In this romantic fantasy of manners from New York Times bestselling author Allison Saft, a magical dressmaker commissioned for a royal wedding finds herself embroiled in scandal when a gossip columnist draws attention to her undeniable chemistry with the groom.
A FRAGILE ENCHANTMENT
by ALLISON SAFT
Series: n/a
Publication date: January 2, 2024
Published by: Wednesday Books
Genre: romantasy
SYNOPSIS
Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into fabric is the same magic that will eventually kill her. Determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family, Niamh jumps at the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland.
But Avaland is far from the fairytale that she imagined. While young nobles attend candlelit balls and elegant garden parties, unrest brews amid the working class. The groom himself, Kit Carmine, is prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a political pawn. But when Niamh and Kit grow closer, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more—until an anonymous gossip columnist starts buzzing about their chemistry, promising to leave them alone only if Niamh helps to uncover the royal family’s secrets. The rot at the heart of Avaland runs deep, but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible.
Transporting readers to a Regency England-inspired fantasy world, A Fragile Enchantment is a sweeping romance threaded with intrigue, unforgettable characters, and a love story for the ages.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Allison Saft is the New York Times and indie bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic and Down Comes the Night. After receiving her MA in English Literature from Tulane University, she moved from the Gulf Coast to the West Coast, where she spends her time rolling on eight wheels and practicing aerial silks. She lives with her partner and an Italian greyhound named Marzipan.
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REVIEW
A Fragile Enchantment by Allison SaftMy rating: 1 of 5 stars
I was so excited to start this because the premise sounded really different and intriguing. Sadly, it was a bit of a mess, and very difficult to read for many reasons. Surface level character development, pacing, inconsistencies, unlikable hero, minimal fantasy worldbuilding, and the weak historical setting were just a few of the things that came together to make this lackluster romantasy. I am so bummed that I didn't love it, but I'm honestly patting myself on the back for trudging through and making it to the last page.
Niamh Ó Conchobhair is the female protagonist. She's eighteen years old and has just been offered the position of clothing maker for the upcoming royal wedding of the youngest prince. Prince Christopher, Duke of Clearwater (Kit) is marrying Rosa because his older brother has decreed that it's for the good of the kingdom. The alliance will prove to strengthen them financially and improve Kit's battered reputation. Kit is seen as a bit of a joke because of his alcoholism and the fact that he's been living away from Avaland in an attempt to recover from his addiction. He's reluctantly going along with the wedding, but he's not happy and everyone knows it.
From the first introduction, Kit is surly, mean-spirited, and just generally unpleasant to be around. Niamh is asked to stitch something for him and the prince regent in order to show the capabilities of her magic. He sneers at her work and makes her feel unwelcome before stomping off. This immediately causes her to (understandably) hate him from the get-go. During all of their interactions, his behavior takes a similar vein, though she starts to sympathize with him as she sees hints of compassion in him. Personally, I did not see enough in him to excuse his bratty behavior, nor did I see him as a multi-layered person who is misunderstood. His reputation is well-earned, and I didn't even feel sorry for him being forced into a loveless marriage.
Niamh came off as a bit of a people pleaser and a martyr. She lives to help support her family (even though they're ungrateful), has no personal life to speak of, and weakens herself by working her fingers to the bone knowing that it's accelerating the mysterious disease she is "dying" from. When she is overly stressed or anxious she ages and/or weakens which is shown in the physical manifestation of her hair gradually turning white. In the synopsis, it says that the magic she uses in her clothing is "the same magic that will eventually kill her." However, in the book, it says this:
Some illnesses pass through generations. We tend to see them appear more often in families with divine blood—not necessarily because they’re connected [...]
Absolutely nobody else in the book with magic powers is suffering the same health issues as her. Nobody else has hair turning white. None of this was explained with any type of detail, and no one seems to be overly concerned when she baldly states to various people that she is "dying." When she blurted it out to Kit, they were becoming involved at that point and he acted surprised but that was the extent of it. How do you not react with horror to a statement like that for someone you are supposedly falling for? I kept thinking that this would be addressed somehow towards the end in order to ensure a smooth HEA, but unfortunately no. She could literally die one year after they get together...one day even. But they calmly accept that like it's no biggie. In fact, all of the seemingly insurmountable hurdles these two have are hopped over quickly and unrealistically. Kit's engagement is even solved from many different angles in very few pages. Everything all tied up in a neat bow, but not in a remotely realistic manner.
The magic system is described very vaguely as well as the historical setting. All we are told about the magic is that every person with an ceird (magic) claimed they could trace their ancestry back to one of the Fair Ones. The Fair Ones are described in one paragraph. None of it really makes sense. Are there a set amount of powers based on the six Fair Ones named, or are there too many to count? Despite the source of the magic, some of the Machlish people who are peasants who live in poverty have magic, like Niamh. It seems that anyone in any class can have them, but having them doesn't earn respect unless you are upper class. There is no structure to any of it, and it's all briefly, sporadically, and in an inconsistent way. If I'm reading a fantasy with magic involved I expect world building and in-depth explanations in order for the setting to come to life. The historical detail was sufficient either, despite the fact that this world was supposed to have been modeled after Regency England. Their clothing may have been appropriate, but I didn't have the benefit of a description besides a bit of lace here, or a mention of a garter under her dress there. The speech and social customs were more modern than antiquated, so everything was a bit artificial for my taste.
There is the addition of various conflicts like the gossip columnist Lovelace, and Lady Helen Carlile who pop up at various points in the book but again, lack any focus or detail. The romance pretty much sprouts out of nowhere after she spends more than half the book despising him, and I couldn't find excitement for it once it did. His fiancé pretty much says it all.
“He is . . . pretty, in his way, I suppose. In theory,” Rosa conceded.“But I am shocked at his poor breeding.He is gentlemanly to no one but you. To the rest of the world,he is peevish, extraordinarily rude, andpossesses no grace or decorum.”
To me, this feels like a story you would expect from a debut author. I don't think I'll be trying another book from Allison Saft because her writing is just not for me. Many others have read her work and appreciate it, so maybe you will have a different experience.
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