#a fragile enchantment

[bigdreamsandwildthings]

Just the essentials (books and coffee) 🤍

[ash-and-books]

A Fragile Enchantment Moodboards/Book Aesthetic

This is a romantic historical fantasy. It's got magic, romance, mystery, and so much more!

[bookishlyvintage]

are you team long or short chapters?

[checkoutmybookshelf]

A Fragile Enchantment just took book Benedict Bridgerton to SCHOOL!!! You do not harass women about being your mistress after they've said no. This is how you handle that:

Excuse me while I go swoon for a sec over Christopher freaking Carmine.

[remusfinglupin]

Books I got from a little free library near my house!!

- A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

- The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch

[snot-licker]

no one asked but here's

My 2024 in Books

The Yellow Wall-Paper – Charolette Perkins Gilman

Frankenstein (x2) – Mary Shelley

Carmilla – J. Sheridan Le Fanu

Gideon the Ninth – Tamsyn Muir

Harrow the Ninth – Tamsyn Muir

Nona the Ninth – Tamsyn Muir

M is for Monster – Talia Dutton

Just for the Summer – Abby Jimenez

This is How You Lose the Time War – Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone

A Fragile Enchantment – Allison Saft

Grim vol. 1-3 – Stephanie Phillips

Saga Vol. 11 – Brian K Vaughn

Ao Haru Ride (Blue Spring Ride) Vol. 9-13 – Io Sakisaka

Half a Soul – Olivia Atwater

Longshadow – Olivia Atwater

Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faerie – Heather Fawcett

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands – Heather Fawcett

Down Comes the Night – Allison Saft

Batman: Curse of the White Night – Sean Grodan Murphy

The Strange Case of Harleen and Harley – Melissa Marr

Hawkgirl: Once Upon a Galaxy – Jadiza Axelrod

The Death of Jane Lawrence – Caitlin Starling

One Day in December – Josie Silver

Shark Heart – Emily Habeck

They Both Die at the End – Adam Silvera

[emofairyprincessofarkansas]

OTP March Madness: Pairing #4

Here are the couples for round 4:

*Please keep in mind while voting that these couples are based on books that I have personally read and these match-ups are random. I am not comparing the couples in any way.

[theinquisitxor]

January 2024 Reading Wrap

First wrap up of the new year! I read 8 books this month, and I'd say it was a strong reading month overall. I read some new releases, caught up or finished series, and read some good stuff! I read 6 fantasy books, 1 nonfiction, and 1 regular fiction. 6 books I read physical copies, and 2 audiobooks.

1.A Winter's Promise (Mirror Visitor Quartet 1) by Christelle Dabos. 3/5 stars. This is a book I've been wanting to read since before it was translated into English. This book didn't quite live up to the expectations I had of it, but I still overall enjoyed it. I plan to continue the series, possibly quarterly. Young adult fantasy.

2. A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft. 4.5/5 stars. Another great Allison Saft book, and this one is possibly my favorite so far. This is exactly my type of fantasy romance and I was very invested in reading this. It's about a young magical seamstress who is commissioned to make the royal wedding clothes for the kingdom's prince. Young adult fantasy.

3.Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard. 3/5 stars. This was a fun read, but not the most exciting or great as it had the potential to be. The story has a fun cast of characters, and enjoyable world, but not a whole lot happened in this book. I can def see Aveyard's LOTR inspirations in this. I plan on continuing this series soon.

4.The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake. 2/5 stars. This was a disappointing end to a series and was very lackluster and fell apart at the end. Disappointing because of how much I loved book 2. There were some redeeming moments, but much of this book felt unnecessary or frustrating. Adult fantasy.

5.Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. 5/5 stars. This is a collection of essays by the author about the world around us, life, nature, and the way we interact with the world. Absolutely my new favorite thing and much of Kimmerer's teachings in the book resonate with me very deeply. Read on audio- which I highly recommend. Nature/essays.

6.Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde 2) by Heather Fawcett. 5/5 stars. This was just as good as book 1, and I loved the new adventure and learning more about fairies. Emily and Wendall are my favorite, and I can't wait to see how this series concludes.

7.Beartown (Beartown 1) by Fredrik Backman 4.5/5 stars. I read this book in less than 24 hours and it emotionally abused me throughout. I'm late to the game in regards to this book (no pun intended) but I'm glad I finally read it. Backman never disappoints, and I plan to continue the series soon. Fiction.

8. Mislaid in Parts Half-Known (Wayward Children 9) by Seanan McGuire. 4/5 stars. This felt like the continuation of Antsy's story from book 8, but with some of our main cast of characters on a new quest. Very enjoyable and another solid installment in the series. Is the last time we see the "main cast?". Read on audio. Fantasy.

That's it for January! I am currently reading my TBR Pick of the Month, The Throne of the Five Winds, but I am only still in the first half of the book, so I will have to finish it up for Feb. I also started a new nonfiction audiobook, but am still in the first half of that as well.

February TBR:

finish The Throne of the Five Winds by SC Emmett

Crescent City 3

Nonfiction Audiobook (finish)

Blade Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

What Feasts at Night by T Kingfisher

TBR Pick of the month

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman (?)

[ladytrist]

I’m broke.

[riza-hawks-eye]

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft is the first book I've read with a Bi4Bi couple and it makes me stupidly happy.

[bigdreamsandwildthings]

“So uhh, are we gonna go for a walk now or what?” 🐶

[elrielbaby]

Hello, friends!

I haven’t made a proper post of my own in some time, mainly just reposting. The toxicity of the ship war (and honestly, just the fandom in general) is not conducive to good mental health, and with there being no hint of any news I just found it draining. The thing is, we are all here because we love these books, and for many of us books in general. So before I get back to posting my own elriel related content, I wanted to share with you some books I’ve absolutely adored this year. Please feel free to reblog this and add your own!

Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff 🩸

This is the second book in the Empire of the Vampire series (first book of the same name) and it is a strong contender for my book of the year. Not for the faint of heart, this series is bloody, brutal and emotionally devastating - but my GOD what a world, what characters. They are flawed and full bodied, the world is desolate and grim, with such little hope but it is a corker!

All This Twisted Glory by Tahereh Mafi 💔

Okay so this is the 3rd book in the This Woven Kingdom series. The first book in this series I felt very luke warm about, but I liked it enough to continue. The second book in this series is when I began to get really excited, I started to fall in love. The third book? Get out of here, I’m obsessed. If you like stories that include Jinn, inspired by Persian mythology and absolutely jam packed with all the yearning, pining and painful brooding you could possibly ever imagine - this is the book for you. Small caveat, that not an awful lot happens in this book to move the story forward, but the MMC is so down bad that I loved it regardless.

A Fragile Enchantment by Alison Saft 🪡

This one really took my by surprise. This is set in a regency era setting with a sprinkling of magic (and I do mean a light dusting) with a Lady Whistledown style sub plot that really did have me guessing. Our main character, Niamh, has the magical ability to imbue clothing with feeling - and has been hired by the Royal Family to make clothes for the Princes upcoming nuptials. Except there’s a chemistry to Niamh and the broody, irritable Prince Kit that is undeniable. Couple that with a growing unrest of the Macklish that threatens the Royal Fam, it all leads to a very delicious story. I didn’t expect to love this but it truly worked it’s way in to my heart.

Emily Wildes Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett 🧚

This is the second book in the Emily Wilde series but as with the first book I absolutely adored this. It is whimsical, mildly cosy. Emily goes through one of the best character arcs I’ve ever read, and Wendell may be the best blonde haired fictional man to ever exist. If you love proper Faerie stories, you will love this.

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare ⚔️

This was an absolutely impeccable start to what I think is going to be an epic fantasy series. Forbidden romance, political intrigue, an interesting magic system and world to boot. I cannot wait for the next book!

The Crimson Moth (aka Heartless Hunter) by Kristen Ciccarelli 🦋

I absolutely devoured this. Witch and witch hunter. Courting for the sake of trying to discover the others secrets, angst, brooding, betrayal. I’m loathe to say anymore lest I give away more than I should. But this is for sure one of my favourite books of the year. I read it so fast, I think about this daily. Please please please, give it a go - you won’t regret it!

The Road of Bones/Kingdom of Claw by Demi Winters 🪓

The Road of Bones was a 5⭐️ read I absolutely loved it, but it’s sequel KoC has made its way into the 6⭐️ category for me. Viking inspired fantasy, with impeccable world building, the romance in this is also chefs bloody kiss. I can’t recommend it enough. Silla isn’t a typical girl boss (I love a girl boss don’t get me wrong) and she got me through the missing Elain Archeron hours.

The Aurelian Cycle (Fireborne, Flamefall & Furysong) by Rosaria Munda 🐉

I loved this so much because it started from a different place than most fantasy stories. In this, we start 10 years post Revolution of a regime that was ruled by the Dragon Lords, who over taxed the poor and meted out brutal punishments to people who’s only crime was being poor and hungry. Our main characters met in an orphanage in the wake of the revolution, but they could not have come from more different backgrounds- and yet they love each other anyway. The political intrigue and emotional complexities of this story was superb. 10/10

The Ember Quarter (An ember in the ashes, a torch against the night, a reaper at the gates and a sky beyond the storm) By Sabaa Tahir 💀

I’m so incredibly late to the party but I’m glad I arrived nonetheless. What an epic tale, what a fantasy story. You truly set off at a running pace with this one - it feels like there’s very little stopping time. Every word and page of this story is used to its full effect. I’m in awe of this authors story telling prowess. It broke my heart, but by god how I loved it.

[bookishlyvintage]

Goodbye November, Hello December ~

[checkoutmybookshelf]

I'm reading A Fragile Enchantment right now, and y'all...THIS MAN. This prickly, grumpy-ass man just YEETED HIMSELF DOWN A SET OF STAIRS to protect the feelings and reputation of the girl who heard him say "I don't want people to look at me" and made him a coat that lets him disappear in plain sight.

The kicker?

I DON'T EVEN THINK HE KNOWS WHY HE YOTE HIMSELF DOWN THE STAIRS FOR HER!!!

[keptalivebymagic]

Now that I've finished A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft, I have just a couple more things to say (previous thoughts). (Spoilers)

What even is the religion in this book? Characters exclaim by saying "Gods", but then the wedding is officiated as per Christian customs. But then, everyone with magic is referred to as having "divine blood". Yet another bizarre, half-assed, shoehorned-in gesture to a fantasy structure.

How is the solution of the biggest conflict in the book resolved by Rosa being gay when the book has already established this is a society that is not accepting of gay people?

There's no resolution to the "royal coffers are empty" storyline.

In conclusion, I'm deeply irked. This book was a dumpster fire with a deeply promising premise. It's so disheartening that a book this crappy can get so much marketing, and can get pushed by subscription book box services, when it's deeply undeserving of it.

Capitalism has ruined art, etc, etc.

[alintalzin]

3, 5, 12!

3.

Okay, top five:

Number 5, Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati. I'm not very fond of 'feminist' mythology retellings, but this one was really good.

Number 4, Not Like Darcy by Terri Meeker. A charming underrated novel about a girl who time travels to the Victorian Era and ends up saving Winston Churchill's mother.

Number 3, A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft. It reminded me of Jane Austen, but with magic. Also, I love the cover.

Number 2, The Borgia Dove by Jo Graham. Book 2 in the Memoirs of the Borgia Sibyl series, which is a historical fantasy reimagining of Giulia Farnese's life. I read the first book A Blackened Mirror last year, and I'm really enjoying the series.

Number 1, Children of the Jedi by Barbara Hambly. One of the more underrated novels from the Star Wars Legends era, it's got a great story, and Callista Ming is one of my favorite Legends characters. I still wish Luke ended up with her.

5. What genre did you read the most of?

Fantasy. I wanted to check some books off my very long fantasy reading - list.

12. Any books that disappointed you?

No, not really. Only once have I had that experience of not liking a book I read, and that was a few years ago.