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A Fragile Enchantment
In this romantic fantasy of manners from New York Times bestselling author Allison Saft, 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.
Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into fabric is the same magic that will eventually kill her. Determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family, Niamh jumps at the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland.
But Avaland is far from the fairytale that she imagined. While young nobles attend candlelit balls and elegant garden parties, unrest brews amid the working class. The groom himself, Kit Carmine, is prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a political pawn. But when Niamh and Kit grow closer, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more—until an anonymous columnist starts buzzing about their chemistry, promising to leave them alone only if Niamh helps to uncover the royal family’s secrets. The rot at the heart of Avaland runs deep, but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible.
Transporting readers to a Regency England-inspired fantasy world, A Fragile Enchantment is a sweeping romance threaded with intrigue, unforgettable characters, and a love story for the ages.
Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into fabric is the same magic that will eventually kill her. Determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family, Niamh jumps at the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland.
But Avaland is far from the fairytale that she imagined. While young nobles attend candlelit balls and elegant garden parties, unrest brews amid the working class. The groom himself, Kit Carmine, is prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a political pawn. But when Niamh and Kit grow closer, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more—until an anonymous columnist starts buzzing about their chemistry, promising to leave them alone only if Niamh helps to uncover the royal family’s secrets. The rot at the heart of Avaland runs deep, but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible.
Transporting readers to a Regency England-inspired fantasy world, A Fragile Enchantment is a sweeping romance threaded with intrigue, unforgettable characters, and a love story for the ages.
373 pages, Hardcover
First published January 2, 2024
About the author
Allison Saft
6 books2,422 followersAllison Saft is the New York Times and indie bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic and Down Comes the Night. After receiving her MA in English Literature from Tulane University, she moved from the Gulf Coast to the West Coast, where she spends her time rolling on eight wheels and practicing aerial silks. She lives with her partner and an Italian greyhound named Marzipan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,126 reviews
February 24, 2024
2.5 stars ✨
I honestly don't know what to think about this book.. It has me deeply conflicted. But let's start with the tropes.
✔️ Forbidden regency romantasy
✔️ Enemies to lovers
✔️ Forced proximity
The tropes made it sound amazingly good but I had a lot of issues with it. The plot is basically that Niamh has some divine blood in her and is a tailor. In order to support her family, she gets appointed by the royal family for the upcoming wedding of the charming prince, Kit. But the royals and the kingdom is not what she imagined.
For about 100 pages I had no opinion of this book or its characters as I was still trying to figure out the magic system and the world building. Both of which were extremely lacking. The magic of both the main characters- Kit and Niamh confused me throughout the book, even after it ends I have no clue what I read. The pacing was slow too, although it picks up a tad halfway.
Niamh is bland. Reading the blurb made it seem like she had a lot of potential but unfortunately there's not much to her. She is just there and is a tailor. I found her divine blood sickness factor to be interesting but due to poor writing, it wasn't really a satisfying character arc. Kit was confusing. One minute he is grumpy, the next he is kind and sweet, then he gets angry all of a sudden. His treatment of Niamh confused me too as although he was mostly nice to her but there were times he just took out his anger and hurt on her. I did not understand his magic. His backstory was a poorly written one.
The side characters- Jack, Sinclair, and Rosa are quite annoying. I see a little bit of fire from Rosa but we don't see her enough. I was mostly annoyed by Sinclair. He has more scenes than Kit imo and it just pissed me off. I also noticed how Niamh mentions a particular friend in the kingdom at first, she could have been an interesting addition to the story but unfortunately it didn't go anywhere.
I liked the vibes of Bridgerton and in particular the concept of Lady Whistedown's letters. But the reveal was so underwhelming. It kinda reminded me of when we found out who actually was the "Gossip Girl."
The romance was okayish. I liked the enemies to lovers transition. There were some really cute moments between Niamh and Kit. But then Kit acted like a total arse towards her in the third act. The forbidden vibes could have been written stronger as there was immense potential to elaborate on that.
Unfortunately even for YA, it felt like middle grade. I found the writing to be extremely chaotic. Although it's fairly easy to binge, it's not a good written book at all. At the end of the day, I would say it was wasted potential.
~•~•~
A forbidden regency romantasy? Yes please😌
I honestly don't know what to think about this book.. It has me deeply conflicted. But let's start with the tropes.
✔️ Forbidden regency romantasy
✔️ Enemies to lovers
✔️ Forced proximity
The tropes made it sound amazingly good but I had a lot of issues with it. The plot is basically that Niamh has some divine blood in her and is a tailor. In order to support her family, she gets appointed by the royal family for the upcoming wedding of the charming prince, Kit. But the royals and the kingdom is not what she imagined.
For about 100 pages I had no opinion of this book or its characters as I was still trying to figure out the magic system and the world building. Both of which were extremely lacking. The magic of both the main characters- Kit and Niamh confused me throughout the book, even after it ends I have no clue what I read. The pacing was slow too, although it picks up a tad halfway.
Niamh is bland. Reading the blurb made it seem like she had a lot of potential but unfortunately there's not much to her. She is just there and is a tailor. I found her divine blood sickness factor to be interesting but due to poor writing, it wasn't really a satisfying character arc. Kit was confusing. One minute he is grumpy, the next he is kind and sweet, then he gets angry all of a sudden. His treatment of Niamh confused me too as although he was mostly nice to her but there were times he just took out his anger and hurt on her. I did not understand his magic. His backstory was a poorly written one.
The side characters- Jack, Sinclair, and Rosa are quite annoying. I see a little bit of fire from Rosa but we don't see her enough. I was mostly annoyed by Sinclair. He has more scenes than Kit imo and it just pissed me off. I also noticed how Niamh mentions a particular friend in the kingdom at first, she could have been an interesting addition to the story but unfortunately it didn't go anywhere.
I liked the vibes of Bridgerton and in particular the concept of Lady Whistedown's letters. But the reveal was so underwhelming. It kinda reminded me of when we found out who actually was the "Gossip Girl."
The romance was okayish. I liked the enemies to lovers transition. There were some really cute moments between Niamh and Kit. But then Kit acted like a total arse towards her in the third act. The forbidden vibes could have been written stronger as there was immense potential to elaborate on that.
Unfortunately even for YA, it felt like middle grade. I found the writing to be extremely chaotic. Although it's fairly easy to binge, it's not a good written book at all. At the end of the day, I would say it was wasted potential.
~•~•~
A forbidden regency romantasy? Yes please😌
March 9, 2024
3.5 ⭐️!! if you like Bridgerton, you’ll LOVE this!
October 2, 2023
4.5⭐️ WHAT AN UTTER DELIGHT THIS WAS. I LOVED IT.
I am slowly but surely building a collection of the exact kind of romantic fantasy I love and this is well up there. Magic and romance, tension and banter, an authentically believable world and real stakes, and of course characters I love.
Allison Saft has done it again and proven why she's an instant auto-buy author.
I am slowly but surely building a collection of the exact kind of romantic fantasy I love and this is well up there. Magic and romance, tension and banter, an authentically believable world and real stakes, and of course characters I love.
Allison Saft has done it again and proven why she's an instant auto-buy author.
August 21, 2024
...like I wasn't a big enough fan already!
A Fragile Enchantment is the third full-length novel from Allison Saft. It is set to release on January 2, 2024, but I couldn't wait any longer to pick it up.
I have read all of Saft's novels now and IMO, they just keep getting better and better. I'm so drawn in by her writing and dazzling, gothic-feeling atmospheres.
In this story we follow a magical young seamstress, Niamh, who gets called to the castle to create the wedding day wardrobe for the Prince and his bride-to-be. This is putting it simply, but that is the basic set-up.
As Niamh arrives at the castle and is introduced to court life, it's clear she's a fish-out-of-water. Coming from the country, she's never experienced court politics close-up.
Nevertheless, she feels blessed to have the opportunity and even though her people aren't big fans of the monarchy, she's determined to make the most of it.
The Prince, Christopher, Kit to his friends, is the younger of two Princes. His brother, Jack, is functioning as monarch. It was actually Jack who arranged Kit's engagement, as well as Niamh's services.
When Niamh meets Kit, she's a little surprised by how abrasive he is. It's clear he's not overjoyed about his upcoming nuptials. The wedding isn't one that will be based on love, but rather on political advantage. So's the way of court life, Niamh supposes.
The bride-to-be has now arrived at the kingdom, along with her father, and it seems she is just a pawn as well. With a dark personality and darker fashion sense, Niamh finds herself puzzled by the Princess, Rosa.
Nonetheless, she finds herself drawn to her and her charismatic lady's maid, Miriam. Along with Kit's childhood best friend, Sinclair, the five unlikely allies end up forming an entertaining friendship group.
Niamh is starting to feel like she belongs, though she never would have thought it possible, and the more time she spends with Kit, the less she is able to deny the chemistry crackling between them.
Unfortunately, she's not the only one who has noticed the sparks and soon Niamh and Kit are the fodder of the anonymous gossip columnist, Lovelace. Will Lovelace's rumors and insinuations ruin everything for Niamh, or will she be able to survive the scandalous court life unscathed?
Y'all, I thought this was fabulous. It kicks off so quickly. Saft wastes no time getting Niamh to the kingdom and enmeshed in the complicated palace lifestyle.
I loved that she was an outsider taking it all in for the first time. Additionally, I really loved Kit as a character. He had some depth to him and I feel like Saft spent enough time building-out his character, so that his caustic personality truly made sense.
I love a prickly, abrasive man, so his entire demeanor definitely worked for me. I enjoyed watching Kit's relationship with his older brother, Jack, and learning a bit about their family history as well. I was definitely picking up William and Harry vibes there.
Further, I enjoyed the friendship group that formed between Niamh, Rosa, Miriam, Kit and Sinclair. I was able to glean a lot of insight from their interactions and I felt it helped to better develop each character.
The political intrigue really amps up in the second half and I felt that was exciting and extremely well written by Saft. There were some scenes, as we raced towards the conclusion, where I was at the edge-of-my-seat, biting my fingernails, just hoping for the best for the characters I had come to love.
Speaking of characters I loved, Kit's betrothed, Rosa, was such a fun character. All I could picture when reading about her was Wednesday Addams. She was bringing all that morose, gothic energy.
As mentioned above, I started getting really tense towards the end. I figured, objectively that things would probably work out okay, but getting there sure was emotional!
Overall, I had such a great time reading this. Saft's writing is accessible and fluid. It's magical and enchanting, but without feeling over done. The plot never gets drowned out by flowery writing. It's easy to follow along and become emotionally attached to her characters.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Saft has quickly become a go-to YA Fantasy author for me. I look forward to following her career for a long, long time.
A Fragile Enchantment is the third full-length novel from Allison Saft. It is set to release on January 2, 2024, but I couldn't wait any longer to pick it up.
I have read all of Saft's novels now and IMO, they just keep getting better and better. I'm so drawn in by her writing and dazzling, gothic-feeling atmospheres.
In this story we follow a magical young seamstress, Niamh, who gets called to the castle to create the wedding day wardrobe for the Prince and his bride-to-be. This is putting it simply, but that is the basic set-up.
As Niamh arrives at the castle and is introduced to court life, it's clear she's a fish-out-of-water. Coming from the country, she's never experienced court politics close-up.
Nevertheless, she feels blessed to have the opportunity and even though her people aren't big fans of the monarchy, she's determined to make the most of it.
The Prince, Christopher, Kit to his friends, is the younger of two Princes. His brother, Jack, is functioning as monarch. It was actually Jack who arranged Kit's engagement, as well as Niamh's services.
When Niamh meets Kit, she's a little surprised by how abrasive he is. It's clear he's not overjoyed about his upcoming nuptials. The wedding isn't one that will be based on love, but rather on political advantage. So's the way of court life, Niamh supposes.
The bride-to-be has now arrived at the kingdom, along with her father, and it seems she is just a pawn as well. With a dark personality and darker fashion sense, Niamh finds herself puzzled by the Princess, Rosa.
Nonetheless, she finds herself drawn to her and her charismatic lady's maid, Miriam. Along with Kit's childhood best friend, Sinclair, the five unlikely allies end up forming an entertaining friendship group.
Niamh is starting to feel like she belongs, though she never would have thought it possible, and the more time she spends with Kit, the less she is able to deny the chemistry crackling between them.
Unfortunately, she's not the only one who has noticed the sparks and soon Niamh and Kit are the fodder of the anonymous gossip columnist, Lovelace. Will Lovelace's rumors and insinuations ruin everything for Niamh, or will she be able to survive the scandalous court life unscathed?
Y'all, I thought this was fabulous. It kicks off so quickly. Saft wastes no time getting Niamh to the kingdom and enmeshed in the complicated palace lifestyle.
I loved that she was an outsider taking it all in for the first time. Additionally, I really loved Kit as a character. He had some depth to him and I feel like Saft spent enough time building-out his character, so that his caustic personality truly made sense.
I love a prickly, abrasive man, so his entire demeanor definitely worked for me. I enjoyed watching Kit's relationship with his older brother, Jack, and learning a bit about their family history as well. I was definitely picking up William and Harry vibes there.
Further, I enjoyed the friendship group that formed between Niamh, Rosa, Miriam, Kit and Sinclair. I was able to glean a lot of insight from their interactions and I felt it helped to better develop each character.
The political intrigue really amps up in the second half and I felt that was exciting and extremely well written by Saft. There were some scenes, as we raced towards the conclusion, where I was at the edge-of-my-seat, biting my fingernails, just hoping for the best for the characters I had come to love.
Speaking of characters I loved, Kit's betrothed, Rosa, was such a fun character. All I could picture when reading about her was Wednesday Addams. She was bringing all that morose, gothic energy.
As mentioned above, I started getting really tense towards the end. I figured, objectively that things would probably work out okay, but getting there sure was emotional!
Overall, I had such a great time reading this. Saft's writing is accessible and fluid. It's magical and enchanting, but without feeling over done. The plot never gets drowned out by flowery writing. It's easy to follow along and become emotionally attached to her characters.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Saft has quickly become a go-to YA Fantasy author for me. I look forward to following her career for a long, long time.
June 23, 2024
Well, this book is truly captivating, providing us with a dreamy fantasy romance plotline that combines the charm of the Bridgerton series with the essence of Elizabeth Kim's "Blood of the Stars" duology, featuring well-developed characters.
The representation of chronic illness and mental health issues within a tense political atmosphere, where the labor class rises against the monarchy to defend their rights and fair wages, was a great addition to the overall execution of the story.
The forbidden love story between a noble prince and a labor girl from a lower class, who have been financially and morally taken advantage of by the aristocracy, is an intriguing idea that embellishes my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers and grumpy meets sunshine.
The main character, Niamh, with her magical hands creating marvelous dresses, is hired to work at a highly anticipated royal wedding. She's a little naive and self-sacrificing, putting others' needs first and pushing herself too hard to take care of her sick parents, even though she also suffers from a chronic illness. It's so easy to care for this character, but on the other hand, the prickly and aggressive groom, Kit Carmen, has every intention to make her job harder with his pretentious manners and mean comments that rub her the wrong way. Thankfully, she never hesitates to defend her talent, even when talking with a Prince.
As the story unfolds, Niamh realizes that the royal wedding between two kingdoms is a political maneuver, and Kit is dragged into a marriage by his ambitious brother as the Macklish people and supporters rebel against the kingdom. Amidst this intense political atmosphere, a columnist nicknamed Lovelace (reminiscent of Lady Whistledown) lurks around, implying that Prince and Niamh have chemistry. To keep her name clear, she wants Niamh's help to delve into the royal family's secrets.
Niamh finds herself in the middle of a forbidden love, increasing political tension, and a growing royal scandal as she gets closer to Rosa, the princess who is meant to marry the man Niamh is falling in love with.
The book effortlessly transports readers into a regency-inspired setting, complete with opulent ballrooms, lush gardens, and elaborate gowns, creating a vivid backdrop for the unfolding romance and political intrigue. The author skillfully weaves in elements of LGBTQ representation, highlighting the complexities of relationships and the challenges faced by marginalized communities within the kingdom.
One of the highlights of the story is the dynamic supporting cast, each with their own intriguing stories and compelling personalities. Princess Rosa, a character who deserves her own narrative, captured my heart with her strength and determination to challenge the confines of royalty. Sinclair and Princess Sofia brought depth and warmth to the story, adding layers to the interconnected relationships.
The fantasy world created by Allison Saft is both magical and believable, beautifully blending enchanting elements with the harsh realities of the political landscape. The tension between the labor class and the monarchy reflects real-world issues, making the story all the more relevant and thought-provoking.
As Niamh delves deeper into the secrets of the royal family, the plot thickens, and the stakes are raised, making it impossible to put the book down. The romance between Niamh and Kit Carmen is a delightful mix of passion, conflict, and vulnerability, drawing readers into their tumultuous journey of love and self-discovery.
Throughout the book, themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and the pursuit of truth resonate strongly, prompting introspection and sparking discussions on societal norms and injustices. Saft's writing style effortlessly captures emotions, creating a strong emotional connection between the reader and the characters.
In conclusion, this book is a captivating tapestry of romance, fantasy, and political intrigue, masterfully written to keep readers hooked until the very last page. It offers an enchanting escape into a world of magic and love while also addressing relevant and pressing issues. I wholeheartedly recommend this novel to anyone seeking an immersive and thought-provoking reading experience.
Once again, I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for providing me with the opportunity to dive into this mesmerizing tale and share my honest thoughts. It was truly a delightful journey, and I eagerly await more works from the talented author, Allison Saft. Happy reading!
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The representation of chronic illness and mental health issues within a tense political atmosphere, where the labor class rises against the monarchy to defend their rights and fair wages, was a great addition to the overall execution of the story.
The forbidden love story between a noble prince and a labor girl from a lower class, who have been financially and morally taken advantage of by the aristocracy, is an intriguing idea that embellishes my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers and grumpy meets sunshine.
The main character, Niamh, with her magical hands creating marvelous dresses, is hired to work at a highly anticipated royal wedding. She's a little naive and self-sacrificing, putting others' needs first and pushing herself too hard to take care of her sick parents, even though she also suffers from a chronic illness. It's so easy to care for this character, but on the other hand, the prickly and aggressive groom, Kit Carmen, has every intention to make her job harder with his pretentious manners and mean comments that rub her the wrong way. Thankfully, she never hesitates to defend her talent, even when talking with a Prince.
As the story unfolds, Niamh realizes that the royal wedding between two kingdoms is a political maneuver, and Kit is dragged into a marriage by his ambitious brother as the Macklish people and supporters rebel against the kingdom. Amidst this intense political atmosphere, a columnist nicknamed Lovelace (reminiscent of Lady Whistledown) lurks around, implying that Prince and Niamh have chemistry. To keep her name clear, she wants Niamh's help to delve into the royal family's secrets.
Niamh finds herself in the middle of a forbidden love, increasing political tension, and a growing royal scandal as she gets closer to Rosa, the princess who is meant to marry the man Niamh is falling in love with.
The book effortlessly transports readers into a regency-inspired setting, complete with opulent ballrooms, lush gardens, and elaborate gowns, creating a vivid backdrop for the unfolding romance and political intrigue. The author skillfully weaves in elements of LGBTQ representation, highlighting the complexities of relationships and the challenges faced by marginalized communities within the kingdom.
One of the highlights of the story is the dynamic supporting cast, each with their own intriguing stories and compelling personalities. Princess Rosa, a character who deserves her own narrative, captured my heart with her strength and determination to challenge the confines of royalty. Sinclair and Princess Sofia brought depth and warmth to the story, adding layers to the interconnected relationships.
The fantasy world created by Allison Saft is both magical and believable, beautifully blending enchanting elements with the harsh realities of the political landscape. The tension between the labor class and the monarchy reflects real-world issues, making the story all the more relevant and thought-provoking.
As Niamh delves deeper into the secrets of the royal family, the plot thickens, and the stakes are raised, making it impossible to put the book down. The romance between Niamh and Kit Carmen is a delightful mix of passion, conflict, and vulnerability, drawing readers into their tumultuous journey of love and self-discovery.
Throughout the book, themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and the pursuit of truth resonate strongly, prompting introspection and sparking discussions on societal norms and injustices. Saft's writing style effortlessly captures emotions, creating a strong emotional connection between the reader and the characters.
In conclusion, this book is a captivating tapestry of romance, fantasy, and political intrigue, masterfully written to keep readers hooked until the very last page. It offers an enchanting escape into a world of magic and love while also addressing relevant and pressing issues. I wholeheartedly recommend this novel to anyone seeking an immersive and thought-provoking reading experience.
Once again, I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for providing me with the opportunity to dive into this mesmerizing tale and share my honest thoughts. It was truly a delightful journey, and I eagerly await more works from the talented author, Allison Saft. Happy reading!
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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January 15, 2024dnf @ 25% because i'm just not vibing with this
February 16, 2024
As an avid reader, I used to look forward to reading books by Saft for their romantic storylines. However, I found myself often disappointed as romance was not her forte (at least not in my opinion).
However, after reading more of her works, I now realize that Saft's true strength lies in the magical worlds she creates through her beautiful prose. Her writing style is so enchanting that it has the ability to captivate me and transport me to another realm.
Despite my initial disappointment with the mediocre romance, I find myself appreciating and enjoying her books even more now, compared to her previous works.
Further RTC
However, after reading more of her works, I now realize that Saft's true strength lies in the magical worlds she creates through her beautiful prose. Her writing style is so enchanting that it has the ability to captivate me and transport me to another realm.
Despite my initial disappointment with the mediocre romance, I find myself appreciating and enjoying her books even more now, compared to her previous works.
Further RTC
Read
January 11, 2024I am withholding my review and rating until St Martin’s Press addresses the demands of the boycott
January 26, 2024
this was cute and i enjoyed the prose but the ending was so lame. it solved basically none of the problems the characters were facing, just ended with a “we’ll worry about this shit later, let’s sit with the power of love for now” 💀
August 16, 2024
4 ☆
❝ you may be the only good thing I’ve ever wanted. ❞
🎧 ꒱ dress by taylor swift
say my name and everything just stops
I don’t want you like a best friend
🌷꒱ opening thoughts :
I came for the gorgeous cover and I stayed for the adorable characters. this book has been on my tbr for a while now– when I first saw it at barnes & noble I gasped because of how beautiful it was, but I was hesitant to buy or read it because of how scarred I’ve been from buying books purely because of their covers in the past. still though, my eyes were drawn to it every time I went to a bookstore or library until I caved one day and got it. and what a lovely, whimsical, romantic ride I was in for. a regency romantasy with found family, enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance, touch-her-and-I’ll-kill-you, he’s-grumpy-she’s-sunshine; basically all of my favorite tropes. suffice to say, aside from some iffy content, this is my new favorite book.
🪡꒱ writing/plot :
the worldbuilding was a little bit murky, and maybe just a bit underdeveloped; same goes for the plot. but it was about as solid as I was expected from a romantasy and there was enough of it to ground the story so the entire book wasn’t revolving around the romance, which with slow-burn like this can get a bit boring. but the writing was so cute and pretty with a touch of properness that only added to the regency vibes (if that makes sense lol). I loved how it portrayed the world and characters!
🧸꒱ characters :
╰› niamh ó conchobhair ᰔ
I absolutely adore her. exact same vibes as evangeline fox from ouabh! she was sweet and adorable. she was definitely giving disney princess; back before female characters had to be extreme, independent feminists to be validated. I also loved her gift, both of embroidering feelings into her designs and of being a good listener. I loved how even though she grew throughout the story she never had to lose her soft, empathetic, easily penetrable persona. she was a perfect protagonist!
╰› kit carmine ᰔ
tell me why the book says he has dark hair when the cover shows him as a ginger/strawberry blonde 💀 but whatever, because my man is just gorgeous on the cover– and his personality holds up! he reminded me of whit from what the river knows; gruff on the outside but truly has a kind interior, he’s just been taught to hide it. I also loved how he wasn’t traditionally romantic or particularly good with words but he genuinely loved niamh and showed it through his actions 🥹 he is the standard!
╰› honorable mentions ᰔ
rosa and sinclair were both absolute icons and I loved the humor they both brought to the story. Miriam was also sweet! the found family in their friend group with kit and niamh was the cutest thing ever.
💐꒱ romance :
the moment we’ve all been waiting for… did the romance live up to my high standards? well the answer, from lydia herself, the hopeless romantic who would ship two rocks together if they sat close enough to each other: IT ABSOLUTELY DID! (we are all very surprised, I know) it was even better than I was expecting tbh– rivals-to-lovers can go absolutely haywire sometimes, and even more often it isn’t even rivals-to-lovers, just two characters pretending to hate each other for no apparent reason. but here, they actually pissed each other off and had some great banter. their arc from frenemies to friends to lovers was pretty much flawless and very believable. I loved how deeply they cared for each other and became better people because of the other. it had that timeless, written in the stars vibe that I love when fantasy romances give. no complaints here!
🪞꒱ overall,
this book was made with a recipe for “things that lydia loves in a book” (because why wouldn’t it have been?) so of course I loved it! if you like romance, fantasy, or ideally both, then this is the book for you. it would be a booktok bestseller in another lifetime but tbh, I kind of appreciate the obscurity. it’s the definition of a hidden gem. do yourself a favor and read it!
❝ she wanted more than she’d ever allowed herself to want. The good, the bad, and everything in between. All of life and its ten thousand ways to cut you. ❞
❝ you may be the only good thing I’ve ever wanted. ❞
🎧 ꒱ dress by taylor swift
say my name and everything just stops
I don’t want you like a best friend
🌷꒱ opening thoughts :
I came for the gorgeous cover and I stayed for the adorable characters. this book has been on my tbr for a while now– when I first saw it at barnes & noble I gasped because of how beautiful it was, but I was hesitant to buy or read it because of how scarred I’ve been from buying books purely because of their covers in the past. still though, my eyes were drawn to it every time I went to a bookstore or library until I caved one day and got it. and what a lovely, whimsical, romantic ride I was in for. a regency romantasy with found family, enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance, touch-her-and-I’ll-kill-you, he’s-grumpy-she’s-sunshine; basically all of my favorite tropes. suffice to say, aside from some iffy content, this is my new favorite book.
🪡꒱ writing/plot :
the worldbuilding was a little bit murky, and maybe just a bit underdeveloped; same goes for the plot. but it was about as solid as I was expected from a romantasy and there was enough of it to ground the story so the entire book wasn’t revolving around the romance, which with slow-burn like this can get a bit boring. but the writing was so cute and pretty with a touch of properness that only added to the regency vibes (if that makes sense lol). I loved how it portrayed the world and characters!
🧸꒱ characters :
╰› niamh ó conchobhair ᰔ
I absolutely adore her. exact same vibes as evangeline fox from ouabh! she was sweet and adorable. she was definitely giving disney princess; back before female characters had to be extreme, independent feminists to be validated. I also loved her gift, both of embroidering feelings into her designs and of being a good listener. I loved how even though she grew throughout the story she never had to lose her soft, empathetic, easily penetrable persona. she was a perfect protagonist!
╰› kit carmine ᰔ
tell me why the book says he has dark hair when the cover shows him as a ginger/strawberry blonde 💀 but whatever, because my man is just gorgeous on the cover– and his personality holds up! he reminded me of whit from what the river knows; gruff on the outside but truly has a kind interior, he’s just been taught to hide it. I also loved how he wasn’t traditionally romantic or particularly good with words but he genuinely loved niamh and showed it through his actions 🥹 he is the standard!
╰› honorable mentions ᰔ
rosa and sinclair were both absolute icons and I loved the humor they both brought to the story. Miriam was also sweet! the found family in their friend group with kit and niamh was the cutest thing ever.
💐꒱ romance :
the moment we’ve all been waiting for… did the romance live up to my high standards? well the answer, from lydia herself, the hopeless romantic who would ship two rocks together if they sat close enough to each other: IT ABSOLUTELY DID! (we are all very surprised, I know) it was even better than I was expecting tbh– rivals-to-lovers can go absolutely haywire sometimes, and even more often it isn’t even rivals-to-lovers, just two characters pretending to hate each other for no apparent reason. but here, they actually pissed each other off and had some great banter. their arc from frenemies to friends to lovers was pretty much flawless and very believable. I loved how deeply they cared for each other and became better people because of the other. it had that timeless, written in the stars vibe that I love when fantasy romances give. no complaints here!
🪞꒱ overall,
this book was made with a recipe for “things that lydia loves in a book” (because why wouldn’t it have been?) so of course I loved it! if you like romance, fantasy, or ideally both, then this is the book for you. it would be a booktok bestseller in another lifetime but tbh, I kind of appreciate the obscurity. it’s the definition of a hidden gem. do yourself a favor and read it!
❝ she wanted more than she’d ever allowed herself to want. The good, the bad, and everything in between. All of life and its ten thousand ways to cut you. ❞
April 9, 2024
Don't mind me quietly moving this to a DNF. It's been sitting on my currently reading forever now. I am very thankful for the ARC but it's not holding my attention after several tries. Might just be my mood at the moment. 😔
This is the total combo of what I'm in the mood for - Romance, Historical Fiction and Fantasy 💖
Thank you NetGalley, Wednesday Books and Allison Saft for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💖💖
Thank you NetGalley, Wednesday Books and Allison Saft for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💖💖
January 2, 2024
4.25 stars
Christmas came early this year when I received the ARC for this magical Bridgerton spinoff in book form. I can't believe I let this sit on my shelf for as long as it did because it was such a delightful little treat.
Our story follows a talented tailor named Niamh O'Connor (I am pronouncing it as "nymph" and I will not take any judgement) who is on commission to create all of the clothes for the prince (Christopher, but he goes by Kit) and his bride (princess from neighboring kingdom) at the royal wedding. Niamh is no ordinary tailor though, and she can weave emotions and memories into the clothes she sews because she has divine blood. The problem is, she is from a country called Machland which was previously a colony of the prince's kingdom, Avaland. The book follows the forbidden romance between Kit and Niamh as well as the political unrest and discrimination because of the whole Machlish/Avlish situation. Oh, and it's also important to note that the royals have divine blood too and Kit, in particular, can control plants with his hands like a Marvel superhero. He also smokes a pipe and is a recovering alcoholic.
The writing was absolutely phenomenal and I now feel the sudden urge to run the library and pick up every book Allison Saft has ever written. It was whimsical and inspiring and absolutely perfect for the regency-esque setting.
The world-building was extremely unique and original (I won't go into much detail because it could get a little confusing) and it was just complex enough to sustain the story. This was especially something that I loved in this book because romantasy usually cuts corners in this department (*cough* my 6th grade bookshelf) which was not the case at all. I loved all of the mythology and lore attached the magic systems and all of that.
And the ROMANCE. I can't believe I'm about to say this, but the romance was actually so good. Now, maybe Kit had the upper hand here because of that absolutely wonderful name (you all know how I feel about the name Kit) but that doesn't matter. Did someone say duels, interrupted weddings, and tragic rainstorm scenes (a true Mr. Darcy moment)? Yes.
Even the platonic relationships were just so good. Throughout the book, we're introduced to more and more characters which added to the complexity of the story. Niamh befriends Kit's bestie Sinclair at the beginning and later Rosa (the princess that's supposed to marry Kit) and Mariane (I think that that's her name?) and the five of them become an iconic duo-trio- group. Rosa is tons of fun because she has lightning powers like Mare from Red Queen accept she's actually likable and has a normal blood color. Oh, and I also can't forget Kit's annoying brother Jack who has daddy issues and anger issues and lots of issues. There's a bunch of stuff that happens with him and politicky things but that's boring so let's move on.
I also forgot to mention that a huge plot point revolves around Lady Whistledown- I mean Lovelace. Lovelace is the anonymous scandal-sheet author who's an anti-monarchist (kind of?) and a Machlish sympathizer. They're lots of fun and we have a nice blackmail situation that stirs the pot a bit for our two mcs.
My really only complaints with A Fragile Enchantment were that it was pretty predictable and felt kind of instalovey at times (I'm unapologetically petty about this, sorry). I wish that more of the romance took place a little later in the book instead of having the climax of their relationship happen around the 50-60% mark.
Overall, this was such a delightful book and I can't wait to read more from Allison Saft. If you liked Divine Rivals, this is a must read. 4.25 stars.
**Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for granted me this ARC in exchange for my honest review
Christmas came early this year when I received the ARC for this magical Bridgerton spinoff in book form. I can't believe I let this sit on my shelf for as long as it did because it was such a delightful little treat.
Our story follows a talented tailor named Niamh O'Connor (I am pronouncing it as "nymph" and I will not take any judgement) who is on commission to create all of the clothes for the prince (Christopher, but he goes by Kit) and his bride (princess from neighboring kingdom) at the royal wedding. Niamh is no ordinary tailor though, and she can weave emotions and memories into the clothes she sews because she has divine blood. The problem is, she is from a country called Machland which was previously a colony of the prince's kingdom, Avaland. The book follows the forbidden romance between Kit and Niamh as well as the political unrest and discrimination because of the whole Machlish/Avlish situation. Oh, and it's also important to note that the royals have divine blood too and Kit, in particular, can control plants with his hands like a Marvel superhero. He also smokes a pipe and is a recovering alcoholic.
The writing was absolutely phenomenal and I now feel the sudden urge to run the library and pick up every book Allison Saft has ever written. It was whimsical and inspiring and absolutely perfect for the regency-esque setting.
The world-building was extremely unique and original (I won't go into much detail because it could get a little confusing) and it was just complex enough to sustain the story. This was especially something that I loved in this book because romantasy usually cuts corners in this department (*cough* my 6th grade bookshelf) which was not the case at all. I loved all of the mythology and lore attached the magic systems and all of that.
And the ROMANCE. I can't believe I'm about to say this, but the romance was actually so good. Now, maybe Kit had the upper hand here because of that absolutely wonderful name (you all know how I feel about the name Kit) but that doesn't matter. Did someone say duels, interrupted weddings, and tragic rainstorm scenes (a true Mr. Darcy moment)? Yes.
Even the platonic relationships were just so good. Throughout the book, we're introduced to more and more characters which added to the complexity of the story. Niamh befriends Kit's bestie Sinclair at the beginning and later Rosa (the princess that's supposed to marry Kit) and Mariane (I think that that's her name?) and the five of them become an iconic duo-trio- group. Rosa is tons of fun because she has lightning powers like Mare from Red Queen accept she's actually likable and has a normal blood color. Oh, and I also can't forget Kit's annoying brother Jack who has daddy issues and anger issues and lots of issues. There's a bunch of stuff that happens with him and politicky things but that's boring so let's move on.
I also forgot to mention that a huge plot point revolves around Lady Whistledown- I mean Lovelace. Lovelace is the anonymous scandal-sheet author who's an anti-monarchist (kind of?) and a Machlish sympathizer. They're lots of fun and we have a nice blackmail situation that stirs the pot a bit for our two mcs.
My really only complaints with A Fragile Enchantment were that it was pretty predictable and felt kind of instalovey at times (I'm unapologetically petty about this, sorry). I wish that more of the romance took place a little later in the book instead of having the climax of their relationship happen around the 50-60% mark.
Overall, this was such a delightful book and I can't wait to read more from Allison Saft. If you liked Divine Rivals, this is a must read. 4.25 stars.
**Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for granted me this ARC in exchange for my honest review
July 11, 2023
thank you netgalley for the arc !
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 5/5 stars
read if you like:
♡ enemies to lovers
♡ grumpy x sunshine
♡ bridgerton, regency inspired setting
♡ forbidden love
♡ an anonymous scandal sheet à la lady whistledown & gossip girl
➸ swathed in sparkling magic, stitched with lulling prose and a darling romance unspooling through its filaments, allison saft has outdone herself with the very fabric of a fragile enchantment, so nimbly tailored to a regency inspired setting. for any bridgerton lovers who have a thirst for something in that vein, look no further and slake yourselves here.
➸ in a stroke of good fortune and thanks to her growing prestige as a magical dressmaker, niamh ó conchobhair has been summoned to the neighbouring kingdom avaland’s court to assemble a wardrobe for a royal wedding. needing no encouragement whatsoever, niamh summarily sets off to better the lives of her loved ones - for soon she will no longer be in a position to do so. the same magic coursing through her veins with which she creates these impossible articles of clothing is slowly eating away at her life-force and her time is limited. now, as she arrives on the shores of avaland, it’s become more than clear to her that for all her imaginings, it is not the romantic oasis she had in mind. she’s even disenchanted with the man of the hour himself, the groom and second prince kit carmine, who regards her as disdainfully as he does the impending wedding. as the two of them chafe against one another only to then draw together against all odds - it's only a matter of time before they start drawing the notice of those around them.
➸ sensitive, inexhaustibly sweet niamh feels beholden to her family who suffered through a genocide and then rose up in rebellion to secure a future for posterity. in the face of such wholesale trauma, she feels that her own strife is a mere trifle, thus enduring everything with a grateful, indebted smile on her face. and yet, in spite of niamh’s even-temperedness, the truculent kit brings out a feistier side to her as the two of them exchange words as heated as a house-fire. little wonder then, that beneath it all the two of them do get on like a house on fire. as a fierce romantic, niamh’s gaze affords us a cozy prospect of the story to look out upon. her mind was such an uplifting place to take up residence in.
➸ his character piercingly distilled in a description by sinclair quite early on, kit has been helming a campaign against himself and his own best interests for so long that those around him are casualties in the fog of war. despite his best efforts to lead niamh into believing he cares not a whit for her, his actions, bristling with affection for her, betray him relentlessly - to my great enjoyment. another detail in kit’s composition of note was his shorter stature and spare frame; i’m all for diversity and range in characters so this was a welcome addition!!! he’s like a chocolate cookie posturing as a raisin cookie.
➸ even though i’ve gone on and discussed kit and niamh ad nauseam - it’s not in any way a reflection of my being unenthused with any other facet of the story. on the contrary, it’s all so wonderful i’d probably drone on at such great length it would be suspect and someone might then fall under the misapprehension that i’ve been paid for this. no, the plot itself is equally as captivating as the characters inlaid within it, the pacing accommodates everything perfectly and the writing is finely tuned to the era.
➸ conclusion :
awash with lingering hands, tender looks and charming banter laced with dandelion-seed soft affection, a fragile enchantment leaves me sighing wistfully until its release date when i’ll doubtless be reading it again.
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 5/5 stars
read if you like:
♡ enemies to lovers
♡ grumpy x sunshine
♡ bridgerton, regency inspired setting
♡ forbidden love
♡ an anonymous scandal sheet à la lady whistledown & gossip girl
➸ swathed in sparkling magic, stitched with lulling prose and a darling romance unspooling through its filaments, allison saft has outdone herself with the very fabric of a fragile enchantment, so nimbly tailored to a regency inspired setting. for any bridgerton lovers who have a thirst for something in that vein, look no further and slake yourselves here.
➸ in a stroke of good fortune and thanks to her growing prestige as a magical dressmaker, niamh ó conchobhair has been summoned to the neighbouring kingdom avaland’s court to assemble a wardrobe for a royal wedding. needing no encouragement whatsoever, niamh summarily sets off to better the lives of her loved ones - for soon she will no longer be in a position to do so. the same magic coursing through her veins with which she creates these impossible articles of clothing is slowly eating away at her life-force and her time is limited. now, as she arrives on the shores of avaland, it’s become more than clear to her that for all her imaginings, it is not the romantic oasis she had in mind. she’s even disenchanted with the man of the hour himself, the groom and second prince kit carmine, who regards her as disdainfully as he does the impending wedding. as the two of them chafe against one another only to then draw together against all odds - it's only a matter of time before they start drawing the notice of those around them.
➸ sensitive, inexhaustibly sweet niamh feels beholden to her family who suffered through a genocide and then rose up in rebellion to secure a future for posterity. in the face of such wholesale trauma, she feels that her own strife is a mere trifle, thus enduring everything with a grateful, indebted smile on her face. and yet, in spite of niamh’s even-temperedness, the truculent kit brings out a feistier side to her as the two of them exchange words as heated as a house-fire. little wonder then, that beneath it all the two of them do get on like a house on fire. as a fierce romantic, niamh’s gaze affords us a cozy prospect of the story to look out upon. her mind was such an uplifting place to take up residence in.
➸ his character piercingly distilled in a description by sinclair quite early on, kit has been helming a campaign against himself and his own best interests for so long that those around him are casualties in the fog of war. despite his best efforts to lead niamh into believing he cares not a whit for her, his actions, bristling with affection for her, betray him relentlessly - to my great enjoyment. another detail in kit’s composition of note was his shorter stature and spare frame; i’m all for diversity and range in characters so this was a welcome addition!!! he’s like a chocolate cookie posturing as a raisin cookie.
➸ even though i’ve gone on and discussed kit and niamh ad nauseam - it’s not in any way a reflection of my being unenthused with any other facet of the story. on the contrary, it’s all so wonderful i’d probably drone on at such great length it would be suspect and someone might then fall under the misapprehension that i’ve been paid for this. no, the plot itself is equally as captivating as the characters inlaid within it, the pacing accommodates everything perfectly and the writing is finely tuned to the era.
➸ conclusion :
awash with lingering hands, tender looks and charming banter laced with dandelion-seed soft affection, a fragile enchantment leaves me sighing wistfully until its release date when i’ll doubtless be reading it again.
May 20, 2024
“Is this a dream?”
“I don’t know,” he said huskily, his eyes aglow. “Let me kiss you until dawn, and I suppose we’ll find out.”
fantasy romance with chronic illness rep, magic, queer MCs & side characters, political unrest subplot, whimsical details, and bridgerton vibes.
after loving my arc for a dark and drowning tide, i was eager to jump into this; what i hadn't expected was to love it even more!
firstly, i love how allison saft takes real history and brings it into her fantasy worlds. i'm pretty sure the setting for this book is inspired by england's (in the book, avaland) occupation of ireland (machland) and the famine (the blight). there is tense political unrest that brews in the backstory, a slow simmering boil of the machlish people, tired of being exploited by avaland and taking a stand. i admittedly have limited knowledge of the real-life events of the famine, the troubles, etc. but i was fascinated by this aspect of the story and was intrigued not only by how it would play out, but how alike it was to its real-life counterparts.
i loved the cover and artwork of the main couple, niamh and kit, even before reading but their romance put me through the gamut of emotions in the best way. from their first stilted, tense meeting to the slow, hard-won moments of vulnerability to the angst of a forbidden romance, i shipped these two so hard. and they're both sexually fluid??? ok bi4bi !!! there are also 3 queer side characters. yas found family vibes.
first of all, kit is always blushing - do you KNOW how much I love a mmc that blushes?? 🥰 i thought kit's earth magic was complementary to niamh's whimsical enchantments. we don't see usually male characters paired with a power that feels softer. from the start i could see that kit's brashness was a defense, someone who doesn't know how to sit with his vulnerability, and it was wonderful to see his defenses slowly go down for niamh. there is also his relationship with his brother jack, the prince regent. the two have issues to work through, but jack isn't an unlikable, flat character. even though we see him making poor choices, we come to see where he's coming from and understand his reasoning.
i thought the aspect of lovelace was quite fun. the main element that brings in the bridgerton comparison, lovelace is a lady whistledown-esque gossip column writer - though they have a political agenda to their schemes, rather than solely focused on scandals of the romantic sort of the elite class (though those can be involved too). i had fun trying to guess who was behind the pen. it would have been kind of cool to see niamh more involved with them as a spy or informant.
saft's writing never fails to make me want to sit down with a cup of tea while i read to be transported to an otherworldly place. her vivid imagery of picturesque settings, lush florals, descriptions that blend the senses, lavish parties, and, particularly with this because of niamh's enchantment skills, fashionable outfits with meticulous details. the whimsical natures of niamh's embroidery enchantments were delightful - affecting not only the wearer but those close in their presence, the spells were an array of entertainments from calling up beloved summer memories, being invisible, appearing more beautiful, and more.
unfortunately, her own enchantments also take a toll of niamh. having a hereditary chronic illness, overdoing herself with work and magic can cause not only flare-ups for her, but start to steal more time from her life. this is represented with the visual choice of a gray streak in her hair, which grows into more of her hair as more time is stolen. ngl it made me NERVOUS for her! i felt sympathetic but also a frustration with the injustice of life that the thing niamh loves doing can also hurt her.
besides the classism, elitism, (i think we would call it xenophobia? towards the machlish from the avaland citizens), even anti-semitism has its place in saft's social commentary in this tale. alcoholism, parent/child abuse, and homophobia are some heavier topics dealt with in this book, though in minor details.
overall, i LOVED this book. the romance was delightful but i also enjoyed the political subplot.
allison saft has already provided me with two of my favorite reads so far in 2024 and i can't wait to see what else she comes up with!
“I don’t know,” he said huskily, his eyes aglow. “Let me kiss you until dawn, and I suppose we’ll find out.”
fantasy romance with chronic illness rep, magic, queer MCs & side characters, political unrest subplot, whimsical details, and bridgerton vibes.
after loving my arc for a dark and drowning tide, i was eager to jump into this; what i hadn't expected was to love it even more!
firstly, i love how allison saft takes real history and brings it into her fantasy worlds. i'm pretty sure the setting for this book is inspired by england's (in the book, avaland) occupation of ireland (machland) and the famine (the blight). there is tense political unrest that brews in the backstory, a slow simmering boil of the machlish people, tired of being exploited by avaland and taking a stand. i admittedly have limited knowledge of the real-life events of the famine, the troubles, etc. but i was fascinated by this aspect of the story and was intrigued not only by how it would play out, but how alike it was to its real-life counterparts.
i loved the cover and artwork of the main couple, niamh and kit, even before reading but their romance put me through the gamut of emotions in the best way. from their first stilted, tense meeting to the slow, hard-won moments of vulnerability to the angst of a forbidden romance, i shipped these two so hard. and they're both sexually fluid??? ok bi4bi !!! there are also 3 queer side characters. yas found family vibes.
first of all, kit is always blushing - do you KNOW how much I love a mmc that blushes?? 🥰 i thought kit's earth magic was complementary to niamh's whimsical enchantments. we don't see usually male characters paired with a power that feels softer. from the start i could see that kit's brashness was a defense, someone who doesn't know how to sit with his vulnerability, and it was wonderful to see his defenses slowly go down for niamh. there is also his relationship with his brother jack, the prince regent. the two have issues to work through, but jack isn't an unlikable, flat character. even though we see him making poor choices, we come to see where he's coming from and understand his reasoning.
i thought the aspect of lovelace was quite fun. the main element that brings in the bridgerton comparison, lovelace is a lady whistledown-esque gossip column writer - though they have a political agenda to their schemes, rather than solely focused on scandals of the romantic sort of the elite class (though those can be involved too). i had fun trying to guess who was behind the pen. it would have been kind of cool to see niamh more involved with them as a spy or informant.
saft's writing never fails to make me want to sit down with a cup of tea while i read to be transported to an otherworldly place. her vivid imagery of picturesque settings, lush florals, descriptions that blend the senses, lavish parties, and, particularly with this because of niamh's enchantment skills, fashionable outfits with meticulous details. the whimsical natures of niamh's embroidery enchantments were delightful - affecting not only the wearer but those close in their presence, the spells were an array of entertainments from calling up beloved summer memories, being invisible, appearing more beautiful, and more.
unfortunately, her own enchantments also take a toll of niamh. having a hereditary chronic illness, overdoing herself with work and magic can cause not only flare-ups for her, but start to steal more time from her life. this is represented with the visual choice of a gray streak in her hair, which grows into more of her hair as more time is stolen. ngl it made me NERVOUS for her! i felt sympathetic but also a frustration with the injustice of life that the thing niamh loves doing can also hurt her.
besides the classism, elitism, (i think we would call it xenophobia? towards the machlish from the avaland citizens), even anti-semitism has its place in saft's social commentary in this tale. alcoholism, parent/child abuse, and homophobia are some heavier topics dealt with in this book, though in minor details.
overall, i LOVED this book. the romance was delightful but i also enjoyed the political subplot.
allison saft has already provided me with two of my favorite reads so far in 2024 and i can't wait to see what else she comes up with!
March 23, 2024
niamh was bland and childish and kit felt like the author tried too hard to make him appeal to all the grumpy-except-for-the-fmc lovers (like he just felt so weird as a character. he was constantly switching personalities and i just couldn't buy the fact that he literally hated everyone except for two people, and one of them was niamh who he barely even knew). the beginning was promising since they both disliked each other when they first met, but then both of them 180d and it was just insta love the next chapter! so annoying how there was no transition.
the plot felt messy and underdeveloped and the ending didn't solve any of the problems in this book which is so weird (like what's the point then??). overall, this book had its cute moments but was too boring and unimaginative.
the plot felt messy and underdeveloped and the ending didn't solve any of the problems in this book which is so weird (like what's the point then??). overall, this book had its cute moments but was too boring and unimaginative.
March 20, 2024
*4.5 stars💫
May 30, 2024
3 ★ stars.
A thousand thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
If I wasn't a fan of Allison Saft before this, I came out of it being one. Reading this felt like stepping into my own fairytale. Not the popular ones but the ones that are often forgotten right after you close the book, it's magic safely tucked between the pages and your memories—the fairytales that live vividly in your dreams. This book created a personal kind of safe heaven that we can easily fall into and pretend to twirl around the stars with our prince charming just for one day. 'A Fragile Thread of Enchantment' was a soft fantasy/comfort read—by the fireplace, under the blanket kind of read. Every last thread that held the book together was enchanted.
Read if you like: (even if you don't, give it a try)
• Rags to riches story with a magical twist
• Bridgerton inspired setting
• Royal x commoner
• Grumpy rebellious prince x the sunshine sweetheart who always gets in trouble
• He hates everyone but her
• Forbidden romance
• Enemies to friends to lovers
• Anonymous scandal sheet and the mystery person behind it
♫ In the kitchen - Mree
♫ Chemtrails over the country club - Lana Del Rey
Sypnosis:
Magic is gone from the world, only a few families are left with divine blood flowing through their veins. Niamh Ó Conchobhair comes from a line of skilled craftsmen; she can stitch enchantments on fabric and turn it into something of dreams. Her gowns helped maidens secure the attention of hundreds of suitors and turned normal girls into noble ladies. Her prestige as a dressmaker earned her an invitation from the prince regent of Avaland to work her magic on the youngest prince's wedding. Despite having a history of ongoing unrest between her people and Avaland, she feels obligated to give her family a better future and a comfortable life. The magic she weaves into fabrics is the same that chips away at her life; she's running out of time and the royal wedding is her biggest opportunity.
Niamh is sweet, responsible and kind to a fault.
A bit clumsy at best but she knows how to pick herself up. She is naive and nice like all the fairytale girls are. She forgets and forgives easily and makes others around her feel comfortable. She's a little self-destructive as she goes; she gives and gives until there's nothing left of her to give. She is often mistreated at court for her heritage; however soft-hearted she is, she doesn't let others see her hardships, she'd smile away for them and cry when she's all alone by herself.
➣ I liked Niamh but at times I couldn't help questioning her choices. In fact, I didn't expect her to get so involved in the brother's conflicts and state affairs. The involvement went only so far and thank god, her ideas are the worst.
➣ Kit was opening up to her about his issues, how his father imposed horrible punishments on him, how he watched his mother die, immense public pressure and expectations that come along with his title, driving him to seek comfort in alcohol that resulted in him losing hold over his magic and hurting the people closest to him. All she said was 'OKAY I UNDERSTAND' and proceeded to copy-paste the same words he used to comfort her a minute ago.
➣ She came off way too desperate. She asked him to stay with her one time, he refused. Two times, THREE TIMES—that's enough rejection to last a lifetime but did she listen? No. She chased him down to the end of his wedding alter, almost costing him his life until he finally gave up and said, 'Okay fine, I'm yours'. The annoying thing was, she kept denying her intentions; she had a default answer on the run: 'Oh, I'm not doing it for me. I'm doing it for them' like girl, are you even hearing yourself?! SELF RESPECT GONE WHERE?!
➣ I know I said I was okay with her clumsiness but OH MY GOD! It was way too much. When she was asked why she trips over thin air all the time, she said it's not her fault, ghosts push her around?As if she wasn't a pushover enough. WHAT?!
Prince who hates nobility, hates royalty and defenitely hates fashion.
If the kingdom of Avaland is the storehouse of gossip and scandal sheets, Kit Carmine is the scandal himself. He is ill-tempered, also self-destructive (and they say perfect match doesn't exist). The more he loves someone, the more he pushes them away. He goes by the principle that if they want to talk about something, he'll give them something to talk about. He has been banished from court for a long time for his irresponsibility and lack of control. Now he is to be wed to a foreign princess as a sign of friendship between both their countries on the persistence of his brother, the prince regent, which he wants no part of.
➣ The friendship between Kit and Niamh won me over in no time; it was interesting since at first, they both silently vowed to criticize each other to death if possible. The holding hands, lingering glances, everything. I'd still say I liked them better as friends. Their friendship overpowered their budding romantic connection.
➣ That doesn't mean I didn't wish Kit to bring a little grovelling to the table or at least show equal desperation to pursue Niamh instead of leaving her to do all the chasing. I don't know but his 'TOO COOL FOR LOVE' act was actually TOO MUCH.
This book is very magical, very atmospheric and I liked it a lot although the storyline was faulty at times.
[8/12/23]
If this book had an alternative name it would be: The Obonoxious Prince and the Royal Dressmaker.
A thousand thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
If I wasn't a fan of Allison Saft before this, I came out of it being one. Reading this felt like stepping into my own fairytale. Not the popular ones but the ones that are often forgotten right after you close the book, it's magic safely tucked between the pages and your memories—the fairytales that live vividly in your dreams. This book created a personal kind of safe heaven that we can easily fall into and pretend to twirl around the stars with our prince charming just for one day. 'A Fragile Thread of Enchantment' was a soft fantasy/comfort read—by the fireplace, under the blanket kind of read. Every last thread that held the book together was enchanted.
Read if you like: (even if you don't, give it a try)
• Rags to riches story with a magical twist
• Bridgerton inspired setting
• Royal x commoner
• Grumpy rebellious prince x the sunshine sweetheart who always gets in trouble
• He hates everyone but her
• Forbidden romance
• Enemies to friends to lovers
• Anonymous scandal sheet and the mystery person behind it
♫ In the kitchen - Mree
♫ Chemtrails over the country club - Lana Del Rey
Sypnosis:
Magic is gone from the world, only a few families are left with divine blood flowing through their veins. Niamh Ó Conchobhair comes from a line of skilled craftsmen; she can stitch enchantments on fabric and turn it into something of dreams. Her gowns helped maidens secure the attention of hundreds of suitors and turned normal girls into noble ladies. Her prestige as a dressmaker earned her an invitation from the prince regent of Avaland to work her magic on the youngest prince's wedding. Despite having a history of ongoing unrest between her people and Avaland, she feels obligated to give her family a better future and a comfortable life. The magic she weaves into fabrics is the same that chips away at her life; she's running out of time and the royal wedding is her biggest opportunity.
Niamh is sweet, responsible and kind to a fault.
A bit clumsy at best but she knows how to pick herself up. She is naive and nice like all the fairytale girls are. She forgets and forgives easily and makes others around her feel comfortable. She's a little self-destructive as she goes; she gives and gives until there's nothing left of her to give. She is often mistreated at court for her heritage; however soft-hearted she is, she doesn't let others see her hardships, she'd smile away for them and cry when she's all alone by herself.
➣ I liked Niamh but at times I couldn't help questioning her choices. In fact, I didn't expect her to get so involved in the brother's conflicts and state affairs. The involvement went only so far and thank god, her ideas are the worst.
➣ Kit was opening up to her about his issues, how his father imposed horrible punishments on him, how he watched his mother die, immense public pressure and expectations that come along with his title, driving him to seek comfort in alcohol that resulted in him losing hold over his magic and hurting the people closest to him. All she said was 'OKAY I UNDERSTAND' and proceeded to copy-paste the same words he used to comfort her a minute ago.
➣ She came off way too desperate. She asked him to stay with her one time, he refused. Two times, THREE TIMES—that's enough rejection to last a lifetime but did she listen? No. She chased him down to the end of his wedding alter, almost costing him his life until he finally gave up and said, 'Okay fine, I'm yours'. The annoying thing was, she kept denying her intentions; she had a default answer on the run: 'Oh, I'm not doing it for me. I'm doing it for them' like girl, are you even hearing yourself?! SELF RESPECT GONE WHERE?!
➣ I know I said I was okay with her clumsiness but OH MY GOD! It was way too much. When she was asked why she trips over thin air all the time, she said it's not her fault, ghosts push her around?
Prince who hates nobility, hates royalty and defenitely hates fashion.
If the kingdom of Avaland is the storehouse of gossip and scandal sheets, Kit Carmine is the scandal himself. He is ill-tempered, also self-destructive (and they say perfect match doesn't exist). The more he loves someone, the more he pushes them away. He goes by the principle that if they want to talk about something, he'll give them something to talk about. He has been banished from court for a long time for his irresponsibility and lack of control. Now he is to be wed to a foreign princess as a sign of friendship between both their countries on the persistence of his brother, the prince regent, which he wants no part of.
➣ The friendship between Kit and Niamh won me over in no time; it was interesting since at first, they both silently vowed to criticize each other to death if possible. The holding hands, lingering glances, everything. I'd still say I liked them better as friends. Their friendship overpowered their budding romantic connection.
➣ That doesn't mean I didn't wish Kit to bring a little grovelling to the table or at least show equal desperation to pursue Niamh instead of leaving her to do all the chasing. I don't know but his 'TOO COOL FOR LOVE' act was actually TOO MUCH.
This book is very magical, very atmospheric and I liked it a lot although the storyline was faulty at times.
[8/12/23]
July 18, 2024
I really love this author’s writing and was looking forward to this book as I thoroughly enjoyed A far wilder magic but I couldn’t with this one.
I was utterly bored. My mind kept wandering off and I have nothing to think about right now so that says enough.
The main problem I had with this book was the MMC. He was incredibly moody and his behaviour was unpredictable. He switched really fast from being kind to being despicable. I know you have trauma my boy but you have a responsibility to get help.
The other thing I struggled with is the FMC. She was incredibly bland. She kept being described as being small and clumsy (VIOLET SORRENGAIL IS THAT YOU???) and those were probably her only traits.
I am disappointed as this book checked all my boxes (Bridgerton regency era vibes, sewing magic - i love that type of magic a lot -, political drama & gossip columns). But yeah, it sadly didn’t work for me.
—-•
Pre read ; This cover is incredibly pretty but the average rating is scaring me lol
I was utterly bored. My mind kept wandering off and I have nothing to think about right now so that says enough.
The main problem I had with this book was the MMC. He was incredibly moody and his behaviour was unpredictable. He switched really fast from being kind to being despicable. I know you have trauma my boy but you have a responsibility to get help.
The other thing I struggled with is the FMC. She was incredibly bland. She kept being described as being small and clumsy (VIOLET SORRENGAIL IS THAT YOU???) and those were probably her only traits.
I am disappointed as this book checked all my boxes (Bridgerton regency era vibes, sewing magic - i love that type of magic a lot -, political drama & gossip columns). But yeah, it sadly didn’t work for me.
—-•
Pre read ; This cover is incredibly pretty but the average rating is scaring me lol
September 17, 2023
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!
Thanks Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review
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!
Thanks Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review
December 31, 2023
So What’s It About?
In this romantic fantasy of manners from New York Times bestselling author Allison Saft, 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.
Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into fabric is the same magic that will eventually kill her. Determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family, Niamh jumps at the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland.
But Avaland is far from the fairytale that she imagined. While young nobles attend candlelit balls and elegant garden parties, unrest brews amid the working class. The groom himself, Kit Carmine, is prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a political pawn. But when Niamh and Kit grow closer, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more—until an anonymous columnist starts buzzing about their chemistry, promising to leave them alone only if Niamh helps to uncover the royal family’s secrets. The rot at the heart of Avaland runs deep, but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible.
Transporting readers to a Regency England-inspired fantasy world, A Fragile Enchantment is a sweeping romance threaded with intrigue, unforgettable characters, and a love story for the ages.
What I Thought
I realized at some point that I mentally categorize Ava Reid, Allison Saft, Charlie Holmberg, and Rebecca Ross in the same general group of soft, vibes-heavy romantic fantasy, and I’ve read a book by each this year. I liked A Fragile Enchantment more than A Study in Drowning and The Hanging City, but it was ultimately just a very light, fluffy read when it could have been a lot more.
One of the biggest problems for me is how incredibly tone-deaf this book is regarding classism and financial privilege. Niamh is a poor girl from a devastated land who has come to work for the ruling elite of her country’s oppressors. The two fictional countries here are based on Ireland and England, to be clear. This is certainly acknowledged, yes, but any political exploration is 1) vague and wishy-washy at best and 2) severely undercut by the tone deafness. We’re supposed to think it’s sweet of Kit (a prince) and Rosa (a princess) to tell Niamh to stop stressing about work, take time off to go to the park with them, and like, enjoy her life, you know!!! <3 :), but that just doesn’t land for me when they are literally her wealthy employers who have been incredibly disrespectful about her work and are currently requiring her to do massive amounts of labor for them. Like, we’re supposed to find it a charming personal foible that Rosa requires twelve hours of sleep a night, but this is contrasted by Niamh actively getting sicker in her terminal illness due to stress and forgoing sleep for days at a time to work on the extremely complicated dress Rosa has demanded of her. It is a little difficult to buy that these people are her true friends, given all of that.
The political aspect of the story is made equally strange and implausible because it requires us to buy the premise that Jack, the prince regent, is the only person who knows that Avaland is actually in a state of catastrophic financial ruin. He is just inexplicably the only one who knows that this is happening, and he is somehow able to keep it a secret from his advisors and Parliament???? This is made even more confusing by some early exposition that states that the royal family is not truly leading the country anymore and Parliament is now in charge. So…huh?
I’m not a massive stickler for anachronisms, but they are fairly notable here. Saft sometimes tries to make characters sound in-period by having them say “sir” and forego contractions, but they say “wow” and “what the hell, man?” just as often. In general, the writing is smooth and pleasant to read, but I did notice some repetitiveness in Saft describing golden beams of light a few too many times throughout.
With all that being said, I really enjoyed Niamh as a protagonist who is soft, kind, emotional and occasionally silly and scatterbrained. Definitely avoid this one if you can’t stand a YA protagonist who is just soooo adorkably clumsy, though!! Kit’s whole thing is that he is supposed to be charmingly uncharming underneath his asshole exterior and *kind but not nice*, but he never really won me over and just remained somewhat unpleasant, if understandably so, throughout.
I did appreciate the parallels between them learning to see themselves as worthy of happiness and deciding to live for something other than duty. The romance is cute but moves fairly quickly; at the end of the day, all I can really say is that I never felt for them as a couple the way I do with my favorite romances. There are still some lovely moments towards the end, especially when Niamh reveals Kit’s wedding cloak in the ceremony and all the flowers bloom in response. I will absolutely read more by Allison Saft, but I hope my next choice is a bit more substantial.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy, upon which this review is based.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2024
Rated 3.5/5 stars
July 28, 2023
i laughed, i cried, i swooned. allison saft has brought me the fantasy historical romance of my dreams. tender and intimate, with a magic that envelops you like a perfectly tailored jacket. a romance for the ages!!
absolutely perfect for fans of historical romance, the dynamics of bridgerton, or those looking to delve more into the genre!
full review to come over on my blog:) thank you to edelweiss and the publisher for providing this review copy
absolutely perfect for fans of historical romance, the dynamics of bridgerton, or those looking to delve more into the genre!
full review to come over on my blog:) thank you to edelweiss and the publisher for providing this review copy
December 30, 2023
-Outlier-
The concept is fantastic, but the story had a slow start.
Niamh Ó Conchobhair possesses a unique magical ability to weave emotions and memories into fabric. However, this skill is slowly draining her life force. Determined to make the best use of her remaining time, she decides to help her family by accepting an offer to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding. But upon arriving in the kingdom, she discovers that the reality is far from the fairytale she had envisioned.
It took a while for the story to really get going - about halfway through, to be exact. However, even though I didn't connect with the main characters as much as I would have liked, I found myself drawn in by the side characters. There was even this juicy gossip column that reminded me a lot of Lady Whistledown's Society Papers from Bridgerton. All in all, it was an okay read.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Allison Saft, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
The concept is fantastic, but the story had a slow start.
Niamh Ó Conchobhair possesses a unique magical ability to weave emotions and memories into fabric. However, this skill is slowly draining her life force. Determined to make the best use of her remaining time, she decides to help her family by accepting an offer to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding. But upon arriving in the kingdom, she discovers that the reality is far from the fairytale she had envisioned.
It took a while for the story to really get going - about halfway through, to be exact. However, even though I didn't connect with the main characters as much as I would have liked, I found myself drawn in by the side characters. There was even this juicy gossip column that reminded me a lot of Lady Whistledown's Society Papers from Bridgerton. All in all, it was an okay read.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Allison Saft, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
Read
December 28, 2023I am withholding my review and inclusion of this book from my content until SMP takes accountability and the boycott ends.
January 2, 2024
Title: A Fragile Enchantment
Series: n/a
Author: Allison Saft
Release date: January 2, 2024
Cliffhanger: no
Genre:romantasy
I was so excited to start this because the premise sounded really different and intriguing. Sadly, it was a bit of a mess, and very difficult to read for many reasons. Surface level character development, pacing, inconsistencies, unlikable hero, minimal fantasy worldbuilding, and the weak historical setting were just a few of the things that came together to make this lackluster romantasy. I am so bummed that I didn't love it, but I'm honestly patting myself on the back for trudging through and making it to the last page.
Niamh Ó Conchobhair is the female protagonist. She's eighteen years old and has just been offered the position of clothing maker for the upcoming royal wedding of the youngest prince. Prince Christopher, Duke of Clearwater (Kit) is marrying Rosa because his older brother has decreed that it's for the good of the kingdom. The alliance will prove to strengthen them financially and improve Kit's battered reputation. Kit is seen as a bit of a joke because of his alcoholism and the fact that he's been living away from Avaland in an attempt to recover from his addiction. He's reluctantly going along with the wedding, but he's not happy and everyone knows it.
From the first introduction, Kit is surly, mean-spirited, and just generally unpleasant to be around. Niamh is asked to stitch something for him and the prince regent in order to show the capabilities of her magic. He sneers at her work and makes her feel unwelcome before stomping off. This immediately causes her to (understandably) hate him from the get-go. During all of their interactions, his behavior takes a similar vein, though she starts to sympathize with him as she sees hints of compassion in him. Personally, I did not see enough in him to excuse his bratty behavior, nor did I see him as a multi-layered person who is misunderstood. His reputation is well-earned, and I didn't even feel sorry for him being forced into a loveless marriage.
Niamh came off as a bit of a people pleaser and a martyr. She lives to help support her family (even though they're ungrateful), has no personal life to speak of, and weakens herself by working her fingers to the bone knowing that it's accelerating the mysterious disease she is "dying" from. When she is overly stressed or anxious she ages and/or weakens which is shown in the physical manifestation of her hair gradually turning white. In the synopsis, it says that the magic she uses in her clothing is "the same magic that will eventually kill her." However, in the book, it says this:
Some illnesses pass through generations. We tend to see them appear more often in families with divine blood—not necessarily because they’re connected [...]
Absolutely nobody else in the book with magic powers is suffering the same health issues as her. Nobody else has hair turning white. None of this was explained with any type of detail, and no one seems to be overly concerned when she baldly states to various people that she is "dying." When she blurted it out to Kit, they were becoming involved at that point and he acted surprised but that was the extent of it. How do you not react with horror to a statement like that for someone you are supposedly falling for? I kept thinking that this would be addressed somehow towards the end in order to ensure a smooth HEA, but unfortunately no. She could literally die one year after they get together...one day even. But they calmly accept that like it's no biggie. In fact, all of the seemingly insurmountable hurdles these two have are hopped over quickly and unrealistically. Kit's engagement is even solved from many different angles in very few pages. Everything all tied up in a neat bow, but not in a remotely realistic manner.
The magic system is described very vaguely as well as the historical setting. All we are told about the magic is that every person with an ceird (magic) claimed they could trace their ancestry back to one of the Fair Ones. The Fair Ones are described in one paragraph. None of it really makes sense. Are there a set amount of powers based on the six Fair Ones named, or are there too many to count? Despite the source of the magic, some of the Machlish people who are peasants who live in poverty have magic, like Niamh. It seems that anyone in any class can have them, but having them doesn't earn respect unless you are upper class. There is no structure to any of it, and it's all briefly, sporadically, and in an inconsistent way. If I'm reading a fantasy with magic involved I expect world building and in-depth explanations in order for the setting to come to life. The historical detail was sufficient either, despite the fact that this world was supposed to have been modeled after Regency England. Their clothing may have been appropriate, but I didn't have the benefit of a description besides a bit of lace here, or a mention of a garter under her dress there. The speech and social customs were more modern than antiquated, so everything was a bit artificial for my taste.
There is the addition of various conflicts like the gossip columnist Lovelace, and Lady Helen Carlile who pop up at various points in the book but again, lack any focus or detail. The romance pretty much sprouts out of nowhere after she spends more than half the book despising him, and I couldn't find excitement for it once it did. His fiancé pretty much says it all.
“He is . . . pretty, in his way, I suppose. In theory,” Rosa conceded. “But I am shocked at his poor breeding. He is gentlemanly to no one but you. To the rest of the world, he is peevish, extraordinarily rude, and possesses no grace or decorum.”
To me, this feels like a story you would expect from a debut author. I don't think I'll be trying another book from Allison Saft because her writing is just not for me. Many others have read her work and appreciate it, so maybe you will have a different experience.
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December 1, 2023
˚˖𓍢ִ ໋ 2 stars ࿐
⤿ 0.5/5 spice!
i really wanted to like this book (especially since it’s my first arc!), but i really didn’t enjoy it. the pacing was so off for me. it took me almost a month to read this book because the beginning was so slow and there was no plot until the 200 page mark.
the main character, niamh ó conchobhair, was so uninteresting. i didn’t connect to her character, the love interest, and almost all the other side characters. the two characters i was most interested in and would loved to have learned more about were sofia and rosa, but they were barely in the book.
the romance, again, was so boring and bland. niamh was instantly attracted to kit and i felt like they got together way too quickly.
despite everything i’ve said, i do think that a lot of people would enjoy this book!! almost everything i disliked was simply preference, so if the summary sounds interesting to you, i think it’s worth giving a fragile enchantment a try! it’s just not my cup of tea <3
thank you so much to netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book!!
⤿ 0.5/5 spice!
i really wanted to like this book (especially since it’s my first arc!), but i really didn’t enjoy it. the pacing was so off for me. it took me almost a month to read this book because the beginning was so slow and there was no plot until the 200 page mark.
the main character, niamh ó conchobhair, was so uninteresting. i didn’t connect to her character, the love interest, and almost all the other side characters. the two characters i was most interested in and would loved to have learned more about were sofia and rosa, but they were barely in the book.
the romance, again, was so boring and bland. niamh was instantly attracted to kit and i felt like they got together way too quickly.
despite everything i’ve said, i do think that a lot of people would enjoy this book!! almost everything i disliked was simply preference, so if the summary sounds interesting to you, i think it’s worth giving a fragile enchantment a try! it’s just not my cup of tea <3
thank you so much to netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book!!
December 21, 2023
Having read A Far Wilder Magic and fallen in love with Allison Saft's way with words, I was ecstatic to get my hands on a copy of her newest release, A Fragile Enchantment. And while her prose continues to touch me, this story did not grab my attention the way her previous two novels did. Granted, I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction, and this is a regency-era based fantasy, but I also just wanted a bit 'more' generally from this book. I loved the magic system in this novel, but I wish there was a bit more fantasy elements to it. And while I love Kit and Niamh, I wished they had a few more scenes of romantic development. All that being said, this is still a really strong story. I'm tough on the author because I know what she is capable of. Overall, I would recommend this to any "romantasy" reader.
Thank you to the publisher and Macmillan Audio for the ARCs in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and Macmillan Audio for the ARCs in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2024
DNF at 60% but skimmed to the end
These are the most vapid main characters I had the displeasure of reading.
”Niamh’s head ached from thinking.”
“When she reached the top stair, she tripped over her own foot. She gasped but caught herself on the front door at the last moment.”
An annoying, dull, incredibly stupid female main character whose only traits are her martyr complex (she’s just so nice! Except when she needs to get sassy with the Prince!) and how “clumsy” and “not-clever” she is (what is this? The 00s-10s?). Because I guess the author needed to satisfy the “I want my female protagonist to be meek, mild, perfectly feminine, ‘relatable’, helpless, airhead, otherwise I'll call her a bitch or a NLOG!” crowd. Niamh can’t walk a couple of steps without failing, crying or shrieking. The author also decided to give her a “chronic disease” to make her relatable and pliable.
”Once you strip off all those thorns, he’s not so bad.”
An equally annoying love interest whose main trait is how grumpy and rude he is, yet we’re supposed to believe he’s oh-so-kind. The only “interesting” thing about him is that he’s not a Very Big Hunk(tm).
”He was as lean and coiled as a wolf in midwinter and shorter than most men she’d met. But as slight as he was, she was smaller.”
Do not fret ladies! Your cypher character/self-insert is still smaller. We can’t move away from heteronormative expectations, even in fantasy. The romance was such a joke, I had to check if my book wasn’t missing chapters: it literally came out of nowhere. Niamh is just that magical and can see beyond Kit awful manners and figure out he’s just such a tortured soul. Who needs to write actual relationship development? Just have them kiss and blush.
Combine all of the above with a not-so-subtle use of real life countries the author is too lazy to even properly research: the Spanish language is not written that way; Spanish people are also not “olive skinned”, but I guess the author needed to add those “brownie points” for race representation, even when it makes no sense. Add a plot of political unrest that gets resolved with the “power of love” and has no actual repercussions in the lives of the Irish cyphers or the Spaniards cyphers. Because stupid Niamh must get her “happy ending”, plausibility be damned. Bingo. Now you have a book the subscription boxes will love.
These are the most vapid main characters I had the displeasure of reading.
”Niamh’s head ached from thinking.”
“When she reached the top stair, she tripped over her own foot. She gasped but caught herself on the front door at the last moment.”
An annoying, dull, incredibly stupid female main character whose only traits are her martyr complex (she’s just so nice! Except when she needs to get sassy with the Prince!) and how “clumsy” and “not-clever” she is (what is this? The 00s-10s?). Because I guess the author needed to satisfy the “I want my female protagonist to be meek, mild, perfectly feminine, ‘relatable’, helpless, airhead, otherwise I'll call her a bitch or a NLOG!” crowd. Niamh can’t walk a couple of steps without failing, crying or shrieking. The author also decided to give her a “chronic disease” to make her relatable and pliable.
”Once you strip off all those thorns, he’s not so bad.”
An equally annoying love interest whose main trait is how grumpy and rude he is, yet we’re supposed to believe he’s oh-so-kind. The only “interesting” thing about him is that he’s not a Very Big Hunk(tm).
”He was as lean and coiled as a wolf in midwinter and shorter than most men she’d met. But as slight as he was, she was smaller.”
Do not fret ladies! Your cypher character/self-insert is still smaller. We can’t move away from heteronormative expectations, even in fantasy. The romance was such a joke, I had to check if my book wasn’t missing chapters: it literally came out of nowhere. Niamh is just that magical and can see beyond Kit awful manners and figure out he’s just such a tortured soul. Who needs to write actual relationship development? Just have them kiss and blush.
Combine all of the above with a not-so-subtle use of real life countries the author is too lazy to even properly research: the Spanish language is not written that way; Spanish people are also not “olive skinned”, but I guess the author needed to add those “brownie points” for race representation, even when it makes no sense. Add a plot of political unrest that gets resolved with the “power of love” and has no actual repercussions in the lives of the Irish cyphers or the Spaniards cyphers. Because stupid Niamh must get her “happy ending”, plausibility be damned. Bingo. Now you have a book the subscription boxes will love.
October 9, 2023
one day i will read a safty book that does not make me look up "therapists near me" but today is not that day!
October 27, 2023
This book had an intriguing premise but ultimately gave disappointment in the execution. The beginning gives an engaging portrayal of Niamh's introduction to the court and her relationship with Kit. I loved how grouchy Kit was through most of the book which I appreciated. The forbidden romance and the magical elements, specifically Niamh's ability to weave magic into clothing, are all definitely positives to the story.
However, my interest waned around the halfway point due to the introduction of multiple complex elements in the plot. These elements include political intrigue, civil unrest, arranged marriage, coming out, alcoholism, forbidden romance, gossip columns, and magic which actually I thought were all great until it wasn't. The abundance of these plot threads challenging to keep up and made the story less enjoyable for me I think just how the author tried to work them all through the story.
There were many times I felt like the story was dragging almost going nowhere and many things pointless. I did however really enjoy several of the side characters! There were times the language was too modern like the curse words that just were thrown in there randomly and it didn't fit the setting.
In the end, the book is just "okay," with a few enjoyable moments that make it worth the read, despite the issues highlighted above.
Sexual Content: moderate
Language: moderate
Drugs/Alcohol: moderate
Violence: moderate
LGBTQ: yes
*thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for this ARC*
However, my interest waned around the halfway point due to the introduction of multiple complex elements in the plot. These elements include political intrigue, civil unrest, arranged marriage, coming out, alcoholism, forbidden romance, gossip columns, and magic which actually I thought were all great until it wasn't. The abundance of these plot threads challenging to keep up and made the story less enjoyable for me I think just how the author tried to work them all through the story.
There were many times I felt like the story was dragging almost going nowhere and many things pointless. I did however really enjoy several of the side characters! There were times the language was too modern like the curse words that just were thrown in there randomly and it didn't fit the setting.
In the end, the book is just "okay," with a few enjoyable moments that make it worth the read, despite the issues highlighted above.
Sexual Content: moderate
Language: moderate
Drugs/Alcohol: moderate
Violence: moderate
LGBTQ: yes
*thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for this ARC*
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