A Fragile Enchantment

I'm so sad that this book was so disappointing. The premise sounded so great on paper and I was so sad it did not deliver. The premise ended up being so weak, the characters were unlikable and lacked growth, it wanted to be deep but failed on all accounts. This book lacked any original thought and was a completely bland story.

Kinda boring. Couldn't get into it.

I listened to Fran Burgoyne’s narration, and found myself enjoying the story.

I will be honest… I fell asleep during the first few hours of the book. So I don’t really know how things started out. But I do remember thinking about returning the book early before accidentally dozing off. When I woke up again, sudden the book was pretty good. The characters at that point had a small amount of chemistry already set up so I was able to enjoy their bickering.

When it comes to an enemies to lovers romance, the book plays it pretty safe. It is less of enemies and more ‘mutual dislike’ for each other. Still, it is enjoyable. And the characters are able to have plenty of quirky cheek reddening moments. There was a moment I thought I’d have to put on headphones, but I’ll leave that up to you to discover.

*Oh my, is that an ankle? How scandalous! Let me reply by showing a bit of neck.*

I think my real enjoyment of the book, came from the narrator. I feel if I tried reading this myself, the charm of the characters wouldn’t have shone through for me.

The driving plot of the story is ‘meh’. By its conclusion I didn’t feel any sort of glee or relief that it was over. But let’s be honest, you’re here for romance, not saving a kingdom. Still, I think the book deserves my rating of 4 stars, merely because of my enjoyment of the characters.

The cover of the book is gorgeous, and I was very pleased to find there are a few people who have made fanart for me to continue to enjoy.

Super cute YA, very light read.

Very weird for a cozy romance. When I'd set it down, I'd start thinking of Kit being a walking red flag and how their relationship doesn't make much sense and she's so lovesick while he's so disdainful to everyone. And Niamh's certainty she'd never ever find love again if she can't have him, but she doesn't deserve him.... oof. Cozy romance veneer over something really unsettling. And yet I enjoyed it as I was reading, it just felt oddly slow-paced. I'm a bit foggy brained from being sick so maybe I'd enjoy something else from her more? No idea.

4.5 rounded up; this was really cute! I suppose it's a more romance book so the fantasy/magic components/world building were very shallow but still enjoyable. I think the con is the background story behind Niamh's illness? I feel like it was so quickly brushed on despite its severity -- I need an epilogue about it or something

“He tasted like smoke, and he smelled like rain and damp wool. and she might very well go mad from how good he made her fel She foared in a haze of pleasure and exhaustion.
‘Is this a dream'
‘I don't know,' he said huskily, his eyes aglow. ‘Let me kiss you until dawn, and I suppose we'll find out.'
Perhaps tomorrow, reality would crash down around her. Bur here, right now, with the patter of the rain and the whisper of the fire around them, she couldn't find it in herself to worry, to regret a single self-indulgent moment at all.”

...I'm dead.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A Fragile Enchantment is my first foray into Allison Saft's work. A Far Wilder Magic has been on my TBR for what feels like forever – maybe now that I've dipped my toes into the water, so to speak, I'll finally get around to reading that book. BUT REGARDLESS – I really enjoyed A Fragile Enchantment. It felt very low stakes throughout the whole book, which is exactly what I needed. I've been having a hard time reading anything lately – the world is awful, I have a toddler, I'm pregnant with baby #2 – there's a lot going on. But A Fragile Enchantment hit at just the right time for me. It's relatively easy to follow, written very simply without being boring, and has characters that make you feel for them.

All in all, it's a great read for anyone looking for an entry level fantasy romance. The spice level is almost nonexistent, but there are two scenes where something gets started, but we don't really see all the way to the end. It's a mostly fade to black, basically. Not my PREFERRED type of romance, but the rest of the story made up for that particular lack.

This seems to be based on the Irish potato famine, and Britain's involvement in it. It's all in a different world, but the way things are described, and the placeholder country names definitely seem to point this way.

Niamh is our main character (you pronounce this name as Neev) and honestly? She's okay. She just kinda blends into the background a lot of the time. Her personality is mostly ‘clumsy' and ‘interfering'. But you do grow to like her as the book goes on. Her love interest is Kit, a scandalous prince. This is mostly enemies to lovers. Or Dislike to Lovers, I should say. They aren't really enemies, ever. Kit's just an asshole for a good part of the book until you realize he's hiding some trauma.

Anyway, I enjoyed this. I think it will do well, but I can see parts where people are going to complain. But for me, this is a solid four stars!