 |
Reviewed by: Lisa Rice, Middle School Librarian Title: A Fragile Enchantment
Author: Allison Saft
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 10-12, Adult Genre/Type of Book: YA fiction, romance, fantasy, LGTBQ+, magic
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: Language/swearing, sex, drinking, alcoholism, smoking, classism
Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: I loved the romantic, fairy tale-like cover of the book and it was recommended to me.
If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be:
"A day like this cannot enjoy itself." - Sinclair, page 130
|
Review:
If you or your students like fairy tales and romance, this book is for you. Weddings, balls, duels, beautiful gowns, princes and princesses, and magical plants, it is all there! At times, the romance definitely leans to YA and I wouldn't feel comfortable having this book in my middle school library. With some of the book's more adult themes, I think it is a good fit for a high school library. There are a lot of political themes as well. Niamh is summoned to Avaland as a guest of the royal family to serve as the royal tailor for the wedding of Prince Christopher and Her Royal Highness Rosa de Todos los Santos de Carrillo. Niamh is excited to take this job as she will be able to support her aging mother and grandmother and move them to a comfortable townhouse. Niamh has the gift of sewing emotions and memories into her gorgeous designs, a gift passed down through her family. It is an honor to wear one of her pieces.
Niamh falls in love with the prince, unfortunately, the one who is about to be married. Their families are enemies, as 35 years ago, hundreds of thousands of Niamh's countrymen perished because of Kit's father. He could have taken action to prevent this, but he did not. Niamh's family are not pleased to hear of her friendship with the prince.
I would obviously recommend this book to people who like fairy tales and sweeping romances, but also the students who love to knit, sew, or crochet, as there is a lot about sewing. There is also the political element, so I would recommend it to students who enjoy talking politics. Classism comes up a lot. "Happiness is a simple thing. When you accept your lot in life, there are no crushing lows and no soaring heights," says Infanta Rosa (p. 118).
One of the things I particularly enjoyed about the author's writing was the sewing similes woven into the story: "The Machish Sea rippled like a swath of gray fabric, foam stitched like a panel of lace across its surface." (p.4) Or, "Mist trailed off the coast, as white and gauzy as a bridal veil." Of Kit, who can control plants, it is said, "once you strip him of his thorns, he's not so bad." I think it could be fun to challenge students to write some of their own.
There are some mysteries that aren't explained well, for example, Kit's "flower power," or ability to control plants. Also, Niamh says that she had a deal with the death god, Donn, who would not let her suddenly die, but rather take her energy slowly away, but no further information is given as to why this deal was made. I also felt that, in spite of all the political events and discussions throughout the book, at the end, they weren't resolved, and politics was forgotten about.
Number of party hats:
Find more about A Fragile Enchantment at Teachingbooks.net
For more information about this book, see the Publisher's Website
Find this title in your BOCES SORA Collection: