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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.

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 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.

Thanks! I'm excited!

I'll be doing this over the weekend!

Starting this one today :)

Yay! I'm going to start it today!

This font is quite small bummer

Really? Its huge in the book i have lol

Chapter 5: (view spoiler)[ i can already see the bridgerton comparisons what with the gossip column ans everything. There was a lot of historical information thrown at us and i feel like im still trying to get a feel for the world and the magic. I do like the thought of her clothing capturing emotions. Thats very original (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "Really? Its huge in the book i have lol"

I have the Fairyloot edition. Lots of words per page

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 5: [spoilers removed]"

Yes I get the Bridgerton feel although it isn't that prominent yet. It's clearly where the comparison came from.
I also love the magic, it reminds me of Spin the Dawn. Similar thing with the embroidery imbuing emotions into clothes

Chapter 9 (view spoiler)[Okay I'm liking this, and I love their relationship already! It makes me giddy when he does nice things for her and doesn't admit it. I like how easy it is to read, however the magic isn't explained yet. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[It's good so far. Might keep this one physically. I wonder where the story will go! Everyone is so tortured emotionally in this book, so repressed, it's my kind of story 😂

Sinclair being Lovelace did surprise me. I feel for Jack and I kind of thought he'd be more open to help from Kit but no, he's too set in his ways. I hope he starts to see Sofia a little more though (hide spoiler)]

Maddie wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Really? Its huge in the book i have lol"

I have the Fairyloot edition. Lots of words per page"

I have the Fairyloot version too and found the writing to be fairly large. How weird.

Maddie wrote: "Chapter 9 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ i agree that the lack of world building around the magic system is lacking. Im not quite sure how i feel about it yet. I will say Sinclair is probably my favorite character so far. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17: (view spoiler)[ ok so what is jack up to? Someone has to be controlling his actions because theres no way he can just be content to turn a blind eye. His entire staff quit! I want to like him but i just dont trust him.

Also that scene where sofia set up tea but nobody wanted to talk to her kind of broke my heart.

And this relationship between Kit and Niamh, not a fan. Sneaking around while hes engaged to someone else - i dont care if it was arranged. And then her getting all upset when sinclair told her she could be kits mistress, like what did you thi k would happen? (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "Maddie wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Really? Its huge in the book i have lol"

I have the Fairyloot edition. Lots of words per page"

I have the Fairyloot version too and found the writing to be fairly larg..."

I think it's just the way it's formatted is what gets me. The words go right to the edge of the page lol

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 17: ok so what is jack up to? Someone has to be controlling his actions because theres no way he can just be content to turn a blind eye. His entire staff quit! I want to like him but i ju..."

This is so true, I never thought of it like this! I agree about Jack though

Maddie wrote: "Chapter 25 ..."

(view spoiler)[ i knew it couldnt have been Sofia. Sinclair was on ny list of suspects, i also thought Miriam and even Kit himself lol. And yeah Jack is just in his own way. I get that he wants to protect his brother but his kingdom is crumbling. They need to work together. (hide spoiler)]

I finished! I gave it 4 stars. Idk how I feel overall, not sure what the sequel could be about. (view spoiler)[Unless it's Sinclair, but it's odd for ya fantasy to be a companion series. Given the fl bonus stuff though it seems likely

I really didn't like how they still got married after all of that, and how everyone was accepting and merry about it. It didn't really make sense. I do like how Kit and Jack seemed to be repairing things though (hide spoiler)]

Maddie wrote: "I finished! ."

(view spoiler)[ i feel like that ending was very lack luster. Its almost like the author didnt know how to solve any of the political issues she brought up so just went "heres a wedding and everyone is appeased!". In all honesty, Sofia and Sinclair were the most interesting characters ans Sofia was grossly underused. Not sure what im going to rate this one. I need to sit on it (hide spoiler)]

Yeah I agree! I enjoyed it while reading but now I'm seeing issues. I feel so sad for Sofia, especially how Naimh just assumed (view spoiler)[that she was Lovelace when all she wanted was connection. (hide spoiler)]

Maddie wrote: "Yeah I agree! I enjoyed it while reading but now I'm seeing issues. I feel so sad for Sofia, especially how Naimh just assumed [spoilers removed]"

Right? She was so lonely

I hope her and Jack start to work on things more

Ch 4
This book is so GORGEOUS omg FL has outdone themselves. (view spoiler)[Okay so Avaland & Marchland have fought some sort of war & they’re still at odds, and now Niamh is going to Avaland to design a dress for the to be wife of the prince. Reminds me of Bridgerton for sure! It’s clear that there’s a big difference in wealth between the city and the palace damn, I guess Christopher isn’t ruling so it’s not his fault but still. Can’t wait to find out what really happened in the war and that blight she keeps speaking of.

So Kit has magic (how did they get that name from Christopher lmao), does she actually have magic too then? Her grandmother said something about her sewing magic but I thought it was figurative lol. I get that Kit doesn’t want to be at court and is forced to marry this chick but damn dude, he’s a dick. Also, she put part of her own soul into her sewing, is that literal? Is she slowly losing her soul/memories over this? I mean, what else can the silver thread in her hair be? Lovelace is exactly like Bridgerton damn. Aaah so the Machlish did work for them but they’re walking out & the Avlish are rioting too teehee. Lovelace is good then! And Mistress HC is clearly the Helen Carlile that Jack mentioned (Jack from John where tf do these names come from?) Sinclair seems nice! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 10
(view spoiler)[It’s kinda pretentious of her to comment on Kit and how he hasn’t had a hard day in his life, she LITERALLY doesn’t know him?? Just bc he’s Royal doesn’t mean his life has been great wtf, he has been away for a reason. Their chemistry is good tho, but it’s odd how quickly her personality changed.

Lmao I love how they’re all crowding around Niamh bc she made a calming dress. What are the odds of Sinclair being Lovelace? It sounds feminine but I’ve seen Gossip Girl🤣 her garments sound truly amazing tho damn, and I kind of love that Kit's not so tall bc men are often so tall in fantasy books! Can’t wait to figure out what her/her family disease is, it must have a reason/he must be the cure lol. Little scared of the princess and king, but Miriam sounded great from their first introduction. Poor Sofia and Jack tho damn. It doesn’t seem smart to design a coat that makes him forgettable when he’s trying to court a princess lmao??? I wonder what Kit meant with his comment about not remembering the wedding, does his power come with a sickness too? Aaah no he was an addict then, since he doesn’t drink anymore. I feel bad for Jack tbh damn, the text and painting thing was brutal. Love that Sinclair is gay - although I kinda like him more than Kit lol, and apparently Niamh is bi then, since she did like Erin? Idk. Kit’s cute. Lovelace reached out oh my, so they have access to the palace! And Lovelace doesn’t think jacks evil but just too stubborn, that’s a good sign. It can’t be Rosa can it? What’s the Infanta for her name? I keep reading infant lmao. But why IS Jack hiding all of this and not going along with the HC woman and all that? I wonder whether they don’t have any money or something idk. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 17
(view spoiler)[Yay I do like Miriam, she seems overly familiar with Rosa tho. I keep thinking they’ve secretly switched places lol ngl. I immediatly wonder what Rosa is hiding - the overturned chair was so randomly mentioned that I immediately feel like she changed into a beast or something lmao, which is probably not even possible in this world 🤣 I just know too little to come up with actually feasible theories.

I wonder whether Sofia could be Lovelace? There just aren’t that many options in the castle. Aah Miriam has healing powers, then I’m nearly convinced she has to heal Rosa constantly idk, that woman is just hiding something. I also wondered whether Rosa was into Miriam but I’m not sure. I really do think Lovelace is Miriam, but that can’t be right? Their country is too far away? Rosa’s lightning powers seem like trouble, why is no one talking about her nearly electrocuting Kit??

Kit is clearly struggling. I don’t really think Lovelace would be this okay with her declining hm. Poor Sofia, Jack really needs to respect her more. She seems to have a lot of power with her ice? I’m ready for it to pick up tho, it’s a little slow for me. Rosa wants a lace gown, is she Lovelace then? It’s definitely Sofia. I’m not sure why I’m getting bored, but it’s just quite slow and nothing is really happening.

Damn they kissed! I wonder if Kit did something to his mother as well, since he doesn’t remember that either and he always forgets when he loses control? There’s definitely more there. It’s also odd that his father just lost his mind and is living away idk I’m reading more into everything. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 26
(view spoiler)[They kissed again well okay then! I keep imagining them as literal children lmao. Rosa is surprisingly understanding wow, I definitely wouldn’t want her as an enemy tho. Ah she thinks it’s Sofia too, then it’s definitely not. How do they not see that the kingdom just doesn’t have any money omg it’s so obvious argh. She put the Lovelace letter in Kit’s coat, I can already see EXACTLY how this’ll go ugh, he’ll find it and think she’s treasonous for no reason. Argh the miscommunication trope is the bane of my existence. It must be Sinclair if it isn’t Sophia.

It’s like they want to get caught at this point, making out wherever, having sex in a literal greenhouse MADE OF GLASS I cannot. They’re really annoying me for some reason. Surprise, Kits mad ugh. And Sinclair is indeed Lovelace. The reasoning kind of sucks tbh. She’s sneaking out as Rosa to meet with Sinclair, I honestly don’t know why she’d do that tbh. I thought the Duke disowned him because he found out he was a bastard through Lovelace but apparently not then.

I don’t get the plan at all. How would stopping the wedding save everything? Gosh their naivety is killing me. I don’t know why, but it’s really falling flat on me. Skipping parts to get to the end now. It’s just so freaking slow, I’m not sure why it’s bothering me so much - I just started Happy Place and I wasn’t bothered about the slowness of that one?? (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[Still don’t get the plan, and Kit turned her down because he’s suddenly very loyal and duty is important?? His character was all over the place in this. I don’t get it - why the fuck did she still have the cape? What was the point of that. Makes. No. Sense. And now the king challenges them to a duel like some sort of child wtf these people. So frustrating, what did Niamh even think would happen? She’s so fucking annoying and naive. It was clear that Rosa and Miriam were in love so that was cute. Sort of like them, they definitely have a LOT more depth than Niamh not going to lie, besides her Mary Sueness and forced ‘cuteness� in being clumsy she’s flat as hell.

Seriously, that’s the end???? First of all, we still don’t actually know whether they’ll find a cure for the illness and whether she’ll even survive, but apparently that doesn’t matter. Second of all, the king just decided that it was no biggie and everything’s fine?? FURTHERMORE, how is Jack now funding the kingdom, did they mention that????? And does everyone now know about Rosa and Miriam and is the king okay with THAT?! they're also just sticking around without a care in the world. Gosh the amount of unresolved threads/plotpoints is SO frustrating. And everyone just suddenly accepts the Mavalands people or whatever, even though they’ve detested them for years?! SO FRUSTRATING. At least Jack and Sofia are doing better. It’s cute that Kit and Niamh got married but I also really don’t care. They behaved like children, their characters were all over the place and they were quite frustrating. I also still don’t understand the world at all, how many kingdoms are there? What magic is there?! So many unanswered questions. Disappointed, because this book looked so pretty and I thought there’d be more intrigue and a fastpaced story. The whole Lovelace thing was barely important AT ALL - it could’ve been totally left out with how unimportant it was. The author clearly just used it to create drama when she wanted, it was unnecessary besides that. Niamh literally barely even talked with Lovelace & definitely didn’t give him any secrets, although the blurb clearly hinted at her being a spy. Such bullshit wtf. Very frustrated. We still don’t actually know what happened with the blight and all that do we? I don't get the world at all (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "Maddie wrote: "Chapter 9 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

I agree, I feel like there just wasn't that much depth, to both the world and the characters?

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 17: ok so what is jack up to? Someone has to be controlling his actions because theres no way he can just be content to turn a blind eye. His entire staff quit! I want to like him but i ju..."

(view spoiler)[Omg right?? Niamhs character is all over the place, yet she gets mad when Kit doesn't choose her outright, which doesn't make sense. And Sofia was so sad omg :( (hide spoiler)]

Maddie wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Maddie wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Really? Its huge in the book i have lol"

I have the Fairyloot edition. Lots of words per page"

I have the Fairyloot version too and found the writing to b..."

Lol I agree, maybe because the words felt dense or something?

Maddie wrote: "I finished! I gave it 4 stars. Idk how I feel overall, not sure what the sequel could be about. Unless it's Sinclair, but it's odd for ya fantasy to be a companion series. Given the fl bonus stuff ..."

Wait there's a sequel?? The story should've definitely stopped her oops

Jenn wrote: "Maddie wrote: "I finished! ."

[spoilers removed]"

Omg I feel the exact same, there were so many loose threads that she just solved with (view spoiler)[a wedding. That's not how it works argh (hide spoiler)]

Danique wrote: "Maddie wrote: "I finished! I gave it 4 stars. Idk how I feel overall, not sure what the sequel could be about. Unless it's Sinclair, but it's odd for ya fantasy to be a companion series. Given the ..."

I didn't know there was a sequel either. Maybe it's a good thing since she left so much unresolved LOL

Danique wrote: "Finished
Still don’t get the plan, and Kit turned her down because he’s suddenly very loyal and duty is important?? His character was all over the place in this. I don’t get it - why the fuck did s..."

Okay yes yes yes hahaha. The Lovelace thing was clearly put here so she could be compared to Bridgerton and get the hype from that. But it was so unnecessary!
I'm glad I didn't read the blurb because I didn't know it referenced her as a spy

And yes it's a series! Does it not say on goodreads? Maybe I'm wrong..

Ohhhh shit it doesn't say there's a sequel! :o I totally thought there was! Okay uhhhhh I don't like this so much anymore

Hahahahha... I was like Maddie has insider information!

Nooo sorry!

Now I feel the need to sell my FL edition and buy the standard instead lol

Noooo don’t sell it because we made you less enthusiastic 🤣 you liked it before we came in!!

A sequel would’ve made more sense though ngl

Danique wrote: "Noooo don’t sell it because we made you less enthusiastic 🤣 you liked it before we came in!!"

Hahahah right? I was thinking the same thing - although I am going to sell my Fairyloot copy LOL

I cannot bring myself to sell FL copies for some reason, my FOMO won’t let me 🤣 But my book collection is growing too far lmao

Danique wrote: "Noooo don’t sell it because we made you less enthusiastic 🤣 you liked it before we came in!!"

This is typically why I don't read other people's reviews lol because I like to enjoy a book from my own emotions. But seeing the bad things now I can't unsee lol

Hahahah. That was me for the longest time. I refused to get rid of anything - signed, special edition, etc. But yeah, I have wayyyy too many physical copies of books and I'm getting better at getting rid of ones that I know I would never read again or don't make me happy

Lol I just treat my specials the same as standards - if I read it and don't love it I'll sell it. I don't have the money or shelf space to keep things

Yeah that’s definitely a healthy attitude lol, I just cannot bring myself to do it yet - hopefully soon🤣

It helps that I'm desperate for money lol