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. 

 

 

 

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

Title: The Duke and I

Author: Julia Quinn
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Bridgertons # 1

Hardcover, 385 pages
Publication: December 1, 2020 by Avon
Source: Purchase
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In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince—while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable…but not too amiable.

Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too honest for that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen.

Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society—just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend’s sister offers another option. If Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar.

The plan works like a charm—at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty:

Love ignores every rule…

My Thoughts

Ever since I heard Netflix was adapting Quinn’s Bridgerton Series, I was stoked and knew I had to read the book. I adore everything about historical period pieces but rarely read them. But I knew I wanted to incorporate more historical romances in my reading this year and going forward. Like most readers, I really wanted to read The Duke and I before I watched the series and thankfully I did. It wasn’t hard because the book had my attention from the very first page.

Initially I absolutely liked Daphne and Simon. They were the polar opposite. Daphne was a respectable innocent lady and Simon a charming rake, their chemistry was undeniable and they just fed off each others’ energy. I was all for their ruse and their faux forbidden courtship. But by the midway point the whole honeymoon stage I had with the book started to peter out. Daphne, our heroine turned out to be quite detestable. First, she basically tricked and forced Simon to marry her knowing full well his view on marriage. Simon also mentioned on various occasions that he did not want children. Daphne was well aware of this and still chose and made sure she took advantage of Simon while he was inebriated. Which is clearly not consensual. Not cool at all and an unnecessary plot device. If the roles were reversed or if the novel was written by a man, there would be raging everywhere. 

Without those two aforementioned reasons, I actually enjoyed Quinn’s writing. I loved the humor, charm and witty banter between the Bridgertons siblings. Our two leads eventually had their happily-ever-after and Simon forgave Daphne for what she did. But it still didn’t sit well with me that Simon thanked and was grateful that Daphne did what she did. Would you be grateful someone took advantage of you and took away your choice? I think not. As you may have guessed I will not be continuing with the series. To read more Quinn novels would say what happened in The Duke and I was acceptable when it was not.

Side note: I watched the first two episodes of the Netflix adaptation and it is not good. The actors were poorly cast and the show did not capture any of the humor, charm or clever dialogue found in the novel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Beast of Beswick by Amalie Howard

Title: The Beast of Beswick

Author: Amalie Howard
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Everleigh Sisters #1
Mass Market Paperback, 380 pages
Publication: November 26, 2019 by Entangled: Amara
Source: Personal Library
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Lord Nathaniel Harte, the disagreeable Duke of Beswick, spends his days smashing porcelain, antagonizing his servants, and snarling at anyone who gets too close. With a ruined face like his, it's hard to like much about the world. Especially smart-mouthed harpies—with lips better suited to kissing than speaking—who brave his castle with indecent proposals.

But Lady Astrid Everleigh will stop at nothing to see her younger sister safe from a notorious scoundrel, even if it means offering herself up on a silver platter to the forbidding Beast of Beswick himself. And by offer, she means what no highborn lady of sound and sensible mind would ever dream of—a tender of marriage with her as his bride.

Beauty and the Beast has been retold and reimagined many times in various types of media but as a fan of the story; I never tire from seeing others’ interpretation or spin. In its latest reincarnation, Howard brings the classic fairytale to historical romance readers with a headstrong heroine looking to protect her younger sister and a scarred war hero duke who feels too broken for love and society. In my pursuit to read more romance and novels outside my go-to genre; Beast of Beswick is my 2nd romance novel of 2020 and it was fabulous…and steamy!

The Regency era has always been a favorite time period of mine, so it isn’t a surprise that I found myself instantly immersed in the setting and the Everleigh sisters’ lives. Our heroine Astrid is incredibly brilliant, independent and beautiful with a heart of gold but due to an unfortunate coming out season at sixteen and a despicable Earl, Astrid’s reputation gets tarnish leaving her unwed and a ‘spinster’ at the young age of twenty-five. But with Astrid’s younger sister Isobel’s season fast approaching and her only living relatives eyeing their inheritance and dowry; Astrid is willing to do anything to keep her Uncle’s clutches off pawning Isobel off to the next rich Earl. Even it means marrying the Beast of Beswick.

If you’re a fan of Beauty and the Beast, then you have a pretty good idea at how the story goes/ends. Thane, our hero is very flawed; emotionally and mentally. Which I find as a good thing. It made him more realistic and relatable and more times than not I found myself feeling sympathetic with him. Although he is scarred on the outside physically, the real scars were within. The only beastly thing about Thane was his incorrigible nature and saying the first thing that came to mind. I loved Astrid and Thane as a couple and enjoyed their ever-entertaining banter. While their relationship began under less than ideal circumstances, I loved seeing their relationship grow from unbridled disdain/curiosity turn to friendship/love.

I adored The Beast of Beswick, it’s exactly everything I was hoping a fairytale retelling romance would be…and so much more. This is the start of the Everleigh Sisters series and I am so stoked for the sequel with of course features Astrid’s younger sister Isobel who is as much as a firecracker as her sister. If you’re looking for a well-written and engaging story with a fairytale twist, I recommend picking-up The Beast of Beswick!