Gita Trelease

Enchantée

interesting story/plot, however, I did think the French Revolution was going to have a bigger part in the plot but it was more background. 

Hannah Williams

Love. Magic. Revolution... “Deliciously addictive.” —Stephanie Garber, author of Caraval “A heady, sparkling dream of a book.” —Margaret Rogerson, author of An Enchantment of Ravens “An utterly beguiling spell.” —Laura Sebastian, author of Ash Princess Paris is a labryinth of twisted streets filled with beggars and thieves, revolutionaries and magicians. Camille Durbonne is one of them. She wishes she weren’t... When smallpox kills her parents, Camille must find a way to provide for her younger sister while managing her volatile brother. Relying on magic, Camille painstakingly transforms scraps of metal into money to buy food and medicine they need. But when the coins won’t hold their shape and her brother disappears with the family’s savings, Camille pursues a richer, more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Using dark magic forbidden by her mother, Camille transforms herself into a baroness and is swept up into life at the Palace of Versailles, where aristocrats both fear and hunger for magic. As she struggles to reconcile her resentment of the rich with the allure of glamour and excess, Camille meets a handsome younge inventor, and begins to believe that love and liberty may both be possible. But magic has its costs, and soon Camille loses control of her secrets. And when revolution erupts, Camille must choose—love or loyalty, democracy or aristocracy, reality of magic—before Paris burns.

ivan

This book is so charming. From the premise to the execution, it was a delight to have accompanied me through the holiday rush. I quite liked the magic system and how it ties in with the aristocrats and how they are seen by the citizens of Paris. It gives some truth to their gossip of royals using tonics from fountains of youths and sacrifice because in a way it is. 

I did not know it was a part of a series, though, so I might check the rest out.

Steph L 

A fantasy mixed with historical fic

This book was a perfect mix of fantasy and historical fiction. I loved both elements of this book. 

I recommend this for anyone who likes historical fiction or stories set in Paris. This was a fantasy, but it was a new take on what the genre is.

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5 ⭐

This book is so charming. From the premise to the execution, it was a delight to have accompanied me through the holiday rush. I quite liked the magic system and how it ties in with the aristocrats and how they are seen by the citizens of Paris. It gives some truth to their gossip of royals using tonics from fountains of youths and sacrifice because in a way it is. 

I did not know it was a part of a series, though, so I might check the rest out.

Sheila

This was so fun! I never have too much hope for YA historical fantasies, but this was a genuine good time with very few anachronistic words or slang (a severe problem with other books in this genre!). 

A gorgeous cover, rags-to-riches story, a delicious slow-burn romance, magical realism with intense consequences, all with the backdrop of the impending French revolution! This book works very well as a standalone and the ending wraps up perfectly, but I see there's a sequel to be made? I am intrigued...

Imie Kent-Muller

Thank you Pan Macmillan for sending this my way! 

Enchantee is a magical new YA book that many will fall in love with. Set in Paris during the times of Marie Antoinette, the world is full of corruption and magic. The main character, Camille, is struggling to make ends meet for her brother spends all the money and her sister is poorly, so she turns to magic (which is banned) as a way to get money fast. This thrusts her into high society and deception that will test her. She is living two lives, and eventually they will dangerously collide. 

This book is for those who love magic blended into history. Trelease has crafted a great tale about addiction, corruption and deception. It is a story of family problems, relationship drama, class, magic and hot air balloons. This is an enchanting read!

Paris in 1789 is a labyrinth of twisted streets, filled with beggars, thieves, revolutionaries - and magicians . . . When smallpox kills her parents, seventeen-year-old Camille is left to provide for her frail sister and her volatile brother. In desperation, she survives by using the petty magic she learnt from her mother. But when her brother disappears Camille decides to pursue a richer, more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.Using dark magic Camille transforms herself into the 'Baroness de la Fontaine' and presents herself at the court of Versaille, where she soon finds herself swept up in a dizzying life of riches, finery and suitors. But Camille's resentment of the rich is at odds with the allure of their glamour and excess, and she soon discovers that she's not the only one leading a double life . . .Enchantée is a compelling historical fantasy and is Gita Trelease's debut novel.

soph

mary

This fell a bit flat towards the end, which is why my rating lowered from 3 starts to 2. I didn’t feel as engaged in the second half as I did the first, and the plot felt as if it dragged in spots. I enjoyed the historical elements of it, but I felt as if the magic was underdeveloped and could have been more interesting.

Mags

I loved the feeling of this book, and how well it's being shown in the book. It truly feels like you're walking the streets of Paris when reading it.

I felt that the ending was a bit rushed and the plot sort of came out of nowhere, so it wasn't five stars, but the feeling of it makes up for a lot of the lacking plot.

Weird comparison but it's like Kikis delivery service meets French revolution

Grace Emilia Machon

Lavish Parisian Charm but with little charm, a flakey magic system stolen from Beauty And The Beast.
This book talks an awful lot about the french revolution and somehow sits on the wrong side of it, it has moments where you think our protagonists are going to actually do something but they don't. This books could have been wonderful, but I feel like it is lacking in its own kind of magic.

Stephanie Haynes

Celia Adams

I liked the premise of this book but I thought the author spent way too long having her heroine go in circles about the same issues and insecurities. The world and characters were beautiful but the story definitely could have been streamlined.

Joleen

This arc was provided to me for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

“The court fears and worships magic. Be careful.”

★★★★

Ripped from our history books, Enchantée tells the story of the start of the French Revolution but with magic. This book starts with Camille, a girl who must use magic to turn useless metal into money to provide for her younger sister, Sophie as her brother, Alain does nothing to help. With their parents dead and Alain robbing every coin they have, Camille must now use her magic to pursue more riches putting her and Sophie in even more danger. Throw in some politics, a few friendships, and a little romance and you got yourself one enchanting tale.

Camille was a difficult character to like but I found Sophie even more hard to take in. Sophie was awful for most of the book, so young and naive but also had this annoying ability to think she knew best. But Lazare, a French and Indian descendant, was by far the star of the show. His whimsical love for balloons was delightful to witness. And his emotional confession of how his diversity is treated within the courts only made me want to pull him from the book and hug him.

Enchantée had such a fun plot while also keeping me on my toes. Knowing how history plays out and what was to come. It terrified me each time Camille went to court and worked her magic, I was always terrified something was going to occur and screw it up. I also enjoyed the magic system and how brilliant the cost of magic was sorrow and blood. Seeing the toll it took on Camille and how she kept going because she wanted a better life for herself but more importantly for her sister was by far one of the greatest things about this book. The sister bond that Camille and Sophie had, even if one character annoyed me more, it was still sweet to see them love each other that much.

Overall this book wasn’t bad. It has moments that were a bit dull but I enjoyed it for the most part. Enchantée was well worth the read and if any of you enjoy historical fiction with a little bit of a twist, I think you will really like this. I see now that there will be a companion to this book which is super exciting. Can’t wait to see what else this author has to offer.


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Cristina Cicivelli 

I have wanted to read Enchantée since a friend sent me the synopsis, and I mean how could I resist to the story of a young magician settled in révolutionary France? So as soon as I could, I decided to dive into what I was sure was going to be an incredible novel…but well, it turned out it wasn’t. 

The problem with this book is that it seems like there is /something/ left out of the mix. The idea of the magical system is interesting (I really adore when magic doesn’t come out of nowhere but requires instead a price to be used- sorrow and pain, in this case) and I loved how Paris was painted through words, but there is no an actual plot: it was just following Camille at home, then at Versailles, then with Lazare, then back at home, and also having to deal with all of her internal dilemmas. In a certain way, it was more of an extremely long introduction than an independent story.
Usually, the absence of a strong plot wouldn’t be a problem, because I enjoy character-driven stories as much as I enjoy plot-driven ones, but to be able to do it I have to fall in love with the characters. And even if I actually liked all of them (apart from Sophie, that I couldn’t stand a lot of times even if she had her reasons to act in a certain way), it was not enough to make me obsessed and consequently not enough save the book. They seemed unfinished, missing some kind of depth and consistency, so even if they were neither bad written characters, nor boring nor annoying, I didn’t connect with them, I didn’t cry for them that much (well, I did a bit for Chandon, that was indeed my favorite), I didn’t feel involved in their story.
Even the big plot twist, the climax (it’s generous to call it that way, but anyway), was so quick that I haven't even had time to feel the tension, to be desperate about what was going to happen. It could have been developed way better, possibley with a villain that didn’t seem the caricature of a real one.

The writing style was good, at least, and the fact that the book flows easily enough well was one of the few reasons why, together with my desire of knowing how the story was going to end, I didn’t abandon this book midway.
What can I say, I just need more angst, more feelings, and a lot more revolution to really love this book 😩

Manon van Heumen

This book was highly enjoyable! Though I expected it more to be based around the revolution.

Jessica 

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Review also found here at Booked J. I was sent an eARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. This does not change my view in any shape or form.

I'm calling it now Enchantée: is one of THE books that you can't miss in 2019. It's definitely one of my favourites so far and I'm so in love with the vision that Gita Trelease paints for us throughout this book. This was such an exhilarating, vivid read! I mean--sign me up, all day every day, for historical fictional that is written this beautifully.

(And that cover. Oh-My-God.) 

Admittedly, I went into Enchantée full of intrigue but I wasn't certain I'd end up liking the book let alone loving it. When I started it, I was all in within a few pages. It's pure magic. In-fact, I'd imagine that Trelease herself used some sort of magical compulsion to get me lured into this story because I was completely captivated and could scarcely look away.

What I found most enchanting (ha!) about Enchantée was the way in which Trelease portrays history. It reminded me, not wholly, of the way Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell presented that indulgent set of magical elements mixed with historical whims. The plots are, of course, highly different, but I got that same feeling of intrigue from both books.

My experience reading it, too, felt very similar in tone and excitement. Curled up on a cold, rainy day, with a cup of piping hot coffee and a delectable read. Does it get any better than that?

The answer is no. Not for a reader.

Trelease took me by surprise. I devoured this book and am positively aching for (a) a physical copy of it and (b) more books from her. All I could think up of for my review of Enchantée was "wow" so I think I deserve a pat on the back for managing more than just one word. However, I stand by that wow, because this book certainly wowed me.

There were some moments in Enchantée that I wasn't terribly keen on (the approach to sex workers and the general moments of slut shaming) but that I felt, still, were essential to the timeline and setting of the book. In short, the exchanges/thoughts/approach to these things were unfortunate and gross but not unrealistic for the times in which Enchantée takes place.

Overall, I'm obsessed with this book and can't sing its praises enough. Although it won't be for everyone, it is definitely worth the read if you're into magic and historical fiction.

Kate

2.75* Enchantée promised so much potential. France, magic, history, revolution but for me, it simply fell flat. It was okay, enjoyable enough, but I left it feeling very indifferent. 

The chapters and plot were lacking... something, anything. There there was nothing to pull me in, nothing exciting or enthralling to hold onto. I liked the characters, although I still don’t feel I *know* them, neither did I care for them all too much and the I had the same issue with the plot. Sure, stuff happened but nothing was fleshed out to a point where I cared. There was too much and not enough. It felt as though the author was trying to cram in so many plot lines, so many historical tidbits, all of which became disjointed and lost amongst one another. I wanted to love this so much, the synopsis sounded wonderful and it had so much potential but in all honesty, I found myself bored at times.

I did however enjoy the vivid depiction of Paris and Versailles and, as I said, I enjoyed it enough but overall, although I don’t doubt this will capture many readers, it was very much a mediocre read for me unfortunately.

TW:
• Racism
• Slut shaming
• Physical & emotional abuse
• Alcohol & gambling addiction

(Thank you MyKindaBook for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.)

Paris in 1789 is a labyrinth of twisted streets, filled with beggars, thieves, revolutionaries – and magicians . . . When smallpox kills her parents, seventeen-year-old Camille is left to provide for her frail sister and her volatile brother. In desperation, she survives by using the petty magic she learnt from her mother. But when her brother disappears Camille decides to pursue a richer, more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Using dark magic Camille transforms herself into the ‘Baroness de la Fontaine‘ and presents herself at the court of Versaille, where she soon finds herself swept up in a dizzying life of riches, finery and suitors. But Camille’s resentment of the rich is at odds with the allure of their glamour and excess, and she soon discovers that she’s not the only one leading a double life . . . Enchantée is a compelling historical fantasy and is Gita Trelease's debut novel.

Enchantée

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