A Fragile Enchantment Review

A Fragile Enchantment

Book Review by All Things Book Wise

Rating: ✨4/5✨

Review Updated: 7/30/2024

A Fragile Enchantment was a wonderful and quick fantasy read by Allison Saft!

I love reading during travel, especially as a way to pass time on long flights. I started reading this book on the plane and the time I spent reading passed by so quickly; the flight time unfortunately did not 😊

Niamh is a tailor. Famous for imbuing her designs with enchantments to portray certain emotions, she's honored (and can't quite believe it) when she's invited to sew the royal wedding's attire for both bride and groom. Yet when she gets there, she's surprised to find a prickly and cold groom and a kingdom facing many difficulties. But during her stay she starts to get closer to Prince Kit, discovering the person beneath his hard facade, the one she just might be falling for. And maybe she'll find a way to use her talents to make a difference. Throw in a dash of magic, a gossip column, and a swoony romance to make such a cozy read! It's emotional at times, amusing at others, and fun all around - perfect for reading in one sitting!

Being fantasy, this book had magical elements that really intrigued me, but I wish they had been developed on a little more throughout the book. While we did get to see some of Niamh's ability to imbue emotions in her tailoring, I would have liked to learn more about Niamh's magic and it's capabilities, and actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I would have liked to learn more about Kit and Jack's magic as well, as I'm still confused about what their magic actually does.

I loved Niamh's personality, it was very endearing! There were times I could definitely relate to her, both in her height and in how easily startled she is - I think I got a little glimpse into what it's like to be me :D!

The romance was definitely the central plot, and I loved seeing Kit and Niamh together! The feelings, the chemistry, the forbidden love meets grumpy x sunshine... However, because the romance was so central to the plot, some of the other elements didn't quite get the proper attention they deserved, mainly the Machlish people protesting against prejudice in the kingdom. While it did get some focus in the story, not the amount it deserved and not enough of a proper resolution. I liked the idea of throwing in a gossip column in the plot, especially to support the Machlish, but I don't think the summary portrayed it accurately enough. In my opinion, there really wasn't that much blackmailing, more just hopeful suggesting.

Regardless, I did enjoy reading this book. While it sometimes lacks depth in plot elements, if you're looking for a light fantasy romance, this book is the right one for you!