★ 10/30/2023

Saft (A Far Wilder Magic) expertly weaves together magic, political intrigue, and slow-burn romance in this evocative fantasy. When working-class dressmaker Niamh Ó Conchobhair is hired to use her magical abilities to create the marital outfits for high-society Infanta Rosa and Kit Carmine’s upcoming nuptials, she’s unprepared for the brutally frosty reception from Kit—as well as for how easy he is on the eyes—while she takes his measurements. As her feelings for Kit grow, so too does her awareness of how the court machinations Kit is embroiled in have devastated the rest of the kingdom. A gossip columnist known only as Lovelace blackmails Niamh into helping them uncover the Carmine family’s skeletons, forcing Niamh to choose between her perceived duty to the working class and her all-consuming love for Kit. Saft breathes enchanting life into this Regency-influenced fantasy world, and the intricate worldbuilding and class politics never come at the cost of the romantic leads’ titillating chemistry or the riveting plot that drives the action forward. Fans of both Regency romances and alternate-Earth fantasies will find much to pour over in this sweeping read. Characters are described with varying skin tones. Ages 13–up. Agents: Claire Friedman and Jessica Mileo, InkWell Management. (Jan.)

**AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER**

“Saft layers the tensions and emotions like a delicate dessert…I especially love when a romantasy refuses to shortchange either half of the portmanteau.” –The New York Times

“Saft expertly weaves together magic, political intrigue, and slow-burn romance in this evocative fantasy… Fans of both Regency romances and alternate-Earth fantasies will find much to pour over in this sweeping read.” –Publishers Weekly (starred)

“Bridgerton meets Howl’s Moving Castle…thoughtfully written and inclusive.” –The Globe and Mail

“Fans of Regency romances will revel in this fantastical affair.” –Kirkus Reviews

"A genre-blending combination of fantasy, court intrigue, and period romance.” —Booklist

"Fans of Regency fiction with a touch of magic will enjoy this gossipy romance with plenty of secrets." –School Library Journal

"Fantasy of manners at its very height. A Fragile Enchantment brims with longing: between the bantering characters and in their desires for a better world. Allison Saft has a talent for dynamics you’ll adore." —Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

"This delightful novel weaves together the romance and passion of a Regency romance with the magic, whimsy, and heart of a Ghibli film. I was left utterly enchanted." –Axie Oh, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

"Achingly romantic and full of heart....Saft proves that her ability to craft a heart-wrenching, healing love story is unparalleled. Like Niamh's enchanted gowns, Saft's story is woven with a kind of magic that keeps you in the palm of her hands from the first page to the very last." –Courtney Gould, author of Where Echoes Die

“Full of gorgeous prose, a captivating magic system, and lovable yet deeply flawed characters...Come for a romantic Bridgerton-esque escape into a beautiful fantasy world, but be prepared for danger, intrigue, and incisive political commentary at every turn." —Jamie Pacton, award-winning author of The Vermilion Emporium and The Absinthe Underground

Praise for A Far Wilder Magic:

“If simmering romance between two people with their walls all the way up is your jam, then this book will win your heart…romantic but not romanticized, A Far Wilder Magic suggests that the true quest isn't hunting the mythical beast, it's finding the truth within yourself.” —NPR.org

"Teeming with magic and alchemy, A Far Wilder Magic is an utterly transportive read...Saft crafts a deliberate, intricate romance that will have you as unmoored as the characters." —Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

"This atmospheric, emotionally driven story focuses on the slow-burn romance between two outcasts who yearn to belong...Deeply romantic and utterly magical." —Kirkus Reviews

"Innovative, romantic, and intoxicating. A Far Wilder Magic is a diamond of the YA fantasy genre, with a fresh and artfully layered world and extraordinary characters to match." —Amanda Foody, author of Ace of Shades

"Saft's detailed alchemical system and rich, lyrical prose bring this dark fantasy to life, crafting a tale of perseverance and passion that will linger with readers long after they reach the final page." —Aden Polydoros, author of The City Beautiful

"Tender, intimate, and atmospheric...With devastatingly gorgeous prose, intricate worldbuilding, and an utterly original plot, Saft weaves a love story that will tear you apart and then stitch you whole again." —Ava Reid, author of The Wolf & The Woodsman

Praise for Down Comes the Night:

"Saft interweaves intrigue, romance, and magic to fashion a slow-burning and atmospheric fantasy debut." - Publishers Weekly

"Fans of Leigh Bardugo’s “Grisha Trilogy” and Marie Rutkoski’s “Winner’s Trilogy” have been waiting for this Darkling-esque romance...Those who pick up Saft’s debut will be richly rewarded on all counts." - School Library Journal (Starred Review)

"A tale of politics and war wrapped around an enemies-turned-maybe-something-more romance and all set inside a crumbling mansion full of deadly secrets all combine to create something truly unique." - Culturess

"Complex, carefully rendered, and utterly addictive, Down Comes the Night is a YA fantasy classic in the making." - Christine Lynn Herman, author of The Devouring Gray

"A twisty dark ride through a gothic world that‘ll keep you up all night....engrossing, haunting, and beautiful." - Isabel Ibañez, author of Woven in Moonlight

"Atmospheric, romantic, and just a touch eerie—this is the kind of story I love to get lost in." - Emily Lloyd-Jones, author of The Bone Houses

01/01/2024

Gr 7 Up—Niamh Ó Conchobhair is a magical dressmaker with the ability to sew memories and emotions into her wares. She is invited to make a dress for the upcoming royal wedding in the Kingdom of Avaland. Her excitement is dashed upon arriving to the new land; the groom, Kit, is pretentious and unwelcoming as he prepares for a ceremony that he believes is more about politics than romance. The attraction that Niamh has for the groom is undeniable and also the subject of the local gossip column. A commoner among properly mannered characters who treat her rudely, Niamh finds herself in the middle of a scandal. Her awkwardness is evident in her interactions. While she has affection for Kit, she is overly giving and seems to sacrifice her beliefs in order to please him. The setting and worldbuilding is magical and has a strong European feel. Saft has included not only great imagery and forbidden romance, but also a coming out and politics; she takes on plenty of topics amidst the romance, making the flow of the novel slightly uneven. Characters are cued white; some are commoners with a background that stems from Machland, which is similar to Ireland based on historical references, while others are royalty. VERDICT Fans of regency fiction with a touch of magic will enjoy this gossipy romance with plenty of secrets. Recommended.—Karen Alexander

Fran Burgoyne depicts a swoony romantasy between a seamstress and a prince. Niamh O Conchobhair has come to Avaland to improve her future, not to fall in love with the one man she cannot have. Kit Carmine, younger son of the king, is engaged to a woman he does not love. Burgoyne demonstrates Niamh's fierce pride in her heritage by giving her a strong accent she refuses to soften, as well as an unshakable awareness of her consummate professional skill. Burgoyne portrays Kit, conversely, as prickly and grumpy, deeply uncomfortable with the expectations of him as a prince, as well as societal rules in general. As Niamh and Kit slowly come to know each other, Burgoyne captures the aching depth of their feelings. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

2023-09-23
A tailor and a prince become entwined in a tenuous romance.

When Niamh, who’s from a working-class Machlish family, receives an invitation to serve as the tailor for the royal wedding of Avaland’s Prince Christopher to the Castilian Infanta Rosa, she boards the ship, convinced that this Season will change her family’s fortunes. Her ability to imbue emotions into her embroidery has earned her a reputation among the high-born, but using magic comes at a cost to her lifespan. Niamh arrives on Avaland’s shores, only to find the country in turmoil. The exploited Machlish are striking in droves, a gossip columnist has alienated the court, and most troublesome of all, the brooding and reluctant Christopher, who goes by Kit, simultaneously vexes and beguiles her. With patience and persistence, Niamh pierces Kit’s thorny, magicked defenses, but personal and political histories threaten their future. The descriptions of Niamh’s handiwork are delicately crafted, as is the worldbuilding, which evokes a European historical setting and population. Names, the Machland crop famine, and Machlish legends point to Irish influences. Kit’s prickliness and Niamh’s empathetic nature create a heated attraction of opposites that risks positioning Niamh as overly self-sacrificing at the expense of her individuality and a satisfying character arc. However, well-rendered supporting characters are gratifying additions to the narrative, which wraps up somewhat hastily.

A bit uneven, but fans of Regency romances will revel in this fantastical affair. (Fantasy romance. 14-18)