Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
This was a really enjoyable book, I liked the characters and the plot was fun!

A Fragile Enchantment instantly became one of my favourite things I've read so far this year. Enemies to lovers, a royal wedding, a take on magic I've never seen before, and a Gossip Girl-esque gossip column? Sign me up. Add onto that some beautiful world building and characters you can't help but love (no matter how obnoxious they may act) and you've got a gorgeous read that I could not bring myself to put down.

Thanks for the chance to review “A Fragile Enchantment” by Allison Saft.

I loved it. An upper YA romantic fantasy set in a fantasy country called “Avaland” which is basically England. I think the release date is probably times perfectly to release in the spring before Season 3 of Bridgerton. It’s a light, heartfelt read I really enjoyed it.

The Worldbuilding has just the right amount of explanation of magic. The pacing is good. The characters are unique and complex, but the focus is on the main couple. It definitely has all of the check boxes that you want to see in a period historical fiction read. But also magic that corresponds to the emotions and character arc for each character in the book. Court drama, balls, and pretty dresses, emotional scenes in the rain, a wedding, and a duel. But they all feel organic to the story even if you’ve seen the settings 1000 times. Saft knows the tropes audiences want to see and she hits them well.

There are social issues that apply pressure to the nobility without hitting you over the head with preachiness.

The Tattler is a straight line to Mrs. Whistledown, but also unique to the story. This is a cozy, friendly read when you need something uplifting.

I loved this! Couldn't put it down. I thought the romance was very cute and the characters were well-drawn and developed. There were a few subplots that I thought could have been fleshed out a little further - or left out completely (mainly the inclusion of the leader of the protestors and the main character's friend from home). But that didn't get in the way of enjoying this story for what it was - a cute romance that I really looked forward to curling up with each night. Definitely recommend it.

I struggled with this one. I really enjoyed Saft’s “A Far Wilder Magic,” but I had a harder time connecting to the characters in this story. They all seemed like nice enough people but I didn’t always follow their motivations and logic, especially Kit’s. I never really bought into the core romance being very deep, so Niamh’s behavior (especially when she was so close to Rosa) came off as selfish to me. The fact that Rosa wasn’t upset about it felt like it made the stakes too low—there were no real obstacles that weren’t just miscommunication or characters being “noble idiots.” Part of this is because Saft is so empathetic to even the antagonists, to the point where in the end everything feels too resolved to justify the angst. Because of the lack of stakes (or really plot, if I’m being honest) it was hard for me to pick up the book, and it took me a long time and a lot of forced reading to get through it. I’ll also say a main lead who smokes like a chimney is not attractive to me, and I really didn’t find anything else too lovable about him either, so it just felt a bit bland. I am still a fan of Saft, and it seems like writing this was really important and therapeutic for her! Just didn’t connect with me.

I think it's safe to say that at this point I will read and enjoy everything Allison Saft writes. ( no pressure tho but like I would read your grocery list )
This book is pure romance, in the best possible way. It's a low stakes fantasy with a beautiful cast of characters. Our main character, Niamh is instantly lovable. The grumpy/sunshine trope here is done beautifully, and their relationship develops slowly with all the tension. What I love about Allison's writing is that none of her books are the same, and all of her characters are different as well. Which I think is a force in an author.
This book treats with more delicate subject like alcoholism and anxiety, xenophobia, working class with injustice. All of this set in a fantasy historical regent time.

This book is magical, whimsical and just adorable. The forbidden romance between Niamh and Kit was perfectly done. I loved loved loved all the parts where she was sewing and creating beautiful clothes because I could picture it in my head so easily, which is not something I can usually do.

I don't know what magic Allison is putting in all of her man male characters but they are always so perfect and wholesome even if they are complicated and layered. Wes from A Far Wilder Magic is still my favorite, but Kit is definitely a close second.

Read this book if you love :
♡ forbidden romance
♡ grumpy sunshine
♡ magic
♡ bridgerton but fantasy
♡ lovable characters
♡ gossip girl-ish but make it historical

Also I already can't wait to re-read this, in January when I buy the boom, which says a lot in itself.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this e-arc. I am forever grateful for it.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Enemies to lovers, magic, a prince, a royal wedding. A quick, fun, sweet read.

What an incredible story by Allison Saft. This novel is filled with intense longing, beautiful character depth, and wonderful prose. Niamh and Kit have my whole heart. This is a true enemies to friends to lovers narrative. I loved every moment of this! Sinclair had to be my favorite character. The LGBT representation was wonderful.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (Wednesday Books) for the eARC in exchange for my review!

Overall, a really good book for teens that are starting out with reading historical fiction. I’m giving it 4 stars solely because based in the description I thought this book was gonna be more similar to A Court of Thorn and Roses and not more similar to Bridgerton. But, despite going into this with the wrong expectations, I still did really enjoy this book.

I totally loved this book! I am so going to get a hard copy of it when I can! I loved this so much! Regency England and muddle it up with a fantasy world and this is what you get. I cannot stop thinking about this book. Go good!
I just reviewed A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft. #NetGalley
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I was so eager to read A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft because of the magical elements in this story. As I read Niamh's tale, there was inspiration of Bridgerton, The Belles, The Wedding Planner, and almost every royalty/peerage and commoner romance you can imagine. I loved the chemistry between Niamh and Kit. I don't know if I really understood the chronic illness representation but as someone who has been chronically ill for the last ten years, I can relate to her goal of wanting to accomplish so much for the sake of family but having limitations when meeting every goal. And then there's the backlash that comes from falling for someone that family doesn't want you to be with. As with all romances, there must be a happily ever after, so I really enjoyed that inevitable conclusion.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This dreamy fantasy that brings together ya and bridgerton , really captured me about 40% into the book. The middle being my favorite part. I think if you enjoyed this author's book before you will not be let down. I think it's a bit weaker than some and at times a bit jumpy. Over all its a pretty low stakes plotline. 3.5 stars rounded up

I'm not quite sure where I found out about this book but oh boy was I excited to read this one!

I love how we were immediately whisked off to the world of Avaland while simultaneously using the familiar theme of royalty and gossip. I love the grumpy/sunshine trope and we definitely got that with this book. Niamh is so lovable and the generational trauma was so relatable. The complexity of her relationship with Kit left me thinking about the book long after I was done.

Overall I loved this and it left me feeling so hopeful.

Honestly I don't even know what to say but this is exactly what I wanted an Allison Saft book to be. Thoughtful with a lovely romance, a world built with recognizable real-world touchstones but wholly her own. Saft is a proven talent and for me now an auto-buy author.

The magic system starts off clumsily and never really settles, every single character does something extremely stupid with no discernible motivation, and there are a good half-dozen completely unresolved points. So, nah.

thank you so much St Martin’s Press / Wednesday books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

a fragile enchantment is my first book by allison saft and i really enjoyed it – this book was dreamy, cozy, and overall a feel-good read. also, how gorgeous is this cover!!! 💚

it was easy to fall into this world, given how it read more like a “historical romance with a hint of fantasy” rather than the other way around. however, i did find that there were some slow moments in the book that i felt could have been advanced quicker. and while there was a fantasy element to this world, i wish we could have gotten more in-depth about the magic system — what types of magic exist? what is considered a powerful form of magic in their world?

i did love watching the relationship between niamh and kit unfold. it was a tender slow-burn with lots of yearning and secret rendezvous and stolen glances (which i love). i wasn't sure if i was on-board with their chemistry until around 40% of the way in, but i loved watching them slowly open up to each other and fight for their love despite so many odds working against their happy ending. the supporting cast of characters were also well-fleshed out and given their own backstories, objectives, and love lines.

if you love bridgerton / regency-era romances (or just looking for a sweet romance!), i would definitely recommend giving a fragile enchantment a read!

This was a really good read, the writing style reminded me a lot of Stephanie Garbers. This is a cute little whimsical fantasy romance, def worth the read.

I think this was a really interesting story line. The potential was definitely there! I was, however, disappointed in the writing -it felt choppy and unconnected at times. I did appreciate the diversity of the cast and that characters were bisexual without it being a HUGE deal. There wasn't some earth shattering moment, but it felt normal to the story, like a utopian universe where people can be whomever they would like to without everyone losing their minds. Overall, I would rate this 7 out of 10. I would recommend it to those who are looking for an entertaining fantasy world set in a past time or looking for a Celtic feel.

The skeleton of thos book was good. I enjoyed the magic system and the world. And for the first half of the story I enjoyed the characters. Having LGBT representation was great, especially having Bi characters that weren't just side characters. The motivations of Niamh wanting to make a better life for her family were understandable and drove her actions for a good amount of the plot. It was also nice to see Kit grow to care about the repressed community in the kingdom.

Alas, the love story between these two characters just wasn't it for me. They sort of had a slow burn going? But then instalove hit and the pacing of the story amped up tenfold. Not a way that was enjoyable for me. It felt kind of rushed after this point. Niamh's hunch to who the scandal sheet writer was felt strange as she kind of pulled it out of the air and her gut. The sequences of events in how the problem was solved felt strange. It just wasn't for me, and took me out of the story.

All in all, the bones of the story were good.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for accepting my offer of an ARC!
4/5
Even now, she could hardly process it. Her, a Machlish girl from a backwater like Caterlow, the tailor for the royal wedding. Finally, all her hard work had paid off.
a magical dressmaker commissioned for a royal wedding finds herself embroiled in scandal when a gossip columnist draws attention to her undeniable chemistry with the groom.
When I first started the book I was unsure on how it would go. Once the plot started though, I was all over it. I loved how it was an enemies to lovers.I found Niamh’s character to be really interesting. I enjoyed how the world building was put in with the main character also being new to the surroundings. The clothing in the book is what I feel really made this book special. The gossip column was always for me a welcomed addition, it added more drama to the plot.