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icapturethecastle's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc of “A Fragile Enchantment!” I’ve read “A Far Wilder Magic” by this same author and was very excited to read her latest, as I love fantasy court plots and enchanted dressmaking magic. Also, I absolutely adore the cover art!
The story follows Niamh, who posses the magical ability to imbue her clothing creations with her feelings and has been invited to be the dressmaker for an upcoming royal wedding. She soon develops feelings for the curmudgeonly prince whose wedding cloak she’s been hired to design and must also maneuver court drama and a labor class dispute.
As a humongous Project Runway fan, I loved the descriptions of fashion and Niamh’s magical dressmaking abilities. I would recommend to fans of Elizabeth Lim’s “The Blood of the Stars” series and to anyone looking for a light, sweet fantasy read that feels like spring. The world building is a fantasy version of England post Irish famine and deals with the labor class going on strike.
I liked this element, as it added some depth to the story.
All the characters were loveable and multi dimensional, even the antagonists. The side characters at times threatened to steal the show: Rosa the princess who wants to wear black to her wedding, Miriam the sunshiney lady’s maid, Sinclair the quippy and larger than life friend of the prince, and Sofia the mournful Princess Regent.
I am rating four out of five stars and would re-read this. I think this will appeal to a lot of readers looking for a low stakes plot, uncomplicated magic system, and a Bridgerton like setting.
The story follows Niamh, who posses the magical ability to imbue her clothing creations with her feelings and has been invited to be the dressmaker for an upcoming royal wedding. She soon develops feelings for the curmudgeonly prince whose wedding cloak she’s been hired to design and must also maneuver court drama and a labor class dispute.
As a humongous Project Runway fan, I loved the descriptions of fashion and Niamh’s magical dressmaking abilities. I would recommend to fans of Elizabeth Lim’s “The Blood of the Stars” series and to anyone looking for a light, sweet fantasy read that feels like spring. The world building is a fantasy version of England post Irish famine and deals with the labor class going on strike.
I liked this element, as it added some depth to the story.
All the characters were loveable and multi dimensional, even the antagonists. The side characters at times threatened to steal the show: Rosa the princess who wants to wear black to her wedding, Miriam the sunshiney lady’s maid, Sinclair the quippy and larger than life friend of the prince, and Sofia the mournful Princess Regent.
I am rating four out of five stars and would re-read this. I think this will appeal to a lot of readers looking for a low stakes plot, uncomplicated magic system, and a Bridgerton like setting.
ginalonifer's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. I don’t think i can properly express how much i enjoyed this book. From the very beginning it pulls you in, and each chapter gets better and better. This book is filled with drama, magic, and romance. Once you start you can’t put it down. If you’re debating reading A Fragile Enchantment, please do! you won’t regret it.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing me this arc in return for a honest review.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing me this arc in return for a honest review.
emsbookienook's review against another edition
4.0
thank you to netgalley + allison saft for granting me early access to this book in exchange for a review.
i really enjoyed this book. kit was hilariously awkward and grumpy, and i felt that niamh was so relatable. the story was very low stakes while being entertaining and super fun. i felt that the story was pretty well fleshed out and this definitely worked as a single book -- a sequel is not needed at all! there were some moments that felt a little dead but i did not see the ending coming for who was writing the anonymous articles a la bridgerton.
the magic in this story was so interesting, and the only thing that threw me for a loop was the casual mention of someone's impending death with no real explanation??!! lol
i also enjoyed the LGBT rep in this book. there were lesbian as well as references to bi relationships which is refreshing.
if you like bridgerton/regency era romance, and you also like a little bit of fantasy, i think you would enjoy this book.
i really enjoyed this book. kit was hilariously awkward and grumpy, and i felt that niamh was so relatable. the story was very low stakes while being entertaining and super fun. i felt that the story was pretty well fleshed out and this definitely worked as a single book -- a sequel is not needed at all! there were some moments that felt a little dead but i did not see the ending coming for who was writing the anonymous articles a la bridgerton.
the magic in this story was so interesting, and the only thing that threw me for a loop was the casual mention of someone's impending death with no real explanation??!! lol
i also enjoyed the LGBT rep in this book. there were lesbian as well as references to bi relationships which is refreshing.
if you like bridgerton/regency era romance, and you also like a little bit of fantasy, i think you would enjoy this book.
sianiebananie's review against another edition
3.5
'A Fragile Enchantment' is a mishmash of Bridgerton and These Hollow Vows and with every turn of the page I enjoyed it more. At the beginning I thought it might not be for me but, slowly and steadily, it grew on me.
The characters were all complex, with character arcs that developed well throughout the book. Reading from Niamh's perspective was a delight.
The pacing was great, keeping me appropriately engaged at all time.
This is exactly how representation should be handled and spoken about within fantasy. Discussions of queerness, gender and chronic illness were given time and respect within the story, only adding to the complexity without overwhelming the plot and making it feel like a modern social studies essay.
The way that the author incorporated the plot lines that were inspired by The Famine/British occupation of Ireland was interesting and tasteful. I understand why the more heartbreaking parts of what British colonialism did to the countries they occupied was downplayed.
Living in the world for a little while felt like a warm hug. A Fragile Enchantment was written like a fairy tale. Low stakes fantasy worked well to highlight the romance and the discussions on politics. For those who don't love "cozy fantasy" but would like a break from the ultra serious high fantasy, I would really recommend this one.
My one criticism was that there be more attention focused on the world building as there were a lot of aspects that I felt could have been fleshed out, I also would have loved to see a greater focus on the politicking - characters such as Rosa had potential for greatness but often felt slightly underused.
Otherwise, the pacing was great, characters were unique and the themes were interesting. A highly enjoyable read.
The characters were all complex, with character arcs that developed well throughout the book. Reading from Niamh's perspective was a delight.
The pacing was great, keeping me appropriately engaged at all time.
This is exactly how representation should be handled and spoken about within fantasy. Discussions of queerness, gender and chronic illness were given time and respect within the story, only adding to the complexity without overwhelming the plot and making it feel like a modern social studies essay.
The way that the author incorporated the plot lines that were inspired by The Famine/British occupation of Ireland was interesting and tasteful. I understand why the more heartbreaking parts of what British colonialism did to the countries they occupied was downplayed.
Living in the world for a little while felt like a warm hug. A Fragile Enchantment was written like a fairy tale. Low stakes fantasy worked well to highlight the romance and the discussions on politics. For those who don't love "cozy fantasy" but would like a break from the ultra serious high fantasy, I would really recommend this one.
My one criticism was that there be more attention focused on the world building as there were a lot of aspects that I felt could have been fleshed out, I also would have loved to see a greater focus on the politicking - characters such as Rosa had potential for greatness but often felt slightly underused.
Otherwise, the pacing was great, characters were unique and the themes were interesting. A highly enjoyable read.
justgraceanne's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
dianapiskor's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A FRAGILE ENCHANTMENT is a sleeper favorite book of mine. When I first picked it up, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it because there seemed to be a lot going on based on the book summary. However, ignore the summary. Instead, this was the perfect blend of romance, politics, and story. I loved this book so much, I started it again right after I finished.
Part of what makes this book so good, in my opinion, is it because it blends so many different aspects together seamlessly. Each character is fully fleshed out and complicated, the world created is just enough where I understand the information without being info dump heavy, the writing is flawless, the political intrigue a la Lady Whistledown is fun and interesting, and the story itself is one filled with angst, self realization, and growth. Together this creates a perfect YA novel that is heartfelt, but engaging as well.
Overall, this was my first read by this author, but it won’t be my last. I really loved this novel, and I am convinced if you read it, you’ll love it too.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review!
Read if you like:
✅ Political intrigue
✅ Sunshine FMC
✅ Grumpy, royal MMC
✅ Court gossip
✅ Magic
✅ Witty, fun banter
crothe77's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley.
A Fragile Entanglement by Alison Saft is a Bi x Bi fantasy romance in a Regency-esque fantasy world. Niamh has the magical ability to sew emotions and intentions into clothing, a small magic that wins her a lot of affection from those around her at court, including Prince Christian, aka, Kit. Kit wants to be left alone and to live his own life but due to his circumstances, he is forced into a wedding with Princess Rosa while Niamh is in Avaland to make their wedding clothes as a political move by Kit’s older brother, the prince regent.
It’s very soft, Saft’s prose is gorgeous and vivid, and the characters hit the right notes. The romance is exactly what I love to see and I was very much into how the story was crafted around the romantic storyline.
The Irish and English coding is very strong, including mentions of the Blight, aka the Irish Potato Famine, and there are mentions of alcoholism and self-harm.
I recommend this to fans of Regency era Romances who are looking for a bit more fantasy in their next read and fans of Romantasy.
A Fragile Entanglement by Alison Saft is a Bi x Bi fantasy romance in a Regency-esque fantasy world. Niamh has the magical ability to sew emotions and intentions into clothing, a small magic that wins her a lot of affection from those around her at court, including Prince Christian, aka, Kit. Kit wants to be left alone and to live his own life but due to his circumstances, he is forced into a wedding with Princess Rosa while Niamh is in Avaland to make their wedding clothes as a political move by Kit’s older brother, the prince regent.
It’s very soft, Saft’s prose is gorgeous and vivid, and the characters hit the right notes. The romance is exactly what I love to see and I was very much into how the story was crafted around the romantic storyline.
The Irish and English coding is very strong, including mentions of the Blight, aka the Irish Potato Famine, and there are mentions of alcoholism and self-harm.
I recommend this to fans of Regency era Romances who are looking for a bit more fantasy in their next read and fans of Romantasy.
therobinwrites's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
annamariem_reads's review against another edition
4.0
4.5⭐
What an incredible story! This novel is filled with intense longing, beautiful character depth, and wonderful prose. Niamh and Kit have my whole heart. This is a true enemies-to-friends-to-lovers narrative. I loved every moment of this! Sinclair had to be my favorite character. The LGBT representation was a wonderful addition.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (Wednesday Books) for the eARC in exchange for my review!
What an incredible story! This novel is filled with intense longing, beautiful character depth, and wonderful prose. Niamh and Kit have my whole heart. This is a true enemies-to-friends-to-lovers narrative. I loved every moment of this! Sinclair had to be my favorite character. The LGBT representation was a wonderful addition.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (Wednesday Books) for the eARC in exchange for my review!
booksalacarte's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A fragile Enchantent- 3⭐️ 2.75🌶️
YA Fantasy
European Centric World
Historical English Style Society
Unique magic system
Grumpy/sunshine
Secret identities
Slow burn
Closed door romance
🏳️🌈 Side Characters
The cover is stunning!
The premise of the magic was so good, a seamstress with the power to weave memories and feelings into the clothing she makes. I was very ready to read about the process and effect of such magic. Then finding out that other people weird lightning, or snow and ice, even earth magic! This premise was right up my alley… I wanted to know more about the origins and we just weren’t given that. I just wanted MORE intricate magic explained.
I think there wasn’t much healing from the very obvious emotional trauma both the main characters were carrying. Only the revealing… This made the relationship very surface level.
The inconsistency in plot tools made things a little frustrating. A lot of times, problems in one scene don’t apply in the next… like Chaperones, reputations, classism, protests, oppression, morbidity. It’s like things were mentioned or focused on and treated like minor plot inconveniences… instead of the structural plot tools. So much was brought up and dismissed almost immediately afterward.
This was a lovely YA Fantasy Romance that just could have really shines with a little more development and execution.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for the Advanced eReader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
YA Fantasy
European Centric World
Historical English Style Society
Unique magic system
Grumpy/sunshine
Secret identities
Slow burn
Closed door romance
🏳️🌈 Side Characters
The cover is stunning!
The premise of the magic was so good, a seamstress with the power to weave memories and feelings into the clothing she makes. I was very ready to read about the process and effect of such magic. Then finding out that other people weird lightning, or snow and ice, even earth magic! This premise was right up my alley… I wanted to know more about the origins and we just weren’t given that. I just wanted MORE intricate magic explained.
I think there wasn’t much healing from the very obvious emotional trauma both the main characters were carrying. Only the revealing… This made the relationship very surface level.
The inconsistency in plot tools made things a little frustrating. A lot of times, problems in one scene don’t apply in the next… like Chaperones, reputations, classism, protests, oppression, morbidity. It’s like things were mentioned or focused on and treated like minor plot inconveniences… instead of the structural plot tools. So much was brought up and dismissed almost immediately afterward.
This was a lovely YA Fantasy Romance that just could have really shines with a little more development and execution.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for the Advanced eReader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.