A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

Title: A Fate Inked in Blood

Author: Danielle L. Jensen

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Saga of the Unfated # 1

Hardcover, 432 pages 

Publication: February 27, 2024
Source: Personal Library
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Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back.

Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate.

Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.

MY THOUGHTS

I’ve been looking forward to A Fate Inked in Blood since I first heard Jensen was writing it. I read her Bridge Kingdom duology and enjoyed it, so I had high hopes for this brand-new series. I had never read a Viking novel before but had always been intrigued by Norse history and mythology.

A Fate Inked in Blood started off strong as readers were introduced to Freya, who is blessed with the blood of the goddess Hlin and is surrounded by a prophecy that makes her one of the most dangerous and sought-after women in all of the kingdoms. And that’s exactly what happens in the story. We see different men vying for control over Freya’s fate, going as far as destroying lives and villages to get to her.

 At first, I kind of admired Freya’s strength and determination to perhaps change her fate or at least gain a modicum of control over her life. Everything she did was in the hopes of protecting the people she loved. That is an admirable trait, but not when the people she loves treat her poorly or use her to their own advantage. I went from admiring her to despising her. She knew people were using her, was told directly to her face, and yet she kept putting them before herself. By the end of the book, I absolutely hated Freya and could care less about what happened to her. SPOILERS INCOMING.

At the end of the novel, she was so angry that Bjorn was lying to protect her that she was willing to return to the POS Snorri, whom she knew from the beginning was willing to sacrifice everything and everyone, family included, in the hopes of becoming King of Skaland. She knew he saw her as a means to an end, a piece of property to control, someone less than human; despite it all, she was willing to choose the bigger evil of the two. It made no sense. Freya’s actions are mostly led by her angry emotions rather than logic, which is why she did what she did in the story and why everyone feared her.

 I had such high expectations for this novel and am surprised by all the rave reviews. I’m certainly in the minority. Freya is an unlikable and immature heroine who made stupid choices, one after the other. The ending left a lot of unanswered questions, and while I want to know what happens next, I’m not sure I’ll be picking up the sequel.

Where the Dark Stand Still by A.B. Poranek

Title: Where the Dark Stands Still

Author: A.B Poranek

Genre: Fantasy

Series: N/A

Hardcover 336 pages 

Publication: February 27, 2024
Source: I received a review copy in exchange for a honest review.
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Raised in a small village near the spirit-wood, Liska Radost knows that Magic is monstrous, and its practitioners, monsters. After Liska unleashes her own powers with devastating consequences, she is caught by the demon warden of the wood – the Leszy – who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish.

Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska soon discovers the sinister roots of their bargain. And if she wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past.

Those who enter the wood do not always return…

MY THOUGHTS

I picked up Where the Dark Stands Still because it was billed as a combination of Howl’s Moving Castle and Beauty and the Beast. While I've never read Howl’s Moving Castle, I've heard nothing but rave reviews about it, and Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite classic stories. The comparison and parallels to Beauty and the Beast were easy to see. Our main heroine, Liska, sets off in search of a magical flower to rid herself of her magic, but instead, she bargains away a year of her life as a servant to the wood demon, hoping he will remove her power. Anyone familiar with the classic would not be surprised to discover that after spending time with one another, Liska and The Leszy eventually grew closer and closer only to develop feelings for one another.

However, I had a hard time getting into Where the Dark Stands Still. The plot itself was very slow, with long periods of nothing much happening. Even when Liska helps The Leszy on his duties as the warden of the woods, I didn't find myself invested or caring about what was going on or what was happening to the characters. I'm more accustomed to novels with more action, and I didn't think the stakes were high enough here. Despite the surprising ending, I still didn't find myself caring about the outcome. The synopsis promised a romantic fantasy, but Liska and The Leszy lacked chemistry, which made me more and more detached from the story.

I had such high expectations, but unfortunately, the story was a complete letdown. I do not recommend this book at all, and I wish I could get back the time I spent reading it, as it took almost two weeks to slog through.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Title: Bride

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Genre: Paranormal Fantasy

Series: N/A

Paperback, 398 pages 

Publication: February 6, 2024
Source: Personal library 
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Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

MY THOUGHTS

I have never read an Ali Hazelwood novel; her books never sounded like my thing, nor am I big on contemporary romances. But as a paranormal fantasy reader, I knew I had to read Bride. Bride had two of my favorite tropes: marriage of convenience and fated mates, with a Were Alpha and a Vampyre Princess Equivalent at its center. I was intrigued!

 Within the first few chapters, I was immediately engrossed with the story and characters. Misery, the FMC, was quirky, and I absolutely loved her dry sense of humor, especially when she was interacting with Lowe’s little sister Ana; the two were a hoot. It was interesting to see Misery’s life before and after marriage, despite the setting being primarily within the pack territory. The hierarchy and different Vampyre and Were dynamics were easy to follow and understand. I also appreciated how each character played a pivotal role in the story; every single character was very well-developed and fleshed out.

 Was Bride the best paranormal urban fantasy out there? Absolutely not, but it was fun and entertaining. I think this is a great introduction for those not familiar with the sub-genre or who are new to reading paranormal urban fantasy. I thought the story and characters were great, and with how the book ended, I would happily pick up the sequel. All in all, a solid read with a light mystery and romance that I enjoyed.

Crown of Roses by Hillary Raymer

Title: Crown of Roses

Author: Hillary Raymer

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Faeven Saga# 1

Paperback 398 pages 

Publication: October 18, 2022
Source: Personal library 
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Cursed with the blood of her enemy, Maeve will stop at nothing to prove she’s worthy of her mother’s crown. Her opportunity finally arrives when the Scathing, a dark fae magic, afflicts her kingdom and leaves a trail of death and decay in its wake. The only way to stop the Scathing is to retrieve the soul of the goddess Danua from within the fae realm. Maeve’s mother sends her off with one condition…return with the soul, or don’t return at all.

But Faeven is nothing like the fairytales she’s read; it’s full of ancient secrets and wild magic. Determined to save her kingdom, Maeve has no choice but to rely upon Rowan, the one faerie she shouldn’t trust. But as her feelings for Rowan transcend from hardened resentment to blind passion, a more sinister threat lies in wait, one ready to destroy the fae and human worlds. Maeve must find a way to defeat it, or lose both realms to the rising darkness forever.

MY THOUGHTS

Author Hillary Raymer has a book coming out next month in a new standalone series, and while the book sounded right up my alley, I wanted to check out her back series first. To my surprise, I found the first book, Crown of Roses, already downloaded on my Kindle, thanks to Stuff Your Kindle Day! I was immediately sucked into the story within the first chapter. If you enjoy stories about faeries, princesses, courtly intrigue, and adventure, then this might also be for you. However, as the book progressed and the journey into Faeven began, everything started to drag a bit and became convoluted.

At the beginning, I thought Maeve was a pretty good character. I liked that she said exactly what was on her mind, but the more I read, the more her demeanor bordered on being immature and childish. Some of her actions were questionable as well. Despite being twenty-two or twenty-four, she should have been more self-aware. Within twenty-four hours of being in Faeven, she broke the most important rules in dealing with faeries, which was making deals. She didn’t just agree to one unknown favor in exchange for information, but three!

I also didn’t like how she kept throwing herself at Rowan, especially when he had a big sign that said “Don’t trust me,” and yet acted surprised when she got betrayed. The oddest thing was that Rowan wasn’t even the love interest! Yet Maeve kept pursuing him for three-quarters of the book. Also, I found it extremely disturbing  Rowan was sent to retrieve Maeve. He found her when she was five-years-old but never finished his mission because he got captured. But...Ew, just ew. I was spoiled as to who the main love interest was early on, which turned out to be the Summer King, Tiernan. Their interactions throughout the book were very bipolar, hot and cold, but by the end of the book, Tiernan was willing to go to war for Maeve? It didn’t make sense and gave me The Cruel Prince vibe… a book I hated with all my soul.

The plot with the missing Princess, Carman and Cas was so convoluted that it gave me soap opera vibes. Even when Maeve found out the truth, I could picture her standing in the dungeon cell very monotone and unfeeling. You’d think finding out your best friend and everyone you knew betrayed you would be more shocking. But as a reader I didn’t feel one ounce of emotion. And in my opinion, that’s not good. When we read a story, we want to experience all the five sense plus feel a connection with the characters; sadly, in that most crucial scene I felt absolutely nothing. Perhaps a little disbelief at how cheesy and terrible it all sounded.

I really hope book two turns it around. Normally, I wouldn’t bother continuing with the series, but due to an impulsive purchase of the entire series, I am determined to read the thing. I'll be taking this as a lesson to seriously be intentional with what I read and purchase.

Unnatural Magic by Stacia Stark

Title: Unnatural Magic

Author: Stacia Stark

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Bargins with Beast # 1 

Paperback 386 pages 

Publication: September 23, 2022
Source: Personal library 
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If there’s one thing I loathe, it’s being told what to do.

I was kept ignorant and sheltered my whole life. Now that I’m free, I’ll never be coddled again. Even if the smoking hot werewolf king thinks coddling is perfectly acceptable. Because something’s hunting humans in my city. Something that kills like a werewolf, but displays those kills publicly–as if taunting the authorities. Thanks to my spiffy new agreement with the police, it’s my job to figure out just what that something is. But whoever is hunting the good citizens of Durham is also taunting me.

When my investigation takes me to the local werewolf pack–and the overprotective male in charge–I know I’m in trouble. Can I solve these murders without losing my freedom... or my life? Or will the creature make me regret ever thinking I was strong enough to be out in the world alone?

MY THOUGHTS

After finishing Stacia Stark’s Deals with Demon series some time ago, I found myself thinking often of the Deals with Demons universe. I was thrilled to discover that the author had launched a spin-off series, Bargains with Beasts, focusing on Danica’s sister, Evie. In Unnatural Magic, we journey alongside Evie as she grapples with her newfound power, hunts down villains, and contends with the HFE group. While the original series revolved around demons, Evie’s story delves deeper into the territory of werewolves.

Evie shares many traits with Danica—stubbornness, independence—but she carries additional burdens stemming from her discovery of being part of a genetic experiment and her coven's betrayal. Yet, it was annoying how often Evie compared herself to Danica or strives to differentiate herself from her sister. One can't have it both ways. Furthermore, I found the chemistry between Evie and Nathaniel forced; despite being told they're fated mates, it never felt authentic. While neither Evie nor Nathaniel particularly resonate with me, I found the side characters and the wolves' perspective intriguing.

In contrast to the Deals with Demon series, I found Unnatural Magic to be an okay read. It was a struggle to get through, although my interest finally peaked towards the end. Despite my reservations, I intend to continue with the next and final Evie installment, especially to delve into Kayla’s story. For the full experience, I highly recommend starting with the Deals with Demon series to fully appreciate the world-building, then circling back to explore the Bargains with Beast series.

 

Crave by Tracy Wolff

Title: Crave

Author: Tracy Wolff

Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy

Series: Crave # 1

Hardcover, 571 pages 

Publication: April 7, 2020 by Entangle Teen
Source: Personal library 
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My whole world changed when I stepped inside the academy. Nothing is right about this place or the other students in it. Here I am, a mere mortal among gods…or monsters. I still can’t decide which of these warring factions I belong to, if I belong at all. I only know the one thing that unites them is their hatred of me.

Then there’s Jaxon Vega. A vampire with deadly secrets who hasn’t felt anything for a hundred years. But there’s something about him that calls to me, something broken in him that somehow fits with what’s broken in me.

Which could spell death for us all.

Because Jaxon walled himself off for a reason. And now someone wants to wake a sleeping monster, and I’m wondering if I was brought here intentionally—as the bait.

MY THOUGHTS

Crave has been on my to-be-read list for years, and I finally got around to picking it up. Lately, I've been on a vampire kick. This Young Adult series has often been compared to Twilight. Even though it's been years since I read Twilight, the parallels are evident – a human girl falling for a notorious vampire, but not just any vampire, a prince!

However, the book turned out to be very juvenile and silly. In my opinion, it's even worse than Twilight. The writing style made it clear that an adult was attempting to emulate a teen's voice, and the forced attempts at using trendy lingo came off as more cringe than cool. I'm surprised I managed to finish the book because the main heroine was throwing around phrases like “This is crazy AF” and “He’s sexy AF” – do teens even talk like that? LOL, or am I just really old?

While the character development and writing were decent, the world-building and concept offered nothing new. I never found myself invested in the characters, Grace and Jaxon, unlike the connection readers had with Bella and Edward. The first two-thirds of the book felt like candy – visually appealing but lacking substance. It wasn’t until the last few chapters that things became interesting. I'm a bit curious about what happens next, but unless the sequel introduces a substantial plot, I doubt I'll explore other books in this lengthy series. Essentially, Crave was a plot-less book; not much happened, and there wasn’t a real mystery, at least not until it was too late.

All in all, Crave was a somewhat disappointing read. If you're in the mood for more YA vampire series, I'd recommend exploring older series released between 2005 and 2018. Those were the stories worth delving into!

 

 

Wings so Wicked by Emily Blackwood

Title: Wings so Wicked

Author: Emily Blackwood

Genre: N/A, Fantasy

Series: Golden City # 1

Paperback, 380 pages 

Publication: January 12, 2024 by
Source: Personal library 
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Huntyr has fought for survival her entire life. Raised under Lord, the master of assassins in Midgrave, she has spent over twenty years learning to kill the blood-hungry, depraved vampyres that lurk in the darkness. Huntyr is the most lethal fae in the kingdom, which is why Lord chooses her to complete the next mission.

Huntyr must survive Moira Seminary and make it into The Golden City—the mysterious elite society of the few remaining angels and the magic fae who live in luxury with no crime, no poverty, and certainly no vampyres.

Only when she arrives at the academy, she’s forced to room with Wolf—the terrifying fallen angel who happens to know her assassin identity.

Determined to keep her head down in Moira, Huntyr tries her best to ignore Wolf. Over time, though, he not only becomes the only person she can lean on, but the one who might keep her alive through the life-threatening tests to get into The Golden City.

MY THOUGHTS

I was so excited for Wings so Wicked – it seemed right up my alley. I mean, who doesn't love a good story of opposites attracting? In this novel, we follow a Vampire Assassin and a Vampire who must set aside their differences and collaborate to gain entry into the elusive Golden City. Only a chosen few get the chance to prove their skills at Moira Seminary, a school for the gifted, and the stakes are high – it's either the Golden City or death.

Wings so Wicked started off promising. I appreciated that the action kicked in early, thrusting our main protagonist, Huntyr, into Moira where she faced grueling training and obstacles. Unfortunately, the initial excitement didn't last, and the book went downhill. The scenes became incredibly choppy and jarring, lacking smooth transitions between scenes and dialogues. Another significant issue was with the characters – the interactions and dialogues fell flat. I didn’t connect with Huntyr or Wolf, and even their interactions felt forced. It was insta-love, but not the good kind. Despite being familiar with the alpha male and stubborn female trope, this was an absolute no for me. Wolf came off as more controlling than protective, and Huntyr's tough exterior seemed inconsistent with her projection of insecurities onto others. When everything inevitably crashed and burned, she turned more self-deprecating. It was annoying.

 As I reached the end of the novel, my interest dwindled, and I found myself not caring about the fate of the characters. I contemplated giving up, but I was already too deep into the book, and reaching the end felt like a relief. Personally, I cannot recommend this book and consider it a time-waster. If you're seeking a vampire-themed story with challenges, I suggest exploring The Serpent and the Wings of Night. I'm genuinely perplexed by the positive reviews and high ratings. Well, to each their own.

 

 

 

Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole

Title: Spark of the Everflame

Author: Penn Cole

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy

Series: Kindred's Curse #1

Paperback 436pages 

Publication: May 10, 2023
Source: Personal library 
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In a mortal world colonized by the gods and ruled over by the Descended, their cruel offspring, Diem Bellator yearns to escape the insular life of her poor village.

Her mother’s sudden disappearance—and the discovery of a dangerous secret about her past—offer Diem an unexpected opportunity to enter the dark world of Descended royalty and unlock the web of mysteries her mother left behind.

With the dying King’s handsome, mysterious heir watching her every move, and a ruthless mortal alliance recruiting her to join the growing civil war, Diem will have to navigate the unwritten rules of love, power, and politics in order to save her family—and all of mortalkind.

MY THOUGHTS

Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole has been everywhere on my FYP. Romantasy these days have been a real hit or miss but after reading the synopsis I decided to give it a go. In a world ruled by the descendant of the gods, there are only two sides, the Descendant and everyone else. Diem Bellator is a human healer who gets mixed up into the world of the Descendants when her mother goes missing. Diem’s mother is a renowned healer that cares for both humans and Descendants alike, so much so, that one of her own client is the King himself. With Diem’s mother gone, Diem decides to pick up where she left off. But she soon discovers that the Descendants and humans are not that much different, and she has a lot more in common with them than she thought.

The book dropped readers right into the action from the very first page as we see Diem wrestle and outsmart a group of men who tried to give her grief. I must say the story was fast paced and kept me engaged the entire time but the overall plot, at least for the first book isn’t anything new. Diem is beautiful and stands out among the human with her white hair and gray eyes. While most of the human population has dark or brown eyes. Right off the bat we have the snowflake trope. So of course, it's no surprise that she manages to catch the eyes of the prince but not just any prince, the only heir to the descendant kingdom.

The interaction between Luther and Diem didn’t feel natural, therefore I didn’t feel a connection to them. It seems like many authors lately are trying to stuff as many tropes as they can into a book to advertise to the readers. But like I said the main couple’s interaction felt disjointed, I got the enemies to lovers' vibe (likely since we weren’t completely there yet) but in my opinion it was done poorly. Everything felt forced, rushed or like the author was just going through the motion and steps of what should occur next. And there was a scene that I’ve already seen in at least three romantasy novels where the male protagonist freaks out and asks the female heroine; “Who did this to you?”, at this point it's almost laughable. I tried to keep myself from rolling my eyes but failed.  More showing and less telling, please.

I was expecting more with all the raves reviews. The book was good don’t get me wrong, but it wasn’t THAT good. The book ended on a major cliffhanger, and I’m still intrigued enough to pick up the sequel, but I know better now to tamp down my expectations. Did this book bring anything new and refreshing to the genre? No, but it’s a quick and slightly entertaining read. While I plan to continue the series, I probably won’t rush to read it right away. 

Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz

Title: Blue Bloods

Author: Melissa De La Cruz

Genre: Young Adult

Series: Blue Bloods #1

Hardcover, 302 pages 

Publication: March 27, 2006 by Hyperion
Source: Personal library 
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When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.

The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society.

The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapated mansion. Schuyler is a loner...and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?

MY THOUGHTS

I read Blue Bloods back in middle school and it’s been over fifteen years since the book has been published. My taste in books has certainly evolved…a bit but one thing has always remained the same which is my love of vampires. They never go out of style, no matter the medium. Blue Bloods is a young adult novel, on the younger side following a group of influential preppy teens of upper east-side New York. Their world is all fashion and parties, until it gets turned upside-down when a fellow student is found dead with all her blood drained. The parents, council and police ruled the death as an accident, but the teens suspect something more sinister.

Blue Bloods is not only an old term to denote people born of wealth but it’s also an indicator of those with vampirism due to the high pigment in the veins while humans were called ‘Red Bloods’. Readers follow along as Schuyler, Bliss, Jack and their friends learn about their history and integration into vampire society. I loved how the author incorporated history into the story of the famous Mayflower voyage to the first settlement of Plymouth Rock and the mysterious disappearance of the lost colony of Roanoke. The overall atmosphere of the book may seem very young and superficial with all the designer name drops, which to be honest was overkill but if one can look past that; there is an engaging story to be discovered. So much so, that after all these years I still found myself enjoying the book and do plan on continuing with the series.

I think one of the reasons why this series was so popular back then was because the adaptation of Gossip Girl came right on the heel of Blue Bloods’ release and this entire series is basically a mash-up of Gossip Girl with vampires. All the adolescent drama plus the supernatural. And during the 2000s vampires were all the rage. As I said it was an enjoyable read and I can’t wait to read the next book. It's been a very long time but jumping back into the world felt like it was just yesterday.  I would definitely recommend this to a younger audience or anyone looking for something light and fun. 

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

Title: A Fragile Enchantment

Author: Allison Saft

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy

Series: N/A

Hardcover, 384 pages 

Publication: January 2, 2024 by Wednesday Books
Source: Personal library 
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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.

MY THOUGHTS

A Fragile Enchantment was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. I’ve been wanting to read it since it was first announced with its beautiful cover of soft pastel colors and intriguing synopsis. A Fragile Enchantment was the perfect blend of Pride and Prejudice and Bridgerton with a dash of magic. The story is narratored by Niamh, a Divine Blood Dressmaker. Niamh is able to stitch her feelings into the garment she creates; allowing the wearer to feel all types of emotions. With the household and financial responsibilities on her shoulder, Niamh accepts a deal of a lifetime; to dress the Duke and future Duchess of Avaland. Except things become complicated when she meets the young Duke himself, the groom, Kit Carmine.

 I’ve been reading a lot of heavy or intense fantasy fiction lately and A Fragile Enchantment came right on time to lighten the mood. The book incorporated my two loves which are period pieces and magic. The whole book was very sweet and wholesome. I absolutely adored Niamh. She was just incredibly kind and pure-hearted, even when the nobles were being cold and snarky. However, there were times  when her innocent nature created unnecessary drama. And oh how perfect was Kit, the complete opposite of Niamh. The epitome of the popular trope grumpy and sunshine. I love their interaction and banter. The plot was very straightforward, the world building interesting enough to engage the reader without being overly complex. I would say this book leaned more on the younger side of Young Adult as everything was very PG-13. But that didn’t take away my enjoyment of the story.

The only con for me was The Tattler in the newspaper. It was pretty much a straight copy of Julia Quinn’s gossip column, Lady whistledown. I couldn’t read it without my mind drifting to Quinn’s books or the TV show, Bridgerton therefore it pulled me away from the story  more than I liked. 

Overall, I am happy to have read A Fragile Enchantment, it lived up to my expectations. And it was exactly what I needed at the moment; something quick and easy to read with wonderful characters. Bonus it’s a standalone, so everything wrapped up nicely.  This was my first Saft book and it surely won’t be my last. Looking forward to checking out more of her work.