A review by jennifermreads
A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

When I first read the blurb for this Regency Era romance, I could not add it to my TBR fast enough. I was thrilled to get a historical romance with sprinkles of magic and doses of royalty. 

And, yet, I had to push myself to finish it. Why didn’t I DNF? Because it was an anticipated read and I feared it may be falling victim to my reading slump where every book I pick up is taking an eternity to read and feels like I am slogging along versus whipping through pages. 

There were glimmers of enjoyment. I adored Sinclair and all his antics. I found moments of delight in the scenes with Niamh and Kit. But I mostly felt an overwhelming frustration with the world-building. I got more about the world and the affects of magic on Niamh from the dustjacket than I did from the text. And if her magic was so life-shortening and deadly, should it not have had a large part in the story’s development and in the story itself? I flipped back to re-read the jacket a half-dozen times while I read the book. I had to be sure I had not misread the copy. I had not. Niamh’s life should be getting shortened each time she wove a stitch but readers see her weakening…once? Twice? And, if you had skipped the jacket copy, you may have been completely baffled by what was happening to her!
 
From subscription boxes, I have two special edition copies of this book. The space on my bookshelves is precious and I cannot warrant using one spot much less two for a book I will not be re-reading much less one I was had a reaction of “meh.” To donate or to re-sell? I imagine it will be donated because it appears I’m not alone in my reactions—so resale demand is undoubtedly low. 
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