Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this.

I really enjoyed this story. I loved the cozy elements of this fantasy world as well as the Bridgerton / regency vibes mixed with magic. The romance plot was sweet and definitely the main focus which I really liked.

The magical clothing gave me SPIN THE DAWN vibes and the gossip column kind of gave ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART and I loved both of those books so these were a very pleasant elements to find in this story.

I would definitely continue to read Allison Saft’s books.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I can see appeal of this book - it just wasn't for me. The world building and magic were really interesting and felt fresh. The writing style was really good. I don't know if it was the pacing for me, or the fact that this book had so much hype around it, but something about it just didn't interest me when I read it.

The actual narration of the book was good and the narrator was nice to listen to.

This story is so precious!

I felt immersed in the world and found myself caring for the characters and wanting to know more about them.

The dynamic between the social classes of the main characters with the politics of the worldbuilding's magic system was so intriguing! The twists and mini mysteries also had me wanting to know and learn more about what was happening behind the scenes of each characters' lives.

The emotions that Allison Saft has written for her complex characters to experience really helps make them feel more real even if they do have magical abilities.

The characters themselves and the interactions with each other felt so well developed and natural. They were all misfits in one way or another who were brought together by duty and circumstance and who all gain some sort of sense of belonging and completion by the end of the story.

This book is an absolute gem!

When magical seamstress Niamh is contracted to make the wedding clothes for a royal wedding, she's determined to make her name and her fortune. But never in her wildest dreams does she think it'll lead to political unrest, blackmail, and a romance with the groom - the prince of Avaland.

Disclaimer: This book and I may not have been a great match, because the leads are both people-pleasers of the first water, and I am a very self-pleasing person who enjoys saying the word 'no' a lot. Many, many times during this book I wanted to reach inside and shake Niamh by her shoulders. It was very tough.

That said, this is a perfectly charming little forbidden romance - not only is Kit already engaged for the sake of politics, not only is Niamh a mere dressmaker, but the overwhelming tension between their nations means that they really should not be together, and therefore we have a lot of pining. I also really liked all the supporting characters, whose storylines often interested me more that Niamh and Kit - Jack as a foil for Niamh was an especially interesting take.

However, I must say that not a lot happens? The magic is cool but is actually rather incidental to the main plot of the story - I feel like it could have been excised to make a perfectly typical Regency romance. And after the build up of the story, the way things resolved ('just say no!'), even though they made sense for the characters, was rather underwhelming. Also, it may be period typical but the sheer amount of smoking Kit does grosses me out. What's the point of investing in the romance if he's just going to die of emphysema at fifty?

I listened to an audiobook of this story, which is narrated by Fran Burgoyne. I think she did a great job of juggling all the accents of the characters, even if I sometimes mixed up her Jack-voice and Sinclair-voice.

Fun but very unoriginal. The regency elements were fun to read but the plot was very cookie cutter. Also, I think this is marketed as an enemies to lovers but this has fallen victim, like so many others lately, to mislabeling. I do not feel this is a true enemies to lovers unfortunately.
I did really like the audiobook version and without it I would have probably taken FOREVER to get through this.

Allison Saft is a favorite author of mine. The tension between Niamh and Kit was to die for! The characters were lovable, and the friendships were precious. I appreciate how cozy Saft’s books can be. I finished reading this book, and couldn’t stop thinking of the lining and romance for days!

Overall, I enjoyed this, but I would have liked to see more depth in the magic system and world-building. It just felt like they weren’t explained enough.

The beautiful cover is what grabbed me on this book. I wasn't able to connect with the characters. The audiobook was fine though!

I know this review is about the audiobook but I am Allison Saft’s biggest fan. Everything she writes I am ready to eat up. This audiobook was no different. Whether my undying love comes from me my appreciation for her prose or the expert narration, I am unsure, but it is five stars nonetheless.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. I didn’t enjoy it like I thought I originally would. I hope other readers connect with it more than I did.

This one wasn’t for me. I found the premise interesting but ultimately it fell short for me. I would be willing to give this author a second shot though.

Audiobook was good though!

"A Fragile Enchantment" by Allison Saft is a beautifully woven tale that captivates with its rich prose and emotional depth. Set against a backdrop of magic and intrigue, the story follows a young protagonist as she navigates the complexities of friendship, love, and self-discovery in a world that balances enchantment with the fragility of human emotions.

Saft’s characters are intricately developed, each carrying their own vulnerabilities and desires that make them relatable and engaging. The interplay of magic within the narrative serves as a metaphor for the complexities of relationships, and Saft skillfully explores themes of trust, sacrifice, and the consequences of choices.

The pacing of the story is well-balanced, allowing moments of tension and reflection that draw readers deeper into the protagonist's journey. The enchanting setting is vividly described, creating an immersive experience that enhances the overall atmosphere of the novel.

Overall, "A Fragile Enchantment" is a compelling read that combines fantasy with heartfelt storytelling. It invites readers to reflect on the delicate balance between dreams and reality, making it a memorable addition to the genre. Saft's writing is both poetic and poignant, ensuring that this book will resonate long after the last page is turned.

I must have requested this for the beautiful cover and the heroine's Irish name. The accent could use some work. I didn't find Niamh and Kit to have any chemistry whatsoever. The wannabe Gossip Girl is just that.

Do you like regency romance? Do you like romantasy? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, you’ll love this book. Are you not anti-regency romance or romantasy, but willing to give it a shot? Well… meh.

This didn’t feel fully predictable - there were quite a few twists and turns - but nothing about it really ~enchanted~ me. The magic was soft and sweet, but it didn’t seem to add anything to the story. The fictional world was clearly a metaphor for England and Ireland, and it just didn’t feel very original to me. I think this book would have been just as good - if not better - had it just been a regency romance rather than a fantasy romance. The author seems to play with the concept of queer normatively - numerous characters have backstories with a same sex romance - but the world itself is not queer normative, which confused me. Plus the only on-page romances were male/female, though it seems both main characters are bi.

It’s a romance, it’s sweet, but wasn’t anything special for me, as someone who doesn’t read a lot of romances.

Thank you to NetGalley, Allison Saft & MacMillan Audio for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own & may not be reproduced.

While I loved the gorgeous cover art for this one, the story left me unsatisfied.

I enjoyed the prose & the characters & story were ok, but overall, it was a miss. The romance between Kit & Niamh was completely unbelievable. How do you go from hating each other one second to being instantly in love the next – with ZERO transition? The was the worst part. It was almost like the author was ready to be finished & just hurriedly slapped something on the page. There were still unresolved problems that never got wrapped up. The ending was a lesson in procrastination – “We’ll just worry about all our problems another day. Let’s just focus on our completely unrealistic love story for now – that’s enough.” NO! That doesn’t not work if this was not intended to be a series.

Many friends rave about this author, so I was expecting something more. I apparently chose the wrong book to be my first by Saft. I do not have a second lined up on my TBR.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of the audiobook! I really liked this book, which is no surprise because I usually love Allison Saft's books. It felt a little lighter and less atmospheric than other of Saft's books because this one was a lighter regency story, but I did still like it.

I think the character development left me wanting a little more, especially from our main couple. However, I would read a whole other book just about the extended cast of characters here because I did want more of them

I held my review in solidarity with the St Martin's Press influencer boycott, hoping that the publisher would choose to acknowledge their employee's behavior and to share how they protect their readers, influencers, and authors.

Nine months in, I no longer have an expectation of anyone receiving a meaningful response to that simple request.

If SMP chooses to speak up, I will be happy to update this feedback with my actual review.

I enjoyed the Bridgerton vibes of this, but I think I was just a little underwhelmed at the romance and the plot overall!
The narrator was great, and I loved the accent.

DNF @ 28%. "A Fragile Enchantment" by Allison Saft sounded like a promising, cozy fantasy romance based on its description. Unfortunately, it is full of unnecessary details and a lack of oomph. I wish I cared more about Niamh and Kit. Their enemies to lovers story could have been so much more effective, and instead, I found it to be grating and contrived. Kit is such a jerk! I know that's sort of the point of enemies to lovers, but it is hard to find any redeeming qualities in him, like he doesn't deserve Niamh. There does manage to be some good banter in the first 28%, but it also feels like it unfolds so slowly that I was shocked that the book wasn't already half over. It is so poorly and slowly paced! Any yearning there might be between the two of them is displaces by how snail-like the plot is unfolding. Fran Burgoyne is a great narrator and she does a wonderful job here, but her narration can't save a story that is bogged down with issues. I might get to this book again some day, but as of right now, it is a DNF for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Allison Saft, Macmillan Audio, and Macmillan Young Listeners for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

This romantic fantasy weaves magic and emotion, with a bit of mystery and intrigue. Strong Bridgerton vibes with a drastic class system and a gossip publication airing out dirty laundry. The narration was superb, bring the characters to life.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Macmillan Young Listeners for an advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.