First off I would like to thank netgalley for the ARC. Second I would like everyone to know that I gasped when I saw I got approved for this book.
read if you like:
enemies to lovers
grumpy x sunshine
bridgerton, regency inspired setting
forbidden love
TW: There is mention of a character battling alcohol addiction and possible suicidal thoughts.

I rated this book a 3/5 stars because it didn’t hook me as I thought it would. I typically finish books relatively quick however this read took me a bit longer. I did enjoy the book and there were some very cute moments throughout I just don’t see myself reading it again. The cover is gorgeous and I adored the friendship dynamic between the main characters.

This was beautiful with a good plot and wonderful characters. It was a cozy, Bridgerton like fantasy. I do wish some things were more explained, like the Fair Ones. I highly recommend to everyone!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing company, and the author for an ARC of this book. These are my honest opinions.

J'ai vraiment aimé ce livre. Je ne suis habituellement pas la plus grande fan des slowsburns, mais je dois dire que celui-ci ne m'a pas déçu. Ce livre a été écrit par l'auteure de La chasseuse et l'alchimiste qui était très populaire sur Booksta en français. Ce livre est parfait pour les fan de Bridgerton et de Red Queen! On suit l'histoire de Niamh, une jeune fille qui peut coudre des émotions dans les vêtements qu'elle fabrique. Elle est invitée à faire des vêtements pour le prince de la ville voisine, Kit. Kit est un prince mélancolique. C'est la définition de quelqu'un de grumpy. Il n'aime pas les autres et ne s'aime pas. Il est capable de contrôler la terre avec sa magie. Petit à petit, la bonne humeur de Niamh va venir briser la coquille de Kit. Mais plusieurs secrets vont être réveler et ceux-ci pourrait non seulement briser la relation entre nos deux personnages principaux, mais aussi la stabilité du royaume de Kit. Le premier 50% du livre était quand même long. Comme mentionner plus haut, il s'agit d'un slowburn. On apprend à connaitre nos personnages. C'était un peu long par moment. Cependant, le dernier 50% du livre est super bon! On voit la relation entre nos personnages grandir et il y a plus d'actions. J'ai beaucoup aimé nos deux personnages principaux, mais aussi les personnages secondaires. Ils sont tous attachant (sauf peut-être Jack, mais on comprend un peu pourquoi il est comme ça). J'ai aussi aimé l'univers. Il s'agit d'un bel univers fantaisie comme on le connait. Seul bémole, certaines side stories de l'histoire n'ont pas été assez exploités. Par exemple, on aurait pu enlever le fait que Niamh est malade parce qu'on en parle peut-être 3 fois dans le livre. Aussi, tout l'aspect avec les rebelles n'a pas vraiment été résolu. J'ai tout de même extrêmement appréciée ma lecture et je recommande totalement ce livre

I had the absolute privilege of being chosen to read an advanced readers copy of this book and I was absolutely delighted! This is the first time I've ever gotten to read an ARC and I will forever remember it. Allison Saft created an absolutely breathtaking story. I enjoyed how all of the lore was easy to follow. I do wish she could have gone into a bit more detail about how the powers worked and why some characters were more affected by the use of their powers than others but that little bit of intrigue could be something she could explain in a sequel (if she decided she wanted to write one).

I really loved the characters of this novel. I was invested in each and every one of them. I like that every single one of them had both their good and bad traits highlighted. No one was a complete paragon of morality but I think that's what made them so likeable.

I really loved the romance in this book I wish I could go into more detail but I don't want to go into spoiler territory, especially considering the book hasn't even been released yet. I will say that anyone who likes the grumpy/sunshine trope will like the main couple quite a bit.

This book is one I'd recommend to fans of Bridgerton and Pride and Prejudice. Definitely has those vibes with a hint of magic. All I could say is I found this story to be very, very heartwarming and it makes me want to go and read Allison's other books. I will definitely be picking up a copy of this novel in January and I'd encourage everyone else to as well.

This just might be my favorite book of the year. Niamh has been hired by the King of her neighboring kingdom as the seamstress for the upcoming wedding of the Prince. With the money and exposure that comes from this job, she will be able to provide for her family and make their lives easier.

Things start out bumpy but soon she finds herself coming to enjoy the moments she spends with Kit. But Niamh has a job to do. She can't allow her developing feelings for Kit get in the way of her goals.

This book was filled with longing, magic, court politics, fights for equality and lessons on putting yourself first and not giving up on the things you want. One of the things I especially enjoyed was the character growth in the side characters. They weren't just there for the sake of the main characters. They had their own issues to deal with as well.

I loved Kit. He allowed people to see him a certain way and had given up on fighting for the things he truly wanted. He was a sensitive kid who was told from a young age that that wasn't ok and so as an adult he tries to hide that side of himself. Niamh is great because she forces him to be himself and he in turn helps her to realize that she can't continue to live her life to please others.

3.5 stars rounded up

Spice: 2/5 (one somewhat steamy scene followed by fade to black)
TW: alcoholism, some anti-queer sentiments towards supporting characters by their families.

I loved how this story started. The writing drew me in, the world was fantastic, and I thought the magic system was very creative. I would love my own embroidered and enchanted garment from Niamh!

Ultimately though my suspension is disbelief can only go so much before I just can't suspend anymore. Why would the Prince Regent (Jack) allow Niamh to go to all of these functions, as basically a servant? And how does she have anything to wear, which would have to be made with expensive fabrics for it to be remotely acceptable, but it's been drilled into us that Niamh and her family are so utterly poor? How is Jack allowing this group of five, which includes the princess Rosa, and prince Kit but also the glorified seamstress to go galavanting around? How does she have time to sew all these pieces? How is Jack chill with these very strange enchantments in the garments?

There's just so many questions that were popping up and the ending felt pretty rushed overall.

But yes, the cover is beautiful. I wish the story inside lived up to it. It was good, I'm glad I read it, but not great.

I liked this book a lot and the atmosphere of it! It was very romantic and regency-vibes.
I do think that Kit could've been more compelling as a love interest, and the main character annoyed me sometimes. She got in so much trouble and seemed so naive that it made things cringey at times. I found myself feeling frustrated with her.
Overall, a good book, but I think the second half was very slow.

Bridgerton meets fantasy in this enchanting novel, bursting at the seams with magical dresses, forbidden love, and scandals.

Niamh has one chance to make a better life for her mother and grandmother. A rare seamstress with the ability to enchant clothes, Nimah is invited to Avaland to create a wedding cloak for Prince Kit and his arranged bride, Princess Rose. But everything is not as enchanting and perfect as Niamh imagined. Prince Kit is grumpy and has no interest in the marriage, and his bride seems even less thrilled. The working class is fed up and revolting against unfair wages, with help from a scandal sheet that exposes the noble’s hypocrisies and secrets. As Niamh and Kit work together to solve the unrest growing in Avaland, they fall for each other. But when the scandal sheet starts writing about the sparks between the two, Nimah is given the choice to spy on the royal family or send the arraigned marriage up in flames, causing even more political turmoil.

Niamh is sunshine personified, a girl obsessed with pretty things and hopelessly romantic. Unfortunately, her whimsical notions have been kept under lock and key after years of scoldings by her mother and grandmother. They constantly belittle Niamh and make her feel poorly for having dreams and goals for herself. Even though Nimah never dealt with the war between Avaland and Machland firsthand, her grandmother will not let her forget it. Niamh is overly giving, wearing herself down to the bone for the sake of others. She sees moments of rest as selfish, never mind her chronic pain and fatigue. Despite the burdens placed on her, she still remains cheerful and genuinely kind. She can’t help but look through Kit's prickliness and see the good inside. No matter how hard she resists, she falls for him, despite the catastrophe that spells out.

Grumpy, socially awkward Kit has been called back to court for an arranged marriage. His four years away from the political scene have only served to sharpen him, making him even more rude and unfeeling than before. Few people know about the abuse he dealt with at the hands of his father and the worthlessness he felt when he couldn’t help his brother. Despite his rough exterior, he is chivalrous and very concerned about potentially harming others. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t seem to stop himself from falling for a clumsy seamstress who gives him headaches from her optimism.

Niamh and Kit are my new favorite couple. Despite presenting as complete opposites, they are very similar. Having dealt with family trauma and feeling worthless outside of what one can perform, the two slowly come together in the love story of a lifetime. Despite the very rough start, thanks to Kit being rude, Niamh slowly worms her way past his defenses with her unerring good cheer and love for others. Niamh comes to realize that Kit’s rudeness is a guard, and his instinct is to protect and care, even if he has a funny way of showing it.

This book is a romantic fantasy. The tension between Avaland's nobles and Machland's lower class is technically the “plot”, but Niamh and Kit take precedence. The focus is on what Niamh and Kit overcome in order to love each other fully, which isn’t usually my cup of tea. Yet, Saft has created such layered and nuanced characters that a more complex plot would have gotten in the way of fully fleshing out their harmful pasts and brilliant future.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be rereading this. Add this to your TBR and thank me later.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for the advance copy! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishing company for giving me an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was truly a delight and I will be reading this book again in the spring since it brought me so much joy! Between the world building and whimsical writing I was hooked!

A Fragile Enchantment is a whimsically fun fantasy romance with a regency era setting and a cast of morally gray, complex characters. I loved everything about this book. Niamh is an extremely talented tailor who can sew magical enchantments into her designs. When she is hired to design the wardrobe for the royal wedding, she can't believe her luck. Her family desperately needs the money and support. However, this task will be much more challenging than she expected, since the groom is a brooding, angry, uncooperative individual who could care less about both fashion and this wedding. The development of Niamh and Kit's relationship is perfectly executed. In fact, the author does a great job with all of the characters. I especially loved Kit, Sinclair, and Jack. They are all facing their own personal obstacles and, at times, are their own worst enemies. The author also does a fantastic job of demonstrating that there are many types of love and that love can be portrayed through many different actions (not just through hugs and kisses).

I have read Allison Saft's other books and loved them as well. She is definitely one of my must-read authors. I will be recommending A Fragile Enchantment to everyone I know. Easy 5 stars!

I really wanted to love A Fragile Enchantment, but sadly I found myself frustrated with the story overall! The premise really drew me in: the book is set in a whimsical Regency-esque world with touches of magical realism (the protagonist Niamh is a seamstress who can imbue her designs with particular feelings and memories), contains undercurrents of political intrigue and tension as well as forbidden romance with a prickly prince.

Saft has a lyrical writing quality that I always enjoy; it was present in her previous novel A Far Wilder Magic, and is on full display here as well. The allegorical element seen in her previous book is also present here: Saft seems to explore some of the historical tensions between the English and Irish during the 18th-19th centuries. Despite having fantasy undertones, it feels more grounded as a result and the allegory (even if handled a bit simplistically) gives the novel some complexity.

I just couldn’t get behind the relationships between all the characters. They’re all meant to be a bit unlikeable, (or at least, that’s how I ended up feeling about them) apart from Niamh– who is supposed to be a ray of sunshine. But I really couldn’t understand what Niamh saw in her love interest; it was “insta-love” frustratingly executed as their subsequent interactions didn’t really improve. Additionally, the plot ended up feeling quite messy in its balance of romance and court/political intrigue; it never seemed to find its footing enough to succeed from either angle for me. I wish the magical realism element had been played up a bit more, as I really liked the concept of Niamh’s talent with needle and thread and felt that was overshadowed.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

Allison Saft has quickly become one of my must buy authors. Her writing is divinely whimsical and effortless in its narrative. One of the highlights of this book’s many dynamics was the emergence of found family. If you’re into enemies to lovers, regency romance, grumpyxsunshine this is the book for you. Thank you for the e-arc I can’t wait for other readers to fall in love with this novel.

Some very sweet moments! Loved the whimsy in the magic and the friendships/ found family vibes. Didn't always love the characters, but still a fun read!!

I have read everything Allison Saft has written. I love how she makes her stories seem effortless and they’re enthralling.
All that to say, this book held my expectations. It was magical and had a lovely slow burn. I wasn’t expecting the person who was outed as the gossip to be the gossip, but I’m glad it was them
I’m also loved how vividly I could picture the stitching magic and emotions into the cloth. Perhaps because I can sew, but it was explained so well.
This book was just delightful and I wanted more but also was so happy with the overall story. I cannot wait for the next book Allison writes.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A Fragile Enchantment was such a cozy fantasy, it warmed my heart, it felt a bit like Bridgerton meets Sorcery of Thorns.

Niamh is our protagonist, she’s from Machland a country that once was prosperous and rich but because of the oppression of Avaland, it became poor, their people all but destroyed by the Independence War.

Niamh wants what is best for her family and after being invited by the Crown Prince of Avalan to come to their country and use her unique powers as seamstress to make the clothes to his brother’s upcoming wedding, she knows she can’t let this opportunity pass.

I loved Niamh’s sense of duty, she was such wholesome character, I really connected with her and her feelings, it was beautiful seeing her and Kit fall in love, it happened in a organic way, so it wasn’t rushed.

I also loved the found family in this book, Allison Saft did the trope justice, the relationship between Niamh, Sinclair and Kit had such an amazing dynamic, I could read pages and pages of their shenanigans.

I just wish the magic system was explained a bit better, as well as their religious belief, Niamh mentions the Fair Ones a lot, it would had been nice to know more about them, but overall A Fragile Enchantment was a beautifully written book, with amazing characters and a nice plot, I’m really glad I requested this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely kicking my feet, blushing, and screaming into a pillow.

This was fantastic! This is Allison Shaft's third book, and it is by far my favorite. It's like Bridgerton meets Studio Ghibli, and I'm completely smitten. This novel was so beautifully created, and all of the characters were given so much affection. However, what stood out most was the subtle elegance of Shaft's writing. It truly brought this story to life. This is perfect for fans of Divine Rivals.

Y’all already know where I will be on January 23rd!

If you're looking for a regency era romance (something extremely like *Bridgerton*) that happens to take place in a fantasy kingdom instead of England, you're on the right track with this book. But you should know that it may take a long time to finish or maybe that was just me since I found it predictable and my mind was wandering...

I wanted to like this book. I really did. However, I found it difficult to connect with or sympathize with the main characters (both Niamh and Kit). I just wasn't emotionally involved in the book and that's what I look for. The main characters get together quite quickly without any compelling reason (he's extremely rude, but hey, he's attractive so we're okay with it -- yeah, I know this happens a lot in books, but I really didn't go for it here) and there just really didn't seem like fully fleshed out.

It was also extremely predictable and sadly did not live up to the beautiful cover for me. But I do think that others who frequently read regency romances and are looking for a little fantasy may like this book.

Thank you so much to NetGallet and St Martin's Press for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

A huge HUGE thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Allison Saft for an ARC.

Allison, you’ve done it again. Only this time, you took one of my favorite genres and put your (literal and figurative) magic into it. A Fragile Enchantment is a painful reminder to not live in the future but in the now, and to do what makes you happy, regardless of the “consequences”. Niamh and Kit are beautiful characters, inside and out, with quirks and vices and passions that make them so relatable and wonderful. This book oozes longing, and yearning, and love on every page. The side characters are fantastic, as well, each having their own personalities that make them stand out amongst two breakout MCs.

This is my third Saft read but it will, in no way, be my last.

{4.25/5}

CW: occasional mild language, some spice, trauma

Read as an ARC via NetGalley. Book publishes January 24, 2024.

When the legacies we inherit are full of pain, what do we become?

Niamh makes dresses. Other things, too. And all of them are layered with her magic—the magic of emotions. So when she’s commissioned to make the wedding apparel for the second heir to the Avalish throne, she leaps at the chance to prove her skill and secure a better future for herself and her family. But all is not well in Avaland, Niamh’s magic is slowly killing her, and the reluctant groom she’s working for is a spiteful mess. Oh, and a particular gossip columnist has decided Niamh is the perfect person to gather information for their inflammatory articles.

This was a remarkable book, and I’m so pleased to have had the chance to read it. A slow burn, grumpy sunshine, regency romance that has echoes of ‘Bridgerton’, but with magic. And such beautifully described magic! Niamh’s particular skill is that she can weave memories and emotions into her work, and the way the author describes the effects make you feel like you’ve put on that garment as well. To call it ‘enchanting’ would be a terrible pun, but one I’ll make for the sake of accuracy.

Our FMC is phenomenally written, and you really get a wonderful insight into her life and her being throughout the book. She’s dealing not only with the expectations of a foreign land and a people who don’t value her but also with an incredible amount of self imposed pressure. That heavy, frantic crush to do all the things for everybody and do them perfectly because you must.

Where our FMC handles her personal and generational trauma by striving for perfection, our MMC handles his by making sure he lives up to the incredibly low expectations of everybody around him. Those few who can get close are not spared when he lashes out. The two of them make such a wonderful picture of how people handle such burdens, and it was really refreshing (if not also revealing) to see what I think a lot of us experience reflecting back off the page.

On to lighter topics: the romance. Slowwwwwww burn, but in the best way. Our MMC is an incredibly thorny character (is 2 puns in one review too many?), but their relationship is so good.

The plot itself is just the right amount of complex: not so many moving parts that you lose track of what’s going on, just enough moving parts that the book doesn’t feel like a poorly built boat that’s just there to convey a romance. The characters felt like real, individual people, and their interactions frequently caused me to laugh or cringe as necessary.

If an almost-but-not-quite-set-in-London regency romantasy sounds like something you’d be interested in, I cannot recommend this book enough. It’s equal parts sweet, funny, and heart wrenching, and you probably aren’t nearly prepared enough for all the repressed emotions you may feel while reading. You need to add this one to your TBR immediately!

3 ⭐️

𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
—niamh accepts an invitation from the prince regent of avaland to tailor his brothers wedding—at first meeting niamh o’connor and kit carmine do not get on well, though niamh has definitely left her impression on kit. through the various weeks and parties leading up the wedding itself, she finds herself falling for the one person she isn’t supposed to fall for…not only that, she’s somehow involved herself on both sides of a political war between her people and avalish people. with the help of her new found family, they come together to stop an wedding and fix their family dramas all while falling in love and creating lasting friendships.

𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
—while i usually love a good slow-burn romance, this was a little too slow-burn for me. there were quite a few times that i wanted to stop and just not finish it, but i pulled through because every time i felt that way the story grabbed my attention again but i quickly found myself getting bored…again. at this point i finished because of straight determination. the story wasn’t bad if you like a lot of court politics and self-growth. i was looking for more romance and more intrigue than what i actually got. it was very whimsical and enchanting, the title holds true to that. i just couldn’t find myself genuinely enjoying it despite the lovely words allison wrote.