great YA romance/adventure with some thought-provoking themes of obligation, family, duty, and love.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

A really great concept! Fans of fantasy, regency romance (forbidden love, enemies-to-lovers, and forced proximity) will fall for this one, I'm sure. I was thinking this was going be kind of "Spin the Dawn" meets "Bridgerton." And it was, in a way. I really liked Allison Saft's debut Down Comes the Night and this book continues to have the same magic and lyrical writing that I've come to expect from Saft.

Unfortunately, like A Far Wilder Magic, this book just didn't really live up to the hype for me. On the surface, I enjoyed this book. I, by no means hated it, and was intrigued by the concept. On a deeper level, though the story, magic, and romance just felt too weak and fell short of my expectations. This book seriously had everything going for it and didn't follow through. The "Bridgerton" vibes were there, but the resolution kinda sucked, honestly. Tied things up with a neat little bow in a way that didn't feel satisfying. I couldn't quite connect to either of the main characters as much as I would have liked, so the romance was a bit of a let down, too.

Overall, this book was fine. Not terrible, not amazing, but a nice fantasy romance. I think Saft fans will love it, but people (like me) looking for a bit more depth will find it lacking.

I really enjoyed this book. A historical fantasy romance. Definitely gave me Bridgerton vibes. The beginning of the story was very slow. I thought this was a pretty good YA book. The pining and the tension was so good. This gave Anthony and Kate in the best way. Trying to follow through with duty but ultimately following their hearts.
Thank you NetGalley

I thought this was a cute cozy fantasy and I did enjoy quit a few of the characters. The magic system I found to be interesting and likes the link to the gods and the powers. As cozy as this was tho I'm pretty disappointed at the ending I don't feel like any of the problems got solved. There are so many unanswered questions and I really wish this wasn't a stand alone.

A Fragile Enchantment is a captivating blend of magic, romance, and intrigue that pulls you into a world reminiscent of Regency England, with a fantasy twist. The concept of Niamh’s ability to weave emotions and memories into fabric is both fresh and fascinating, adding a unique layer to the narrative that I found deeply engaging. The relationship between Niamh and Kit Carmine is beautifully developed, starting as a reluctant friendship that slowly blossoms into something more. Their chemistry is palpable, and the slow build of their romance feels natural and rewarding. The tension created by the gossip columnist and the underlying political unrest adds just the right amount of drama and suspense to keep the pages turning. One downside is that the pacing can be inconsistent, with certain parts of the story feeling a bit rushed while others linger longer than necessary. Additionally, while the world of Avaland is intriguing, I would have liked to see more exploration of its magical elements and political dynamics. Despite these minor issues, *A Fragile Enchantment* is a thoroughly enjoyable read. It’s perfect for anyone who loves a well-crafted romance set against a backdrop of mystery and magic. The characters are memorable, and the story is both heartfelt and enchanting.

When I requested this book I was intrigued by the plot that was described, but once I started reading it I was not a fan of the writing style that the author had. Sometimes I felt like too much information was thrown at us at once, and the characters chemistry just felt like it was lacking in a way.