Title: A Fragile Enchantment
Author: Allison Saft
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Published On: January 2, 2024
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Source: digital (Netgalley)
Pages: 384
Synopsis:
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 gossip 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.
My thoughts
(Spoiler free)
A Fragile Enchantment is my first book by author Allison Saft. I couldn’t resist the invitation to read this young adult fantasy weaved with magic, politics, and romance, especially when I saw all the early glowing reviews.
This story about a magical seamstress hired to create the wedding attire for a prince’s arranged marriage is layered with several plot lines. Of course there is a romance, but it’s also a story about class, political intrigue, and familial relationships.
While I used to read much more young adult fantasy, it hasn’t been a genre I’ve read a lot of in the past few years. I’ve recently been trying to pick it up more often. And while I did enjoy this one, I did still find it a bit YA for me, with high drama and an ending that wraps up a little too nicely. I also found myself guessing all the “mysteries” at every turn.
But I can see why so many readers have loved it. Niamh is a compelling heroine, with her ability to stitch emotions and memories into the fabric of her clothing designs. Even though it’s an ability that will one day kill her, she has embraced her power and only wants to earn enough money to provide for her family back home. When she gets drawn into the political intrigue of the royal family—and falls in love with the prince—her life becomes even more complicated.
As long as she’d been old enough to understand the cards she’d been dealt, she had worked her life away: always preparing for the inevitable, searching for the next thing to do, another tear to mend, another hurt to soothe. She had always believed life was what slipped through her fingers while she was idle. That life was something she wasted, not something she had. But now, she understood how wrong she’d been. Her heart beat. Her lungs swelled with air. Life was here, right in front of her.
Allison Saft, A Fragile Enchantment
Kit Carmine, the prince she is designing for, seems like a royal pain in the ass when she first meets him, but he has his own magical powers that have complicated his life, too, not to mention a tumultuous relationship with his older brother Jack, the Prince Regent of Avaland and the man insisting on Kit’s arranged marriage. Kit and Niamh can’t resist becoming friends as they spend more time together, drawn closer by the impending wedding.
I also adored all the side characters, each one important to the plot, as well.
Throughout A Fragile Enchantment, I found myself drawing comparisons to Bridgerton and Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, mostly just certain plot lines or scenes, but if you’re a fan of either of those, you’d probably like this one, as well. Saft has created a unique regency era-inspired fantasy world with intricate magic, enigmatic characters, and a compelling story that kept me reading!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing me with a copy.
(All quotes are taken from the advance copy and are subject to change in final print.)
Rating:
Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Bookshop | Amazon
About the Author
Allison 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.
A Song For A Book
When I read fantasy, I think of one of my favorite artists, Florence + The Machine. So I’ve chosen to highlight “You’ve Got the Love”, which I think fits wonderfully.
Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air
I know I can count on you
Sometimes I feel like saying “Lord I just don’t care”
But you’ve got the love I need to see me through
Sometimes it seems that the going is just too rough
And things go wrong no matter what I do
Now and then it seems that life is just too much
But you’ve got the love I need to see me through…
Have you read A Fragile Enchantment? Or did you add it to your tbr? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
I love that cover! I don’t read as much YA as I used to, but this fantasy sounds like a fun read.
Yes! The cover definitely helped pull me in. And same here. I’ve stopped reading as much YA fantasy, but I read a few really good ones last year that kind of opened me back up to the genre.
I haven’t been reading much YA lately either, but this one sounds really cute! (And that cover is amazing!)
I think you would really enjoy the seamstress aspect of this one, too!
This one’s outside of the genres I enjoy, but I’m glad your first book by this author was a win 🙂
Yeah, it’s not my typical genre either, but I did enjoy it. 🙂