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mbomersheim's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
ARC Review: I don’t know why I had such high hopes going into this book, but I was thoroughly disappointed.
A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft is a hate-to-love romance story following Niamh, a magical seamstress from a different country who can imbue her projects with emotions, who gets brought to the palace for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create the garments for the prince and his betrothed for their upcoming wedding. However, when she slowly falls for the prince her feelings become more complicated. Simply put, I had issues with this book. I think this book was trying to do a bit too much, and the anonymous gossip writer gave me too much Lady Whistledown vibes. It was attempting to comment on racism and homophobia with the underlying political plot in addition to providing the actual romance plot line and because of that, the love aspects fell a little bit flat. Much of the in-between times and mundane tasks that could’ve been elaborated on (like working on the clothing, growing flowers, etc.) were skipped over, which I think was a missed opportunity for character development. Also, there were a few times when the plot was a little bit messy to the point that I was confused about the ordering of events. Ultimately, the main thing for me is that I wanted more of the cozy romance with a hint of magic vibes and instead got politics.
Spoilers ahead, tread with caution:
This ARC was received courtesy of NetGalley and was published on January 2, 2024.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Addiction
ellejo3's review against another edition
This is a colonizer/colonized romance where the colonized FMC is working herself to death to support her struggling family. I couldn’t get past it and would’ve DNF’d it if it hadn’t been an arc. The fact that she’s working herself to death never changes either. For all we know, she could die the day after the book ends. It seems like Saft is trying to treat this like a terminal illness, but the fact that it’s only happening so she can support her family who’s struggling due to the effects of colonization left a sour taste in my mouth. There’s also a lot of homophobia, which is unnecessary and tiring in a fantasy world.
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an arc in exchange for my thoughts.
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an arc in exchange for my thoughts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Terminal illness
Moderate: Colonisation
skypotion's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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? Yes
4.5
This book makes me feel exactly the same way that Pride & Prejudice (2005) makes me feel, and that is a profound compliment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, and Outing
Minor: Child abuse
bookboxbabe's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
*thank you netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc copy in exchange for an honest review*
to start off, i was SO excited for this book. when i got the email for it, i squealed. alas, this book fell flat for me a bit.
to start off, the romance was very insta-lovey and i’m not the biggest fan of that. she didn’t really have a reason to like kit at the start except that he was pretty. he was super rude to her countless times and i just kept saying “why do you still like him?”
i also didn’t really understand the plot with the protesters? it felt like it was written to give some tension to the story but there’s never really any explanation as to what exactly they were upset about or why there was an old war in the first place.
now, onto what i did enjoy.
it was cute. this was such a sappy and sweet story that felt super cozy at times. most of the characters were also amazing.
sinclair, miriam, and rosa needed their own povs because i just loved them and their complexity.
overall, this is a very low stakes, low fantasy book that while it didn’t blow me away, does have good elements and it was an enjoyable read
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, Racism, and Lesbophobia
krisalexcole's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Xenophobia, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Genocide, Homophobia, Infidelity, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
linguistique's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
In A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft, a magical dressmaker is hired to design and create the wedding wardrobe for a prince in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland. However, what was supposed to be a simple job is quickly complicated by scandal, political unrest, and Niamh’s attraction to the groom.
One thing Saft excels at is making each character feel like a fully developed individual, with their own personalities and mannerisms. All of the characters are motivated by their desire to protect and care for the ones they love, but each of them have unique ways of attempting to do so, which allows for their differences to shine. I loved the banter and playfulness in the dialogue with the side characters, especially Sinclair, Rosa, and Miriam. The dialogue itself is so realistic that it feels like you as the reader are right in the room with the characters, overhearing their conversation. There is also good LGBTQ, chronic pain, and (strongly implied) neurodivergent representation. I would add a content warning for homophobia for any future readers.
My main complaint is that I found it difficult to keep track of all of the different plot threads at times. The novel is extremely fast paced, and Saft drops you right into the action from the beginning. There is Niamh’s own work on weaving emotions into the garments, her desire to financially support her family, her attraction to and aggravation with Kit, her chronic illness, her investigation of the Crown Prince’s dealings, all over the backdrop of the protests of the Macklish workers and a politically-inflammatory gossip columnist. Overall, I enjoyed that Saft didn’t shy away from more complex topics or limit the plot to only the romance, but it was easy to lose the threads and get lost in the story, and I think the novel would have benefitted from having more focus.
While this isn’t my favorite book that Saft has written, I’m still a huge fan of her writing and am optimistic that I will like her upcoming novel, A Dark and Drowning Tide.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
One thing Saft excels at is making each character feel like a fully developed individual, with their own personalities and mannerisms. All of the characters are motivated by their desire to protect and care for the ones they love, but each of them have unique ways of attempting to do so, which allows for their differences to shine. I loved the banter and playfulness in the dialogue with the side characters, especially Sinclair, Rosa, and Miriam. The dialogue itself is so realistic that it feels like you as the reader are right in the room with the characters, overhearing their conversation. There is also good LGBTQ, chronic pain, and (strongly implied) neurodivergent representation. I would add a content warning for homophobia for any future readers.
My main complaint is that I found it difficult to keep track of all of the different plot threads at times. The novel is extremely fast paced, and Saft drops you right into the action from the beginning. There is Niamh’s own work on weaving emotions into the garments, her desire to financially support her family, her attraction to and aggravation with Kit, her chronic illness, her investigation of the Crown Prince’s dealings, all over the backdrop of the protests of the Macklish workers and a politically-inflammatory gossip columnist. Overall, I enjoyed that Saft didn’t shy away from more complex topics or limit the plot to only the romance, but it was easy to lose the threads and get lost in the story, and I think the novel would have benefitted from having more focus.
While this isn’t my favorite book that Saft has written, I’m still a huge fan of her writing and am optimistic that I will like her upcoming novel, A Dark and Drowning Tide.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Child abuse
immovabletype'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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Homophobia, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Genocide, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Outing, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, and War
booksthatburn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A FRAGILE ENCHANTMENT is an emotional story of complicated paths to happiness, featuring a seamstress who falls in love with the prince whose wedding clothes she's designing. With much to prove and everything to lose, Niamh tries to hide her feelings in order to not make a volatile political situation even worse by upending the upcoming wedding. But, as they spend more and more time together, her feelings become impossible to hide, and his protectiveness is starting to include her wellbeing.
The worldbuilding is excellent, working with the characterization to set up a fantasy version of regency England (Avaland), complete with a magic-fueled but no less terrible history with fantasy Ireland (Machland), including calling out this fictional version of the potato blight and contributing policies as genocide. One of the core tensions in the book is that Kit's brother and current regent, Jack, is ignoring the frustrated calls for better treatment and redress of concerns from the Machlish. Niamh is a Machlishwoman, invited to Avaland for her magic and skills as a seamstress. She finds herself falling in love with Kit when she's supposed to be making the clothes for his wedding and the formal appearances leading up to the bit event. Rosa, his betrothed (from what I'm pretty sure is fantasy Catalan or perhaps Spain), is as personally uninterested in the wedding as Kit is, but they are both going through with the political union for the sake of others. This leads to a very fun narrative space where Niamh is trying to navigate her feelings for Kit, but isn't automatically breaking someone else's heart in pursuing her own happiness. The mysterious gossip columnist, on the other hand, keeps having something to say about it, driving the threats of scandal even if the parties directly involved don't see it that way.
I love Kit and Niamh's chemistry. I'm a sucker for most variants of grumpy/sunshine, and especially for brooding (masc) characters who get pulled out of their shell, and this one is excellent. As the story unfolds, Kit's initial combativeness and disdain makes much more sense. I laughed and laughed when I got to the part with the very first item Niamh made for Kit. It's such a fantastic bit of characterization and plot, just the idea of that coat as his first real introduction to her skill in a public-facing setting. They've both become used to putting aside their own wants and needs in order to sacrifice for others, but each of them has been going about it in different ways. Kit has been floundering and frustrated because none of his direct attempts make it through to his brother and he's oscillating between desperately trying and abandoning all hope. Niamh is using up her time and body by being reckless with her energy when she has a hereditary chronic illness which will eventually turn terminal. They've both been trading pieces of themselves to help other people, and their relationship is the first positive and selfish thing either of them has attempted in a long while.
I'm very pleased with the ending, it's even better than I could have hoped for and more than any of the characters dared to dream. I'm looking forward to what this author does next.
The worldbuilding is excellent, working with the characterization to set up a fantasy version of regency England (Avaland), complete with a magic-fueled but no less terrible history with fantasy Ireland (Machland), including calling out this fictional version of the potato blight and contributing policies as genocide. One of the core tensions in the book is that Kit's brother and current regent, Jack, is ignoring the frustrated calls for better treatment and redress of concerns from the Machlish. Niamh is a Machlishwoman, invited to Avaland for her magic and skills as a seamstress. She finds herself falling in love with Kit when she's supposed to be making the clothes for his wedding and the formal appearances leading up to the bit event. Rosa, his betrothed (from what I'm pretty sure is fantasy Catalan or perhaps Spain), is as personally uninterested in the wedding as Kit is, but they are both going through with the political union for the sake of others. This leads to a very fun narrative space where Niamh is trying to navigate her feelings for Kit, but isn't automatically breaking someone else's heart in pursuing her own happiness. The mysterious gossip columnist, on the other hand, keeps having something to say about it, driving the threats of scandal even if the parties directly involved don't see it that way.
I love Kit and Niamh's chemistry. I'm a sucker for most variants of grumpy/sunshine, and especially for brooding (masc) characters who get pulled out of their shell, and this one is excellent. As the story unfolds, Kit's initial combativeness and disdain makes much more sense. I laughed and laughed when I got to the part with the very first item Niamh made for Kit. It's such a fantastic bit of characterization and plot, just the idea of that coat as his first real introduction to her skill in a public-facing setting. They've both become used to putting aside their own wants and needs in order to sacrifice for others, but each of them has been going about it in different ways. Kit has been floundering and frustrated because none of his direct attempts make it through to his brother and he's oscillating between desperately trying and abandoning all hope. Niamh is using up her time and body by being reckless with her energy when she has a hereditary chronic illness which will eventually turn terminal. They've both been trading pieces of themselves to help other people, and their relationship is the first positive and selfish thing either of them has attempted in a long while.
I'm very pleased with the ending, it's even better than I could have hoped for and more than any of the characters dared to dream. I'm looking forward to what this author does next.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug use, Homophobia, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Blood, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Infidelity, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and War
lastblossom's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
A charming fantasy romance with slow burn and a dash of magic.
Thoughts
This book is like a fairy tale. Usually when I say that, I mean it in the "dark, tragic, unsettling" sort of way, but this time I mean it in the "dreamy, beautiful, hopeful ending" sort of way. You've got your self-sacrificing heroine with a heart a gold and magic in her fingertips, a cranky prince surrounded by a wall of thorns (sometimes literally), and a kingdom in peril. The magic system doesn't get much detail, leaving the reader to have to accept that magic is magic, but the rest of the world building is solid - weighted heavily on real world history, including a frank look at colonization, classism, the fact that LGBT people have existed at every point in history. And yet even with all the weight, it remains a dreamy, sometimes cozy read about a gently blossoming romance between two lonely people.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
A charming fantasy romance with slow burn and a dash of magic.
Thoughts
This book is like a fairy tale. Usually when I say that, I mean it in the "dark, tragic, unsettling" sort of way, but this time I mean it in the "dreamy, beautiful, hopeful ending" sort of way. You've got your self-sacrificing heroine with a heart a gold and magic in her fingertips, a cranky prince surrounded by a wall of thorns (sometimes literally), and a kingdom in peril. The magic system doesn't get much detail, leaving the reader to have to accept that magic is magic, but the rest of the world building is solid - weighted heavily on real world history, including a frank look at colonization, classism, the fact that LGBT people have existed at every point in history. And yet even with all the weight, it remains a dreamy, sometimes cozy read about a gently blossoming romance between two lonely people.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and Classism
Moderate: Blood and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia and War
meganpbell's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
4.5
If Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) was a YA book, it would be this fantasy and its aching forbidden romance between a magical dressmaker from a former colony, hired for the royal wedding, and the king's wayward, plant-magic-wielding second son, the groom. Together, Niamh, soft as velvet, and Kit, prickly as a briar patch, risk not only scandal, but war, ruin, uprising, and the loss of all the armor and thorns both have used to protect themselves from life and love ‘til now.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail