A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Publishing Info: Audiobook by Orion Children’s Books, narrated by Fran Burgoyne

Star Rating: 4/5

Back Cover Summary:

An unforgettable YA regency-inspired romantic fantasy about a seamstress who is sent to dress the prince for his royal wedding – and the scandal she weaves in her wake.

All Niamh has longed for is to be remembered: to create something that will last far longer than she will. For her, that means becoming a renowned dressmaker, using the magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into fabric – the same magic that will eventually kill her.

When Niamh is commissioned to design the prince’s wardrobe for a royal wedding in Avaland, she knows she finally has her chance to leave her legacy. But Avaland is far from the fairytale that she imagined. While nobles and the elite attend extravagant balls and candlelit garden parties, unrest brews amid the working class.

Niamh finds herself drawn to Kit, the prince whom she must dress for his wedding, despite his cold, prickly demeanour. And soon, a gossip column reports on their undeniable chemistry between them, threatening scandal. Niamh must decide if reputation should come above all else, whether her magic curse will allow her to experience love, and what cost she is willing to pay for a future she never thought possible…

Threaded with intrigue and unforgettable characters, A Fragile Enchantment is a sweeping romance for the ages.

This Regency-inspired fantasy captivated me with its warm heart and beautiful writing. The opening drew me in and enveloped me entirely. Allison Saft’s descriptions were just so well crafted that I found myself wanting to reread sentences to take in the stunning imagery. The audiobook narration by Fran Burgoyne elevates the reading experience. The narration was so expressive and brings to life each of the characters’ voices excellently. I always knew who was speaking and Fran captures the characters’ personalities in their voices so well.

The chemistry between the main character and love interest leapt off the page. With a grump/sunshine dynamic, I loved their interactions, which often provided humour and brought a smile to my face. There was also something very touching about how they broke down each other’s walls and helped each other grow. There is also an excellent supporting cast of side characters, through which the author explores friendship as well as romance.

The magic in this book is so interesting. Niamh’s magic enables her to sew emotions and memories into the garments she makes, which can be felt by both the wearer and those around them. However, the magic isn’t always predictable and sometimes her own feelings influence the enchantments she stitches, leading to some final results that aren’t always quite what she intended.

I love Regency era stories so the setting was very much to my liking. There is even an anonymous gossip column ala Bridgerton’s Lady Whistledown. While the romance is the focus, the author does also explore political issues and classism, drawing elements from the real history of England and Ireland. I appreciated that there was more to the story than just romance, however some of the political aspects of the story didn’t always quite add up and I can easily imagine finding holes in some aspects of the plot if I were to look too closely.

I didn’t realise before I started reading that there would be chronic illness rep in this book. In an interview with Fairyloot, the author described how “the thematic heart of the book is those race-against-the-clock feelings that come with being a chronically-ill artist”. Niamh’s inner battle between needing to manage her health and not wanting to waste any time was very relatable. I myself feel this so often, that feeling that there is never enough time, and it’s all just slipping away so fast, especially when there are more bad days than good days. The depiction of chronic illness at times made me quite emotional.

This book made me smile, laugh and cry. I was so sure at the start that this would be a five-star read for me. However, as the book went on, it didn’t manage to keep that hold over me. The pacing perhaps was a little too slow, or the latter parts of the book were just too drawn out to keep my attention.

While there are many things I adored about this story, there were others which let this book down. The magic, romance and cast of characters were my favourite elements. If you enjoy cosy romantic fantasy and Regency vibes then I would recommend checking this book out.