'A Fragile Enchantment' by Allison Saft is a fantasy novel combined with a bridgerton-esque plot and setting. Niamh is seamstress with a gift of sewing things containing enchantments that allow the wear-er to feel whatever emotion is desired. She is commissioned to come to a neighboring country to sew the ceremonial
and dress clothes for an upcoming royal wedding. Niamh becomes fast friends with the engaged prince, and many others in the lead up to the wedding and is contacted by the author of a scandel column similar to lady whistledown of bridgerton.

The storyline of the book is very familiar, probably because there are so many similarities to aforementioned tv show season 2. I wish there were some more distinct differences, or maybe the gossip author could have been more malicious and that we would have been able to see more of the columns. We got about 2 columns, and instead of being a menacing villain, the author was requesting help, and when that wasn't given completely backed off. And the rumors that were being spread that we saw were hardly damaging. I just think there was so much more potential but it fell a little short. And the whole pacing of the book felt off, very slow in areas and then incredibly fast in others. I do wish that some of the side characters we were introduced to had more development.

I also would have liked if the resolution of the story was more clear. I felt like there were a lot of loose ends, and I would have appreciated a clear path forward in regards to the solutions, everything just tied up so easily and the unanswered questions were left hanging. I also think that Niamh was meant to have more of a chronic disease aspect, but it was mentioned just a few times and then completely forgotten by the end of the story. I do hope that if there is a sequel that the disease is more focused on.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martins press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book is a YA-historical romance with a splash of fantasy and magic, and a heaping dose of coziness. Niamh is the last of her family to be able to imbue enchantments into her needlework. When she gets the chance to create the prince’s outfits for his upcoming wedding, she can’t begin to imagine how she might start to feel for the prince while trying to ensure her family’s future is secure, fend off a gossip columnist, and navigate the court.

I loved the cozy atmosphere between the characters. Niamh and Kit’s relationship was quite wholesome and I liked that they seemed to compliment each others strengths and weaknesses so well. This book has forbidden romance, grumpy x sunshine, found family, and 2 bisexual disasters. My favorite character besides Niamh was Sinclair; his wit and sarcasm was always such a fun inclusion and helped me to understand Kit’s hot and cold behavior in the beginning. Perhaps my favorite aspect of the book was that the stakes were important but I didn’t have the sense of foreboding that a lot of high-stakes fantasy novels have. This was a cozy story and even though the characters had struggles to overcome, every person was fleshed out and rather understanding. I feel like this will be a quick comfort read for many historical romance readers, and may even be an excellent introduction for older YA readers who are starting to read adult historical romance.

My favorite quote: “Who needs blood family, anyway, when you have such good friends?” If that doesn’t sum up why the found family trope is such a good one, I don’t know what would.

Overall, Allison Saft knocked it out of the park again. I think my favorite book by Saft is still A Far Wilder Magic, but this is a sweeter and gentler read for those who wish to be comforted. Honestly, I think we all need this at times, so if so, this is the book for you!

A Fragile Enchantment comes out January 23, 2024 and you don’t want to miss it! I’ve already pre-ordered my copy and can’t wait to place it next to AFWM and DCTN!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Wednesday Books for the advanced readers copy. This did not affect my review in any way. All quotes came from an early version of this book.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was an absolutely wonderful delight. It’s brimming with longing, romance and a delightful magic system that’s easy to understand. Saft’s writing is wonderfully whimsical and I had a hard time forcing myself to put this book down.

I think if you love Bridgerton - you will love this book. I also think if you’ve read and loved Half A Soul this will be a wonderful book to read after that. Highly recommend picking this magical regency up if you want something romantic and light.

4.5 stars!

Wow!!! Bridgerton vibes alll day!!! Enemies to lovers! Forbidden love! So warm and delicate. It made me laugh and cry! I couldn’t get enough!!!

A magical enemies to lovers, with politics and swoon worthy moments. I enjoined this new fantasy romance for the most part. Kit and Nimah and my heart the minute Kit was an ass when they first met. Isnt that how that always goes?

Kit is supposed to get married to help his kingdom. Nimah is supposed to be helping create the wedding clothing, she’s not supposed to help the wayward prince overcome his demons.

This was a light steamed pretty easy to understand story. The world building isn’t that confusing and the love story is at its heart.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft is a true Bridgerton-meets-fantasy gem. The intricate world-building, endearing characters, and masterful storytelling created an enchanting experience that captivated me from the very first page. Saft's lyrical prose and profound exploration of themes like love and sacrifice make this book an absolute must-read for all fantasy enthusiasts seeking a captivating and immersive tale. Niamh and Kit had me longing for their happily ever after, and more than a few laughs and tears were shed while reading. A Fragile Enchantment is a spellbinding journey that lingered in my heart long after the final chapter. Definitely my favorite read for 2024 so far!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much St Martin's Press / Wednesday Books for the ARC!

This was utterly delightful!!! It was whimsical and cozy! Essentially a magical take on Bridgerton. Need I say more?

The romance and found family elements were SUBLIME. I was smiling and giddy all the way through.

4.25⭐️

Did I pick this book up because of that cover? Yes, yes I did. That cover is absolutely gorgeous so thank you to NetGalley for having this available to everyone for 48 hours so I could read and find out if the book matched its glorious cover. Overall, the book does and I really liked it.

Possible spoilers below.

I love any semblance of found family and I loved Niamh, Kit, Sinclair, Rosa, and Miriam. These are my children now. I really enjoyed Niamh's voice and watching the story unfold through her eyes. I loved that there wasn't a "villain" except for the king who was just a shadow figure at the edges of the story. It felt much truer to life where what you're fighting is not people being evil but people trying to protect and love others in their own destructive way. The end isn't everyone in a perfect place but everyone on a path to understanding.

I didn't like the gossip column. It ended up not making much sense and I don't think it was utilized to its full potential. We waited until 60% in to get the plot point on the blurb. That's too long in my opinion. It was also literally just there to cause tension between Kit and Niamh and Sinclair. No other point. So really kind of pointless. Also, I don't know how I feel about Kit and Niamh's relationship progression. It is very Darcy-Elizabeth and entertaining and sweet. But you go from mildly antagonistic to boom! love. Also, Niamh and her back and forth of if she liked him and if she should do these things. She'd do them and then suddenly feel guilty, but she didn't learn. It was a bit frustrating. I felt the plot toward the end unraveled a bit and she acted less like herself in her choices. I get the lesson is about allowing yourself to be selfish but in reality, sacrifice is necessary sometimes. But overall, it was definitely a sweet fun story with a wonderful cast of characters and I’m so glad I was able to read it.

Bridgerton vibe romantacy!!! Which is my holy grail so I knew I would just love it and I was not disappointed!! It also is forbidden love, enemies to lovers, & grumpy sunshine!!! So I clearly had the best time reading this book! 🫶🏼

Disclaimer: I appreciate NetGallery giving me an ARC in return for a honest evaluation.

A Fragile Enchantment is a romantic fantasy that reminds me of the Netflix's Bridgeton series in several ways. We have an unknown columnist and forbidden romance that includes a wedding. It is primarily about Niamh and Kit's relationship, with a dash of politics and magic thrown in for good measure.

I was really hoping to enjoy this book because I had previously read "A Far Wilder Magic" by the same author and had enjoyed it immensely and devoured it. However, there were a lot of things going on in this novel that I wished were explored more thoroughly. The political intrigue and magical system held my attention the entire time, and I was more interested in these topics than the romance. These elements, nevertheless, are more of a background motivation for these two lovers to get together.

What Niamh perceives in Kit eludes me. He strikes me as a very inept romantic partner who is also very rude. Niamh has a lot to lose, yet I got the impression that she was offering more in making the relationship work. Although it is said that Niamh is selfless, I don't believe this is true based on what I've read. Yes, she has made sacrifices by working for her family and doing this job solely to support them despite the danger, but she is suddenly quickly sidetracked by this man and gradually loses sight of her goals throughout the novel. They didn't even pay her on time.

I also didn't like how the Machlish's suffering was handled. The entire novel made me feel incredibly sorry for the working class, and all I wanted was for them to have justice.

I originally requested to read this book because of the cover and description. I dare say it, the book did live up to my expectations as a fantasy romance about a seamstress and a prince.

The book follows Niamh who is commissioned by the prince regent to design a wardrobe his brother's wedding. Niamh has the incredible ability to infuse her magic into her creations, expressing emotions and memories into the pieces themselves. She travels to the kingdom where she meets Kit, the groom, who automatically seems to dislike her and her talents. But as she gets to know him, it seems as if his emotions about her and the world are different then what he wants everyone to believe. Of course with any kingdom there political turmoil that gets mixed with the story as well.

The book was a great read with some Bridgerton vibes. There's an anonymous gossip columnist named Lovelace that publishes political and romantic scandal, mostly focusing on the royal family. That was a fun added bonus to the development of the story.

Overall, its a fun story to read especially if you like the Bridgerton books mixed with a little magic.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t typically read historical romance but this fun Bridgerton-esque world filled with magic and romance was a delight. The magic in the story is more subtle, it doesn’t require complex world building, but it is the heart of the story for sure, and it’s fairly unique for a fantasy. This book delivers a grumpy sunshine romance between a magical seamstress and a grumpy prince. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Kit, but it was still fun to read the romance between him and Niamh, even if it progressed a little too quickly for me. When I started this book I was intrigued and couldn’t put it down, the beginning definitely captured my interest. There were points along the way where I felt some strong emotions from the story and even ended up tearing up. In the end, not all of the plot resolved in ways I wanted it to and parts at the end felt more rushed. I feel like there was some untapped potential, but I’m still glad to have read the book.

Let me just start by saying that I absolutely LOVED this book! It was everything I had ever wanted in a historical fantasy romance: whimsical writing, period setting, a dreamy fairytale atmosphere, and a gorgeous romance.

I especially loved the characters of Niamh and Kit. Niamh is a kind and compassionate young woman with a love for magic, while Kit is a stubborn but charming Highlander with a hidden past. Their banter was hilarious and their chemistry was undeniable. I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning.

The plot was also well-paced and engaging. There was a good balance of romance, adventure, and magic, and I was never bored. I especially enjoyed the way the author incorporated chronic illness, LGBTQ+, and mental health representation into the story. It was refreshing to read a book with characters who felt so real and relatable.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fantasy romances. It's a cozy and brilliant read that will leave you feeling satisfied and happy.

Here are some of the things I loved most about the book:

The writing was absolutely breathtaking and whimsical. I felt like I was in a dreamy fairytale, and I never wanted it to end.
The characters were complex and relatable. I especially loved the relationship between Niamh and Kit.
The plot was well-paced and engaging. There was a good balance of romance, adventure, and magic.
The author incorporated chronic illness, LGBTQ+, and mental health representation into the story in a way that felt both realistic and respectful.
I can't wait to see what Allison Saft has up her sleeve next!

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.