paragraphsandpages's review against another edition
4.0
Camille Durbonne is an orphan, trying her best to keep her frail, younger sister and drunk, older brother alive by using petty magic to turn scraps of metal into coin. But her magic isn't strong enough to keep the illusion alive, and soon she's exhausted of people to trick and options to turn to. Forced to drastic measures, Camille tries a new type of magic, always forbidden by her mother, in order to try to make a living for her and her siblings in the dangerous court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. However, all magic has its cost, and she may not be the only one playing its dangerous game.
Normally, I'm not the biggest fan of historical fiction/fantasy, but something about Enchantee made me enjoy it anyways. I think it was a combination of the characters, writing, and magic itself that added an interesting layer to stories that often end up boring me.
I loved that Camille felt multi-dimensional in terms of identity and thoughts, she was constantly stuck between her poor background and the glittering court of the aristocrats, without either side of her ever truly winning out or making her hate the other. She is both utterly entranced by the court's games as well as a revolutionary at heart, wanting to be a famous printer and help the public spread their truth. Her story is also multi-faceted, it's an exploration of herself, her family and her emotions towards her parents, brother, and younger sister, as well as of romance. This is all twisted by the games of court and the traps she falls into, and I was honestly intrigued every step of the way.
The plot, thinking back on it, was also quite interesting in how it evolved and became something more without me ever actually noticing that's what the author was trying to do. It made it feel authentic and in line with Camille's story, as she starts by entering into something small and one-sided, an attempt to simply make enough money for her and her sister to get by, and it turns into a bigger and bigger game as she interacts with larger players of the court and learns more about her magic.
However, even with all the things I liked, I still feel like the story ended well where it was. Yes,, but that was never fully Camille's story. Her feels fairly wrapped up, and while more could definitely happen to her, I worry it'd crack open too much of the ending of this book. So I'm not quite sure if I'll continue the series, even though I did really enjoy this.
I did really enjoy this overall though, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this author's other works in the future!
Normally, I'm not the biggest fan of historical fiction/fantasy, but something about Enchantee made me enjoy it anyways. I think it was a combination of the characters, writing, and magic itself that added an interesting layer to stories that often end up boring me.
I loved that Camille felt multi-dimensional in terms of identity and thoughts, she was constantly stuck between her poor background and the glittering court of the aristocrats, without either side of her ever truly winning out or making her hate the other. She is both utterly entranced by the court's games as well as a revolutionary at heart, wanting to be a famous printer and help the public spread their truth. Her story is also multi-faceted, it's an exploration of herself, her family and her emotions towards her parents, brother, and younger sister, as well as of romance. This is all twisted by the games of court and the traps she falls into, and I was honestly intrigued every step of the way.
The plot, thinking back on it, was also quite interesting in how it evolved and became something more without me ever actually noticing that's what the author was trying to do. It made it feel authentic and in line with Camille's story, as she starts by entering into something small and one-sided, an attempt to simply make enough money for her and her sister to get by, and it turns into a bigger and bigger game as she interacts with larger players of the court and learns more about her magic.
However, even with all the things I liked, I still feel like the story ended well where it was. Yes,
Spoiler
they're in the middle of a revolution and things are going down hard nowI did really enjoy this overall though, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this author's other works in the future!
jordana_b_bookish's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, I don’t have too much to say because I was really bored while reading this. This is a book that has been in my shelf almost three years and I remember buying it because I was super interested in the concept (set in 1800’s Paris during the revolution, a family is trying to survive but the secret is the oldest sister can do magic and uses it to try to provide for her family). Back in 2019 this book was at the top of my TBR but it kept getting pushed back because of its size. I firmly believe that if this book was 100 pages shorted it would have been amazing, but sadly it was too long. The story was just so repetitive and there wasn’t much plot. The one stunning thing about this book is the descriptions, the author transports you into her world and builds a very atmospheric environment.
mazza57's review against another edition
3.0
Set in Paris around the time of the French Revolution this book features Marie Antoinette alongside the rich and the powerful. In contrast Camille and her sister are desperately poor and afraid of their elder brother. Camille, however, has a talent, a magical ability to change metal into godld coins albeit temporarily and through the medium of a dress herself into nobility. The book follows her use of these abilities to better herself - and tosses in some interesting characters based on historical people such as the ballooning brothers.
She creates a very evocative picture of a city at a time of crisis but her narrative lacks something for me - at times it feels simply like a series of card games and hat shows. Everything happens in the latter third of the book.
I couldn't really empathise with any of the characters even Camille has a hard and selfish side, all for themselves and none for all is how i would describe them.
It looks like this is going to be part of a series but I am not sure if I want to carry on with it.
She creates a very evocative picture of a city at a time of crisis but her narrative lacks something for me - at times it feels simply like a series of card games and hat shows. Everything happens in the latter third of the book.
I couldn't really empathise with any of the characters even Camille has a hard and selfish side, all for themselves and none for all is how i would describe them.
It looks like this is going to be part of a series but I am not sure if I want to carry on with it.
aphelia88's review against another edition
5.0
"It was all a dance. Things were said that had to be said, things were done that had to be done, like steps in a dance, a pattern that everyone followed because - because if they didn't, what would happen? No one wanted to know. It would mean chaos, collapse. No rules would mean the end of the nobles' power - so they followed them, assiduously, and laid mighty punishments on those people, like Papa, who didn't." (291)
I really enjoyed this debut novel about love and magic during the French Revolution! Camille Durbonne and her beloved younger sister Sophie are orphans, having lost both their parents to smallbox and their charismatic older brother to drink and mounting gambling debts. Once comfortably wealthy, their father lost their fortune when he was caught printing revolutionary pamphlets at his printing shop, and then both parents became ill and died. Sophie is still delicate, recovering from the smallpox herself.
As their prospects dwindle ever dimmer, and their older brother becomes abusive trying to extract money from them to pay his own debts, Camille turns to the only talent she has left: magic. Her mother taught her that there are three forms of magic. La magie ordinaire is the most basic, and changes things. La glamour changes one's appearance. And the rarest, la magie bibelot, is for making or using objects imbued with magic.
Camille has been using magie ordinaire to change scraps of metal - bent nails, old buttons, even belt buckles - into coins, but it's like fairy gold and quickly loses its shape. Working any magic takes a toll, and she can only transform so many scraps at a time, as she must draw on her deepest sorrows to work the change. Desperate and close to eviction, Camille opens a strange burned trunk that her mother warned her against ever investigating and discovers a bibelot - an old court dress, once grand but now dilapidated. It comes with a pair of embroidered court shoes, a variety of makeup pots and a teardrop-shaped brooch.
Quick experimentation proves that the dress and shoes can change shape, form and colour, becoming whatever Camille imagines. And the makeup can effect any style she chooses, erasing her common freckles and whitening her work-reddened hands, to make her into the very image a noblewoman. But the magic comes with a cost: the dress requires Camille's blood (which is the purpose of the brooch), and cannot retain its shapeshifting indefinitely. It also draws on her reserves far more than la magie ordinaire.
The dress and noblewoman disguise quickly become her armour, as she brazenly fakes her way into Versailles, creating a false identity as a wealthy widow and using a newfound talent for turning cards to twist the popularity of the gaming tables to her advantage. Soon, she has befriends a group of young aristocrats, and although she is able to secure safe lodgings for herself and her sister, she finds herself drawn to the nights of idle splendor at the golden palace.
But the court is full of hidden dangers, and of other magicians who have marked her talents. One in particular wants her powers for himself and will stop at nothing to claim them. Caught in an elaborate trap, stretched thin by magic and the pressures of keeping up a double life, Camille doesn't know who to trust and begins to doubt herself. As Paris roils in unrest and stands on the brink of societal change, Camille falls in love with a boy who has a double life of his own, as a scientist inventing a better hot air balloon and a reluctant aristocrat eligible for marriage.
Delightful!
I really enjoyed this debut novel about love and magic during the French Revolution! Camille Durbonne and her beloved younger sister Sophie are orphans, having lost both their parents to smallbox and their charismatic older brother to drink and mounting gambling debts. Once comfortably wealthy, their father lost their fortune when he was caught printing revolutionary pamphlets at his printing shop, and then both parents became ill and died. Sophie is still delicate, recovering from the smallpox herself.
As their prospects dwindle ever dimmer, and their older brother becomes abusive trying to extract money from them to pay his own debts, Camille turns to the only talent she has left: magic. Her mother taught her that there are three forms of magic. La magie ordinaire is the most basic, and changes things. La glamour changes one's appearance. And the rarest, la magie bibelot, is for making or using objects imbued with magic.
Camille has been using magie ordinaire to change scraps of metal - bent nails, old buttons, even belt buckles - into coins, but it's like fairy gold and quickly loses its shape. Working any magic takes a toll, and she can only transform so many scraps at a time, as she must draw on her deepest sorrows to work the change. Desperate and close to eviction, Camille opens a strange burned trunk that her mother warned her against ever investigating and discovers a bibelot - an old court dress, once grand but now dilapidated. It comes with a pair of embroidered court shoes, a variety of makeup pots and a teardrop-shaped brooch.
Quick experimentation proves that the dress and shoes can change shape, form and colour, becoming whatever Camille imagines. And the makeup can effect any style she chooses, erasing her common freckles and whitening her work-reddened hands, to make her into the very image a noblewoman. But the magic comes with a cost: the dress requires Camille's blood (which is the purpose of the brooch), and cannot retain its shapeshifting indefinitely. It also draws on her reserves far more than la magie ordinaire.
The dress and noblewoman disguise quickly become her armour, as she brazenly fakes her way into Versailles, creating a false identity as a wealthy widow and using a newfound talent for turning cards to twist the popularity of the gaming tables to her advantage. Soon, she has befriends a group of young aristocrats, and although she is able to secure safe lodgings for herself and her sister, she finds herself drawn to the nights of idle splendor at the golden palace.
But the court is full of hidden dangers, and of other magicians who have marked her talents. One in particular wants her powers for himself and will stop at nothing to claim them. Caught in an elaborate trap, stretched thin by magic and the pressures of keeping up a double life, Camille doesn't know who to trust and begins to doubt herself. As Paris roils in unrest and stands on the brink of societal change, Camille falls in love with a boy who has a double life of his own, as a scientist inventing a better hot air balloon and a reluctant aristocrat eligible for marriage.
Delightful!
lauraandliterature's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun read! Historical fiction meets fantasy. I’d classify this as a young adult read, it goes by pretty quick. I enjoyed the shorter chapters and the nice flow the author had going throughout the book.
writingwwolves's review against another edition
5.0
I’m so pleased to have finally picked up, & adored, this story! I felt genuinely honoured to receive a review copy & feel that even more now that I’ve finished it. Enchantée is a slow burner that totally pulled me in & is yet another book that’s reminded me why I adore historical fiction & fantasy.
⚠️ This book contains [sibling] violence & references of sexual assault/rape ⚠️
I was sent a copy of this book by MacMillan in return for an honest review.
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2JS
⚠️ This book contains [sibling] violence & references of sexual assault/rape ⚠️
I was sent a copy of this book by MacMillan in return for an honest review.
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2JS
guitarrafreak953's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
I did enjoy this novel, and all the historical events, and the love that occurred as well as the betrayals. But, I felt it was a bit slow, as if the action would never come. But, still a very good read, I fairly enjoyed it
I did enjoy this novel, and all the historical events, and the love that occurred as well as the betrayals. But, I felt it was a bit slow, as if the action would never come. But, still a very good read, I fairly enjoyed it
anabbesteves's review against another edition
4.0
THE BEWITCHED READER: ENCHANTÉE (ENCHANTÉE #1) BY GITA TRELEASE
Paris in the reign of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette is a place of dreams, a place of new ideas, a place of beauty but also a place of thieves, a place of oppression and a place of death. The court's luxuries have drained the people's money and food and while the high classes have fun, others die of disease and hunger.
Camille Durbonne knows this all too well. After her parents die of smallpox and she is left alone with her money draining gambler brother, Alain, and her frail little sister, Sophie, and little way to make ends meet. She lives in the dark part of Paris, the one where nobles do not venture to dwell. It is in this Paris that she meets Lazare, a balloonist that dreams as high as herself.
Trying to make some money to be able to escape from Alain's grasp, Camille turns to the magic her mum had taught her. With this secret and forbidden magic, Camille turns herself into the 'Baroness de la Fontaine' and tries her luck at Versailles' gambling tables, always aided by la magie.
As time goes on, Camille starts to realise the true costs of using la magie as well as the danger of being a magician in one of Europe's most dangerous courts. Times are changing and each one has to save themselves, at a certain point Camille finds herself entrapped between the nobles and the people and between herself and her persona as the Baroness.
There is a quote that, for me, summarises the feeling of this whole book:
"This was the Paris of the strivers, of those who dwell low, not high. This was not the Paris of balloonists."
If one expects to find a small fairytale about how amazing Paris was and of how many wonderful luxuries all French people enjoyed during this time, that will not happen. The author has taken a very different approach to the subject choosing a storytelling style that showcases both sides of French society during this time. Camille is the spokesperson for both the nobles and the common people, finding herself divided between her life and the one she created through her glamour as the Baroness.
This a story that highlights the spirit of discovery and freedom of speech wished by the Enlightenment and the "boom" new ideas and concerns that took place in that era. The entanglement between the aeronauts' plot with the Versailles and Camille's family plot make this story beautifully complex in all the right ways. Yes, there are a lot of plot lines but they mesh together in a way that culminates in the same plot line and each one having its importance for the whole web of the story.
One thing that is really interesting in this story is that it being a fantasy set in the real world, the author did not whitewash 1789 Paris. Lazare Melais is Indian on his mother's side and that shows the conscience that French people (and other nations) actually "mingled" with the people from their colonies, leading to a more diverse society than one might be led to imagine. Besides this, it is also important to highlight (again), how the hunger and sickness of the underfed French general populace were taken into account. Instead of embellishing this time period the author was faithful to the realities of the time.
The magical and fantastical elements of the story and the way they are intertwined with the glamorous and the dark details of Paris makes this book especially great. You will fall in love on the very first chapter and you will feel the characters in your core. Do pick this book up! It is worth it.
THE BEWITCHED READER: ENCHANTÉE (ENCHANTÉE #1) BY GITA TRELEASE
Paris in the reign of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette is a place of dreams, a place of new ideas, a place of beauty but also a place of thieves, a place of oppression and a place of death. The court's luxuries have drained the people's money and food and while the high classes have fun, others die of disease and hunger.
Camille Durbonne knows this all too well. After her parents die of smallpox and she is left alone with her money draining gambler brother, Alain, and her frail little sister, Sophie, and little way to make ends meet. She lives in the dark part of Paris, the one where nobles do not venture to dwell. It is in this Paris that she meets Lazare, a balloonist that dreams as high as herself.
Trying to make some money to be able to escape from Alain's grasp, Camille turns to the magic her mum had taught her. With this secret and forbidden magic, Camille turns herself into the 'Baroness de la Fontaine' and tries her luck at Versailles' gambling tables, always aided by la magie.
As time goes on, Camille starts to realise the true costs of using la magie as well as the danger of being a magician in one of Europe's most dangerous courts. Times are changing and each one has to save themselves, at a certain point Camille finds herself entrapped between the nobles and the people and between herself and her persona as the Baroness.
There is a quote that, for me, summarises the feeling of this whole book:
"This was the Paris of the strivers, of those who dwell low, not high. This was not the Paris of balloonists."
If one expects to find a small fairytale about how amazing Paris was and of how many wonderful luxuries all French people enjoyed during this time, that will not happen. The author has taken a very different approach to the subject choosing a storytelling style that showcases both sides of French society during this time. Camille is the spokesperson for both the nobles and the common people, finding herself divided between her life and the one she created through her glamour as the Baroness.
This a story that highlights the spirit of discovery and freedom of speech wished by the Enlightenment and the "boom" new ideas and concerns that took place in that era. The entanglement between the aeronauts' plot with the Versailles and Camille's family plot make this story beautifully complex in all the right ways. Yes, there are a lot of plot lines but they mesh together in a way that culminates in the same plot line and each one having its importance for the whole web of the story.
One thing that is really interesting in this story is that it being a fantasy set in the real world, the author did not whitewash 1789 Paris. Lazare Melais is Indian on his mother's side and that shows the conscience that French people (and other nations) actually "mingled" with the people from their colonies, leading to a more diverse society than one might be led to imagine. Besides this, it is also important to highlight (again), how the hunger and sickness of the underfed French general populace were taken into account. Instead of embellishing this time period the author was faithful to the realities of the time.
The magical and fantastical elements of the story and the way they are intertwined with the glamorous and the dark details of Paris makes this book especially great. You will fall in love on the very first chapter and you will feel the characters in your core. Do pick this book up! It is worth it.
THE BEWITCHED READER: ENCHANTÉE (ENCHANTÉE #1) BY GITA TRELEASE